HortWest 2011-12

HortWest B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association Publication

December 2011 / January 2012

An i nspire d BEFORE

& after

GROWER

OF THE YEAR

he t e v a S e!

Dat

2012

December 2011 / January 2012

Vancouver Convention Centre (West)

Show: September 19 – 20, 2012 Tours : september 21, 2012 www.CanWestHortShow.com For booth space contact suvan breen: sbreen@bclna.Com; 604.575.3516

EDITOR Sheila Keenan DESIGNER Uniquity Design ADVERTISING Suvan Breen | t. 604.575.3516 HortWest is the newsletter of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association.

For further information, contact us at: Suite 102, 5783-176A Street Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 6S6 t. 604.574.7772 | f. 604.574.7773 HortWest is owned by the BC 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 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 Hemlock Printers.

BCLNA DIRECTORY BARB NELSON Special Events / CanWest Assistant Manager | 604.575.3503 / bnelson@bclna.com Contact for: CanWest Hort Show, auction, golf tournament, AGM

DAVID ADKINS Landscape Industry Development Coordinator | 604.575.3510 / dadkins@bclna.com Contact for: Landscape issues including standards and bylaws, landscape certification programs, Landscape Awards of Excellence

HEDY DYCK Industry Development Manager 604.575.3505 / hdyck@bclna.com Contact for: Grower issues, education and labour, environmental farm planning, P. ramorum certification

HEIDI HENDERSON Membership Administrator 604.575.3502 / hhenderson@bclna.com Contact for: Membership services, CRM administration (Membee), CanWest registration

JOY DEMELO Landscape & Certification Administrator | 604.575.3501 / jdemelo@bclna.com Contact for: certification registration, landscape commodity events and meetings, Landscape Awards of Excellence

KAREN DE JONG CanWest Hort Show / Marketing & Communications Manager 604.575.3504 / kdejong@bclna.com Contact for: CanWest Hort Show, general marketing

LESLEY TANNEN Executive Director 604.575.3506 / ltannen@bclna.com Contact for: Board of Directors

MARVYN BROWN Finance Manager 604.575.3507 / mbrown@bclna.com MICHELLE LINFORD Program Administration Assistant | 604.575.3511 / mlinford@bclna.com Contact for: Canadian Nursery Certification Institute

SUVAN BREEN Sales Associate 604.575.3516 / sbreen@bclna.com Contact for: HortWest ad sales, CanWest Hort Show booth sales, event sponsorship

SVETLANA EDWARDS Accounting Assistant 604.575.3513 / sedwards@bclna.com

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT FACING CHANGE HEAD-ON: GOVERNANCE REVIEW Moving forward can be challenging and change can be an uncomfortable process. Our industry is in the midst of change and the BCLNA must also evolve and adapt. Without a new vision we risk the Association becoming irrelevant to its members and the groups that we deal with.

We had an interesting board meeting in October about governance and the role of the board in the Association. Brian Minter led the meeting and challenged us all to step back from our current positions and view ourselves as others would see us as an Association board. Then Brian eloquently tore apart our preconceived ideas and presented an alternate version of how a board should be structured and operate. He started with the Association’s mission statement which is: To provide an effective organization for meeting the needs of nursery growers, landscape professionals and garden centres, while progressively engaging relevant issues, to the benefit of the industry.

If you don’t know it, don’t worry, we couldn’t recall it either, as it was written years ago and has not evolved with the Association. So we need changes. We need a governance model that is a living, working model that addresses the needs and concerns of our members.

And now, we need a few good members to sit down and work through the Association’s challenges, keeping in mind its history, while assessing current needs and directing its future in line with the future of our industry. The Association will be recruiting members for its Governance Committee, chaired by Past-president Ruth Olde. So, when a BCLNA director calls you to participate, please say, “Yes.” P.S. Speaking of change... How do you like the new look of HortWest? We hope you like it.

Sandy Mathies, President B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association

BOARD SYNOPSIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011 The BCLNA’s membership tally now stands at over 600 paid members versus 465 at this time last year.

