It’s that wonderful time of year when we come together to celebrate the all extraordinary things - and people - in our lives that we give thanks to all-year-round. 

This year has been an exciting one for Garden Media, as we worked with new clients, promoted campaigns that we truly believed in and surrounded ourselves with the best people around. 

Our team is overflowing with thanks and gratitude. To you, our reader, thanks for always checking in and commenting. To our top-of-the-line clients, thank you for striving to be the best in class. And to our families, near and far - thank you – we'd be lost without you!

Continue reading to see who our team is thankful for this year.

For today’s Trending Thursday post, we’re looking back to 2007 where we identified gardening as a non-stop activity with 24-hour Gardens.

As the idea of outdoor living spaces took off, people started to view their gardens as an extension of their homes. People began turning their gardens into destinations that were able to entertain guests well after the sun went down.  

Here’s how the concept of 24-Hour Gardens has shaped the garden industry for the last nine years.

Continue reading to learn more about 24-Hour Gardens.   

It’s not often you get to hear a top CEO talk about business and leadership.

That’s exactly what I did at the Millennial Week Unconference in DC earlier this month.

In addition to hearing social media experts and branding mavens talk strategy, I was fortunate enough to hear LearnVest Founder Alexa von Tobel talk about entrepreneurship and what it takes to be a leader in the field you’re in.

Continue reading for a recap of Alexa von Tobel’s Millennial Week Talk.

Garden Media had a blast at the Garden Writer’s Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta this week. In addition to mingling with old friends, touring beautiful gardens and hosting an unforgettable party for our clients, the GMG team got to honor Katie Dubow as Emergent Communicator of the Year.

Continue reading for highlights from #GWA2016

You know by now that working in the PR industry is similar to attending matchmaking bootcamp.

Research, listening are a few things PR professionals need to do to match the perfect client with the perfect customer. Timing plays a huge role, too.

We’ve identified additional things that make brands irresistible to consumers.   

Read on to learn how you can become better PR matchmaker.

“Likes,” “Shares” and “ReTweets” are terms synonymous with a successful brand.

Social media, an extremely effective marketing medium, helps brands reach people on a large scale. In today’s world, public relations campaigns must utilize social media to increase brand awareness and grow consumer demand.

To teach garden brands how to properly convey marketing messages over social media, Garden Media Group released its latest free e-Book, “How The Espoma Company Bloomed: A Social Media Case Study.” The e-Book outlines the best practices for monitoring and posting to a variety of social sites.

Continue reading to learn more about Espoma’s case study.

You know by now that the Layered Landscape trend helps attract local wildlife and encourages people to design yards that are built to last far beyond one season.

Native plants and diverse species help create a true layered landscape.

Continue reading for a look into the essence of layered landscapes.

Last year, we sat down with Dr. Doug Tallamy to talk biodiversity and native plants. Tallamy, professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware said that yards that truly thrive support ecosystems.    

We cited layered landscapes as a top 2016 garden trend. The trend of choosing plants with a purpose will continue to spread to the backyard and beyond. (Layered Landscape concepts can even apply to the PR industry!)

Here are some tips on how to create your own layered landscape.

Continue reading to learn how to create a layered landscape in your backyard.

The divide between homeowners and renters is continuously growing.

Renters are spending more of their income on housing each month as it becomes an increasingly popular living option, especially among young people in urban areas.

Meanwhile, homeowners are taking advantage of current interest rates to keep monthly payments low.

It is essential for garden companies to understand the differences between homeowners and renters. These two groups have different lifestyles that affect how and where they spend their money. You need to target marketing techniques to the different groups.

So, what are some of the most important differences between these two demographics?

Read more to learn about how you can adjust your market strategy accordingly.

Welltality goes hand-in-hand with landscaping and gardening. Now, more than ever, plants are becoming an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and used for everything from décor to air purifiers to food.  

A few of us from Garden Media visited three garden centers to examine how each store showcased welltality. 

Continue reading to learn more about Garden Media’s welltality field trip.