New England Grows Announces Educational Program Highlights

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BOSTON, Mass. – New England Grows, the Northeast’s premier exposition and conference for the commercial horticulture industry, will be held Feb. 5-7, 2014, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
 
Always on the lookout for emerging trends and industry icons, New England Grows’ 30-plus educational programs include:

  • Jane Knight, landscape architect for the Eden Project in Comwell, England. Eden is an extraordinary global garden featuring the largest rainforest in captivity as well as a Mediterranean landscape both growing within huge, geodesic domes. The Eden Project’s sole mission is to "inspire people to care about the natural world." Knight does that and much more by sharing her experiences and expertise with others around the globe.
  • Nalini Nadkarni has been called "the queen of forest canopy research," a field that relates directly to three of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: the maintenance of biodiversity, the stability of world climate, and the sustainability of forests. Nadkarni presents a rich tapestry of personal stories celebrating the profound connections we have with trees and the powerful lessons they hold for us.
  • Glyn Jones is the garden & countryside manager at Hidcote in Gloucestershire, U.K., one of the most influential English gardens of the early 20th century. His mission is to "future proof" the iconic garden against modern threats including climate change, while simultaneously researching and sharing as much as possible about the garden’s enigmatic genius creator: American, Lawrence Johnston.

The Grows 2014 speaker line up also includes well-known experts Bill Cullina on "New England Landscape Dynamics"; Michael Raupp on "What a Warming World Means for Pest Outbreaks"; and Dale Hendricks on "Fashionable & Forgotten Plants." 
 
Garden Center Success – an energizing daylong seminar aimed directly at today’s independent garden center – is back by popular demand on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Along with a variety of industry speakers, Alison Kenney Paul, vice chairman and U.S. retail and distribution leader at Deloitte, will present "Store 3.0"- a close look at how traditional brick-and-mortar garden centers can stay relevant in today’s changing retail space.
 
Trendsetting design speakers include David Culp, Jenny Rose Carey and Rick Bartel. Mark Bradley of Landscape Management Network, John Hughes of Hughes Nursery & Landscaping, and Michael Katz of Blue Penguin Development will all share practical, business-building advice. A variety of timely industry topics will also be addressed including permaculture, fruit tree pruning, biological controls, pest and disease management, integrating edibles into the landscape and living soil. 
 
At New England Grows, green industry professionals can obtain most of their professional Continuing Education (CEU) credits under one roof with recertification opportunities for Pesticide Licenses, NOFA, APLD, LA CES, ISA, CTSP, and most state association credentials.
 
Registration opens in November. Enjoy special savings for early registration-$49 for all three days-when you sign up by Jan. 15. The early registration price drops to just $45 per person when four or more people from the same company register together. Affordable admission fees, combined with exclusive deals on the expansive tradeshow floor, make New England Grows the best place to do business.
 
Keep up to date with all things "Grows" when you join New England Grows’ expanding community on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. For the latest program and registration information, visit www.NewEnglandGrows.org.