More than just industry techniques and insight changed hands at OFA's short course this week.

Move over Boyds bears, there's another paw in the plush cage. The company that owns The Boyds Collection, Our Name is Mud and Bob Olszewski's Gallery of Light gift brands recently bought GUND, the plush company known for its teddy bears.

All agricultural producers, including nursery and greenhouse growers, should be aware of a specific provision in the new farm bill with which they must comply to be eligible for any available disaster program assistance. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the provision July 11.

Staring at a computer all day can leave even the most idea-generating employees sputtering for inspiration. One remedy to get the creative juices flowing, recently discovered by AOL Health, is plants.

 High insurance costs, deep roots and jaw-dropping designs all earned coverage recently.

The American Institute of Floral Designers welcomed its new president, Walter Fedyshyn, AIFD, PFCI, and other officers during its 2008 National Symposium held over the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago. He succeeds Tom Simmons, AIFD, of Three Branch Palms Productions, Palm Springs, Calif.

Clad in red shorts and armed with whistles, floaties, water guns and advice, six "lifeguards" soaked an AIFD National Symposium luncheon with pointers on professional image, shop environment and positive leadership.

More than 100 Florverde-certified farms can tout their environmentally-friendly growing methods to the European market after obtaining an internationally recognized certification from The Global Partnership for Good Agriculture (GLOBALG.A.P.).

Brides and their bouquets — it's a bond so fierce only a florist can truly appreciate its strength. (Especially if you witnessed a ceremonial breakdown over a bouquet boo-boo). Now, one florist is making it so brides never really have to let go of the big-day bouquet.

Florist Elizabeth Deabler says she never signed up to advertise in even one online directory, much less 13. But that hasn't stopped the directories from repeatedly calling and asking the Pennsylvania florist to pay up.

Employers are watching a different bottom line when it comes time to hand out incentives. Employees who move the scales in the right direction, join a smoking-cessation class or do something to lower their health risks and the insurance costs of their employer are increasingly finding an added bonus to being fit.

Are we so out of whack in this country that we need an institute dedicated to life balance? Yes, you with the BlackBerry at the soccer game, we sure are. And luckily, for SAF members, The Life Balance Institute will be sending instructor and author Sheryl Nicholson, CSP, to SAF Palm Beach 2008.

•  SAF Palm Beach 2008: Sept. 17-20, 2008, at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

A Texas paper's coverage of the "In lieu of" issue was the most clicked story from last week's E-Brief. The presentation of AIFD's awards at its annual symposium, a British florist being forced to take down her shop's banner and a new form of lily making its debut at a Netherlands' flower show all ranked high on the list.

The most clicked story from last week's E-Brief may have put the focus on how Texas-area florists are trying to get rid of the "In lieu of flowers" phrase, but the troubling trend knows no borders.

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Written wedding contracts were the focus of a new discussion added to the discussion boards.

Almost 38 percent of respondents to last week's e-poll have established a written dress code.

Have Increased Delivery Fees Led to a Decline in Deliveries?

Source: SAF's online Fuel Survey of retail florists with e-mail addresses. Based on 603 responses (response rate 17 percent).

Eight out of 10 florists agree — demand for deliveries remains strong despite increased fees. The remaining 20 percent say higher fees have sapped delivery orders. The results were part of SAF's Fuel Survey in May and June.