FNGLA's July Greenline by FNGLA

July 2015 | Volume 36, Issue 7

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

FNGLA Convention Brought Sizzle to South Florida With the highest attendance in five years, the FNGLA Annual Convention took place June 12 & 13 at the Westin Colonnade in Coral Gables with more than 200 participants. Offering a combination of business and pleasure, the Convention offered a mix of business meetings, exclusive tours and networking events all highlighting South Florida’s culture and treasures. The convention kicked off with a Friday evening “Cuban Nights” Reception in the distinctive rotunda of the Westin Colonnade. Complete with a full salsa band, authentic Cuban food and lots of fun, the evening brought to life the convention theme Bienvenido a Miami Tropical! Earlier in the day, FNGLA members had the unique opportunity to tour Montgomery Botanical Center, which holds one of the world’s largest collection of palms and cycads. This was followed by a private tour at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, one of South Florida’s best-loved early 20th century palatial residences. FNGLA members received exclusive tours by the horticulture directors at both of these historic botanical sites. Convention attendees were treated to a tour of three successful agri-tourism locations in the Redlands – thanks to the courtesy of the Dade County Farm Bureau. FNGLA’s Annual Business meeting combined information, inspiration and leadership as FNGLA’s Year in Review was unveiled and members received a state-of-the-association report by FNGLA’s CEO Ben Bolusky. The 2015 FNGLA Industry Award winners were recognized. A special moment occurred when a team of South Dade High School FFA students arrived to surprise and congratulate their teacher, Stephen Greer, as he received the FNGLA Outstanding Educator of the Year award. Theresa and Kevin Riley of Rockledge Gardens received FNGLA’s prestigious Wendell E. Butler Award. Both Theresa and Kevin have served in a variety of volunteer leadership positions within FNGLA and continue to be two of FNGLA’s biggest cheerleaders. Hugh Gramling was inducted into the FNGLA Hall of Fame. And, Tyson Emery, Bureau chief at the Division of Plant Industry, received the FNGLA Friend of the Industry Award. FNGLA officer elections wrapped up the annual business meeting with Ed Bravo (Big Trees Plantation in Newberry) elected as FNGLA’s new treasurer. Rob Continued page 3

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Billy Butterfield, FCLC FNGLA 2015-2016 President

A Bright Year for FNGLA & Florida’s Industry We are always told to look forward, to look to the future, as the future is as bright as we want to make it. As William Shakespeare said, “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” I believe we have it in ourselves to create a very bright future. Even with the bumps and bruises that plague our industry from time to time, there is always a reason to move forward. We came out of a couple of pretty tough years, and while things aren’t perfect by any sense, we are moving forward. And you can always tell when things are getting better. Landscape companies across the state are busy; labor is getting hard to find; some varieties and sizes of trees are in short supply; plant material is smaller; and, vendors’ shelves are not as full of every day supplies we may need. Garden Center Division board representative, and my friend, Kevin Riley, reported at our last FNGLA board meeting that garden center sales in May were up 13.6% in the Southeast US. This is a great indication there is a very bright future ahead for all of us. While we should all be looking forward to what the future will bring, we should also look back from time to time and remember how we got here. The FNGLA Convention is a time to remember our past and honor our former presidents. What a great group of people they are. What a vast amount of knowledge and energy they have. More often than not, I am sure, they have been right there, ready to share with others ways to better our industry. While I’ve been to conventions in the past, this year was different. I got the opportunity to spend a little more time with some of these past presidents. I understand there were more past presidents at this convention than in a long time. They, and others like them, are the reason this Association, and this industry, are as strong as they are. I look forward to learning as much as I can from their experiences and hope to live up to their positive legacy. FNGLA’s annual convention was awesome. This year’s Past President, Sandy Stein, and FNGLA’s Miami Dade Chapter, really know how to plan an event. They picked a great venue, set-up awesome garden tours, and still left plenty of time to socialize with our fellow members from around the state. It takes a lot of work from a lot of people to put on convention. My hat goes off to all of them. Members of FNGLA’s Miami Dade Chapter worked for months to make this meeting the best it could be. All the details, from bags, to meeting rooms, to food and table decorations were perfectly done. All this was coordinated by Linda Adams at our state office. I’m sure

there are bumps in the road along the way when planning conventions, but what we saw was flawless. If you weren’t able to be there, you missed a great event and a great opportunity to see FNGLA at its best. Big thanks to Linda Adams and the local chapter for all their hard work to honor Sandy. As president, I want you to know I got involved with FNGLA because of the certification program and the educational programs offered at the then FNATS trade show. Over the years, I’ve learned FNGLA serves the industry in many roles. With a great staff with over 192 years of combined service to FNGLA members, FNGLA’s team is bringing us marketing ideas, like Fresh From Florida, taking care of our legislative needs in Tallahassee with Jim Spratt, and dealing with a myriad of other issues, from Crop Insurance, to the IFAS Research Budget, to the educational needs of our members. With a new strategic plan in place, there will be even more opportunities to address the needs and wants of our members and the green industry throughout Florida. I am blessed and humbled to be in the position I am and look forward to serving as FNGLA president for this coming year. My biggest challenge will be to live up to the legacy that Sandy and the other past presidents have left for me. I know I have some big shoes to fill. I will reach out to many of you as often as I can. I look forward to the annual Christmas party tour of the state with Linda Adams in December. There are always some date conflicts, but we will make as many parties as we can. What a tough job going to a half dozen parties in a couple of weeks, with all that good food and fun, but somebody has to do it. I visited with my friends in Jacksonville at the Northeast Chapter’s installation meeting on June 30 and am looking forward to the Royal Palm Chapter meeting in September at the Edison Home in Ft. Myers. Keep in touch and I look forward to seeing you soon.

“Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.” - William Wordsworth

Billy Butterfield, FCLC AmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, LLC (Orlando) ameriscapes-landscape@att.net

Continued from page 1

Shoelson, FCLC (Getting Green Plant Services in Fort Lauderdale and Betrock Information Services in Hollywood) was elected as FNGLA’s President-elect. Billy Butterfield, FCLC (AmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, LLC in Orlando) was installed as FNGLA President for 2015-2016 by industry leader, Robert Bowden, the director of Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando.

THANK YOU CONVENTION SPONSORS

The Presidents’ Gala marked the finale of the FNGLA Annual Convention. With fifteen FNGLA Past Presidents in attendance, it was a time to honor the past and enjoy seeing old friends. Florida State Representative Katie Edwards delivered the keynote address. Her commitment to help Florida agriculture was well received, as were the recent successes for Ag from the recent legislative session which she highlighted. FNGLA President Sandy Stein ended the evening with poignant acknowledgments to many family and FNGLA members in the room who inspired and encouraged him through his FNGLA leadership roles. Sandy stressed the importance and value of the relationships which arise from getting involved in an association such as FNGLA. Thanks to FNGLA’s Miami Dade Chapter for hosting the convention, including the welcome bags, plant decorations and the hospitality suite. Special recognition goes to convention chairwoman Robin Stein, and committee members Sylvia Gordon, Nancy Chappell, Sandy Stein, Bill Rotolante and Pep and Jerry Frye for the extra time and energy they put into planning and implementing the convention details. FNGLA Convention sponsors were an important part of the convention’s success this year. It is through the generous support of our sponsors that registration fees are kept low and their value high. Plans for the 2016 FNGLA Annual Convention are underway. It will take place in Central Florida in June. Stay tuned to FNGLA for details as they develop.

CONVENTION’S COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY: HT TP://TINYURL.COM/O3F3KHC

FNGLA HAPPENINGS 速

The Landscape Show/SHARE Golf Tournament Swings Over to Shingle Creek

2015 A. Duda & Sons Cocoa & Lake Placid

McCall Sod Farm Southport

R.B. Farms Lake Placid

S & K Sod Company St. Cloud

Captiva St. Augustine is licensed to Turf Producers of Florida, Inc. by FFSP. The grass was developed by UF/IFAS under a sponsored research agreement with Turf Producers of Florida. Sod Solutions is the marketing partner of the Turf Producers Florida.

Captiva速 and the Captiva速 design logo are registered trademarks owned by the University of Florida and exclusively licensed by the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. The Sod Solutions速 name and logo are registered trademarks of Sod Solutions, Inc.

SodSolutions.com/Captiva

Shingle Creek Golf Course, located within two miles of the Orange County Convention on Universal Boulevard in Orlando, is the new home of The Landscape Show/ SHARE Golf Tournament. The tournament takes place on Wednesday, September 23, one day prior to the opening of The Landscape Show. Since its beginning in 1994, The Landscape Show/SHARE tournament has become a favorite event for golfers. Shingle Creek Golf Course offers an exceptional course at a very convenient location for everyone attending The Landscape Show. Shingle Creek Golf Course has consistently been recognized as one of the top courses in Orlando since it opened in 2003. Its design presents golfers of all levels the chance to play tournament conditions at an affordable rate. This Orlando golf course has a rich history, receiving its name from the creek running throughout the Shingle Creek Resort. The course is known for its large, undulating greens, plush fairways and an abundance of water hazards. Funds raised for the tournament support industry research through the FNGLA Endowed Research Fund at the University of Florida Foundation/SHARE. Last year $6,600 was presented as a direct result of the tournament. Over the life of the tournament, $168,500 has been contributed to the FNGLA Endowed Research Fund! For more information about the tournament, contact Linda Adams at ladams@fngla.org. For sponsorship information, contact Billy Deal at bdeal@fngla.org.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS The Landscape Show: Growing Your Tomorrow! It’s not too early to register for The Landscape Show, taking place September 24-26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. FNGLA’s signature event for nursery and landscape professionals is not only packed with plants, trees and products to enhance your business, it provides smart connections, fresh ideas, new trends and inspiring displays. With more than 400 vendors, in over 800 booth spaces, the Landscape Show provides the most diverse offering of plants, trees and landscape and garden products in the Southeastern U.S. Whether planning for a project for this year or next, you’ll find extensive options of plants, equipment, ideas and vendors at The Landscape Show. At The Landscape Show, Growing Your Tomorrow means paying attention to the upcoming consumer and industry trends. The Landscape Show highlights trending topics such as Yard-toTable landscapes and plants; bees, butterflies and pollinator plants; Florida Friendly LandscapingTM for tomorrow; environmental stewardship in action; and, sustainable practices for today and tomorrow. Meet Ups and Sharing Sessions on these topics offer interactions with experts, as well as peer-to-peer exchanges. A daily special feature at this year’s show is the Fresh from Florida’s Yard-to-Table Chef ’s Presentations. Each day at 11 a.m., a Florida chef who specializes in using fresh and local foods in his kitchens showcases his favorite recipes using Florida-grown edibles. Horticulture expertise related to edibles and landscaping with edibles is included along with the cooking presentations. Chefs presenting are Chef Justin Timineri, Executive Chef for the State of Florida and Fresh from Florida; Chef James Katurakes, Executive Chef for Centerplate and the Orange County Convention Center; and, Chef James Boheim, Executive Chef at LEGOLAND® Hotel. Lloyd Singleton, Florida Friendly LandscapingTM specialist with UF/IFAS provides the horticulture insights related to edible plants and edible landscapes. More education flows at The Landscape Show on topics important for business today and tomorrow! The Knowledge College workshops provide practical skills, such as tree pruning, as well as efficiently designed trailers for equipment storage and use. Other classes offer employee management know-how and landscape design with a tropical focus. Industry CEUs are earned for all Knowledge College classes. Industry education and professional certification go hand-in-hand so not only will the FNGLA Landscape Certification Exam Showcase once again be a major feature at the show, the Knowledge College offers a workshop to provide core landscape skills, as well as prepare you for the FNGLA Landscape Certification Exams. This is the ideal one-two punch -- learn and earn one of FNGLA’s prestigious certification designations! The Landscape Show will once again be located in the South Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center. This is the same location as the 2014 event. The headquarters hotel for The Landscape Show is the Hilton Orlando which combines the best of a business hotel with the recreational amenities of a resort. The Landscape Show continues to be the best one-stop, economical resource for everyone in the nursery and landscape business. It’s all about face-to-face learning, connections and inspiration which help grow your business for today and tomorrow. Admission to the trade show is only $15 for all three event days, plus many added-value items, including access to exhibitor show specials, admission to the Opening Night Reception, show floor presentations and sharing sessions, as well as admission to Tapped In, a networking reception for those under forty years old. Online registration is now open. For more information about The Landscape Show, visit www.thelandscapeshow.org -- or call 800.375.3642.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

