In this issue: ASLA Award-winning landscapes Dream Landscapes: 10 Gardens Inspired by Piet Oudolf More Details on Problem-free Panicum Green Benefits: What Can Plants Do for Us? Videos: Benefits of Native Grasses NEW! Browse our Catalog Online Upcoming Events

Designing with Grasses

ASLA Award-winning Landscapes Each year the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) awards excellence in design and planning. The Honor Awards for 2019 include several projects with a heavy dose of grasses. It's a beautiful look at projects that are shaping our surroundings and changing the way we think about landscapes. Here's a peek at a few of the grass-heavy winners, including their plant lists: Glenstone; Potomac, MD Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park; Long Island City, NY Bentway; Toronto, ON Washington Fruit & Produce Headquarters; Yakima, WA To see all the winning projects, browse the 2019 ASLA Professional Awards page.

Dream Landscapes: 10 Gardens Inspired by Piet Oudolf Dutch plantsman, designer, and author Piet Oudolf has brought perennial gardening to the forefront of public consciousness. You can see shades of his influence in these "dream landscapes" that celebrate grasses and perennials. Read more www.gardenista.com

More Details on Problem-free Panicum

Last month we gave you details on a talk on Panicum virgatum by our head grower, Bill Hall. He gave a session at Cultivate’19. The first post focused on understanding the range and warm-season nature of Switchgrass. Review Part 1 here. This month, we highlight the remaining posts based Bill’s talk. Part 2: Cultural Conditions The fundamentals of this warm-season, prairie grass have implications for container production. This post makes that connection and addresses yellowing and rust, two of the most common concerns we hear about from growers. Find out best practices for optimal growth and ways to avoid problems in Part 2: Cultural Conditions. Part 3: Production Scheduling Warm-season grasses like Panicum grow best when soil and air temperatures are high. Switchgrass is slow to emerge in spring, and that has implications for planning your production. Read about growth cycle, finishing times, and ways to schedule your Panicum production in Part 3: Production Scheduling.

Green Benefits

What Can Plants Do for Us? Did you know that looking at greenery can lower your blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and reduce muscle tension? The effects of plants on our health are profound and clear. The benefits of plants were front and center earlier this month at America in Bloom's (AIB) national symposium. AIB helps communities beautify and improve overall quality of life. At their symposium, Dr. Charlie Hall gave a keynote on the link between beauty and health. His presentation and other AIB resources offer helpful info for developing promotional materials for your community. Explore the link between plants and health via AIB: Presentation: The Link Between Beauty and Heath. Article: review of research on the well-being benefits of plants Webpage: The Benefits of Plants

Benefits of Native Grasses Pollinator powerhouse? Check. Soil superpower? Check. Beautiful and practical? Check. Check. Our North American native grasses offer a winning combination: great looks and functionality. University of Minnesota Extension Professor and Horticulturist Mary Meyer has a three-part video series on the benefits of native grasses. The collection covers Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem), Bouteloua gracilis (Blue Grama), and Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed). We love the details on which pollinators they support, how they improve the soil, and how to use them in the landscape. Join Dr. Meyer on her GrassTalk website for an illuminating session on these native beauties. See the videos

Catalog Online

NEW! Browse Our Catalog Online We heard your cries for another way to see our Catalog of Grasses. Not everyone wants a hard copy, although we do hear they're closely guarded in many an office. For those who want to browse digitally, we've made a reader-format PDF available on our website. View our catalog online. It's not quite the same as thumbing through the pages, but you'll still get a grassy thrill. And if you decide you just can't live without a hard copy, you can always send us a request.

Upcoming Events

Ecological Plant Conference Dec. 6, 2019; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY The Ecological Landscape Alliance will host its 4th annual Ecological Plant Conference at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Spend the day with friends and colleagues who share your passion for plants and the planet. This year's conference includes our Marketing Director, Shannon Currey. She'll be sharing grasses and sedges for every layer in the landscape. Get more information on her talk and the outstanding lineup at the link above.

MANTS 50 Jan. 8-10, 2020; Baltimore, MD The Masterpiece of trade shows celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2020. One of the best, this event 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 in Baltimore for a look at what's happening with grasses and our industry. Find us in Booths 412 & 414.

Green & Growin' Jan. 27-31, 2020; Greensboro, NC Green & Growin'20 is later than usual, but it promises to be better than ever. 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.

See the more about where we'll be on our Upcoming Events page.

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Hoffman Nursery, Inc. Ph 800-203-8590 | Fax 919-471-3100 M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm EST sales@hoffmannursery.com | hoffmannursery.com We grow good grass!®