The Garden Plot

Costa Farms' O2 For You Highlighted on GreenhouseGrower.com!

2008-06-12T14:04:00.007-05:00

Refrigerators are stocked with blueberries these days partly because organizations like the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council promoted the fact over the last several years that they’re abundant with antioxidants. Consumers, obviously, bought into the message.

Now, Costa Farms is in the early stages of a similar marketing campaign in O2 For You: Plants With A Purpose, a program that’s designed to spread awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and educate about the health benefits of having plants in the home and at work.

"We want to make plants the new blueberries,” says Marta Maria Garcia, marketing manager at Costa. “Many people are not aware of all the pollutants that exist in the indoor air environment – the glue used on rugs, the tint used in photo copying in the office. We should be concerned equally about the indoor environment as we are the outdoors.” Read More...

terrain Shines

2008-05-29T16:57:00.001-05:00

Stacey Sirk and Donna Dorian of Garden Design Magazine
Suzi McCoy Garden Media Group with Matt and Ronnie Horn Mattahorn Nursery
terrain party gift bags

At Home with O

2008-05-29T13:38:00.000-05:00

Suzi spent a lovely day scouting story ideas at terrain with O at Home home decorating director Natalie Wardy and assistant editor Amy Bleier-Long.

terrain Entertains

2008-05-28T15:42:00.000-05:00

John Kinsella managing director terrain, Don Riddle Homestead Gardens, Dick Hayne CEO Urban Outfitters, and Suzi McCoy, Garden Media Group
Bill Thomas director of Chanticleer Gardens (center) greets Lisa Staphano and Sam Lemheney of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
terrain creative director Greg Lehmkuhl and Urban Outfitters Lauren Addis and Meredith Boice
Amy Shearer entertains Dave Thompson and Dennis Fisher, all of Longwood Gardens

Costa Farms 'O2 For You' Campaign in NYC!

2008-05-20T16:30:00.002-05:00

PLENTY Magazine's Spotlight on Costa Farms Peace Lily Giveaway to New Moms in NYC!

2008-05-08T08:25:00.011-05:00

Costa Farms and Earth Day New York teamed up to give the gift of 'clean air' to new moms of NYC. On Tuesday, May 6th, representatives from both organizations visited both New York's NYU and Bellevue hospitals to hand out a peace lily gift to all the new moms and to explain how indoor plants provide health benefits for both them and their new addition to their family. Read about it here...

Hey Diane and Robin! (of GMA fame!)

2008-05-07T16:45:00.005-05:00

...(that’s Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts)…"Have you had your O2 today?"

Picture this....Marta Maria Garcia, Marketing Director for Costa Farms, volunteers from Earth Day New York and the Ladies of Garden Media Group all donning t-shirts with large ‘O2 for You’ logos prominently displayed shuffling our way through Tuesday morning traffic, parading with hand-painted posters that read…"Plants with a Purpose" and "O2 for You!"

Well, needless to say we caught the attention of the GMA staff!!!!! (We know how to get our message heard, don't ya think?)

Green Heroes...Silent and Always "Working"...

2008-05-07T11:23:00.003-05:00

Thank a plant today. Silent and always “working,” these green heroes toil tirelessly to purify our environment and improve our lives, naturally cleansing the very air we breathe. And since most of us spend 90 percent of our lives inside, pay special attention to your indoor plants. They provide truly amazing health benefits.

Working 24/7, they filter the very air we breathe from common pollutants and continuously release oxygen and moisture in our homes and offices. Former NASA research scientist Dr. Bill Wolverton, author of “How to Grow Fresh Air” says, “Houseplants perform these essential functions with the same efficiency as the rainforest in our biosphere.” To maximize the health benefits and freshen the air in your home or office, he recommends at least one houseplant for every 100 square feet.

Green Is in the Air!

