Blog
Before our 600 square foot apartment in Chicago, my wife Sara and I rented a place in Cleveland, Ohio. It was double the size for half the price and included a backyard. We had a garden crowded with c...
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So we're inching our way toward spring and in a few weeks industry plant nerds from around the world will reunite in California for Spring Trials (April 6-11).Will you be attending? If you're unable t...
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Do you remember the Seinfeld character and episode called The Soup Nazi? Click the link for a quick reminder. On the show, customers would wait out the door and down the block for an amazing, knee-buc...
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Last night, at around 11:45, my wife and I touched down at O'Hare after eight days in Curacao on our postponed honeymoon. Weather was great and the sunburns were plentiful...at least for me.I'm not al...
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Last week I was quickly reminded how warm one can get walking (meandering) the floors of AmericasMart. Note to self: Next time leave the hiking socks at home. During my recent two-day trip to check ou...
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January is one busy month for me - Chicago to Atlanta to Chicago to Milwaukee to Chicago to Nashville. Luckily, I get to throw in a well-planned and slightly delayed honeymoon at the end of all that c...
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It's the day after Christmas and you need something to do. You already had your fill of Christmas cookies and your creepy Uncle Stew. Don't fret! We have one more present (sort of) for you this holida...
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September, 2001: The first time I loaded the trunk of a car with topsoil. Summer, 2008: The first time I wrote an article about loading the trunk of a car with topsoil. It wasn't until I took an offic...
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By the time you read this, I'll be well into my five-hour drive to St. Louis. I'm heading to the STL to check out some of the Midwest's best garden centers while the holiday season is in full go. The ...
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I recently read an article in the Chicago Tribune on this year's Midwest drought and its minimal effect on 2012 Christmas tree prices. Illinois Christmas tree growers said drought conditions killed ma...
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Many of you swear by reaching your customer by way of inbox and mailbox with a seasonal or monthly or even weekly (hopefully not daily) enewsletter and mailer. Trader Joe's does, too.The happy-go-luck...
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It looks like an independent garden center, but I know it isn't an independent garden center. I know it really isn't a big box store, either, ever under the Urban Outfitters umbrella. Ever since Terra...
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