FNGLA's March 2017 Greenline by FNGLA

March 2017 | Volume 38, Issue 3

FNGLA’S MONTHLY PUBLICATION: DIGITAL MONTHLY ISSUE LOCATED AT HTTP://GREENLINE.FNGLA.ORG

FNGLA is Head Over Heels for Flip My Florida Yard TV Series Florida spans at least six USDA grow zones-- and depending upon who you ask, there are many, many more microclimates within each. Even one yard can have many factors which can impact the ideal plant palette. It’s no wonder educating Florida’s consumers on which plants are ideal for their yard is such a monumental task. FNGLA signed on as the title sponsor to four episodes of a brand new television series to air statewide in April/May. Emmy award-winning producer Chad Crawford (well known for the “How to Do Florida” TV series) and his team are working with FNGLA to convey our industry’s positive messages and create enthusiasm for Florida plants, trees and home landscapes! FNGLA is putting our marketing messages and professional practices out there for Florida’s homeowners and gardeners in order to impact Florida’s consumers and to send right messaging in relation to our industry. “We’re showcasing Florida’s amazing and diverse plant material and advocating for professionally designed and installed landscapes,” said Billy Butterfield, volunteer project manager for the Orlando-based flip and an FNGLA Past President. The show selects Florida homeowners whose outdoor areas are in need of a face lift and teams up with professionals to provide a Florida-friendly yard which meet the homeowners needs. Along the way, Chad, and his featured make-over participants, teach Florida’s consumers best practices for creating their own robust outdoor space such as following the Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles and hiring a professional landscaper and/or designer to help bring the project together. Chock full of tips and Florida-based facts, the show will air this Spring. As part of the FNGLA-sponsored episodes, consumers will be directed to www.FloridaGardening.org to source ideas, inspirations and assistance with their outdoor areas. The centric theme to all is water conservation and utilizing the Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles. “FNGLA is extremely grateful to the individuals and businesses who have stepped up to make these landscapes become reality. We’re sending specific, pro-industry messages direct to Florida’s consumers via these four landscapes. It’s an amazing venture and we anticipate the value far superceding the investment,” said Ben Bolusky, FNGLA’s CEO. While we do not know specific air dates as of yet, FNGLA will communicate dates once they are known. For more details on FNGLA’s involvement, contact FNGLA’s Jennifer Nelis, jnelis@fngla.org. Continued page 4

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Robert Shoelson, FCLC FNGLA 2016-2017 President

Busy, But Rewarding: FNGLA Events Filled February For February being the shortest month of the year, it sure seemed like it was one of the busiest so far. I had three big events happen this past month. The first involved a trip to Jacksonville for the Jacksonville Landscape Show. The next involved a trip to Tallahassee to meet with some of our state legislators, and the third involved the filming of a television show called Flip My Florida Yard. The advantage of having so many things happening in one month makes it very easy to write my monthly article.

Representatives and Senators are newly elected to their positions and it is very important that we get in front of them and let them know who we are. This is crucial if we want our voices to be heard. We went to Tallahassee in force and spoke our message loud and clear. I look forward to going back again next year. In between the traveling, meetings and the running of my businesses, I also had the pleasure of preparing for and coordinating the Flip My Florida Yard episode which was filmed on Saturday, February 25 in Ft. Lauderdale. This was the third of four episodes FNGLA is sponsoring. This huge undertaking would not have been possible without the gracious donations from vendors and the incredible support from the team of about fifty volunteers who met at the home early Saturday morning. We did in one day what a normal landscape and irrigation crew would have completed in a week.

On February 9, I jumped on an early flight from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville for the annual Jacksonville Landscape Show which was held on February 9 & 10 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. This was a nice little tradeshow that had exhibitors from around the state showing off their products both inside of the exhibit hall and out. On Thursday evening after the show ended, I had the pleasure of attending the reception party at the host hotel. There was great food and drinks and it provided a perfect time for exhibitors and attendees to catchup on business and friendships. Shawn Thomas (Southern Green) and an FNGLA Northeast Chapter leader did a great job of hosting the tradeshow and reception this year.

I would like to personally thank a few folks for their help in successfully completing this job. David Font (David Font Designs); Rob Pursell (Getting Green Plant Services); Chris Griffiths (Horticultural Solutions); and, Tom Benton (Landscape Service Professionals) who met with me several times prior to help create the new design for the landscape and irrigation renovation. Kim Pearson (Landscape Inspector for the City of Fort Lauderdale) was instrumental in helping get the city behind us with whatever we needed. Two people who deserve some special recognition are Ed Bravo (Big Trees Plantation and FNGLA President-Elect) and Stefan Liopiros (Lawn Enforcement Agency) both from the Frontrunners Chapter. Ed hosted the first episode in Gainesville with Stefan and when it came time for the other three projects to start, they were both there bright and early ready to go to work. The both drove down to the job in Broward on Friday night, woke up early Saturday morning and worked very hard for the entire day. When we finished at 7:30 p.m., they jumped back into the truck and drove back home. The knowledge they both shared from their earlier experience was extremely valuable.

A short two weeks later, I was back on a plane heading up to our state Capital for the FNGLA Board of Directors trip to Tallahassee. On Tuesday, the board met at the Associated Industries of Florida building, convening around a 50’ long conference table to take care of business. State representative and Past FNGLA President Halsey Beshears came out to share a few encouraging words with the board. Later in the evening, the Big Bend Chapter hosted a fantastic social gathering at the Dorothy B. Oven house where we enjoyed an incredible prime rib dinner. I didn’t think it was possible for them to top the Paella that was served last year, but I think they did it. I would like to personally thank Chapter President Mark Clikas (Harrells, Inc.) and the Big Bend Chapter for their hospitality. We were up rather early the next day and made a very wet trek over to the Capital to meet with several legislators both new and old. The purpose of this annual trip is to relay some of the key issues currently affecting our industry. A few of these issues had to do with workers’ compensation, funding for IFAS, watershed from Lake Okeechobee as well as immigration… to name a few. A couple of the legislators we met may also be potential candidates for Commissioner of Agriculture in 2018. The race for this position looks like it is definitely going to be interesting. Many

There is a complete list of those who donated material and time to help bring these four episodes from around the state to life on the following page. Please be sure to look over the list and recognize these wonderful folks. This again goes to show the amount of support that the members of this great association will give to help and go out of their way to get something done. I want to personally thank every single person and company that stepped up and helped me and the other project leaders create four fantastic shows. See you again next month. Robert Shoelson, FCLC Getting Green Plant Service, Inc. (Davie) & Betrock Information Systems, Inc. (Hollywood) robert@gettinggreen.com