Our modern lives depend on technology, but ordinary products like paints, tobacco smoke, printer inks and even carpets hold hidden dangers that plants can help reduce. According Dr. Wolverton, plants improve air quality through their natural “filtering” ability. He discovered houseplants absorb up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), like ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene, found in many homes and offices. And certain indoor plants “clean” the air every 24 hrs! How? They absorb toxins into the root zone where they’re turned into nutrients. Some tropical plants actually suppress airborne mold. These green heroes just keep doing what comes naturally. Some of the hardest working plants are peace lilies, ferns, palms, and spider plants.

Get yourself an indoor plant and give yourself the gift of fresh air!

Oh Joy! terrain at Styer's Opens!

2008-05-01T12:06:00.016-05:00

Joy Deangdeelert Cho, a writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, posted these comments about Urban Outfitters' newest brand launch, terrain at Styer's...."all I can say is we were totally blown away. The fact that we spent almost four hours there says it alone. The new home & garden lifestyle concept turned out to be even more amazing than we could have imagined. The setting is airy, lush, and peaceful with a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. "

To read more about Joy's visits to terrain and see all of her amazing pictures of terrain, visit her blog at http://ohjoy.blogs.com/

Shrub Roses Add Easy, Ever-blooming Color to Landscapes

2008-05-01T08:17:00.005-05:00

Looking for instant color to dress up your deck or patio for that summer garden party or backyard barbeque? Or maybe you need a dash of color to brighten your landscape with long-lasting visual drama. Whatever your garden quandary, consider a low-maintenance shrub rose for nonstop color from spring until fall.

Shrub roses are easy to grow and cover any landscape with gorgeous color and flowers. They look beautiful spilling over the sides of a container, either alone or mixed with your favorite perennials or annuals. User-friendly and low-maintenance, they need little to no care for year-round color and nonstop blooms.

Shrub roses are one of the hottest trends in gardening today, says Doug Jimerson of the Better Homes & Gardens. "Think of shrub roses as a flowering plant -- not a rose," Jimerson says. "The great thing about shrub roses is you don't have to have a green thumb to make them grow. They are so easy -- just plant in a sunny spot, water them and watch them grow. They’re the perfect plant for today's busy homeowners."

Jimerson recommends these four steps for a rosy garden:

1. Get Rich: Use healthy soil in a big hole for roses. Experts say to dig a hole twice the size of the container the rose is in. And be sure to provide ample space for the plants roots to assure healthy and beautiful roses.

2. Sun Kissed: For the most prolific blooms, plant Drift Roses in a location with plenty of sun. Hardy to zone 5, these ground hugging, ever-blooming shrubs are perfect as a border or bedding plant. Growing only about a foot around, they make a stunning low hedge or edge on a border.

3. Feed Me: Drift Roses aren’t fussy eaters. Give them a good dose of slow-release or timed fertilizer, which releases nutrients to the plant when the plant needs it most, and you’re set for the season.

4. Cover Up: And remember to mulch your roses. Mulching helps to buffer the cycle from wet to dry, keeps the feeder roots from drying out, and helps to establish the roots quicker. And less watering is required.

New Groundcover Roses Perfect for Your Landscape

This year try planting Star Roses’ new Drift Roses for a dramatic groundcover effect in your garden. They combine wonderfully with perennials intermixed with other upright shrubs like coreopsis, veronicas or lambs ear and even hostas.

Choose from four cultivars that bloom from spring to early frost. Ranging from scarlet red to bright soft peach, they provide the gardener with a complete range of color solutions for landscape use or in containers.

Two favorites in the collection are the Peach Drift Rose and the Pink Drift Rose. The most floriferous of the series, Peach Drift’s small bright apricot-salmon blooms have dark green, semi-glossy foliage and grow up to 2 feet in height. Pink Drift’s low growing mound of semi-double deep pink blooms, reaches 1-1/2 feet in height with a 3-foot spread.

