Gardener News January 2016

TAKE ONE

Gardener News

January, 2016

Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 153

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Gardener News proudly bestows our 2015 “Person of the Year” to New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Alfred “Al” W. Murray, for the astonishing charm and charisma that he brings to the agricultural, farming, gardening and landscaping communities in the Garden State.

For over 33 years, Murray, a 54-year-old resident of Audubon, Camden County, and a former mayor of that borough, has gone above and beyond his call of duty, sometimes working well into the evening hours and on weekends to serve his communities. He is well respected and well received anywhere he goes. His knowledge and wisdom makes him an irreplaceable commodity. He has an incomparable level of professionalism and leaves no rock unturned.

Murray also serves as the Director of the Division of Marketing and Development for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, where he works closely with the directors of the Department’s other divisions to create additional coordination of resources and efforts.

Murray, a 1983 graduate of Susquehanna University

(Continued on Page 20)

2 January, 2016

G A R D E N C E N T E R D I R E C T O R Y GardenerNews.com

Got Rock Salt?

We Do… & Calcium, Snow Shovels, Firewood & Propane.

Hall’s Garden Center & Florist 700 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 908.665.0331 | www.hallsgarden.com

Thank you for a wonderful 2015 season.

See you in March!

The Biondi Family

Celebrating Our 70th Anniversary

601 Union Ave. Middlesex, NJ

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 3

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

I’m always hungry

Yes, I love good food. Who doesn’t?

As I travel around the Garden State with my duties as executive editor and publisher of Gardener News, lunch and dinner are almost always on my schedule. Different travel locations always determine how to feed my appetite.

First and foremost, I always try to schedule my North Jersey day around a Kings Food Market. Yes, Kings. They have one of the best delis around, with mouth-watering selections.

And most of them have a small dining area where I can enjoy my meal. And watch the Food Network on a large flat screen TV. On most days, I can grab a sandwich (made with Boars Head premium deli meats and cheeses), and a drink for under $10. And if I time it just right – no lines. I also know that everything is freshly sliced for my order.

One of my other lunch favorites is a freshly prepared Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

It’s grilled chicken breast, melted pepper jack cheese, roasted peppers and chipotle lime sauce on an artisan Italian roll.

When I’m feeling like a specialty food, I hit the Mediterranean influenced Mezze Bar. Now this is a real treat. Here are some of the delicacies that it offers: Yogurt Marinated Chicken (a “traditional” yogurt marinade keeps this chicken moist and tender). This version adds a bit of spice and hint of tomato to give it beautiful color and flavor; Carrot Slaw - a lightcreamy and refreshing carrot salad with plump, sweat raisins, a hint of mint, and a nice kick of rice wine vinegar; Horiatki - a “Greek” chopped salad. Fresh cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives and feta with red wine vinegar, parsley and olive oil; and Babbaganoush - a Mediterranean specialty made from the freshest eggplant that has been roasted, pureed, and mixed with a Middle Eastern seasoning blend. Each store has a different daily selection in their Mezze Bars. Again, that tells me everything is fresh at Kings Food Markets.

Attention landscape contractors and gardeners: Kings Food Market locations have large parking lots for your trucks and trailers. Let your crews know. They’ll love you for the great tip!

At the end of the day, I also try to plan my schedule around a Kings Food Market as well. The ready-to-go dishes they offer are artfully crafted by their chefs. And they taste deliciously fresh. Here are some of my favorites: Apricot Turkey Breast – an oven-roasted boneless turkey breast finished with a sweet and savory glaze of apricot and rosemary; Spicy Italian Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Butternut Squash – a spicy sausage paired perfectly with sweet roasted butternut squash and slightly bitter broccoli rabe; Lemon Caper Shrimp – it’s perfectly poached tender shrimp, chilled then tossed with an organic lemon vinaigrette, shaved fennel, capers, and parsley; Balsamic Herb Grilled Beef Flank Steak – a lean, thinly sliced beef flank steak that is lightly marinated with balsamic and herbs, then char-grilled quickly to a juicy perfection; and Italian Seasoned Flounder – this flounder is coated in breadcrumbs, perfectly seasoned with parmesan & Italian herbs. My mouth is watering as I’m writing this column. Yum! I also try to time it just right while I’m in Ocean County. A stop at The Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette is a must. And I get to visit with one of the paper’s columnists, Executive Chef Craig Korb. Right now I am craving his Buffalo Calamari. I always have it mild. It’s sliced thin and lightly breaded. And very tender. It’s topped with crumbled blue cheese, celery, tomatoes and red onion. This calamari dish, in my opinion, can’t be matched anywhere. He also makes a great blackened chicken sandwich with melted cheddar cheese. He tops it off with a chipotle ranch dressing and a side of coleslaw. The Southwest Chicken Salad, which is chopped grilled chicken tossed with romaine lettuce, homemade fresh salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, black beans, avocado, crispy tortilla strips and chipotle ranch dressing, is also a tasty dish. I also love the garlic Buffalo Wings.