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Aisle Banner – $750

Opening Day Reception* $5000 (Signature); $2500 (Patron); $1000 (Friend)

If you didn’t meet up with all your colleagues at the show, you’re sure to find them at the Opening Reception. Your customers will be relaxed with a drink and appetizers as you wrap up business. Special Recognition at the reception plus additional drink tickets for your customers. Various opportunities available.

Show Poster* – $2000

Have your company logo displayed on The Landscape Show poster this year. Everyone wants to see the poster and over 3,000 are distributed to show attendees and exhibitors at the show.

SOLD

Morning Coffee Service* – $1200

What is it that attendees and exhibitors all look for in the morning at a show? COFFEE!! Perfect opportunity to be the talk of the show every morning! Service runs one hour.

Own your aisle with this great option! Excellent visibility for your company with your logo hanging beneath the aisle number on a double-sided sign. Select your aisle or strategically pick from the remaining aisles in the show.

Main Lobby Column Wraps – $750 each

Be eye level and in front of show attendees. These column wraps are high visibility high traffic locations throughout the show to extend your presence. Estimated 14,000 impressions.

Charging Station* – $750

Be seen as a problem-solver as the Charging Station sponsor. As devices lose their charge, be the friendly face associated with saving their day!

Rest Stops* $500 each

Your company signage will be a welcome sight for buyers wanting to sit Take advantage of front and down and rest during their center exposure as thousands travels in the exhibit hall.

Lobby Banners $500 - $1000

of participants pass through this central show area every day. Multiple high visibility locations available. Banner to be supplied by sponsoring company. Estimated 14,000 impressions.

Commit Early t o Maximize Your Exposure!

*indicates your logo will appear as a “Sponsor” on various promotional pieces

Entrance Area Floor Graphics – $500 each Steer every visitor who walks onto the show floor. Use these floor decals to steer visitors directly to your booth. Only four opportunities available.

Tapped In: A Networking Event for Young Professionals* – $500

An after-hours networking event targeting the up and coming professionals within the industry. Multiple opportunities.

Show Bag* – $500 plus bags

SOLD

Exclusive sponsorship of the official “show bag” distributed to attendees at the show’s registration area. Your brand will be seen throughout the show hall!

Themed Area Talks* – $500

To enhance the attendee experience, the show provides content-driven talks on hot industry topics. Pair your business with these informal presentations. Your logo will appear at the talk’s location and on other printed materials. This is a value-priced item! Four Topics Available.

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MORE IMPRESSIONS MORE EXPOSURE MORE ORDERS

Show Lanyard* – $500 plus lanyards

SOLD

Be in eye-shot of virtually every conversation at the show! Distributed to attendees at the show’s registration area, your supplied lanyards will have high visibility!

The Knowledge College – $300 per workshop*

Position yourself to a specific targeted audience. Each program will bring a concentrated targeted audience. Seven workshop opportunities.

Mobile Website Display Ad Space – $200

Step in front of attendees as they use the FNGLA Mobile Tradeshow Web/App. Your company will be featured on everyone’s cell phone screen before, during and after the show to maximize your digital presence! Only three positions available!

u Sign-Up Now!

FNGLA HAPPENINGS FNGLA’s Landscape Awards: Submit Best Projects by July 17 Celebrate “the best of the best!” in Florida landscapes: FNGLA’s Landscape Awards program is accepting nominations now through July 17. FNGLA’s Landscape Awards bring excellence and prestige to your business portfolio. The entry categories and applications are straightforward and submitted on-line. And, you can now even submit twice as many digital images of your landscape entry! Florida landscape projects installed and completed since January 1, 2012 are eligible for submission.

Submit New Installations; Redesign/

Are you one of the BEST? FNGLA’s 2015 award–winning landscape projects will be showcased on the main stage at The Landscape Show in Orlando, September 24 - 26. Higher-level “special recognition” awards will be revealed. Submit your very best landscape projects as this is a grand opportunity for FNGLA to help promote and position your landscape firm as one of the very best in the state!

