Come say ‘hi’

As I write this column, I’m planning my 10th summer trip to Columbus for Cultivate. Hey, I may seem like the new guy, but I remember when it was still the OFA Short Course!

All right, now that I’ve got that attempt at horticultural bona fides out of the way… Hi, I’m Matt.

If you haven’t met me yet, come say ‘Hi.’ When you see me walking the floor at the trade show or on a bus for a tour, say ‘Hi.’ I won’t bite. Honestly, I’ll be glad for the conversation. I’m a natural introvert so you’d be doing me a favor.

I’ve learned a ton from Kelli over the last 10 years, and believe me, I’m not done learning. Like she said in last month’s View Point, she’s sticking around. But you, the readers, are my greatest resource. Talk to me. Let me know how we can improve. What do you want to see in our magazine?

I’ve met some of you already, of course. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting nurseries in a handful of states and have walked the aisles of trade shows on both coasts and several in between. My first big solo trip was the 2012 IPPS Eastern Region annual conference. I got to tour North Creek Nurseries and Creek Hill Nurseries on the production side. Longwood Gardens and the Mt. Cuba Center were my introduction to carefully curated gardens. Did the plants impress me? Of course! But so did the people. Just about everyone I talked to was eager to introduce themselves and explain what they did and how it fits into this intricate world of horticulture. I hope you’ll continue to share your stories with me.

A lot has changed over the last 10 years, too. My very first grower visit was Losely Nursery, in Perry, Ohio. Just a few months ago, I returned there to write a story about its acquisition. Seeing how it had changed and hearing about how much more would change at a place I remembered was a little bittersweet.

But change is healthy. At times, it’s necessary. It’s often the impetus that forces us to grow. That doesn’t mean it can’t be terrifying. But whether your business or your own life is stuck in a rut, a change could be just what you need to pull it out.

So what do you say? Let’s embark on some changes together.