http://www.interiorscape.com Interiorscape Forum http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Industry-Calendar/April-23-2012-Living-Walls---How-to-Design-Price-and-Plant-Them Mary Golden: [img]http://www.piagrows.org/Images/LivingWallBannerForWeb.jpg[/img] [url=http://www.piagrows.org/Education/EducationPrograms.htm]Register Online Now![/url] [b]Dates:[/b] April 23, 2012 [b]Location:[/b] Planterra Corporation, 7315 Drake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI, 48322 [b]April 22, 6-8 PM:[/b] Sunday Networking Dinner [b]April 23, 8 AM:[/b] Workshop Registration Brand your company as an innovator! A living wall makes a beautiful and dramatic focal point that pleases clients, and highlights the abilities and professionalism of your company. Learn what you need to know about adding these popular interiorscape features to your company’s list of accomplishments. [b]Workshop features include:[/b] Four different wall systems will be demonstrated. Workshop participants will spend an hour at each living wall workstation learning about that system’s features, installation tips, how the irrigation system works, fertilization, how to troubleshoot the system, common post-installation concerns and design considerations when using each type of living wall system. A seminar on “How to Price a Living Wall System” A tour of the famous Henry Ford Hospital atrium Lunch on your own in the hospital’s cafeteria with made-to-order meals using organic and farm-to-table produce and products The workshop day will conclude with a reception (5 -7 pm) for those who wish to attend Sunday welcome and networking dinner on April 22 at Planterra’s greenhouses is planned for workshop participants who arrive early enough to participate (optional, additional registration required) [b]Featured Living Walls Systems include:[/b] [i]Embrace the Vertical:[/i] The Art and Science of Green Walls with Greenwalls V.P.S./McCaren Designs, System highlights - foam based planting media [i]The Nature of Nature ™[/i] with Bright Green, System highlights - soil based, hydroponic, and hybrid hydroponic systems [i]Urban Grey to Living Green[/i] with Sage Botanic Media, System highlights - bio-tiles and rockwool [i]ASI’s Living Walls[/i], System highlights - wick-based irrigation technology [b]Location:[/b] Hosted inside Planterra’s greenhouses, the hands-on and interactive presentation format is designed to maximize your learning experience. Seating is theater style and workshop participants will rotate through the demonstration sites as a group, bringing their chairs with them. [b]Lodging:[/b] The group is staying at the nearby Hampton Inn Detroit-Novi, which is offering our attendees a special rate of $84 plus tax. Use Group Code PLI if registering online or call 248-624-8100 and mention you are with PlA. To get the special rate, make your reservations before [b]April 2[/b]. [b]Other Lodging:[/b] [i]The Baronette Renaissance:[/i] This is a boutique-style hotel with a modern flair, about 4 miles from Planterra. [i]Townsend Resorts Hotel:[/i] In nearby Birmingham, and is an American Express Preferred Resort. [b]Living Walls Workshop:[/b] [i]Member:[/i] $165 [i]Non Member:[/i] $207 [b]Living Walls Workshop plus Sunday Dinner:[/b] [i]Member:[/i] $202 [i]Non Member:[/i] $253 [url=http://www.piagrows.org/Education/EducationPrograms.htm]Register Online Now![/url] Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:41:22 -0700 Industry Calendar http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Industry-Calendar/March-9-and-March-15-Irrigation-Strategies--Root-Health-with-Vicky-Cate Mary Golden: [img]http://www.piagrows.org/Images/IrrgRootHealth2012update.jpg[/img] [b]Registration begins:[/b] 11:30 AM. Session Time: 12:00 - 3:30 PM [b]March 9[/b] - Friday Newport Greenhouses 3350 1/2 Warner Ave. Irvine, CA 92606 [b]March 15[/b] - Thursday Decorative Plant Service, Inc 1150 Phelps Street San Francisco, CA 94124 [url=http://www.piagrows.org/Education/EducationPrograms.htm]Register Now![/url] Learn the best techniques for the day-to-day tasks of your business and increase client satisfaction! If you take care of plants or manage people who do, the techniques you learn in this class will make your job easier and save you money. You will learn for each of the common plants you deal with: Types of irrigation systems and how they work Sub-irrigation pros and cons. Do I need it? Why or why not? How to select the best soil for each system & proper planting methods Pruning for health, beauty, and longevity Planting, staking and soil compaction Roots, soil and moisture balance Root health and overall plant appearance Pruning, trimming and cleaning [i]Bring Your Lunch & Get Ready to Have Fun While You Learn![/i] [b]Who Should Take This Class:[/b] Interiorscape technicians, owners and managing personnel. If you take care of plants or manage people who do, you will find the techniques you learn in this class will make your job easier and save you money. You will come away from this session with money-saving techniques and a handout that can be used every day! [b]Instructor:[/b] Vicky Cate is known for her high energy and fun delivery. As well as owning Evergreen Interiors and inventing Plant Paws, Vicky has taught classes at TPIE, OFA Short Course, PIA Seminars for Interiorscapers, and private companies. [url=http://www.piagrows.org/Education/EducationPrograms.htm]Register Now![/url] [b]Special![/b] Bring five employees to this program and the sixth registration is free! At "Enter Promotional Code" use[b]6THFREEIRV[/b] for the Irvine location and [b]6THFREESF[/b] for San Francisco [img]http://piagrows.org/emailimages/planetlicsmall.jpg[/img] Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:28:41 -0700 Industry Calendar http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/General-Scaper-Talk/Facebook-Page GuyRichardson: This past November, I attended the HortEast 2011 event in Moncton, NB. One of the sessions I attended were geared specifically for the purpose of identifying the uses (etc) for social media. It was excellent and the speaker showed us excellent examples of good and bad usages and creation of the FB Business pages. These 'pages' can be customized to fit your needs. I seen some real nice ones that are in essence - web pages themselves, but they have that added kick - the power - of the social aspects it provides. The exposure just snowballs ... when done correctly. If you don't know how to program the code for it, there are webdev houses that do it and the price is not nearly as much as you would think. This is a great free name placement for your business and in this case free is not only good, but has a actual value to it that marketing data easily supports... Just some thoughts of mine. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:24:10 -0700 General Scaper Talk http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Sales-and-Marketing/Cold-Calling-in-Major-Metro-areas-Do-you-just-walk-in GreenDog: Thanks Clem. Those are a great idea. I guess to be clearer, my problem is that I already know who I need to speak with. I just can't get them on the phone. Or when I email I'm not getting response. So my next thought is that I just want to try walking in. Does anyone have success with that. Like once security calls into the office of the building, do they let you up because they admire tenacity or for lack of better term, does it just piss them off? Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:03:38 -0700 Sales and Marketing http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Plants/Hardy-Palms Clem: Could be Needle Palm ([i]Rhapidophyllum[/i]), Windmill Palm ([i]Trachycarpus[/i]), Mediterranean Fan Palm ([i]Chamaerops[/i]) or Palmetto ([i]Sabal[/i]). All are hardy down to about -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit, although some may need winter protection. The Palmetto has an underground trunk and so is inherently hardier than those that do not possess this feature. Heavy mulching and/or wrapping of the trunk may be necessary to overwinter these palms near the limits of their zone range, and they cannot be planted outdoors until they are a few years old from seed. Without a photo I can't say for sure which it might be, but if you Google the abovementioned palms, you can see photos to help with the ID. Med Fan Palms are VERY drought resistant (and sculpturally beautiful), and Windmill Palms are reportedly hardy to northern Scotland. Clem Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:05:23 -0700 Plants http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Sales-and-Marketing/Website-keywords Clem: Not as much as the more generic/less technical terms, as it turns out. Clem Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:20 -0700 Sales and Marketing http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Suppliers-and-Vendors/Plant-Supplier-to-Newfoundland number2211: You got it. There's no money in it for them, so they don't even bother. This province roughly has a population of a little more than 500,000, with St. John's comprising about 20% of that population. It's not a large market for interiorplantscaping, but our offshore oil will bring in more people and business over the next 10 years. Fingers crossed! Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:40:14 -0700 Suppliers and Vendors http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Plants/Leaf-Shine Clem: Exactly, number2211...each account will have somewhat varying standards and desires for how their plants are maintained...some like polish, some like "natural"...some want scrupulous chemical pest control, some want "organic" methods...it's like the lyrics of the theme song from the old TV show "Square Pegs" said: "One size does NOT fit all!" Clem Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:02:11 -0700 Plants http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Introductions/New-to-the-forum Clem: It's probably okay if your source keeps the potting mixes indoors for dry storage, but if they're on pallets out in the elements, you WILL get fungus gnats in every plant you use it on. MG mixes contain a lot of tasty gnat chow: "Our potting soils generally contain peat moss (the major component that is harvested from natural peat bogs), compost (the compost may contain animal manures, composted leaves, grass clippings, and/or composted bark), and perlite (white volcanic rocks used for drainage and soil texture). Some contain Osmocote fertilizer that look like small clear fluid-filled balls." "The Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix also contains composted hulls of coconuts to help absord more water than regular potting soil. This is the Aqua Coir (pronounced "core") component of the soil." (http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?proId=prod70262&itemId=cat50154&tabs=help) Coir is good stuff and not commonly associated with gnats, but it's mixed with compost, which is a veritable witches' brew of gnat fodder. Avoid. Clem Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:58:54 -0700 Introductions http://www.interiorscape.com/Scaper-Talk-Discussion-Forum/Introductions/hello-from-shanghai Clem: Chrys, Where are you located? Clem Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:54:00 -0700 Introductions