February 2023

Hello Friends!

We may be past Valentine’s Day but love is still in the air. While I’m not a fan or winter, it is a wonderful time of the year. All those colorful mail-order gardening catalogs arrive and we dream and plan for what can be planted during the growing months. And even though it’s too cold here in the NE Ohio snow belt to be outside gardening, I do love devoting some time to my houseplants. My current love interest is the Thai Constellation Monstera I recently added to my indoor plant collection. It was my cataract surgery, get well present to me!

I hope this time of the year has been restful and productive. GardenComm has been full steam ahead! Here are a few important dates and announcements I want to be sure you are aware of:

Survey Response Needed

On February 28th we'll be sending out a survey to all our members and we really hope you'll participate. Yes, I know we're all completely surveyed-out, but unlike the email you get from Walmart asking if you're satisfied with the charcoal briquets you just bought, THIS survey will help GardenComm and all its members.

GardenComm is a part of the Authors' Guild, an advocacy group that represents authors, photographers and illustrators in many different categories including garden communications. The purpose of the upcoming survey is to collect data on income. I realize that may sound a little big-brother-ish, but this information will be kept 100% confidential. The Author's Guild will use this demographic information to support and defend content creators in areas including free speech, copyright protection, and fair contracts.

Considering the concerns about AI these days, these topics are more important than ever for all of us. In order to effectively defend our rights, the Authors' Guild must have accurate data on income trends, and I hope we'll all do our best to complete their survey.

75 for 75

As I announced last month, our 2023 Annual Conference presented by Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, is being held IN PERSON this August in Minneapolis, MN. Be sure to register sooner than later as the first 75 attendees who register will be entered to win; a free registration to the 2024 Annual Conference, a 2024 GardenComm membership, or a $75 prepaid gift card. The giveaway closes at 2/28, so if you are planning to attend, be sure to register by 11:59 EST to be entered. Winners will be announced at the conference. 

Cultivate '23 - The Heart of It All

Cultivate’23 happens July 15-18 in Ohio, The Heart of It All! Thanks to our collaboration with American Hort, GardenComm members who are current with their 2023 dues are once again eligible to receive the AH member discount pricing when registering for Cultivate23, the largest horticultural trade show in North America. Click here to sign-up for the discount code and receive information on a GardenComm connect meeting and other networking opportunities. 

Awards Early Bird Deadline is TODAY!

Peer Praise

Don’t forget to consider entering the GardenComm Media Awards. Taking home a Silver or Gold is a great way to promote yourself and your work to your peers, clients and followers. The deadline is coming up soon – 3/15 – so don’t delay, enter today!

Member Benefits = ROI

Don’t forget to check out our discounted programs for both Constant Contact and Zoom. Either of these services provide a tremendous ROI and more than pay you back for your membership dues.

Ask Away

Now-a-days it is common to asks questions on Facebook. I just want to remind everyone that GardenComm staff does not monitor our Facebook groups 24/7, so if you need a question answered, the quickest way to the most accurate and up-to-date information is to email staff at infor@gardencomm.org or call them at 951-899-5015.

Also a friendly reminder that GardenComm has both a Facebook Group and a Page. The group is a ‘closed’ group, hence you cannot share posts from it. However, if you go to our Facebook page, all of the major announcements are also posted here, where you can share from. And keep in mind the more we share our posts, instead of creating new ones, the more it boosts its reach.

Thank you in advance for liking, commenting and sharing posts on all of our social channels which are:

In closing, just think, spring is only 33 days away. By that time I’ll have had my second cataract surgery and lens implant. I haven’t been able to see far away since the 5th grade. I’m exited to see all the new colors this gardening season though my new peeps! Take care, be well and garden on.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NWFGF Connect Meeting

February 17

Join fellow GardenComm members at the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival, in Seattle, WA. There will be a meet and greet with GardenComm members, garden swag and free access to the show with your 2023 Press Pass.

Manifest a Sustainable Business

February 27

The workshop begins by defining the terms “marketing funnel” and “client journey”. It provides easy to follow steps for each person to consider what parts of the client journey would be best for them to modify or add to potentially increase their income. $25 registration.

Costa Farms Connect Meeting

March 1-3

Join fellow members at Costa Farms' Season Premiere event held in Miami, FL. Network with members and industry professionals.

Great Grow Along

March 10-19

A free, 10-day virtual festival inspiring and connecting budding hobbyists presenters include GardenComm members, influencers, educators and cutting edge content creators of today's gardening world.

Authors Talk Gardening

March 23

A free event to meet the authors and discuss the new books for Spring 2023. Registration is open now. Presented by National Garden Bureau.

Last Call for Speakers at GardenComm's Annual Conference August 1-5, 2023

Planning to come to the GardenComm Annual Conference? We have an open call for speakers now open that helps cover the cost to attend. The deadline to apply is 2/20/23 so submit your topic now.