Kym Pokorny

Achieving better soil with less toil

By Kym Pokorny — Posted May 22, 2025

Growers using cover crops say they improve soil aeration and nutrients, resulting in better plants

Some annuals are better than others when it comes to attracting pollinators

By Kym Pokorny — Posted January 27, 2025

With concern for pollinators on the rise, the demand for annuals that provide nourishment for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies is growing.

Drakes Crossing Nursery

By Kym Pokorny — Posted November 30, 2023

Jan Hupp and his wife Cindy use a team approach to nourishing his mother’s thriving dream.

Ever since the first Farwest Show in 1973, right up to this year’s 50th anniversary, the nursery industry that comes together, grows together Every August, thousands of nursery professionals kick the dirt off their boots and head for the Oregon Convention Center, where the Farwest Show offers them a chance to show off their best […]

Natives shine on

By Kym Pokorny — Posted April 20, 2023

Thanks to climate change, sales of drought-tolerant, pollinator-loving native perennials are enjoying their time in the sun Concern for the environment and pollinators is inspiring gardeners to add native plants to their landscape. At the same time, climate change is driving an ongoing increase in demand for heat- and drought-tolerant natives. Sustainable landscaping with native […]

Low-water lawn alternatives

By Kym Pokorny — Posted January 30, 2023

Miniclover, ecolawn and a variety of groundcovers grow landscapes that are green and drought tolerant Expansive lawns in Europe and the rising popularity of golf in the late 1900s launched America’s obsession with a perfect plot of grass. The invention of the rotary mower and the development of climate-adapted grass varieties made a landscape of […]

Evans Farms LLC

By Kym Pokorny — Posted November 29, 2022

Cindy Lou Evans Pease, owner of Evans Farms LLC, stands in front of the barn designed by her father, Eldon Evans, when he was just 17 years old. Photo by Peter Szymczak IN 1857, A DETERMINED IMMIGRANT from Germany found his way to the lush land around Oregon City. Every day, Christian Frederick Vonderahe walked […]

Hot, hardy hydrangeas

By Kym Pokorny — Posted September 12, 2022

The historic heat dome of June 2021 left homeowners panicked about their crispy hydrangeas and wondering how the plant can thrive as climate change continues to bring unprecedented weather events. Even before last year’s record-breaking temperatures, breeders saw the effects of climate change and began selecting for better heat and
cold tolerance.

Growth from above

By Kym Pokorny — Posted April 20, 2022

Nurseries explore new uses for drones, from inventory to scouting to spray treatment Initially a tool for the military and aviation hobbyists, unmanned aerial systems — better known as drones — have a wide range of applications. Filmmakers, search and rescue, farmers and ranchers, surveyors, even archeologists find uses for them. Will the nursery industry […]

A green renewal

By Kym Pokorny — Posted January 25, 2022

Trend watchers say green is the hot color, which has implications for garden retailers Whether muted or bright, foliage or flower, color drives the nursery industry, and many trend settlers say green is the Color of the Year for 2022. The first announcement came at last summer’s Cultivate’21 trade show from Garden Media Group, a […]