Renovation; and, Maintenance projects in the following categories:

• Residential Single-Family • Residential Community • Commercial • Theme Park • Institutional/Public • Interior Project • Special Project • Student Project • Environmentally Sustainable Site Special Awards include:

• FNGLA S.J. Blakely Award • FNGLA Floriculture Award • FNGLA Florida Friendly Landscape™ Award • FNGLA Roy Rood Award

Winning projects from the 2015 awards will receive their plaques on The Landscape Show’s main stage. With prominent placement, the main stage is again planned as the location for presenting 2015’s winners! Submit New Installation; Redesign/Renovation; and, Maintenance projects in the following categories: Residential Single-Family; Residential Community; Commercial; Theme Park; Institutional/Public; Interior Project; Special Project; Student Project; and, Environmentally Sustainable Site. Special Awards include: FNGLA S.J. Blakely Award; FNGLA Floriculture Award; FNGLA Florida Friendly Landscape™ Award; and, FNGLA Roy Rood Award. Projects must be submitted by Friday, July 17 for this year’s program. Contact FNGLA at 800.375.3642 for more details or access details online at http://www.fngla.org/recognition/landscapeawards.

INDUSTRY NEWS ability.

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FNGLA HAPPENINGS MasterPay USA Can Help Businesses Determine ACA Compliance MasterPay USA, an FNGLA Member Benefits Provider, is proud to announce its ACA Reporting Service, which provides its payroll clients with a comprehensive monthly employee-byemployee report with detail on hours worked. With MasterPay’s ACA Analysis Reports, an employer can easily determine whether or not they meet the threshold at which the government requires them to provide employees with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act Section 6056 Reporting Requirements. “For most small business owners, the Affordable Care Act has been confusing and knowledgeable guidance has been hard to find,” said President of MasterPay USA, Debbie Sonntag. “Determining the number of full time or full time equivalent employees (FTEs) your business has can be complex and timeconsuming. MasterPay works to make our clients’ most stressful tasks as painless as possible.” Starting in 2015, the Affordable Care Act Employer Mandate requires employers with 100 or more FT/FTE employees offer affordable and adequate health insurance to their workers. Employers with 50 or more employees do not have to comply with this requirement until 2016, however they do have to comply with Section 6056 reporting requirements for the 2015 year. Small businesses also must be careful to consider common ownership standards when they are listed as the owner of multiple entities. Under government regulations, these business owners may need to offer affordable health insurance to their employees. MasterPay USA’s complete ACA Package makes it easy to determine the impact ACA will have on businesses. When a company is determined to be an Applicable Large Employer (ALE), additional reports help determine which employees require healthcare and provide information required to complete required 1095B, 1094B, 1095C and 1094C returns. This includes data such as: which employees were offered coverage by month; premium for the lowest cost single-only coverage option available by month; any special transition relief that applies or safe harbor methods being used; and, common ownership information between Aggregated ALE Group members. It is important for businesses to get on top of compliance now-- before fines of up to $100 per incorrect filing are imposed.

FNGLA Member Exclusives For FNGLA members only, MasterPay has made available its Labor Law Poster free! This all-in-one poster includes the mandatory state and federal labor law workplace postings. For a copy of the new Labor Law Poster, contact MasterPay’s Debbie Sonntag at 407.374.1665 or visit www.masterpayusa.com. And, you can now outsource your payroll processing without giving up the flexibility and personal attention you need! MasterPay USA keeps you in compliance and makes payroll easy. FNGLA members are eligible for an exclusive 15% discount on published payroll processing prices! The discount is not an introductory rate – it’s immediate and on-going! It may be time to outsource your payroll processing needs! Headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, MasterPay USA has been an active member of FNGLA since 2011. The company has grown each year since it was founded in 2009, serving clients and their employees nationwide. They are committed to helping your business thrive, through best-of-class products and unparalleled customer service. For more information, contact MasterPay USA at 877.374.1665, or visit MasterPay USA online at www.masterpayusa.com

FNGLA HAPPENINGS FNGLA Partners with UF to provide Industry Training Courses Greenhouse 101: Plant Science for Commercial Production – UF Instructors Brian Pearson, Rosanna Freyre and Paul Fisher Learn the underlying horticultural science of plant growth and how to make effective crop decisions by understanding the “why” and not just the “how.” This program is ideal for a section grower who does not have formal horticulture education, but has practical experience and is responsible for planting, spraying, pinching, irrigating and fertilizing greenhouse or nursery crops. The course runs July 6 -31. Introductory Nutrient Management for Container-Grown Crops – UF Instructors Paul Fisher and Rosanna Freyre This program is ideal for a section grower who does not have formal horticulture education, but has practical experience and is responsible for irrigating and fertilizing greenhouse or nursery crops. This course runs August 25 - September 18. Both courses are offered in English and Spanish. For more details, visit http://backpocketgrower.com/onlinecourses.asp. Interested in registering? The cost is $200 per session. Use this special “FNGLA link” to register: https://reg.distance.ufl.edu/ reg/Activity/Details/699F11DFF50540D983C103CC7D3CD3AF

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INDUSTRY NEWS July is Smart Irrigation Month!

Smart Irrigation Month is an Irrigation Association initiative to increase awareness of the value of water use… and grow demand for water-saving products, practices and services. Whether your business is big or small or focused on agriculture, turf/landscape or golf applications, there are many ways to participate in the Smart Irrigation Month campaign. First launched in 2005, Smart Irrigation Month is gaining traction as stakeholders recognize the positive impact efficient irrigation and water use provides. Focused on July, this campaign provides a unified marketing platform and is designed to: • Educate businesses, homeowners, growers/ producers and other users about efficient water use. • Encourage industry firms and professionals to promote smart irrigation practices and technologies. • Position your organization as a leader in smart water stewardship. For resources to assist you with promoting July as Smart Irrigation Month, contact the Irrigation Association at 703.536.7080.

HRI Launches Bee Website: www.growwise.org The research affiliate of AmericanHort, HRI, recently announced the launch of the Grow Wise, Bee Smart™ website at www.growwise. org. This resource is a key component of the Horticultural Industry’s Bee and Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, created to provide leadership and guidance to the industry on pollinator health. The site serves as the communications hub for the latest industry research and developments in pollinator health. Grow Wise, Bee Smart™ currently features information on the importance of bees and pollinators, threats to their health, and steps everyone can take to improve habitat and forage. Links to the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge and Pollinator Partnership further guide retail and landscape firms and their customers on how to plant and register new gardens and habitats for pollinators.

