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. Solutions Source is a 12-month series providing solutions to the challenges greenhouse growers face today. This month: energy efficiencies. Energy efficiencies. Insects and diseases. Supply costs. Shrinking markets. Outdated facilities. Shipping and freight. Insurance. Regulations. Margins. Weather. Labor. What are the top 12 worst pests, and what can you do about them? Find out, in our Most unWanted Pests Series. Fungal leaf spots Mealybug Rhizoctonia Fungus gnats Bacterial leaf spot Whiteflies Pythium Mites Botrytis Thrips Powdery mildew Aphids Can you name the Top 12 up-and-coming plants, as selected by the people who breed and sell them? We can! It's the "Rising Stars Series". Zinnia Petunia Gaillardia Osteospermum Rudbeckia Echinacea Phlox Grasses Angelonia Dianthus Begonia Coleus What's your dream? GMPRO's "Ultimate Greenhouse Series" explores the future of every greenhouse component. Read all about it! Design and Layout Structures Glazing Environmental Controls Benches Irrigation and Fertilization Cooling Heating Equipment Insect and Disease Control Product Movement Wrapup and Summary Join GMPRO editor David Kuack for a tour of the spring 1999 pack trials. 05/31/99 H.J. Benken Florist and Greenhouse has packed a flair for design into the Cincinnati Flower Show, and netted 200 new customers each year. 07/02/01 Bernecker's Nursery Inc. is a leader in Chamaedorea seifrizzii production. Quality palms separate this South Florida grower from the rest. 02/07/00 Major growing facility upgrades at Browns' Plants increase foliage production, improve crops and save labor. 03/03/03 Learn from C&G Nursery in West Virginia, which uses pot-in-pot production to speed turns. 04/30/01 N. Casertano Greenhouses & Farms designed two marketing programs to make it easier for consumers to know where to plant perennials. 04/28/02 California regulators forced Color Spot to improve its irrigation practices. The result? The company saved money and improved crops. 12/02/02 These attractive containers are the latest craze for advertising specific plants. See what we mean! 09/20/99 How Dramm & Echter has used biological controls on cut flowers for two years. Here's what they've learned. 04/06/99 It's a sad day when you realize your greenhouse and equipment are working against each other. To keep your facilities in sync, follow these six easy steps. 05/03/99 Far West Foliage has become Las Vegas' No. 1 supplier of interior plants, keeping casinos, mass markets and florists green. 02/04/02 Use our comprehensive round-up of the 2002 North American field trials to guide your upcoming growing and selling plans. 09/23/02 Floral Plant Growers capitalizes on custom containers, color bowls and Kmart's Martha Stewart line. 09/18/00 Gilroy Young Plants in Gilroy, Calif., was named a GMPRO Innovator because of its ability to quickly convert a cut rose facility into a bedding plant operation. 10/01/01 Take a hint from Maine's Gingerbread Farm Perennials: Use quirky items as plant containers and customers will go nuts. 02/28/00 Here & Now Garden uses sustainable agriculture to produce fresh cut flowers. Here's how. 06/28/99 Iwasaki Brothers sells specialty crops to specialty customers for extended sales. Here's how. 10/18/99 Jacobson's Plants system ensures foliage plants that survive for the end customer. 08/23/99 Despite its limited size, Mann's Greenhouse keeps chain stores satisfied with specialty plants. 04/02/01 Announcing the 2001 NMPRO Grower of the Year: Peter Orum of Midwest Groundcovers! Read all about what makes this man of action and opportunity special. 11/05/01 Here's what influenced our industry during 1999 -- the same things that should have even more impact during the new millennium! 01/11/00 Is contract growing right for you? Why and how Mountain State Greenhouse made the switch from wholesale. 07/26/99 It's the first Cyberconference of 2001! Join our panel of experts for a deep discussion of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers. 01/15/01 How O.F. Nelson and Sons practices efficient irrigation by using drip and gray water. 03/08/99 Oldham County Nursery's expansion project will soon triple production. 