Treasurer Blair Veitch reported that membership revenues are close to projected and it is likely the Association will meet or exceed last year’s membership revenues. Membership packages are being sent out to 3,700 non-member companies. That membership drive will be followed by a phone campaign, starting with the largest companies. The 3,700 non-member companies are ones that were previously contacted about supporting BCLNA’s application to WorkSafe BC to assume the role of Health & Safety organization.

The board is considering a proposal

ON THE COVER: Pure Landscapes Ltd. turned a neglected, narrow yard into a welcoming communal space. See all the Landscape Awards of Excellence winners on pages 6 to 9.

to add a new membership category for non-horticulture organizations.

The aim would be to increase membership from organizations such as municipalities and other businesses, associations and organizations that want to have access to BCLNA

communications and events. The new category is proposed to provide a non-voting membership.

The CanWest Hort Show is likely to hit its projected profit. Total sales were not as high as projected, but

expenses were down as well. Staff have already started thinking up many new ideas for next year’s show, as planning for the 2012 show has begun.

At the request of growers, the Association continues to provide programs and information aimed at helping

growers to minimize input costs and maximize efficiency. Recently, this has included tours for growers of two high-efficiency companies. The most recent Growers’ meeting, at the end of November, included a panel of major nursery buyers and sellers on global and local trends. There was also a presentation from ACC Farmers’ Financial on accessing no- or low-interest funding for capital costs. Information on upcoming programs will be included, as always, in the BCLNA Growers Friday File e-newsletter.

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KEEP CURRENT JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 29 30 25 26 27 28 31 Landscape Ontario Congress Toronto Congress Centre www.locongress.com

CLT, CLP Written Exams at BCLNA office www.bclna.com

Agri-Food Industry Gala Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre | Abbotsford www.bcac.bc.ca

FEBRUARY

1 Growers’ Short Course Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre Abbotsford

Pacific Agriculture Show www.agricultureshow.net

BCLNA Fundraising Auction United Flower Growers Cooperative Assc. | Burnaby www.bclna.com

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show | Calgary, AB www.golfsupers.com/en/calgary2012

BC Home & Garden Show | BC Place bchomeandgardenshow.com

MARCH

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Canada Blooms Direct Energy Centre, Toronto www.canadablooms.com

Women's Arboriculture Conference Tigh-Na-Mara Resort Parksville www.womenarborists.ca

NEW MEMBERS Final Approval

The BCLNA welcomes the following new members as of the November 21, 2011, board meeting:

Tentative Approval

Amcore Enterprises Inc., Jeffrey Pan, Surrey, Associate

The following companies will become BCLNA members at the next board meeting unless a member provides a valid reason for not accepting the application:

Cinnabar Valley Farms Ltd., Tyler Heisterman, Nanaimo, Associate

Cascade Renewable Carbon Corp., John Sexton & Tracey Haugen, Surrey, Associate

Green Oasis Landscaping & Maintenance Ltd., Chris Behiels, West Kelowna, Active Landscaper (Interim)

Diversitree Plants Inc., Francois Ouimet, Chilliwack, Active Grower

Landscape Transformations, Erick Factor & Terry Brown, Vancouver, Active Landscaper

Moody Power Equipment, Andrew McClure & David Albert, Port Moody, Associate

Northern Grizzly Landscaping & Contracting, Jennine Brien, Langley, Active Landscaper

Pacific Northwest Propagators Inc., Jerome TerHaar, Rosedale, Active Grower

Specialties Robert Legault Inc., Robert Legault & Monique Larouche, Ste. Therese, Out of Province

Graeme Waine, City of Burnaby, Burnaby, Horticulturist

Silvana Mameli, New Westminster, Student SSL Enterprises Inc., Ali Liakat, Richmond, Active Landscaper 4 | HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Lucia Salazar, Victoria, Student

BCLNA NEWS BULLETINS RESTORATION PROJECT A SURE WINNER The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes excellence and effort for outstanding achievement in maintaining or promoting a sustainable, healthy environment. This year’s award goes to the Sat’atqwa7 foreshore restoration project, a joint project of the Cayoose Creek St’at’imc and the Lillooet Naturalist Society.

The Split Rock Native Plant Nursery in Lillooet.

NEW VANDUSEN VISITOR CENTRE ALIVE AND WELL BCLNA members got a glimpse at VanDusen Botanical Garden’s much-lauded new Visitor Centre in November.