INDUSTRY NEWS Governor Vetoes $461 Million from Budget Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a new $78 billion state budget into law, but not before slashing more than $461 million in projects ranging from pay raises for the state’s forest firefighters to money used to hand out orange juice to visitors at the state’s welcome centers. Funds were cut for trails, museums, health care clinics, and eliminated increased rates for pediatricians who treat children in the Medicaid program. Closer to the nursery segment of agriculture, an approved increase by the Legislature of $180,000 for the UF/IFAS Quarantine Research Facility was denied, and it also lost all funding. The state-of-the-art lab opened in 2004 at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce with $3.9 million in state funding and, according to Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agricultural and natural resources, the facility is likely to close and 12 positions will be eliminated.

UF Extending Therapeutic Gardening Research... And It’s Promising! By Jack Payne, UF Senior Vice President for Agricultural and Natural Resources jackpayne@ufl.edu, @JackPayneIFAS We all feel it: Gardening makes you feel better. If we can demonstrate that through science, not just sensibility, therapeutic horticulture could some day be covered by health insurance just like pills, counseling sessions or acupuncture. We’re a long way from turning gardening into medicine in the eyes of insurance executives. Maybe that’s why the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida is so pioneering in its research on therapeutic horticulture. Professor Charlie Guy of the IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department is trying to measure the effects such activities as seed planting, transplanting, and performing cuttings have on participants’ mental health. Guy’s subjects respond to questionnaires on how the activities affect their quality of life. The real path breaking work is Guy’s cooperation with UF medical researchers at the McKnight Brain Institute, where the participants undergo MRIs to see what happens in the brain when people work with plants. UF is the only place we know doing this important work. The University of Florida is especially suited to be a national leader in this area because we have a major agricultural center and a major medical center on the same campus. In fact, this work on plants started with Dr. Craig Tisher, retired dean of the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. He led efforts to restore Wilmot Gardens, a botanical greenhouse and gardens on the UFHealth campus in Gainesville, where patients go to work with plants regularly. Leah Diehl, UF’s director of therapeutic horticulture, leads the therapeutic horticulture program. Guy’s team won’t have results until the fall, but preliminary findings are promising. The work of Tisher, Diehl and Guy could lead the way toward a scientific basis for having people care for plants as a way of caring for themselves. Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The National Foliage Foundation(NFF) is a proud supporter of this and other University of Florida research projects. For more information on how to join NFF’s team of dedicated contributors and become a part of furthering cutting-edge research, contact Linda Reindl, lreindl@fngla.org or visit www.nationalfoliagefoundation.org.

INDUSTRY NEWS Industry Water Conservation Training Continues, Florida Water StarSM FNGLA helps industry professionals and government employees across Florida increase their water conservation knowledge through Florida Water StarSM training and testing. FNGLA partners with Florida’s Water Management Districts throughout our state to host this comprehensive water conservation program focusing on Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM alternatives and irrigation design which can have a major impact on water usage. Its popularity has grown to warrant monthly training programs. Its next stops are July 29 at the Florida Irrigation Society Water Summit in Naples and September 23 in conjunction with The Landscape Show. Continuing education credits are approved for FNGLA Certified Professionals, Registered Landscape Architects, Irrigation Association, and a variety of irrigation licenses.

Florida’s Water Management Districts host Florida Water StarSM training across the state.

Complete information about the Florida Water StarSM program is found at www.floridawaterstar.com or contact Deirdre Irwin, dirwin@sjrwmd.org, at the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Connecting the Industry Across the Southeast July 21 - 23 2015 Atlanta Georgia Georgia International Convention Center

SNA 2015 combines the SNA Regional Marketplace with the Southern Plant Conference,

the SNA Research Conference, the SNA Annual Business Meeting, the SNA State Officer’s Conference, and SNA Day @ for one unparalleled industry event!

Plants... Featuring the best plants ornamental trees, shrubs, and color from top growers across the region

Products... Featuring the latest in retail, landscape and outdoor living products, garden gifts, accessories and more

People.. Connect with the industry’s most forward thinking growers, breeders, researchers, retailers, landscapers, manufacturers, and distributors from across the Southeast

Education and More... Educational sessions for retailers, growers and landscapers by top industry experts

www.sna.org

SNA 2015 Half Page Ad.FNGLA.indd 1

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INDUSTRY NEWS Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference Aims to Strengthen Florida Ag Businesses

Taking place August 27 & 28 in Orlando at the Omni Orlando Resort, the 2015 Florida Agriculture Financial Management Conference aims to provide strategies and know-how to strengthen your Florida-based agriculture business. Attendees can expect to receive key take-aways they can immediately implement. • • • •

Examine cash flow analyses, custom reports and real-time technology for a 360-degree look at financial performance. Evaluate the impact of dash boards, benchmarking and cash vs. accrual accounting on business strategy. Maximize daily operations and financial results by utilizing economic indicators and performance metrics. Enhance understanding of financial markets, income tax planning and overall business.

Be a part of this conference! Learn more and register online to attend at www.fafmc.org.

