Why it matters

Chuck Bowen

Anyone who works in the green industry can testify to the power of plants to bring people together. Whether it's a patio garden, a city park or local flower sale, if you bring out enough plants, people will want to gather.

Ten years ago, a group of green industry leaders got together to form America in Bloom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting nationwide beautification through education and community involvement by encouraging the use of flowers, plants and trees. Since its beginning, AIB has awarded 185 cities across 40 states for improving their landscapes and green spaces.

"America in Bloom testifies to horticulture's importance in the lives of the citizens of every community. We know there are positive economic, environmental, sociological, and psychological impacts when a city adopts the AIB program as its own," writes Marvin Miller, president of AIB's board of directors, in the group's latest annual report. "Mayor after mayor has told us that the program unifies the city into a real community in ways never thought possible."

So why should America in Bloom matter to you? As a green industry professional, you already understand the value of plants – from a business and a lifestyle perspective. But sometimes your clients and your community need a little help articulating that value. A program like AIB helps remind folks just how much flowers and trees and maintained landscapes improve not only the aesthetics of their city, but also their quality of life.

"For 60 years we've been in the community; we want to be a part of the community in every way we can," says Dave Wehmeyer of Hillermann Nursery & Florist in Washington, Mo., who participated in AIB. "Anything we can do to promote landscaping and the joy of nature is what we want to be about."

For Wehmeyer, the most fulfilling part of participating in the program was the increased aesthetic awareness for his community.

"People started noticing our multitude of parks, the downtown plantings and landscaping, and the landscaping around our public buildings," Wehmeyer says. "Not only did the people notice these things, but they wanted to help in making them more beautiful. AIB also taught us a lot about what we can improve upon in the years to come in order to create an even more beautiful city."

The supplement that follows is a partnership between GIE Media's Horticulture Group, AIB and its parent organization, OFA. Read on to learn more about how AIB works, companies like Hillermann that have participated and how the program can benefit not only your community, but your bottom line.

I'd also like to thank our inaugural sponsors – Becker Underwood, Danziger Flower Farm, Farmtek, Spring Meadow Nursery, Summit Plastic and Suntory Flowers Unlimited – for their support of this project.
 

Chuck Bowen
Editor and Associate Publisher
Lawn & Landscape