FNGLA Certified Industry Advocates Share Passion for Growing Florida Horticulture
In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) has a slogan: “We know what grows.” Of course, that could be said about all of Florida horticulture.
Nationally, Florida ranks first in the value of floriculture cash receipts at $1.07 billion, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
FNGLA is the nation’s largest state nursery and landscape association, with more than 2,000 member companies, including Ralph Taylor’s Nurseries (RTN).
John and Janyel Taylor of RTN share their experience and knowledge of what grows in Florida in multiple ways.
Locally Grown
John’s grandfather, Ralph Taylor, started the nursery in 1968. Over the years, John’s father, Greg, bought out other family members. For more than 25 years, the Bradenton-based business has sold exclusively to Home Depot stores across four counties, with John and his wife, Janyel, now running most of RTN’s operations.
“We are really proud to be a local grower who can supply multiple areas throughout the state with locally grown product,” John says.
Janyel recently joined the company full time after eight years as an award-winning high school agriscience teacher. She guided more than 20 students in passing the FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) exam.
FCHP is the industry’s only standard for measuring knowledge of the fundamentals of horticulture, including everything about plant biology from soil health to plant maintenance.
“We look at FCHP certification as measuring the ‘why’ of horticulture,” says Merry Mott, FNGLA’s director of certifications and career development. “As people learn more and work hands-on, there are also exams that measure the ‘how,’ such as irrigation service, installation, design and maintenance.”
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Native and Natural
RTN produces more than 1 million plants annually, including the ever-popular hibiscus, crotons and gardenias commonly found in Florida garden centers. John says they’re also working to introduce keystone plants, which form the backbone of local ecosystems.
“Home Depot lets us use our education and expertise to introduce Florida natives to what we call ‘Florida-friendly’ plants,” he says.
Some of their favorite native plants include a Florida native honeysuckle, muhly grass and Walter’s viburnum.
RTN has been recognized for utilizing beneficial insects to control pest issues.
“We do a lot of biological controls like ladybugs,” says Janyel, who is also FCHP certified. “We use predatory mites on things like crotons and roses, and a lot of our sprays are neem oil, a naturally occurring pesticide.”
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Gardening Gurus
The Taylors share their knowledge for several reasons, including the frustration they experienced with their favorite gardening TV programs and podcasts highlighting plants unsuitable for Florida’s heat and humidity.
“We’re such a unique growing microclimate,” John says.
Early in the pandemic, a friend of the Taylors with multiple academic degrees had no idea how to grow tomatoes.
“At that moment, I realized people just don’t know gardening,” Janyel says.
The epiphany moment resulted in a blog, The Veranda View, which offers tips and how-to videos on a wide variety of topics.
“We want people to garden,” Janyel says. “It helps the environment, it helps the state economy, it’s great for mental health and it gets kids outside working in the soil.”
One of their blog entries focuses on the importance of continuing education, including FNGLA certifications: “The businesses and individuals with certifications are typically the most respected, successful and responsible,” John writes.
In addition, employees holding certifications typically earn more. Mott notes that more consumers, both commercial and residential, are seeking companies employing certified personnel for their projects – folks who know what grows well in the customers’ area.
“With the importance of the nursery industry to the economy of the state, it’s important to have professionals within the industry who have that measure of knowledge,” Mott says.
To learn more about gardening in Florida and the FCHP certification, visit floridagardening.org.
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