Make no mistake that these are not finicky miniature roses. These hardy groundcover roses are true low spreading, dwarf shrub roses that grow only about a foot high by 1-1/2 feet wide and are covered with blooms that open to 1-1/2 inches. Drift Roses are perfect in small gardens, splashing your landscapes with visual delight.

Appealing to today’s busy gardener, these low-maintenance roses are highly disease resistant. They require no spraying except in the most humid regions of the Deep South. Bred to be “chemical-free,” Drift Roses resist rust, mildew, Japanese beetles and black spot while blooming for months on end.

Whether planting for a shock of ever-blooming color in a spectacular landscape or seeking easy, carefree ways to solve a gardening challenge, think easy-care Star Roses for long lasting, maintenance-free color.

To find out more about these and other Star Roses, or to find a garden center near you, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.starroses.com.

Urban Outfitters Launches their 1st Lifestyle Store

2008-04-30T11:31:00.001-05:00

America’s garden centers have just taken a giant leap in evolution.

Leading lifestyle retailer, Urban Outfitters opens its first garden and home store, terrain at Styer's, on Baltimore Pike in Concordville, PA.

Setting a new standard in garden retailing, terrain artfully marries home fashion and horticulture from around the world. More than a store, terrain promises to be a gardening experience savored by all the senses.

“We inspire people,” says Richard Hayne, chairman and founder of Urban Outfitters, and an avid tomato grower.” That’s what Urban and Anthropologie are known for. We want to excite people in a way that leads them to enjoy gardening as much as we do.”

“We’re bringing fashion outside the home,” says John Kinsella, managing director of terrain. “Our well edited collections span continents, offering elements of classic to contemporary concepts. We’re mixing influences from Europe, Asia and Africa with local artisan’s designs and products.”

According to Kinsella, the confluence of found objects “allows our guests to travel around the world, spanning cultures and generations. It’s like shopping in a world garden market.”

A Garden of Delights
At terrain, you stroll curvaceous pathways only to discover ‘ah- ha’ moments: A sculptured bathtub hand carved from one piece of stone from Indonesia, bubbling Zen fountains, sculptures and found artifacts and objects crafted from wood, stone, and metal blend into the delightful landscape. Stumble upon a hand-carved 300 year-old wooden doors from India; their twenty-foot height creating a dramatic entrance to one of many “garden rooms.”

Stroll into the attached 3,000 square feet of “plants under glass” and you’re greeted by a sumptuous array of indoor plants. Within the garden of delights is the 8,000 square foot Home and Décor center, or bask in the relaxed ambience of the 1,000 square foot greenhouse style café featuring delicious local fare, expertly prepared by a renowned chef.

True to the people who brought you the design innovations of the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People, stores, terrain celebrates the beauty and abundance of nature while offering rare and contemporary décor for inside and outside the home.

For information visit: http://www.blogger.com/www.terrainathome.com

Campania graces the cover of Better Homes & Gardens

2008-03-24T10:05:00.000-05:00

Campania's Low Zen Bowl from their Genesis Collection of lightweight containers is currently appearing on the cover of Better Homes & Garden's April issue, which has an astounding circulation of 7.6 million!

Smart Gardening...saving time and money in the garden

2008-03-11T13:47:00.001-05:00

Luke Miller is the editor of Better Homes and Gardens® Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living. Each week he shares tips for saving time and money in the garden at www.bhg.com/smartgardening. He covers all aspects of the home garden, from how you can raise tasty organic produce to low-cost ways to plant a new garden.

