Promoting Your Industry - Increasing Your Voice - Growing Your Business

Are you looking for a member in your area? Use our Find a Member tool.

Visit our other website, plantsomethingmontana.org, to access our plant-finder tool.

Member Log-In (log-in to access member resources & event registration discounts.)

Cart ()

Upcoming events

January 07, 2025 8:00 AM

Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula, MT

Montana Green EXPO 2025 - Conference
January 07, 2025 8:00 AM

Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula, MT

Northern Rockies Tree School @ the MT Green EXPO 2025 - Conference
January 07, 2025 1:00 PM

Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula, MT

CPP Exam at MT Green Expo 2025
January 07, 2025 2:00 PM

Hilton Garden Inn, 3720 N. Reserve St., Missoula, MT

MT Green EXPO 2025 - EXHIBITORS

Back

Summer Tour 2024

Start
July 25, 2024
5:00 PM
End
July 26, 2024
4:00 PM
Location
Missoula, MT

Registration

Member - Tour Registration – $75.00
Full registration for an individual from an MNLA Member Firm. Registration includes entrance and bus transportation to each tour site, Welcome Dinner, and Breakfast and Lunch on tour day.
Member - Tour Registration - Early Bird Discount – $65.00
Full registration for an individual from an MNLA Member Firm. Registration includes entrance and bus transportation to each tour site, Welcome Dinner, and Breakfast and Lunch on tour day.
Member - Welcome Dinner Only – $25.00
Can't attend the full tour, but would like to attend the Welcome Dinner the evening before the tour? Use this option to register for dinner only. MNLA members, log-in to your membership account to receive your discount.
Non Member - Welcome Dinner Only – $35.00
This option is for anyone who would like to attend the Welcome Dinner, but is unable to attend the full tour the following day.
Non-member - Tour Registration – $100.00
Full registration for an individual from a Non-Member Firm. (Includes Welcome Dinner the evening before the tour).
Non-member - Tour Registration - Early Bird Discount – $90.00
Full registration for an individual from a Non-Member Firm. (Includes Welcome Dinner the evening before the tour).

Registration is closed

Summer Tour

July 25-26, 2024

Missoula, MT

Join us for a fun and interactive field trip where we tour nurseries, greenhouses, landscape sites, and other areas of interest in our host city. The Tour moves to a different city each year so we can see the best Montana has to offer! This behind-the-scenes tour gives you a look at some of the best operations and sites in the area. The Tour is a great way to see what fellow professionals are doing in the field, and take home a few tips and tricks to use yourself. There are lots of opportunities to learn from each other, rejuvenate, connect, and share new ideas during the tour.

Come join us!

HOW TO REGISTER: You can register on-line by following the link on this page, by emailing your registration form to info@plantingmontana.org, or by calling the office at 406-755-3079. You can also download the registration form (download here) and mail it to the address listed on the form.

WHERE TO STAY: We have negotiated a discounted room block at the Holiday Inn in downtown Missoula. Stay in the heart of the city! Just a short walk from Caras Park, A Carousel for Missoula, and nature trails along the Clark Fork River. Our room block includes a newly-remodeled room on the 3rd floor with river views, and complimentary on-site parking. Book online using this link (note: link is not mobile compatible), or call the hotel at: 406-721-8550 and ask for the "MNLA Summer Tour 2024" group rate. A limited number of rooms are available at $259/night, with rates rising as we get closer to the tour. Book early to secure the best rate.

Want a preview of the Summer Tour events? Here's what we have planned:

THURSDAY, July 25: Pre-tour

Certified Plant Professional Exam: The CPP Exam will offered on Thursday, at 8:00am. Applications for the test and order forms for the manual are available online, or by calling the MNLA office at 406.755.3079. Registration for the exam is not included in the Tour registration; if you wish to take the exam and attend Summer Tour, you will need to complete separate registration forms for each. Register online for the CPP Exam here. Registration deadline: July 15th.

Welcome Dinner: All Tour registrants are invited to join us Thursday evening, July 25th for a welcome dinner. Dinner is included with your Tour Day registration, and is a great time to see familiar faces and connect before the hustle and bustle of tour day.

