tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40795066220290179222012-01-24T12:13:50.989-08:00Nursery news updates from the staff of Digger magazine, the voice of the Northwest nursery industry for more than 50 years.Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.comBlogger6411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-76555406328360839022012-01-20T15:46:00.000-08:002012-01-20T16:00:22.638-08:00

Welcome to our second State of Perfection videos for 2012. This one features Robinson Nursery in Amity, Ore. Owner Rick Robinson and sons Chris and Josh are all featured in this video. They discuss a few of the many varieties of trees they ship to East Coast growers, who then finish them for the marketplace. Trees featured in the video include Heritage river birch, Kindred Spirit oak, and dwarf

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-86090078161067618992012-01-20T15:02:00.000-08:002012-01-20T15:02:38.984-08:00

Elin R. Dowd, former president of Monrovia Growers, announced her decision to pursue a new career opportunity with China’s leading horticultural company, Zhejiang Senhe Seed Company Ltd., effective January 1, 2012. Senhe, one of the largest plant growers in China, selected Dowd for her proven track record as a leading executive in the horticultural industry, most recently as president of American

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-60041600718370794342012-01-17T13:04:00.000-08:002012-01-17T13:04:21.917-08:00

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is now accepting concept proposals for the next round of the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Those interested in applying for a grant can take part in one of two upcoming webinars. The first will be at 10 a.m. this Friday, Jan. 20. Another will be held a week later, at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27. Online registration for both seminars is now

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-52093898027607365312012-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:002012-01-17T10:27:54.693-08:00

Kathie Dello, deputy director of the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University, will be the keynote speaker at the 20th annual High Desert Green Industry Conference. It will be held Wednesday–Thursday, Feb. 8–9, at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore. The conference is geared for those who supply, design, maintain or manage landscapes in the Intermountain West. Dello, the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-83564685628551567052012-01-16T16:02:00.000-08:002012-01-16T16:02:53.104-08:00

Do you use QR codes to help market your business? A new study by Chadwick Martin Bailey indicates they may be gaining some traction. About half of the people surveyed reported they had scanned a code, while 18 reported they had made a purchase after scanning. Of those who scanned, 70 percent said it was pretty easy to do. That's good news for marketers who have been trying to encourage consumers

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-7865525351406445612012-01-13T11:36:00.000-08:002012-01-13T14:27:23.377-08:00

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to close hundreds of offices nationwide, including four in Oregon. Three are Farm Service Agency offices. FSA issued this press release today announcing meetings where officials will take public comment on the proposed closures:USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that Lynn Voigt, state executive director for Oregon

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-70531068779734362372012-01-13T08:55:00.001-08:002012-01-13T09:15:28.803-08:00

Welcome to the first of our State of Perfection videos for 2012. This one features Crispin's Creations Nursery in Molalla, Ore. and owner Crispin Silva, who has developed several unique plants with outstanding features. Such plants include his patented Fragrant Fountain snowbell, as well as his patented Summer Gold dogwood. Watch the video to see their stunning beauty. You can read more about

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-19500046725468620682012-01-10T13:16:00.000-08:002012-01-10T13:16:01.208-08:00

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that the USDA is closing some 250 offices across the country, including 131 Farm Service Agency offices. The closures will save $150 million per year and are part of the across-the-board federal budget cuts. "We must innovate, modernize and be better stewards of the taxpayers' dollars," Vilsack told members of the American Farm Bureau

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-35182806297586498192012-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:30:46.329-08:00

When it comes to nurseries, Oregon is The State of Perfection. That's why the January issue of Digger is dedicated to four of Oregon's outstanding wholesale nurseries. The issue takes you inside four top growers so you can see how and why Oregon's nurseries excel at what they do:Crispin's Creations Nursery in Molalla,Robinson Nursery in Amity,Highland Heather in Canby, andYoungblood Nursery in

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-39677124641565818802012-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:10:11.783-08:00

For five years, scientists have puzzled over the origin of colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is believed responsible for a decline in the honeybee populations that many agricultural producers depend upon. Now it appears that a scientist at San Francisco State University may have discovered one possible culprit quite by accident. He uncovered an insect parasite, Apocephalus borealis, which

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-27352786624987763892012-01-04T08:46:00.000-08:002012-01-05T09:09:44.502-08:00

They're called extension agents, but these days, maybe "over-extended" agents would be more appropriate. The Capital Press reports that extension agents who retire or take on different duties aren't being replaced as often as they used to be. Meanwhile, some are being asked to take on double duty as both regional extension administrators and experiment station directors. As one might expect, the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-61421389699686628612012-01-03T13:15:00.000-08:002012-01-03T13:15:22.917-08:00

Cylindrocladium buxicola, a fungal blight afflicting boxwood shrubs, recently has been detected in several East Coast states. Experts believe it came over from Europe on infected plant material. At 8 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday morning, Jan. 5, Kelly Ivors of North Carolina State University will hold a free webinar to address this disease threat. To participate, simply log on to http://

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-30420158209256288372012-01-03T12:54:00.000-08:002012-01-03T12:54:29.230-08:00

