The Oregon Association of Nurseries is the latest state association to join a burgeoning promotional campaign that encourages people to "plant something."

The "Plant Something" campaign originated in Arizona in 2009 after the Arizona Nursery Association received a specialty crop grant to promote the nursery industry. It subsequently grew into a national campaign, with several state nursery associations participating.

The campaign includes a website with promotional messages touting the environmental and aesthetic benefits of plants and a link to a list of garden centers in participating states.

"It will be a great benefit for our members because of the amount of traffic to that website," said Elizabeth Peters, director of communications for the OAN. "Members who are retailers will have customers go to their own websites and their own business."

Joining the campaign also gives OAN access to the campaign's promotional materials, Peters said.

The association opted to join the campaign during its annual business meeting, held Nov. 2 at the Oregon Garden in Silverton.

Oregon is the ninth state association to join, according to Cheryl Goar, executive director of the Arizona Nursery Association.

State associations pay an annual fee to participate. All proceeds go back into the campaign, Goar said.

--Mitch Lies