Back Page: The three Vs of plants

Garden Media Group said plants are in vogue for their ability to elicit emotions. LIke me saying “Wow!” to the color on this Lysimachia atropurpurea.

In today's world where news travels at the click of a mouse and technology changes at the speed of now, people are finding balance and purpose tapping into the power of plants and cultivating a "new good life," according to the 2012 Garden Trends Report from Garden Media Group.

Recent garden trends unveiled at the FloraHolland Trade Fair focused on the benefits of plants as the 3 Vs: Vital, Vogue and Voyage. Plants are necessary for health (vital); for their versatility and ability to elicit emotions (vogue); and for their cross cultural influence (voyage).

"Plants are no longer a luxury, but a necessity for our lives," said Susan McCoy, trend spotter and outdoor living expert. "Plants can live without us, but we can't live without plants."

— Kelli Rodda

A new series of video podcasts features Michigan State University’s Erik Runkle interviewing greenhouse growers in the U.S. and Holland on their sustainable practices. In dozens of candid conversations shot on location in greenhouses, labs and garden centers, Runkle delves into the various ways the trade is investing in sustainable solutions to increase productivity and profitability, with a sharp eye on return on investment.

See them all here: www.thesustainabilityinitiative.org