In this quick video update, we share how TNLA is investing in the next generation of green industry professionals—from hands-on programs to strategic partnerships. Discover how these initiatives are helping our members recruit, retain, and inspire a skilled workforce.

Spring is in full swing, and we know it’s one of your busiest times of year. Whether you’re in the greenhouse, out on job sites, or managing a team—you’ve got a lot going on. That’s why we’ve pulled together everything TNLA has going on this month, all in one place, so you don’t miss a beat.

Regional Meetings: Connect with Your Local Green Industry Community

Region I Meeting – Support the Future of Horticulture
Join us for an evening at Palo Alto Community College as we spotlight the Horticulture Program and kick off the student competition season.
April 8, 2025
Tour at 5:00 PM | Meeting 6:00–8:00 PM
Palo Alto Community College – Art Room 101
Free to attend + Free parking | Dinner provided
RSVP by April 7 to: [email protected]


Region III Spring Meeting – Tour & Annual Business Meeting
Tour the beautiful Purtis Creek Farm and enjoy great conversation and dinner with fellow members.
 May 15, 2025
 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 Purtis Creek Farm – Eustace, TX
 Free to attend + Free parking | Dinner provided
 RSVP by May 9 to: [email protected]
 Speaker: TBD

 TNLA Green Report Podcast: Industry Voices You Need to Hear
 Just Released:
Season 4, Episode 4: “Cultivating the Future” with Dr. Andrew King
Go behind the scenes of the Texas Superstar® Trials and hear what makes a plant a true standout in Texas landscapes.
Posted March 31
Listen now: Episode 4 on Podbean
Coming April 9:
Season 4, Episode 5: “Rooted in Quality” with Savanna Taylor Thornton
Get an insider’s look at the 2025 season from Lone Star Trees, plus industry insights on tariffs, labor, and advocacy.
Listen here: greenreport.podbean.com

Free Webinar: Reaching Families & Educators Through Nature

Unlocking New Customer Opportunities Through Early Childhood Connections
Presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Dr. Jodi Nerren and Anna Raumaker.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
1:30 PM
Zoom
Register: Click here to register
Learn how to connect with families and educators by highlighting the benefits of nature in child development—and turn them into loyal green industry customers.


Nursery/Landscape Expo 2025 Registration is LIVE!
Get ready for Nursery/Landscape Expo 2025, happening August 5–7. Register early and lock in discounted rates by July 18! Booths selling fast!! Mobile App launching soon, be on the look out for updates.

 Here's a few sneak peek session titles:

• Texas Natives: Key Plants and Key Pests
• Controlling Borers and Scale Pests
• Proven Secrets to a More Profitable Irrigation Business
• Tree Risk Assessment & Structural Pruning
• Climate Resilient Trees for a 21st Century
• Next-Gen Irrigation: 4-Hour Live Demo
  … and more!

Register now at 👉 nurserylandscapeexpo.org


Coming end of April: Spring Issue of TNLA Working for You Magazine
Our Spring 2025 issue of TNLA Working For You goes live in late April, and you won’t want to miss it! This issue celebrates our award winners honored at the Lone Star Hort Forum, digs into real-time compliance guidance on immigration, features exclusive stories from WTAMU, and offers practical insights into landscape marketing, pest management, and more.

Whether you're looking to be inspired, stay compliant, or gain an edge in today’s competitive landscape, this issue has something for everyone in the green industry.

Keep an eye on your inbox—we’ll let you know as soon as it’s live.

Coming in May: “Embrace Your Space” Campaign Launch!
We’re excited to launch our "Embrace Your Space" campaign this May—a free marketing toolkit to help your business promote spring planting and boost customer engagement. Get ready for downloadable social graphics, fliers, and easy-to-use content you can put to work right away.


We know this season can be intense—but we’re here to make it easier. From advocacy to events to marketing tools, TNLA has your back. Here’s to a strong spring season!

For over three decades, Joseph Johnson has been a driving force behind the Nursery/Landscape EXPO Gardens, formerly known as Parks and Patio, shaping the event’s look and feel with his expertise in landscape design. As co-chair of the Gardens Task Force, he has played a key role in bringing creative designs to life, ensuring that EXPO remains a visually stunning and inspiring event.

