Allison Bruns hadn’t planned on operating a Christmas tree farm, but she’s now in her sixth season and is already seeing repeat customers. Photo courtesy of Misty Ridge Tree Farm
by Sally Colby
When Allison Bruns purchased property in Oregon City, OR, her intention was to use it for her horses. (more…)
John Bzdil at Dries Orchards grows a lot – strawberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears, grapes and apples. Photo by Sally Colby
by Sally Colby
When Ken and Mary Jo Dries determined it was time for someone to start taking over the business management side of their orchard, (more…)
The Wolcyn family grows a variety of trees on more than 1,000 acres. The soil varies among growing sites, with some sandy loam and some lighter soil, which is good for growing conifers, especially firs, but irrigation is necessary. Photo courtesy of Wolcyn Tree Farms
by Sally Colby
Trees are a serious business for the Wolcyn family of Cambridge, MN. (more…)
For over 40 years, Panayoti Kelaidis has served as a curator and director of outreach at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo courtesy of Panayoti Kelaidis
by Enrico Villamaino
For a very long time, landscape architects in the American West had to use what Panayoti Kelaidis dubbed “hand-me-down horticulture.” (more…)
Oriental bittersweet is a threat to native environments by aggressively choking out other woody plants. Photo courtesy of JW Shultz/RISCC
by Courtney Llewellyn
A team of researchers has found that existing regulatory and ethical guidelines are not limiting the widespread introduction of invasive plants. (more…)
(From top left) Siblings Berkeley, Ranann and Zoe Blatter stand behind their parents Ed Blatter and Deby Barnhart. The family runs Cornell Farm Nursery and Cafe. Photo courtesy of Cornell Farm Nursery
by Aliya Hall
When Ed Blatter’s parents asked him and his wife, Deby Barnhart, if they were interested in opening a nursery (more…)
Well-trained, knowledgeable employees can play a major role in providing a great experience for customers. Photo courtesy of Dull’s Tree Farm
by Sally Colby
As soon as a family drives to your Christmas tree farm, they should be thinking about returning next year. Christmas tree growers know one of the main reasons (more…)
Melissa Van Hevelingen of Van Hevelingen Herb Nursery. Located in Newberg, OR, their nursery grows and sells over 150 lavender cultivars, as well as a variety of herbs, unusual perennials and shrubs. Photo courtesy of Van Hevelingen Herb Nursery
by Aliya Hall
Melissa Van Hevelingen of Van Hevelingen Herb Nursery, and her husband, Andy, are simply collectors at heart. (more…)
by Sally Colby
The versatile boxwood, or box tree, is one of the most popular shrubs in America. With dense, dark foliage, boxwoods are ideal for hedges, topiary and accent plantings. But boxwood is threatened by yet another pest: the box tree moth, an invasive pest that has decimated boxwood species in Europe. (more…)
Plant benefits are numerous – and they are a big driver of why customers choose specific plants.
by Courtney Llewellyn
You’ve probably heard customers waffling before when looking at a particular variety of vegetable, flower, fruit or tree. Is it a better fit for their soil or sun exposure? (more…)
Marsha Gray, executive director of the CTPB, presented up-to-date information on national promotion board activities at the summer meeting of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association. Photo by Sally Colby
by Sally Colby
No one had trouble selling Christmas trees last year, but Marsha Gray, executive director (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
Whether it’s computer chips or clay pots, the supply chain for a wide variety of goods – and even services – continues to see massive upheaval. Amidst demand issues, there is also a transformation of the digital ecosystem occurring. Advances in technology, shifts in consumer behavior and the “Amazon effect” have all majorly altered logistics (more…)
