B. C. L A N D S C A P E & N U R S E R Y A S S O C I AT I O N P U B L I C AT I O N • O C T O B E R 2 0 0 8
CanWest Hort Show Waterscene in Watoto IDC Report IGCA Congress 2008 BCMAL Research Snippets
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Message from the President
Effects of IGCA Congress Benefit Industry The International Garden Centre Association Congress wrapped up last month to great accolades from our garden retail peers from around the globe. The overwhelmingly positive response is thanks to a team of dedicated and welcoming volunteers and tour hosts. On behalf of the BCLNA board and members, I extend my sincere thanks to Brian Minter, Congress Chair, for his vision, hard work, and sponsorship of the event. I would also like to thank each of the garden centres and suppliers who participated in the tour, our numerous
volunteers, and our highly regarded tour guides Leanne Johnson (GardenWorks™), Miles Hunter (David Hunter Garden Centres), Louie Murgg (Forevergreen Landscape Maintenance), Nico Van Der Pauw (Nico’s Nurseryland), and Dr. Marvin Miller (Ball Horticultural Company) who made our international guests feel so welcome during their stay. I would be remiss in also mentioning the dedication of Bill Hardy, Renata Triveri, the CNLA team, and the generosity of all our sponsors, who truly made this an event to remember. While the IGCA guests spent a brief time at each tour stop, the event was far from a short-lived show-and-shine. Most of our participants expressed great enthusiasm in having met so many new people from the industry, and many have
designs to attend IGCA Congress 2009 in the United Kingdom, and 2010 in Japan. More importantly, numerous retailers have reported significant increases in sales over the same time period last year. Most attribute this to the concerted efforts they made to stock their stores, clean, paint, and refresh their merchandising units, and their attention to producing the very best displays. The “show-and-shine” could indeed have lasting effects on sales going forward into fall, and that is a boost which will echo throughout our industry.
Fred Giesbrecht, President, B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association
HortWest OCTOBER 2008 MANAGING EDITOR Renata Triveri ADVERTISING Barb Nelson
Phone: (604) 574-7772 Fax: (604) 574-7773
HortWest is the Newsletter of the B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association for the horticultural trade in Western Canada. For further information, contact us at: Suite 102, 5783 – 176A Street Surrey, B.C., Canada V3S 6S6 Telephone (604) 574-7772 Fax (604) 574-7773 HortWest is owned by the B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association, and is published 10 times a year. Views expressed inside do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the Association but are those of the writer concerned. Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without the consent of the publisher. All advertising and editorial material are to be received one month in advance of mail out date. HortWest is mailed under Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement N. 0288608 This magazine is printed in Canada by Globe Printers.
Kato’s Nursery, Best Exhibit Overall.
CanWest Show 2008
CanWest Holds Strong in 2008 There was a buzz in the air, a sparkle on the show floor, and a very positive atmosphere among both exhibitors and delegates who attended western Canada’s largest horticulture trade event of the year. It was evident that much networking, socializing, and business took place both on and off the show floor during the annual two-day tradeshow. Nearly 600 delegates attended seminars, the tours once again drew crowds, and delegate attendance was up in comparison to last year. In a marketplace plagued with poor tradeshow performance, the CanWest Hort Show’s steadfast numbers show strength in our local market, and are indicative of the value our local business people place on industry interaction— a good sign for the BCLNA, which is looking ahead to sole ownership of the show as of next year.
Thank You Kwantlen Students The students of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s horticulture program assisted exhibitors with their move-in and move-out, this year. They were a fantastic crew! On behalf of CanWest and its exhibitors, thank you Kwantlen Students for your hard work.
Thank You Sponsors
New Product Showcase
Two sponsors went above and beyond for CanWest: East Richmond Nurseries Inc. and the Surrey Hydrangea Society provided nearly all of the beautiful plants, trees, and hydrangeas used to decorate the entire facility. Kind thanks also to the following sponsors:
Seminars C Y Grower Supplies Ltd. Garden Grove Nursery Inline Nurseries Inc. Kato’s Nursery Ltd. MYKE Pro Burnaby Lake Greenhouses, Best Medium Exhibit. Plant-It Nursery, Best Small Exhibit.
