AIB Celebrates Five Years of Planting Pride

Enjoy “Life in the Past Lane” at the fifth annual America in Bloom (AIB) symposium and awards program, September 28-30 in Eureka Springs, Ark. AIB encourages nationwide beautification programs, personal and community involvement, educational programs and the challenge of a friendly competition among participating communities across the country.

Anyone interested in building civic pride in their community is invited to attend the symposium. Speakers and learning tours will provide take-home ideas on how to bring together the municipal, commercial and residential sectors in a united manner to improve communities.

The 3-day program begins on Thursday, September 28, 2006, with the announcement of the eight “best of the best” awards in each of the eight AIB criteria: community involvement, floral displays, landscaped areas, environmental awareness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, turf and groundcover areas, and tidiness.

Friday and Saturday will feature a variety of educational sessions, opportunities to meet with judges, a keynote speech by author and international consultant Steve Foster and tours of Eureka Springs.

In celebration of AIB’s fifth anniversary, this year’s OFA Short Course will include special fundraising opportunities for AIB. “On behalf of the America in Bloom board of directors, I’d like to thank the event sponsors for making America in Bloom the charity of choice during the 2006 OFA Short Course,” said AIB President Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Co. “Their willingness to support America in Bloom will help us continue spreading the message that plants and environmental horticulture are important for our quality of life and for sustainable communities.”

For more information about AIB, visit the Web site at www.americainbloom.org.