Most agree that from time to time, plant quarantines are needed to protect against invasive species, pests and pathogens. But what happens when a quarantine is no longer needed, or it no longer conform to the best available practices? According to Dan Hilburn, plant division administrator at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the answer, all too often, is "nothing." His recent post explores

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-70509630734165270482011-12-27T11:20:00.000-08:002012-01-05T08:43:59.934-08:00

Rick Anderson (left) has been named the new president of Anderson Die & Manufacturing, the Portland-based maker of injection-molded nursery containers and band pots, effective Jan. 1, 2012. He takes over from his father, George Anderson (right), who founded the company in 1954 and will continue to serve as chairman. From the official announcement:Rick's background includes a business and

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-5979705200757158402011-12-20T14:17:00.000-08:002011-12-20T14:17:24.116-08:00

Reports indicate that a new fungal blight of boxwood has been detected in the Eastern United States. Cylindrocladium buxicola was isolated recently and confirmed by USDA in North Carolina, Maryland and other locations. The disease can have severe effects on boxwood, causing rapid and severe defoliation. It was first detected in the U.K. and had spread through Europe and New Zealand in 1998.At

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-10410669378614508162011-12-15T08:20:00.000-08:002011-12-15T08:20:41.832-08:00

This well-written story by Aaron Mesh of Willamette Week takes you inside a helicopter Christmas tree harvest at Yule Tree Farms, and shows you the economic and social impact of this home-grown Oregon industry.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-29646477440083967912011-12-14T13:04:00.000-08:002011-12-14T13:05:59.675-08:00

In this Wall Street Journal video, Tamar Jacoby of ImmigrationWorks USA takes a look at Arizona v. United States could mean — not just the predicted outcome, but future workforce needs and how a court ruling could affect them.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-48260493436845746512011-12-14T09:35:00.000-08:002011-12-14T09:35:44.524-08:00

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will take up the issue of state-based immigration enforcement in 2012, setting up a major showdown over the future course of U.S. immigration policy. The justices will hear arguments, pro and con, over the constitutionality of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, but the case is likely to set a precedent that determines the fate of other, similar laws

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-63002214940411839362011-12-06T16:18:00.001-08:002011-12-06T16:18:58.935-08:00

Natural Christmas trees already are more environmentally and socially responsible than artificial plastic trees. But now, there's a program for Christmas tree growers who go the extra mile.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-81231794649783212242011-12-06T13:50:00.001-08:002011-12-06T14:00:01.929-08:00

Wonderful, colorful phormiums are the featured plant in the December issue of Digger, which has been mailed to subscribers. You can also read it in our new flipbook format or read articles individually as PDFs:Flax appeal (PDF) — These phormium selections offer interesting structure and dazzling colorsDeep Roots (PDF) — Anderson Die and Manufacturing has been making nursery pots for five

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-32127118114609411762011-11-22T14:35:00.001-08:002011-11-22T15:07:41.805-08:00

The Rogerson Clematis Collection Botanical Garden soon will be more beautiful and more accessible to disabled users, thanks to a grant from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust-USA. The $10,000 award, announced today, will pay for construction of several hundred feet of pathways, which will be built to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Grant funds also will pay for

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-67253920354463488272011-11-17T15:54:00.001-08:002011-11-18T08:10:59.615-08:00

The New York Times reports that several Alabama legislators and officials are having second thoughts about the state's controversial immigration law. Some are calling for tweaks, while others are asking for outright changes. The law remains popular among residents, so it's not likely that it will be repealed entirely, in spite of the reported impacts. In the month and a half the law has been in

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-5758864941166182972011-11-14T13:54:00.001-08:002011-11-14T13:57:09.871-08:00

The Oregon Association of Nurseries will present three hours of grower seminars from noon–3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the NW Ag Show. The show runs Jan. 24–26 at the Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive, Portland, Ore. Your paid seminar registration includes admission to the expo floor. The seminars are as follows:Noon–1:10 p.m. — A Systems Approach for Managing Nursery Diseases and

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-52640169170179477342011-11-14T07:43:00.001-08:002011-11-14T07:46:07.144-08:00

Regular Digger magazine feature writer Elizabeth Petersen has penned an article on the benefits of organic Christmas trees for Organic Gardening magazine. Head on over there and check it out.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-89729115984606908332011-11-10T09:26:00.001-08:002011-11-10T09:39:15.232-08:00

If you want to hear about rhododendrons from an expert grower, Monday's your chance. Mike Stewart, co-owner of Dover Nursery and grower of more than 1,000 varieties, will give a one-hour talk at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 (2011) at the Milwaukie Center (directions). It is part of the regular lecture series put on by the Clackamas Master Gardeners. We'll be featuring Mike and other rhody growers in

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-53024692753714650432011-11-09T15:47:00.000-08:002011-11-09T15:48:03.521-08:00

Just one day after it was announced, USDA officials have decided to delay implementation of a 15-cents-per-tree marketing fee to pay for the promotion of natural grown Christmas trees. Growers in favor of the plan hope to launch a campaign to promote a preference for natural over artificial trees. Such an effort could be similar to the "Got milk?" campaign for dairy, "It's what's for dinner" for

