Open Register

Red palm mite causes concern in Florida

Red palm mite, a pest that feeds on gingers, heliconias and 32 palm species is causing a stir in Florida. Officials fear the mite could have a devastating effect on the state’s nurseries.

• S. Florida threatened. South Florida Sun-Sentinel
• Pest found on more trees. Palm Beach Post
• Mighty big problem. Naples Daily News

-- Sarah

Retailers adopt husband lounges

More retailers are setting aside space for tired and bored husbands, Forbes.com reported. Bloomingdales and other stores are installing comfy seating areas and coffee bars to keep men content while their wives shop. Experts are keen on the idea. Studies show the longer customers stay in a store, the more money they are likely to spend.

-- Sarah

Holiday shopping rally didn’t materialize

Last-minute shoppers didn’t salvage a lackluster holiday sales season, Washington Post reported. High gas prices and rising food costs kept consumers frugal this year. Target, the 2nd-biggest U.S. discounter, said sales at stores open more than a year may decline in December after customer visits slowed in the weeks after Thanksgiving.

-- Sarah

Ho cubed!

OK, first, if you’re reading this today, I’ve got three words for you: “Get a life!” I can think of literally thousands of things that are great about Christmas Day, none of which includes the words “Yale’s blog.” That you’re here, now, probably warrants a candle or a prayer; it’s obvious you need help of the highest order.

Of course, so do I. So do we all, probably. In my case, I’m celebrating my 51st Christmas, the 27th with the lovely Mrs. Y, and the 26th with at least one Little Y joining the festivities. For those keeping score at home, that’s a lot of assembly required and plenty of items for which batteries were not included.

It’s also a lot of wonderful memories.

Let’s see … There was the drumset and the first football and the Transformers and the hockey skates and the doll that cried and the other doll that cried …

… And the annual basketball to replace last year’s annual basketball and the pump to help the annual basketball hold on until a new annual basketball could replace it and a “going out” dress and a “gee, how nice” and a trip to the mall to get a replacement for “gee how nice” …

… And “why won’t it snow?!!!” and a “because we live in Texas” and a “this is the best Christmas ever” and a “pass the dressing, please” and a “thanks, Dad, for not being such a Grinch this year” … 

… Oh, yeah, and thoughts of a baby, lying in a manger. I don’t want to forget that. I certainly don’t want to forget that.

- Yale

Merry Christmas!

What’s that? You say you forgot to buy a gift for dear ol’ Aunt Eunice? But there’s still a few potted plants sitting out in the greenhouse? No worries.

Kyle Knight of Knollwood Garden Center in Beavercreek, Ohio, described on the Proven Winners Web site how he made this clever snowman: “We had some extra Diamond Frost euphorbia, which we were using for our DiamondPoints for Christmas, and Cheryl and Steve Hopkins, our head grower, came up with this Diamond Frost snowman.”

Gift cards come with less red tape

Gift cards were enormously popular this year, thanks in part to new regulations protecting consumers, Washington Post reported.

The National Retail Federation predicted gift card sales would reach $26.3 billion in 2008, up from $24.8 billion last year. The average consumer was expected to spend about $122.59 on gift cards this year, compared with $116.51 last year.

The Federal Trade Commission and several states have responded to consumer complaints about card expiration dates and service fees, making them a less risky gift choice.

-- Sarah

Shopping for a cause gains ground

More consumers are gravitating toward merchandise that aids nonprofit groups. But some watchdogs are wondering how much money actually goes to good causes.

• Shop till you help. The Arizona Republic
• Charity’s share? The New York Times
• Charity consumerism. Winnipeg Sun

-- Sarah

Expect steady hiring pace in 2008

U.S. employers are expected to maintain a steady approach toward hiring during the first quarter of 2008, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Of the 14,000 employers surveyed, 22% expect to add to their payrolls during 1Q 2008, while 12% expect to reduce staff levels. Sixty percent expect no change in hiring pace, and 6% are undecided about their January-March hiring plans.

-- Sarah

Greenleaf Nursery launches Gen X, Y marketing program

Greenleaf Nursery in Park Hill, Okla., will introduce a marketing program this spring designed to appeal to Generation X and Y consumers.

O2: Planting for the Future targets busy families with school-age children. Program materials emphasize the importance of oxygen and its role in the ecosystem. Greenleaf will offer plant tags, banners and point-of-purchase materials supporting this initiative.

The program is exclusively available to independent garden centers during its first year. Garden centers interested in the program can contact the local Greenleaf Nursery sales representative for more details.

-- Sarah

First Project: Green article is in the mail

The January issue of Garden Center Magazine, with its first article in the Project: Green series, is on its way to subscribers today. The article focuses on recycling by profiling how 3 different groups handle their programs. Missouri Botanical Garden has arguably the most successful -- and longest running -- horticultural pot program. Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Assoc. consulted MBG before starting its program, which relies on rewholesalers to allow year-long collection and recycling. Matterhorn Nursery in Spring Valley, N.Y., began a new wide-ranging recycling program just this past fall and reduced its landfill fee from $3,567.28 to $357.12, measured over the same 3-month span in 2006 and 2007.

--Carol