The Philadelphia Flower show held in early March is the nation's largest and oldest indoor flower show. This year, America in Bloom participated with a 15' x 20' display garden which received an award for "Best Achievement Depicting Horticulture as a Way to Create Community".





The show theme, "Hawaii", was supported in the AIB garden which showcased a variety of bromeliads, anthuriums, mandevillas and Senettis. Board member Delilah Onofrey headed the effort, with help from AIB judge Diana Weiner, and board members Katy Moss Warner and Evelyn Alemanni.

 The exhibit was designed to allow people to walk through it and get close to all the plants. The centerpiece was a "bromeliad volcano". The Sennettis attracted attention and admiration with their bright colors. Hanging baskets on each corner of the display feeatured bromelias, pothos, and mandevillas.

This year's show attendance broke existing records, with approximately 270,000 people attending. It was a great way to share the benefits America in Bloom offers to communities of all sizes. Guests to the AIB exhibit received a complimentary copy of the new brochure, "Discover the Surprising Side of Plants" as well as the AIB participation guide.

Alemanni also presented a talk at the flower show. It was based on the book she wrote for AIB, "Ten Years of Best Ideas."

By Evelyn Alemanni

Practicing environmental consciousness can save money!

America in Bloom judge and board member Katy Moss Warner mentioned that when she worked at Disney, they created a list called "Compelling Business Reasons for Environmentality". The list included practices such as:

• collecting and selling recyclables
• composting yard waste and food scraps and selling quality compost using only recycled laser printer cartridges (saved Disney $250K per year!)
• using unbleached paper napkins
• offering guests the option of reusing towels and sheets if they are staying ore than one night
• Automating irrigation to hanging baskets and containers
• Using compostable landscape pots (instead of plastic) - cheaper to plant.

These are all pretty simple ways to go green and save "green". Every dollar saved is one you don't have to earn, so you're already ahead of the game.

Alex Pearl, another AIB judge, shared this article from the Ironton Tribune in Ironton, Ohio. The town will save more than $20,000 by urging people not to put bags of grass clippings out for trash collection. Instead, they are encouraged to cut grass more often and let clippings fall back onto the lawn. You can read the full article at http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2010/mar/22/officials-dont-bag-lawn-clippings/.

Now, extend this thought. What if all the yard waste put out for collection was composted by each resident? How much would that save? These are easy ways to be greener and cost nearly nothing to implement while saving money.



Let's hear some of your ideas!