Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Events for Professionals & MLNA Members



Attention: MLNA Event Open to All Green Industry Professional:Summer Business Meeting & Field Day MLNA Welcomes Members & Guests
Date: Jun 25, 2009

Location: 2400 South Scenic Springfield, MO


Many events are planned throughout the day:
~A presentation on the replanting of Greensburg, KS by Tim McDonnell, Community Forest Coordinator with Kansas Forest Service.
~Springfield's Friends of the Garden will be giving guided tours of the park as well as the future site of Springfield/Greene County Botanical Center.
~We will have areas for sponsors and vendors to display their products and services to our members and guests. More information soon!

~We are tentatively planning to offer our STAR Certification Testing and Review Workshop. We have enrollment minimums and maximums so complete certification entrollment today so we know you are interested in certification testing.

~We will also be co hosting a 9 hole golf tournament across the street at Horton Smith Golf Course from 7-9 that morning.

Please contact:

Bryan Stringer, Vice President of MLNA for more information
Phone: 417-529-2073
Fax: (417)359-9254
Company: BWI Companies, Inc.

Monday, February 9, 2009

The 27th Perennial Plant Symposium


The 27th Perennial Plant Symposium - 2009, presented by the Perennial Plant Association, will be hosted in St. Louis, Missouri, Sunday, July 19 thru Friday, July 24th, 2009 at the Marriott Hotel located in the historic St. Louis Union Station. The PPA Symposium includes 5 specialty tours, a featured Wednesday tour, two days of professional multi-track seminars and numerous networking opportunities. For more about Symposium schedule and registration details, visit http://www.perennialplant.org/. For more, contact the Perennial Plant Association at (614) 771-8431 or ppa@perennialplant.org.

The 2009 St. Louis Garden Symposium


The 2009 St. Louis Garden Symposium, presented by the Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis, features “Your Garden, Your MASTERPIECE,” Saturday, March 7, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the campus of St. Louis Community College-Meramec, 11333 Big Bend Blvd. in Kirkwood. Registration is just $ 45.00 and includes all presentations and a light lunch. The keynote speaker is Susan Appleget Hurst, Sr. Assoc. Editor, Better Homes & Gardens magazine, presenting the topic: “What Makes a Picture-Perfect Garden.” The event also features local experts leading workshops, classes and hand-on demonstrations regarding such timely topics as Rain Gardens, Sustainability in the Garden, Edible Gardening, Lawn Care, Ideal Trees for the Midwest, Butterfly Gardening and more. For details, visit http://www.hortco-op.org/ or call (314) 487-4995 or email info@hortco-op.org

More info on the 2009 Gateway EXPO of Regional Wholesale Flower Growers March 4


The 2009 Gateway EXPO of Regional Wholesale Flower Growers, presented by the Greater St. Louis Flower Growers Association, is set for Wednesday, March 4, 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Columns Banquet Center, 711 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles, MO. This grower exhibit and educational event is FREE (including a hot lunch!) and open to all retail and landscape professionals. You must RSVP on or before February 20 for this FREE event (for the purpose of accommodating lunch preparations). RSVP to Chris Nejelski at chris.nejelski@mobot.org. For more information, visit http://www.hortco-op.org/ and find the event in the “Industry Calendar” section.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Statewide Program offers Green Industry Professional Training on Landscape Design


ALLIED State-wide Industry Events: Attention ALL Green Industry Professionals Interested In Expanding Your Knowledge of Missouri Natives!
Landscape Design With Missouri In Mind / A Practical Application Workshop
For Landscape Professionals
Friday, January 30, 2009
330 Commerce Drive, Highway 179
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102OR
Friday, February 20, 2009
MDC Northeast Regional Office
3500 South Baltimore
Kirksville, Missouri 63501 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Fairchild at 573-522-4115 ext.
3833 or http://barbara.fairchild@mdc.mo.gov./

