GrassSolutions for the Holidays

With the holidays upon us, we’ve been reflecting on the past year and those who have helped shape our business. From our entire team, thank you for your business and continued support. We wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and all the best for the new year.

In this issue:

A Fresh Perspective on Landscapes
Southeastern Grasslands Initiative
American Nurseryman features "The Right Time for Sedges"
Reasons Why Green Infrastructure Matters - Lawn & Landscape
Unconventional Wisdom: 8 Revolutionary Ideas for Your Garden
Former Intern Wins Statewide Award
Upcoming events

A Fresh Perspective on Landscapes

Seeing landscapes through someone else’s eyes can give us important insight. When we’re familiar with something, it’s hard to think about it differently or to make changes. That’s why we were thrilled to have Kata Kreß Wallace, our new Garden Coordinator, speak at an urban landscape design conference in Germany.

Kata was invited to talk at Bildungsstätte Gartenbau, a facility in Grünberg, Germany devoted to horticultural education events. The name roughly translates to Garden Education House, and it’s the go-to place for horticulture professionals in the German-speaking world.

www.hoffmannursery.com

Southeastern Grasslands Initiative

Grassland loss is the single greatest conservation issue currently facing eastern North American biodiversity. Southern grasslands are nearly extinct and the species that depend on them are fading fast. The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative (SGI) is dedicated to rebuilding the forgotten grasslands of the South.

The initiative is based out of Austin Peay State University's Center of Excellence for Field Biology in Clarksville, Tennessee. It will employ research, consultation, and coordination of on-the-ground conservation to save the dwindling grasslands of the Southeast.

For those interested in grasses, this initiative is a source of information and inspiration. From now until the New Year, the initiative is featuring a different grassland system each day on their blog and Facebook page. It's a fascinating look into landscapes that shaped our environment and need our help. Read the blog or visit the SGI Facebook page.

Learn more about SGI

www.segrasslands.org

The Right Time for Sedges

In the November 2017 issue of American Nurseryman , Hoffman Nursery’s Shannon Currey and Zika Wolfe write about what sets sedges apart, the market for sedges, and how to use them.

Sedges were almost unheard of in 1991 when we added two to our lineup at Hoffman Nursery. These additions had appealing ornamental qualities that spiced up our inventory and fit our focus on grasses and grasslike plants. At the time, grasses were still relatively unknown, and sedges were rare in the trade.

Nonetheless, the more we worked with sedges, the more their hidden talents came to light. They offered advantages beyond being ornamental.

www.amerinursery.com

Reasons Why Green Infrastructure Matters - Lawn & Landscape

If you are a landscape contractor, offering creative, alternative habitats and solutions to your customers provides your business with a competitive edge to grow and prosper.

Read more
www.lawnandlandscape.com

Unconventional Wisdom: 8 Revolutionary Ideas for Your Garden

Using sedges and other perennials as ground cover, not amending the soil, and planting densely are on their way to becoming best practices. Author and landscape architect Thomas Rainer has eight ideas for today's sustainable landscapes.

Read more
www.gardenista.com

Former Intern Wins Statewide Award

Phyllis Daugherty, one of our 2017 summer interns, has been named Student of the Year by the North Carolina Work-Based Learning Association.

Phyllis is a non-traditional student in the Horticulture Technology program at Alamance Community College. She enrolled in the program seeking a career change after a successful career in training and development. We're thrilled for her and are following her career with great anticipation.

www.hoffmannursey.com

Upcoming Events

Southern Plant Conference

Jan. 8-9, 2018; Baltimore MD

The Southern Nursery Association has pulled together a remarkable lineup of speakers for the 2018 Southern Plant Conference. Twelve top plant experts from across the country, the Channel Islands, and the Netherlands, will share their knowledge and expertise during this two-day conference.

Our Marketing Director, Shannon Currey, will be speaking on new perspectives with green infrastructure. She'll use grasses and sedges to illustrate new ways to think about plants and find opportunities. Catch her talk at 2pm on Mon, Jan. 8.

Check out the full lineup on the conference website.

MANTS

Jan. 10-12, 2018; Baltimore MD

One of the best, the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show is three days of constant activity. Friends and colleagues stop by, and there are plenty of opportunities for networking during this big event. Join us for a look at what's happening with grasses and our industry. Find us in Booths 412 & 414.

Green and Growin'18

Jan. 15-19, 2018; Greensboro, NC

Green & Growin'18 promises to be even better this year. The educational offerings start early in the week, with the trade show on the last two days. Our team will be there throughout the week, but you can definitely catch us in Booths 533 & 535 on Thursday and Friday.

Get the scoop on our newest grasses on Tuesday, Jan. 16, when our R&D Horticulturist Leanne Kenealy presents during the New Plants Forum. See you there!