When I’m in Atlantic City, and this is only when I’m at the Annual New Jersey Agricultural Convention, I stop at the Irish Pub, another eatery with affordable lunch and dinner specials daily. I always get the Corned Beef Special. They have good old-fashioned Apple Pie as well.

And lastly, when I’m in the mood for a fine dining restaurant that eloquently merges contemporary American fare with Italian influences, I visit Water & Wine in Watchung, Somerset County. This restaurant has an award-winning wine list, impeccable service and gorgeous lakeside views. I really love their Meat Balls, their Classic Shrimp Cocktail and their Organic Free Range Stuffed Chicken. Once in a while I also get the Aged Rib-Eye or the Ricotta Gnocchi Bolognese. Jimmy the maître d’ is the best.

Can you see why I love food?

I hope each and every one of you has a happy, healthy and a food-filled new year!

As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.

Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State.

-Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

Lyric Wild Bird Food

Gladly Accepting SNAP EBT Cards

4 January, 2016 How much do you think about the food you eat and its trip from the farm to your fork? Probably not a lot, because most of us are busy all the time.

We do not ponder the path of the foods that land on our family’s plates. For most Americans, we really just expect that we will have ample supplies of foodstuffs. It is available to us everywhere in abundance. Of course, we also know it was not always this way in earlier times in America, where in most communities farmers composed 30 percent of the workforce. Today, agriculture jobs are just 2 percent of the population.

So, the extraordinary supply of food is being produced by a very small segment of our citizens.

Our farmers are an amazing lot. When one stops to consider the steps involved to plan, plant, tend, harvest and distribute the crops and livestock they grow and raise, we can see that it is an immense undertaking. Truly, there is so much that has to be considered for a farm to be a profitable venture that provides income for its family as well as food,

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Pondering the Trip from Farm to Fork fuel, feed and fiber for the rest of us.

Farmers every day face the many pressures of weather changes, advancing pests, insidious diseases and fluctuating water tables. They also have to deal with tightening government regulations and sometimes misguided public perceptions amid a fickle marketplace. There are a lot of factors that can alter the outcome for the farmers and their families.

Most farmers are truly optimistic. We are now in January, the land is possibly frozen and farmers right now are fixing equipment, checking around the packing houses and planning for the spring crops. For some, 2015 was a good year, while others just got by. But when you hear them talking, they usually are

looking forward to a better outcome in the coming year.

Not only does it take enormous fortitude and hard work, it also takes serious talent and a positive attitude to make a farm a successful venture.

New Jersey boasts many significant pioneers in the business of agriculture. Some of the greatest discoveries and innovations sprang from the fertile minds of these individuals, such as Elizabeth White, who developed the commercial blueberry; John Deats, who invented the Deats Plow, and Charles Seabrook, who developed revolutionary new frozen vegetable packing concepts.

Today, as I travel our state, I have observed a new wave of innovation that is taking place and a huge focus is on new production techniques

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Keith Hernandez, a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played the majority of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets, looks over the December Gardener News at the New York Produce Show and Conference. Hernandez was a five-time All-Star who shared the 1979 National League MVP award and won two World Series titles, one each with the Cardinals and Mets. Hernandez is now a baseball commentator serving as an analyst for Mets’ television broadcasts on SportsNet New York (SNY). He’s become known for his colorful humor and commentary, as well as blunt outspokenness, behind the microphone.

and systems, reconfigured logistics and an emphasis on products not previously grown on a large scale in our state.

We’re seeing computer-run microfarms, mobile apps for farming operations and vertical farming.

To mention just a few, we are seeing changes in horticulture where magnificent varieties of colors are bursting onto the scene by our growers.

In fruits and vegetables, wineries are coming out with new varieties of grape and fruit wines to rival Old World and Western wines.

Heirloom varieties of just about every crop we grow also are coming onto the scene.

There are whole new classes of produce that have been added to the growing list of crops produced in New Jersey that were not seen here in the past.

In future issues, I will talk about some of them.

In the Department of Agriculture, it is very exciting that we get to witness firsthand the breadth and depth of the New Jersey farming experience. And the scope of all that is farming never ceases to amaze us.

While all these changes abound, one thing remains constant. Farmers love what they do and people love them for doing it. So, the next time you pick up your fork, ponder for a moment what it takes to get from the farm to you. We all should give thanks for the bounty that farmers provide.

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976.

For more info, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 5

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Governor Chris Christie Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher

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6 January, 2016

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Green Thumbs Invited to Let Knowledge Bloom at Rutgers Home Gardeners School A can’t-miss event for gardening enthusiasts for 40 years!