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-90634272298303717522011-11-09T13:27:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:29:53.457-08:00

Voters in his Phoenix-area district have recalled Sen. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa, Ariz.), the Arizona senate president who wrote and successfully passed Senate Bill 1070. The state law made unauthorized immigration a criminal offense at the state level, allowing police to stop people suspected of being an illegal immigrant, and demand proof of their legal status. Though currently tied up in the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-14145186484854895862011-11-08T15:25:00.000-08:002011-11-08T15:25:26.644-08:00

A Canadian farmer, Nelson Henderson, once said, "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." How about a gazebo made of living trees — one that takes 60 years to grow? A Swedish architecture firm, Visiondivision, designed such a structure for Politecnico de Milano, a university for engineers, architects and industrial designers based in Milan, Italy.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-76024287382573241622011-11-03T09:02:00.000-07:002011-11-03T09:02:37.860-07:00

As you drive around the Pacific Northwest or other regions, have you ever noticed that the makeup of the forest changes when you drive from region to region, gain or lose elevation, or cross over a mountain pass? This phenomenon is real, and it happens due to microclimates. Scientists at three Northwest universities took this logic the next step, theorizing that as climate change occurs, it

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-88606060757931513302011-11-02T16:18:00.000-07:002011-11-02T16:19:29.268-07:00

The November issue of Digger is now online and — if you're a subscriber — in your mailbox. As we explained last month, there are now two ways to view the magazine online. One way is our new flipbook format — just load the magazine on your screen and flip the pages with your mouse. Click here to try it! The other way is to read PDFs of individual articles. Here are some of the highlights for

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-19352375302647478032011-11-02T09:48:00.000-07:002011-11-02T09:48:58.361-07:00

The Water Education Alliance for Horticulture is offering an upcoming series of nine free, 45-minute webinars on various irrigation-related topics. The webinars begin Nov. 29, and run every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Pacific time (noon Eastern) through Feb. 7, 2012. Several experts at universities and companies will give presentations on topics to help growers conserve, recirculate, and treat irrigation

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-21473802577002538872011-11-02T09:18:00.000-07:002011-11-02T09:29:56.759-07:00

Landscapers, watch where you're mowing. A maintenance worker at a North Akron, Ohio school learned this lesson the hard way when he ran over a softball-sized rock. The stone was sent flying, richocheted off a wall, crashed through a classroom window, flew over the heads of numerous students, and struck a fourth-grade girl in the head while she was standing at the teacher's desk. She was fortunate

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-88755883822367350472011-11-01T11:24:00.000-07:002011-11-01T11:24:32.314-07:00

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a free webinar Thursday, Dec. 15 on the agency’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. It will take place 11 a.m.–noon PST. Guest speaker Trista Etzig, manager of the grant program, will give an introduction to the program and explain how to apply. The grants are given to projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-82018289421914902462011-10-25T08:38:00.000-07:002011-10-25T08:38:59.323-07:00

Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Read, international trade reporter at The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.), takes a look at the possible causes and the impact of the recently resolved U.S.-Mexico trucking dispute, which resulted in high tariffs on U.S.-grown Christmas trees and other products. According to Read, politics may explain why Christmas trees and certain other goods got entangled in a trucking

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-75363471948417841502011-10-24T12:26:00.000-07:002011-10-24T12:27:09.220-07:00

It was just over three years ago — August 11, 2008 — when we launched this blog and expanded the web presence of Digger magazine. The introduction of regular blog posts allowed us to update the news when the situation demanded, not just when we published a new monthly issue of the magazine. Tthe World Wide Web, however, is not a place known for standing still, and neither should we. The planning

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-85602162795482130192011-10-21T13:31:00.000-07:002011-10-24T13:15:21.438-07:00

The following press release was issued this afternoon by the Oregon Association of Nurseries:Oregon Christmas tree growers praise end to retaliatory tariffsMexico has officially ended the last of the retaliatory tariffs imposed two years ago on American Christmas trees and other products being shipped into that country.Mexico had imposed the long list of tariffs in March 2009, after U.S.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-80233501579477384292011-10-21T13:23:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:49:01.634-07:00

Over the past two decades, Oregon's nursery and greenhouse sales have skyrocketed, climbing from gross sales of $315 million in 1990 to a peak of more than three times that — almost $1 billion — in 2007. Recent years have seen a decline, to $676 million in 2010, largely due to the housing crash and Great Recession. How do we know? Because of the annual survey done by the USDA National

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-55247540564278610542011-10-19T10:10:00.001-07:002011-10-19T10:10:45.166-07:00

U.S. immigration officials announced Tuesday that during the year ending Sept. 30, they deported a record number of individuals — nearly 400,000 of them. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, enforcement efforts concentrated on sending criminal offenders back to their home countries. Some 55 percent of the deportees were criminals convicted of misdemeanors or felonies. U.S. Secretary

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-6021135945307373882011-10-17T13:01:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:01:00.081-07:00