Harry Jongerden, Garden Director for VanDusen Botanical Garden, treated members to a private tour of the Visitor Centre at the Landscape meeting.

The two groups have worked together over the past four years to restore a site on the banks of the Fraser River. The site was heavily affected by past industrial uses, 4x4 recreational use and illegal dumping. A nursery was also established as a direct result of the restoration work. The Split Rock Native Plant Nursery focuses exclusively on native plants suitable for the dry climate and soils of Lillooet and the surrounding region.

VanDusen Garden's brand-new Visitor Centre

Volunteers learning to plant for restoration project.

The Visitor Centre was created to be a vital centre of botany, horticulture and environmental learning, as well as a vibrant meeting place for cultural and social activities. The new centre includes enhanced visitor information services, an expanded gift shop and classroom space.

According to judges, this restoration project addresses the broad intent of the Environmental Stewardship Award. The long-term environmental, social and economic benefits of this project include community stewardship, educating youth for long-term cultural impact and opportunities for community education and involvement in addition to environmentally responsible planning and stewardship.

Honourable Mentions: Bylands Nursery, Kelowna, B.C. Clean Air Landscaping, Kelowna, B.C. Tracy Penner, Landscape Architect, Vancouver, B.C. Thank you to the award's sponsors: N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd. and Peel's Nurseries Ltd.

The centre was built to environmentally high standards and is expected to be Canada’s first certified Living Building, which means a building that causes no negative impact. Many BCLNA members were proud to talk of their contribution to the centre’s green roof project, including Grassmaster, Houston Landscapes and Cedar Rim Nursery.

The program also included Rick Cleghorn, from ECHO Power Equipment, who educated and informed members of the power blower bylaw in Vancouver. Cleghorn acknowledged the challenges of the bylaw. He showed various equipment options that are compliant to noise bylaws and discussed the importance of maintaining equipment to keep it compliant. Brian Ramor let the members know that Common Ground Alliance has just released the Best Practices Version 2.0. Copies will be available at various events. He also reminded members to be safe and call before you dig.

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HONOURING ACHIEVEMENTS HEADING

BCLNA 2011

LANDSCAPE

AWARDS

OF EXCELLENCE

The BC Landscape Awards of Excellence recognize the year’s finest landscape projects.

Projects range in value and scope and are judged by a panel of professionals from the horticulture industry.

Entries are not compared or evaluated against one another, but against criteria of excellence, on a points system. This allows diverse project types to be judged on their own merits and means there may be more than one Award of Excellence per category. Winning projects achieve an average score of 85 points out of 100 or better. No award is presented for categories where no entry meets the average score of 85 per cent.

Upper Levels Landscape Management Ltd. LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL This winning project has been 28 years in the making.

Lance Sharon, of Upper Levels Landscape, began work on the approximately 14-acre site, which includes three high-rise towers and a large parking garage, in 1983. The site was in very poor condition when maintenance work began. A key task was rebuilding the soil. Over the years, the site has slowly but surely become a real garden, which now teems with life. The site now boasts rich, living soil, healthy trees, shrubs, perennials, lawns and spectacular seasonal displays.

Wildlife, birds and insects have all returned and the gardens have become an oasis for residents. All of this has been achieved through professional and environmentally friendly maintenance techniques — all green waste is composted, no pesticides and very few synthetic fertilizers are used.

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Pure Landscapes Ltd. LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION, MULTI-UNIT RESIDENTIAL

Before

The concept was simple: create a communal space that could be shared by the residents of this urban residential complex. The challenge was to create a welcoming space on the long, linear site, which measures just 8.5-feet wide. Before Pure Landscape did its work, the site was overgrown and dysfunctional.

None of the residents could recall ever using their patios. Features of the installation include an outdoor kitchen, heavy-timber benches that stretch the length of the site and galvanized steel rain barrels that provide irrigation water. Plants were chosen that require little fertilizer and water, contributing to an ecologically sensitive landscape. Maintenance is largely done by residents themselves, which in itself is a success of communal placemaking. This once neglected backyard is now a vibrant space, well-used by residents.

After

This once neglected backyard is now a vibrant space, well-used by residents.

