Plantscaping
It’s important to us at Good Earth Plant Company to use our platform to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to horticulture and gardening during Black History Month 2022. Last year’s blog post on Black agriculture pioneers was one of our most well-read posts in 2021. Thank you!
If you didn’t get a chance to read about Tuskegee University pioneers Dr. George Washington Carver and Dr. Booker T. Whatley, Frederick McKinley, Marie Clark Taylor, Abra Lee, and Ron Finley, you might consider taking a few minutes to get acquainted with these impressive people.
But we barely scratched the surface. There are many more Black gardeners, designers, and plant stylists currently making news and creating a unique plant culture that’s flourishing.… Read More
Green Thumbs Up! Back to Business in 2022
The past two years have been a long, hard journey. I don’t need to explain why. Finally, at the start of 2022, it seems there’s finally some sunshine and optimism. For me, I finally got to return to my favorite kickstart to the year at the annual Tropical Plants International Expo, AKA TPIE. This year’s conference moved from its normal south Florida location to Tampa due to renovations at the original venue.
Green thumbs up for our new hosts, the location in Tampa Convention Center was convenient and walkable. The impressive displays, especially the thoughtful education sessions the conference committee put together, were outstanding.… Read More
Ten Plant Care Do-Over Resolutions You Need to Make
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Was it the usual stuff: lose weight, exercise more, drink less, wear something other than sweatpants? Are you already done with all of them 13 days into 2022?
Forget these resolutions and start over with us at Good Earth Plant Company. Our resolution is one we’ve stuck with for more than 40 years: we enrich peoples’ lives with plants. We’ve found new ways to do it, and we’re always looking for creative innovations, but the mission never changes. We’re heading into 2022 with some amazing projects already underway. We’ll share them with you when they’re completed.… Read More
Nightmare Before Christmas: Christmas Trees In Short Supply
Many families usually make plans to put up their Christmas tree this time of year. But when’s the last time anything seemed normal?
Like so many other goods right now, the supply chain problems slowing down the delivery of so many products affect Christmas trees. Whether you prefer a real Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree, it’s more complicated and more expensive in 2021.
For California residents – and most people in Western states – the supply chain issues combine with inventory destroyed by western wildfires in tree-growing states like Oregon. Rising temperatures also create problems for tree farmers. The result: tree costs are up about five to ten percent.… Read More
Dangerous Plants: A Little Shop of Horrors
Science backs up the reasons why we love horror movies and celebrate creepy things like Halloween. People enjoy the excitement and energy part of the “fight or flight” instinct. So we get ourselves all worked up to get that rush from screaming about harmless things that frighten us.
Everyone has their favorite monsters. Some of mine are plants! It’s no joke. Some seriously dangerous plants can inflict injuries from annoying to life-threatening. Several common indoor plants can hurt you with their poisonous ways.
So many people have become indoor plant and outdoor gardening enthusiasts thanks to the pandemic. While most plants are harmless, it only takes one wrong choice to make someone sick – especially a child or a pet.… Read More
Taking Nature On The Road Again – Trade Shows Are Back
One more positive sign we are turning the corner from the coronavirus pandemic: Trade shows are back!
In the past month, Good Earth Plant Company set up a display booth at several trade shows. First, we participated in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego event. Next, we set up at the International Facilities Manager Association (IFMA) and Building Owners and Manager Association (BOMA) joint San Diego Chapter trade show. Our Business Development expert Dan Summers joined me here.
We also partnered with our clients and colleagues GMBi and BKM at the International Interior Design Association show. We didn’t have a booth ourselves, but we did attend and enjoyed the interaction. … Read More
Pay Attention To The Power of Plants at Work
We’ve learned some hard lessons thanks to the coronavirus pandemic about how much our health and wellbeing is governed by our environment inside our homes, workplaces, schools, public facilities, and other buildings like stores and movie theaters. Anything we can do to improve the quality of our indoor environment needs to be a priority.
Our surroundings make such a difference in our health because people in industrialized countries including the U.S. spend more than 90% of their time indoors.
It makes me even more relentless about the work we do at Good Earth Plant Company to improve indoor environments by enriching peoples’ lives with plants, by promoting biophilic design and the WELL Building Standard, and by talking about this with you – and as many other people I can get to pay attention!… Read More
Ho Ho Ho – The Holidays Are Already Here at Good Earth Plant Company
One week ago today, a record 89 cargo ships were anchored or floating off the coast full of goods waiting to be unloaded at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, according to the Marine Exchange Vessel Traffic Service. Even when they are off the ships, loaded cargo containers are piled up, waiting for a ride by truck or train to their final destination.
If you’ve tried to buy furniture, cars, bicycle parts, and now plant pots and containers, the wait can be weeks or months. So you better start thinking about the holidays. Yes, they are right around the corner!… Read More
Time to Celebrate: It’s National Indoor Plant Week
Plant lovers everywhere, get ready to party – the week of September 20, 2021, is National Indoor Plant Week. We’re giving you advanced notice! It is celebrated the third full week of September every year.
I get it, there are a whole lot of these observations. One website claims there are 1,500 of them – that’s a LOT for 365 days and 52 weeks. During the same week, it’s also National Singles Week, National Farm Animals Week, and National Eczema Week.
Your indoor plants deserve a celebration. All they want to do is grow and keep you happier and healthier. They don’t judge you and they don’t have to worry about social distancing either (how lucky!).… Read More
Nine Best Tips to Make the Most of Labor Day Weekend 2021
Labor Day 2021 is already here! Yes, Labor Day is recognized this Monday, September 6, 2021.
Made any plans? The pandemic might be changing your traditional long weekend getaway. Why not take advantage of the situation to invest time in some late summer gardening which will pay off all through the fall month.
Your yard will look great and you will get a healthy dose of Vitamin N – as in Nature. If you enlist your family, especially the kids, they’ll benefit from activities not involving screen time.
Good Earth Plant Company’s nine best tips for Labor Day Weekend 2021:
Start a compost pile to create some organic fertilizer for next spring’s garden.… Read More