INDUSTRY NEWS Houzz Releases Landscape & Garden Trends Survey

Houzz released its 2015 Landscaping & Garden Trends survey, which found a third of homeowners are making significant changes to their yards. The survey included results from 1,600 homeowners who completed an outdoor project in the past 12 months, are working on one, or plan to start one in the next six months. It is chock-full-of graphs and images making the data easy to digest. Here are a few highlights: • Seventy-one percent of homeowners upgrading their outdoor spaces value an easy to maintain space most in terms of functionality, followed by spaces that are easy in which to entertain (60 percent) and easy for the entire family to enjoy (48 percent) are prioritized next. • Nearly all homeowners are updating greenery during their outdoor projects (92 percent) by planting perennials (66 percent), shrubs (54 percent), annuals (51 percent), trees (44 percent), and other plants, and nearly one in five homeowners are planting cacti or succulents (19 percent). • Good news for landscape professionals as over half of homeowners are enlisting the help of professionals to upgrade their gardens, two in five are hiring a landscape architect (37 percent) or designer (21 percent) for their recent, current or planned project. • Half of homeowners are budgeting less than $5,000 on their current or upcoming outdoor project (52 percent) and just under half already spent this amount on recent projects. Similarly, one in four are budgeting over $20,000, compared to over a third who actually spent over $20,000 on recent projects. Access the report as a PDF: http://info.houzz.com/rs/ houzz/images/2015HouzzLandscapingStudy.pdf.

All-American Selections Releases Annual Report All-America Selections (AAS) has released its 2014/2015 Annual Report, reflecting the group’s activities from the past 12 to 18 months. For the past five years, AAS has prepared a statement of organizational projects and progress, with this year’s report showing some of the best advancements in recent history. “It has been a pleasure to be part of All-America Selections since 2008, first as a vegetable judge, then as a director, which led to vice president and now president. The entire board of directors, our council of judges and the office staff have worked extremely hard to get this organization where it is today. We are continuing to look forward for opportunities to further improve and grow. We have big plans to take this organization and the esteemed brand that is All-America Selections to an even greater level of recognition,” explains AAS president Angus Mellish. The annuals, perennials and edibles that are AAS Winners can help every segment of the distribution chain sell more product because of an impressive back story that explains what it takes to become an AAS Winner. Rick Snyder, professor and Extension vegetable specialist at Mississippi State University, added, “I’ve really enjoyed serving AAS as a vegetable judge since 1991. Over the years, the quality of variety entries has gone up as breeders work even harder to come up with new and more unique vegetables for the home garden market.” This annual report is designed to bring new awareness to the organization’s activities and progress. A few key points in this year’s report are: • The launch of the AAS Herbaceous Perennial trial. • The large number of AAS Winners introduced for 2015. • A continuing positive financial report. • Increased marketing efforts and publicity for new and past AAS Winners. All questions and/or comments can be directed to AAS executive director Diane Blazek at dblazek@aas-ngb.org. Download a copy of the report: http://all-americaselections.org/signs_brochures/ files/AAS%20Annual%20Report%202015.pdf.

CERTIFICATION NEWS Even More Opportunities to Earn FNGLA Landscape Certifications! FNGLA is proud to announce our testing partners will once again host FNGLA’s Landscape Technician Certification Exams in the fall of 2015. SeaWorld Horticulture in Orlando hosts an FNGLA Certified Landscape Technician (FCLT-Installation) exam on Saturday, August 15 followed by the FNGLA Certified Landscape Maintenance (FCLMT) exam on Saturday, August 29. With summer upon us, these exams begin an hour earlier to try to avoid the extreme heat and summer storms of the afternoon. FNGLA’s Broward Chapter and the UF Ft. Lauderdale Research Center in Davie host a combined FCLT-Installation exam and FCLMT exam on Friday, October 16. A special hands-on training day takes place Friday, October 2 at the test site. Earning an FNGLA certification can increase your knowledge and your professionalism – and that of your staff! For more information, or to register for any of FNGLA’s certification exams, contact Merry Mott at FNGLA at mmott@fngla.org.

Sponsor Highlight FNGLA is fortunate to have so many supporters who make our professional certifications the standard for Florida’s nursery and landscape industry. This month we recognize Bobcat of Broward in Pompano Beach for its continued support of FNGLA’s South Florida test site. Providing the use of a Bobcat for the Equipment Operation station allows test candidates to demonstrate their skills in the safe operation and maintenance of landscape equipment. Thank you, Bobcat of Broward!

Florida to Receive $3 Billion From BP Oil Spill Disaster Sunshine State News has reported Florida will receive over $3.25 billion in a nearly $20 billion settlement over a 2010 oil spill which devastated the Gulf of Mexico, Governor Rick Scott announced last week. The settlement comes at the end of a lengthy legal battle over the BP oil spill. In April 2010, the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused a gushing of 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over a period of almost 90 days. The explosion killed 11 workers and the resulting oil spill was particularly impactful on marine species and contaminated many beaches along the Gulf of Mexico in several gulf states. Three years later, Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for the economic damages suffered by the State of Florida due to the oil spill, including lost tax revenues.

INDUSTRY NEWS Florida’s AG Files Suit Against EPA Over Waters of the U.S. Rule Attorney General Pam Bondi joined a bipartisan lawsuit challenging the federal government’s attempt to seize regulatory control over large categories of state waters. At least four separate lawsuits against EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have been filed over the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. In the suit filed in Texas, the court is asked to declare the WOTUS rule unconstitutional because the regulation is an “impermissible expansion of federal power over the states” and jeopardizes private property rights of landowners. The suit filed in North Dakota calls the rule an “unreasonable federal overreach.” More lawsuits are expected (the National Association of Home Builders just filed one) and the courts will likely end up determining if, and where, to consolidate them to avoid any potential split decisions in different jurisdictions. Addressing the suit filed by Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi and several other state attorney generals, Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam said, “Florida is a unique and diverse state and arbitrarily expanding federal oversight to remote wetlands would undermine our strong wetlands protection and stormwater management regulatory programs we currently have in place. Diverting local, state and federal funds to marginal waters could dismantle environmental protection programs statewide.” The new EPA rule extends federal jurisdiction over waters which may be natural, man-altered or man-made. In part, the rule falls far short of taking into account the duration of water flow. With this expanded WOTUS rule, federal agencies can exercise authority over water bodies — such as ditches miles away from the nearest waterway — which were never recognized as navigable and, as a result, never intended to be waters of the U.S. Anyway, in response to the 1 million or so comments it received on the rule, EPA just released its response – a package with more than 7,000 pages.

