Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association, Inc. Brief History
Since its establishment in 1934, the Maryland Nurserymen's Association has piloted Maryland's nursery, greenhouse, and landscape businesses to the stellar status the industry enjoys today. The Association has a distinguished history of supporting, promoting, and providing services and assistance to member businesses and has successfully led the industry through several major world conflicts, many unpredictable national economic trends, frequent labor shortages, and through unprecedented growth. The Association’s leadership embraces flexibility and change while maintaining a conservative management style that avoids the pitfalls of reactionary leadership. In recognition of a changing constituency, the Association name was changed to the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association in 2001 and to the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association in 2015, following a unification with the Maryland Greenhouse Growers’ Association.
The Association has celebrated many successes including the following:
- Embracing cooperative partnerships with university scientists and the state department of agriculture
- Development and maintenance of the Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) program
- Founding member of the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in partnership with the Virginia and West Virginia Nursery and Landscape Associations. MANTS celebrated our 50th anniversary in January 2020
- Founding members of the Maryland Green Industry Council (MaGIC) a legislative watchdog for Maryland’s Green Industry
- Free State Nursery and Landscape News - a periodic industry publication
- Root of the Matter – timely flash e-news communications distributed by email and providing up-to-the-minute information for issues affecting members
- Providing thousands of dollars annually in student scholarships
- Working in partnership with Maryland’s Land Grant University, The University of Maryland and Extension service to provide quality industry education and to foster completion of valuable research
- Online Member Directory – providing instant information regarding member products and services
- Educational Events – including Nursery Field Day, an annual Management Dinner, periodic workshops, and now as a founding member of Chesapeake Green Horticultural Symposium
- Professional Achievement Award – presented to exemplary members who have made significant contributions to the growth of the industry in Maryland
- Maintaining a fully staffed office during business hours
- Industry Survey – the Association underwrites the Maryland Horticulture Industry Survey, a statistical and economic profile
- The Association continues to lead industry growth with renewed youth and energy and looks forward to continued successes.
It is vital to support the role of the green industry in our communities, as well as provide a unified voice for the industry for the purposes of education, legislation, and marketing. MNLGA supports and unites all constituent groups of the horticulture industry, including landscape, garden centers, Interiorscape, grounds maintenance, nursery, greenhouse, arboriculture, botanical gardens, and other allied businesses.