08/06/01 Pacific Plug & Liner chose to retrofit an existing greenhouse operation, to avoid hassles associated with building a brand new facility. 07/24/00 Time to replace your heating system? Follow these tips from Peace Tree Farm to avoid getting hot under the collar. 09/01/03 Peregrine Farm shows that you don't have to be large to be profitable. Quality and marketing skills are the keys to success. 06/26/00 Plants in Design earned everything he could about reverse osmosis before designing and building his own water filtration system. 03/06/00 Pleasant View Gardens increased sales of its Cottage Accents line by 122 percent -- in one year -- through branding and POP. Here's how. 05/01/00 Faced with declining margins for traditional floral crops, Riverview Flower Farm turned to perennials and a drip irrigation system to make a profit. 04/01/02 Seville Farms has built a thriving greenhouse business based on this premise: When it comes to relationships with large retailers, it's all about performance. 06/04/01 Southern Sun BioSystems is developing a new propagation device that could improve germination and rooting. 01/28/02 Recently opened SunBlest Farms is aiming to make a name for itself in Colorado's bustling greenhouse tomatoes market. 12/04/00 Talking Well Farm shows that small cut flower growers can succeed through exceptional quality and service, and by monitoring consumer trends. 04/03/00 What's your dream? Each month GMPRO's "Ultimate Greenhouse Series" explores the future. Design and Layout. 1/04 Val-Al Greenhouses improves the bottom line by retailing and growing specialty products including novelty containers. 02/05/01 Join us where automation reduces labor needs and speeds greenhouse processes, at Van Berkum Nursery in Deerfield, N.H. 12/13/99 Are you ready to make better decisions about the weather inside your greenhouse? Then pay attention to what's happening outside. 12/01/03 Wessells Farm is helping ease its labor pains with equipment and automated systems. 10/16/00 . The nursery business deserves its own action/adventure serial, "The Great Nursery Adventure: A Year in the Life of Greene Family Nursery." Every month the family weathers a new crisis: Winter storm Liner shortage Shipping problems Weed infestation Disease problems Hail and wind Insect Insanity Chemical Spill Immigration Inventory Where some people see a nursery, we see a body of complex parts and systems working together -- the Anatomy of a Nursery Irrigation system Digging and harvesting Shipping yard Canning line Weed control Fertilizer storage and application systems Integrated pest management Soil mixing and storage Chemical mixing, storage and application systems Distribution yard Propagation Overwintering Ready to get ahead? Then join us for Thrive in '05, where we bring the answers to growers' most often-named issues, plus list the top 36 nursery innovators, and these challenges: Automation Loss of agricultural land Marketing Environmental laws Transportation Governmental regulation Employee benefits and health care Weather Water regulations and availability Immigration and labor Profits and margins Fuel costs Hop in! We're heading out for the "Nurseries Across America: 2004 NMPRO's 2004 Great States Tour." Join us in visiting these destinations: Oregon Ohio Florida Connecticut Tennessee Michigan New Jersey Illinois Washington Texas North Carolina California Originally named the American Association of Nurserymen, Florists and Seedsmen, today's American Nursery & Landscape Association will soon celebrate its 125th anniversary. Let's join the celebration! 12/06/99 Outstanding benefits and housing keep Angelica Nurseries employees returning year after year - leading to minimal retraining and a happy workforce. 02/26/01 Announcing NMPRO's 2000 Grower of the Year! Meet Gordon Bailey Jr. of Bailey's Nursery, an unselfish champion of the industry. 11/13/00 At Bamboo Sourcery, an astonishing degree of variety is available with more than 1,000 species of bamboo. 05/06/02 Big Trees Inc. in Columbia Station, Ohio, takes extra steps to ensure customer satisfaction. 07/01/02 NMPRO's 1999 Grower of the Year, Bruce Briggs of Briggs Nursery in Washington, pioneered tissue culture, and he will show you how it's done. 11/08/99 Discover how Centerton Nursery improved cold frame designs to make structures stronger. 