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HONOURING ACHIEVEMENTS Landscape 2000 LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL The client wanted a peaceful oasis. Landscape 2000, succeeded at that goal, with three levels of landscaped areas, a pergola that filters light, and a pond and fireplace to relax by. The project turned out just as the client had hoped and added functional living space to the property. The clients requested an existing fig tree, which provides privacy, be kept.

Before

After

The project turned out just as the client had hoped.

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Landscape 2000 LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL The client wanted a backyard for entertaining friends and guests. The challenge of this site was accessing the very steep and narrow backyard. The completed project includes water features and extensive stonework, which Landscape 2000 specializes in.

Key elements of the landscape installation include a fireplace and waterfall, as well as outdoor lighting, making it a perfect escape, day and night.

Landscape 2000 won two landscape installation awards, both for backyard projects in West Vancouver.

Before

After

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE SPONSORS.

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INDUSTRY BITS IN MEMORIAM Peter van der Zalm Feb. 2, 1931, to Oct. 26, 2011 Well-known and respected nurseryman Peter van der Zalm, the founder of Art Knapp Plantland in Surrey, passed away peacefully on October 26 with his children and grandchildren by his side.

Van der Zalm was born in Noordwijkerhout, Holland, and immigrated to Canada after the Second World War with his family. He started out in the produce business, with Fraser Valley Market, but it did not take long for him to get into the nursery and gardening business. In the late ‘50s, the Fraser Valley Market became Art Knapp Garden Spot.

Van der zalm had six children, all boys: Kerry, Jamie, Lonnie, Marty, Ted and Peter. Five are in the nursery business. He was also survived by his sister, three brothers, 15 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Elsie, and three siblings. Elsie and Peter were married almost 50 years. “He met her in California and brought her up to Canada, to a cabin with an outhouse, so the story goes,” said Kerry, adding that she apparently never complained once. He loved travelling with Elsie in their motorhome. After she died 10 years ago, his focus was on his garden. “He loved his garden and coming to work,” said Kerry. “He’d come in almost every day and then he’d go home and garden.” Kerry said his father’s love for his family included everyone at Art Knapp Plantland. “He treated his staff like family. They called him Papa Pete.”

A funeral mass was held for Van der Zalm on Nov. 1. Donations in van der Zalm’s name to a charity benefitting children would be appreciated, as he donated to a variety of children’s charities throughout his life.

funding for salaries and benefits up to $20,000 for a maximum of 12 months of work experience.

The deadline is Dec. 31, 2011.

For more information go online to www.agr.gc.ca/careerfocus, call toll-free 1-866-452-5558, or email careerfocus@agr.gc.ca.

VANCOUVER GREEN ROOF WINS PRAISE The green roof project at the Vancouver Athletes’ Village recently won an Award of Excellence from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

The award, recognizing integrated design and installation excellence, went to the landscape architecture firm of Durante Kreuk Ltd. for their work on almost 200,000 square feet of green roof.

BCLNA member Linnaea Nurseries Ltd. supplied plants for the green roof project.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Career Focus Program is accepting submissions for the 2012-2013 year.

The project incorporated rainwater harvesting, therapeutic considerations and sophisticated landscaping. Much of the landscape was designed to incorporate edible plants, to encourage residents to understand where food comes from, as well as support wildlife. Other plant material was selected based on its bee-attracting characteristics. The remainder of plant material is indigenous and adaptive plants, which have a high drought tolerance, greatly reducing water demand. The wide variety of plants and soil media depth (from 3” to 30”) has served the roofs well as a useful research site for BCIT.

The Career Focus Program is aimed at recent graduates in agriculture, agri-food, agri-food science and veterinary medicine, and aimed at employers with jobs in those areas. The program provides matching

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a membership-based industry association developing the green (vegetative) roof and wall industry in North America.

Visit www.greenroofs.org for more information.

CAREER FOCUS PROGRAM DEADLINE DEC. 31

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INDUSTRY BITS CREATIVE USE FOR SHIPPING RACKS One of Qualitree’s clients is taking recycling to the next level.

Qualitree Propagators Inc. recently received an email from Nick Borsellino, a receiver with Foliera, in Beamsville, Ontario, explaining that he has been using Qualitree’s wooden shipping racks for woodworking projects. “At this point I actually have a waiting list for people’s projects.”

