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- Ohio landscaper pursues investment in a weak economy and grows
Ohio landscaping firm Moscarino Outdoor Creations has grown in a weak economy by maintaining its marketing budget, adding to its staff and moving to a 36-acre property on which it designs and builds several mini landscapes. Visitors can come and get clear ideas of what the firm's work looks like and this can help them get on board with project. "In a down economy, people were cutting back, but we kept our game out in front of everyone," owner Chas Moscarino said. Lawn & Landscape
(5/3)     
| Industry Buzz | | |
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- Kohler donates over 10,000 small engines to educational institutions
Kohler has given more than 10,000 small engines to high schools and technical institutes to boost interest in the assembly and operation of engines. "As a leading engine manufacturer, we're very interested in working with future generations of technicians and consumers to make sure they understand the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into each engine bearing the Kohler name," according to Justin Blount, director of marketing at Kohler Engines. Rockford Register Star (Ill.)
(5/3)
- Global warming pushes plants to flower ahead of time
 Climate change can lead plants to produce flowers and leaves earlier than expected, according to a study by scientists from 22 institutions. The researchers looked at 1,634 species of plants across four continents, and found that blooming times happen five to six days earlier for each degree Celsius increase. "Across all species, the experiments under-predicted the magnitude of the advance -- for both leafing and flowering -- that results from temperature increases," according to the study. USA TODAY
(5/3)
| Economic Indicators | | |
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- Report: Productivity declined in U.S. workplaces in Q1
U.S. productivity decreased at a 0.5% annual rate in the first quarter, after increasing at an annualized rate of 1.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the Labor Department. The decline in productivity is the largest since the first quarter of 2011. Reuters
(5/3)
| Inside & Out | | |
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- Innovators should be very afraid
The best innovators work in an uncomfortable area -- call it the "scary zone" -- between radical disruption and incremental change, Harry West writes. That's frightening because it leaves them with no place to hide: Their ideas are out there enough to actually matter, but aren't so off-the-wall that they'll never see the light of day. "Real innovation ... both pushes the boundaries of what is possible and can actually be made real in a relevant time frame," West explains. Harvard Business Review online/HBR Blog Network
(5/3)
- Column: Gardenia shrub brings fragrance to the spring landscape
The gardenia shrub can bring a strong fragrance to the landscape in spring, writes Gary Bachman, an associate professor of horticulture in Mississippi. The gardenia can work as a specimen plant but also blends well with other shrubs such as azalea and Knockout roses. The plant flourishes when grown in a fertilized soil with partial shade, Bachman notes. The Clinton News (Miss.)
(5/3)
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| Diversion | | |
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- Swedes swap lunch meetings for daytime discos
A growing number of Swedish office workers are dashing off to daytime raves during their lunch hour. Companies love the "Lunch Beat" discos, saying that employees who spend 60 minutes per day frantically dancing to techno are typically happier and healthier than people who eat lunch while sitting at their desk. Slate
(5/1)
| OPEI News | | |
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June's Annual Meeting commemorates our 60th anniversary
OPEI will commemorate its 60th anniversary at this year’s Annual Meeting to be held June 20 to 22 in Colorado Springs, Colo. This year’s meeting features seasoned technology visionaries, political analysts, fuels experts and other OPE industry professionals. The 2012 OPEI Annual Meeting has been reformatted to be a venue for "rolling up our sleeves" with added business-focused sessions. We promise you will leave better informed, more engaged and armed with industry intelligence to positively affect your company. Secure your spot and register today! For more information, please contact Marla Popkin.
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