01/03/00 Water conservation issues are driving many growers to explore drip irrigation. 08/30/04 El Camino Nursery in California remains a leader in wire-frame topiary through quality craftmanship. 03/27/00 Discover Evergreen Nursery, which thrives on unconventional methods. 02/03/03 Evergreen Nursery Co. is spending $600,000 to upgrade its tissue culture facilities. 09/11/00 Discover four sure-fire ways to boost garden structure sales. 01/22/01 Discover better ways for better days. Learn how Greenbrier Nurseries in West Virginia strives for improved efficiency. 01/29/01 What's the best way to retain water in your growing media? Our growers share their favorite methods. 08/05/02 After two centuries of growing trees and shrubs, Hobbs & Sons is changing to rewholesale. 03/29/99 "To seek and to share." That motto still stands, 50 years after the founding of the International Plant Propagators' Society. A recent celebration marked the event for IPPS members. 10/09/99 ItSaul, a new Georgia nursery, is creating a splash with annuals, perennials and woodies. 04/29/02 Discover Halka Nurseries, which specializes in growing and shipping mammoth trees. 06/30/03 Discover how Home to Garden builds buzz with its eclectic style and out-of-the-ordinary offerings. 03/27/06 An update on what's happening with the nation's largest landscape distribution centers, including Home Depot. 10/28/02 John Deere Landscapes offers customers big-company perks and small-company service. 04/28/03 Is labor availability a problem in your area? Maybe there's something to learn from Kankakee Nursery's approach to the busy season: contract diggers. 05/24/99 Try field Rhododendrons, the Klupenger Nursery way. 04/26/99 Lake Brantley Plant Corp. has an extensive trial program to identify annuals that take the warm, humid Central Florida climate. 07/30/01 Lake Brantley Plant Corp. shows that biological controls don't have to be confined to a greenhouse. 04/24/00 For his many contributions and for being an outspoken leader in the industry, Lancaster Farms' Charlie Parkerson is the 2002 NMPRO Nursery Grower of the Year. 11/04/02 Understanding Latino culture can make you a better leader of your workforce. Follow these suggestions to get the most out of your Hispanic workers. 05/22/00 The 2005 NMPRO Grower of the Year Award goes to Richard VanLandingham of Monrovia Growers -- a great leader for a tough year. 11/08/04 2006 NMPRO Nursery Grower of the Year Ed Overdevest, Overdevest Nurseries, is leading the marketing and immigration charge. 11/06/06 For your growing operation, communication is the key to handling urban encroachment. So says Parrish Nursery. 12/30/02 How Pierson Nurseries produces herbaceous and woody plants for reclamation projects. 10/11/99 Plant Development Services Inc. specializes in creating a stream of new cultivars. 05/29/00 The NMPRO Plant Pavilion at ANLA's summer meeting featured some marvelous new plants. Here's what you might have missed. 07/01/03 Do your plants need more elbow room? Learn from these growers as they share their production expansion experiences. William Flemer III, the soft-spoken nurseryman from New Jersey's Princeton Nurseries whose plant introductions grace landscapes worldwide, was selected by his peers as NMPRO's 1998 Nursery Grower of the Year. 1998 Learn how W.&E. Radtke's label program helps garden centers and consumers alike. 11/06/00 Sawyer Nursery has produced perennials since the 1950s. See how they've changed with the times. 08/16/99 J. Frank Schmidt Jr. is NMPRO's 1997 Nursery Grower of the Year. Over a 50-year period, he converted a few acres and a lot of energy into one of the largest and most innovative nurseries in North America. Schmidt is the founder of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. of Boring, Ore. 1997 Schoharie Nurseries is recovering from years of floods, freezes, droughts and a tornado. Here's what keeps them going. 06/19/00 Learn how Searle Brothers Nursery finds markets and sells species from around the world. 06/21/99 An update on what's happening with the nation's largest landscape distribution centers, including Shemin Nurseries. 10/28/02 Learn how Shemin Nurseries meets landscapers' needs with quality plants and speedy service. 