Trade shows can bring in hundreds, if not thousands, of like-industry individuals from vendors and publicists to influencers and general admission attendees, and everywhere in between.

And we know catching the eye of folks in the midst of the crazy trade show floor can be chaotic and sometimes impossible. So hosting dinners and after-parties are a great way to connect with specific folks you want to and get them to pay special attention to your brand or product. At Cultivate this year, we opted for a Breakfast with the Stars.

---Read on to see what we learned from hosting an intimate breakfast prior to the trade show and how it benefited our clients. ---

Can you believe that stay-at-home orders went into place almost a whole year ago? The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused quite the ripple in the world of office jobs.

The old rule of thumb with email etiquette (as we’ve heard it) was that if it takes more than three emails to get your point across, then pick up the phone and call.

Now we have to add in the Zoom factor.

Video conferences have become the new way of holding meetings since the stay-at-home orders went into place. Google Meet, AnyMeeting, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Ring Central, Skype… the list goes on and on. These platforms have given companies a way to connect with each other, clients, customers, and colleagues. But what is the proper etiquette for a phone call vs. a video call?

Here are some dos and don’ts of video conference etiquette.

Here at Garden Media, we are huge fans of podcasts. From true crime, to pop culture, to self help and advice, we are hooked.

According to Convince and Convert, there is a huge jump in active podcast listeners in 2020. 75% of Americans are now familiar with podcasting; this is approximately 212 million people and an increase of over 10 million in just one year. Could this be due to the stay-at-home orders? I think so.

Today, we are going to dive into our favorite gardening podcasts. And, we want to hear from you, too! What are your favorites podcasts? What are your favorite episodes? Let's hear it!

Read on for our eight favorite gardening podcasts of 2019.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie is Peggy Riccio of PegPlant!

Peggy is a garden writer, speaker and blogger out of the DC area. She has her own website, PegPlant.com, as well as a podcast with our good friend, Teri Speight, called Gardens n’ Plants where they talk about what they are growing, how their plants are doing, and all things gardening!

Peggy is an expert when it comes to cooking with herbs, especially for the holiday season.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie is a fun one! We got to hangout with the Illustrating Botanist, Chris Thorogood.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie, is none other than THE Crazy Botanist, Derek Haynes.

Derek’s love for all things plants came at a young age, and he carried that into adulthood, graduating from North Carolina State with Bachelors of Plant Biology.

Derek is also involved in the Plant Daddy Hangouts, which focus on celebrating and connecting those at the intersections of Blackness, masculinity & plant love.

He is also part of the podcast The Plant Kiki! Check that out here.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie is the Garden Manager of McMenamins Anderson School, Riz Reyes.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie, is Emmy-award winning producer, television host and garden writer, Doug Oster.

Doug is the floral shoe wearing, Emmy Award-winning producer, television host and garden writer. Many things have come and gone in this industry, but Doug has been a constant. You can hear him on The Organic Gardeners Radio Show, see him on KDKA-TV's Pittsburgh Today Live and find him on social media. He is an amazing story-teller, and truly love to garden. 

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie is landscape designer, Susan Cohan.

Susan is the principal and design director of Susan Cohan Gardens, a full-service landscape design studio located in the New York/ New Jersey metro area. Her and her team have created landscape designs for discerning regional and international clients for over fifteen years, and they have won many awards for their work.

Today’s guest on Grow! with Katie is the Director of Continuing Education at Longwood Gardens, Matthew Ross!

Matthew is a leader in nonprofit education, landscaping, public speaking, management, and event planning. He is a strong education professional with a master’s degree focused in Horticultural Science from Michigan State University.