Also In This Issue


New England Grows Draws Thousands to Boston


On February 6 & 7, 2013 New England Grows gathered commercial


horticulture professionals for a two-day industry-wide celebration in Boston, MA. More than 11,000 guests experienced the event and thousands participated in cutting-edge educational sessions, as well as hands-on workshops and exposition demonstrations. 550 exhibiting companies — nearly 100 of which were new to


New England Grows this year — saw heavy foot traffic throughout the two-day event, as well as steady business from green industry decision-makers. Many spent time with customers who were placing orders and taking advantage of “Grows-only” show discounts. All saw the benefit of face-to-face networking with fellow industry members. “New England Grows is a super venue for making new business contacts and it’s held in a fabulous city!” said long-time exhibitor and wholesale grower Tom Whitcher of Sheridan Nurseries, Ltd. In Ontario, Canada. Te Garden Center Success seminar was a highlight of the New


England Grows educational line-up. More than 500 garden center professionals signed up to participate and those who attended agreed with Nan Ingraham of Hyannis Country Garden on Cape Cod who said “I absolutely loved all the speakers you had...they were very motivational with many great ideas to work on at our own store!” Te well-known New England Grows’ education program


impressed once again with seminars that focused on innovation, emerging trends and research finds. 2013’s top-notch speaker line-up included: Lynden Miller, Dan Pink, Kirk Armstrong, Richard Cowles, Jim Flott, Bill Calkins, Kip Creel and Cass Turnbull, among others, who delivered trending topics like: Bare Root Tree Transplanting, Low Maintenance Perennials, Sustainable Design, Environmentally Responsible Grasses, Global Climate Change, Online Marketing, and Integrating Edibles. Ask the Experts sprint sessions, an interactive learning opportunity


at New England Grows, drew a steady stream of visitors. Extension personnel and university faculty offered tips, trends, and take-aways in rapid-fire, 15-minute, educational bursts right on the exposition floor. A new CEU tracking system was introduced to rave reviews this


year. Participants’ badges were scanned at educational sessions and they are now able to download customized Certificates of Attendance online at www.NewEnglandGrows.org. Typically a three-day event, New England Grows was cut short by a day due to the Blizzard of 2013. Te storm began on Friday, February 8, 2013 and brought more than 2 feet of snow to the city of Boston. In addition to a state of emergency, the Governor of Massachusetts declared a 24-hour travel ban - something that has not been seen in the state since 1978. Fortunately, every New England Grows visitor was able to get safely out of town before the storm hit on Friday. “New England Grows drew thousands of industry professionals to Boston,” said Mary Hallene, president of New England Grows. “We are truly grateful to our wonderful exhibitors, speakers, volunteers, and staff. Everyone rallied and, In the face of an historic blizzard, we were able to deliver an outstanding experience for our industry!”


GrowingMEGreen


Over 35 years of Service Farms Located In:


New England Grows is an educational partnership between the


New England Nursery Association, Massachusetts Arborists Association, Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals and Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association. Its co-sponsor network includes 40 allied green industry organizations. New England Grows supports the green industry through annual grants to the region’s Cooperative Extension Systems, the FFA Organization, local horticultural schools, and more.


Next year, New England Grows is scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,


February 5–7, 2014


Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. For the latest information visit


www.NewEnglandGrows.org,


follow New England Grows on Facebook and Twitter, or call (508) 653-3009.


Farms Located in:


Richmond, RI Berwick, ME Litchfield, NH Agawam, MA


Mineral Soil Base High Sand Content avail. Bluegrass - Fescues Ryegrass - Bentgrass


800 - 556 - 6985 www.tuckahoeturf.com


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