Northwest Landscape & Stone Supply Ltd. Peel’s Nurseries Ltd. Royal Bank of Canada Skagit Gardens Specimen Trees Wholesale Nurseries Ltd. TerraLink Horticulture Inc.
Canadian Garden Centre Magazine Greenhouse Canada
Tours East Richmond Nurseries Inc. Hort Protect Northern Innovators Inc. Northwest Landscape & Stone Supply Ltd. Valleybrook Gardens Ltd.
Exhibitor’s Reception Fairfield Tree Nurseries Inc. Finning (Canada) Qualitree Propagators Inc.
2006
2007
2008
Exhibiting Companies
254
249
236
Exhibitors
1,376
1,422
1,344
Delegates
2,315
1,930
1,965*
22%
21%
18%
17.5%
19%
18%
22%
25%
27%
Growers Landscapers Garden Centre Retailers
*96% of the delegates are from British Columbia.
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CanWest Show 2008
Industry Bits
Waterscene Brings Water to Watoto
Bags
Gulick Freight Service Logistics
Show Decor Creative Embroidery: move-in crew t-shirts East Richmond Nurseries Inc.: plant material Haney Pottery Sales Ltd.: decorative pots
Specimen Trees Wholesale Nursery, Best Nursery Exhibit.
Holland Imports Inc.: outdoor patio sets Jalisco Imports Inc.: furniture display pieces Norstad Products Inc.: magazine racks Surrey Hydrangea Society: hydrangeas
Next Year… The BCLNA looks forward to a new chapter in its book as the association takes on the 2009 show as the sole owner. The show will be held on September 23 and 24. To purchase a booth for next year, contact Barb Nelson, CanWest Exhibitor Relations: bnelson@bclna.com or (604) 574-7772.
Kato’s Nursery, Most Original Exhibit
Northwest Landscape Supply Ltd., Best Supplier Exhibit.
Nordic Nurseries, Best Floriculture Exhibit.
Aquascape & Waterscene, Best Large Exhibit.
While the earth’s surface is 70% covered by water, only 0.5% is drinkable, and our world’s developing countries are facing crises of water-borne diseases. In Africa, impure water leads to the second greatest number of deaths, second only to the AIDS epidemic. Given the dire need of African countries, the companies of Waterscene, Aqauascape, and Genieye have teamed up to provide water to the Watoto Children’s Orphanage in Uganda by installing rainwater collection systems. Steve Kovacs of Waterscene explains, “We kept it as simple as possible by installing six-inch gutters around the main kitchen roof. Downspouts diverted the water to 20,000 litre tanks where we treated it with Genieye’s purification system. We then pumped it back into the kitchen where the clean water was used to feed 400 to 450 children every day.” Kovacs added that Aquascape Aquablox were also installed for children to wash their hands, further preventing the spread of disease. The Canadian team of Steve and Linda Kovacs (Waterscene & Aquascape, Delta, BC) and Tim Mutato and Eugene McDougall (Genieye, Oakville, ON), will lead a team of 34 volunteers in January 2009 to construct a house and schoolhouse at the same location, financially supported by the manufacturers and the individuals. The group gratefully accepts contributions and participation towards these worthy projects; to learn more, visit www.waterscene.ca or call 1 (888) 596-7663.