Check out his Feb. 6 blog on Own Root Roses

All the presidential hopefuls have one thing in common: they want to bring about change. Change is good, they say. I guess that depends on what you want to change. Here are a few things I’d like to see change in the garden industry. Less Waste. It pains me to fill a garbage can with plastic nursery pots after planting. Some are Number-2 plastic and can go in the recycling bin, but many are made out of other plastics that aren’t readily recycled.
Some solutions: Look for plants in peat or coconut-fiber pots that can be planted directly in the ground. Re-use smaller cell packs to start your own seeds (reducing the need for even more containers). And see if your local nursery, retailer or botanical center has a recycling program.
More Composting. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been really getting into composting lately. I want to make sure every last teabag makes its way into the garden via the compost bin. You can even compost kitchen debris in an apartment — there are small units available where red wiggler worms do the job for you.
Staying Local. Grow your own vegetables and herbs or buy them at a farmer’s market or roadside stand. The taste is almost always superior, the cost is usually lower, and you’ll be helping to save gas and reduce emissions. The easiest things you can grow are also what you’ll probably use the most: tomatoes and lettuce. Merging Edible with Ornamental. I predict there will be a movement toward landscape plants that serve more than one purpose. By that I mean, it won’t be enough to just have a privet hedge. We’ll be expecting an edible hedge, full of shrubs with eye-appealing looks and mouth-watering fruits and nuts. The shrubs are out there. Stay tuned to a future blog when I’ll introduce you to some good candidates. By the way: Do you know how eco-friendly your garden really is? Check out our fun quiz!

Home Composting 101, Part II

2008-02-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

Mark Highland, President of The Organic Mechanics Soil Company, once again is contributing some important information regarding home composting.

Mark suggests the following when you are starting to compost...

Check with local authorities for special laws or ordinances against composting…start by calling your county extension agent.

Choose a compost bin…build your own or purchase a prefabricated compost bin.

Decide where to put your compost bin…look for a shady spot, not full sun.

Prevent excess moisture accumulation from rain…cover or keep lid on bin

Protect the bin from rodents…purchase ½ mesh hardware cloth, place on ground, fold up sides of hardware cloth an inch or two past the outside edge of the bin, cover edge with soil, pack down soil with foot.

What makes up compost ingredients?

Starting ingredients are “greens” and “browns”

Greens = Nitrogen; Browns = Carbon

Compostables...Greens = grass clippings, kitchen waste, coffee grounds, tea bags; Browns = leaves, shredded newspaper, stale bread, straw.

Non-compostables…no meat, bones, dairy, oils, dressings, salt, pet waste, diseased plants, dead animals, sand, pressure-treated lumber, or trashStore kitchen scraps in the freezer to reduce kitchen odors.

Thanks Mark for the great ideas!

Garden Superstars for Spring 2008

2008-02-07T12:46:00.000-05:00

NEW PLANTS AND GARDEN ACCESSORIES
TAKE A STARRING ROLE IN OUTDOOR ROOMS THIS SPRING

From show-stopping roses to containers rich in history, Spring 2008 promises to be an exciting year for garden lovers.
"Gardening this year will be easier than ever before, and a lot more fun, thanks to exciting new plants and smart new garden products scheduled for release this spring," says Susan McCoy, owner of the Garden Media Group, a lawn and garden public relations agency.
With just a few months until the weather breaks, McCoy reveals a few of her favorite garden superstars for Spring 2008.

NEW STARS IN THE GARDEN ARE NO DIVAS
Looking for a great low-maintenance flowering shrub for your garden? Try the new Drift® series of landscape groundcover roses for year round color with little to no effort. A cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniature roses, Drift Roses have a low, spreading habit that makes them perfect for container gardening, hanging baskets and small gardens. Highly disease resistant, they require no spraying except in the most black spot prone areas of the Deep South. Bred to be "chemical-free", Drifts resist rust, mildew, Japanese beetles and black spot, while blooming for months on end. To find out more about these and other fine Star® Roses, visit www.starroses.com.

Outdoor Living Takes on New Rooms
As we expand outdoors to entertain, cook and just relax, more of us are taking refuge in custom built gazebos to add an extra "room" in the backyard. New from Amish Country Gazebos the nation’s leading retailer of custom crafted Amish structures, is the 2008 Lancaster Collection. Named after prominent Pennsylvania cities, this series features three stunning handcrafted models: The Manheim, Carlisle, and Devon. Headquartered in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, this family-owned business uses only the finest materials for each and every special order and offers a lifetime guarantee on every gazebo they produce. For more information or to order a catalog, visit www.amishgazebos.com or call 1-800-700-1777.