FRIDAY, July 26: Tour Day

Tour Day Details: The 2024 Summer Tour will take place in and around Missoula, MT on Friday, July 26, 2024. The Tour begins at 7:30 am, and concludes at 4:00 pm. Bus transportation will be provided, as well as a detailed map of tour stops for those who wish to use their own vehicle. There will be some fun games and door prizes along the way!

Your registration includes Kick-Off Dinner the evening before the Tour, admission to all of the sites, as well as Breakfast and Lunch on tour-day.

Where will the Summer Tour be stopping this year? Here's a sneak-peak:

Garden City Compost was created with the City of Missoula purchased EKO Compost in November 2016. They have been improving and upgrading their composting processes ever since. They serve a vital role in resource recovery in their community; the amount of material being diverted from the landfill has increased significantly through community outreach and partnerships with local businesses. This allows them to provide high quality compose while consistently improving practices to better control odor.
Greenbench Orchard is an organic "U-Pick" apple and raspberry orchard. They cultivate 185 trees, including 8 varieties of apples: Honeycrisp, Goodland, Goodmac, Kerr Crab, Liberty, Spartan, Wealthy, and Haralson. Raspberry varieties include Nova and Boyne. Come learn how they do it!
Millay & Meadowlark Cut Flower Farm is nestled into the serene Clark Fork River Valley, where they specialize in locally grown, seasonal flowers, using organic and sustainable growing practices. A labor of love, their business was conceived as a means of creating meaningful and engaging work for their son, Connor, who has down syndrome. They are committed to providing Connor with opportunities to maintain and learn new life skills and to be a vibrant contributor and member of our community. They hope to extend employment opportunities to other individuals with disabilities in the future as their business grows.
The Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium was founded by passionate bug enthusiasts eager to bring a butterfly house to Missoula. Founded in 2009, they slowly built an exhibit area showcasing live arthropod species found throughout the world (as well as right here in Montana), curriculum focusing on pre-school to 8th grade, and public programs geared to all ages. The Insectarium fosters a curiosity for and awareness of "The Little Things That Run the World". In December of 2023, they proudly expanded to open the first tropical butterfly house in Montana!
Rocky Mountain Gardens & Exploration Center is home to 2.5 acres of premier education gardens, a demonstration kitchen, green roof, greenhouse, plant lab, and classrooms. It also houses the Missoula Butterfly House and Missoula County Extension Offices. The center connects people to the land and builds lifelong stewardship for the Western Montana landscape and appreciation for the plants and insects that make it thrive.
Caras Nursery has roots in the Missoula community that go back over 100 years. Founded in 1896 as The Missoula Nursery, it was later renamed by James K. Caras, a Greek immigrant, when he purchased the nursery and integrated it into his existing downtown business, Garden City Floral. The nursery was eventually renamed Caras Nursery, and in 1977 James' son Bill came on board and spurred a tremendous amount of growth, making Caras the unparalleled destination it is today.
The DNRC Conservation Seedling Nursery has been growing conservation seedling for almost 100 years! The nursery was established in 1927 and currently grows trees and other plants for conservation from seed that staff and community members collect across Montana. With a mission to protect species from extinction, maintain and restore habitats, enhance ecosystem services, and protect biological diversity, the nursery plays an integral role in conservation across the state.
Botanica Orchids is a orchid growers that specializes in seed-grown orchids, specifically endangered angraecoid species that are primarily from Africa and Madagascar. Their efforts focus on taking the pressure off native populations by reducing collection from native habitats. This includes supporting the unique pollination requirements of the varied orchid species that they cultivate. In addition to endangered species, they also grow many other orchids and tillandsias.
....plus a few great residential landscape sites by Pro Sweep Plus and Marchie's Nursery.

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors!

Interested in Sponsoring the Summer Tour? We have several sponsorship opportunities available. Download the sponsorship form, contact the MNLA office at info@plantingmontana.org, or call 406.755.3079 for sponsorship details.