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Sunny Hill Circuit Opens to Youth The two little words, if only, have turned a forgotten corner into an amazing outdoor fun circuit at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in East Vancouver. Prior to the September 23rd Grand Opening, patients and parents at Sunny Hill kept thinking, if only there was an outdoor area suitable for wheelchairs. If only the children could enjoy a few minutes of play and exercise outdoors. If only there was funding. Enter Vancouverite, Steve Jones of Urban Escapes, who gathered together a generous team of local sponsors, volunteer labourers, nurseries and landscapers to make it happen. Through the aptly named non-profit company, Growing Hearts, Jones envisioned a community based project supported by the green industry. The response was instantaneous and now Sunny Hill Health Centre proudly boasts an amazing outdoor wheelchair fun challenge circuit. “The assistance from our local lanscape industry was tremendous. As soon as I would ask for something, the suppliers
would say I’m in,” said Jones, adding, “I really wanted to inspire everyone around us by the work we do and Sunny Hill seemed to be a great place to start.” Children in wheelchairs can now zoom the specially designed track safely and enjoy the fun circuit. There are colourful stones scattered along the path for visually impaired children, and even speed bumps for the risk takers. Barb Kenny, Sunny Hill’s Administrative Site Manager, remembers well the surprising offer by Jones. “We couldn’t quite believe our good fortune. Steve offered to build the garden and the Wheelchair Circuit at no cost to us. It used to be just a grassy corner of the property and now it’s an amazing site.” It is BCLNA’s hope to expand Growing Hearts with further projects and increased involvement from its 800-plus provincial members, through its own charitable umbrella.
(L-R): Fran Boyd, Vice President of Child Development and Rehabilitation; Sunny Hill patient Rafaela Wong; Steve Jones of urban-escapes; Thomas Spyker; Werner Knittel, Executive Director of BCLNA.
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Industry Development Council
Industry Challenges Supported by IDC BCLNA’s Industry Development Council (IDC) has granted funding for projects
and initiatives to help the ornamental nursery industry move ahead and effectively deal with current challenges and issues. Whether for scientific research, marketing and communication strategies, or education and training, projects considered for funding serve a wide array of industry needs.
When the IDC fund was fi rst formed in 2001, with $1.58 million dollars of “safety net” funding donated by nursery growers, a strategic plan was developed to provide its scope and directions. As a result, funded projects must support the BCLNA strategic vision of “being an organization whose actions result in increasing global recognition of British Columbia as a leader in landscape horticulture.” Projects must also help stakeholders adapt to structural changes, capture new opportunities, and contribute to nursery producers achieving sustainable, stable, and adequate farm income; in addition, they must fall within the BCLNA’s strategic operating priorities: • Develop both inside BC and export markets, • Maximize performance via industry standards, and access to leading edge information and technology, • Assure access to relevant, quality, education services, • Manage regulatory issues, • Develop and maintain an efficient and effective industry association to ensure broad representation of BC’s nursery growers. With these priorities in mind, the IDC has funded many diverse projects during the past and current year: Baseline awareness of the ornamental nursery industry, BCLNA , and Communities in Bloom, for the purpose of
developing new projects to address issues and action plans, and ability to measure success. CanWest seminars specifically targeted to increase landscape professionalism. Black spot on roses research to test a variety of standard and biological treatments. Western Agriculture Labour Initiative providing services to employers to gain access to foreign labour. Rose midge testing of several low toxicity products to provide efficacy information on environmental friendly controls. BC Landscape Standard (7th Edition) revisions, including the green roof and living walls, and invasive plant modules. Growers’ coordinator funding to provide a dedicated support person at the BCLNA . Aphid biocontrol and predator management of spider mites in wholesale nurseries.
Export Market Strategy, a multi-year project to provide guidance and support. BC show strategy to enable BCLNA members to reach their buying public through consumer shows as well as support and awareness of BCLNA programs and initiatives. Pest Management Accreditation (PlantHealthBC), a program for IPM providers in the landscape trade; development of training resources as well as other components have been completed. Restructuring the Gardenwise.ca website and the Healthy Garden Guide. Development of the Retail Environment Strategy. Increasing BC retail nurseries’ sales of BC grown plants. If you have an interest in learning more about these projects, obtaining copies of the reports, or in finding out how they might apply to your business, please contact Hedy Dyck at the BCLNA: hdyck@bclna.com or (604) 574-7772.