Greater St. Louis Flower Growers Association presents annual EXPO


The second annual "GATEWAY EXPO of Regional Wholesale Flower Growers: Local Alliances = Success & Profits", presented by Greater St. Louis Flower Growers Association, offers a forum for retail merchants and landscape professionals to meet wholesale growers of the region and discuss their specific plant material needs. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th, 8:45a.m. - 3:00p.m., will include exhibits by growers of the region. The EXPO provides an excellent opportunity to satisfy the growing consumer trend to be "locavores" and buy products produced locally. For more informantion visit: Hort Co-op of Metro St. Louis

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Bayer AdvancedTM Scholars Program


In challenging economic times, making an investment in your people and staff is an even more critical necessity than in prosperous times. In a year where some independent garden centers might be tempted to cut training budgets, The American Nursery & Landscape Association is proud to work in conjunction with Bayer AdvancedTM to launch the innovative BAYER ADVANCEDTM SCHOLARS program in 2009, a fund created to offset education/training costs for more than 75 independent garden centers this year – including scholarships to the 2009 Management Clinic, the 2009 Retail Roadshow, and the 2009 Legislative Conference.

To launch the program, 40 full scholarships ($729 value) to the Management Clinic were awarded. Scholarship package included a full registration to the upcoming Management Clinic (Louisville KY, Feb 6-9), a Muggets networking badge, and a private evening networking reception with ANLA leadership. (Attendee is responsible for transportation to/from and housing at the event.)

The Management Clinic is an unparalleled conference experience, featuring 60 educational programs in 3 days. The 2009 event highlights sessions targeted specifically at creating business success in challenging times. A full program can be viewed at: http://www.managementclinic.org/

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

MLNA invites members to support St. Louis Hort Coop Silent Auction


We hope that you will consider submitting an item (or more!) for the silent auction part of the Spring 2009 St. Louis Garden Symposium to be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 (see http://www.hortco-op.org/ for details). It can be a plant, a book or a favorite tool...whatever.The silent auction is always popular with the attendees and we are looking to connect the gardening public with area horticulturists by having this segment…by putting a face and a voice with each item offered in the auction. Proceeds from the auction go towards student scholarships, etc.


Thank you,
Cindy Gilberg,
HorticulturistDesign and Consulting
2906 Ossenfort Rd.Wildwood, MO 63038

Thursday, December 18, 2008

GREEN INDUSTRY NEWS


International Agriculture Interns

Cultural Homestay International is a non-profit organization that places international college graduates on one year internships in the United States. The company is generally asked to pay $8.00 an hour and the interns come with their own insurance. They have candidates in all fields including business, marketing, web design and agriculture. The Agricultural interns can work in farms, nurseries, or within companies. CHI does all of the visa paperwork and sponsorship and there is no charge to the company. You can get more information by going to their website at http://www.chinet.org/ or by contacting Dayna O'Brien, Cultural Homestay International.
Toll free 877.845.2889
Local 636.677.2573
Fax 636.677.2574

MLNA Meet Me at the Western Details


We Can't Wait to See You!


We look forward to seeing you at our annual MLNA Business Meeting at the Western Nursery & Tradeshow, Sunday January 4th from 2-3pm on the OPCC Courtyard Level - Meeting Room 3. Please check Western schedule to confirm location as last minute changes are possible.

Also please join Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association sponsored Hospitality Reception for MLNA, Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis and Hort NetWORK members & guests. This event will be held Sunday evening from 5:00 to 6:00 pm on the OPCC Courtyard Level - Meeting Room 1.

The Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association is co-host to this gathering with the Horticultural Co-op of Metro St. Louis and the Hort NETWORK. All three groups traditionally attract approximately two hundred industry professionals at this reception, and enjoy their time together. The purpose of this gathering is to allow our members and guests to network and socialize together in an informal setting with each other and members of the local professional organizations.

