Some 71 million U.S. homes includes a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. In 2008, people spent $43 billion (that's with a B!) on their pets. Nurseries and garden centers should not ignore this market. Just because someone's West Highland white terrier digs furiously every day, or one wrong step from their great dane could squash a delicate plant, doesn't mean pet owners can't have a beautiful garden.

The Oregonian interviewed landscape pros who shared tips on how to design a garden with your pets in mind. Read it here.

Now if I could train Radar (pictured) to dig holes for my new sweet gum and chinkapin oak, I'll be happy.

Green-Tek, a North American supplier of polycarbonate sheet and greenhouse coverings, and Co-Extruded Plastics Technologies, a thermoforming company, have taken over a former GM assembly plant in Janesville, Wis. Both companies, which were located in Edgerton, Wis., will be relocating to the new location. The companies found themselves locked in a dispute with landlord and developer Jim Grafft, who had terminated their lease effective Nov. 30, 2009. The companies were unable to find another suitable building in Edgerton. The 177,000-square-foot Janesville facility, which previously housed a Lear seating factory, is situated in an industrial park and sits on 16 acres. “This building will power our growth for years to come,” said Paul Jacobson, president of Green-Tek. Together, both companies employ approximately 50 people and anticipate adding 25-30 jobs over the next two to three years, as economic conditions permit.

In honor of National Farm Safety and Health Week – Sept 20-26, Kubota has created a top ten list focusing on tractor safety. Take a moment to read and react. Is your operation safe? Are there things you can do to increase both awareness and increased safety?
1.) Know your tractor, its implements and how they work.
Please read and understand the Operator's Manual(s) before operating the equipment. Also, keep your equipment in good condition.
2.) Use ROPS and seatbelt whenever and wherever applicable.
If your tractor has a foldable ROPS -- Roll Over Protection Structure --, fold it down only when absolutely necessary and fold it up and lock it again as soon as possible. Do not wear the seatbelt when the ROPS is folded.* Most tractor fatalities are caused by overturns. (*Kubota Tractor Corporation strongly recommends the use of ROPS and seatbelts in almost all applications.)
3.) Be familiar with your terrain and work area – walk the area first to be sure and drive safely.
Use special caution on slopes, slow down for all turns and stay off the highway whenever possible.
4.) Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage.
Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which is colorless, odorless – and deadly.
5.) Always keep your PTO properly shielded.
Make it a habit to walk around your tractor and PTO driven implement – never walk over, through or between the tractor and implement, particularly if either is running. The PTO rotates with enough speed and strength to kill you.
6.) Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar.
Otherwise, your tractor might flip over backwards.
7.) Never get off a moving tractor or leave it with its engine running.
Shut it down before leaving the seat. A runaway tractor can be extremely dangerous.
8.) Never refuel while the engine is running or hot.
Additionally, do not add coolant to the radiator while the engine is hot; hot coolant can erupt and scald.
9.) Keep all children off and away from your tractor and its implements at all times.
Children are generally attracted to tractors and the work they do. However, a tractor's work is not child's play. Remember, a child's disappointment is fleeting, while your memory of his or her injury or death resulting from riding the tractor with you, or being too close, will last a lifetime.
10.) Never be in a hurry or take chances about anything you do with your tractor.
Think safety first, then take your time and do it right.

Rudbeckia 'TigerEye Gold' won "most popular flower" in the American Garden Awards competition.

Visitors to 17 gardens nationwide voted in this inagural contest.

Runners up were petunia 'Baby Duck Yellow' and pentas 'Northern Lights Lavender.

Visit www.americangardenaward.org for future contests.

The Sonic drive-in restaurant recently opened in Peabody, Mass., with quite a fervor, according to The Boston Globe. Some eager eaters waited up to four hours for a Sonic burger and tater tots.
 

The 1950s style fast-food chain has been advertising nationally for years, but had not previously operated one in New England. Massachusetts residents have been teased by commercials for so long, patrons are coming in droves. The owners of the new Sonic have hired a valet company to direct cars into the lot and a police detail to manage the traffic flow.

Wow, all this over a hamburger that doesn't taste much better than one from a school cafeteria. Was this a calculated move on Sonic's part? Did they really believe years of advertising with no supporting locations would create such a frenzy?
 

What's your take?

Bailey Nurseries is now offering a 2-year guarantee on Easy Elegance roses. If the plant doesn’t thrive for two years, Bailey Nurseries will refund the purchase price to the homeowner.
Research shows that most homeowners, even those who consider themselves gardeners, think growing roses is too difficult.

“Our goal is to take the fear out of growing roses,” said Jonathan Pederson, brand development manager at Bailey Nurseries. “We know that anyone who plants Easy Elegance roses will have great results. We’re so confident in the quality of our roses, we’re standing behind our plants with the industry's first rose guarantee.”

Share your plant guarantees with us. What are the pros and cons?