GARDEN TROPICS FOR A GREAT ESCAPE
Gone are the days when gardening in colder climates meant using only boxwoods, hostas and cold-hardy perennials. Thanks to advances in breeding, tropical beauties like the Bahama Bay™ Hibiscus collection can be successfully grown in gardens situated well above the Mason-Dixon Line.
Nearly two dozen hibiscuses with enormous bi- and tri-colored blooms accented with lush, dark green foliage are in the collection. With names like ‘Goin Steady’, ‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Big Bird’, the plants have personalities all their own, and are a perfect fit for gardeners who have caught on to the tropical explosion. Gardeners in tropical climates, zones 7 to 9, can enjoy the hibiscus’ massive, multi-colored blooms almost year round. For those gardening in cooler climates, Bahama Bay™ will bloom abundantly during the summer months when grown in a container. For more information, visit www.bahamabay-hibiscus.com.

Garden Accents Inspired By American History
A touch of class for any garden can be found in this new Williamsburg Collection from Campania International (www.campaniainternational.com). The collection features an extensive range of garden containers, including cast-stone replicas of urns in the Governor’s Palace gardens, part of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Birdbaths, an elegant window box, and a stepping stone round out the product line.
This historical collection features the rich designs of Colonial Williamsburg, offering today’s gardener an exceptional array of historical American garden accents. Try one of these elegant accents inside or outside your home to achieve the latest "designer" look from Campania.

Healthy Gardens from the Ground Up
Start your container garden off right this season with high-quality planting soil that feeds the plants and keeps the soil moist longer. This new organic potting soil, called Organic Mechanics (www.organicmechanicsoil.com), is an all-purpose, peat-free, potting soil that is 100 percent organic and promises to improve plant performance. Gardeners can pick up Organic Mechanics® potting soil at Whole Foods, Wegmans and Wild Oats or the new 2.0 cubic foot bag at fine garden centers.

TIP: Lower your home thermostats!

2008-02-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

That’s right, thermostats, plural! Most people have their heater, hot water heater, and refrigerator thermostats set at unnecessary temperatures.
Try this out for a few months: Set your heater at 68 degrees F or lower in the winter and 78 degrees F or higher in the summer. Programmable home thermostats are an even better way to heat and cool your home responsibly.
Next, adjust the temperature on your hot water heater to 140-degrees F or lower if possible. Most people keep the temperature on the hot water heater much higher than they really need. Try it out!
And finally, make sure to use the energy-saving settings on your refrigerator. Better yet, try switching to a more modern, energy saving frig. Look for new refrigerators with the Energy Star label.
What’s with all this Energy Star Business? Check out the U.S. government’s Energy Star program homepage to find out more about how you could be saving money on energy costs and help the environment at the same time. It’s win-win, baby!

Calculate Your Effect on the Environment

2008-02-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

The Personal Climate Change Calculator is an easy to use tool which will help you measure your climate-affecting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. After calculating your carbon footprint, you will be presented with a convenient option for offsetting these emissions by making a donation to plant trees in one of AMERICAN FORESTS Global ReLeaf forest restoration projects. Each tree costs just $1 and is “planted” with the click of a mouse.

Why plant trees? According to AmericanForests.org, during photosynthesis, a tree "inhales" CO2 from the air and then separates the carbon from the oxygen molecules. The carbon is absorbed by the tree, which then "exhales" pure oxygen back into the air for us to breathe. This process, called sequestration is how forests have always helped regulate the earth's atmospheric balance. Trees, then, are natural regulators of the Earth's atmospheric balance, sequestering carbon and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that builds up in the atmosphere. The less excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the lower the "greenhouse effect," and the less chance that we will suffer the devastating weather effects associated with a rapid shift in our planet's climate.

