It’s January 20, 2007 and I am here at the Broward County Convention Center in beautiful Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  The sun is shining, it is 80 degrees outside but in the Convention Center crowds of attendees are foregoing the sun and sand to walk the Show.   

They Know what’s important
Interiorscapers have always known that our products, the plants and planters we use, are continually changing and the one place to see what is current is at TPIE.  In addition, the opportunity to see our suppliers face to face is priceless. 

This Year

Would you believe there is a new blooming plant that is called The Bat?  The botanical name is Tacca chantrieri or "Black Bat Plant".  The foliage has the appearance of a Spath but is a different plant.

The "flower" is a very dark purple/black.  Very limited now.  It comes in both 6 inch and 10 inch.  The blooms lasts up to two months and with the proper conditions it can be made to rebloom again.

Use it for the striking blooms as part of your color program and not as a permanent plant.  Tremendous potential.  The source is Greendale Nurseries in Homestead.

My buddy Steve Foster of Foster Plants in Miami, took this photo as did my friend Lorna.  I’ll be getting a sample in a week or so and will test it "on the job" so to speak.  It is very, very exciting..

Good Friends
I think this is my 30th year at TPIE and ever year I look forward to seeing old friends.  Some "teams" split up with one going to TPIE, the other to the Holiday Decor Shows in Atlanta and Dallas.  Hard to choose but with Holiday making up so much of your interiorscape biz (10-20% for most companies), a visit at least every other year is a must. 

Who did I see?   Matt Gardner was in from CA as was Vicki Cate, Bill Lyon, Bill Meade (back at Gainey).  Linnaea taught, John Mini was there as was Chris and Leann Raimondi from New Jersey (he was just named Fire Chief of his town.)  Dick Ott and Art Cambell hosted an NIN get together, Shane Pliska was there as well.  Kathy  O’Donnell was beaming and showing photos of her new grandchild. 

Yep, we’re all a bit older, grandkids are replacing the kids we had, and several ’scapers wanted to talk about "exit strategies".  Some have second generation already in the business.  Jerry Shipe of the Plant Place in Dallas was there with his son.  It was absolutely wonderful. 

The Newbies 
And there were plenty of new kids on the block.  Hungry for knowledge and so very happy to be a plantscaper.  Crazy but fascinating business this interiorscaping.