A big congratulations to all of our 2013 EXPO Booth Award winners! Here are the photos of the winners!

Small Hardline Award:
Landscapers Pride
New Waverly, Texas
**Visit Landscapers Pride at Booth #2007

Small Greenline Award:
Southwest Perennials, Inc. 
Dallas, Texas
**Visit Southwest Perennials, Inc. at Booth #3502

Medium Hardline Award:
Big Bend Stone
Terlingua, Texas
**Visit Big Bend Stone at Booth #418

Medium Greenline Award:
Cedar Valley Nurseries
Ada, Oklahoma
**Visit Cedar Valley Nurseries at Booth #2820

Large Hardline Award:
Ewing Irrigation Products
Phoenix, Arizona
**Visit Ewing Irrigation Products at Booth #607

Large Greenline Award:
Color Spot Nurseries
San Antonio, Texas
**Visit Color Spot Nurseries at Booth #1622








#TNLAEXPO2013

Who are Derek and David?

While you're cruising the show floor or between sessions at EXPO Education, keep your eyes peeled for two folks who know what's moving and shaking in DFW- David Yonis, Chair of TNLA Region IV (Dallas area) and Derek Whisenand, Chair of Region V (Fort Worth area).

David Yonis, TNLA Chair Region IV

David Yonis is Production Manager at Roundtree Landscaping. He is a 2005 graduate of Tarleton State University with a degree in Horticulture and Landscape Management. He's been in Dallas/Fort Worth since 1996, although he grew up in Massachusetts. During college, David worked for three years at a tree farm in Stephenville, TX. David has been at Roundtree since 2005. He is licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator, a licensed irrigator in the state of Texas, and a TNLA certified Landscape professional. When he's not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Marla, and 2 dogs, Calvin and Tessie. He is also a diehard Boston Red Sox fan.

Derek Whisenand's background stems from many years in working in his family business at Whiz-Q Stone. His grandfather founded the company in 1983. As a teenager and young adult, he was brought up delivering quality service and products to our customers. During high school he participated in various sports which taught him about team efforts and the strength of building great relationships. Through high school, he worked at Home Depot in the evenings and weekends selling high end appliances as well as servicing many property owners and other customers with their bulk purchases of not only appliances, but other building materials. After high school, Derek came back to the family business full time where he learned to combine all of the skills and lessons he had picked up to focus fully on the growth of Whiz-Q. Whiz-Q Stone is now one of the largest Stone, Masonry, Hardscape, and Landscape Supplies in the state of Texas serving both homeowners and professionals with quality products and exceptional customer service.

Derek Whisenand, TNLA Chair Region V

You'll probably find David at EXPO Education collecting CEUs or at the TNLA Awards Dinner (Roundtree Landscaping is a nominee for the Summit Award, the highest honor bestowed to a TNLA member company).

There's a good shot at catching Derek at Booth #1009. Make sure to ask them what Regions IV and V are looking forward to in the coming months. And be sure to thank them for their double sponsorships-- both as region leaders, and through their companies, Whiz-Q-Stone and Roundtree Landscaping.

Don't wait in line, Register Online.

#TNLAEXPO2013

And the winner is...

Find out who the winners are on Friday at the TNLA Awards Dinner!

For the Grand Platinum Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards, the nominees are:

Southern Botanical, Inc.- Bluffview Residence

Southern Botanical, Inc.- Corporate Campus Courtyard

Lambert Landscape Company- Regency Garden

For the Summit Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a TNLA Member firm recognizing them for exceptional contributions to TNLA and the industry, the award exemplifies innovation, service, highly ethical behavior in the way a business conducts its affairs, the nominees are:

Pavestone, Calloway's Nursery, Roundtree Landscaping, Inc. & KBW Supply

Contratulations the following Honorees:


Visionary Award: 2013 Winner – Former First Lady Laura Bush. 

Arp Award: Winner – Dr. Steve George, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. 

Young Leader Award: Winner - Clayton Leonard, New Earth. 

Honorary Lifetime Member – Dr. Cynthia McKenney, Associate Chair and Professor of Ornamental Horticulture, Texas Tech University. 