FNGLA HAPPENINGS Plan Now to “B” at FNGLA’s Annual Convention: June 23 & 24 Book the Date and Your Hotel Room for Best Value Plan now to attend FNGLA’s favorite event for building business relationships and keeping current with your association and industry. FNGLA’s Annual Convention offers a perfect mix of business and pleasure with your industry friends and colleagues. FNGLA Convention activities will take advantage of the B’s private beachfront location, offering a Beach Bash Welcome Reception on Friday evening, plenty of pool and beach time on Saturday afternoon, and spectacular ocean views from the President’s Gala ballroom on Saturday evening. Although the hotel has recently been completely renovated as the B Ocean Fort Lauderdale, the iconic Wreck Bar remains intact, and continues to feature a live mermaid show each Thursday and Friday evening. Why wait to book your hotel room? Take advantage of FNGLA’s special rate and FNGLA group only extras. The hotel rate is $149, with a reduced resort fee of $10. Also included are complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary 24 hour access to the fitness center and a reduced self-parking rate. Book Your Room Now for best rates and availability: https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/details.aspx?prope rtyid=14266&nights=1&checkin=06/18/2017&group=1706FNGLA. Or, call 1-866-990-6826 and mention ‘FNGLA Annual Convention’ to be booked inside the group block. For additional information on FNGLA’s Annual convention or to become a sponsor, contact Linda Adams or call FNGLA at 800-375-3642. Tell your friends and colleagues you’ll “B” there!

About the B...

A historic Fort Lauderdale landmark, the B Ocean Fort Lauderdale was first known as the Yankee Clipper Resort, with the original hotel built in the shape of an ocean liner. The Yankee Clipper’s Wreck Bar was featured in the 1960s film “Where the Boys Are” and in the 1999 movie “Analyze This,” starring Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal.

Special Thanks to FNGLA’s Volunteer Project Leaders: Ed Bravo (Big Trees Plantation, Inc., Newberry) Billy Butterfield (AmeriScapes Landscape Management, Orlando) Robert Shoelson (Getting Green Plant Service, Inc., Davie & Betrock Information Systems, Inc., Hollywood) Will Womack (Tampa Bay Landscaping, Tampa) Thank you to All Our Do-ers and Donors: A Beautiful Yard (Alachua) AIC Painting Alachua Co. EPD Alachua Co. Sheriff’s Department All American Nursery American Mulch & Groundcover LLC (Spring Hill) Antelco Irrigation (Longwood) Aquascape Inc. Lynn Barber, UF-IFAS Bay Mulch, Inc. (Tampa) Beach Bum Turf (Tampa) Kathie Belz Betrock Information Systems (Hollywood) Big Trees Plantation (Newberry) Heather Blake Cameran Bodell Bonnie Plants Brad’s Bedding Plants (Delray Beach) Tom and Sandy Benton Chris Bettinger Big Earth Supply (Tampa) Ed Bravo Shaun Brown Broward Design Center (Ft. Lauderdale) Billy Butterfield David “Chappy” Chapdelaine Cindy Christmas Wade Collum Colorways Pavers, Thiago Craftsman Supply

April Destefano Dickey’s Barbecue Pit (Riverview) Dragonfly Landscape & Water Gardens (Tampa) Tyler Dumas Ecolgel Solutions EDJ Service, Inc. (Davie) Entropic Landscape (Gainesville) Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply Farm Tampa (Tampa) Florida Cactus (Apopka) Florida Green Keepers (Gainesville) Floridian Pest & Turf Brian Freund Kelly Greer, UF-IFAS David Font & David Font Design, L.A. (Coral Springs) G Sky Plant Systems (Delray Beach) General Cordage Getting Green Plant Service (Davie) Golden Rain Nursery (St. Petersburg) Graco Fertlizier (Cairo, GA) Grandiflora Nursery (Gainesville) Grassroot Nursery (Gainesville) Susan Haddock, UF-IFAS Kristen Hall, Keller Williams Realty (Tampa) & her father, Lt. Col. Richard Read Hand Grown Nursery (Seffner) Jamie Hayes Horticultural Solutions, Inc. (Plantation) Hunter Irrigation Hydretain (Ocala) Ingenium Power & Sport (Orlando) Its a Beautiful Yard (Gainesville) Joe’s Nursery (Apooka) Jon’s Nursery (Eustis)

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

We have made every effort to include a complete list of donors and on-site do-ers, however it seems inevitable we will have left someone off. There were many hands in the coordination of these projects. Please let us know if you are missing from the list, and our apologies: jnelis@fngla.org!

Landscape 1 Supply (Tampa) Landscape Builders, Inc. (Apopka) Landscape by Sylvia Gordon (Miami) Landworks Depot (SW Ranches) Landscape Service Professionals (Tamarac) Larry’s Cap Rock & Stone (Homestead) Lawn Enforcement Agency (Gainesville) Stefan Liopiros Charlie Livio The Magnolia Group Matt Lucas Metro Development Group National Treasurers (Trenton) Jennifer Nelis OldCastle OldCastle Coastal Judy Paredes Jennifer Parrish & baby Ellie Wes & Vickie Parrish David & Kim Pearson Pine Lake Nursery (Tampa) Plant Life Farms (Homestead) Plantz (Tampa) The Pottery Patch (West Palm Beach) Rob Pursell Rain Bird Corp. Linda Reindl Camille Reynolds Royal Palm Landscape Runway Growers (Ft. Lauderdale) Salmon’s Foliage (Mt. Dora)

Robert Sanford Christy Savage Searle Brothers Nursery (SW Ranches) Seed2Source.com Shade Tree Farm (Morriston) Robert Shoelson Joe Shook Chris Short Site One Slay’s Trees (High Springs) Justin Slaymaker Soho Landscape Travis Smith, Art By Travis Southern Green (Jacksonville) Spa Manufacturers, Inc (Clearwater) Spring Hill Tree Farm (Gainesville) Katy Steinkamp John Strauman Sun City Tree Farm (Ruskin) Synergy Rents (Orlando) Tadala’s Nursery (Ft. Lauderdale) Tampa Bay Landscaping & Horticultural Services (Tampa) Shawn Thomas Titan Management Adam Trott Tournesol Siteworks LLC UF/Horticulture Club University of Florida Hillsborough County Extension University of Florida Orange County Extension Vincent Jackson Foundation Jennifer Waxman-Loyd Autumn Schwab White & Chuck White Will Womack Zugar Growers (Ft. Lauderdale)

FNGLA HAPPENINGS Volunteer as a Festival Center Host at Epcot® Volunteers Gain Entrance to the Festival and Earn FNGLA CEUs The 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is another exceptional event and another great opportunity for FNGLA to showcase the industry and Florida’s gardening offerings to the expected audience of over 2 million consumers. 2017 marks FNGLA’s 19th year of participation. For 2017, FNGLA is offering an awesome volunteer opportunity for members and for FNGLA Certified Professionals.