Year Ending
IDC Project Spending
Total Project Value
June 2002
$59,000
$95,100
June 2003
$82,500
$277,700
June 2004
$93,200
$376,800
June 2005
$73,100
$431,000
June 2006
$121,600
$264,800
June 2007
$101,397
$883,198
June 2008
$112,967
$1,184,351
Totals
$643,764
$3,512,949
BCLNA OFFICE: 604-574-7772; 800-421-7963
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IDC: Value in Numbers Since 2002, the IDC has funded many projects and initiatives in partnership with other funding organizations. IDC’s funds are used as seed money for projects, which then trigger funding from supporting associations, multiplying the value of the IDC investments many times. As of September 22, the value of the IDC Fund was just $8000 below its starting point after funding more than $645,000 in important projects.
Your IDC Board BCLNA members are grateful to the following people who volunteer their time and expertise to direct the IDC.
Andrew Flokstra, Inline Nurseries Inc., Industry Development Council Chair, Chilliwack Sandy Mathies, Cannor Nursery, Retail Rep, Abbotsford Ruth Olde, Blasig Landscape Design & Construction, Landscaper Rep, Maple Ridge
Who Decides?
John Byland, Byland’s Nurseries, Interior / Northern Growers Rep, Kelowna
To ensure a broad perspective in the IDC funding process, all three of BCLNA’s commodity groups are represented on its decision-making board. As a growerdeveloped program, the board has additional representation from a variety of nursery types, including small, medium, and large growers, container tree and shrub growers, field crop producers, growers of herbaceous plants, and Interior / Northern BC growers who can voice those regions’ specialized needs. A board member may represent more than one of these categories.
Len Smit, Kato’s Nursery Ltd., Growers Rep, Aldergrove Richard Desmarteau, Liard Horticultural Enterprises Inc., Growers Rep, Chilliwack Jonathan Klinck, Atlasta Tree Nursery, Growers Rep, Chilliwack Sandy Howkins, Specimen Trees Wholesale Nurseries Ltd., Growers Rep, Pitt Meadows David Woodske, Nursery Specialist, BC Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Hedy Dyck, Industry Development, BC Landscape & Nursery Association Staff
events
Industry
and programs
BC Home & Interior Design Show October 16-19 BC Place Stadium, Vancouver www.bchomeandgardenshow.com UBC Apple Festival October 18-19 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org Garden Expo October 21-22 Toronto Congress Centre www.gardenexpo.ca P. ramorum Seminars with Ian Wright October 27-30 Nanaimo, Victoria, Langley, Vancouver For info: ichang@bclna.com BCLNA Annual General Meeting & Convention November 13-14 Four Seasons Resort, Whistler www.bclna.com Landscape Alberta’s Green Industry Show November 21-22 Shaw Conference Centre Edmonton, AB www.greenindustryshow.com One-Day Intensive Organic Turf Management Course November 22 Victoria www.gaiacollege.ca One-Day Intensive Organic Turf Management Course December 6 Burnaby www.gaiacollege.ca BCLNA Landscape Commodity Meeting December 10 Seymour Golf & Country Club North Vancouver www.bclna.com Certification Exams January 29 Kwantlen Polytechnic University www.bclna.com BCLNA Landscape Commodity Meeting February 11 Dueck GM, Marine Drive, Vancouver www.bclna.com
Attend the BCLNA AGM Open to all BCLNA members! November 13 & 14 Four Seasons Resort 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler Tel: 604-935-3400 Fax: 604-935-3455 www.fourseasons.com/whistler
Registration: See Extras! Room rates: $189 per night Room block deadline: October 25, 2008
the
classifieds Help Wanted
Over The Top Sales & Marketing Two-man sales team specializing in sales and service to independent garden centers, regional chains, and growers in the Western USA. Seeking to represent a high quality grower, or manufacturer in our marketplace. “Let us bring our customers to you.” Call Mark at 503-930-4549. Dinesen Nurseries Ltd., Aldergrove has an opening for F/T or P/T sales assistant and office assistant. Duties would include: sales, purchasing and working with shipping and production crews. Previous experience in a wholesale nursery preferred. We offer competitive wages ($15 - $20/ hour). Please fax or mail resume to Dinesen Nursery Ltd., 2110 – 272 Street, Aldergrove, BC V4W 2R1 or Fax: 604-856-2243 N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd., in Langley is expanding and in need of energetic, enthusiastic individuals to join our professional team in the following positions: - Grower Assistant - Nursery Sales - Administration Office Management - Reception The ideal candidates would be teamoriented, have good plant knowledge, demonstrate excellent communication skills, be environmentally-minded, and are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. N.A.T.S. offers competitive wages and extended medical benefits. Please submit resumes, Attention: Rod Nataros via email rod@natsnursery.com.
