Lowe's launches major spring promotion
Lowe's launched what may be its most ambitious spring marketing campaign ever, The New York Times reported. The promotional push includes an online interactive area where users can visit the make-believe town of Sunnyville and engage in typical spring pursuits. The Web site is also offering spring-theme cell phone ring tones.

Nursery research funding could be cut
ANLA is urging members to ask Congress for continued funding of floriculture and nursery research. The association expects that 2009 will be a difficult year for securing funds. Retailers can take action by filling out this online form.

Backyard orchards — the next big thing?
The popularity of fruit trees is on the rise, according to an article in The New York Times. Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees are showing up in suburban backyards and urban patios. Suppliers around the country have seen significant increases in fruit tree sales, like the 12% to 15% annual sales growth reported by Dave Wilson Nursery in Hickman, Calif., which has one of the country's largest selections of fruit trees.

Philly hosts 2008 Perennial Plant Symposium
This year's Perennial Plant Symposium will be July 20-26 at the Sheraton City Center Hotel, Philadelphia. The 7-day program will include lectures, a trade show and tours of garden centers, nurseries, public and private gardens. Schedules and registration details are posted online.

Lack of sleep hinders work force
U.S. workers are a sleepy bunch, and they're costing companies billions of dollars in lost productivity, USA Today reported. Nearly 3 in 10 workers have become very sleepy, or even fallen asleep, at work in the past month, according to a study on sleep and the workplace by the non-profit National Sleep Foundation. Several factors are contributing to this trend, including longer work hours. The study found that a quarter of respondents have a workday that lasts between 8 and 9 hours, and another quarter say they work up to 10 hours a day.

4 win 2009 AAS honors
All-America Selections announced 4 award winners for 2009. 'Rain Blue and Purple' viola is the only flower. Bred by Tokita Seed Co., it is a Cool Season Bedding Plant Award Winner. This weather-tolerant hybrid produces flowers that change from purple and white to purple and blue as they mature. 'Gretel' is an eggplant bred by Seminis Vegetable Seeds. It is the earliest white eggplant, producing 3- to 4-inch-long fruit in 55 days. 'Lambkin' is a specialty Piel de Sapo (Christmas-type) melon. Bred by Known-You Seed Co., it produces 2- to 4-pound fruit with smooth yellow skin and green mottling. 'Honey Bear' is a winter acorn squash from Univ. of New Hampshire. This compact, bushy hybrid is powdery mildew tolerant and produces 3-5 dark-green squash weighing 1 pound each.

View from a blog
• Get the full bang out of your advertising dollar by tailoring ads to this year’s hot new products.Open Register
• Talk some "cents" into legislators bent on implementing rigid water restrictions. Project: Green Industry

Worth a visit
Read about how Eastern Shore Nursery has carved a niche with its containerized fruit trees. The nursery grows old-fashioned varieties, new selections and exotics. These products will now be marketed under the Hollybrook Orchards brand. Only on GreenBeamPro.com.