His pieces are in demand, including eight jewellery armoires he needs to make before Christmas. Many Foliera staff have bought pieces from him.

Borsellino said in an interview with HortWest that over the past three years he has made over 70 pieces from the wood, including a roll-top desk, side tables, jewellery armoires, a wine rack and a tool bench.

Borsellino said he’s a long-time wood worker and is always looking for creative materials and ideas for projects. He started using Qualitree’s shipping racks about three years ago, which were initially made of pine and lately have been made of cedar.

“I get excited every time I see a rack come in the building.”

He even had a brand made, “Handcrafted by Nick Borsellino,” so he can sign his pieces.

More of Borsellino’s creations can be viewed on Qualitree’s Facebook page. Link to it from Qualitree’s Website: www.qualitree.com.

• Raw materials purchased in advance helps to ensure product consistency and availability.

Perfect Growing Media… Every Time Specializing in custom blended growing media for nurseries, greenhouses and rooftops ALL MIXES GO THROUGH A FINAL SCREENING PROCESS BEFORE DELIVERY. 42481 Industrial Way, Chilliwack, B.C. V2R 4H8 Ph 604-823-6688 Fax 604-823-7206 Email hjally@telus.net www.sumasgromedia.ca

• Multiple computers control the dosing equipment, increasing accuracy and speed. This makes it easier to offer competitively priced products.

• Non-invasive mixing equipment protects the structure and consistency of the media.

HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012 |

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11/30/09 11:14:40 AM

LANDSCAPE CLIPPINGS landscape industry

LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION Congratulations to the new CLTs and CLPs from the October 21st and 22nd, 2011 Landscape Industry Certification testing, held at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley.

Ornamental Maintenance Don Frantz, CLT Western Weed and Tree Care Andrew Allen, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc. Amber Mottle, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc. Trevor Radelet, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc. Frank Shang, CLT MRD Landscaping Inc. Vas Sladek, CLT Contour Landscaping Amro Yidegilgne, CLT Contour Landscaping

Softscape Installation Frank Shang, CLT MRD Landscaping Inc. Paul Aragones, CLT Premium Garden Esthetics Ltd.

Turf Maintenance Alex MacDonald, CLT Great Canadian Landscaping Co.

Certified Manager John Eckhardt, CLP LawnPro Landscapes Ltd.

certified

Here is what is coming in 2012: Written exams are scheduled to be held at the BCLNA office on Thursday, January 19, 2012. Visit www.bclna.com to register.

The Certified Landscape Manager, CLP workshop series will be coming in January. Watch the Friday Files or visit www.bclna.com for more details on the workshops and registration. Retailers interested in having their staff become Landscape Industry Certified will be pleased to know that the garden centre-specific exam has undergone its first major re-write since its inception. First released in the 1996-1997 season, the new Retail Horticulturist exam takes into account those skill sets determined through a recent occupational analysis, and improves its fit with today's garden centre staffing needs.

New practical modules have been included, which expand and adjust the focus on plant health, merchandising and signage, and which provide updated cash handling procedures. Watch for more details of the test coming soon. Â Thank you to all those who volunteered and to our sponsors: Premier Sponsor:

Facility Sponsor:

Silver Sponsors: HortEducation BC BC Safety Authority MRD Landscaping Inc. Station Sponsor: Para Space Landscaping Inc. Equipment & Material: Fraser Valley Equipment ECHO Kwantlen Creative Embroidery Finning Impact Canopies Canada Inc.

12 | HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012

BCMA REPORT COURSE WON’T COME UP SHORT ON IPM

By Dave Woodske, Industry Specialist, BCMA

Learn how nurseries across Canada are applying integrated pest management (IPM) practices at the 19th annual Nursery Growers’ Short Course on Feb. 1, 2012. The focus of the event is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is a decision-making process to suppress pests effectively, economically and in an environmentally sound manner.

Aspects of each of the five key elements of nursery IPM—sanitation, optimizing crop growth, monitoring for pests, knowledge of pest life cycles, and timely use of pest management tools — will be covered during the program.

The first presentation will summarize the findings of a series of trials on the control of spider mites on nursery crops using biological controls. The second will cover the steps recommended to establish an IPM program for Quebec growers.

