Welcome to 'Sprout,' American Nurseryman's e-newsletter published on the first and third Thursdays of each month. For even more, be sure to read our November issue.

Moose River Media partners with New England Grows
New England Grows, the Northeast’s premier green industry event, has selected Moose River Media—publisher of American Nurseryman—as its official media partner. Both organizations will work together to bring maximum pre-event visibility and information to exhibitors, sponsors, attendees and conference speakers, as well as significant post-event content. Moose River Media will deliver this information utilizing a variety of multi-media including print and digital magazines, electronic newsletters, numerous websites and broadcast e-mail campaigns. New England Grows is scheduled for February 6 to 8 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Read more>

ONLA premiers new certification training
The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association updated its certification curriculum with the release of new training manuals to be used with the Ohio Certified Nursery Technician program. The two books most recently updated were the Landscape Training Manual and the Core Training Manual: The Core Training Manual brings a fresh new idea to training in the Green Industry. Professionalism, safety and first aid are examples of topics covered in the core book. The new Landscape and Core manuals include a written textbook and corresponding lectures/presentations provided on a self-guided CD. Read more>

Agrium joins National Hispanic Landscape Alliance
Agrium Advanced Technologies has reached an agreement to become a supporting member of the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance. Established to support the advancement of the more than 500,000 Hispanic-Americans currently working in the green industry, the NHLA also serves as a key public policy voice helping its members communicate their interests and concerns to elected and appointed officials and others. Read more>

American Beauties goes Groupon—for a cause
American Beauties Native Plants and its partner, the National Wildlife Federation, are teaming with Groupon Grassroots—a charity arm of the online coupon giant—for a six-week campaign beginning Nov. 12. For every $10 donation to the NWF, American Beauties will “match” that donation with $20 worth of native plants that the NWF then will use in community planting projects across the U.S. American Beauties has pledged up to 3,000 plants. Read more>

Maine botanic garden achieves net-zero energy use status
The LEED Platinum-certified Bosarge Family Education Center, located at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, has achieved confirmation of Net-Zero Energy status. After a year of operation, an analysis of the property’s performance has confirmed that the center is producing almost 30 percent more energy than it is using, and the excess energy produced is being used to supplement other power needs at the Gardens. Only a few select commercial projects nationwide achieve this distinction annually and the center is the first non-residential development in Maine to achieve Net-Zero Energy status. The new center highlights the remarkable growth of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which opened in 2007, on 128 acres of forest and tidal frontage. Read more>

Dow AgroSciences Power of More™
Earn cash back when you purchase Dow AgroSciences products and products containing Dow AgroSciences active ingredients—but be sure to write that check before December 31. In Dow’s Power of More™ rebate program, cash rebates are available on more than 50 participating products, including formulator brands and on-fertilizer formulations. Read more>

People News

Ranney named IPPS Fellow
Congratulations to Tom Ranney, North Carolina State University professor at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in beautiful Fletcher, who was named International Plant Propagators’ Society Fellow at the Eastern Region’s annual meeting. Read more>

Di Staulo joins Spring Meadow
Suzanne Di Staulo has been named sales manager for Spring Meadow Nursery, where she will lead and direct the nursery’s sales team. Di Staulo comes to Spring Meadow from Dümmen USA. Read more>

Project EverGreen names new program manger
Dan Jacobs has joined Project EverGreen as program manager, where he’ll take charge of communications surrounding Project EverGreen’s programs such as GreenCare for Troops and SnowCare for Troops, Art of Green Spaces competition, its sustainability initiative and community projects. Project EverGreen recently moved to Mentor, Ohio, from its previous headquarters in Minnesota. Read more>

Passings

Donald M. Johnson Jr.
Donald M. Johnson Jr., 58, owner and vice president of Johnson Farms in Deerfield, N.J., died October 27. Read more>

Hot Products

Abelia ‘Radiance’
Abelia ‘Radiance’, a new sport of Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope’, is a white-variegated selection that stands out above any other because of its vigor and ability to maintain color and density throughout the year. New foliage is medium green with creamy yellow margins, aging to silvery-green with cream white margins. Its variegated foliage has proved to be more stable than other white Abelia varieties and produces minimal water shoots. The vivid, crimson stem colors provide a dramatic contrast to the variegated foliage. The tight, compact habit reaches 3 feet by 5 feet at maturity and holds a beautiful form throughout the season. Fragrant white tubular flowers appear from mid-summer through fall. Perfect as a low accent plant, in mass landscape plantings or as a container plant. Read more>

Sedum Desert™ series
Emerald Coast Growers and Terra Nova Nurseries have formed a strategic alliance to produce the new Desert™ series of sedum, including ‘Black’, ‘Blonde’ and ‘Red’ (pictured here). The series features a fast growing, clumping habit in full sun in zones 4 to 10. ‘Desert Red’ features small, blue-green leaves and deep, rose-pink flowers that mature to shiny red seed heads. ‘Desert Blonde’ boasts blue-green leaves and creamy yellow flowers that nature to a soft red. ‘Desert Black’ has dramatic, deep hued leaves and rose-pink flowers. Read more>

Top-handle chain saw
ECHO’s CS-355T top-handle chain saw weighs in at 8 pounds and features a 35.8 cc commercial-grade, two-stroke engine that delivers 25 percent more power than the company’s previous CS-360T model. An ECHO-exclusive palm rest provides greater control, supporting the operator’s hand and preventing the hand from sliding. The contoured handle is angled for a natural wrist position so there’s less wrist movement while cutting and better balance. A G-Force Engine Air Pre-Cleaner™ provides a clean air supply to the engine by pulling dust and chips from the air box. An easy-access, rear-mounted air filter provides superior filtration for longer engine life. Cutouts on the dual-post chain brake handle provide a clear view of the bar and chain. Read more>

4450 Series earth augers
The 4450 Series of earth augers from General Equipment features a new, simpler configuration for attaching the screw bit, which speeds up the installation process and greatly reduces the risk of damage to the earth auger. The company’s new screw bit design has a male shaft, which slides into the end of the earth auger. This helps to eliminate the chance of the screw bit breaking, as well as the resulting damage to the auger. Additionally, the 4450 Series earth augers are cast into a one-piece, integral assembly from steel to further increase service life.Read more>

In-ground and accent lights
With a range of color temperature choices and a variety of beam spread options, Kichler’s newest Design Pro LED 12V accent and in-ground lights and 120V accent lights boast the company’s new Radiax™ optics. The systems are available in a range of Kelvin (K) temperatures—2,700 K warm white, 3,000 K pure white and 4,250 K cool white—for the perfect light effect for every job. The accent lights are available in long-lasting Textured Architectural Bronze™ and bronzed brass finishes. The 12V accent lights are also available in black, beach and white finishes. Accessory lenses in amber, green or frosted are available for more customized lighting colors. Read more>

Finally: Break out the Reddi-wip!