A short while ago, we announced that Youngblood Nursery will be featured in the upcoming State of Perfection issue of Digger, which will be published in January. Now we can announce the second State of Perfection nursery for 2012: Crispin's Creations Nursery in Molalla, Ore. This smaller operation, owned by Crispin and Karen Silva, specializes in shipping unique trees and shrubs in 1-gallon

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-31632064869104595532011-10-17T10:15:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:15:07.534-07:00

What they lack in speed, they make up in ability to eat and procreate. Giant African land snails — and by giant, we mean up to a foot long — have proliferated in several neighborhoods in Miami, Fla. Like all slugs and snails, these ghastly gastropods do eat plants, but these are also a threat to homes. (You read that right. They eat stucco.) If that's not enough, they also harbor an exotic worm

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-40408825919020407632011-10-17T08:47:00.000-07:002011-10-17T08:48:53.518-07:00

If you fly on an airplane, then you have experienced firsthand how U.S. security priorities changed following 9/11. A huge new agency, the Department of Homeland Security, was created and given broad powers to stop terrorist threats. Passengers were treated to body imaging, patdowns and a thicket of regulations governing what they can and can't pack for the trip. However, according to a

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-23895220607799090072011-10-12T11:06:00.000-07:002011-10-12T11:06:05.991-07:00

If your rural garden center, pumpkin patch or other agri-tourism business includes a corn maze, you might find this worth a chuckle. A Massachusetts family called 911 after failing to navigate their way out of a corn maze before dusk. "We thought this would be fun — instead, it was a nightmare," the mother told the Associated Press. A police K-9 unit and the owner located the family and safely

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-88168314073303861302011-10-11T12:17:00.000-07:002011-10-11T12:17:41.517-07:00

A free collection event for agricultural wastes, pesticides and empty containers will be held from 8 a.m.–noon Saturday, Oct. 22 at Clean Harbors Environmental Services, 12402 S.E. Jennifer St., Clackamas, Ore. An event flier can be downloaded here. The event is being sponsored by Clackamas River Water Providers, Clackamas River Basin Council, the Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-30974028550511331882011-10-07T08:08:00.000-07:002011-10-07T08:18:03.297-07:00

Every year, one of the most anticipated issues of Digger — at least for me — is the annual State of Perfection issue, published in January. You get the opportunity to go inside some of Oregon's finest wholesale nurseries. Our yearly State of Perfection articles and videos allow you to meet the people whose vision helps to create the top-notch plants, trees and shrubs for which Oregon is known.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-77262263205679067932011-10-05T09:42:00.000-07:002011-10-05T10:10:41.038-07:00

Can you smell fall in the air? It's hard to believe, but October is already here ... and with it, the October issue of Digger.There are now two ways to view the magazine online. One way is our new flipbook format — just load the magazine on your screen and flip the pages with your mouse. Click here to try it! The other way is to read PDFs of individual articles. Here are some of the highlights

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-80859284863438187492011-10-03T09:52:00.000-07:002011-10-03T09:53:29.598-07:00

Homeowners value trees. That much has been shown in studies performed by researchers at the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. But now it turns out that renters value trees, as well.A new study by Geoffrey H. Donovan and David T. Butry concluded that the presence of a lot tree raised the rental price of a single-family house by $5.62 per month, and the presence of a street

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-39193435763348000192011-09-30T11:43:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:44:43.439-07:00

During 2010, Oregon nursery and greenhouse growers had less money coming in for the third consecutive year, according to statistics newly released by the USDA-Natural Agricultural Statistics Service, Oregon Field Office.The numbers are added up from a survey that is sent to every nursery and greenhouse grower in the state. For 2010, the results indicate that growers rung up $676 million in gross

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-31935267502515438552011-09-30T10:11:00.000-07:002011-09-30T10:16:00.533-07:00

We've been talking about plant patents a bit recently, and the coming changes to the patent system. In light of that discussion, it's helpful to realize that plant patents don't enforce themselves. The holder of the patent must take enforment action if they discover a violation. Conard-Pyle recently did exactly that, forcing a New Jersey nursery to stop growing Knock Out® roses without a license.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-15929016267800439462011-09-30T09:30:00.000-07:002011-09-30T09:30:54.763-07:00

Oregon State University has published a new guide aimed at helping gardeners prevent the introduction of invasive plants. "Invasive Species: What Gardeners Need to Know" is a free, downloadable PDF. "Biologists estimate that between 30 and 80 percent of invasive plant species introduced to the United States originated as garden plants," said Linda McMahan, one of the authors. "In Oregon alone, 21

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-4168239394871154862011-09-28T08:39:00.000-07:002011-09-28T08:40:13.326-07:00

Leaders with the Oregon Association of Nurseries were among those sitting at the table when U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Portland on Tuesday morning. Incoming OAN President Jerry Simnitt, incoming OAN Treasurer Leigh Geschwill and Executive Director Jeff Stone were invited to the exclusive gathering. Vilsack has been on tour promoting the American Jobs Act (PDF), which is

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-7177358743090303942011-09-23T10:15:00.000-07:002011-09-23T10:15:31.191-07:00

