Category: FNGLA
Collier County Agriculture Tour
Four busloads of people spent a day looking “beyond the beaches” in Collier County on Wednesday, March 19. After American Farms we went to Oakes Farms, an organic vegetable and fish producer, Lipman Company, the largest tomato packing plant in Immokalee, Silver Strand citrus groves and the farmers market.
Dr. Aaron Palmateer
Royal Palm Chapter and friends learn from Dr. Aaron Palmateer. Thanks to Dr. Doug Caldwell (Collier Co. Extension) for hosting this meeting.
Riverland Nursery Welcomes Royal Palm Chapter
Mayer Berg, owner of Riverland Nursery, hosted the February meeting of the Royal Palm Chapter FNGLA. Nearly 40 people enjoyed perfect weather, a top-shelf dinner brought in by Cohen and Cohen Catering and two informative speakers from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration division.
More new plants at TPIE
‘Groovy Baby’ is a new, dwarf tibuchina showcased in the New Product area at TPIE. Go to my photo website for many more photos of new introductions. http://weedsandseedsdotorg.wordpress.com/
How about a new, white Tibuchina?
‘Hippie Dippie Tibbie’ is a new white flowered Tibuchina. You might be familiar with the blue/purple Princess Flower as a shrub or tree but here is a new color. This recent introduction was one of the newest plants in Florida, showcased at the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibit (TPIE) in Ft. Lauderdale last week.
Final exam
We just concluded our Fall 2013 class with a “mock final” exam. 30 students worked through open-book, closed-book, and plant identification tests. This preparation will enable them to take the actual three hour, on line, final exams. I look forward to hearing about 30 new Florida Nursery Grower Landscape Association (FNGLA) Certified Horticulture Professionals.
“I am too busy to get involved!”
That was a frequent response to our request for people to join our FNGLA Royal Palm Chapter Board of Directors. A few years ago we might have had a different response. But many companies have reduced their staff to bare acceptable minimums, forcing the most productive people into long hours with little time off. One grower…
Dr. Ed Gilman fills the auditorium
Many thanks to Robert Olinger and all the people of Forestry Resources for hosting the March FNGLA meeting. We met at the Naples Botanical Garden and the crowd was so big (over 120 people) we had to break up in two groups for the walking tour. Over a dozen members of the American Society of Landscape…