Texas Excellence in Landscaping (TEIL) Awards:


Silver Award:
Absolute Accents, Inc. Montague/Behrens
Custom Gardens, LLC Prairie Dog River Ranch
Krause Landscape Riata Park
Lawns of Dallas Residential Estate
McDugald- Steele Austin Hillside Garden
McDugald-Steele A City View/Lake Side Garden
ValleyCrest Landscape Development Hipolito Garcia Federal Courthouse Green Roof

Bronze Award:
Absolute Accents, Inc. Jewel Ball Fountain
AJ’s Landscaping And Design Inc. Muslih Residence
AJ’s Landscaping And Design, Inc. Montgomery Residence
Custom Gardens, LLC Prairie Dog River Ranch
Greater Texas Landscapes, Inc. Lake Hills Church Children’s Building
Greater Texas Landscapes, Inc. All Web Leads
Jason Osterberger Designs, LLC Rustic Private Estate
Lawns of Dallas Backyard Retreat
Matt W. Stevens Landscape Architect, LLC Vickery Residence
Metheny Commercial Lawn Maintenance Deloitte University
Metheny Commercial Lawn Maintenance Westlake Campus
Roundtree Landscaping, Inc. Fedock Residence
Southern Botanical, Inc. LEED Gold Awarded College Campus Landscape
Southern Botanical, Inc. Preston Hollow Residence

It's not too late to sign up for the TNLA Awards Dinner; register now. #TNLAEXPO2013

My personal EXPO plan

Your Personal EXPO Agenda allows you to organize a list of exhibits to visit ahead of time and print a personalized, color-coded floor plan for a more time-managed EXPO visit. CLICK HERE and then scroll down to ‘Create Your Login’ information first.  While searching for product and services, you can add these exhibitors to your agenda to help organize your personal EXPO schedule.  You can then update and refer to it at a later time or even on the trade show floor at the Internet Café!

#TNLAEXPO2013
Haven't registered for EXPO yet? There's still time- don't wait in line, register online.

Paperless Landscape Companies Looking for Plants- Enter Local Plant Source

Thursday's Technology session at EXPO Education opens with Mike Lysecki's Paperless Landscape Co., where you will see in real life how anytime/anywhere access to job information and decisions flow from the field and back at the speed of light. Using technology to achieve productivity and profit advantage is a must-do in today's Green Industry. (Thursday, 9:00 am)

After his 50-minute seminar, you may be inspired to visit TNLA Member and EXPO Exhibitor, Local Plant Source (Booth #503). 

Local Plant Source developed their platform to help nurseries harness the power of the Internet to easily connect and share inventory with landscapers. The web and mobile apps get nurseries' inventories online in minutes. New and existing customers can browse plant photos and specs easily, spending less time searching and more time on growing their business.

With nurseries' availability online, landscapers can specify and source projects with more confidence, from local vendors, and without worry of future availability issues. Contractors can easily browse local vendors to minimize shipping and expand sourcing options.

Nurseries and Landscapers can drop by Local Plant Source's Booth #503 for a chance to win a free membership. LPS is also offering charging stations for your mobile devices, so stop by, recharge your device, and learn how to recharge your business.

See new things, learn new ways to boost your ROI, connect with industry peers at Nursery/Landscape EXPO. It's not too late to register. Don't wait in line, register online.

#TNLAEXPO2013

New Trees and Shrubs at EXPO Education

Small flowering trees are gaining in popularity for several reasons.  First, small ten to twenty foot trees fit modern landscapes where yards are small. Second, there’s a growing and somewhat justified fear of urban trees that get huge with time.  In an age of hurricanes, tornadoes, wild weather and predictions by climatologists of more of the same, it’s only reasonable to embrace a little fear of large trees. Part of climate change is more climate violence.  Crushed homes, vehicles, and power lines are becoming nightly fare on our national news.  Small flowering trees suddenly look better.  Third, five to ten gallon container-grown plants mesh well with the displays at the mass markets, independent nurseries, and landscape companies.  Finally, there’s an ever-expanding list of new varieties entering the market with attributes of tree form, leaf shape and color, and flower size and color.  A 2012 survey of thirty Southern USA woody ornamental professionals reveals some surprising and not so surprising results.

Dr. David Creech presents on Friday at 10am. Dr. Creech is Regent's Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University and Directs the SFA Mast Arboretum and the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden.

Don't stand IN line, register online to get your CEUs.

#TNLAEXPO2013

Real People. Real Work. Real Gracious.

