On the one hand, Tom Haynie thinks his way of hiring and retaining employees won’t work for larger companies. On the other hand, he believes some of the same principles probably do apply to both large and small businesses.
Haynie and his wife, Barb, have operated Creekside Garden Center in Fort Collins for 50 years. They are content with the...
A nursery can grow the healthiest trees. A greenhouse can produce the most beautiful flowers. Businesses can hire successfully to build a strong staff, and market effectively to get customers. But, if the plants can’t get from their operation to their customer’s location, all other efforts are moot.
Developing and maintaining affordable, reliable shipping channels is the key to completing...
Plant Select® is the country’s leading source of plants designed to thrive in the high plains and intermountain region. It is a nonprofit collaboration of Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and horticulturists around the world. During 2021, our 24th anniversary, we are excited to introduce four new plants.
Penstemon strictus ‘WWG06’ (Blanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Beard Tongue)
Blanca Peak™ Rocky...
The Board of Directors of the Colorado Horticulture Research and Education Foundation (CHREF) met at Colorado State University in December for its annual meeting, and to listen to presentations on current research proposals for 2020. The CHREF Board also interviewed students for scholarships.
In total, six academic scholarships were awarded for a total of $19,000, and more than $18,000 was...
Ours is a quick-moving, no-nonsense business. When we are in the heat of the season, there is little time for a lot of hand holding or a prolonged courtship with every customer that you encounter on any given day. Time is a precious commodity and every contact and moment must count. So, it is vital to get down to...
As my term as President of CNGA comes to a close, I look back on what a great experience serving you, the members of CNGA, has been for me both personally and professionally. When I was asked by Bill Kluth back in the fall of 2012, if I would be interested in running for an open seat on the...
This month, the Board of the Colorado Horticulture Research & Education Foundation will meet at Colorado State University (CSU) for their annual meeting. The agenda includes interviewing scholarship candidates, reviewing current horticulture research, and allocating funds for new research.
As we continue our spotlights on past CHREF scholarship recipients in the LooseLeaf magazine, we introduce Sheila Prentice, who is a...
On Tuesday, August 6, more than 175 industry professionals and advanced Colorado Master Gardeners rated more than 1,050 flowering and foliage plants at the Annual Trial Gardens Evaluation Day. In the last issue of LooseLeaf, I discussed some of the Consumer Favorites, which do not always line up with the professional picks. Listed below are the industry’s picks for...
Keep your employees and customers safe with these tips on snow removal and safety. In addition to cold stress, there are other winter weather-related hazards that workers may be exposed to when performing tasks such as driving in the snow, removing snow from rooftops, and working near downed or damaged power lines.
Shoveling Snow
Shoveling snow can be a strenuous activity,...
Great Gardens in Torrington, Wyo. is a retail garden center largely serving eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. We have been under the current ownership for 11 years and the business has operated in this location for 50 years. We are open year-round, necessitating several full-time employees for the entire year. There are usually around 14 each year, both part-time...
