Digger magazine

Where gardeners turn for answers

By Mike Darcy — Posted July 26, 2019

Garden centers typically can offer their customers several advantages that big box stores can’t fully duplicate. One of these is the ability to provide customers with valid, localized information about the challenges they face. When I ask my neighbors, friends and other gardeners where they would go if they had a question about a problem […]

Where plants, growth and networking thrive

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 26, 2019

Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a treasure trove of rich and vibrant soil, clean water and a climate that is perfect for growing nursery stock. Growers of all sizes have brought the Oregon nursery and greenhouse industry from mostly a local enterprise to national and even global prominence. That’s not bad for an industry that arrived […]

Welcome to Farwest

By Mike Hiller — Posted July 26, 2019

Welcome to our Farwest Edition of Digger magazine. The Farwest Show is a time for our members to showcase what is new and display all of the high-quality plant material from the Northwest. I hope you have already made your plans to attend, but if not, I hope you will consider coming to see the […]

In memoriam: William H. “Bill” McCoy

By Bill Goloski — Posted July 17, 2019

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the passing of William H. “Bill” McCoy, owner of McCoy’s Nursery in Sandy, Oregon. He died July 8, 2019, at the age of 82, following a short battle with cancer. The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the passing of William H. “Bill” McCoy, owner […]

George Anderson, founder of Anderson Pots, passes away

By Curt Kipp — Posted July 1, 2019

A memorial service will be held later this month for George Anderson, founder of Anderson Die & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Oregon. He passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of July 1 at his home in southwest Portland. He was 98 years old. George was a key driver behind the Oregon nursery industry’s […]

July 2019

By Bill Goloski — Posted June 25, 2019

Growers share their favorite selections of small trees, conifers and weepers that consumers are looking for, but are still feasible to produce in wholesale quantities. Also in this issue, Amanda Staehely of Columbia Nursery talks about being a member of OAN leadership, and researchers provide a helpful guide for managing pests causing irrigation drip tape […]

Solving irrigation drip tape damage

By Jana Lee — Posted June 24, 2019

Managing the pests that are causing the problems Who has been chewing through our irrigation tape? A grower contacted us after detecting a large number of irrigation leaks of uncertain origin. The grower found holes in the tubes where the leaks had occurred. Many of the holes showed frayed edges and were less than 1 […]

Satisfying in small spaces

By Tracy Ilene Miller — Posted June 24, 2019

Trees, conifers and weepers that fit the bill with beauty, versatility and easy maintenance Smaller yards haven’t changed homeowners’ need for shade or beauty. But, they have changed what will fit into a yard, which has changed the market and by extension, growers’ business focus. We asked growers to share favorite selections of small trees, […]

Meet the Leader: Amanda Staehely

By Bill Goloski — Posted June 24, 2019

Tell us about yourself. I grew up in a family fully immersed in the nursery industry. My parents own Simnitt Nursery, a wholesale plant nursery in Canby, Oregon that specializes in rhododendrons and Pieris. As a kid I saw my dad go to Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) meetings, get involved with the different boards […]

Lessons from a rebrand

By Ian Doescher — Posted June 24, 2019

Tillamook Creamery — and the cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and butter it produces — is an Oregon Coast institution with international reach. Its products are available around the globe. I’m passionate about Tillamook cheese. It’s the only cheese I will buy, and their ice cream is a treat. Recently, in celebration of their 110th anniversary, […]