Friends and EXPO sponsors of Hotchkiss Insurance Agency

Are you a pretty friendly, down to earth person who loves your work? Do you ever feel pretty lucky that you’re working in Texas? Do you generally skip parties and “fuss” to focus on production? (We know the answer is “Yes” to all.)

You owe it to yourself and your team to be among the industry’s finest, Texas Green Industry’s TNLA Award Winners. They are elite in accomplishment but not in attitude—they are your business partners, they are your customers, and they are your friends who you just haven’t yet met. And next year they could be you.

Don’t be shy about glitz and glamor, for the glitz lies in the spirit of this year’s Winners, and the glamor lies in the hospitality and warmth of the friends and colleagues who join in to say, “Good job. Thank you. Keep it up.”

Real people. Real work. Real gracious—the Who’s Who of our Texas Green Industry is where you belong for three hours on Friday night, August 16^th.  It’s not too late to reserve your seat for dinner and meet the folks behind the biggest wins in Texas Excellence in Landscaping, leadership, outstanding contributions to the Industry, and integrity in business.

Meet and mingle, trade ideas—or just come and be ready to be inspired.

Reserve your seats today.

#TNLAEXPO2013

Maximize your Tradeshow experience

Check out TNLA GREEN's EXPO issue for tips from keynote speakers, long-time attendees, and a sneak peak of items in the Product Showcase. There's even a suggested 3-day itinerary for the family to enjoy their time in Dallas while you're enjoying your time with industry peers. 

Don't wait in line, register online!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013

7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open

8:00 am - 11:55 am *EXPO Education +$ - Continental Breakfast & Keynote (Sponsored by Landmark Nurseries, Inc.)

8:00 am - 5:00 pm *TNLA Irrigation Education

12:00 pm -5:00 pm Tradeshow Open

1:30 am - 3:30 pm *Demonstration Stage

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Welcome to Dallas Party - TNLA Goes...to the Races Sponsored by Tree Town US A - at the Dallas

C onvention Center FREE ADMISSIO N + Drink Ticket – Badge required Southern Drawl Band

(Music Sponsored by OHP, Inc.)

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Certified Professionals Reception – Reception honoring active TCNPs, TMCNPs, TCLP s and CL Ts.

(By Invitation Only)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open

8:00 am - 12:00 pm *EXPO Education +$ - Continental Breakfast & Keynote (Sponsored by Landmark Nurseries, Inc.)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm *TTIA Irrigation Education - (half day course, must attend both days)

10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tradeshow Open

10:00 am - 11:00 am TNLA PAC Trustees Meeting

12:30 pm - 3:30 pm *Demonstration Stage

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Horticulture Synergy Initiative (By Invitation Only)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm TNLA PAC 40 & Under

5:30 pm - 6:50 pm Chairs’ Reception - Omni Dallas Hotel Trinity Ballroom (By Invitation Only)

6:30 pm - 7:00 pm TNLA Awards Dinner Reception

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm TNLA Awards Dinner – Omni Dallas Hotel Trinity Ballroom, Awards presentation for the Summit

Award, TNLA Arp, Young Leader and Texas Excellence in Landscaping (TEIL ) +$

SAT URDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013

7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open

8:00 am - 12:00 pm *EXPO Education +$ - Continental Breakfast & Keynote (Sponsored by Landmark Nurseries, Inc.)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm *TTIA Irrigation Education - (half day course, must attend both days)

8:45 am - 9:45 am Exhibitor Appreciation Breakfast

9:15 am - 11:00 am Past Chairs Brunch (By Invitation Only)

10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tradeshow Open

12:30 pm - 3:30 pm *Demonstration Stage

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Exhibitor Move-Out

#TNLAEXPO2013

Tree Town USA welcomes you to the party!

"Texas is so large and spread out, and our industry can so spread out, it's hard to get to meet with people in person throughout the year. For me, I love EXPO because it's the only place that we get to meet with vendors all the way through to your end customer in one place, under one roof, at our booths. It's such a great environment, it's the only true networking event there is," said Jonathan Saperstein, Chief Operating Officer of Tree Town USA.

Tree Town USA- 5 million production acres, 2 million trees

"The speakers are always great, and different parts of our company go to different parts of the education; our growers go the growers topics and management will go see different presentations on management. But my favorite event is the Welcome Party, and I'd like to invite everyone to join us." (Tree Town USA sponsors the Welcome Party).

