I am not one for following trends. It's more fun to be a part of creating new trends. Never the less I enjoy reading what people think is coming down the pike. The Garden Media Group has released it's trends forecast for gardening in 2009. Entitled "Gardening goes back to the future-GIY style" What's GIY? Grow it yourself. In February of 2007 we we're told by Nursery Retailer Magazine that the new trend was DIFM, (Do it for me). I guess that's out the door. The trends listed include, "Eco-boosting", "Locavore", "Info-Lust", and "Bubbling".
For fun here is the list from 2007. Did these trends come to pass? You be the judge. I found some of the trends for 2009 interesting, like "Global Colors". According to The Media Group, “'Colors are bold, crazy, exaggerated, and in-your-face, almost like pop-art, and reflect a playful spirit in the face of world events,'†says Donna Dorian, former style editor of Garden Design Magazine." This explains why I enjoy visiting Monica's new Daycare, which includes the use of these very colors. "Info-Lust" is interesting, as we have been talking about it here for years. Two other trends seem counter-intuitive, "Locavore" and "Worldly", yet we discussed them here in 2007.Â
Back in 2006 we we're told that blogging really was'nt of any use to garden centers, or garden center owners. My how things have changed. I find it interesting that so many of the subjects we have been talking about over the years are now exciting trends. That's the nature of trends, by the time the media notices them we are already moving on to the next thing. Waiting to see what is "in" for the new year means you are already late to the party. Better yet is to be a trend setter. I still stand by my post of February 2007, "following trends is safe but boring, bucking the trends and creating your own style is scary, but ultimately more rewarding."