Calscapes 2009 - Vegas Baby!

Debbie, Alexa and I attended the Plantscape Industry Alliances' annual conference "Calscape" while Pari "manned" the fort back home. It was fun to get away to Vegas for a few days and see our interior plantscaping peers from across the country. I think that the networking is the most valuable benefit from attending a conference like Calscape and I was fortunate to meet many new and interesting plantscapers, vendors and horticulturists. The best part is we all share similar victories and frustrations. And we speak the same language!

The Plantscape Alliance Industry team led by Mary Golden was for the first time augmented by a large volunteer staff if BYU horticultural students. What a great crew they were. I counted at least 15 students all very helpful and willing to do anything for the organization to help the conference work better.

A new agenda item this year was a "reinvention forum" created and hosted by Jerry Shipe. He rounded up a panel to speak on the virtues of; short term plant rentals, florals, residential plant care, exterior landscape services and holiday décor. Participants included; Barb Helfman, Rich Parker, Steve Foster, Tim Konig, Rita Rogers, David Lemel, John Kruzshak, Don Warner, Peter Harleman. Although alternative revenue streams are what PIA has offered at each Calscape for years, having it all in one place spoke to the urgency we are all feeling right now. I look forward to this being a regular part of future Calscapes.

The welcoming party Wednesday evening was sponsored by Dennis Gabrick of Preserved Treescapes and once again he outdid himself. Overflowing with appetizers and finger food we washed it all down with a margarita (or two). The party was outside in the palm studded courtyard and it was a little cold (in Las Vegas?) but we managed OK and all ended up at the party room hosted by Bill Meade, Peter Herrera and Bill Lyon.

Thursday the morning keynote speaker was Paul Dolan a winemaker and sustainability advocate. He gave a thought provoking talk that was inspiring and funny but a little bit of a downer as he told the story of our nearly destroyed ecosystem and what monumental efforts it will take to restore it. He spoke again in the afternoon as part of a panel and the dialog that it created went past the session and into the next few days.

The trade show was then opened and it was full of planters and pots, silk plants and preserved plants, live plants and assorted accents. There was a guy representing a green roof growing media company as well as several holiday decorating wholesalers and even a software company. Feedback from the vendors was very positive with several echoing the sentiment that they were pleased to see the enthusiasm by attendees. Chris Lyon said he took an unusually high number of orders! I believe I visited with each and every booth and got some new ideas to use on our next project.

Later in the day I gave a talk on green roofs and living walls that was well received. My emphasis was on inspiration coupled with preparation and indeed caution. After some technical difficulties with the power point I was able to get into a rhythm and put on a good and informative presentation. And perhaps I may have gained several green roof design and installation consulting contracts.

The awards banquet Thursday night was a beautiful event with some of the most amazing images of outstanding projects imaginable. A noteworthy item was that almost all of the awards came from outside of California. I was a bit embarrassed that we didn't have an entry as we nearly always do and usually win an award. Alas, there just wasn't anything we did this past year that I thought was award winning on the scale I want it to be to enter. Regardless, it was fun to see other plantscaping design and installation award winners along with special events and holiday décor.

When the awards banquet concluded, the infamous Calscape-After-Party at suite 24078 began. Hosted by the "Gang of Three"; Bill, Peter and Bill, food and booze flowed aplenty. The view of the Strip from their room was phenomenal. With camera in hand, Bill Lyon captured many provocative images of attendees that will undoubtedly end up on the internet, somewhere. Interesting how much is learned during an after party, who you meet and what is shared. I particularly enjoyed talking with Howard of Blondie's and meeting some of his folks. I hope I can arrange a trip to New York to pay them a visit soon.

I missed the Friday morning session on a "killer" database for interiorscapers as well as the session about environmentally sensitive pest management put on by Suzanne Wainwright, a perennial Calscape speaker. The "lunch with exhibitors" was set up like speed dating as a variety of vendors stopped at each table and gave a 5 minute talk on their product line and services. I found a fantastic database of plant images during one of these conversations.

The Friday afternoon closing keynote was put n by Jan Goodman of Cityscapes in Boston and focused on differentiating yourself from your competitors. It was a lively hour long info-fest as Jan has an extraordinary amount of energy to share her creative ideas. Afterwards the Green Plants for green Building organization hosted a reception that included information about interior plants' ability to sequester carbon. The research was conducted by Dr. Bodie Pennisi and looks very promising.

All in all a great Calscape conference that included people, plants, ideas and concepts that I am implementing daily. I look forward to next year!