Ecoworks Landscape Crew Supervisor Start date: As soon as possible. Responsibilities include: Work with horticulturalist to ensure sites meet quality control standards. Ensure crew members are adequately equipped and trained to do landscaping work. Supervise crew members ensuring quality and scheduling controls. Lead by example. Experienced landscaper needed. Competitive wage rate, $16.00 to $18.00/hour, and benefits package available. To apply, send cover letter and resume to: Darryl Exelby, Ecoworks, 103-33255 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 2B2; email: dexelby@mccbc.com; fax: 604-855-6133. Closing date: Open until filled. Ecoworks reserves the right to not make any appointments. Nursery in Abbotsford is seeking an energetic individual for a sales position. We are a wholesale native plant grower. Basic salary plus commission on sales-great earning potential for a motivated and capable candidate. Must be familiar with horticulture industry and have prior sales experience. E-mail: CanAmNursery@gmail.com or fax 604-854-6982.
New
BCLNA Members Final Approval
The BCLNA welcomes the following new members: Green Valley Nursery Ltd. Lena Sterkenburg, Chilliwack, Active Grower Janzen & Co. Landscaping Vincent Janzen, Maple Ridge, Active Landscaper Lasting Impressions Garden Care Jaqueline Hohmann, Surrey, Active Landscaper (Interim) Mountain Ash Estate Farm Ltd. Roger & Debbie Duyvesteyn, Maple Ridge, Active Grower (Interim) Parker Pacific Mike Ladd and Alistair Yule Langley, Associate Steelhead Machinery Inc. Michael Rodrigues, Arlington, VA, Out of Province
Tentative Approval The following companies will become BCLNA members at the next board meeting unless a member provides a valid reason for not accepting the application: DLF Gardenscapes Pam Cuthbert, Port Coquitlam, Active Landscaper
(Interim)
Design First Landscape Services Sheri Reynard & Ray Armitage, Salmon Arm, Active Landscaper (Interim) Euroscapes Exterior Enhancements Corp. Jim Weatherhead, Coquitlam, Active Landscaper Healing Hands Landscaping Ward Hamrin, Burnaby, Active Landscaper Lucana Contracting Chris Schouten, Surrey, Associate (Interim) NK Marketing & Communications Norene Kimberley,
Vancouver, Associate
Charissa Steel Coquitlam, Student Mary Jane Duke Langley, Student
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IGCA Congress 2008
IGCA Receives Outstanding Support In between garden centre visits, our international visitors got into some mischief with their mascots. Here, the OASE Beluga bus gathered for a ransom shot with the captured Northwest Landscape Supply Moose. It wasn’t long before the Moose bus had their revenge, thanks George Kato who supplied a sturgeon fishing rod, and Louie Murgg, one of the Moose bus captains. The 50th International Garden Centre Association Congress was proudly hosted by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association in collaboration with the BC Landscape & Nursery Association last month, and would not have been possible without the dedication of our organizing committee and the support of our generous sponsors and participants. Special thanks to all whose assistance brought this unique professional development experience together: our industry sponsors, Brian Minter and the planning committee, our hosts and their teams whose businesses were in outstanding form, and of course, our delegates.
