Green buildings are catching on
Green building trends are invading new homes, home renovations and even major businesses. Here's a roundup of what the consumer press is reporting:
→ Is green worth it? Money Magazine
→ Mayors present a green front. USA Today
→ Businesses gone green. Money Magazine
→ Green roofs for DIY crowd. Philadelphia Inquirer

Wal-Mart wants sustainable suppliers
Wal-Mart wants suppliers, employees, customers and communities to be involved in sustainability efforts, a report in USA Today said. CEO Lee Scott said the company has created a scorecard to grade suppliers' environmental progress and will "pick the ones moving in the right direction." Wal-Mart wants suppliers to find ways to remove non-renewable energy from products.

Report: Target new markets, expand services
Standpoint unveiled its 2006 Grapevine Report, which offers insight on the lawn and garden market. The company advises garden centers to expand services, target new groups (such as first-time homebuyers, condo dwellers and ethnic consumers) and recognize that robust growth fueled by baby boomers is over. The report can be purchased for $495 ($395 for ANLA members)

Early time change could cause glitches
An early start to daylight-saving time could cause computer glitches, according to a report in The Washington Post. This year, clocks will spring forward on March 11. Computer technicians are working to ensure automated systems will change over at the right moment. However, many systems will remain programmed to change at the usual time in April. Microsoft is warning that some of its older Windows products will require manual time updates.

Stepables launches display contest
Under a Foot Plant Co., the company behind the Stepables brand of groundcovers, is accepting entries for its Best in Sole photo contest. Garden centers can submit photos of Stepables displays for the chance to win $2,500 for a local charity. Submissions will be accepted March 1-June 1. The winner will be announced June 15. More details are available on the company's Web site.

Armstrong joins ECGC
Armstrong Garden Centers, a 36-store chain in California, has joined ECGC, a group of the largest independent garden retailers in the U.S. ECGC member firms now account for 80 stores and more than $300 million in sales. ECGC members include Al's Garden Centers, Oregon; English Gardens, Michigan; Green View Companies, Illinois; Homestead Gardens, Maryland; Mahoney Garden Centers, Massachusetts; Martin Viette Nurseries, New York; Molbak's, Washington; Pasquesi Home & Gardens, Illinois; and Petitti Garden Centers, Ohio.

Worth a visit
The nursery business deserves its own action/adventure serial, "The Great Nursery Adventure: A Year in the Life of Greene Family Nursery." This month, the family faces a shortage of essential liners. Only on GreenBeam.com.

View from a blog
Why a garden retailer blogs. Open Register