APHIS withdraws rule change related to rust
APHIS has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have amended the nursery stock regulations to provide an option in which the post-entry quarantine growing period for articles of Chrysanthemum spp., Leucanthemella serotina and Nipponanthemum nipponicum that are imported from certain locations would have been reduced from 6 months to 2 months. The change would have required the grower of those plants to implement a systems approach in the country of origin to prevent the imported articles from being infected with chrysanthemum white rust. APHIS officials took this action after considering the comments they received following the publication of the proposed rule. Representatives of local and state governments stated that it would be difficult to conduct the required post-entry quarantine inspection and produce the appropriate documentation within the 2-month timeframe.

Mixed containers command higher prices
Container gardens are premium products and should be priced accordingly by growers and retailers, said Terri Starman, Texas AgriLife Research horticulturist. "Charge for the expertise, the time it took to grow them and design them and for the looks." Starman polled consumers about price, harmony of color and info. provided with container gardens. Her study appeared in the April 2008 issue of HortScience. She learned consumers will pay more for a mixed container when it comes with extensive care info. -- something growers need to provide and charge more for the service. Consumers also said they'd return to the garden center to replenish plants in a mixed container. This "filler material" could be another way to market plant material.

OFA Short Course wins award
The OFA Short Course trade show has been named 1 of the 200 largest U.S. trade shows by the annual edition of the Tradeshow Week 200. With nearly 152,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space, the Short Course ranked No. 185 in the U.S. for 2007. In 2006, it ranked No. 194. The 2008 Short Course, July 12-15, will have more than 1,500 spaces and attendance is expected to be approximately 10,000 people. A new focus for this year's show is environmentally responsible products with 5 educational sessions and a Town Hall meeting addressing this issue.

Home Depot calls off 50 store openings
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) announced May 1 that it scrapped plans to open 50 stores and will close 15 underperforming stores in IN, KY, LA, MN, NJ, NY, ND, OH, VT and WI. The decision was made to improve free cash flow and invest in existing stores, according to company reports. Accordingly, it will record a charge of approximately $400 million related to capitalized development costs and ongoing obligations associated with those future store locations. But the company plans to open 55 new stores this year. Aggregate new store capital spending will be reduced by approximately $1 billion over the next 3 years.

Discovering the world of sustainability
Sarah Martinez discovers time, money crunch thwarts her organic gardening efforts. Project: Green Industry

Worth a visit
The Combo Chef shows how to create an all-white planter and another that puts foliage front and center. Only on GreenBeamPro.com.

• OHP
• Southern Living Plant Collection
• NAHSA
• Yoder
• Southeast Greenhouse Conference

OHP, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of Prescription Solutions, where growers can find program solutions to the pest issues they face. Visit www.ohp.com for more details.

Initial Release Purple Diamond® Loropetalum, Purple Pixie ™ Loropetalum, Bigfoot™ Cleyera, Bronze Beauty™ Cleyera, LeAnn™ Cleyera, Spring Sonata™ Indian Hawthorn, Oakland™ Holly, Robin™ Holly.

The North American Horticultural Supply Association is committed to strengthening the horticultural industry supply chain through education, networking and advocacy. Visit us to learn more.

Abundant tropical flowers and bushy foliage all season long. The Sun Parasol® series from Suntory includes flower sizes from 2" minis to 5" giants.