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You are here: Home / Archives for Columns / Mike Darcy

Ferns … not just a fancy frond

By Mike Darcy — Posted July 31, 2018

A friend that was recently visiting my garden commented that I had quite a few containers with ferns. Until he said it, I had not really noticed. The next day as I walked around my garden, I realized that it was true.  I have been gradually adding ferns into my garden. Was this just me, or […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, ferns, Home gardening, Landscaping, Retail Nurseries

Are olives viable for Oregon?

By Mike Darcy — Posted May 25, 2018

With a column title like What I’m Hearing, I am always listening for new ideas, new plants, trends in garden centers and new plant trials. Recently in a conversation with Ann Murphy, a communications and marketing manager at Oregon State University (OSU), I learned that the OSU North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Mike Darcy, olives

Don’t overlook these late bloomers

By Mike Darcy — Posted March 27, 2018

Don’t overlook these late bloomers During the busy spring months, when customers are buying nearly everything that is in bloom, they might overlook plants that don’t show off their color until late summer. I have many plants in my garden that are just coming into peak flower in August and September. Whenever we open our […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Mike Darcy, Retail Nurseries

Inspiration in other gardens

By Mike Darcy — Posted January 30, 2018

Whenever I visit other people’s gardens, particularly at the start of the year, the conversation often turns to two questions. What new plants I am going to buy? And what were my favorite plants of the past season? I do not really have favorite plants for a season, but I might have a favorite plant […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Mike Darcy, Plants, Retail Nurseries

Specializing in the unique

By Mike Darcy — Posted December 6, 2017

They would never be called a “garden center.” They would not be a place to go to for buying annuals in the spring. They have very few hard goods; it is unlikely that a customer would find garden chemicals, fertilizers, gloves and other items. Their locations are usually not in a metro area and they […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Mike Darcy, Plants, Retail Nurseries

Open gardens, open minds

By Mike Darcy — Posted October 1, 2017

Gardening is a constantly changing hobby for many of us. When we visit garden centers, we are often not only buying plants that are familiar to us, but we are on the lookout for something new. Many private gardens have signature plants that might be a tree or shrub, or perhaps it is a plant(s) […]

Filed Under: Columns, Mike Darcy Tagged With: Business, Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Mike Darcy, Operations, Plants, Retail Nurseries

Stepping outside the box

By Mike Darcy — Posted August 1, 2017

From produce stands and cafés, to expanded product lines and cooking demonstrations, retail garden centers are trying novel approaches to attract new customers.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Business, Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, Operations, Plants, Retail Nurseries

Little vanguards of the garden

By Mike Darcy — Posted June 1, 2017

Schools and retail garden centers can help nurture a new generation of plant lovers.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Business, Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, Edibles, Education, Home gardening, Marketing, Operations, People, Plants, Retail Nurseries

Ready, set, spring!

By Mike Darcy — Posted April 3, 2017

After a harsh winter in the Pacific Northwest, retail garden centers better be prepared for a rush of eager gardeners.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Business, Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, Edibles, Home gardening, Landscaping, Plants, Retail Nurseries

A night for plant nerds

By Mike Darcy — Posted February 1, 2017

Gardeners eager for spring’s arrival will rejoice when Plant Nerd Night returns for a 16th consecutive year.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Business, Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, People, Plants, Retail Nurseries

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NURSERY NEWS

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

Eason Horticultural Resources is now employee-owned

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

Building trust is key to establishing clientele base for new nurseries

Five owners share their experiences on what it takes to start a nursery businesses

Bailey hires new CFO and chief HR officer

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

May 2025: Sustainability Issue

April 2025: The Tree Issue

March 2025: The Perennial Issue

February 2025: The Greenhouse Issue

January 2025: The Retail Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

$250,000 shifted to P. austrocedri research

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Sense of excitement prevailed at Farwest as nursery industry ‘Meets the Future’ 

Farwest Show attendees select favorites for the Retailers’ Choice Awards

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins People’s Choice balloting at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

Hopper Bros. wins Best in Show booth award at 2024 Farwest Show   

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins Judges’ Best in Show at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

Meet the leader: Sam Pohlschneider

OAN honors the industry’s best

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

More member stories

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