Keynote Speakers

Additional Speakers

Mario Lanthier, of CropHealth Advising & Research, recently completed a project

Dr. Siva Sabaratnam, Plant Pathologist with the Ministry of Agriculture on the

on nursery IPM practices in Canada.

Lanthier visited nurseries across Canada to record the degree to which they were applying IPM practices. His interactive presentation will describe the IPM

practices being used by Canadian nurseries and will challenge attendees to think of how we can improve upon these practices.

Frederick Munn, West Creek Farms,

Caroline Martineau, Agroenvironment Specialist for the Quebec Center of Expertise in Ornamental Horticulture (IQDHO), will give two presentations.

Renee Priya Prasad, E.S. Cropconsult Ltd.,

importance of sanitation to prevent pests from gaining access to and spreading in your crops.

on the impact of physical and chemical properties of soil-less media on crop growth. on methods that scouts use to detect pests and beneficial organisms in nursery crops.

Dr. Janice Elmhirst, Elmhirst Diagnostics and Research, will share her knowledge

on the approaches that help identify the cause of plant disorders.

Peter Isaacson, National IPM/Minor Use Coordinator for CNLA , will discuss

approaches that growers can take to improve the success of beneficial organisms in nursery crops.

The course will be held at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre in Abbotsford on Feb. 1, 2012. For information, contact Hedy Dyck at (604) 575-3505 or hdyck@bclna.com.

18598 Advent Road Pitt Meadows, BC Canada, V3Y 2G8 Toll Free 1-800-471-4448 Phone: 604-465-7122 Fax: 604-465-8100 inquiry@specimentrees.com

specimen trees

WHOLESALE NURSERIES LTD.

www.specimentrees.com HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012 |

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GROWER OF THE YEAR COMPANY STARTED ON PAPER TURNS INTO SUCCESSFUL REALITY

By Sheila Keenan, HortWest Editor

Qualitree Propagators Inc. was recently awarded BCLNA’s Grower of the Year Award. Qualitree is run by the partnership of Tony Van Oort, Gary Neels, Henk Rozendaal, Gerrit Rozendaal, and Willem Neels. HortWest paid Qualitree a visit just before

Thanksgiving to learn more about the company’s success. It’s an overcast day in Chilliwack and Mount Cheam is obscured by covered by clouds and mist. Canada geese honk over head of Qualitree’s Rosedale location. They are preparing to fly south and Qualitree staff

members are preparing to put non-hardy stock into greenhouses for the winter.

Toby De Rover, one of Qualitree’s growers, crushes green leaves between his fingers. The strong smell is instantly recognizable as lemon verbena. Right now, it’s an experimental plant for Qualitree.

Tony Van Oort explains they have to experiment with it as it’s not a showy plant. De Rover has tried shaping it into a topiary. It might be five years before the experiments result in having a product to market. Trying new things is important to Qualitree. “We always want to be bringing in three to four new products per year because we want people to look to us as a propagator for the new thing,” said Van Oort. “We’re constantly trying new things.”

The company has strong ties to Europe and visit there at least three times a year to network with industry contacts.

“Europe is always 10 years ahead of us with industry trends.” Qualitree itself started as an experiment of a sort.

Company founders Van Oort and Gary Neels were students at UCFV (now University of the Fraser Valley).

“As part of the second year requirements, we had to do an enterprise project, basically create a business on paper.”

The pair decided to make the plan reality and turn it into a real business in 1994. “We built a 30 by 100 greenhouse on [Neel’s] father’s place and started propagating in there,” he said. “That’s where it started.”

Van Oort isn’t sure if any other of their classmates turned their paper business plans into a real business. He does know that ever since they graduated the course’s instructor has brought his class on a field trip to Qualitree every year. “I think he sees us as his little success story, which is cool.”

The company has experienced rapid growth and has a year-round staff of

14 | HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012

Gary Neels uses the Argus climate control system, installed throughout the nursery to control greenhouse climates, including lighting, humidity, heating, cooling, watering, misting and even outdoor irrigation.

