FROM THE BOARD 



Seasons 



BRETT ANDRUS 



As I write this article for The 

 . Plantsman, a very frigid wind 

 blows outside on this afternoon. 

 Does life exist in such harsh ex- 

 tremes? The answer is "yes." I had 

 my proof at the 2003 Joint Winter 

 Meeting of the NHPGA and 

 NHLA. 



Once again, our membership came 

 out in strong support of this annual 

 educational event. The quest for 

 coming together and learning brings 

 us out no matter what "Mother Na- 

 ture" throws at us! 



Now, of course, with time on my 

 hands, I started to think about the 

 meetings we put on and the value it 

 brings to our membership. NHPGA 

 offers winter, twilight, and summer 

 meetings each year. A new and posi- 

 tive twist to the meetings has been 

 sponsorship from venders. This has 

 proved to be an important part of 

 the upgrading of these programs, and 



we thank them all for participating. 

 In addition, we have brought in 

 guest speakers from across the coun- 

 try to raise the level of our meetings. 

 The best part of all is the result — 

 member attendance is high! 



As with the seasons, our business 

 environment is changing. We now 

 see unemployment and fuel prices 

 rising along with the constant uncer- 

 tainty overseas. The storm of change 

 is here and NHPGA will be in the 

 forefront charting a course. This 

 course will be dictated very much 

 from our membership. 



There are many ways in which the 

 members can have a say in this orga- 

 nization. Program suggestions are a 

 great way each of you can have input 

 into the direction of the NHPGA. 

 Anytime we come together, let us 

 know what pressing issues or topics 

 are of interest to you. Or, contact 

 the NHPGA office with your ideas 



and we will listen! 



Yes, I see a great year ahead for 

 our programs. This summer NENA 

 will be hosting its summer meeting 

 at Pleasant View in Loudon. There is 

 even talk now of having an annual 

 golf day. These are just some of the 

 programs we can put together, but in 

 this changing world, ideas from all 

 are welcomed and needed. 



Just as the seasons change, these 

 cool days will turn into short sleeve 

 weather and full parking lots. We, 

 the board members of the NHPGA 

 are here to help weather any storm 

 that may hit so our members can 

 stay the course. 



Submit your speaker idea, topic 

 idea. Twilight Meeting location 

 and other items of interest to 

 nhpga@totalnetnh.net or facsimile to 

 603-225-0653 



Thanks for your comments and 

 suggestions! 



Gary Award Winners Just Announced! 



Paperbark Maple, Acer Griseum, was recently named a 2003 Gary Award Winner. The Paperbark 

 Maple is cinnamon-colored with exfoliating bark. This award winner is a slow-growing rounded 

 tree which eventually reaches a height of 30-40 feet. The Paperbark Maple is pest and disease 

 resistant. 



Little Leaf Laurels were also named as 2003 Gary Award Winners. These hardy laurels plants in- 

 clude Kalmia latifolia v. myrtifolia "Elf," "Minuet," "Tiddlywinks," "Tinkerbell," and "Little 

 Linda." 



The Laurels are compact plants, reaching an ultimate height of 3—4 feet. They are evergreen 

 with various pink to white blossoms. The Little Leaf Laurels arc hardy in most areas in Zone 4-9. 



Gary Award News Release and Tower Hill Botanic Garden 



SPRING 2003 



