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

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

Positive signs for garden centers

By Mike Darcy — Posted December 1, 2016

Retailers are looking to build on last year’s strong sales by capitalizing on the key trends for 2017.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Consumer trends, Digger, Digger magazine, Home gardening, Plants

Trees and shrubs for fall color

By Mike Darcy — Posted October 3, 2016

With the Pacific Northwest’s superb growing climate, fall is a great season to plant something.

Filed Under: Mike Darcy Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Landscaping, Plants

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