It's all digital

Gardeners seek advice from digital friends

Once upon a time, green thumb knowledge was passed down through generations. Kids learned about gardening by working in the yard with their parents or grandparents. That’s still happening now, of course, but new research shows that people are increasingly turning to their digital friends and family for expert advice as well.

The Garden Media Group’s 2014 Garden Trends Report indicated that the percentage of people seeking gardening tips from friends and neighbors dropped by 16 percent to 47 percent when compared to 2012 results, according to the Garden Writers Association Foundation 2013 April Gardening Trends Research Report. GWAF surveyed 915 respondents using random digital dials and asked them, “Which of the following information sources do you plan to use for your spring garden planting?” Friends and neighbors were still the most sought-after resource, however. Garden centers, nurseries and classes were the second most source folks turned to, at 44 percent, but that category also dropped by about 7 percentage points. Books also took a hit – people received their gardening information from books 32 percent of the time compared to 43 percent the previous year.

What increased were the digital tools, like gardening websites, which jumped 2 percentage points to 26 percent. YouTube and Twitter were other places people increasingly searched for information, at 11 percent (up 3 percentage points) and 4 percent (up 2 points), respectively. Gardeners thirsty for knowledge turned to Facebook 5 percent of the time for information.
 

Multimedia Minute

Poinsettia production
Dr. Bruce Dunn demonstrates how poinsettia production methods work together to shape the plants.
Watch the video at http://bit.ly/172JHlY

Automated irrigation
Lou Anella from Oklahoma State University shows how to use a tensiometer to help automate greenhouse irrigation.
Watch the video at http://bit.ly/172JPly

Murder, sex, greed
AFE, an independent nonprofit that funds research and scholarships in floriculture and environmental horticulture, created a custom animated short video.
Watch the video at http://bit.ly/1btFwbz
 

The E-Scene

Virtual garden
Washington State University developed a Farmville-esque interactive webpage called Gardening in Washington State. Users can point their mouse to where they need advice ­— like containers, veggies and urban green space.
Read the article at http://gardening.wsu.edu/

Moon landing
The University of Arizona’s Prototype Lunar Greenhouse is equipped as a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS). A BLSS uses plants for food, provides air revitalization, recycles water, and recycles waste for astronauts.
Read the article at http://ag.arizona.edu/lunar greenhouse/
Photo courtesy Ed Stiles

Goodbye, Bob
Bob Heffernan, executive director of Connecticut Green Industries, will retire this fall after 24 years of service. Bob will run the White Horse Inn, a B&B in Fayston-Waitsfield, Vt.
Read the article at http://bit.ly/GMHeffernan

From Twitter

TagawaGardens @TagawaGardens
Amazing.....now that’s what we call celebrating the season! Thank you Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens fb.me/JYS1TQa4

Brock Road Nursery @BrockRdNursery
Striped Bark Blog - No room for a tree but fall colour for me! bit.ly/16wtxrH

WavePetunias @WavePetunias
Looking for some great garden tips? We want to help you make your #garden beautiful. wave-rave.com/Blog/

J Berry Nursery @jberrynursery
Planting “black” plants for #Halloween? Why not a #BlackDiamond Crapemyrtle? Find one close to you at the link: ow.ly/p7FyD

agardenlife @agardenlife
7 rare, amazing plants from around the world. http://bit.ly/18MsXn8

U.S. EPA @EPA
#SecKerry on #IPCC report: #Climatechange is real, it’s happening now, human beings are cause of this transformation. go.usa.gov/DGkW

FastCompany @FastCompany
If you weren’t worried about fracking pollution, perhaps you’ll be worried about fracking STDs? http://bit.ly/15Y4F6h

Katie @KatieGMG
NOOOOOO RT @gardenmedia: ‘Millions and Maybe Billions’ of #stinkbugs to Explode Across Country ow.ly/phDgA

Nat Geo Channel @NatGeoChannel
Use old windows to create greenhouse like structures to protect plants: http://ow.ly/i/37NmB #ThursdayTip #DoomsdayCastle

Bell Nursery @BellNursery
This interesting succulent is as much fun for its names! Rhipsalis is also known as drunkard’s dream or dancing bones. http://fb.me/LYAnOwt1