Festival Center Host Opportunities: Showcasing Houseplants

FNGLA is seeking members and FNGLA certified professionals to serve as FNGLA festival center hosts and to assist park guests. Starting opening day and then each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival: Now - May 28, 2017. Volunteers can pick from two different shifts: morning shift is 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. or afternoon from 12:30 – 3 p.m. Schedule Your Dates for Volunteering: https://www. fngla.org/community-programs/epcot-garden/ subscribeinfusion.aspx A Hub of Activity: FNGLA will serve as a host organization to the festival center, anchored at the 800 square foot interior plant area focused on sending the message “houseplants are good.” The festival center is also center-stage for the Flower & Garden Festival’s education sessions and other industry organizations. You’ll also find official festival gear and lots of activity in this area. While we are able to allow garden-qualified friends and spouses to serve as FNGLA volunteers, they must be able to fulfill the host duties inclusive of garden-specific questions. We cannot allow volunteers under 18 to participate. All FNGLA volunteers gain entrance to the park for the day of their commitment and are free to enjoy Epcot and the festival before and after their volunteer time, however please refrain from rides as they are reserved for paid park guests. FNGLA Certified Professionals will also receive 3 CEUs for their volunteer service. FNGLA is delighted to partner with the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to spotlight plants as an everyday enjoyment, a family–centered activity, part of the indoor air quality solution, and an element of sustainability. We hope you will consider volunteering your time to be a part of FNGLA’s consumer outreach efforts.

FNGLA Members and FNGLA Certified Professionals can host the area as part of the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.

Fast Facts help show the value of plants as part of an interior environment.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS FNGLA Leaders Huddle with State Legislators, Tallahassee With the clock ticking toward the 60 day Florida Legislative Session, several key state legislators sat down with FNGLA’s Board of Directors last month in Tallahassee. • • • • • •

Sen. Denise Grimsley – Chair –Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Sen. Kelli Stargel – Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax Rep. Halsey Beshears – Chair, Careers and Competition Subcommittee Rep. Matt Caldwell - Chair, Government Accountability Committee Rep. Elizabeth Porter - Vice Chair, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Rep. Holly Raschein – Chair, Natural Resources and Public Lands Subcommittee

While in the State Capitol Building, the Board presented Sen. Kelli Stargel with FNGLA’s 2016 FNGLA Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of her persistent efforts supporting the nursery and landscape industry. While discussing key issues with the FNGLA Board, FDACS Chief of Staff Mike Joyner shared insights in the state’s Constitutional Revision Committee process which occurs every 20 years. During its deliberations with these and other legislators, FNGLA’s Board focused on the following critical policy and budgetary priorities:

Policy Issues

• Workers Compensation – Supports remedies to stabilize spiraling premium rate hikes • Pollution Notification – Opposes efforts requiring businesses directly notify the media when spills or incidents occur because such media notification is properly DEP’s role • Immigration – Opposes efforts to mandate use of E-verify system unless accompanied by reforms to guest worker programs. FNGLA has deep concerns about ICE enforcement actions and their impacts on current employees and accessibility to future labor • Water Resources – Opposes efforts in contravention of sound science to purchase agricultural lands south of Lake Okeechobee in contravention of sound science

Budget Issues

• Landscape Center – Supports full funding of the UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology • TREC – Supports new funding for the UF/IFAS Tropical Research & Education Center • UF/IFAS – Supports full funding levels for UF/IFAS • BMPs - Supports funding for the FDACS Best Management Practices and cost-share program • Fresh From Florida - Supports full funding of the FDACS Fresh from Florida promotion and marketing campaigns • Ag Water - Supports full funding of the FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy • Alternative Water Supply – Supports funding for alternative water supply projects

FNGLA members: Be on the lookout for grassroots alerts which will be launched as needed!

Sen. Kelli Stargel was presented with FNGLA’s 2016 Legislator of the Year Award by Jim Spratt, Magnolia Strategies.

FNGLA’s Board of Directors places a high priority on connecting and communicating with our state’s lawmakers. In advance of the 2017 Legislative Session, FNGLA Board Members met in Tallahassee with key representatives to reinforce the Association’s positions and interest in pending regulations. 7

Mark Your Calendars: Florida Flower Trials, May 18 & 19, Orlando Florida Flower Trials is a two-day annual event where top plant breeders, education experts who advance your knowledge and key industry members come together to explore some of the latest ornamental plant releases ideal for Florida’s tough climate. A launching ground for some of the newest plant varieties, you’ll experience three trial sites and get an early look directly from producers on the recommended growing, landscape use and retail strategies to create the best business success possible. There’s lots of learning, collaboration, networking and you get to experience the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival to see some of the industry’s finest products, Disney style. Mark your calendar now to attend this once-a-year event designed to keep you “in the know” for what’s hitting the market! The schedule of events, speaker line-ups and tour specifics will be available in the coming weeks. Interested in reaching this small, yet targeted audience with a tabletop display or by sponsoring an event? Contact FNGLA’s Linda Reindl, lreindl@fngla.org for details.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS FNGLA’s Spring Education Series Focuses on Design Principles There are Four Orlando-Based Opportunities in this Series: March 23, March 24, April 20 and April 21 With the economic upswing, landscape contractors are experiencing a surge in business in residential, commercial and government clients. FNGLA’s Education on the Go!’s Spring Series brings a complete design gamut for businesses who want to Grow, Prosper and Succeed in today’s competitive market. There are four sessions in the series. Each session builds on the previous one, however you can opt for individual classes if you prefer. All sessions take place in Orlando at Harry P. Leu Gardens.

March 23: The Fundamentals

From Mediocre to Magnificent, find out what makes an outstanding landscape design.

March 24: Advanced Design Techniques

Learn the fundamentals of color graphics along with speed techniques to add emotion and sizzle to your drawings using color markers and pencils.

April 20: Creating the Ultimate Landscape Design

Developed for landscape professionals wanting to formulate their design philosophy and create plans that are stunning, unified and functional.

April 21: Seasonal Color, Start to Profitable Finish

The purpose and value of seasonal color. From selling to clients to designing for profit.

This program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes all day instruction and lunch. FNGLA Members attend their selected session for $225; The nonmember rate is just $250. Much to Glean from this Dynamic Trio of Presenters: With their combined 60 years industry experience, Dr. Richard Ludwig, Bill Slack and Vicki Proano will use their expertise to the benefit of event participants.

