Support Tropiflora's Recovery from Hurricane Milton

Dear friends,

After almost 50 years in business, Tropiflora Nursery is asking for your help.

What started off as a curiosity for these strange plants growing on the sides of trees and cliffs became a world-renowned Bromeliad collection that many people from all over the world come to see. Tropiflora Nursery was started by Dennis Cathcart back in 1976, as a passion to introduce these exotic plants to plant enthusiasts. Dennis & his wife, Linda, traveled all of Central & South America collecting these plants to research and study with local Botanical Research Centers and Universities. After many years, and tons of plants named after them (Neoregelia cathcartii, Tillandsia cathcartii, Neoregelia 'Linda Cathcart' to name a few), the collection grew into a business that ships regularly to all 50 states, Asia, and certain countries in Europe. Our database has over 2,000 different named varieties of bromeliads and tillandsias (air plants).

Hurricane Milton devastated us, along with our community of Sarasota, FL. Fortunately, in the past, we have been able to pick up the pieces and the plants after every storm, but this is different. Fourteen greenhouses, out of twenty, have completely collapsed on the plants and are unrepairable. Our nearly four acres of shade greenhouses are without shade. With the sun peeking through every day, we are unsure how many plants will make it.

We currently have 14 staff members, one who has been with us for over 30 years, and others who have been with us for over 20 years. Our team is working endlessly to salvage our plants and repair to the best of our ability.

If you are able to donate OR purchase something from our website (Tropiflora), we will appreciate it. Your help will keep our nursery employees going. We are assessing the damages to see if there is a possibility of rebuilding the broken structures.

We have always depended on our customers, but now we are asking for your help.

Updated note from Dennis:

**PLEASE NOTE: ALL DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR PAYCHECKS**

Donation money will not be used for rebuilding, purchasing plants, or for any other expense. We hope to be able to fund the employees paychecks at their usual rate through the month of November.

With heartfelt thanks,

Dennis Cathcart

Owner, Tropiflora LLC