10:42 AM

Adding an L

Lloyd Singleton
Landscape Manager

The Breakers Palm Beach

I am partial to the letter L. As the youngest of five siblings, I followed Lynnette, Lorene, Leah, and Larry. My parents named me Lloyd, with a double L. I also like the L in Landscape. I’m a landscape guy, and have earned my living managing some pretty incredible landscapes for about 9 years now.

Not too long ago, our fabulous association added the letter L. FNGA became FNGLA, adding Landscape to the name. To me, it is an indicator of the forwarding thinking orientation of our association, recognizing the interrelatedness and synergy of multiple segments of the green industry.

I attended TPIE this past weekend, and was amazed at the beauty of the show. Even as primarily a landscape guy, I was inspired. The booths, the show entrance, the variety of vendors, and the global nature of the show were energizing. Old friends, new contacts, established products, and innovations were all in one location, with a common passion. I am very glad that a landscape guy was welcome and embraced at a tropical plant exhibition. I’m glad we added that L to our name.

We hear a lot about sustainability these days. Frankly, any thinking person has got to realize that a move toward sustainability in every aspect of our lives is critical to our survival as the human species on this planet. As the green industry, we are central to the sustainability movement. Nature at it’s best. We should take the lead. It may mean embracing partnerships with other industries, adding more L’s.

Think big with me for a moment. What does our future hold? Is it a 10 acre growing range shaded with photovoltaic film selling 3000kW to the local power grid? Is it a landscape maintenance contractor partnering with the local greasy spoon to convert used vegetable oil to biodiesel to power her trucks and equipment? Perhaps the resort complex grounds and stewarding departments combine vegetable scraps and landscape debris in a vermiculture facility yielding soil-enriching castings.

Let’s join together, open our arms and lead our industry to even greater things. And always be willing to add an L.

8:04 AM

Looking Back

Edward Traynor
John Mini Distinctive Landscapes
Congers, NY

In preparing to go to Florida this year, I came across an old notepad from my first buying trip to Florida back in1977 ….thirty years ago.
I visited a dozen nurseries: Hoffman, Costa, Kraft, Michaels, Tropical Ornamentals, East Marsh, Super Brothers, National, Berneckers, Leaf Nursery, Hoaks, Okomo
If you don’t recognize a few names, that’s because they don’t exist anymore. Across the bottom of the notepad were scrawled four items:

  • Find at least 1 new potential plant supplier
  • Learn about the Industry
  • Meet people
  • Have fun

And so that is what I did, that year and almost every year since.

Typically, I would go to Florida and TPIE for 3-4 days every January.
It was always a break from the New York weather and a nice ending to the hectic Holiday Decorating and Takedown epic.
Rules that I came to live by:

  1. Always take pictures (Nurseries started to look similar by day 2)
  2. Never say anything bad about anybody (Growers are like a big family and everyone will know what you said the next day)

Best Memories

  • Joe’s Stone Crab – compliments of National Nurseries
  • Drinking beer at 10:00A.M. looking at 200 gal. triple ficus at Hoffman’s
  • Staying out late with George Patterson (City Gardens/Okomo)
  • Getting advice from Dave Fell(Kraft)
  • Costa Nursery buyers trips (Dominican Republic / Key West)
  • Jimmy Connata’s Wedding
  • Learning about Florida with Bill Lyden
  • Looking at Big Trees with Lynn(East Marsh)
  • Shooting the potato launcher with Bob McQuillan
  • Having lunch with Bruce Jenson
  • Having a cocktail with Gerry Leider.
  • Having dinner with Debbie and Laurie
  • Comparing notes with Fred Briese
  • Talking about New Jerseys Tropic Greenhouses with the Cialone brothers.
  • Having dinner with Don and Suzanne(Sunshine Tropical Foliage)

And so I decided to pack the old notebook with the four familiar items highlighted

  • Find at least 1 new potential plant supplier
  • Learn about the Industry
  • Meet people
  • Have fun

Hope to see you at TPIE !