Access Greenline’s Past Editions & FNGLA Images

Ralph Faircloth Sr. Passes Away

In case you’ve missed it, or wish to locate a news item you’ve previously viewed, FNGLA’s monthly newsletters and various other FNGLA publications are stored for your access at http://issuu.com/ fngla and FNGLA’s image archive is located at https://picasaweb.google. com/101900735408609469622.

FNGLA sadly shares the news of the passing of Ralph Fain Faircloth, Sr., 89. Mr. Faircloth was a foliage nursery owner in Apopka and was inducted in 1993 into the FNGLA Hall of Fame.

FNGLA MEMBER NEWS

FNGLA’s Broward Chapter recognized Broward County horticulture students who earned their FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) designation at a recent chapter meeting. Nearly 400 high school students across 15 counties earned their FCHP this year – with more than 100 of them coming from Broward County Schools!

Research Dollars

FNGLA Leaders United

A tip of FNGLA’s cap goes to FNGLA’s Frontrunners, Manasota, Miami Dade, Northeast, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Royal Palm and Treasure Coast Chapters! They presented contributions to UF/IFAS officials during FNGLA’s annual meeting to underwrite industry research. And, the FNGLA Allied Division announced $6,600 in net proceeds from its Landscape Show golf tournament. All told, $22,455 was added to the FNGLA Endowed Research Fund at UF Foundation which now tops $1.3 million!

At last week’s FNGLA Northeast Chapter Meeting, the group welcomed not only newly-installed FNGLA State President Billy Butterfield (AmeriScapes Landscape Management Services, LLC Orlando), but also three chapter presidents from across the state: FNGLA Frontrunners Chapter President Heather Blake (Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, Alachua), FNGLA Action Chapter President Vera Gasparini (Ewing, Orlando) and FNGLA’s Northeast Chapter President Shawn Thomas (Southern Green, Jacksonville).

Apply online at www.fngla.org or use this form

INDUSTRY NEWS 1533 Park Center Dr., Orlando, FL 32835

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

COMPANY NAME ____________________________________________________________________________________

CONTACT NAME (ONE PER MEMBERSHIP) MR./MS._____________________________________________________________ MAILING ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY ______________________________________________ STATE ___________________ ZIP ______________-__________ COUNTY __________________________________________ FAX __________________________________________________ PHONE ___________________________________________ TOLL-FREE/OTHER PHONE _______________________________ COMPANY E-MAIL _________________________________ DIRECT E-MAIL ___________________________________________ COMPANY WEB SITE ______________________________________________________________________________________ REFERRED BY____________________________________________________________________________________________

Must be a current FNGLA Member. Please include name and company.

rank your business mix (1= largest source of sales, 2 = second largest etc. uP to six codes)

___ Allied Supplies / Services

(Allied businesses support the nursery/landscape industry. i.e.: ceramics, fertilizer, insurance, etc.)

___ Citrus Nursery

q Retail q Seed q Budwood

___ Floriculture ___ Foliage ___ Cut Foliage/Cut Ferns

___ Garden Center ___ Institutes/Schools ___ Interiorscape ___ Miscellaneous ___ Trees ___ Woody Ornamentals ___ Resort/Facility Manager ___ Parks/Recreation/ Gardens ___ Urban Forester

choose membershiP

___ Irrigation Contractor ___ Golf Courses ___ Florist ___ Chain Retailer ___ Supermarket ___ Student ___ Research ___ Broker ___ Re-wholesaler ___ Wholesale Florist

additional membershiPs

Active Firm by Gross Sales

q Less than $500,000

$360

q $500,001 to $2 million

$515

Parent FNGLA Member Firm: _____________________________________

q Over $2 million

$770

q Supportive

$75

Affiliate Firm

$200

Affiliate Member

$150

Name_________________________________

Associate Member

$75

Name_________________________________ Contact the FNGLA office to add additional memberships.

___ Associations ___ Media ___ Building Contractor/ Developer ___ Government ___ Landscape Contracting ___ Landscape Maintenance ___ Landscape Architecture ___ Landscape Design

___% Commercial / ___% Residential

fngla-Pac

Voluntary FNGLA Political Action Committee Contribution q $500 q $250

q $100 q Other________

FNGLA-PAC is a separate fund which supports candidates who promote and protect nursery and landscape industry’s interests in Tallahassee.

ACTIVE FIRM

THIS CATEGORY HAS VOTING PRIVILEGES AND FULL BENEFITS • • • • •

Check Enclosed (payable to FNGLA)

MasterCard

SUPPORTIVE

THIS CATEGORY DOES NOT HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES AND LIMITED BENEFITS • • •

Government employees Instructors Retired horticulturists

ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AFFILIATE FIRM •

Additional Firm owned by an Active Firm. This category has voting privileges. No limit.

AFFILIATE MEMBER q

Visa

q Discover

Card #_______________________________________________________________ Expiration Date _______________________

•

Print Name (as it appears on card) ____________________________________ Signature _________________________________ Billing Address___________________________________ City_____________________________ ST/Zip ___________________ In applying for membership, I agree to abide by the Association Code of Ethics. I certify that the information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and that nay information found to be false may be grounds for denial of membership or removal of membership. Contributions to the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, Inc. are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. However, dues payments are deductible by members as an ordinary business expense. Authorized use and display of the FNGLA logo is limited to current members. Unauthorized use will be subject to legal action in Lake County, FL and all attorneys’ fees and costs paid by the person using the said logo.

