NENA header
August 2014  
Connecting people and ideas for more than 100 years!
 
In This Issue
President's Message
Industry News
New England Grows
Update Your E-Mail
Upcoming Events

August 20, 2014 
von Trapp Greenhouse 
Waitsfield, VT

* * *

August 20, 2014
Bath Golf Club
Bath, ME

* * *

August 20, 2014 
Candia Woods Club House 
Candia, NH

* * *

September 10,2014
Ft. Williams Park
Cape Elizabeth, ME

* * *

October 22-24, 2014  
Louisville, KY

* * *

January 21, 2015 
MeLNA/Maine Arborist Association Joint Annual Meeting & Trade Show
 Augusta Civic Center 
Augusta, ME

* * *

February 4-6, 2015

New England Grows

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center 
Boston, MA 

 

NENA
 Board of Directors 


President 

Peter House
East Haven Landscape Products
East Haven, CT  

(203) 467-6260    

 

Vice President & Treasurer

Ed Bemis

Bemis Farms Nursery
Spencer, MA
(508) 885-4247 

Directors
Carol MacLeod

Evergreen Gardens

of Vermont

Waterbury Center, VT

(802) 244-8523

 

Joe Majeika

Westcott Perennials

Ashaway, RI

(401) 377-8130

 

Pierson Nurseries
Biddeford, ME
(207) 499-2994

      

Past President/
Advisor

Robin Struck
D.R. Struck
Landscape Nursery
Winthrop, ME
(207) 395-4112


 Executive Director
M. Virginia Wood, CMP

Newsletter Editor
Kristen Dreyer 


NENA 100th logo

New England Nursery Association, Inc.
8 Pleasant Street South,
Building D
Natick, MA  01760
(508) 653-3112
FAX: (508) 653-4112

info@NewEngland
NurseryAssociation.org  
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
NENA Begins Grant Review Process

I hope everyone's summer has been going well and that business is strong.  We have certainly had some interesting weather patterns.  If there's one thing we New Englanders know how to do, it's adapt and roll with the punches.  We love a challenge, right?

Your NENA board of directors is putting the "meat on the bones" of our Industry Growth Initiative Fund with HRI.   At our recent meeting, we reviewed more than 60 wide ranging grant application titles that have been submitted to HRI for consideration this year.  That's a record number of applications, which makes NENA's involvement that much more significant.

We took the first step of identifying projects that will have a positive impact on our region and its members.  Next step is a scientific and peer panel review of the applications - then it's back to us for final consideration in the fall.  It's a thorough process and we're excited to support the research, innovations, and creative thinking that will shape our industry for years to come!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.  I, for one, plan to savor the days and I hope they go by slowly.  

Peter House's signature  

Peter House

President

    

 

Industry News from Around New England & Beyond 

Get Well, Jesse O'Brien! - NENA member Jesse O'Brien has recently been experiencing health challenges.  He was released Monday from Maine Medical Center after spending close to a week there with Legionnaire's Disease, and dialysis has become part of his treatment.  Please keep Jesse in your thoughts and prayers.  Cards may be sent to his home address: 53 Label Ave., Portland, ME 04103. 

CNLA Announces New Management Team --- The Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association has retained S&S Management Services as its new association management firm.  S&S also serves as the executive office for many state and national trade and professional associations.  Mark Schuman, President of S&S, will serve as CNLA's Executive Director.  If you would like to welcome Mark and his team, click here to send an email.

Hort groups aim to increase public awareness - The American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) and Longwood Gardens have partnered with a number of organizations on a new initiative to increase public awareness of the positive attributes of horticulture as a career. They are seeking input from industry professionals, and have developed a website with more information on the national action plan for promoting horticulture in the U.S. The website also links to the five-minute survey that they are asking green industry professionals to take.  Click here to learn more and to consider participation in the survey.

European Bees at Healthy Levels- European bees are much healthier than many recent reports appear to suggest. New field data from nearly 400,000 bee colonies from 21 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean show that overwintering losses of honey bee colonies - a leading indicator of general bee health - are at their lowest level in years.  Learn more.

The State of the Industry Survey Results from Today's Garden Center - The survey reports on the spring's biggest sales barriers and how they compare to spring 2013.  Sales are up almost across the board. The three largest overall challenges in the spring were weather, the economy, and space restrictions in the store.  Read more.

New Baby - Congratulations to NENA board member Jake Pierson and his wife Allie who welcomed a new baby boy, Theodore Munroe Pierson, to their growing family on June 18th. Dale and Mike Pierson are Teddy's proud grandparents.


 


New England Grows Announces 2015 Schedule

 

Mark your calendars! New England Grows will return to Boston February 4-6, 2015.  NENA is a proud sponsor of this popular, three-day educational event produced by the industry, for the industry. As a founding partner organization, NENA receives grants each year that benefit the New England industry. 

 

New for 2015: Two Types of Attendee Passes!  Did that get your attention? You asked, Grows delivers.  Beginning in February 2015 you can choose the 3-day pass that best meets your needs.  One pass will allow admittance to all of the world-class education sessions plus the valuable  exposition displays and activities on that level including Sprint Sessions, demos, show specials etc.  A lower-priced option will allow access to the expo floor where you can conduct business, see the latest products, take advantage of show specials and sit in on a Sprint Session.  Stay tuned for more information in the fall.

 

Education - Our thanks to Ed Bemis and Jake Pierson who are the NENA representatives on the New England Grows Education Committee.  The group is currently working to finalize the slate of conference speakers.  Some confirmed topics are:

 

Native Plants in the Urban Landscape with Doug Tallamy, Ph.D. 

Five-Step Formula for Garden Center Success with Rick Segel

Motivating Meaningful Change in a Team Environment with John Kennedy 

Chic Plants for Hip Gardeners with Kelly Norris

Heaven is a Garden: Designing Serene Spaces with Jan Johnsen

Permaculture Principles: Design and Practices with Toby Hemenway  

The Rise of Sterile Barberry: It's all in the Genes with Mark Brand, Ph.D.

The Important, Ever-Evolving Relationship Between Plants & Soil Health with Chris Roddick

Plant Extroverts: Wonderful Woodies & Praiseworthy Perennials with Jared Barnes, Ph.D. 

 

Exhibitors  - Looking good! Booths continue to be reserved and the expo floor is filling up fast.  Veteran exhibitors are increasing their space and we'll be welcoming many new exhibitors to the show in February.  If you have a relationship with a vendor who does not currently exhibit at New England Grows but should, please encourage them to contact Lori Kane at LKane@NewEnglandGrows.org or at (508) 652-3009. 

 

For details regarding New England Grows, visit NewEnglandGrows.org or call (508) 653-3009.  For the latest information be sure to join Grows on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.   

 

New England Grows is an educational partnership between New England Nursery Association, Massachusetts Arborists Association, Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals, and Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association.  Its network includes more than 40 allied green industry organizations.

 

Update Your E-Mail ... at symbol

As you know, NENA uses electronic communication and in order to keep you up-to-date, we need to have your most current e-mail information. So, please make sure you keep us apprised of your e-mail address. You will also want to adjust your spam filter to allow incoming mail from info@NewEnglandNurseryAssociation.org.