ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 



Bay State Invasive Plants News 



A round of hearings was conducted 

 in September by the Massachusetts 

 Department of Agricultural resources 

 on invasive species. At the public 

 hearings, comments were solicited 

 on a proposed ban of more than 1 40 

 plants. According to a press release 

 from the MASS Dept., the list of 

 plants was derived from the Federal 

 Noxious Weed List and plants listed 

 as invasive by the Mass. Invasive 

 Plant Advisory Group 



If adopted as is, action on these 

 plants would take place as soon as 

 January 1, 2006. On this date, it 

 will be illegal to import any of the 

 listed plants. Also all plants would 

 be prohibited from sale on this date, 

 with the exception of 12 plants. These 

 12 plants are key to the ornamental 

 industry and to minimize the effect, 

 a phase out period will be in place. 

 Among the 12 species, the inventory 

 of the herbaceous species may be 

 sold until Jan. 1, 2007, and the woody 

 species may be sold until Jan. 1, 

 2009. 



Through the new proposal, the 

 Department will retain the right to 

 issue pemiits that will allow the 

 importation, and sale of listed plants 

 if there is a significant benefit to the 

 public to do so and where the risks 

 by these species can be adequately 

 controlled. The Departmentanticipates 

 that the pemiit authority might be 

 needed in research situations. 



Comments were accepted through 

 September 30, 2005, For more 

 infomiation contact Trevor Battle, 

 Department of Agricultural Resources, 

 Boston, MA. A list of the species 

 proposed for ban/phase-out is posted 

 at http://mass.gov.agr/farmproducts/ 



proposedprohibited_plat_list.htm 

 Credit: Mass Dept. of Ag Sept. '05 



Extended Daylight Savings 



One feature of the National 

 Energy Plan enacted in August is the 

 extension of daylight savings by a 

 month beginning in 2007. Clocks will 

 spring ahead one hour early beginning 

 on the second Sunday in March 

 and fall back on the first Sunday in 

 November. The provision is expected 

 to promote energy savings. 



Other features of the Energy Bill 

 include tax credits to homeowners who 

 make energy efficient improvements 

 to their homes. The bar has been 

 raised for energy efficiency standards 

 in the area of consumer products. 

 Refrigerators, air conditioners, heat 

 pumps, and water heaters will be 

 manufactured in compliance with 

 these new standards. 



To diversify the country's energy 

 supply, the bill provides tax credits 

 for new developments in the area of 

 generating wind, solar, and biomass 

 energy. 



SAF Promotes Flower Power 



The results of three key studies, 

 sponsored by the Society of American 

 Florists (SAF), have been distributed 

 through national media markets to 

 promote the benefits of flowers. In 

 2001, SAF launched a fundraising 

 campaign to spark a nationwide 

 Public Relations program titled 

 Flower Fundamentals. Dwight 

 Larimer, AAS, SAF Consumer 

 Marketing Chairman, says," The 

 Flower Fundamental Program is 

 designed to educate consumers 

 about the benefits of flowers and the 

 expertise of professional florists." 



Industry support for the program 

 is broad based with 2,000 retailers, 

 wholesalers, suppliers, importers, and 

 growers contributing to the fund. 



The national marketing campaign 

 has generated 521 million consumer 

 impressions in 136 markets, and 

 43 placements in popular national 

 magazines including: Redbook, 

 Fitness, Health, Allure, First for 

 Women, Ladies Home Journal, 

 Working Mother, Today's Black 

 Woman, and Better Homes and 

 Gardens. 



The Flowers Fundamentals 

 Program has contracted with celebrity 

 spokeperson, Rebecca Cole from 

 Discovery Channel's Surprise by 

 Design, and developed a month-by- 

 month floral gift giving guide. 



The three key studies currently 

 promoted in the media are: 



• Emotional Impact of Flowers 

 Study (Rutgers University, 2000) 

 - This study received academic 

 acknowledgement when it was 

 published in The Journal of 

 Evolutionary Psychology. 



• Flowers & Seniors Study (Rutgers, 

 2001 ) This study demonstrated that 

 flowers ease depression, inspire 

 social networking, and refresh 

 memory as we age. 



• The Impact of Flowers & Plants 

 on Workplace Productivity Study 

 (Texas A & M University, 2003). 

 This study showed that problem 

 solving skills, idea generation, 

 and creative perfomiance improve 

 substantially in workplace 

 environments that include flowers 

 and plants. 



Credit: SAF Press Release Sept. 

 2005 



The Phmtsnum 