Plant a tree. Breathe deeply!

TIP: Prevent energy leaks at home.

2008-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Check this out: Did you know that heating and cooling can make up to 50 percent of your energy bill each month? If you heat and cool your home more efficiently by fixing leaks, you’ll save money and reduce your impact on the environment.
Plugging up those energy leaks is simple. Insulating your home will keep your house warmer in the winter and help to cool things off in the summer. Sealing all your ducts can help as well. This Energy Star website will help with simple techniques for sealing your ducts.
Weatherizing your home is also critical. Want to learn how to weatherize to prevent energy leaks? Read more at this U.S. Department of Energy website!

Amish Country Gazebos Launches Lancaster Collection

2008-01-28T13:50:00.000-05:00

Amish Country Gazebos, the nation’s leading retailer of luxury, custom constructed gazebos, announces the release of their 2008 Lancaster collection. Named after prominent Pennsylvania cities, this series features three stunning handcrafted models: The Carlisle, The Manheim, and The Devon.

“We are thrilled to pay tribute to our company’s authentic Amish heritage by launching a first-ever specialty collection of gazebos named after Eastern Pennsylvania cities that are dear to our hearts,” says Chet Beiler, founder of the family-owned Amish Country Gazebos business.

The Carlisle is a 14 foot, wood pagoda fashioned with a two-tiered roof and decorative Victorian features including turned posts and turned spindles. This gazebo can also be custom ordered in sizes ranging from 10 to 30 feet.

Beiler says that while the company prides itself on offering its customers the ability to custom order gazebos that meet their individual tastes and needs, he feels that it is also important for ACG to inform and inspire through initiatives like the release of specialty gazebo collections.

The Manheim is a 14 x 20 foot oval pagoda manufactured with maintenance-free vinyl and featuring a two-tiered roof. This model is accented with Victorian braces. The Manheim can be custom ordered in wood or vinyl and in sizes 10 x 12 feet up to 14 x 32 feet.

Homeowners also have the option of ordering a custom roof color that matches their home as well as a complete electrical package.

The Devon is a 12 foot majestic single tiered roof hand-crafted from solid wood. This gazebo can be custom constructed in wood or vinyl and is available in sizes ranging from 10 to 30 feet.

Folks interested in learning more about owning their own custom crafted gazebo, can visit http://www.blogger.com/www.amishgazebos.com where they can order a free ACG catalog and DVD. This information-rich website also includes a gazebo photo gallery, customer scrapbook and virtual gazebo design gallery.

TIP: Go “mostly organic” in your lawn and garden.

2008-01-07T09:55:00.000-05:00

Using organic gardening products and techniques is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. You don’t necessarily have to go 100 percent organic either. Try out a few organic pesticides or fertilizers and see what works for you! By going mostly organic in your garden, you’ll help to stimulate beneficial soil organisms, reduce harmful wastewater runoff, and create a healthier place for your pets and children to play.

Home Composting 101

2008-01-03T08:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome our newest guest blogger Mark Highland, President of Organic Mechanics®, as he answers the top three questions about composting he is continually asked by the consumers of his organic potting soil...

What is composting?
Composting is a natural biological process where waste organic matter is recycled and decomposed by microorganisms into a dark brown nutrient-rich material. Compost is a sustainable, renewable resource used to improve soils and to provide nutrients for plants. Composting helps to conserve environmental resources and to contribute to the ecological process of building healthy soils.

How is compost made?
It’s easy! Mixing “green” and “brown” ingredients together in appropriate ratios creates the perfect condition for the biological process of breaking down organic matter. As microbes like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms, and other “good guys” eat the compost ingredients they transform their food into fertilizer. When these microbes eliminate their waste, they add nitrogen and other nutrients to the compost pile.

