Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association

RINLA members experienced one of the wettest seasons in many years. I have never seen lawns greener than this year, says Ken Lagerquist, executive director. Usually lawns tend to go dormant in Rhode Island in the summer and you can start your summer pruning. However, this year we had plenty of rain. It wasn?EUR??,,????'???t so bad that you had to lose time from the jobs, however.

Most landscape firms experienced one of their best business years. RINLA appropriated $50,000 to the Plant Science Department of the University of Rhode Island to maintain a horticultural position that was going to be cut because of lack of state funds this year. We also were instrumental in URI Plant Science Dept receiving a $250,000 government grant to implement rebuilding the greenhouses on campus for the Horticulture Department.

RINLA represents the green industry in Rhode Island, which is the largest segment of agriculture in the state. We were a $329 million business in 2002 and still growing.