In case you missed it ... Mexican officials have tightened regulations on American Christmas trees entering that country, according to the Capital Press and reporter Mateusz Perkowski. Trees must be sprayed with pyrethrin, an insecticide, three to six weeks before harvest. They must be free of dead needles or branches, and they must also be free of numerous insects, several of which are

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-21821410634153992022011-09-23T09:27:00.000-07:002011-09-23T09:27:38.406-07:00

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee this week recommended, on a 22-13 vote, that House Bill 2285 (full text) be advanced to the House floor. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and 41 other representatives (but none from the Northwest), would require that all U.S. employers use the E-Verify system to check worker eligibility.Today, four Oregon agricultural groups objected to the bill

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-43617819341177968082011-09-23T08:33:00.000-07:002011-09-23T08:34:01.105-07:00

Less than a year ago, the Oregon Association of Nurseries announced an ambitious goal to reduce industry energy usage by 25 percent in 10 years as part of its Energy Pilot program (PDF). Last week, the program scored a major victory when USDA Rural Development awarded the OAN an $80,000 grant (see press release):Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) will receive $80,000 through USDA Rural

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-43668310902195186922011-09-20T16:44:00.000-07:002011-09-20T16:44:50.535-07:00

Greenhouse controllers are a great way to save both money and energy, but as with any improvement, there's the upfront cost to consider. The Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people be energy efficient, announced last week that it is rolling out an incentive for greenhouse growers. This could go a long way in helping growers decide to make the investment. Here's the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-34799068247184224812011-09-20T16:06:00.000-07:002011-09-20T16:07:38.795-07:00

It's almost that time of year again, for beer, sausage ... and bugs. That's right — the lineup for the annual OktoberPest workshop series is all set. Sessions will be offered every Thursday in October at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15201 N.E. Miley Road, Aurora, Ore. The series is aimed at helping nursery, greenhouse and Christmas tree growers learn more about integrated

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-51728610136833180562011-09-20T13:24:00.000-07:002011-09-20T13:25:26.292-07:00

Some communities welcome vegetable gardens in the front yard. Others don't. It appears that Memphis, Tenn. fits in the latter category. As reported in the Memphis Flyer, an alternative newsweekly, homeowner Adam Guerrero has been cited into court and ordered to dismantle his home garden. Memphis city officials declared the garden to be a nuisance and an eyesore, based on a complaint they received

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-49794209434613903402011-09-19T16:49:00.000-07:002011-09-19T16:49:42.968-07:00

If you are a nursery grower and you depend on new home construction for a big chunk of your market, you might want to cover your eyes for this next one. Then again, you probably don't need to, because you know what we're about to say. In all-too-familiar news, the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) released its September figures, and ... here it comes ... those figures continue to

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-13260308091590738692011-09-16T08:33:00.000-07:002011-09-16T08:36:14.862-07:00

Commenter Joanne Rigutto of The Little Homestead (Mulino, Ore.) chimes in with a comment on edible plants and their potential to do double duty as ornamentals:Almost any plant we grow for row crops in food production has potential for ornamental landscaping. I think one of the problems is that we normally don't think of those plants in anything other than a production environment. But once you

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-43819991083366098342011-09-15T15:45:00.000-07:002011-09-15T15:45:44.006-07:00

Oregon's minimum wage will go up by 30 cents per hour at the end of the year, state Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced today. The new amount will be $8.80 per hour, starting on Jan. 1, 2012. The hike matches a 3.77 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index since last August, as mandated by Ballot Measure 25, which Oregon voters approved in 2002.Oregon nurseries are a traded sector

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-68586336415309756762011-09-15T08:31:00.000-07:002011-09-15T08:31:04.608-07:00

This is really cool: Bell, Book and Candle, a restaurant in Manhattan, grows all of its own vegetables and herbs under the personal supervision of owner and chef John Mooney. Each daily menu is crafted based on what's fresh and ripe that morning. But that's not all. Mooney grows the produce on the rooftop of the six-storey building where the restaurant is located. The produce is lowered into the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-3077330758184961772011-09-13T07:26:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:27:25.906-07:00

The start of the Great Recession in 2007 brought on a trend that garden centers hadn't seen in years — edible gardening. Seeds, vegetable starts and fruit trees became big sellers, while ornamentals cooled off. Four years later, the trend is still going, but will it continue? According to Trey Pitsenberger of the Golden Gecko Garden Center in Garden Valley, Calif., the answer is yes:My answer is

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-50071263834621815182011-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:002011-09-12T13:30:01.978-07:00

The first of three planned "Remember Me" Rose Gardens may be located 2,642 miles away near Stoystown, Penn., but the memorial for the victims and survivors of the 9-11 attacks has major connections to the state of Oregon. Sue Casey, a law librarian with the Portland, Ore. law firm of Ball Janik LLP, came up with the idea and serves as president of the nonprofit organization that's building the

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-73461948020023082202011-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:002011-09-12T12:55:16.888-07:00

Against our better judgment, we are going to post about this Madonna vs. hydrangeas thing ("I absolutely loathe hydrangeas," says Madge) one more time. It just gets more amusing every day. The latest development? The "True Blue" pop icon has taken to YouTube to respond to the controversy. Although some people consider them to be "the perfect shrub," evidently she still isn't one of them. We're