FNGLA’s Education on the Go Spring Series sessions take place at Leu Gardens on select dates this Spring. 9

The Landscape Show Is Immense Benefit to its Exhibiting Businesses

Plan Ahead to attend The Landscape Show: September 14 - 16, Orlando! Considered the Southeast’s most extensive nursery and landscape event, The Landscape Show takes place September 14-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. For 2017, the show moves back to the North Concourse of the North/South building. For the value-packed pre-registration price of just $20 for a show badge, attendees can enjoy: • • • • • • •

Three-day admission to the trade show Access to 400+ vendors Admission to the Opening Day Reception Daily Presentations and Sharing Sessions Access to New Plants & Products featured in the Exhibitors Showcase Admission to Tapped In Reception, for those 40 and under A seat at FNGLA’s Landscape Awards Presentation

The Landscape Show offers a direct connect to industry landscape professionals, retail garden center professionals, wholesale growers, resort personnel, municipality landscape managers and developers, horticulture educators and a vast array of other industry specifiers and buyers. For a small business investment of less than $1,000, you can reserve your space shoulder-to-shoulder with the industry’s top businesses with your own booth space at The Landscape Show. The #1 reason industry buyers attend shows it to see new plants and products. And most Landscape Show attendees report doing business with exhibitors within weeks of the show. And with the influx of activity the industry has seen so far for 2017, we are confident participating as an exhibitor at The Landscape Show will position you and your business for success as we move forward. The Landscape Show is a signature event produced by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA). It is developed by industry professionals for industry professionals with net proceeds returned to benefit the industry. What are you waiting for? Limited booths remain: Contact Billy Deal (bdeal@fngla.org) or Sabrina Haines (shaines@fngla.org) today to ensure you have a spot at this exciting and relevant industry event!

Join the community of industry professionals at The Landscape Show where business makes sense! The Landscape Show offers tremendous value and convenience. With more than 400 exhibiting companies and over 7,500 professionals in attendance, The Landscape Show is the ultimate resource to see what’s new and to experience the industry’s latest hot topics, products and trends. Mark your calendar now to attend this important industry event, September 14 - 16 in Orlando! As the event drawns closer, visit www.thelandscapeshow.org for the latest schedule of happenings and show details.

With 400+ exhibitors in 800+ booth spaces, there’s plenty of networking and connecting as part of The Landscape Show, taking place September 14 - 16 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center’s North Concourse.

FROM ONE SEED, WE

CULTIVATED AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY

95% of Florida’s blueberry crop is developed by UF/IFAS. Sixty years ago, growing commercially successful blueberries in Florida was unthinkable. But that didn’t stop UF/IFAS professors from developing a low-chill blueberry breeding program, which has resulted in today’s $76 million a year business for Florida farmers. From a carefully nurtured seed of an idea, one of the fastest growing agricultural industries thrives.

To learn more, visit ifas.ufl.edu

THE RESPITE BELOW

Among Teams Developing the Lowline Shines Two Industry Stars By Kate Clary, FNGLA’s Strategic Engagement Specialist

It’s been roughly two months since Mark Mini and Andrew Engel shared with a TPIE audience the horticulture experiment they are part of utilizing mirrors to reflect sunlight down into an abandoned trolley line on Manhattan’s east side to grow plants. The pair are contributing their horticulture design expertise to the ambitious repurpose project seeking to create an underground public space. And, according to Mini, things are about to kick into high gear. Mini and Engel of John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, a Manhattan-based design firm, are gearing up to assist in taking the project from the warehouse where they’ve been conducting test trials, to the underground location known as the Lowline. The mission? To create the first underground park with flora supported by natural sunlight, according to Mini. FNGLA’s Kate Clary caught up with Mini for a project update:

IN DEPTH FNGLA: So, catch us up-to-date with the Lowline project

since TPIE. I understand there’s now a countdown until you take the project from the warehouse to the underground location?

Mini: Yup. The Lowline Lab’s final weekend just passed.

The lab was open for a year and a half in an abandoned warehouse which simulates the underground space. The lab phase was a success! We proved the solar technology could deliver sunlight underground to support plant life, that visitors would be positively impacted by such a project and we engaged the community. We also learned a ton of interesting horticulture bits. Now that the proof of concept phase is complete, we’re on to the underground project. We’ve shifted gears onto the lessons learned from the lab and how we can use them to effectively design the underground space. Right now the Lowline is targeting a completion of the underground park by 2021.

fundraising, community engagement and design milestones to ensure the project moves in the right direction.

FNGLA: That is great news. What did you learn from the project’s time inside the warehouse? Has it changed the direction at all of the project in any way?

Mini: We learned a ton from the lab. From how we dance

fabricated light with natural sunlight to what plants will thrive in this unique environment to how we can utilize slopes and sunlight to create first of kind planting designs. The lab learnings will influence the direction of the project. Right now our team is helping build the lab’s research report. This report will be shared with the city, the community, and all those involved in designing the future site. The lessons learned in this report raise several exciting design challenges.

FNGLA: How exciting! Switching gears a bit, what was your

impression of TPIE? You got some pretty awesome questions during your session. Were you surprised that people were so interested in the nuts and bolts of the project?

Mini: TPIE was fantastic this year. There was a buzz that

I hadn’t felt in a few years. My take is that the economy is going in the right direction and plants are in! Everyone wants to find ways to bring nature to the places they live, work and play. And thus everyone from those manning the booths to the attendees had incredible energy. I’m glad that same buzz carried into our presentation. To be honest, Andrew and I were a bit nervous that there would be some skepticism. I mean building a park underground with cutting-edge solar technology. It sounds kooky! But, we were thrilled with everyone’s response to the project! We felt they were inspired by the idea of finding new and creative ways to bring green to our cities and that they’re interested in how this project can serve as a precedent.

FNGLA: Any news on the direction of the project? Mini: Yes, all positive news! The Lowline team officially

secured the underground space. Over the next couple years, the Lowline team and partners will be tasked with

With an “open to the public” completion date of 2021, Mark Mini and Andrew Engle, both of John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, are in for the long haul as the experiment phase completes and the real work of greening America’s cities actually begins.

Mark Mini and Andrew Engle were featured speakers at FNGLA’s event the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) in January speaking on their role with the Lowline project. This interview is a follow-up to their presentation which left many in the audience wanting more detail and information. Mark can be reached at markmini@johnmini.com and Andrew at andrewengle@johnmini.com.

INDUSTRY NEWS Trump Calls on New EPA Head to Unravel WOTUS Rule

UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology’s Urban Landscape Summit, March 16 & 17 The 2017 UF/IFAS Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology Urban Landscape Summit will feature presentations of applied research or extension projects pertaining to urban landscape issues in Florida. The summit will include accepted presentations from state specialists and county faculty and a graduate student poster competition.