A Legacy of Leadership
Joseph’s journey with EXPO Gardens began in 1992, back then it was known as Parks and Patio, when the late Anne Muscat introduced him to the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) and encouraged him to take part in the initiative. Since then, he has led efforts to:
✅ Review student-submitted garden designs
✅ Curate donation lists for plants and materials
✅ Coordinate on-site installations with industry partners
✅ Enhance key areas of EXPO, including TNLA’s booth, the PAC lounge, and education spaces

His eye for detail and deep understanding of horticulture have helped elevate EXPO year after year, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both exhibitors and attendees.

A Passion for Public Gardens
Beyond EXPO, Joseph has built an impressive career in public horticulture. A Texas A&M horticulture graduate (’88), he has held leadership roles at the Dallas Arboretum and MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2016, he returned to Texas A&M to lead the Leach Teaching Gardens, a 7-acre outdoor classroom and community space that educates and inspires future horticulture professionals.

A Lasting Impact
Joseph’s dedication to the industry is unmatched, and his contributions to EXPO Gardens ensure that each year’s event is a showcase of landscape excellence. TNLA is proud to celebrate his leadership and the legacy he continues to build.

Thank you, Joseph, for over 30 years of service to TNLA and EXPO Gardens!
​
👉 Read more about Joseph’s work here:
Growing a Dream into Reality – AgriLife Today

​TNLA Chairman Bobby Eichholz discusses his term, the Board's strategic plan, advocacy efforts, water and labor issues, and the rewards of leadership

TNLA held our annual Nursery/Landscape EXPO tradeshow at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX, and the sense of community was truly heartwarming. It was inspiring to see so many dedicated professionals from the Texas Green Industry come together to network, share knowledge, and explore new opportunities. The event brought record-breaking attendance, showing just how committed we all are to the growth and success of our industry. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support and passion. Together, we Aimed high, Dreamed big, and Achieved so much. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey with us and we can't wait to see you all next year same place, in San Antonio, TX at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center with NEW DATES: Aug 5-7th, 2025.

EXPO Education
Education kicked us off on Wednesday Aug 14, 2024 and you all packed the sessions! We had to get more seats for you all!! We offered a total of 80 sessions throughout the week, 70.5 TNLA CEU Hours, 41 demos, for the first time we provided a 4-hr two wire training on the show floor.

If you wanted to attend some of the sessions but could not make it, don’t worry, EXPO recorded a variety which will be available for purchase soon including not limited to the following:

• New Diseases Affecting Ornamental Plants and Trees with Dr. Kevin Ong
• IPM in Turf Grass with Dr. Manuel Chavarria
• Saving Trees After Drought with Emmitt Muennink
• Common Insects of Trees: Identification and Management with Molly Keck

A special thanks to this year’s key contributing Investment Partner

EXPO Gardens
​A heartfelt thank you to Tarrant County College for creating the designs. This was the students' final project of the semester, and we have to say—they knocked it out of the park! We also want to express our gratitude to Texas State, Texas A&M, and Palo Alto College for their invaluable help in bringing these designs to life. Special thanks to our contributing exhibitors!

Thursday, Aug 15, 2024
​We kicked off Thursday with an exciting opening ceremony that featured a special performance by Mariachi Alma de Jalisco. The festivities continued as TNLA's current Chair of the Board, Bobby Eichholz, officially opened the tradeshow floor with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. We want to extend a special thanks to Kip and Brock from Athens Tree Farm for sponsoring this tradeshow, and to Chase Kinney and the entire team at KBW Supply for providing the greenhouse at our entrance.

Exhibitors
You all sold us out, we had over 100 new exhibitors this year and had to start a waiting list! We are beyond honored that you put your trust in us to help you grow your business.
Breakdown:
Total Booths on the Tradeshow Floor – 934 (5% increase from 2023)
Total # of Exhibiting Companies – 453 (7% increase from 2023)
Total # of Sponsoring Companies – 52
The tradeshow floor was spectacular!