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-6566949936513589232011-09-10T22:55:00.000-07:002011-09-10T22:55:20.774-07:00

Most nursery folks and many Northwest gardeners will agree that Tsugawa Nursery in Woodland, Wash. is a retail landmark along Interstate 5 in Southwest Washington. I remember my parents, eager gardeners both, taking special trips to browse the garden center's deep and balanced stock of plants. If you don't happen to know the story behind the place, you may be surprised to know that its founder,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-65808962544059921332011-09-09T16:47:00.000-07:002011-09-13T10:22:07.222-07:00

The PBS television program America's Heartland has posted a six-minute feature story on OAN member Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Ore. Check it out:

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-46359968299329213542011-09-09T16:35:00.000-07:002011-09-09T16:35:27.456-07:00

Yesterday, on a lark, we posted about patents. Little did we know. Today, we have word that the U.S. Senate approved the America Invents Act on a 91-9 vote. The bill will implement sweeping changes to the U.S. patent system for the first time since 1948. The bill had already passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a similarly lopsided vote, and President Obama has said he will sign it.The

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-77430414388470384682011-09-09T09:32:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:32:37.072-07:00

The other day we posted about Madonna's comment — now infamous to many in the hort industry — that she "loathes hydrangeas." Most anyone can agree it wasn't a nice thing for her to say about a gift from a fan. However, she may have had a point — at least, according to horticulturalist Tim Wood.On his Plant Hunter blog, he discusses the various reasons the Michigan-born material girl could have

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-91438819086973191222011-09-08T07:57:00.000-07:002011-09-08T08:00:13.414-07:00

If you have never seen a plant patent application, there's a lot of detail involved. This application from Terra Nova Nurseries was for a new cultivar of Echinacea, specifically Echinacea spp. 'TNGD' which is described in painstaking detail. The patent application was submitted May 11, 2010 and granted Tuesday (Sept. 6), so the process took about 16 months. By the way, it doesn't appear the plant

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-49139402432587169372011-09-07T11:52:00.000-07:002011-09-07T12:00:53.268-07:00

Oregon Small Trees Nursery recently was chosen to receive a Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant. The nursery, based in Wilsonville, Ore., will use its grant funds to evaluate a little-used, but highly efficient, growing practice involving sandbeds. “The grant allows us to introduce new practices to further minimize our environmental footprint,” Oregon

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-13934606690767433712011-09-07T10:12:00.000-07:002011-09-07T10:12:15.270-07:00

Now here is a very cool idea! One of the complaints often stated by those in agriculture is that the general public doesn't understand agriculture well, if at all. If I had a nickel for every time someone told me, "People buy groceries at the store or plants at the nursery without understanding the process used to make them," then I would have quite a tall stack of nickels.Well, the Agri-Business

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-32850247941943602792011-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:002011-09-07T09:38:49.276-07:00

Portland Monthly reminds us that the fall version of the twice-yearly Hardy Plant Society of Oregon plant sale is this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 10–11, at the Portland Expo Center (directions; also reachable via MAX). This is a truly huge event for plant lovers — especially those who are into the unique and unusual.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-59007656694977677862011-09-06T18:01:00.000-07:002011-09-06T18:01:25.915-07:00

Kristin VanHoose passed along a story about a thoughtful fan in Venice who gifted aging dance-pop queen Madonna with a small bouquet of hydrangeas. Madonna was in Italy promoting one of her new movies, which, not to editorialize, generally need all the promotion they can get. Unfortunately, the Material Girl was less than thoughtful in her response, setting the flowers on the ground and

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-73313425717659825692011-09-06T12:13:00.000-07:002011-09-07T07:18:59.820-07:00

Robin Rosetta of Oregon State University Extension / North Willamette Research and Extension Center / the @PNWNurseryIPM Twitter feed passed along word of a devastating pest that has established a presence in the San Diego, Calif. area — the goldspotted oak borer. Some 80,000 oak trees already have been killed by this pest. The Los Angeles Times has a detailed article about the damage it has

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-57057275465651088592011-09-06T08:27:00.000-07:002011-09-07T12:33:16.786-07:00

Tansy ragwort used to be everywhere in Oregon. Well, now it's back, according to Oregon State University. The non-native weed was introduced to Oregon in the 1920s, and without natural enemies to keep it under control, it spread everywhere. This was a major problem for farmers and ranchers, as tansy ragwort is deadly poisonous to cattle and horses. State agriculture officials fought back

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-85833613675395381762011-09-02T14:02:00.000-07:002011-09-02T14:04:19.955-07:00

More and more people want to grow their own food, and they are turning to local garden centers for advice on how to do it safely. Oregon State University Extension recently published this helpful article that has information your customers might find empowering. The advice from extension experts includes:Use recommended food preparation techniques with garden produce. Always wash produce in clean

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-41745949318725495542011-09-01T20:11:00.000-07:002011-09-01T20:22:16.054-07:00