President Trump signed an executive order last week giving his new EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, a directive to unravel the complicated rule known as WOTUS, Waters of the United States. You likely recall the Obama Administration issued the rule in 2015 dramatically expanding EPA’s authority to protect navigable waters so it could regulate smaller streams, wetlands and other small water bodies. For example, many believed the rule granted EPA the power to regulate manmade ditches, nursery retention ponds, etc. The executive order actually directs the Justice Department to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hold off on considering the legal challenge to WOTUS which was expected this spring. If EPA decides to rewrite the WOTUS rule, the executive order directs EPA to use late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s reading of a significantly reduced reach of federal powers under the Clean Water Act.

• Build relationships among state specialists, county faculty, graduate students, and industry • Hear national or regional issue updates from the keynote speaker • Learn about the latest research in urban landscape issues • Model future projects after presented extension projects Location: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Straughn Extension Professional Development Center, Gainesville. Register to attend and see the event’s agenda at http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/clce/ events/urban-landscape-summit.html. For more details, call 352-273-4511.

To follow the law, Pruitt will have to withdraw the current regulation and develop a newer “legally superior” version of the rule. The draft would be subject to a public comment period before it could be finalized. The WOTUS war is likely to be a prolonged battle. Environmental activist groups can be expected to sue the federal government over any WOTUS changes. See the American Farm Bureau’s timeline on WOTUS: http://www.fb.org/ issues/regulatory-reform/clean-water-act/. And, FNGLA members can expect updates in Ben’s Bullets, our weekly bulletin, as news happens.

The Urban Landscape Summit promises to address regional and national water issues pertinent to Florida and Florida’s water users. Dr. Jack Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of IFAS, will open the 2017 summit.

INDUSTRY NEWS UF/IFAS Focused on Urban Water Use Reduction By Jack Payne, University of Florida senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of IFAS, jackpayne@ufl.edu | @JackPayneIFAS When I got the chance to add about 70 faculty to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, I asked existing faculty how the new scientists could make the biggest impact. One of the best ideas was to have some of the scientists provide solutions for getting Florida off its collision course on urban water use. About 1,000 people a day move to Florida. There’s a finite water supply to meet an ever-expanding demand for the lush landscapes that help lure those residents here. We hired Eban Bean because we know he can help reduce water use with instrumentation like soil sensors. We hired Basil Iannone because he knows how to turn data into maps – of neighborhoods, of cities or of the entire state of water use. We hired Jorge Barrera because he has the expertise to put UF’s HiPerGator – one of the world’s fastest supercomputers – to work on millions of data points on irrigation of landscaping and other water use patterns. There’s some breaking news here, too – we just hired an ecologist named AJ Reisinger, who is interested in how our rivers and springs naturally remove contaminants that flow into them from landscapes, roads, bridges, and wastewater treatment plants. Eban is already working with Phillip Hisey, the landscape superintendent of a community called On Top of the World. Phillip faces a tall order. The homes have a permit to use 150 gallons a day. Average household use is 250. Eban wants to help him get down to 150. The focus of the research is sod, but we expect it will inform future research on the soils in which people plant shrubs, trees, and flowers.

Assistant Professor Dr. Eban Bean focuses his efforts on watershed hydrology, urban stormwater management, low-impact development, green infrastructure, and surface water quality.

I’m sure FNGLA members see their buyers increasingly choosing landscaping with conservation in mind and more awareness of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. When water utility districts make responsible water use a condition for permitting, this too likely causes changes in nursery sales. Our new scientists have joined what we call our “Environmentally Resilient, ResourceEfficient Land Use” team. It’s a way to help our landscape research advance beyond the question of “How attractive is it?” We also have to ask, “How thirsty is it?”

Answering that question is critical to Florida’s future. It takes a team of public scientists with expertise in soil, water, nematodes, engineering, computing, and more. The deal you get with a land-grant university is a group of scientists in the service of society. We’ve started at On Top of the World, but Eban and others will get down under the soil wherever people beautify their homes with plants. We hope their work will help you help Floridians do it in a sustainable way.

INDUSTRY NEWS Citrus Industry Likely to See Worst Numbers in 5 Decades The latest USDA forecast shows the state’s citrus industry in on pace for its worst harvest in five decades. Florida accounted for 49% of total U.S. citrus production in the past growing season and has been struggling for a decade with citrus greening, an incurable bacterial disease. But among the bad news, there are glimmers of citrus stars. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Statistics Board, Florida’s citrus industry is now on pace to produce enough oranges to fill 70 million 90-pound boxes during the current crop season. This is 14% less than last season’s final numbers, but level with their initial predictions when the season opened in October. And while Valencia, Grapefruit and Tangelo production remains the same, Tangerine numbers have been raised and harvesting for this season is almost complete. View the citus forecast, released in February: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Florida/Publications/Citrus/ Citrus_Forecast/2016-17/cit0217.pdf

INDUSTRY NEWS Repellent May Keep Dangerous Beetles Away from Avocado Trees Using some pleasant-smelling chemicals, avocado growers may soon be able to repel beetles that inject a potentially deadly fungus into their trees, saving fruit and money, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers say. When they’re infected with the laurel wilt fungus, redbay trees – a close cousin to the avocado — emit methyl salicylate to repel redbay ambrosia beetles, the very beetles that gave the trees the fungus in the first place, scientists say in a newly published study. Florida avocados bring a $100 million-a-year impact to Florida’s economy, UF/IFAS economists say. They grow almost entirely in southern Miami-Dade County, but growers have battled the laurel wilt fungus, which can kill redbay and avocado trees, since it arrived in Georgia in 2003. Because avocado growers have few viable options to combat laurel wilt, UF/IFAS researchers looked for solutions. For the study, scientists compared the number of beetles captured on sticky traps disposed on redbay tree logs. After 10 weeks, they also looked at the holes dug by the beetles into the logs because that’s when the beetles transmit the fungus. Scientists then tested three different blends of repellent and found verbenone and verbenone plus methyl salicylate — produced by the infected redbay tree — were the most efficient. When scientists applied these repellents on redbay logs, they reduced the number of beetles captured on sticky traps by 95% and the number for boring holes by 90%. “We believe that these repellents could be used in a larger context, if associated with bug lures to have a push-pull system,” said Marc Hughes, a former postdoctoral researcher in the Forest Pathology Laboratory in UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation. The repellents push the beetles away, while the lures – or “attractants,” as scientists call them – pull them toward traps, where they are killed. “Attractants would be placed outside the avocado groves, while avocado trees will be treated with repellent.” In addition to the fact that the repellent — methyl salicylate — seems to work, it is about 80% less expensive than verbenone, Hughes said. These repellents are insecticide-free, which is a sustainable way to protect trees, said Martini, an assistant professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, Florida. Other co-authors of the study include Jason Smith, associate professor at the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, and Lukasz Stelinski associate professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus REC. The repellent discovery comes as good news for avocado growers. Some fungicides are available, but they are expensive, said co-author Xavier Martini. Insecticides are not very efficient because beetles spend most of their time within the wood. The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

