Poinsettias: bust or bonanza?
Some businesses are seeing wilting sales of poinsettias. Others are reaping rewards by offering jazzier versions of this Christmas favorite.
→ Grower sees sales dip. Port Huron Times-Herald
→ Offbeat colors a hit. Bluefield Daily Telegraph
→ Crazy colors rule. Wichita Eagle
→ Alternatives gaining. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Monrovia sequesters camellias
Monrovia Growers has established a 60-acre camellia nursery adjacent to its 900-acre Visalia, Calif. nursery. USDA and Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. hailed the move, which will help prevent possible spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen responsible for sudden oak death. "It is truly a separate entity, across a river and canal from the rest of the nursery and has its own nursery license and compliance agreement," said Monrovia pres. Gilbert Resendez in a statement. "Camellias are now shipped on their own trucks with no other plants from our Visalia nursery." Three years ago SOD was discovered at Monrovia's Azusa, Calif., operation. The company had to destroy all camellias and nearby potential host plants to contain the threat.

GCA launches business barometer project
Garden Centers of America launched a multi-year benchmark project earlier this month. The association plans to routinely gather information on members' sales levels, percentage increase/decrease from the previous year and reasons behind the fluctuations. "One way for our garden center members to increase profitability is to respond to marketplace influences and opportunities by adjusting pricing, inventory levels and operational expenses," said GCA pres. Sandi Hillermann McDonald in a letter to members. Results of anonymous surveys will be available to all members to help gauge the business climate. By 2009, GCA hopes to have a virtual operating cost benchmarking system delivered to members in a real-time format.

Meijer will battle invasive plants
Meijer -- a chain of supercenters in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio -- has teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to battle invasive plants. Meijer will donate $450,000 over the next 3 years to reduce invasive plants and rehabilitate the Lake Michigan shoreline. The company also plans to launch a consumer education campaign this spring in its garden centers. Non-invasive species chosen by Nature Conservancy scientists will be touted. Meijer will also remove two invasives from its inventory: Norway maple and Lombardy poplar.

New perilla supports United Cerebral Palsy
Proceeds from 'Gage's Shadow,' a new perilla from Proven Winners, will support people suffering from cerebral palsy. The plant was bred by Cheryl Baker of The Shed Floral Nursery in Mentone, Ala. Baker's son, Gage, has cerebral palsy. Proven Winners will donate marketing funds received from sales of 'Gage's Shadow' to the local United Cerebral Palsy chapter where Gage receives treatment. 'Gage's Shadow' has black-purple foliage with unusual texture.

Valleybrook Gardens introduces Rock Stars
Valleybrook Gardens introduced a new marketing and branding system to drive sales of alpine plants. Rock Stars is a collection of 150 short, hardy alpine plants that thrive in rock gardens and year-round outdoor containers. Pots, tags, brochures, posters and bench wrap will be available in spring 2007. "We want to encourage younger and less experienced gardeners to enjoy these cool plants without being intimidated," said Valleybrook pres. John Schroeder.

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