Denis Flanagan CLD
Director of public relations and membership services

This summer we will continue to promote our members’ public image by exploring new ideas, partnerships and opportunities. The following is an outline of some of the new ventures we will be working on. If you have any comments, thoughts, and ideas or would like to be involved in any of the projects, please feel free to contact.
 

Members first

Robert Ellidge and I will visit each chapter this summer to produce videos on chapter community projects, and interview both members and homeowners on why it is so important to invest in professional quality design, construction and maintenance. We will also try to cover as many sectors as possible. The videos will appear on our Green for Life web site. Contact Robert at rob@landscapeontario.com if you have a client who would like to share their enjoyment of your award-winning project with the rest of the world.
 

Learning centres

Jim Caruk, host of Real Renos on HGTV, is opening a series of learning centres to promote quality home renovation. Landscape Ontario will partner with the centres to offer advice on how to create garden projects and source quality goods and services.

Caruk has also formed a foundation named Renos for Heroes that raises funds to retro-fit homes for members of the military who have become disabled during their course of duty. We hope to be involved with this cause in the future.
 

Native trees

We are working closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources to promote the correct selection planting and care of native trees. There is a growing interest and demand for native trees, which opens up an educational opportunity for our members to connect with the public. We hope to develop a collection of native trees on our Milton site and in Mississauga, in conjunction with the Riverwood Conservancy.
 

Garden tours

This July, the London Chapter will once again host the highly successful tour of member-built gardens.
 

Bulb extravaganza

Stay tuned to Horticulture Review for a special event we are organizing in conjunction with the Toronto Botanical Gardens.

Tradewinds International, the International Flower Bulb Centre and the Netherlands Consulate General will host a seminar with Jacquiline van de Kloet, one of Europe’s leading bulb display designers.

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Denis Flanagan may be contacted at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.