Football’s a long way off, opening day still feels like it won’t ever get here and this hockey season is just weird.

So how to get a sports fix in the depth of winter?

Two words: Fantasy timbersports.

You get all the fun of following a team and watching them compete without being hampered by any knowledge about the sport. It’s a win-win!

Here’s our weekly round-up of cool stories from the web. Enjoy!

• Bottle gardens.
• Preserving landscaping’s past.
• Flower-powered clock.
• When trees die, people die.
• ValleyCrest replants all the trees it cut down to make way for the shuttle.
• Above: A robot uses a Stihl chainsaw to carve nesting stools out of a log.

Here’s our weekly digest of fun and interesting stuff from the world of the web. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

• Property managers have the happiest jobs in America. (via @austinoutdoor)
• Related: Surprising (to some) six-figure jobs.
• ValleyCrest channels L. Frank Baum in Los Angeles.
• Housing reports are too sunny. (via @jasoncupp)
• How to store hand-held equipment.
• How Americans are distributed around Starbucks.
• Above: Rick Brandenberg: Turf, bugs and rock and roll at NCSU.

Scott Jamison, vice president at Bartlett Tree Experts and cyclist extraordinaire, sent me this note yesterday:

Not sure if you are aware of this green industry fundraising event. I am riding for the first time. 600 miles on a bike in and around the mountains of Portland, OR, for 7 days. I hesitate to send you my blog link after reading your social media issue that arrived yesterday, but here it is anyway. Going to try and keep posting during the ride.

On Sunday, Scott and dozens other tree lovers will set out on a seven-day bicycle tour through the woods and mountains of Oregon as part of the Stihl Tour des Trees. The ride raises money for the TREE Fund, one of the leading tree research and advocacy organizations the green industry has. Since its founding 20 years ago, the ride has pulled in more than $5 million.

You can follow Scott’s blog here. He’s on Twitter, too.

The folks who do this ride are dedicated to the industry and to the sport. They’re spending a week in the saddle, pedaling nearly 100 miles a day. And just to roll up to the start line, they had to pony up at least $3,500 for the fund.

So to Scott and the rest of the riders, I say good luck. I’ll pray for sunshine and a seven-day tailwind.

Here’s our digest of the most interesting stuff for your weekend reading pleasure. Enjoy!

• New research on how plants grow. (via @BatesNursery)
• Success can mean lying to yourself.
• New PLANET safety training you should check out.
• How much we make and what we spend it on.
• Why entrepreneurs (and other creative types) like to hang out together.
• Above: Roger Phelps on how a set of chaps saved his life.

Fresh on the heels of Brian’s trip to Spain, I’m out on the road for about half of June. I’m visiting with folks across the country over the next few weeks.

• BASF media summit, Chicago – This week, the chemical manufacturer has brought together about 100 editors in the turf, ornamental and agricultural industries. I’m sitting down with their top technical and market experts to get a handle on what they have coming down the pike for LCOs.
• Exclusive interview with Stihl president Fred Whyte, Virginia Beach – The hand-held manufacturer is taking a stand for independent businesses and the American economy.
• A roundtable discussion with the ALCC and owners, Denver – I’ve asked eight top owners and the directors for the Colorado association to sit down to discuss water management, environmental impacts and the status of the market in the west.
• OPEI annual meeting, Colorado Springs – Every summer, the leaders from major equipment companies get together to discuss the state of their industry. I’ll be their reporting on their outlook, predictions and what new regulations mean for the sticker price of your iron.

Stay tuned to our blog and our news site for continuing coverage of these events. If  I’m coming to your town, let me know and we can grab a cup of coffee. Or, if you have any questions for these groups, send them to me at cbowen@gie.net.