By Janet Black AIFD CFD
TPIE was started by seven International Foliage Growers in 1973 to benefit the industry. These were dedicated people growing plants around the country. Their passion for the industry was ingrained in the shows and continues today.
This year TPIE had 25% more show floor space, 380 companies exhibited, 128 for the first time, 15,000 people per registered, 46 states and 40 countries participated. Records were broken!
AIFD’s participation started about twenty-five years ago, when Ralph Null AIFD fellow created beautiful lobby displays using the vendors plants at the entrance to the Expo. Ralph soon set up a 6-foot table and put on a small program entertaining ten to twelve attendees as they ate their lunch in-between plant programs.
Tom Simmons AIFD fellow had the vision during his presidency, that this would be a great way to encourage FFA students attending the Expo to pursue floral design. Again, a booth with a 6-foot table and lap top streaming a symposium program with a small arrangement and terminology book as the booth décor. I was asked to help man the booth in those days which started my beginnings with the FNGLA group of leaders.
Now, twenty years later, working with program coordinator, Linda Adams, we have a “Create Theater” and put on five to six programs during the event. Vendors sponsor plants and containers as AIFD designers creatively demonstrate how to up sell and educate and with this plant savvy audience. We encourage AIFD education, symposium and AIFD Partnerships. We are fortunate enough to work with new and interesting plants, some never seen before this show. We have developed a following! It is a fabulous marriage between plants and design. We demonstrate techniques new to the plant industry and provide new ways for vendors to display and market their products. People feel more connected with nature through our cutting-edge designs. Plants are here to stay ever since covid there is a huge demand. Succulents and tillandsias continue to be very sought after.
In 2020 Linda Adams, received the AIFD Award of Merit Industry. Our groups meld beautifully together, and Linda has been instrumental in encouraging AIFD participation.
One of the many programs TPIE provides is the Cool Products and Newest varieties of Plant Awards with new textures and robust colors. This year Suntory Flowers had three winning plants I was particularly interested in; Fired Up Orange, Mauvelous pink and Bluephoria with mauve pink buds all new mandevillas. We always learn something new from each other. Deroose Inc, introduced a pitcher plant, Miranda that can grow up to 9 feet tall and can catch rodents in the mouth of their interior sticky flowers. This particular plant has red brown speckles with a reddish-brown mouth. Eco Pots Company had recycled plastic containers in all shapes and sized scratches can easily be removed with a foam sanding pad. Sustee Company demonstrated how a fabricated pen can determine if the plant needs water. As you stick the pen into the soil if it comes out blue you have adequate water, white then your plant is too dry.
Many thanks to this year’s designers, AIFD Partners and Vendors; Derek Woodruff AIFD, Jackie Lacey AIFD, Loann Burke AIFD, Aljandro Fernandes AIFD, Eileen Cheng AIFD, Delia Chen AIFD, Pilar Gonzalaz AIFD, Kelly Mace CFD AAF Smithers Oasis, Syndicate Sales, Accent Décor, Central Florida Ferns, Mossman Inc, Deroose Plants, Silver Vase, Jet Fresh, Elite Flower, Russell’s Bromeliads, Grants Farm Nursery, Costa Farms, Florida Cactus, Inc, Live Trends Design Group,
