The March 2023 issue of Digger takes a deep dive into the nursery industry’s use of water, the essential input for the propagation and growth of plant material. Columns: Growing Knowledge, an ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the USDA and in partnership with OAN. Download a PDF of this issue. Please […]
High times for low-water plants
By
— PostedRetail garden centers increasingly turn to drought-tolerant varieties that beat the heat The summer of 2015 was a turning point in the Northwest, which suffered the longest heat wave in 75 years. Portland had more days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit than any other year in recorded history up to that time. That year marked a […]
The lifeblood of our industry
By
— PostedThe Water Issue is one of the most pertinent Digger efforts to serve our membership. We hope that how we lay out the issues makes sense and provides some context of the dynamics we are facing at the state and federal levels. Our industry stretches the water resource farther than most of those involved in […]
Finding new answers
By
— PostedHave you ever tried catching an octopus? On the small island of Tonga, octopus is a delicacy. To catch the octopus, local fishers use a lure called a “makafeke.” This lure is simple in design, with only a round stone and a couple large seashells that are fastened to a rope. As the fisher paddles […]
February 2023: Greenhouse Issue ’23
By
— PostedThe February 2023 issue of Digger takes a look at the people, products and processes that make Oregon the gold standard of greenhouse production today. Columns: Growing Knowledge, an ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the USDA and in partnership with OAN. Download a PDF of this issue. Please send your comments […]
Low-water lawn alternatives
By
— PostedMiniclover, 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 […]
OAN Member Profile: Oregon Flowers Inc.
By
— PostedThe Meskers family comes from generations of bulb producers in Holland. Since Martin Meskers emigrated from Holland to Oregon, he has grown a wholesale cut flower business called Oregon Flowers Inc. The business ships approximately 6.5 million stems per year to nearly all 50 states, mostly to the West Coast and the Northeast. Company president […]
Dogging your voles
By
— PostedResearchers explore whether hounds can assist in timely vole management By Dana Sanchez and Nick Andrews In the big picture, burrowing animals contribute significantly to natural ecosystems and the soils on which our own economies and lives depend. Burrowers contribute to soil aeration, provide nutrients and soil organic matter, participate in redistributing nutrients to the […]
Perpetuating the popularity of pollinator plants
By
— PostedWe are now into the second month of a new year, and a reflection into the past year reminds us just how unpredictable the weather is — and how much the garden business depends upon the weather. Looking back at 2022, there were many weather extremes. Parts of western Oregon had snow in March, then […]
Speaking for the trees
By
— PostedRecently, I found myself thinking about the classic children’s book “The Lorax,” written by Dr. Seuss. In his typical writing fashion, Dr. Seuss weaves profound lessons within the book’s fun and whimsical pages. In this story we meet two polarizing characters: the Once-ler, a greedy industrialist who made a living by cutting down beautiful truffula […]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 27
- Next Page »