Talk about the weather ... yeah, yeah, yeah

Most people in the green industry are driven to an outdoor lifestyle, which dictates that we follow multiple sources of weather updates on a daily basis — if not hourly! Day-to-day operations are controlled by the jet stream, topography, some say Short Mountain, and the Gulf of Mexico. These components combined help explain why it is was 70 degrees on Christmas Day and why on occasion we can just as easily drop below zero. Rain, wind, humidity, heat and cold obviously dictate the growing season and how plants perform, when we can plant, when we can harvest, and when we can get paid. It is also the reason plant life does so well here in Middle Tennessee. Blessed with a subtropical temperament climate most of the time, there are over 150 species of native trees on the Cumberland Plateau alone, which is more than the entire continent of Europe. Yes, the weather patterns affect job sites, harvest, sales and more importantly, our innate need to be connected to the Earth and why it is we are so drawn to this area. With the challenges that the weather creates, it also is the reason we have multiple creeks, rivers, and lakes. We are connected to the flow of life that happens here. We are in nature, and it is diverse, unpredictable, and the very thing we depend on to survive as a species. Hence, the weather is not just idle chit chat. Just ask a developer, a builder, a farmer, or a business owner. Everything we do and all of the commerce that we create is dictated by the weather, so it is important to remember just how critical it is to take care of what we have here in Tennessee.

We realize that the severe weather conditions during the past year has been very traumatic to our industry resulting in great losses of saleable plants and therefore our overall economy will be greatly affected. We must all come together and pool our thoughts and ideas in the best effective ways to prepare for another season. Any suggestions on how we can better serve you as an association are always appreciated and will be seriously considered. Our potential is limitless in this great and growing industry that we have chosen to be a part of, and may we keep this thought foremost in the coming year.

— Jimmy Driver, TNA President’s Message, 1985

Allow me to echo that sentiment: we have certainly all seen this industry ebb and flow, but overall, this is a uniquely positioned group that can work together to make it better than ever. One way to help yourself and the entire association is to fill out and respond to the upcoming survey: “2020 Tennessee Nursery Survey”. Why? So that going forward we can look at our elected officials in the eye and inform them how good this industry is and how much money this industry contributes to the economy. We need that data to have a seat at the table. Thus, I encourage you to respond to the survey, talk to your fellow nurserymen, and participate in an organization that has a long, distinguished heritage going back over 100 years.

Respectfully,

Bert Driver

President

Bert Driver, TNLA President