INDUSTRY NEWS Wedworth to Acquire Four Florida Locations from The Andersons The Andersons, Inc. has signed an agreement to sell its four farm centers located in Florida to Wedgworth’s Inc. This agreement includes real estate and assets located in Zellwood, Clewiston, Lake Placid and Immokalee. “Over time it has become clear the Florida farm centers are not strategically aligned with our locations in the Eastern Corn Belt,” said The Andersons’ CEO Pat Bowe. “We believe Wedgworth’s will continue to effectively serve the needs of the growers in this region and make good use of the capable workforce and assets in Florida.” The Andersons built their Florida presence starting in 2008 through the acquisitions of Douglass Fertilizer and, then in 2011, by adding Immokalee Farmers Supply to its locations. The sale allows The Andersons to streamline their operation and stay true to their long-term strategic goals. Dennis Wedgworth, President of Wedgworth’s Inc. said, “This combination brings together the state’s leading dry and liquid plant nutrient suppliers and melds the most knowledgeable team of professionals in the fertilizer industry. We are excited about the expanded capabilities of not only supplying dry and liquid plant nutrition, but also crop protection products that this acquisition allows us to offer our customers.” The Andersons’ products will continue to be available to customers in the region through a distribution agreement with Wedgworth’s. Wedgworth’s Inc., founded in 1932, is a family-owned and family-operated custom blend fertilizer company headquartered in Belle Glade. The company’s primary plant facility is located in Moore Haven. For more details, visit www.wedgworth.com.

The Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a non-profit organization committed to serving the needs of Florida’s professional arborists and tree-care consumers.

INDUSTRY NEWS Florida Strawberries Infiltrate School Lunches Across the State More than 50,000 pounds of Plant City area strawberries made their way into school cafeterias in Broward, Duval and Columbia counties as part of Agriculture Commissioner of Florida, Adam Putnam’s initiative to connect Florida’s world-class fruits and vegetables through the Florida’s School Nutrition Program at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Broward County Public Schools alone served more than 40,000 pounds of Florida-grown strawberries to their students over a two weeks. FDACS facilitated the purchase from Sweet Life Farms in Plant City, Fla., which is owned and operated by Mark McDonald. “By connecting Florida growers with nearby schools, we are teaching students that the nutrition they need to succeed in the classroom is grown right here in their backyards,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I applaud Broward County Schools for their participation in the Farm to School program.” The Farm to School program connects K-12 schools with Florida farmers and growers to provide locally grown produce to students during school meals. Since 2015, the Farm to School program has facilitated the purchase of more than 590,000 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce to Florida schools through opportunity buys. Commissioner Putnam said, “I’m proud of the improvements to school nutrition across the state and the amount of Floridagrown products now served in our schools. Together, we’re fostering healthier eating habits among our youngest residents, creating a better and brighter Florida for children and farmers.” The Farm to School program positively impacts local economies, reduces transportation costs and helps preserve farms and farmland.

FAITC Welcomes New Director and Sets Ag Literacy Day Dates Becky Sponholtz joined Florida Agriculture in the Classroom (FAITC) as the Education Program Manager in June of 2013 and was recently promoted as Executive Director. Before joining FAITC, she was an Agriscience Instructor and FFA Advisor for seven years at Keystone Heights High School and two years at Fort Pierce Westwood High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a Master of Agriculture from Auburn University. Florida Ag in the Classroom’s Longtime director Lisa Gaskalla will now be working as the National Ag in the Classroom Director. Additionally, FAITC has set May 2 as Florida’s official Ag Literacy Day. The annual reading event is a chance for farmers, ranchers, University of Florida IFAS extension and 4-H agents and master gardeners, FFA teachers and students and agriculture industry representatives to go into elementary classrooms and read a children’s non-fiction book about Florida’s aquaculture and seafood industries to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year’s book is titled Drive Through Florida: Aquaculture and Seafood. The kick off date is May 2 but you can read any day after that until the end of the school year.

CERTIFICATIONS Upcoming Opportunities to Earn your FNGLA Certification FNGLA is offering two opportunities to earn a landscape technician certification this spring. FNGLA’s Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician (FCLMT) for landscape maintenance and FNGLA’s Certified Landscape Technician (FCLT) for landscape installation. Join FNGLA and SeaWorld Horticulture in Orlando for testing on both the FCLT and the FCLMT on March 25. This is a special offering of the FCLMT exam, a once a year opportunity. The next stop is Davie April 28, hosted by the FNGLA Broward Chapter. This FCLT installation exam is the only bilingual landscape exam offering in the state and takes place at the University of Florida Ft. Lauderdale Research Center. Two options for training are available in south Florida for FCLT. English: April 7 at UF in Davie and Spanish: April 22 at UF Miami-Dade Extension in Homestead. For more information, or to register for any of FNGLA’s certification exams, contact Merry Mott at FNGLA at mmott@fngla. org or 407-295-7994.

FNGLA certification provides Florida’s nursery and landscape industry personnel the opportunity to earn professional designations distinguishing themselves from others. With the first certification program taking root in 1984, FNGLA’s certifications are a true mark of distinction. Through extensive written and practical exams, Florida’s nursery and landscape professionals demonstrate proficiency in general horticultural knowledge, plant and pest identification, legal and regulatory issues and fertilizer use, in addition to Best Management Practices, landscape design, landscape installation and landscape management principles. FNGLA’s certified professionals “Know What Grows!” FNGLA offers a wide-array of landscape certification programs including Florida Water Star. 20

MEMBER NEWS FNGLA Member Ty Strode Featured by FDACS as “Your Florida Farmer” In an effort to connect Florida consumers with Florida’s farmers, the Florida Department of Agriculture is featuring select Florida ag operations as “Your Florida Farmer.” The light and fresh video format makes meeting Florida’s farmers fun and educational! View Ty Strode, Vice President of AgriStarts, Inc. in Apopka’s video: https://www. youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu. be&v=x334DCm0I4A&app=desktop.

As with many Florida farms, Agri-Starts has seen generational succession. Ty Strode currently holds the position of Vice President and has been working at the business his father helped found for 16 years.