We extend our appreciation to our four generous sponsors and their invaluable assistance to our non-profit organization and the expenses associated with this event. Sponsorship of Hor d'erves includes: Forrest Keeling Nursery Home Nursery Loma Vista Nursery BWI Companies, Inc.


To find out more about the Green Industry Star Certification Program and testing, click here

2008 MLNA Green Leader Recipients Please Take a Bow


Congratulation to the following recipients of Missouri Landscape & Nursery Association’s Green Leader Recognition for 2008!.

Sustainability defines success in all aspects of our personal and professional lives. MLNA showcases businesses that make a significant effort to educate themselves and others about environmental stewardship.
MLNA is committed to creating educational opportunities, workshops and programs to educate about stewardship in the lower Midwest. Attractive, functional landscapes are a growing investment in home, business, the community, the environment and our future. Greening our environment is necessity not a luxury.

MLNA’s incoming president Kim Lovelace-Young of Forrest Keeling Nursery has selected “Protect and Promote Our Environment” as her presidential platform theme for 2009.

Missouri Landscape & Nursery applaudes these MLNA Green Leader Association Members:
Forrest Keeling Nursery for Rain Garden / Water Conservation Education
Loma Vista Nursery for Sustainable Business Practices
Greenscape Gardens for Green Team Participant / Habitat for Humanity
Pharm Solutions, Inc. for Environmental Awareness / Pesticide Product
Grow Native for Environmental Education
Hansen’s Tree Service for Green Waste Recycling

Special thank you also to these Green Leaders who were considered for Missouri Botanical Garden & the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Hero of the Planet” Award:


Sustainable Visionary


Sustainable Communities




Sustainable Employee Programs




Sustainable Operations




Sustainable Products




Sustainable Alliances




Giving Green



Sunday, December 14, 2008

Local Expertise Q and A


Q: I have a small business. I have reduced my cost, compared my activites to my goals, reviewed my budget and what I enjoy most in my career and what I struggle with to do well or in a timely fashion. After doing all of that, I am again faced with more decisions that include cutting cost, moving my business in a different direction, or perhaps even downsizing both my services and my staff. And it seems whatever I do to cut cost will still have a negative impact on the economy. Where should I look for advice on cutting cost? It looks like this is a must for 2009.

A: According to the Drucker Institute, cutting cost is not the only answer. In a recent article featured at http://www.druckerinstitute.com/ this very topic was discussed.
Peter Drucker was very aware of the need for keeping a lid on costs. He taught that enterprises big and small should always be asking themselves not how to make a particular aspect of the business more efficient but whether it should exist at all. The question should be: “Would the roof cave in if we stopped doing this work altogether?"
And if the answer is “probably not," you should consider eliminating the task, product or service. This line of questioning should be a regular part of your business plan and reviewed often- not just when finances are tight.
It is a mistake to think that all of what we do in business is noteworthy. In fact some activities need to be measured with a satisfaction scale in mind. If the only enjoyment is relief when it is over, reconsider other ways to export, eliminate or replace the activity with another method.
I suggest that you consider what the original intents was for that particular activity, and then consult with others professionals who have similar goals and see how they are meeting those needs.
Always remember, your business is unique and your company may have different skill and abilities but many activities-regardless of the business must be completed to run a business.
Once you know what you want to accomplish, investigate specialized training for you or someone on your staff to become the expert at that task or consider hiring or contracting out those tasks to those already proficient and can make your business run smoother. If someone is already offering the service or product, meet with them, discuss your situation and see if there is a cooperative opportunity.
That can be boost for you, other businesses and the economy. Not everyone has the same gifts or abilities-accept that. Your best financial move is to recognize what you are great at doing and find people who are great at what you need help with, and then find a way to work as a team!

Favorite quote: "Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things." Peter Drucker

You never really find it- you can take it! Everyone loses it, seldom does anyone find it and no one can make it for you- time! Pause please and thank someone for their time!
Goals for 2009- enjoy some sand-somewhere , other than in your truck or the bottom of your stored away vacation suitcase!