MILTON, Ont. – Acclaimed horticulturists from Pennsylvania’s renowned Longwood Gardens will be sharing their interior plantscaping secrets during the panel discussion Living Walls at Longwood Gardens: Coffee & Cookies Conference and Networking Event. The discussion will be featured during Landscape Ontario‚s Expo 2011 on Wednesday, October 19th at 1 p.m.
The event is hosted by Landscape Ontario‚s Interior Plantscape Sector Group – through its Green for Life initiative – to promote the benefits of indoor plants and interior plantscape professionals who create healthy indoor environments.
“Planting walls are the newest, latest innovation for indoor planting and interior landscaping,” says Stephen Schell, owner of The Plant Lady, a Kitchener, Ont.-based company that creates interior tropical plant installations. “They have a big advantage in that they make an immediate impact and can be very attractive. Because of the enormous range of plants that can be included in them, you can really change their appearance to keep the display fresh and new.”
The coffee and cookies networking event will feature Dr. Casey Sclar and Lorrie Baird discussing highlights of the famous living walls at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa.A 25-year veteran of horticulture, Sclar is the Plant Health Care leader at Longwood Gardens, where he is in charge of the IPM program that solves outdoor and indoor pest, disease and weed problems at the 1,077-acre institution.
Baird Longwood Gardens‚ senior gardener is responsible for one of the largest houses in Longwood‚s conservatory complex, concentrating on subtropical plants and rotating seasonal displays. She is also in charge of the newest addition to the conservatory, the green wall.
The Living Walls at Longwood Gardens is a panel wall system that supports more than 47,000 plants over 4,072 square feet. It is more than 70% larger than the next largest indoor green wall.
Demand is growing by commercial, industrial and residential building owners for high-performance green interiors that offer healthy indoor environments. Owners want healthy, productive places to work, live and play. Buildings that are less costly to operate, have a reduced carbon footprint, are well-planned, executed and maintained result in increased productivity, improved occupancy rates and a better image for building owners.
“It is natural for people, from a historical point of view, to live with plants,” Schell says. “Today we live in artificial rectangular boxes that we have to humanize with plants. We spend a great deal of our time indoors. That makes it even more important that as we spend less time outdoors, we bring nature indoors with us.”
The Interior Plantscape Coffee & Cookies Conference is held in conjunction with Landscape Ontario‚s Expo, formerly Garden & Floral Expo, Canada‚s fall show for the garden and floral industry. Now in its 12th year, Expo is a one-stop shopping venue for interior plantscapers looking for both the plants and containers used to create healthy interior environments.
The registration fee for the Longwood Gardens presentation includes a delicious afternoon break with gourmet coffees, decadent cookies and an EXPO 2011 trade show badge. Tickets for Living Walls At Longwood Gardens conference are $50 for Landscape Ontario members; $70 for non-members with early-bird pricing is in effect until October 7, after which time prices will increase. It is recommended that tickets be purchased early at the new affordable pricing. Interior plantscape contractors, landscape designers and personnel responsible for selecting, installing and maintaining plants for businesses and multi-dwelling residential properties will gain insights from the presentation.
For industry professionals interested in the Expo 2011 trade show only, the registration fees for Landscape Ontario members are $10 and $15 for non-members until October 7th. Prices increase after October 7th. Registration is now open. Visit www.loexpo.ca for details.
**Mark your calendar for the Living Walls of Longwood Gardens: Interior Plantscape Coffee & Cookies Conference and Networking Event**
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
EXPO Show Dates and Times:
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 20, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location:
Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, 650 Dixon Rd., Toronto, Ontario M9W 1J1
Website:
Additional information on EXPO 2011 can be found at: www.loexpo.ca
About **EXPO 2011**, Landscape Ontario and strategic partners:
EXPO 2011 is Canada’s fall show for the floral and garden industry. Over 3,000 buyers will attend the expo, which showcases new products, recent plant and floral introductions and product demonstrations. Information is available at http://www.loexpo.ca
**Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association**, one of the most vibrant associations of its kind, is comprised of over 2,000 members, ten sector groups and nine local chapters. Its trade mission is to promote the horticulture industry in Ontario, and its public mission, Green for Life, promotes the joys and benefits of plants and green spaces. Visit http://www.landscapeontario.com for more information.
**Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc.** is a not-for-profit organization representing over 250 commercial floriculture greenhouses in Ontario who produce hundreds of varieties of potted and bedding plants, propagation materials and cut flowers for distribution throughout North America. As a united voice, they support the needs of growers related to pest management, research, international trade, human resources, marketing and many other areas that are critical to their success. Visit http://www.flowerscanadagrowers.com/ontario for information on grower programs.
**Pick Ontario** is a comprehensive marketing communications campaign funded by the Ontario Greenhouse Alliance, the Agricultural Adaptation Council and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pick Ontario. The campaign was developed by Flowers Canada (Ontario) Ltd. to raise awareness, interest and demand for Ontario-grown cut flowers and potted plants. http://www.pickontario.com hosts more information on the program.
**The Canadian Academy of Floral Art** was formed to recognize and honour the artistic talents of Canadian Floral Designers as an art form. Members, who have successfully completed a rigorous two-phase examination process, are permitted and encouraged to add the initials CAFA following their name. The organization recognizes and promotes artistic talents of Canadian Floral Designers to the public and to the floral industry. To learn more about the Academy visit http://www.cafachat.com/eng/cms/
