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      The 2015 Trade Show of the NTNGA is just around the corner!  We are putting the finishing touches on what we hope will be the best show yet!  The trade show floor has more than 70 fine exhibitors, some you have seen many times and some that will be here for the first time. The Snack Bar and Hospitality Center will be available, along with the complementary massage therapists.

       Following the close of the show on Friday, there will be a free buffet for those staying for the Mary Moser Scholarship Fund Auction.  This scholarship fund is given to support students who are pursuing an education in a horticulture related field.  If you have not yet contacted Jade Hopson about your donated item for the auction,  here is the donation form. 

       Again this year, the Hampton Inn is offering special rates for those who want to stay overnight.  But, hurry, because you have to book a room before January 10 to receive this rate.  Just call 972-329-3100 and mention you're with the Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association.

      So, mark your calendar for Friday & Saturday, February 6&7, and we will see you in Mesquite at the Best Little  Trade Show in Texas! 

       The math is simple. For every 100 square feet of roof, one inch of rain yields 60 to 100 gallons of water. So if the roof is 1,000 square feet, an inch of rain will yield 600 to 1,000 gallons. According to American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, in places where the average annual rainfall is 12 inches, it is possible to collect 10,000 gallons annually from a 1,500-square-foot residential roof, or 700,000 gallons annually from a 100,000-square-foot commercial building.

       Some opponents of rainwater harvesting argue that it deprives natural flow to streams and aquifers, where it is needed for wells.

       But proponents say it eases pressure on other sources of water, as well as helps manage stormwater runoff.

       If your clients have joined the rainwater harvesting bandwagon, here are some helpful tips to remember:

• Rainwater should not be harvested from roofs covered with copper or treated with fungicides or herbicides.
• Rain barrels and cisterns come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes, but should be opaque, watertight and made of durable materials.
• The lid or screen should be secured to prevent access to the stored water.
• Rain barrels and cisterns should be equipped with an overflow valve.
• If the downspout is connected to the sewer system, cities may require a permit.
• Periodic maintenance is required. Gutters and pipes need to be kept free of leaves and other debris. Tanks need periodic flushing. Filters need to be replaced on a regular schedule. 

article taken from Irrigation and Green Industry New