A Grower Perspective

I have always been a believer in the power of positive thinking.  I find myself struggling a bit this year to maintain my somewhat pollyanna outlook on life.  This economy is enough to test even the most optimistic thinker like me.

 I had to laugh outloud when I saw this sign at displayed at our Farwest Show the other day.  It was in

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I went to the Farwest Show this year somewhat begrudgingly. This has not been an easy year for most growers in the nursery industry. Stalled residential and commercial building and an equally stalled national economy has had a negative impact on the movement of plant material across the country. It's taken a toll on Oregon's nursery industry. In going to the show, I mentally prepared myself for a lackluster crowd and dampened mood.

I'm pleased to report that Thursday, the first day of the show, was better than expected. A steady stream of people seemed to be moving through the show. I could sense that it was a less than average attendance but I will say that

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I did not personally know Carl Ekstrom of Ekstrom Nursery but I was sad to learn he had passed away. I heard his name many times and knew that he was one of Oregon’s nursery industry legends. I doubt Carl Ekstrom would have remembered briefly meeting me but that moment has stuck with me for years.

Nearly a decade ago, Mr. Ekstrom was walking by our booth at the Farwest Show.  I noticed this older unassuming man dressed like he was on

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Every August we have a booth at the Oregon Association of Nurseries’ Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon. It is the way that we touch base in person with many of our customers and hopefully each year we meet new ones as well. We spend three long days standing in our booth, greeting visitors, handing out our marketing materials and trying to get a read on the year ahead.

At these shows, we get a variety of inquiries and questions. Sometimes it is someone wanting to know where they can buy a particular variety of plant. Sometimes they just want to

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