07/19/99 An update on what's happening with the nation's largest landscape distribution centers, including Skinner Nurseries. 10/28/02 The Southern Nursery Association turns 100! Join us for a look back at the start of a tradition. 09/13/99 Southwest Wholesale Nursery thrives on acreage and dedication. 10/28/02 Come find out why we've chosen Dale Deppe of Spring Meadow Nursery as NMPRO's 2003 Grower of the Year! 11/03/03 Discover how Sterling Nursery has used nutrient management plans for a dozen years to save fertilizer costs and improve crops. 03/31/03 Taylor's Nursery aims at the long term when developing new varieties. 03/01/99 Learn what steps you can take to make tree harvesting more efficient. 07/17/00 Van Wilgen's sets an industry standard for innovation, with continous improvement. 03/28/05 War watch: A U.S. Iraq conflict could affect container supplies and prices. 02/17/03 Western Maine Nurseries wanted the right structures for its new woody division. Here's what they decided on. 01/31/00 Learn why Tom Demaline and Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio, are leaders in production and marketing, and NMPRO's 2005 Nursery Grower of the Year. 11/07/05 Wilson Nurseries wants only plants that withstand Kentucky's tough conditions. Here's what stands the test. 10/06/03 What's the secret to quality and control? At Wilson Nurseries, it's keeping an eye on its crops from start to finish. 10/29/01 . Our industry is full of plant people. But store design is outside most retailers' comfort zone. This year we're going back to retail with the Garden Center Design School. Entranceways. Traffic flow. Retailing in a greenhouse. Displays. Merchandising. Cohesive look and feel. Going green. Hot Spots. Attention. Relaxation. Cross-merchandising. Retailing is all about customers. So this year we gathered a panel of shoppers to tell us what they think about you in X-Factor: Consumers. Why do you shop at your garden center? What is your lifestyle like? Do you know your plants? What are your gardening habits? What do you buy? What about non-typical products? What's your shopping experience? What services do you want from your garden center? What are your personal shopping habits? Part 1 What are your personal shopping habits? Part 2 What do you think of mass merchants? Report on a specific garden center. Explore the world of garden centers with us -- to the power of 10 -- with the X-Factor: Secrets to Retail Success series. Holiday products Signs, labels and tags Giftware Containers Water garden products Birding and nature Growing media, mulches, fertilizers Landscape supplies Fountains Wind art Landscape art products Greenhouse retail structures Dig deep into your garden center's departments, in our "Retail in Detail" special feature. It's what works! Birding and Nature Water Gardening Fertilizers, Mulches and Growing Media Trees and Shrubs Tools and Accessories Garden Gifts Garden Basics Containers Garden Structures Perennials Holidays Indoor Gardening Congratulations to Atlantic Garden Center, 2005 recipient of the Garden Center Merchandising & Management / Garden Market Expo Innovator of the Year! 05/23/05 2002's Garden Center Merchandising & Management and Western Expo Innovator Award winner, Bayview Farm & Garden, is fighting to preserve the character and ideals of a community with a no-nonsense practicality. 05/13/02 Angelo Bernacchi Greenhouses Inc. successfully converted production space to selling space. So can you. 10/04/99 September 11 has changed the country's direction. But what effect will it have on 2002's buying habits? Here's what we think. 12/31/01 Calloway's second concept store sets an even higher standard for this Texas garden center chain. 11/27/00 Congratulations to Chalet, 2007 recipient of the Garden Center Magazine / Garden Market Expo Innovator of the Year! 05/28/07 Perplexed by your chemical department? Here's how three garden centers approached the problem. 03/04/02 The 2006 Garden Center Innovator Award goes to DeWayne's Home & Garden Showplace, which owes its success to creativity and tenacity. 05/15/06 Emery's Garden brings together the earth and good gardening. 03/22/99 Fashion in Bloom features the hottest, freshest looks to be featured in 2007. 12/11/06 It's our own Garden Center Showcase. Take a stroll through this concept store highlighting the latest techniques in retail design and merchandising. 