Growers/nurseries Landscape firms Garden centers Allied suppliers Consultants

Dues based on company’s gross sales (see box 3).

Payment information

TOTAL (SECTIONS 3 - 5) $ ____________________ q

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

X ______________________________________________________________ Date ______________________________

Employee of an Active or Affiliate Firm. Voting privileges. Limit 1.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER •

Employee of an Active or Affiliate Firm. No voting privileges. No limit.

NEW MEMBERS The Mission of FNGLA FNGLA’s mission is to promote and protect the interests of Florida’s nursery and landscape industry. The following core principles guide the governance and management of FNGLA: Organizational Excellence; Member-Focus; Collaboration and Partnerships; Leadership in Agriculture; and, Continuous Improvement. Don’t just read the newsletter! Be a part of FNGLA!

Welcome New Members FNGLA’s Chapters are organized by county. To find your chapter, locate your location and refer to the chapter name online at http:// www.fngla.org/chapters/index.aspx to determine who to contact locally. 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

The following are new FNGLA members from May 22, 2015 - June 21, 2015 ACTION William Abbott, Student 2459 Chicory Ln Apt 201 Winter Park, FL 32792 BROWARD Janine Griffiths, Student 709 Riverside Dr Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312 COASTAL SPRINGS American Mulch & Groundcover, LLC Charla Harper 13838 Hays Rd Spring Hill, FL 34610 813-443-2121 MANASOTA J & T Holland, Inc. Dustin Holland, Associate 480 Shotgun Ln Osprey, FL 34229 941-966-1870 Carolyn DeMott, Redland Nursery Big Earth Landscape Supply Diane Cannon, Associate 2423 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL 33570 941-773-8050 MIAMI-DADE Eureka Farms, LLC Crystal Costa 16700 SW 184th St Miami, FL 33187 305-234-9588

M D Pump, Inc. Dennis Garcia 1631 W 38th Place Unit 1507A Hialeah, FL 33012 786-619-0694

Eliet USA, Inc. Jean-Alain Tibbaut 3361 Stafford St Pittsburg, PA 15204 412-367-5185

Rose Roberts, Suppotive 19900 SW 344 Street Homestead, FL 33034 305-245-7656

Hallco Industries Inc. Jerry Phares PO Box 505 Tillamook, OR 97141 503-842-4866

VisualScape Inc. Emely Mederos 15980 NW 117th Ave Miami, FL 33018 305-362-2404 NORTHEAST EuroLawnCare Landscape & Design Vilson Gjuraj 5589 Jeremy Ln Jacksonville, FL 32257 904-400-3666 Rec’d by: Jerry Stageman, Sunset Specialty Groundcover Groomed Gardens, Inc. Elmer Groom PO Box 19381 Jacksonville, FL 32245 904-721-8045 Rec’d by: Jerry Stageman, Sunset Specialty Groundcover OUTSIDE FLORIDA Cedar Valley Nurseries Destiny Allman 19626 State Hwy 1E Ada, OK 74820 580-436-2508

Primerus Products, LLC Jack Butler 1042 N El Camino Real Ste B309 Encinitas, CA 92024 760-452-6399 Natural Repellents, LLC Mark Wilson 11 Cedar Gate Rd Denville, NJ 07834 973-277-3904 PANHANDLE St. George Plantation Drew Robertson, Supportive 1712 Magnolia Road St. George Island, FL 32328 850-927-2312 Rec’d by: Rosemary Warner, Native Southeastern Trees, Inc W. R. Stone Manufacturing Co. Robert Stone 6816 J.D. Williamson Rd Red Level, AL 36474 334-469-5089 Rec’d by: Keith Sylvest, Coastal Machinery Co.

PALM BEACH Bongard Nursery Barbara Bongard 11470 172nd Place N Jupiter, FL 33478-5320 561-746-4240 Rec’d by: Maria Lidonni, Lidonni Nursery & Landscape, Inc. PINELLAS Pinellas County Parks & Conservation Resources/Ext Paul Cozzie, Supportive 12520 Ulmerton Rd Largo, FL 33774 727-582-2100 ROYAL PALM Obex Data Services Eric Levine PO Box 61103 Fort Myers, FL 33906 239-275-1170 TAMPA BAY Garden Light LED Scott Morreale 6112 Benjamin Rd Tampa, FL 33634 813-901-5595 TREASURE COAST Leserra’s Transport, Inc. Cory Leserra 5531 SE Nassau Ter Stuart, FL 34997 772-260-2389

Calendar of Events See and submit events at http://www.fngla.org

July 11-14:

Cultivate ’15: An AmericanHort Experience, Columbus, OH

14:

FNGLA Judge Certification Training SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando, FL

14:

Chemical Spill Response Training, Ft. Pierce

21-23:

SNA 2015, Atlanta, GA

27-1:

33rd Perennial Plant Symposium, Baltimore, MD

29:

Florida Water Star Training & Testing, FIS Water Summit, Naples, FL

31:

Ball Seed Field Day & Landscape Day, The Gardens at Ball, Chicago, IL

August 3-7: ASHS Annual Conference, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, New

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

2015-2016 STATE OFFICERS

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

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

Past President Sandy Stein The Jungle Nursery 29100 SW 162 Ave Homestead, FL 33030 (305) 246-5324

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

Connect with us:

Orleans, LA

4-6:

IGC East, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

13-15:

Nursery/Landscape Expo 2015, Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, Texas

15:

FNGLA Certified Landscape Technician Exam, SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando, FL

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.

29:

FNGLA Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician Exam, SeaWorld Horticulture, Orlando, FL

The mission of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is to promote and protect the interests of Florida’s nursery and landscape industry.

1533 Park Center Drive Orlando, FL 32835-5705

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