Garden Center web news and social media highlights from October 2018

Multimedia: Video

The healing power of gardening

We had the opportunity to catch up with Raymond G. Odeh, a master’s student at the University of Florida focusing on the therapeutic benefits of gardening, during Cultivate’18. Odeh, a 2018 AmericanHort HortScholar, discussed a four-week study he helped organize in collaboration with the UF colleges of medicine and arts to find out how gardening and art activities influence overall mental health. The subjects were all women, ages 26 to 49, from the Gainesville, Fla., area. Find out what their research revealed by watching the video on our website.

Watch here: bit.ly/HortScholarRayOdeh

What’s trending on social media

We all enjoy hearing good news, especially when it comes to other business owners in the independent garden center industry. It’s no surprise our Instagram post announcing that Boulevard Flower Gardens of Virginia celebrated its grand reopening after months of rebuilding received lots of love. We shared a photo of sisters and third-generation owners Casey Landa and Madison Landa Williams from the cover story we wrote about the business in February. That was before they transformed the 63-year-old business. You can see before and after photos of Boulevard by going to our Spotted feature.

See it here: bit.ly/BoulevardInsta

Your Turn

Each month, we ask readers a different question about their retail operations, inviting them to answer via email or social media. You can send your answers to editor Michelle Simakis at msimakis@gie.net.

THIS MONTH’S QUESTION:

“What are your thoughts on the state of the industry? What’s going well, and what are your challenges?”

Answers to this question will be published in a future issue of Garden Center.

5 stories in brief: Top industry news from our website

New leadership

Three longtime employees at Swansons Nursery purchase the Seattle-based IGC, establishing new employee ownership group.
bit.ly/SwansonsNewOwners

More details

We followed up with the new Swansons owners to find out why they bought the business and what the transition has been like.
bit.ly/QASwansons

IGC Show winners

IGC Show announces new products, plants voted “Best of 2018” by attendees.
bit.ly/IGCwinners

“The People’s Shark”

Daymond John discusses early life, personal obstacles and the importance of goal-setting during IGC Show keynote.
bit.ly/IGCDaymondJohn

Pike’s newest store

Pike Nurseries, with locations in North Carolina and Georgia, announces it will open its 19th store by the end of September.
bit.ly/PikeNewStore