Garden Center’s top 15 most-read news stories of 2016

Published December 28, 2016

Throughout 2016, Garden Center's website was host to a wide range of news from the horticulture and garden center retail industries, covering politics, acquisitions, trade shows and many other topics.

We've compiled a list of the most-read news posts on our site throughout the year, as ranked by total page views below. This list only includes exclusive web news content, and not magazine articles or multimedia. Check back next week for year-end roundups of popular magazine and multimedia content.

1. Lef Farms opens in New Hampshire

The greenhouse grower provides fresh mixed greens and other edibles.

2. Survey says more people are gardening, even Millennials

The National Gardening Survey reports lawn and garden spending up, food gardening more popular than flowers.

3. What a Trump win means for horticulture

Insiders believe the 2016 election has the potential to shake up the green industry.

4. U.S. Postal Service offering "Botanical Art" stamps

The vintage illustrations were inspired by 19th- and 20th-century New York Botanical Garden catalogs.

5. 10 highlights and takeaways from the 2016 IGC Show Chicago

The trade show's 10th anniversary featured 500 exhibitors, keynotes and educational sessions.

6. Sloat Garden Center to acquire Navlet's Garden Centers

The two horticultural businesses have a combined history of more than 200 years in the San Francisco area.

7. Plant products stolen from Indianapolis garden center

Thieves have targeted Cantrell's Lawn & Garden Center several times over the past three months.

8. President of Sloat Garden Center explains Navlet's purchase

Dave Stoner says most of Navlet's employees will make the transfer to positions at the 13 stores now owned by Sloat.

9. Organizers cancel IGC East

According to a letter from Jeff and Cheryl Morey, The Eastern Show for IGCs will not continue due to a lack of support and to shift focus back to the original IGC Show in Chicago.

10. Paint brands name 2017 colors of the year

This year's hues are rich, purple-grey colors, moving away from the white and off-white shades of 2016.

11. A tour of 5 independent garden centers in Houston

Highlights from The Fall Event’s bus tour of five very different plant retailers.

12. Calloway’s Nursery to open two new Tarrant County stores in March

The new stores will be the 17th and 18th locations in the chain.

13. Former Commerce Corp. president sentenced to 15 months in prison

Malcomb Cork, who led Commerce Corp. from 2004 to 2012, pleaded guilty to defrauding the company in November 2015.

14. We asked, you answered: How has spring been so far at your garden center?

Independent garden centers across the country share their reports from the 2016 season and the big Mother’s Day weekend.

15. 133-year-old garden center to close

The owner of Patmore Garden Center and Nursery says it is tough for small businesses to survive in "today's consumer market."