November 30, 2015 NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Gardening enthusiasts are invited to register for the upcoming Rutgers Home Gardeners School to be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at the Rutgers University Cook/Douglass campus in New Brunswick, N.J. This year marks the 40th offering of this annual event, which many attendees come back for year after year!

Designed to offer “something for everyone” seeking a greener thumb, the Rutgers Home Gardeners School is made up of 35 individual workshop sessions covering a wide array of horticulture topics. This format allows attendees to select the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests in order to create their own unique, customized schedule for this fun day of learning. Dynamic speakers from commercial horticulture and landscape design firms, as well as faculty and staff from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), provide attendees with valuable opportunities to learn from seasoned professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Workshop topics for the 40th Annual Home Gardeners School include perennial favorites, such as canning fruits and vegetables, easy drip irrigation, composting, and pruning, as well as 21 brand new offerings to keep the content fresh and timely for returning attendees. Subjects for the new workshops include basic soil science, great garden day trips, plant propagation, and flowering shrubs, to name just a few.

For those looking to grow their skills through interactive experiences, this year’s Home Gardeners Schools offers a demonstration workshop (featuring a small paver project) and two hands-on workshops (covering repotting/maintaining orchids and fresh flower arranging). A special lunchtime keynote discussion will focus on the work being done at Rutgers to rediscover flavor in strawberries and tomatoes, presented by William Hlubik and Peter Nitzsche of RCE. The registration fee for this event is $75, but a special early registration discount price of $60 is being offered through March 5. An additional discount is also available for Master Gardeners.

Participants can purchase a $10 box lunch when registering or bring their own bag lunch. Pre-registration is recommended.

For more information or to register, visit www.cpe.rutgers. edu/hgs or call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 848-932-9271.

Rutgers EcoComplex Awarded USDA Grant to Study Feasibility of Renewable Energy from Food and Animal Waste The Rutgers EcoComplex was awarded a Rural Business Development Grant of $19,000 by the USDA Rural Development Office to perform a technical and economic feasibility study of co-digestion of food waste and dairy manure at Fulper Family Farms, located in West Amwell Township.

Announcing the grant was Howard Henderson, the state director of USDA Rural Development Office, who was joined

by New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher at Fulper Farm on Nov. 23 to also award a $250,000 USDA grant to Fulper Family Farms to expand its dairy product line.

While the ultimate goal is to spur rural development and job creation in Hunterdon County, the grant to the EcoComplex, a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), will study the feasibility of mixing food waste and animal manure in an anaerobic digester to produce renewable energy in the form of biomethane, explained Dave Specca, assistant director of the EcoComplex, who accepted the grant on behalf of Rutgers.

A recent “Assessment of Biomass Energy Potential” performed by the Rutgers EcoComplex, found that New Jersey residents dispose of more food waste per square mile than any other state in the U.S., most of which ends up in landfills.

GardenerNews.com

From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. Sr. Associate Director

Home Energy Conservation- Part II Quick Fixing and Easy Solutions to Save Energy and Money Part I appeared in the December issue and covered energy savings through detecting and sealing air leaks, maintaining and controlling HVAC systems and lighting efficiency. Here we will look at additional areas of the home that consume energy, and changing family habits.

Use Appliances Efficiently: If planning to buy new appliances and other electrical equipment, choose products with the ENERGY STAR® logo. In order to save more energy for your existing appliances: Set your refrigerator temperature at 38-42oF and freezer at 0-5oF. Use the power-save switch if it has one. If the door gasket seals can’t hold a dollar bill firmly that means the gaskets need to be replaced.

Do not pre-heat the oven or open the oven door more than necessary to avoid heat loss.

Check oven door seals; and use the microwave for cooking and heating when possible.

Do not use the dishwasher pre-wash cycle and run full loads using short cycles and airdrying mode.

Choose front-loading washing machines when purchasing. Using cold-water washing can save you 50 cents a load. To remove most of the moisture before drying, set the fastest spin cycle if the setting is available. Drying clothes consumes 2 percent of our nation’s entire electricity consumption. To improve drying and save money, clean the lint filter after each use, and dry heavy and light fabrics separately.

Reduce Heat Loss from Fireplaces: Properly maintain your fireplace to make sure that it serves as a heating source and not a heat and money-wasting outlet. Always keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Remember that open dampers act like an open window and it allows warm air to rise and escape through the chimney. Check the seal on the fireplace flue damper to make sure it is snug. If you never use the fireplace, consider sealing the chimney.

Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room. Purchase grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room. Opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if available) or opening the nearest window slightly--approximately one inch--and closing doors leading into the room will reduce heat loss. Caulk the fireplace hearth. Always practice safe indoor wood burning.

