2004 Gold Medal Plant Awards Announced
by Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 2004 Gold Medal Plant Awards. The Gold Medal Plant Award Program promotes woody plants of outstanding merit for use in the mid-Atlantic growing area (Zone 5 through 7).

A New Level of Protection in Small Grains and Grass Seed
by Syngenta Corporation

Some of the most devastating diseases for small grains and grass seed growers now have new competition - Quilt(R) fungicide. Quilt, registered for use on wheat, barley, triticale and grasses grown for seed, provides systemic, long-lasting control of rusts, Septoria, powdery mildew and tan spot. State registrations are pending. For grasses grown for seed, registrations are being sought only in Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington.

ALCA, PLCAA Propose Merger
by ALCA and PLCAA News

Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) and the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA), pending ratification by their memberships, will consolidate into a new green-industry association on Jan. 1, 2005. The result will be an organization representing the entire range of lawn, landscape and interior plantscape services and products.

Arboretum Embraces Beauty and Academia
by Catherine Doss

The Arboretum at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, is a shining example of successful intermingling of horticultural beauty with a vast body of knowledge and research. While arboreta were originally private tree collections that included many different species and varieties, today many of them play a much broader role.

Arboretum Highlights the Science of Systematics
by Alfredo Flores

The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., has a new exhibit on the highly specialized science of systematics and its impact on society.

Arboretum Scientist Releases Boxwood Encyclopedia
by Alfredo Flores

It took U.S. National Arboretum horticulturalist Lynn Batdorf nearly 20 years, six trips to Europe and countless visits to nurseries throughout the United States to gather information to complete "Boxwood: An Illustrated Encyclopedia." But now Batdorf can take pride in publishing the world's first authoritative guide to these beautiful evergreen, shrublike small trees.

ARS, Turfgrass Group Sign Research Pact
by Don Comis

The Agricultural Research Service and the National Turfgrass Federation (NTF) signed an agreement recently to launch a long-term research program aimed at improving the nation's turfgrass. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

BASF Podcast: Hydrophobin – The Raincoat of the Fungi
by BASF

The raincoat on a fungus is not a garment, it is a substance called "Hydrophobin".

Bayer Advanced Introduces Five New Fertilizers
by Brian Pia, Josh Steinfeld, and Lori Merricks

Bayer Advanced LLC, America's newest lawn and garden company, has introduced five new Triple Action garden fertilizers that can help you grow a better, more vibrant garden.

Beware: Emerald Ash Borer Due to Emerge Soon
by Robin Millsap

Emerald ash borer (EAB), the exotic pest that has killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, will be emerging soon, according to Michigan State University (MSU) researchers.