Organizing Committee
Brian Minter, Chair, Minter Gardens Lydia Couture-Comtois, CNLA Brenda Falk, Tanglebank Country Gardens Bill Hardy, Northwest Landscape Supply Stephen Head, Headlands Garden Plants Leanne Johnson, GardenWorks™ Janet Mathies & Debbie Ego, Cannor Nursery Lisa Minter-Bustin, Minter Gardens Joseph Salemi, CNLA Victor Santacruz, CNLA Karl Stensson, Sheridan Nurseries Mary Ann Van Den Berg, Trice Farms Pond & Garden Center Nico Van Der Pauw, Nico’s Nurseryland John Zaplatynsky, GardenWorks™ Renata Triveri, IGCA 2008 Coordinator
Tour Guides & Bus Captains
Miles Hunter, David Hunter Garden Centres Ltd. Leanne Johnson, GardenWorks™ Marvin Miller, Ball Horticultural Company Brian Minter, Minter Gardens Louie Murgg, Forevergreen Landscape Maintenance Nico Van Der Pauw, Nico’s Nurseryland
Hosts and Their Teams
Southlands Nursery Art Knapp Urban Garden Maple Leaf Garden Centre Marigold Nurseries Elk Lake Garden Centre GardenWorks™ Blenkinsop Cannor Nursery Victoria Tanglebank Country Gardens Nordic Nurseries Ltd. Cannor Nursery Abbotsford Minter Country Garden Store Minter Gardens Ninety-Nine Nursery Northwest Landscape Supply GardenWorks™ Mandeville GardenWorks™ Lougheed Holland Imports & Christmas Forever Trice Farms Pond & Garden Centre Triple Tree Nurseryland Art Knapp Plantland & Flower Shop Port Coquitlam
Our Generous Sponsors AmericasMart Atlanta
American Nursery & Landscape Association Ball Horticultural Company Birchmeier Sprühtechnik AG Burnaby Lake Greenhouses Ltd. Bylands Nurseries Ltd. City of Surrey and Mayor Dianne Watts Clearview Horticultural Products Inc. David Hunter Garden Centres E.V.L. Nursery Eddi’s Wholesale Garden Supplies Ltd. Fairfield Tree Nurseries Inc. Garden Centres Canada (CNLA) GardenRite Products Ltd. GardenWorks™ GM Canada Haney Pottery Sales Ltd. HortPortect Hub International TOS Ltd. Inline Nurseries Inc. Linnaea Nurseries Ltd. Minter Gardens & Country Garden Store Monrovia Nursery Company Nature’s Gold Northwest Landscape Supply Ltd. OASE Living Water (Canada) Premier Pacific Seeds Ltd. Qualitree Propagators Inc. Reimer’s Nurseries Ltd. TerraLink Horticulture Inc. Valley Garden Centre Ltd. Valleybrook Gardens Ltd. Van Isle Water Services Ltd. Van Noort Bulb Company Ltd. Watson Gloves West Creek Farms Ltd.
IGCA Congress Hardly a shy bunch, a few garden retailers cooled off in the Minter’s OASE swim pond. The first of its kind in North America, the swim pond kit is designed for smaller space gardens, and filters the water naturally. Garden retailers from 14 countries took away some smart ideas for their own stores, like Maple Leaf Garden Centre’s use of mailboxes to keep information sheets clean and dry in the nursery.
Congress visitors took a side-trip to Capilano Suspension Bridge for a closer look at the west coast’s natural landscape. Bus Captain, Leanne Johnson of GardenWorks™ (left), casts a wary eye while Koichi Akatsuka of Japan makes the crossing. Akatsuka and members of his Japanese garden centre buying group will host IGCA Congress in 2010.
Miles Hunter, captain of the HortProtect Otter bus, guards his mascot while rounding up the troops after a visit to Butchart Gardens Rebecca Wetselaar of CNLA sounds the bell signaling time to board the buses.
