On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA February-March 2016 | Page 5

TPIE rolls out
the red carpet for
GWA members
BY MARIA ZAMPINI

I

n conjunction with the GWA Outreach Task Force, the
Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association
(FNGLA) welcomed 15 garden writers to the Tropical
Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) in Fort Lauderdale
on January 19 and 20 for a special garden tour and
show-opening VIP activities.

Communicators were invited on the TPIE Road Show –
Garden & Design Tour, which provided attendees with
private access to the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, a National
Historical Landmark; The Kampong, one of five properties
that make up the National Tropical Botanical Garden.
The Kampong was the private home and garden of noted
botanist and plant collector, David Fairchild (1869-1954).
Additionally, GWA members toured four private gardens,
including two in the evening for their nightscape features.
More than 7,000 industry professionals attend TPIE each
year. Garden communicators enjoyed an inside view of
Florida’s tropicals and the show’s happenings. VIP seating
at the TPIE opening session, featuring keynote speaker and
international trend analyst Christine Boland, set an upbeat
and motivated pace for the show. It was followed by a tour
of the show floor by Lloyd Singleton, chair of the TPIE
committee. Exhibitors were told it was “Garden Writers
Day,” and to look out for the green ribbons on show badges.
It worked, as Jacqueline Soule can attest. She went with
250 business cards and returned home with only one,

Carlos Somoza of Carlos Somoza Landscape Design in Miami
describes a landscape in a south Florida private garden to Lisa
Eldred Steinkopf (center) and other GWA members.

PHOTO S COUR TE SY FLOR IDA NUR SERY, GRO WER S AN D LAN DSCAPE ASSO CI ATI ON

The following day, several garden writers were also treated
to a tour of local nurseries and another private garden.
A special thanks to Jennifer Nelis, AOTF member, and Sylvia
Gordon for rolling out the red carpet for GWA members.
It was a trip to remember!
If you are envious of seeing your fellow garden communicators in sunny Florida in January, please know that FNGLA
intends to host a similar exclusive program for GWA members
as part و]