FNGLA Recognizes Members Who Have Reached Milestones! FNGLA appreciates all of our members, but we’d like to recognize those who have reached significant membership milestones for membership longevity:

Over 50 Years:

Arvida Nurseries Atlas Peat & Soil, Inc. BWI Companies, Inc. Costa Farms Dennis Clinton Diamond R Fertilizer Co., Inc. Garden Gate Nursery Glen St. Mary Nurseries Co. Harold B. Martin, Inc. Jenkins Landscape Co., Inc. Oglesby Plants International, Inc. Ralph Taylor’s Nurseries Rockledge Gardens, Inc. Rood Landscape, Inc. Tallahassee Nurseries, Inc. Universal Enterprises Supply Corp. Walt Disney World

Over 40 Years:

A Duda & Sons, Inc. Bernecker’s Nursery Butler’s Foliage, Inc. Clinton Nurseries of Florida Delray Plants Co.

Dixon Nursery Foliage Design Systems Happiness Farms, Inc. Hayslip Landscape Kinzie’s Wholesale Nursery Knox Nursery, Inc. Lukas Nursery & Garden Shop, Inc. May Nursery, Inc. Michael Raimondi Peace River Growers Pine Island Nursery Plants By Tropico, Inc. Razbuton Ferns, Inc. Redland Nursery, Inc. Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. Sun Bulb Co., Inc. Sun Gro Horticulture

Over 35 Years:

Alger Farms B & K Installations, Inc. Ball Horticultural Co. Bolling Forest Products, Inc. Botanics Wholesale Botanics Wholesale of Martin County

Bullis Bromeliads Classic Growers Div of Cottage Gardens Community Bank of Florida Complete Property Maintenance, Inc. Concepts In Greenery of Orlando, LLC Exotic Flora & Fauna Ltd. Farm Credit of Florida Florida Gateway College Four B’s Nursery, Inc. Gene Joyner Grandiflora Hi-Land City Nursery Horticultural Marketing & Printing I C L Specialty Fertilizers Jon’s Nursery, Inc. Kelz Nursery, Inc. Lloyd Nursery Maday Nursery, Inc. Native Tree Nursery, Inc. Natures Way Nursery of Miami, Inc. Parrish Nursery, Inc. Pelican Nursery Quality Foliage, Inc. R F Orchids, Inc. Reliable Peat Co., J.V. Salmon’s Wholesale Nursery

MEMBER NEWS Searle Brothers Nursery, Inc. Sim’s Hickory Creek Nursery Southeast Growers, Inc. St. Germain’s Dracaena Farm Suncoast Nursery, Inc. Sunshine Tropical Foliage, Inc. Suwannee River Mulch & Soil

Over 30 Years:

Abell’s Nursery Allied Growers, Inc. B & L Landscape Co., Inc. Bates Sons & Daughters Bethel Farms, Ltd. Big Trees Plantation, Inc. Bill Moore & Co., Inc. Bougainvilleas.com, Inc. d.b.a. Aguado & Sons Nursery Brantley Nurseries Capital City Lawn Care & Landscaping, Inc. Chemical Containers Dee Oaks Nursery, Inc. Doria’s Landscaping, Inc. Dwight Stansel Farm & Nursery Everglades Club, Inc. Eve’s Garden, Inc. Farm Life Tropical Foliage, Inc. Florida Indoor Gardens, Inc. Florida Tropiculture, Inc. Florikan E.S.A. Corp. Flowerwood Nursery, Inc. Forestry Resources, Inc. Friendship Foliage Garden Blade Services, LLC Graco Fertilizer Co. Grass Roots Nurseries, Inc. Gray’s Ornamentals, Inc. Greendale Nursery, Inc. Greenfingers N.V. Growing Systems, Inc. Hackney Nursery Co. Heart of Florida Greenhouses, Inc. High Caliper Growing Horticultural Alliance, Inc. Landscape by Sylvia Gordon Liners Plus DBA Hastings Nursery Marshall Tree Farm

Nursery Report/Dade County Chapter Office-FNGLA Ornamental Plants & Trees, Inc. Peterson Nursery & Garden Center, Inc. Plants In Design, Inc. Red Oak Nursery Robbins Nursery, Inc. South Miami Landscape Nursery LLC Southeast Soils Speedling Sun City Tree Farm Sunrise Landscaping Contractors, Inc. Superior Trees, Inc. Terril A. Nell Tropic Traditions Nurseries University of Florida - Environmental Horticulture Windmill Farms Nurseries, Inc. WinField Wyld West Annuals, Inc.

Over 25 Years:

A I S Sales Group AG 3, Inc. Agri-Starts, Inc. Alpha Botanical, Inc. American Farms, LLC Annco Services, Inc. Arazoza Brothers Corp. Berger Peat Moss Ltd. Betrock Information Systems, Inc. Black Gold Compost Co. Boca West Master Association, Inc. Boyd Nurseries, Inc. Boynton Botanicals, LLC Broward County Farm Bureau Brown & Brown of FL - Homestead dba T.R. Jones & Company Busk & Associates, Inc. Busy B & B Nursery & Sod Capri Farms, Inc. Castleton Gardens, Inc. Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, Inc. Countryside Growers, Inc. Custom Foliage Service Davenport Nursery Dewar Nurseries, Inc. Duval County Extension - Northeast Farm Credit of Central Florida

Fish Branch Tree Farm, Inc. Green Scene Nursery Hatchett Creek Farm, LLC I G I Marketing, Inc. Irritech International, Inc. J R M Chemical, Inc. Javo USA, Inc. K P S Sales, Inc. Landscape Maintenance Association Lazy Sago, Inc. Living Color Garden Center Loop’s Nursery & Greenhouse, Inc. Miami-Dade County Fair & Expositions Michael D. Martin P.A. Michaels Nursery North Florida Irrigation Equipment, Inc. Orange County Extension Pahokee Palms Palm Tree Packaging, Inc. Palmco Paul Polomsky Plant Solutions, Inc. Plantique, Inc. PlantList.com R S Walsh Landscaping, Inc. Riverview Flower Farm, Inc. Rode Groundcovers, Inc. Runway Growers, Inc. Silver Krome Gardens, Inc. SMR Farms Snapper Creek Nursery, Inc. Stallings Crop Insurance Corp. Sunscapes Landscape Design, Inc. Sunshine State Carnations, Inc. Tropical Earth, Inc. Universal Orlando Resorts-Horticulture Verlander Landscape Architecture, LLC Westwinds Nursery 2011, LLC Woodland Nurseries FNGLA also has long-tenured staff: Linda Adams, 33 years Sabrina Haines, 31 years Linda Reindl, 24 years Jennifer Nelis, 23 years Eddie Singh, 22 years Merry Mott, 22 years

MEMBER NEWS

Welcome New Members ACTION Authentic WEB Christie Bayer 1626 Hillcrest St Orlando, FL 32803 407-284-0510

LAKE REGION Mulling Insurance Paul Wilson 208 E Park St Auburndale, FL 33823 863-967-4454