Marigold Nursery’s autumn offerings were in magnificent bloom; the garden centre grows much of its own products for resale, and is planning to open a second Vancouver Island location in the coming year. Carol & Guy Topping of Barton Grange Garden Centres in the United Kingdom share a laugh with the “Queen” at the Royal BC Museum; Her Comedic Majesty was on hand to invite delegates to IGCA Congress 2009, which will take place in and around Manchester, England.
2008 Delegates enjoyed the serenity of Trice Farms Pond & Garden, a shop that specializes in water gardening. Owners Mary Ann and Cor Van Den Berge recently installed this feature pond, along with an adjacent seminar room, to draw customers with learning opportunities and examples for their own ponds and garden projects.
The 50th IGCA Congress closed with a gala evening on September 12, but not before bus captains Louie Murgg and Nico Van Der Pauw auctioned off the mascots, raising upwards of $2000 for the furry friends. Candidates scrambled to fill stock pots with stunning container gardens in the IGCA’s first-ever, impromptu Iron Container Chef competition, sponsored by Nordic Nurseries Ltd. Left to right: “Iron Chef” Brian Minter was unseated by Norbert Langens of Germany, but not without a fight from Jacquie Courtright (USA) and Carol Topping (UK). Victor Santacruz of CNLA and John Zaplatynsky of GardenWorks™ offered hysterical commentary.
99 Nursery & Florist recreated show-stopping displays from VanDusen Garden Shows past. The merchandising and product quality of the Surrey shop created a buzz among guests. On hand was Mayor Diane Watts, who welcomed IGCA delegates to Surrey, and formally thanked Bob Lui and the team at 99 Nursery for their work in beautifying the city.
Michael Rahner of Flora Farm, one of the largest garden retailers in South Africa, wandered through Minter Country Garden Store. Rahner raved about the Canadian garden centre experience, saying that there was something to be learned from every store, no matter its size; he added that the passion and heart of BC’s garden centre owners was evident at every stop.
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From the Executive Director’s Desk
Take Control of Your Future Mark your calendar. Your BC Landscape & Nursery Association’s 55th Annual General Meeting is being held, by popular demand, in Whistler on November 13 and 14. The BCLNA executive and staff have planned a first-rate event to ensure business and pleasure are at their max. When associations are focused and have an engaged membership, they can be one of the most powerful avenues to bring about progressive change: changes that benefit you, the business owner and BCLNA member. The business environment is evolving
and changing at an ever-faster rate. Issues are becoming increasingly more complex and often move well beyond the capacity of the single business owner or manager. Purchasing patterns and stock levels are changing. There is an increased focus on the environment from both the public and the government; the fluctuating Canadian dollar continues to influence selling and buying; skilled staff shortages are the norm; regulatory plant health issues are now just part of doing business. All the while we are facing major increases in overall business costs, fuelled by rising commodity prices, worldwide. Despite market inconsistencies, BCLNA operates from an incredible position of strength. The growth and tremendous success of the BCLNA is the result of the
ongoing commitment and engagement of its members. Members who participate on key committees and sit on the board, and those who generously share their expertise and time on the industry’s behalf, know the difference their involvement makes in determining the course of the industry. The role of the association has never been more critical than it is today. Plan to attend the AGM to ensure that this forum continues to serve the best interests of the membership. You will meet face-to-face to discuss today’s and future issues, and elect an effective slate of directors and executives to guide the association forward. Don’t leave your future in someone else’s hands! Attend the BCLNA AGM and put your mark on it.