Teachers and mothers are often full of warnings. Two all-time classics include, "never run with scissors," and "that could put an eye out." An 86-year-old Arizona man wasn't running, and managed to avoid losing an eye. However, he's very lucky to be alive after falling face first onto his pruning shears. He's OK now, but may never view the peaceful hobby of gardening in the same way.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-14249327946626671612011-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:002011-09-01T10:47:45.180-07:00

We received the following from Robin Rosetta of Oregon State University Extension letting us know about the 2011 edition of NWREC's annual fall workshops. The details:Come one, come all, to the 2011 Nursery Research and & Extension Faire on Wednesday, September 14 at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center. We have a new format with a dazzling array of interactive stations this year.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-7799123936365375972011-09-01T08:30:00.000-07:002011-09-01T08:30:01.788-07:00

Picking the very best plants displayed in the 2011 New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Show was a tough task falling to no single group. Show judges handed out the official awards, while show attendees voted separately on the People’s Choice awards. As things turned out, however, the two groups agreed more often than not. Flutterby Grandé™ Peach Cobbler Nectar Bush (Buddleia x ‘Podaras #5’

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-75693288644402299122011-08-31T11:57:00.000-07:002011-08-31T12:36:04.114-07:00

Landscapers who have trouble finding qualified and willing workers have been able to fall back on the H-2B non-agricultural guest worker visa program to fill their needs. Starting on Sept. 30, however, that could become a whole lot more difficult. H-2B employers have always been subject to certain rules requiring them to search for non-immigrant workers first, and pay the workers a prevailing

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-15095165384912352492011-08-31T09:59:00.000-07:002011-08-31T11:12:44.222-07:00

September is here! That means the Farwest Show is in the books, the days are shorter, football is back, the kids are headed for school, the Halloween candy is almost on store shelves ... and, of course, the September issue of Digger is out and available! We have several exciting features in this month's issue for you:The main feature is an article on railroad gardens (PDF) by Elizabeth Petersen.

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-51862280625386391722011-08-31T08:24:00.000-07:002011-08-31T09:15:01.430-07:00

Many nurseries looking to cut their operating costs have found that energy efficiency projects pay strong dividends — particularly when incentives are available to help pay for them. Since 1979, the state of Oregon has offered the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program, which proved to be very popular. Not only did it save businesses money, but it also freed up power supply capacity for other

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-49531045216200918442011-08-30T17:37:00.000-07:002011-08-30T17:49:56.743-07:00

Edibles have been a hot trend in gardening for the past few years. Homeowners short on money, but eager to garden and looking to stretch their grocery dollar, have been planting victory gardens, either at grade, or in raised beds. In many places, however, city and homeowners association rules have failed to keep up. Many locales still ban raised beds in the front yard. It's a lament that

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-17408099623868042692011-08-29T11:10:00.000-07:002011-08-30T11:18:24.854-07:00

We're sad to report the Oregon nursery has suffered a major loss with the passing of Norbert Kinen. The past OAN president, former general manager of J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., and member of the Oregon Nurseries' Hall of Fame died Saturday. He was 78 years old. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at St. Hentry Catholic Church, 346 N.W. First St., Gresham, Ore. Prior to that,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-13531013787993053622011-08-26T19:48:00.001-07:002011-08-26T19:49:25.432-07:00

Want to see more pictures from the 2011 Farwest Show? What are you waiting for? We've posted an album of them on Facebook! Go! Now!

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-73786604368317282732011-08-26T14:05:00.000-07:002011-08-26T14:33:03.511-07:00

Buddleias -- the non-invasive, sterile kinds -- are back in Oregon. As proof, look no farther than the Flutterby Grande Peach Cobbler nectar bush (Buddleia x 'Podaras #5') from Ball Ornamentals, which was chosen as the New Varieties Showcase Best in Show at the 2011 Farwest Show. The shrub grows to 4-6 feet tall and wide, bearing 14-16 inch blooms that start out bright pink and mature to a

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-53364668238339451882011-08-26T09:21:00.000-07:002011-08-26T09:45:51.979-07:00

For 33 years, the National Gardening Survey has presented a statistical picture of who the gardening consumer is and where they are going. And according to garden retail analyst Ian Baldwin, who presented his analysis of the results yesterday at the 2011 Farwest Show, the picture has been very clear over the last several years. The numbers show gardeners to be predominantly high-income people,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-55773197872405288202011-08-26T08:07:00.000-07:002011-08-26T08:10:02.544-07:00

We've set up an album on Facebook showing Scenes from the 2011 Farwest Show: Day One. Keep checking back, as it takes time to go through the 400-plus photos that were taken yesterday, and pick out the best!

