For hundreds of millions of years there has been vegetation on the earth and various animals, birds and insects to live in and on it. Then came mankind who passed from hunter to gatherer to cultivator and farmer. Once the basic needs of food and fire were satisfied, humans wanted more pure aesthetics such as shade, visual protection and beauty from plants.

Once these plants were positioned and expected to have longevity and continuing beauty and utility, the numerous diseases as well as the insects that ate on them and animals that climbed and chewed on them had to be managed. New varieties of plants that had more or better flowers or berries were developed in various parts of the world and new interstate/intrastate and international transportation developed.

With the transportation of native plants, pathogens moved to areas of no resistance. The problems that developed needed immediate and significant management to avoid significant consequences.

A century ago, a group of men in the nursery business recognized these problems as being detrimental to their work and to the needs and desires of the public. They met to discuss a way to remedy the problems and, thus, the Ohio Nurserymans Association was founded on Jan. 15, 1908. Dues were gathered, officers selected and, by the following year, the budding organization had spent $11.70 of the $39 in its budget. At this time, there were only 8,000 cars in the U.S. and 144 miles of paved roads.

The “seven-year itch” of personal and business breakups passed as the organization became better established and primarily resolved some of the original issues and concerns. The next step was to grow through education. Locally, The Ohio State University originated the Nursery Short Course primarily through the efforts of Dr. L.C. Chadwick. In 1931, they held concurrent meetings and, each January, the two entities worked closely to put on a trade show and education programs that were and still are nationally recognized.

This year’s recently held three-day event brought to Columbus more than 12,000 “green industry” professionals to see new products and equipment and upgrade their respective education. There were more than 1,000 booths at the trade show, displaying large and small plants, new and improved plant cultivars, new production equipment, amenities to the landscape setting, new fertilizers, hand tools and motorized equipment and much, much more.

Attendees and vendors had the opportunity to participate in concurrent educational sessions each morning, which are put together in interest groups such as nursery, maintenance, installation and landscape design. This interdisciplinary sharing occupies many winter mornings when there is a little more time for preparation for the coming busiest season of the year for the industry.

Many professionals are now state and/or nationally-certified in individual or multiple areas. The broad range of courses provides continuing education credits to satisfy the certifying bodies.

The Ohio Nursery Association started based on common needs and high business principals. Many names from the time of origin are still deeply involved in the industry and one of the common threads is still that of family.

The organization has grown from the $39 budget to an annual budget of more than $1.8 million, and the industry now represents annual gross revenue of more than $4 billion in Ohio. The name of the organization was changed to the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association to better recognize its total membership activities and their collective goals.

The industry continues family-like principals but has moved beyond the original “mom and pop” small business issues. Modern times have brought on the effects of a global marketplace for many inputs, even with labor shortages, environmental issues, increased transportation rates and other common issues. The end product and service is still of both environmental and aesthetic significance to Ohio and the world.

Industry participants continue to work toward maintained growth through the next 100 years. There continues to be the great satisfaction at the beginning of each business day that, by the day’s end, Ohio and the world will be a better and more beautiful place because of our collective effort as a total industry.

Fred Hower, otherwise known as “The Ohio Nurseryman,” has more than 45 years experience as a horticultural consultant, certified arborist and landscape designer. He can be heard on Plant Talk on WMNI 920-AM.







Fred Hower, otherwise known as “The Ohio Nurseryman,” has more than 45 years experience as a horticultural consultant, certified arborist and landscape designer. He can be heard on Plant Talk on WMNI 920-AM.