Burton + Burton buys Pacific Rim customer list
Burton + Burton purchased the customer list, trademark and domain names of the now-defunct Pacific Rim Import Corp. Burton + Burton will be contacting former customers of Pacific Rim in the coming weeks. "With our showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago, we can help any retailer seeking an international importer of the types of products formerly provided by Pacific Rim," said Steve Casso, Burton + Burton g.m. Pacific Rim's financial difficulties came to a head earlier this year, forcing the company to go into receivership and liquidate assets.

Wal-Mart scales back expansion
Wal-Mart will open fewer superstores this year than planned, USA Today reported. The company will open 190-200 Supercenters during its current 2008 fiscal year. Previously, Wal-Mart announced it would open 265-270 Supercenters in FY 2008. The move will save $1.5 billion in capital expenditures.

Goats recruited for kudzu fight
Kudzu — the vine that ate the South — is facing a formidable foe, The New York Times reported. Goats are being used to clear land overrun with these tenacious vines. This unusual tactic has inspired a folk ballad and plenty of jokes. However, many are lauding this environmentally friendly eradication effort.

Garden center touts trees in art exhibit
Chalet is supporting Chicago's summerlong art exhibit: "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet." More than 100 sculpted globes are being displayed along the city's lakefront from the Field Museum to Navy Pier through September. Chalet's globe, "Plant Trees," was created by Chicago artist Carlos J. Jimenez and features a 3-ft. tree held by hands made of mesh wire, fabric and acrylic resins. Chalet received the 2007 Garden Center Magazine Innovator Award sponsored by Garden Market Expo.

Ball to offer nursery stock
Ball Horticultural Co. recently introduced Ball Ornamentals, a line of trees, shrubs and perennials. The plants come in a variety of forms, including bare root and liners. The product roster includes Lady in Red ninebark and Fireball Red red tip photina.

Pink lawn flamingos are reborn
Love them or hate them, pink lawn flamingos will be around for years to come. The birds' demise was predicted when Union Products, the original maker of pink flamingos, went out of business. The flamingos got a new chance at life earlier this month when Union Products' assets were acquired by HMC Int'l. The birds will continue to be produced at its Rome, N.Y., facility. The pink flamingo was created in 1957 by Union Products designer Don Featherstone. He won the 1997 Ignoble Art Prize for his kitschy icon. (800) 327-3676.

Money Magazine promotes landscaping value
Landscape improvements increase home value, Money Magazine reported in its June issue. The article cites research from a Mich. St. Univ. study, funded by HRI. The study found, depending on where the house is located, high-quality landscaping adds 5% to 11% to its price.

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