"The reason why we sponsor and have so many booths is because this is our industry, and we wanted to get back involved and support it. When you think about all the different services or production lines that TNLA represents, from a company with a lawnmower and two crews to annual suppliers to fertilizer manufacturers and soil producers, we are all weak individually but with TNLA representing us to fight for our interests and be a conduit of communication, we are not so fragmented-- we are stronger. Some organizations and shows related to the nursery industry haven't made it over the years; without the support of memberships and sponsorships, nothing can be successful. There are too many benefits to not sponsor."

Meet Jonathan and his team at the Welcome Party or at Tree Town's booth, #3000.

Don't wait in line, register online.

#TNLAEXPO2013

How much have you wasted on fungicides?

You’re wasting money on fungicides without a sanitation program. Across all crops, in greenhouses, and in ornamental production, disease is becoming resistant to various treatments. “We encounter this time and time again as we visit nurseries and greenhouses,” says Dr. Nicole Ward, plant pathologist at University of Kentucky. “Fungicides are becoming more expensive and very specific; as they become more specific, there is a higher risk for disease resistance.”

Growers and Landscapers are paying a lot of money and not getting any disease control because their business is overlooking a very basic, and very essential practice: sanitation.

In her experience as a plant pathologist and former landscape business owner, she’s observed that, “Greenhouses are dirty. There is debris on floor. Greenhouses are not cleaned between crops. Fungi and bacteria live in cracks on sidewalks, on debris on the floor, and in containers that are being reused. Bacterial diseases are spread with contaminated pruners.”

No matter how effective a fungicide is, it’s not going to cover everything. The more spores there are, the more chance that fungicides won’t address the problem. The more spores there are, the more there’s a risk of inoculum overload.

“If you don’t have sanitation program, let’s not even talk about fungicides- that’s common sense approach,” Dr. Ward offered. “The seminar won’t get into pathogen lifecycles, but it will offer basic, essential practices to get the most out of your disease control program. Cleaning the greenhouses between crops because some spores overwinter and pop back up in a year, reminding employees to sterilize that pruner and roll up that hose, limiting customer access and even sales people to areas that are vulnerable… the nature of the problem will dictate what steps you should take.”

Increase your businesses ROI with EXPO Education. Register now to attend Dr. Ward’s seminar at EXPO- Thursday, August 15^th at 9am, and be sure to take advantage of the Q&A to get ideas for your business.

Contact your local county extension agent and read Dr. Ward’s white papers on green house sanitation and landscape sanitation.

#TNLAEXPO2013

Pace yourself with EXPO's mobile app

What do Hotchkiss Insurance Agency, Ran Pro Farms, and Landmark Nurseries have in common? All three want you to pace yourself at EXPO so you don't miss out on anything. They've sponsored EXPO's mobile app so you can: Map out exhibitors and locate product listings. Get up to date EXPO alerts. Check EXPO Education schedules. GPS your route to the Tradeshow. Watch speaker videos. Capture your experience with the Postcard feature and share on your social media sites. Download it today.

Creekside's EXPO Highlights

Christan Fuqua is an owner of Creekside Nursery. You’ve probably seen her logo on the handy, high quality canvas bags that are given away at EXPO-- but where might you find her? Her favorite part of EXPO is meeting people face to face.

"Often times so much business is done over the phone, email, or even via text; it's great to have the chance to talk in person."

So what's on Ms. Fuqua's must-do list?

"I personally enjoy the PAC lounge. For a reasonable contribution you get a comfy place to sit down for a few minutes and a beverage…and who doesn't enjoy that during the show? It's a great place to have a conversation, hear what legislative issues are affecting our industry and sometimes, entertainment as an added bonus.

"Most of our staff enjoys the education opportunities, the networking, and product demonstrations, as do I. It is especially important we support our TNLA-PAC so it will remain strong and be a larger, collective voice for our businesses and our industry on a wide variety of issues. 

"Business owners and managers have so many tasks to juggle, it is difficult to stay on top of all that is happening politically. Jim Reeves does a great job of keeping all who are interested 'in the know' with regards to the current and upcoming political climate.  That sort of information really helps business leaders anticipate and adjust as needed. That's one of the best value-added benefits all members of TNLA receive. Here's an easy way to jump in, stop by the PAC lounge."

Register today and look for Christan in the PAC Lounge or at the Creekside Booths, #1019 and #1023.