Evergreen Lawn & Pest Control James Fanning 1200 Tilden Ave Apopka, FL 32703 407-880-6655

OnSite Fleet Services of Florida, Inc. Laura Basenese (Associate) 3509 Waterfield Rd Lakeland, FL 33803 863-510-5992

BIG BEND Landscape Pine Straw Bobby Gibbs 25415 97th Dr O'Brien, FL 32071 386-266-2004

The following are new FNGLA members from February 1, 2017 - February 28, 2017

MANASOTA City of Bradenton Ross Peterson (Supportive) 1411 9th St W Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-1992

BROWARD Broward Landscape Inc. Adam Baker 7501 Wiles Rd Coral Springs, FL 33067 954-325-1111

Shady Lady Horticultural Services, LLC Bob Thorne PO Box 172 Anna Maria, FL 34216 941-704-9025

Tri County Truck Steve Weiss 1801 W Atlantic Blvd Pompano Beach, FL 33069 954-971-4022

State College of Florida Kevin Baldwin (Supportive) 5840 26th St W Bradenton, FL 34207 941-752-5000

True Image Landscape Services LLC Brittany Angulo 511 NW 85th Way Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 954-330-3652 Rec’d by: Steve Weiss, Tri County Truck

State College of Florida Michael Galea (Supportive) 5840 26th St W Bradenton, FL 34207 941-752-5000

MIAMI-DADE Plant Professionals, Inc. Maria Drotar 145 SW 3rd Ave Homestead, FL 33030 305-259-0503

NORTHEAST Clay County Extension - Northeast Wayne Hobbs (Supportive) 2463 State Rd 16 W PO Box 278 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043-0278 904-269-6355

Southland Landscaping & Lawn Ana Nunez Full 1523 NE 174 St North Miami Beach, FL 33162 305-658-5652

Columbia Lawn and Landscape Ian Ring 479 SW Dekle Rd Lake City, FL 32024 386-365-6818

FRONTRUNNERS Oak Run Associates Inc. Malcolm Rains 10983 SW 89th Ave Ocala, FL 34481-9722 352-804-7002

OUTSIDE FLORIDA Kirk Company Inc. Kim Duvall Full PO Box 547 Beavercreek, OR 97004 503-632-7829

1. Action 2. Big Bend 3. Broward 4. Central East Coast 5. Coastal Springs 6. Miami-Dade 7. Frontrunners 8. Highlands Heartland 9. Polk

10. Manasota 11. Northeast 12. Palm Beach 13. Panhandle 14. Pinellas 15. Royal Palm 16. Space Coast 17. Tampa Bay 18. Treasure Coast

World Cup Concrete Corp. Marc Andreassi 1523 Church St Holbrook, NY 11741 631-218-2370 Rec’d by: Steve Weiss, Tri County Truck PANHANDLE J. Miller Construction Eli Miller 8900 Waring Rd Pensacola, FL 32534 850-982-1652 Rec’d by: Tim Dickens, Coastal Machinery PALM BEACH Palm Beach Fleet Services Mitchell Klar Full 1330 W Industrial Ave #103 Boynton Beach, FL 33426 561-509-8397 PINELLAS Terra Chapman (Student) 1320 30th Ave N St. Petersburg, FL 33704 206-450-4156

Aaron Tracy (Student) 11700 5th St E Treasure Island, FL 33706 727-631-1228 Jeremias Velez (Student) 700 1st Ave S St. Petersburg, FL 33715 812-610-2659 ROYAL PALM Phillips Landscape Contractors, Inc. Brian Phillips 1819 Whispering Pines Cir Englewood, FL 34223 941-473-8802 Rec’d by: Shelby Moore, Steele Truck Center TAMPA BAY Stingray Chevrolet Commercial Sales Bob Baker 2002 N Frontage Rd Plant City, FL 33563 813-359-5420

Mother's Organics Humus Farms Steve Magriby 6727 CR 579 Seffner, FL 33584 813-628-0600 Salvatore Chillura, Landscape Pros James O'Neal (Student) 6811 Livingston Ave N St. Petersburg, FL 33702 727-623-9741

Are you aware of FNGLA’s recruitment contest? It’s simple, fun and pays you $50 for each new business (full membership & up) you recruit as an FNGLA member. This contest began January 1 and ends June 1-- with recruitment recognition at the FNGLA Annual Convention. All monies earned are intended to be paid in June-- and you decide who gets the cash... you or your local chapter. Yup. It’s pretty simple.

Calendar of Events

See and submit events at http://www.fngla.org, under calendar

March

11-19: Philadelphia Flower Show, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia 13-14:

SAF Congressional Action Days, Washington D.C.

23:

FNGLA’s Education on the Go!! Spring Series, Workshop 1 (The Fundamentals), Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando

24:

FNGLA’s Education on the Go!! Spring Series, Workshop 2 (Advanced Design Techniques), Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando

25:

FNGLA’s FCLT/MT Exam, SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando

April 1-6:

California Spring Trials, Various California Locations

FNGLA’s FCLT Training, UF/IFAS Ft. Lauderdale REC, Davie

20-21:

The Native Plant Show, Bradenton

21: FNGLA’s Education on the Go!! Spring Series, Workshop 2 (Creating the Ultimate Landscape Design), Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando 22: FNGLA’s Education on the Go!! Spring Series, Workshop 2 (Seasonal Color-Start to Profitable Finish), Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando 22: Bilingual FNGLA FCLT Training, UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension, Homestead 28:

FNGLA FCLT Exam, UF/IFAS Ft. Lauderdale REC, Davie

FNGLA Phone: 407.295.7994 Toll-free: 800.375.3642 Fax: 407.295.1619 E-mail: info@fngla.org Web: www.fngla.org

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Ben Bolusky

GREENLINE EDITOR Jennifer Nelis, jnelis@fngla.org

2016-2017 STATE OFFICERS

President Robert Shoelson, FCLC Getting Green Plant Services & Betrock Information Systems PO Box 840107 Pembroke Pines, FL 33084 (954) 680-1819

President-Elect Ed Bravo Big Trees Plantation, Inc. 104 SW 131 St Newberry, FL 32669 (352) 332-2150

Past President Billy Butterfield, FCLC AmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, LLC PO Box 568762 Orlando, FL 32856-5041 (407) 872-0855

Secretary/Treasurer Will Womack, FCLC Tampa Bay Landscaping 5821 Maple Lane Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 368-9891

Connect with us: About FNGLA This publication is produced by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) as a service to its members and the industry at large. The statements and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Association, its staff, Board of Directors, Greenline or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers or their identification as members does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. The mission of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is to promote and protect the interests of Florida’s nursery and landscape industry.

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