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BCMAL Report
Research Snippets Mustard Seed Meal Suppresses Weeds in Container-grown Ornamentals (HortScience 43(3):800-803) – Mustard seed meal (Sinapis alba ‘IdaGold’) was applied at 0, 113, 225, and 450 g/m2 to the surface of a soilless container media (40% pine bark, 40% peat moss, and 20% pumice) that was sown with 20 or 25 weed seeds. No visual phytotoxicity symptoms were observed on rose, phlox, and coreopsis transplants, and on established pasque flower plants up to 8 weeks after seed meal application. Seed meal was very effective at controlling the emergence and growth of annual bluegrass, creeping woodsorrel and, to a lesser degree, common chickweed. Only 1.7 annual bluegrass and 1.4 creeping woodsorrel seedlings emerged in the 225 g/m2 treatment, but most died soon
after emergence. The seed meal was also effective at controlling established liverwort. Necrosis of liverwort was observed 2 to 3 days following seed meal application. Four weeks after treatment, seed meal provided 83%, 93%, and 96% control of liverwort at the 113, 225, and 450 g/m2 rates, respectively. The authors concluded that mustard seed meal “has potential to be developed as a selective herbicide for annual weed control in ornamental containers.”
Phosphorus Rate, Leaching Fraction, and Substrate Influence on Influent Quantity, Effluent Nutrient Content, and Response of a Containerized Woody Ornamental Crop (HortScience 43(3):906-912) – The 4-month study evaluated whether
production factors could be altered to increase water and phosphorus uptake efficiency without sacrificing the growth of Skogholm cotoneaster. The factors studied included amending a pine bark-based substrate with 11% by volume of calcined clay or coarse sand, and 50% reductions in P application rate and in leaching fraction. The clay amendment increased substrate total porosity (4%), container capacity (6%), and available water capacity (4%), but decreased bulk density (31%) relative to the sand amendment. Plant mineral nutrient content (P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Mn) was greater in the clay- versus sand-amended substrate, perhaps due to improved retention of cations by clay relative to sand. For instance, P content increased 113% and 135% for tops and roots, respectively, when grown in clayversus sand-amended substrate. In
IN MEMORIAM
A
memorial gathering to honour Jack McConkey, founder of J.M. McConkey Company Inc., who passed away on Wednesday, September 3, will be held on Thursday, October 30 at noon at the Tacoma Yacht Club. Donations in Jack’s memory may be made to the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association’s scholarship fund; contact WSNLA at 1 (800) 672-7711 or email Jeanne McNeil, Executive Director, at director@wsnla.org. As the Pacific Northwest’s horticultural world mourns Jack’s passing, we also celebrate the fabulous man he was, and all that he did for the American and Canadian green industries through his foresight and innovative entrepreneurial spirit.
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BCMAL Report addition, the content of P in the substrate increased 332% when amended with clay versus sand. Total plant dry weight decreased 16% with the sand amendment and remained unchanged with the clay amendment when the P application rate was reduced 50%, and the P uptake efficiency increased 54% for clay and 11% for sand. A 50% reduction in the leaching fraction reduced cumulative container influent by 25% and effluent volume by 64% without affecting total plant dry weight. The trial demonstrated the clay amendment increases water and mineral nutrient buffering capacities of the substrate. The authors concluded that “clay may act as a slow-release form of P that reduces environmental impact while supplying the plant a portion of needed P.”
Clean Chip Residual: A Substrate Component for Growing Annuals (HortTechnology 18(3):423-432) – The study evaluated freshly processed clean chip residual (CCR) as a sustainable substrate to replace pine bark, which is declining in availability and increasing in cost. CCR is produced by grinding and hammer milling pine trees thinned from plantations in the southeastern US. CCR is roughly composed of 50% wood, 40% bark, and 10% needles. The study evaluated ¾-inch and ½-inch CCR and pine bark, and 9:1 and 4:1 blends with peat moss. The 100% CCR had the highest air space (44-47%) and lowest container capacity (38-42%) of the substrates. There was little variation in total porosity and bulk density, and no difference in substrate shrinkage between the substrates. Ageratum, salvia and impatiens were grown in the various substrates in #1 containers at two sites. Root ratings were similar among all treatments and no disease problems were encountered with any of the substrates. The growth of the annuals tested was comparable in the CCR and pine bark substrates. The results showed that freshly processed CCR is a potential alternative to pine bark.