Thank you to all our sponsors, members, volunteers and participants who helped make this year's Open House at Nipomo High School a big success. We raised awareness of the local Horticulture Industry, we funded our Scholarship Program, and we cultivated an interest in enjoying plants among the over 1200 visitors. 

      Events like ours introduce to people and foster in them a lifelong enjoyment of plants for their beauty, flavor, utility and therapeutic effect. As our world becomes increasingly technological its important that we stay connected to the flora that we have been co-evolving with.  Also we need people to buy plants to support our businesses.

      This year's Scholarship recipients were an exceptionally qualified group! 

Those that attended the Awards Banquet were able to meet Professor Scott Steinmaus, Head of the Horticulture Department of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  Some of these students will have Scott as a professor in the next few years. Scott spoke of the need for the Horticulture /Agriculture industry to cast off the old image of farmers kicking dirt clods in the field.  We need to promote our businesses as the Science and Technology industry that we are with fulfilling, white collar careers to offer. We plan to work with more closely with Scott and Cal Poly to that end.

     Fellow members, before you go on your summer vacations, please take a moment to participate in our survey of Speaker topics and Continuing Education Seminars for the fall and spring.  We want to provide you with valuable resources to enhance your business. Please "Help us Help you"!

Enjoy the Summer!