Several positives emerged from the New England Grows show in Boston, not the least of which was sunny weather that ensured steady traffic throughout the three-day event. Temps hovered in the balmy range for the natives (not so much for we Texans), and folks came out full-force to attend an event that showed more than a few new plants, products and power equipment -- not to mention one of the best education programs in show history.

Official attendance was 13,044 -- an increase of 3% over the 2009 draw. A good number of those enjoyed the 30-plus seminars that targeted growers, landscapers and retailers, and that featured "Who's Who" lineup of speakers that included Tom Wessels, Craig Ruppert, Larry Weaner, Suzie McCoy, John Backert, and Pete Luckett. In addition, a dozen-plus noted national educators and several GIE Media staffers hosted "Ask the Experts" mini sessions on stages at both ends of the show floor.

I got to do a session on "Recession-busters Retailers Can Market in 2010" (see picture of chubby guy holding microphone above) and received a warm welcome from the natives during the talk. Some highlights of my session:

(1) Selling air. I picked this tip up at the ANLA Management Clinic. Basically, you take a plant you want to sell, confident that it will fetch market value on its own. Then, instead of letting it do that, you spruce up the pot (coloring it or having someone inscribe something on it), then you add a bow to the package. Given that you deal in plants -- and likely in trees -- you'll have some discardable branches on the premises. Take the dead ones, paint them white and arrange them in some woven manner above the plant you want to market. Finish the ensemble with a butterfly ornament atop the now much taller decorative plant. You've invested in some paint, a bow and an inexpensive faux butterfly -- not much, in other words. Now, however, you can fetch twice the market value of the original plant in a generic pot.

(2) Seeing is believing. I have a buddy, Thomas Birt, who owns Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery,  a very successful garden in Tucson, Ariz. In fact, I referenced our recent visit at the ANLA Management Clinic in a previous blog. Recapping that visit during my session, I recalled how he used an elaborate, "all the bells and whistles" fountain at the store's entrance to draw attention to the more practical water feature fare he displays elsewhere at the store. A lot of people don't have the dime ($30,000 installed for a model like the one that greets folks to Mesquite Valley Growers Nursery) for the big model, but Birt says they like the plug-and-go self contained fountains he sells. And, because he displays them in a variety of sizes and colors, he generally sells at least two at a time -- one for the front and one for another spot in the landscape.

 (3) The year of the "Happy Garden." After a relatively dismal 2009, customers need some cheering up. I told the crowd that I predict customers will gravitate toward bright, vibrant, colorful plants this spring -- because those adjectives reflect the way we all want to feel.

In addition to my session, colleagues Kelli Rodda of NMPro magazine and Mike Zawacki of Golf Course Industry and Lawn & Landscape magazines also shared insight with enthusiastic show goers, who showed once again that the New England green scene is among the best in the country.

Next year's event is scheduled for Feb. 2-4 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. You can tap into the aforementioned show link for more details. In fact, I would recommend doing just that.