Page 4 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2024_WEB

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
LESLIE HUNTER CARIO
Chesapeake Horticultural Services
4 SUMMER 2024 • Free State News
Where did this spring go? Aside from the typical green industry crunch of spring,
many have been working around what seemed like endless heavy rain events
that dwindled down to barely any precipitation as temperatures rose.
One of the things we’ve been paying close attention to this spring is Maryland’s
new invasive plant law, led by Vanessa and our MaGIC lobbyist Lindsey
Thompson. Input was solicited from board members and nursery owners
while the bill circulated, to help shape an amendment that ultimately was
incorporated into the legislation. Once the bill passed, detailed input was
requested from members through the form of a survey created by Vanessa to
collect metrics about how their sales would be affected, and additional meetings
were held to make sure that the industry perspective was clearly communicated
with the Maryland Department of Agriculture as they worked to write the
regulations supporting the new law.
Another area of interest is the University of Maryland’s hiring process to lead
the Plant Diagnostic Lab, now that Karen Rane has retired, and the upcoming
hiring process for UM Extension’s Native Plants and Landscapes Specialist to
support the Maryland Native Plants Program (MNPP). Selected to help shape
that new program, two MNLGA members have been taking part in the Native
Plant Advisory Committee. We welcome these and other opportunities to provide
Maryland’s Green Industry perspective on both candidates and priorities.
The busy spring culminated in several exciting educational events, including
the sold-out Social Media and PR workshop at Ladew Gardens, the two-day
Biocontrol Seminar, and a Technology Field Day at Ruppert Nurseries, Inc. Our
group is fortunate to have excellent partners in the University of Maryland
Extension, whose agents have worked tirelessly to shape and recruit speakers for
these events. Having attended the Technology Field Day, I would like to express
appreciation to the UM Extension team, and particularly to Stanton Gill, for
bringing together researchers and practitioners from far and wide with their
fascinating demonstrations of drones and other up-and-coming technologies.
We are also fortunate to have all of the MNLGA team working to support these
events and ensure that all goes smoothly.
One of the best parts of attending events and being a part of the MNLGA in
general is getting to talk with other members. Overall this is such a supportive
group of people who enjoy talking with and learning from one another! If there is
someone you know who would benefit from joining the MNLGA, please tell them
about it. Please also stay tuned for opportunities to work together with other
MNLGA members this fall and next spring through volunteer service projects that
will put our skills to good use helping others. A
Leslie Hunter Cario
President Maryland Nursery Landscape and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA)
lesliecario@cheshort.com
www.chesapeakehort.com