Wouldn't it feel good to win $5,000, $1,000, or even $500? You could be a lucky winner if you buy a raffle ticket to support America in Bloom, a program that helps connect people to plants at the grassroots level.
You can buy raffle tickets at www.AmericaInBloom.org/raffle.
The drawing will be at the 2012 OFA Short Course on Monday, July 16, but you do not need to be present to win.
Last year's raffle generated nearly $30,000 for America in Bloom.
One of America in Bloom's goals is to tout the benefits of plants. From increasing home values to boosting your health there are a ton of benefits of that plants can provide - they give back. After all, ornamentals are, in fact, more than just pretty! 
There are countless benefits to installing a green roof and as the years pass, research on the subject becomes more and more compelling. Whether you're talking about installing plants, solar panels, or simply changing the color to something other than black, the benefits are many. By changing the color of the roof on Chicago's City Hall from black to white and installing a large garden, the summer temperature at the top of the building was reduced by more than 50 percent! 
This award recognizes an individual who exemplifies community leadership through actions that reflect the mission of the organization. The award recipient, who must be from a city that has 
I recently had an opportunity to visit High Line Park in the Lower West Side of Manhattan. It was a Sunday morning after a hearty breakfast with old friends - the perfect opportunity for a walk. What I experienced was not only a new way to view New York City, but it was a new way to renew decades-old friendships. Indeed, I was able to experience both growth in relationships and growth in my perspective of a city at the same time.
