TerraCycle lampoons Scotts litigation
TerraCycle, a company selling vermicompost in recycled soda and milk containers, is being sued by Scotts Miracle-Gro for false advertising and trade dress infringement, Advertising Age reported. (Free registration required.) TerraCycle has launched a Web site that gives side-by-side comparisons of the companies. The site also mentions 81 other garden products that use green and yellow packaging similar to Miracle-Gro's.

Minimum-wage increase gains ground
House and Senate leaders have assembled a package of small-business tax breaks that should ease passage of the minimum-wage bill, CNNMoney reported. The tax breaks would total about $4.8 billion. The legislation package has been added to an Iraq war funding bill that President Bush has threatened to veto because it calls for troop withdrawals by next March. If defeated, the bill could be attached to other legislation or sent as a standalone bill.

Still no answers in bee mystery
Theories abound on why billions of bees are disappearing, The New York Times reported. But so far there are no solid answers. Genetically modified crops, cellular phone towers and high-voltage transmission lines have all been named culprits in the vanishing bee saga. Some bloggers contend there has been a rapture of bees, in which God has recalled them to heaven. Last week, leading entomologists met to discuss the most likely causes of bee colony collapse: a virus, fungus or pesticide.

Keep America Beautiful resurrects icon
Adweek reported that Keep America Beautiful, a nonprofit community improvement group, has resurrected its iconic ad symbol, Iron Eyes Cody. Popular ads in the 1970s featured the crying Native American (who was actually not of tribal descent) with a tear running down his cheek. Iron Eyes Cody makes an appearance in a new Web video campaign chronicling the exploits of cartoon hero KAB Man.

Garden Center names Innovator finalist
Congratulations to Chalet, Wilmette, Ill., a finalist for the 2007 Garden Center Magazine Innovator Award, sponsored by Garden Market Expo Chalet was nominated by more retailers than any other finalist. Each one cited Chalet's customer service and merchandising magic. Other strengths that drew the admiration of its peers were its ability to connect with customers through classes and garden programs, its signage and its strong pet department.

View from a blog
A univ. hort program gets a hip PR campaign. Open Register

Worth a visit
Learn to grow the tenacious Peggy Martin rose. A portion of proceeds from sales fund horticulture restoration programs in New Orleans. Only on GreenBeam.com.