Brian Sparks

Maybe it is just me. I am fortunate to participate in events like Cultivate and California Spring Trials; the best reason by far to spend money and time is to get re-energized. But then I go home to my little neighborhood and am assailed by mowers, blowers, and goers. It seems that everyone wants their place to look nice but has no interest in the plants that are used. They want their lawn to look good but don’t want to mow it, they want their landscape to look nice but don’t want to prune it. And they want a tree or two but don’t want to rake the leaves.

The University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson trialed more than 225 varieties of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs in 2024.

The growing team at Dallas Arboretum trialed around 1,000 different varieties in 55 different genera across three seasons.

Learn more about some of the newer benefits companies are offering, and what makes the most sense for your business.

Damage to plant roots from excessive heat can go undetected until it is too late. Learn about some new effective strategies you can follow.

Following high amounts of rain in the early summer, the plants at Raker-Roberta’s Young Plants flourished in more favorable conditions.

One unique thing about these trials is that plants are grown in landscape beds instead of rows, which offers a botanic garden feel while evaluating plants in their final form.

Even with a rainy and windy start to the season, many of the plants in trials at the West Madison Ag Research Station responded well.

The employee stock ownership (ESOP) transition took effect Oct. 1 and, among other things, empowers employees to actively contribute to the company’s growth.

This year's trials from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society reaffirmed the importance of trialing a diverse range of plants to see which thrive despite weather challenges.