Congratulations to this year’s best booth winners:
Everde Growers

Women in Hort Get Together
We had an amazing time at the Women in Horticulture gathering! A special thank you to Representative Mary Gonzalez for joining us and discussing the vital role of women in horticulture and the importance of making our voices heard in the legislative arena. If you missed it, you can watch the live-stream anytime on our Nursery/Landscape EXPO Facebook page or by clicking HERE

Special Thank You To Our Sponsors

Welcome Party
​We wrapped up the evening with our exciting Welcome to San Antonio Party! Attendees enjoyed live music by XFactory, fun giveaways, and the chance to relax with delicious bites and drinks. A special thank you to our sponsors, Living Earth and Everde Growers, for making it all possible.

Thank You To the rest of our Sponsors

Certification Reception
Certified Professionals got to enjoy a dedicated reception where they got to mingle with other industry professionals.

Friday, Aug 17, 2024
Annual Business Meeting
We started the last day of EXPO with our Annual Business Meeting. What is this? It is an opportunity for the Association to conduct essential business, report its accomplishments to the members, and kick off the new fiscal year. We are honored to share with you some of the initiatives TNLA engaged in with the support of our members.

Amy Graham, President/CEO of TNLA, presented the County Agent Award to David Ramirez and introduced the 2024-2025 TNLA Board of Directors. The meeting concluded with our annual Year In Review. You can watch the live stream of the Annual Business Meeting HERE and view the Year In Review below

Membership
We had a record-breaking number of new memberships sign up during the show! We are thrilled about the future of TNLA Membership and are committed to providing valuable opportunities for continuing education, advocacy, and business success.

​Both members and non-members enjoyed fun giveaways at our booth. Congratulations to Matt Thomas from Spring Creek Growers for winning the RTIC Cooler raffle!

Many attendees took home our EXPO T-shirts, and we loved hearing your positive feedback on the graphic design.

​Thank you to our Membership Jeopardy Sponsors

TNLA PAC
At this year's Nursery/Landscape EXPO, the TNLA PAC Trustees went above and beyond in demonstrating the critical role of our Political Action Committee. Their dedication and outreach highlighted the significant impact of our PAC in supporting legislative efforts that benefit our industry. Every year TNLA PAC raises crucial funds to support our industry’s interests. we want to thank our Diamond Recognized and Gold Star Companies for their incredible support of the TNLA Political Action Committee (PAC).
Diamond Recognized: Those who donated $500 or more from an individual. 
· Bob Cartwright
· Bonnick Landscaping
· Bruce Miller Nurseries
· Calloway's Nursery
· Cedar Creek Farms
· Creekside Nursery
· Dry Creek Tree Farm
· Everde
· Harry's Greenhouse
· Houston Garden Centers
· KBW Supply
· Krause Landscape
· Landmark Nurseries
· Living Earth
· Mark Rose
· Mortellaro's
· Roundtree Landscaping
· Saxon Becnel & Sons
· Southwest Wholesale Nursery
· Superscapes Inc.
· Vital Earth
Gold Star Companies: Companies that had four or more individuals donate at least $50 
· KBW Supply
· Landmark
· Living Earth
· Monarch Landscape
· Mortellaro’s Nursery
· Rancho Encino
· Southwest Nursery
· TNLA
· Vital Earth
Thanks to the unwavering support of our TNLA members, we are thrilled to announce that our PAC has achieved a record-breaking fundraising milestone. This remarkable accomplishment underscores our members' commitment to advancing our industry’s interests.
Congratulations to the raffle winner, Steven Akers with Back to Nature, for winning a Beretta Shotgun!

​The funds raised will be used to support political candidates who advocate for the green industry, ensuring our voice is heard in legislative discussions and promoting favorable policies. Our PAC's success reflects our members' dedication to political advocacy. Thank you for your support—together, we're shaping a positive future for our industry. Stay tuned for more updates on how you can get involved with the TNLA PAC. To learn more on how you can help, reach out to Curtis Smith Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) [email protected] 
See You all next Year!
Booth sales are now open, please contact Amy Prenger at [email protected] for more information.

Next year's theme is "Renaissance Fair," embodying a blend of Knights of the Round Table and Medieval vibes. The tagline, "Together Towards Tomorrow," reflects the collective journey towards a new future. This theme arose as the industry reflected on the need to approach familiar tasks in new ways and come together to forge a shared path in this new reality.
Can't wait to see what you all do with the theme, until next year keep an eye out for updates on the nurserylandscapeexpo.org website! Registration goes live April 1, 2025!