Compost ingredients (food), moisture content (water), and production technique (aeration) influence nutrient levels and microbial communities present in the compost environment. Turning the compost pile accelerates the process by mixing microbes and composting materials, allowing oxygen to enter the pile, and releasing some moisture. Finished compost smells like a handful of freshly dug earth in spring, is dark brown in color, has a crumbly texture, yet is moist enough to form a ball in your hand without squeezing out even one drop of water.

Why should I use compost?
Using compost improves plant health. Compost provides beneficial microbes and plant nutrients, increases water-holding capacity, improves porosity of garden soils, and helps reduce soil compaction. Proper use of compost can increase nutrient and water retention by building populations of healthy soil organisms, resulting in larger, greener plants with more flowers and/or fruits. Add a one-inch layer of compost twice annually, once in spring and once in fall.

Last but not least....Be good to the environment!
In addition, composting is an easy way to make a positive environmental impact in your community. Did you know over 60% of all trash sent to landfills is either compostable or recyclable? By composting the organic matter generated at home, you help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Plus, it saves you money! Having plenty of compost available at home eliminates the need to purchase expensive soil amendments at the local garden center. A final reason to use compost is the feel-good factor. It just feels good knowing you made a difference in your backyard, doing your part to conserve environmental resources, and producing all the nutrients and mulch for your landscape!

Thanks Mark!

TIP: Replace your single-paned windows with double-pane windows.

2007-12-27T09:47:00.000-05:00

This can be an expensive home renovation, but it will make all the difference in the world in terms of saving you energy during the cold winter months. The American Council for Energy Efficiency has a website on selecting the best energy efficient windows for your home. In addition to double panes, energy efficient features to look for on windows include tinted glass coatings, low-emissivity (low-e) coatings, and multiple layers of glazing.

Dreaming of a 'Green' Christmas

2007-12-11T11:08:00.000-05:00

Think green is just the traditional color of the holidays? Think again. This season it’s more than a color. It’s the hippest way to decorate while giving back to both your family and Mother Earth. And the easiest, most festive way to be an earth friendly elf is to decorate with a living Norfolk Island Pine. No live trees to cut down, no dead needles to clean up and no discarded tree to drag to the curb and overload the landfills.

Easy to grow, Norfolk Island Pines make cheerful centerpieces during your holiday feast and add eco-flair to your home’s décor. Small enough for a tabletop display in the kitchen or hall or large enough to be the focal point of any room, they tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. After the holidays, untrim your mini tree and place it in a pretty pot and use as a house plant. It also absorbs and breaks down harmful pollutants, giving you and your family an extra Christmas gift -- a healthier and greener environment.

Available at neighborhood retailers, 14- or 22-inch Norfolk Island Pines come fully decorated and ready for the party, or select the larger 44-inch tree and custom decorate it with your favorite ornaments. This year go “green” with a living Norfolk Island Pine and create lasting memories for you and your family. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.costafarms.com.

Forget the Fruitcake – Give the gift of Roses Under $10

2007-12-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Unlike traditional fruitcake and even poinsettias, a gift of Sunblaze® Roses lives forever – either in a container inside or outside on a deck or patio, and planted permanently in the garden. A blazing ball of color in traditional holiday red, white or pink, Sunblaze roses grow only 18-24” round, about the size of a mum, and look great clustered together or standing alone in a decorative pot. Their compact size makes them the perfect alternative as a container plant for the home or office. Check out all the festive holiday colors at www.starroses.com.

Gifting Garden Secrets to Deter Deer

2007-12-06T10:49:00.000-05:00

Buy your gardening enthusiasts the keys to easy success in their yard and gardens: Just in time to stop winter grazing damage, Deer Stopper® is 100 percent certified organic, smells like shampoo and uses smell and taste to repel deer from gardens and yards. The product’s mint and rosemary smell is pleasant to humans but repulsive to deer looking for their next meal in your backyard. Your gardener will love you even more if you give them a homemade certificate offering to apply these products for them! For further information, visit www.messinawildlife.com.