11/01/99 Employee policies earned Grandma's Gardens our 2000 Garden Center Innovator Award. Respecting employees is deeply entrenched, delving far beyond normal standards. 06/12/00 At Habersham Gardens, having fun is serious work. The payoff is a booming retail business. 10/02/00 The Green Beam webmaster takes a moment to see what the rear-view mirror reveals about the history of the information superhighway. 11/20/00 Quality products and an attractive setting helped Hollandia Nursery Garden Center increase income threefold. 09/04/00 Discover how Home to Garden builds buzz with its eclectic style and out-of-the-ordinary offerings. 03/27/06 An update on what's happening with the nation's largest landscape distribution centers, including Home Depot. 10/28/02 Discover Jardinerie, where creativity turned existing, uninspiring buildings into upscale garden stores. 09/03/01 Living Color Garden Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., thrives because of the hard work of its owners. 06/14/99 Celebrate and emulate! Announcing this year's Garden Center Innovator Award Winner, Matterhorn Nursery. 05/19/00 Thomas Birt and staff have turned Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery into a rising star. 02/21/00 Are you really ready to make a profit from mixed containers? Here's where to start. 02/19/01 Let Moneta Farm Service show you how to turn awkward hanging baskets into smooth sales. 10/30/00 O'Donal's Nursery challenges the competition with a new barnlike open-air structure and improved indoor selling space. 01/24/00 Outdoor dining is a trend you don't want to miss out on. Come and get it! 07/28/03 What's the outlook for garden centers this year? Here's what more than 500 of our Garden Center magazine readers told us in our Outlook 2004 Survey. (PDF file) 07/28/03 Pasquesi Home and Gardens raises the design bar with its latest store. 10/29/07 A new Portland store, Poppybox Gardens, strives for a unique customer experience. 06/03/02 Through the years, a quiet, sleepy town has been transfused with new wealth. Here's how Poundridge Nurseries maintained its old-style attitude while adapting to a new situation. 05/15/00 How L.A. Reynolds Garden Showcase grew from $500,000 to $2.9 million in just eight years. 08/09/99 Wholesale grower Riverbend Nursery tells you what you need to know to get started with retailing perennials. 07/21/99 Sandstone Gardens proves that beauty and service make a winning combination. 04/19/99 Travel to Sheridan Nurseries' Toronto store, and learn the secret of handling high volume in small spaces. 11/29/99 Meet Garden Center Magazine's 2004 Innovator of the Year! Sickles Market is a small store with a mighty profit. 05/17/04 Southern Homes & Gardens excels by letting departments do their own thing. See what happens when divided departments achieve unified results. 03/05/01 How do your prices compare? Check out our Spring 2003 Price Surveys: 2003, 2004. Here's something you can use to breathe a touch of life and magic into your garden art: Statuary. 07/10/00 Discover how Swansons Nursery turned tension with its neighborhood into an opportunity for improvement. 09/02/02 We uncovered the ultimate in upscale garden accessories, in the heart of New York City., Treillage. 09/06/99 An examination of recent trends shows a shift in shopping habits is both a boon and a challenge to garden centers. 11/27/06 It's time to look at Trends 2003. Your customer, industry developments, inside the garden center, product trends, hot colors, and more! 01/06/03 We're looking forward to the good ol' days, all the way through 2001! Check the coming year's trends, as we see 'em. 01/08/01 Connecticut's Twombly Nursery has a far-reaching reputation as a plant lover's nursery, stemming from its inventory, its owners and its staff. 03/20/00 Weston Gardens in Bloom sells natives and perennials with brilliant display gardens. 04/17/00 Meet Wildseed Farms, Garden Center Magazine's Innovator of the Year for 2001! Find out why, and how you can use their innovations in your own area. 05/14/01 Garden Center magazine is proud to announce its 1999 Garden Center Innovator award winner, Wilson Farms. 05/17/99

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