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-17585004426853652872011-08-26T07:16:00.000-07:002011-08-26T07:38:53.848-07:00

The booth awards for the 2011 Farwest Nursery Trade Show were given out Thursday evening, and it was a rare instance of a repeat winner. Fry Road Nursery of Albany, Ore. scored the coveted Best of Show award for the second consecutive year, winning a free 10x10 booth at next year's show. The nursery and owner Ann Detweiler, who now offer the former Monnier's line of fuchsias in addition to many

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-9822264757757257052011-08-25T15:26:00.001-07:002011-08-26T08:17:04.811-07:00

Oregon's junior U.S. senator, Jeff Merkley, paid a visit to the Farwest Show in Portland today. First he chatted with the OAN Government Affairs Committee about such important matters as the economic recovery, the availability of loan capital for businesses, the upcoming Farm Bill and pest and disease regulatory issues. Then he visited with show exhibitors such as Supreme Perlite, J. Frank

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-65454451635680271552011-08-25T15:15:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:26:02.620-07:00

The 2011 Farwest Show is underway, and the Expo floor is a beehive of activity this afternoon. Exhibitors are finding plenty of visitors to talk to, and visitors are finding plenty to see, hear and experience. There is plenty of knowledge to be gained, both in the morning seminars and in a series of afternoon presentations on the show floor. The Garden Center Pavilion has a demonstration area

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-56027720099370150702011-08-24T14:09:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:14:37.158-07:00

The Corvallis Gazette-Times published a nice article on the late Paul Nelson Goodmonson, the co-founder of Holiday Tree Farms. He died last Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the age of 90. Founded in 1955, Holiday became one of the largest Christmas tree growers in Oregon. That is saying something, considering that in the United States, only Michigan grows more Christmas trees than the state of Oregon. A

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-58586103724075361352011-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:002011-08-24T13:58:22.917-07:00

Oregon Business has an article today explaining the changes in Oregon's "hang up and drive" law — the one that prohibits motorists from cell phone use and text messaging unless they have a hands-free set. Under the current law, passed in 2009, there's an exemption for any work-related calls. Not for long, however. Legislators thought that was too big of a loophole, and they closed it up during

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-31293768069590099912011-08-24T11:50:00.000-07:002011-08-24T11:56:17.568-07:00

The Oregon A The Oregon Association of Nurseries has published the “Safe Procurement and Production Manual,” a 100-page guide to producing healthy nursery stock by using a systems approach. The book is available online now as a PDF download, at no cost. In addition, a free, full-color print version is available for the asking at this year's Farwest Show! Simply venture on over to Booth 2066,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-67399614630975969122011-08-24T11:30:00.000-07:002011-08-24T11:46:25.497-07:00

We apologize for the lack of posts here at the Daily Digger blog over the past couple of months. Some of you may know that June, July and August are our busiest months in the OAN Publications Department, due to the publication of the OAN Nursery Guide, the yearly Digger: Farwest Edition and the OAN Member Directory, plus all of the preparations for the annual Farwest Show. Those are the usual

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-78838608127691489932011-08-24T11:12:00.001-07:002011-08-24T11:16:48.962-07:00

Are you on the go? Now you can read Daily Digger easily and quickly from anywhere — all you need is a smart phone or other mobile device with Internet access. If your device has a QR code scanner, scan the code pictured here. Otherwise, just type in "www.diggermagazine.com" on your mobile device and the mobile-optimized version of the page should come up. We hope you find this new feature useful!

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-10471918286499811772011-05-25T13:57:00.000-07:002011-05-25T14:01:40.945-07:00

For the last several years, industry leaders and key legislators have been working hard to pass and perfect workable estate tax reform that gives relief to family-owned nurseries and other resource-based businesses (farms, timber operations, fishing operations). Although the Oregonian published coverage that overemphasized the extremes of the debate at the expense of a fair understanding, House

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-73334895854063771552011-05-11T14:31:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:31:14.798-07:00

How important is the nursery industry to Oregon's economy? Short answer: very. Jeff Stone, Dan Hillburn and Grace Dinsdale will be giving the long answer at this Friday's meeting of the Portland City Club, which will be entitled "Growing Oregon's Nursery Industry." The club will meet at 12:15 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2011 at The Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave., downtown Portland. Luncheon

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-87869745757465022372011-04-14T07:08:00.000-07:002011-04-14T07:15:20.711-07:00

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and the Oregon Sustainability Board presented Northwoods Nursery and One Green World with a 2011 Oregon Sustainability Award yesterday. The wholesale and retail grower won in the small business category. It was one of just two businesses, and six organizations overall, to be so honored. The nursery, founded and owned by Jim Gilbert, is located on 66 acres near Molalla,

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-49042764685514219552011-04-04T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-04T14:57:36.263-07:00

If you want to see some of the finest and most creative residential landscapes in the Portland area, then mark Saturday, June 18 on your calendar, and make plans to attend the eighth annual Behind-the-Scenes Garden Tour, presented by the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD). The self-guided, multi-site tour will be held from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at locations throughout the Portland area

Curt Kipphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03096871407809381179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4079506622029017922.post-272012157599032572011-04-04T10:56:00.000-07:002011-04-11T12:04:56.950-07:00

Are tree prices about to increase significantly? John Barbour of Bold Spring Nursery in Hawkinsville, Ga., believes the answer is yes. He explains why in this must-read blog post. Short version: it's all about supply and demand. Nurseries cut their production due to the subprime lending crisis and resulting recession. Now, demand is about to increase, and nurseries aren't prepared to supply

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