IRVINE, CA, Aug 20, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — Hines Horticulture, Inc. (“Hines Horticulture” or the “Company”) today announced that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hines Nurseries, Inc. filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “Court”) to facilitate the going concern sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. In recent months, Hines Horticulture and its advisors extensively explored multiple restructuring alternatives, including the sale of all or specific portions of the Company’s operations, a new debt or … Read more

Urban Outfitters’ CEO, Dick Hayne, and Terrain’s managing director, John Kinsella, confirmed that the company plans to launch 50 more Terrain-branded stores. The duo passed along this information during the keynote address at the Independent Garden Center Show in Chicago last week. Hayne said they’re intent on creating a “lifestyle business with a garden center component.” The next store is slated to open in spring 2009. No word yet on where. Hayne said they’re not relying solely on acquisitions to expand the Terrain brand. Instead, they’ll be creating strategic partnerships in some locations. The banners for all stores will feature … Read more

News of Todd Bachman’s death was a devastating way to start the Olympic games. It was even more devastating for family and members of the green industry in which he was so involved. Todd, 62, was CEO of Bachman’s, a Minneapolis-based company that operates floral and garden centers and landscaping divisions. The father of a former Olympic volleyball player (Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon, wife of current U.S. men’s Olympic volleyball coach, Hugh McCutcheon), he was in Beijing for the games with this wife, Barbara, when both were stabbed Saturday in a random act of violence. He died and Barbara was injured. “All … Read more

U.S. Lawns continues to open franchised offices to work exclusively with commercial property owners and managers. The recent openings continue to work the market density model of U.S. Lawns, according to Paul Wolbert, vice president. “This is an exciting time as three of the new office openings are with exsiting franchisees who are expanding into neighboring communities,” he says. Recently opened offices include: U.S. Lawns of Rocky Mountain, N.C. – Tammy and James Bulluck U.S. Lawns of Memphis Central, Tenn. – Edna & Bryant Jernigan Pittsburgh South – Joshua Gamez Pittsburgh North – Joshua Gamez Richmond North, Va. – Michael Hart Lewiston, … Read more