Digger magazine

The (not so) big chill

By Jon Bell — Posted July 26, 2023

Plant sales have cooled off since the highs of the COVID era, but 2023 is shaping up strongly so far for the green industry It got cold in Atlanta this past winter. One day in December, the mercury topped out at a frigid 7 degrees. “I can’t ever remember a single-digit day since I moved […]

Hot for Hinoki

By Emily Hoard — Posted July 26, 2023

In Japanese, Hinoki literally translates to “fire tree.” Like its namesake, Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) lights up the landscape. An evergreen conifer with an upright form that resembles a burning fire, Hinoki has a slow growth habit that fits well in small landscapes, including residential gardens.

Open season for open gardens

By Mike Darcy — Posted July 26, 2023

Visiting gardens is a great way to see how other gardeners use plants in unique combinations, and also for socializing with other gardeners. But probably my favorite reason to go is to see and learn about plants that are new to me. Fortunately, the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO) offers members like me the […]

Farwest turns 50

By Kym Pokorny — Posted July 26, 2023

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 […]

An immersive experience

By Todd Nelson — Posted July 26, 2023

Last month, Las Vegas showcased its newest attraction. The Sphere at The Venetian Resort was turned on for the very first time. The sphere is 366 feet high and 516 feet wide. With a total of 875,000 square feet, it will be the largest spherical building anywhere in the world. The exterior uses 1.2 million […]

July 2023: New Varieties Showcase Preview

By Peter Szymczak — Posted June 21, 2023

Articles in the July 2023 issue of Digger magazine showcase various ways to grow your green industry business bigger, better, faster and stronger! The July issue also contains a special 16-page insert previewing the Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase, featuring the newest and best innovations in horticulture coming to garden centers in 2023 and beyond. […]

Connecting with optimism

By Todd Nelson — Posted June 21, 2023

Graduations, family gatherings, cookouts and fireworks. These are events, celebrations or things that make the transition from spring to summer the best. During this time our extended family from all over the country comes together to eat good food, stay up too late, laugh until it hurts as we celebrate Independence Day, birthdays and family […]

Tracking the plant shopper’s journey

By Heather Cyrus — Posted June 21, 2023

Dr. Bridget Behe, horticultural marketing expert, answers questions about her can’t-miss Farwest Show seminars on the art and science of selling plants. Dr. Bridget Behe is a marketing professional who has taught marketing and management to horticulture undergraduates at Michigan State University since 1997. She maintains an active consumer research program to investigate how and […]

Branching out with banking relationships

By Jon Bell — Posted June 21, 2023

Financing for the nursery industry can be tricky without a few financial friends Any business faces challenges, but nurseries have a unique set all to themselves. There’s nature to contend with, a perpetual shortage of labor, and the fact that crops planted today won’t be ready to sell, in many cases, for years. And when […]

Maximalist gardening goes big

By Debbie Teashon — Posted June 21, 2023

Maximalist garden design has two main principles: going bold and going big. Maximalism has found many adopters in the gardening community, but it’s not limited to gardens. It also applies to graphic design, home décor and other design-related fields. Maximalist gardeners plant as much as they can in the soil, experimenting with color combinations and […]