The system gives Qualitree a great deal of control over irrigation levels, which can be fine-tuned and adjusted as needed. about 35 and seasonally up to 75. The company now owns 17 acres in Rosedale, leases another 20 acres next to it and owns or leases another three properties in the vicinity. “One thing we’re chronically short of is building space.”

Van Oort attributes the company’s success to several factors including following the ideas in the business book Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish. While the company has grown, the Rockefeller Habits espouses the idea of a one-page business plan that fits on a single 11” by 17” piece of paper. That single piece of paper includes a big goal for Qualitree: “To increase our revenue stream from young plants to 50 per cent of total sales.”

“Our goal is focused on becoming the best plug and liner supplier.” Another thing that Van Oort thinks makes Qualitree unique is its use of technology. “We try to use technology as much as possible. And I think that’s only going to become more and more important in the future,” he said.

Van Oort said when staff heard Qualitree had won the Grower of the Year award, they were over-the-top excited. “I feel that it was pay-off in a way for the team building that we’ve been working on so hard,” said Van Oort. “We feel very, very strongly that as a company, we’re only as strong as the team we have around us.”

Part of team building includes holding team meetings every morning right after coffee, said Van Oort. And by team, Van Oort doesn’t just mean partners or managers, he means the whole staff. “We’re one team.”

BCLNA’s Grower of the Year award is generously sponsored by:

All the greenhouses and the nursery are controlled with Argus climate control, which can be operated by computer or smartphone remotely, from anywhere.

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BEFORE & AFTER PARKING LOT PROJECT READY FOR THE RAIN

The City of Port Moody wanted to revitalize a portion of this 30-year-old parking lot as well as demonstrate how storm water could be dealt with in a more environmentally friendly manner by installing a rain garden. Engineering design of the project was done by Kerr Wood Leidal.

Polly Coad, Horticulture Supervisor for the City of Port Moody, and a staff member designed the garden. Her entire crew of eight did the planting and laid down the river rock. The city’s Operations Department did all the construction including excavation and drainage improvements.

The completed project, finished in June 2010, is visually pleasing and also helps mitigate the effects of runoff during heavy rainfall.

HortWest is looking for more Before and After projects to feature in upcoming issues, including landscape projects, upgrades or changes to nurseries, special or holiday displays in retail spaces—any project that shows a dramatic change.

Contact Sheila Keenan, Editor, for more details at 778-389-4035 or skeenan@bclna.com if you have a project you would like featured.

PHOTOS BY POLLY COAD

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FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVEOLPMENT UBC CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN GARDEN DESIGN The UBC Certificate in Garden Design focuses on residential garden design specifically for the Pacific Northwest region. The program, started in 1997, developed through a collaboration of the UBC Botanical Garden, UBC Landscape Architecture and renowned garden designer Ron Rule.

The program caters to those wanting to enter a career in landscape design, motivated amateur gardeners wanting to spruce up their own gardens, as well as professional landscapers, horticulturalists and those within the nursery trades looking for professional development.

The six-month certificate program operates on a part-time basis and classes are held in the evenings and on weekends, in addition to two, week-long intensives.

Drafting knowledge is recommended before entering the program and UBC Continuing Studies offers an introductory drafting course.

Students complete these five sequential modules to earn their certificate: • History and Theory of Garden Design (12 hours) • Drafting and Design Communication (26 hours) • Conceptual Garden Design (39 hours) • The Hard Landscape: Design, Details and Construction (42 hours) • The Soft Landscape: Design, Planting and Maintenance (35 hours) Above all, classes focus on practical “hands-and-eyes-on” teaching from instructors who have extensive experience working in the industry.

“I entered this program wanting to add more to my business and I certainly found it pretty overwhelming to balance out my classes with work, but it has been worth it.” says Nunzio Papalia, project manager at Alljobs Landscaping.

“The personal interactions with the instructors are a plus. It’s awesome to see what other people are thinking.

Overall, the course has helped me become more confident in communicating with landscape architects, [as well as] how to read plans, create drawings and renderings, and, above all, how to understand a client and create something they want.”

UBC Continuing Studies offers Garden Design Courses that supplement the program and are intended for further professional development.

Check out http://cstudies.ubc.ca/pd or call 604-822-1433 for course information.

18 | HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012

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HortWest Dec 2011/Jan 2012 |

19

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