By Chris Andrews, executive director, Canadian Nursery Trades Association (CNLA)

The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) visits Windsor and the surrounding area with its bi-annual CNLA International Summer Conference and Tour - Bridging Two Countries. Held July 29 to August 1, the CNLA Summer Tour provides a forum for association members to discuss important issues, network with peers and exchange business ideas, as well as tour businesses and noteworthy horticultural attractions in the area. As indicated by comments from a number of past tour participants, the tours are an important part of association life, and as such, the CNLA invites all members to take part in this worthwhile adventure, visiting beautiful garden centres, nurseries and other places of horticultural interest.

     Starting off the festivities a little early on July 27, the CNLA Executive Committee and the Board of Directors will conduct their semi-annual meeting at the Casino Windsor Hotel, the official "tour" hotel. Registration and a welcome reception will follow on July 29, with the CNLA Annual General Meeting, keynote speakers and commodity group meetings following on July 30. A tour of noteworthy Windsor gardens and a dinner reception at Hiram Walker & Sons will round out the day's events.

     The Summer Tour will then travel across the border to Michigan, so have your passport and/or photo ID ready. In Michigan, tour participants will visit Ray Wiegand's wholesale operation and retail nursery, Bordines-Clarkston operations, as well as the English Gardens-Royal Oak location.

     The third day will see participants return to the Windsor and surrounding area with tours to Colonial Nurseries, Williams Nurseries and Garden Centre, Colasanti Tropical Gardens, Harrow Research Centre and tours and tastings at Pelee Island Winery. A dinner reception will be held at the Leamington Dock Restaurant.

     Registration for this worthwhile event is $295 for CNLA members and $325 for potential members. These prices increase after July 1, so register early to save.

     Hosted by Landscape Ontario, the CNLA Summer Conference and Tours - Bridging Two Countries, wishes to thank the following sponsors (as of April 7, 2000):

Cover-All Portable Systems
Gro-Bark (Ontario) Ltd.
Jack Van Klaveren Ltd.
Congress 2001 - Landscape Ontario International Horticultural Trade Show
Palfinger Inc.
Sheridan Nurseries Limited
Sinclair-Cockburn Insurance Services
The Investment Guild
Westmetro Ford
Zander Sod Co. Limited

For information and registration, please contact Diana-Lynn Hughes, Landscape Ontario, (905) 875-1805 or 1-800-265-5656 (Ontario only), ext. 341.