In this issue:

A Look at Lawn Alternatives
Meet the Newest Members of our Sales Team
David Hoffman receives NC State Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Hoffman Nursery announce Promotions on Sales and Marketing Team
How to use Ornamental Grass to Accent your Fall Garden
Get Inspired by these Tranquil Zen Gardens for your Yard
Garden Blooms that feed Winter Birds
Plant Spotlight: Pink Muhly Grass
Plants adjust a "Chemical Code" to Cope with Climate Change
Upcoming Events

From Hoffman Nursery

A Look at Lawn Alternatives

We appreciate a lush patch of turf grass—it’s perfect for playing games or lounging with a picnic lunch. But keeping that lawn looking ideal takes a lot of resources. Mowing, watering, and fertilizing all have a cost, in dollars and on the environment. Plus, the market for better, more ecologically sound plantings is growing. So why not join in? In this post, we take a closer look at lawn alternatives and some ideas to try for your next project.

Meet the newest members of our Sales Team

Name: Rhonda Currier

Title: Sales & Customer Service Assistant

Hometown: Timberlake, North Carolina

Hobbies: Walking, fishing, spending time with family, listening to podcasts, watching crime/forensic shows

Favorite plants at Hoffman Nursery:

Muhlenbergia capillaris and Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Foxtrot'

Name: Sami Nickerson

Title: Sales & Customer Service Assistant

Hometown: Mequon, Wisconsin

Hobbies: Collecting house plants, rewatching my favorite TV shows, cuddling with my cats, and reading

Favorite plants at Hoffman Nursery: Rhynchospora colorata, Schizachyrium

scoparium 'Twilight Zone', and Juncus effusus 'Big Twister'

David Hoffman receives NC State Outstanding Young Alumni Award

The connection between greenhouse growers and the schools they went to are often strong, as evidenced by the popularity of the "Best U.S. Colleges in Ag Sciences" post on GreenhouseGrower.com. Earlier this month, David Hoffman of Hoffman Nursery received the North Carolina State University (NC State) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Hoffman Nursery announce Promotions on Sales and Marketing Team

Hoffman Nursery is pleased to announce the promotion of two employees, Stephen Gillis to Sales and Customer Service Manager and Alex Stanley-Stretch to Marketing Coordinator.

How to use Ornamental Grass to Accent your Fall Garden

Ornamental grasses are a wonderful way to add multi-season interest to your garden. Whether grouped in clusters, used to line the perimeter of your home, or planted solo as focal points, ornamental grass can add instant texture and form to your garden any time of the year.

Get Inspired by these Tranquil Zen Gardens for your Yard

Minimalist by design with an emphasis on the bare essentials of nature, zen gardens are prized for their calming and de-stressing effects. By stripping away worldly distractions and focusing on sophisticated simplicity, these spaces offer beauty and low maintenance in any area.

Garden Blooms that feed Winter Birds

When it comes to feeding winter birds, flowers are not usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, ornamental flowers and grasses produce seed heads that remain long after plants have gone dormant, providing a valuable source of food through the fall and winter months.

Muhlenbergia capillaris (Pink Muhly Grass) is one of the most exciting members of the grass world. It is sought after for several reasons: spectacular pink plume color, drought tolerance, and undemanding nature. Pink Muhly Grass grows in a mound with erect, blue-green foliage until September when spectacular, billowing pink seed heads form a cotton-candy crown. When planted in masses, the dramatic effect can take your breath away.

See our Plant Profile

Plants and Climate Change

Plants adjust a "chemical code" to cope with climate change

Lignin is a complex organic polymer which forms key structural materials in the support tissues of plants. This substance allows plants to conduct water and stand upright, and plays a fundamental role in the formation of cell walls, particularly in wood and bark.

According to a new study led by Stockholm University, it is possible to create and/or select plants that can better recover from droughts without affecting the plants’ size or seed yield by genetically modifying their lignin chemistry. These findings could be applied in both agriculture and forestry to tackle climate change-related challenges.

12TH EASTERN NATIVE GRASSLANDS SYMPOSIUM

October 3-6, 2022; Louisville, KY

The 12th Eastern Native Grass Symposium will feature the latest information from renowned presenters and exhibitors, best management practices, and field tours showcasing the progressive use of native grasses. It all takes place at The Galt House in beautiful Louisville, KY.

For more information, visit engsymposium.org

CITIESALIVE 2022

Oct. 16-19, 2022; Philadelphia, PA

CitiesAlive® 2022 is a multi-disciplinary conference, bringing together the best designers, product manufacturers, researchers, and policy makers in the field of living architecture and green infrastructure. Attendees will hear from leading-edge designers, discussing their innovative approaches and newest projects. They will highlight progressive policies and showcase the latest research. Join CitiesAlive in shaping a better, more resilient future. Learn more here.

HORTICULTURE 101 FOR GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROFESSIONALS

Oct. 21, 2022; Hoffman Nursery

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a nursery? Hoffman Nursery is partnering with NC State's Department of Bio & Ag Engineering and NC Cooperative Extension to pull back the curtain on our nursery and give a behind-the-scene look at plant selection, propagation, production, harvesting, and more. Please join us for this unique tour, workshop presentations, and networking on October 21st.

Open to Green Industry Professionals, Designers, Engineers, Plan Reviewers, SCM Maintenance Professionals. Click here for more information, all attendees must register in advance.

Download Availability & Order Form

Prices for liners, number of liners currently in stock, and future availability are listed in PDF and Excel files. You may also use these as order forms. Need details on what the numbers mean? Learn more here.