Developing Energy-Saving Habits and Being a Role-Model to Family on Energy Efficiency These habits will help not only adults to save energy and money but also set the example for children to help them understand the importance of energy savings, being economical and saving the environment.

Switch off /Unplug: Make a smart habit to switch off all lights and devices when they are not in use. Unplug seldom-used appliances like an extra refrigerator in the garage. Enable “sleep mode” and “hibernate” features on home computers to use less energy when inactive.

Be careful with enabling screensavers since they increase your computer’s energy consumption by forcing it to work harder. Utilize smart power strips so you can easily switch off multiple devices when they are not in use. As much as 23 percent of the power used in homes is wasted through stand-by or always–on vampire power feeding plugged-in electronics and unused appliances.

Control the Temperature: Controlling the temperature of your home, especially during the day when most of the household is either at work or school is an important energy saver.

In winter, set the thermostat to 68oF or less during the daytime and 58oF before going to sleep. During the summer, set the thermostat to 78oF or more to save energy and money. Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120-130oF. Higher settings increase utility bills and water heated hotter than you can stand requires remixing with colder water. Use sunlight wisely by leaving the shades and blinds open on sunny days but closed at night to reduce heat loss through windows.

Use your TV and Gaming Gadgets Efficiently: Purchase TV models that meet the ENERGY STAR® Version 7 to make sure that new-model TV was not the first-to-market product and is in fact optimized for energy savings. Choose Internet-ready TV for streaming video, and if your TV does not have that feature, consider buying an add-on device to achieve that. Avoid streaming video though game consoles. Disable your TV’s “Quick Start” feature.

Un-plug cable boxes in the guest room or vacation home, since cable boxes still draw full levels of power even when you think they are off. Enable the power-down feature on game consoles. Disable the “instant-on” option and select the “energy saving” option to avoid power consumption when not in use.

Implementing many small energy saving strategies can add up to big savings on your utility bills.

Editor’s Note: This month’s column is written by Dr. Serpil Guran, Director of the Rutgers EcoComplex Clean Energy Innovation Center, located in Bordentown, NJ.

GardenerNews.com Information. How do we get it? How do we use it? How do we know if it is real? In this age of information, how do we know whether or not our information can be trusted?

With so much information only a couple of clicks away, how can we tell who is really behind its dissemination? These are all questions that we as a society must grapple with.

Just as with everyone else, the way in which farmers get information has changed quite a bit over the past 100 years.

Probably the biggest factor in the rise of agricultural information here in the United States came about because of the formation of the land grant colleges and the development of the Cooperative Extension system. These universities developed programs where research was conducted and then shared them with growers using county agricultural agents and specialists whose job it was to get it into the hands of farmers who would then be able to implement this knowledge on their farms.

From the mid-19th Century until now, this system has provided farmers with cutting edge, unbiased information

January, 2016 7

and perform many of the functions that used to be done

by Extension. But then some The Town Farmer might say that it is difficult to get truly unbiased research from

By Peter Melick a private company who might have a vested interest in the Agricultural Producer outcome of a product.

Only time will tell. But one story that was told to me by Information and how we use it the noted agricultural journalist which has helped to form the me by Ernie Christ, who headed became more mechanized, Orion Samuelson speaks American agricultural industry the pomology department at however, there were fewer and volumes. He said that during into the most productive and Rutgers back in the 1980s. He fewer people making their living his many visits with agricultural efficient food production told me that back in the 1930s, from agriculture. As a result of leaders from other countries, the complex on the face of the Earth. specialists would go around the this, there was less importance one the thing that they want to This did not happen state doing fruit tree pruning placed on many of the extension know is how they can develop overnight, however. It took demonstrations. On one such programs around the country, an agricultural experiment years and years of conducting excursion to Hunterdon County, and governmental support for system similar to what we have field trials, doing research, and a local farmer agreed to let them them has waned because of here in the United States. providing this information to use some of the trees from his this. And with this decrease in farmers until our country was orchard for a demonstration. support comes less funding for Editor’s Note: Peter Melick able to reap all of the benefits After the extension specialist research and implementation. is co-owner of Melick’s Town There are many arguments Farm in Oldwick and a of a safe and modern food pruned one of the farmer’s production system. Experiments trees, the farmer walked over, that can be made concerning 10th-generation New Jersey were done to determine which studied it for a bit, and then the effects that this will have on farmer. Peter is a current crops did well in certain proceeded to cut the tree down, American agriculture. Some will member of the Tewksbury areas of the country, as well thereby showing exactly what say that without this foundation Township Committee, and a as formulating new uses for he thought of these newfangled of research and learning, we former Mayor of Tewksbury are destined to take a step back, Township. He also served as these crops. And as American pruning techniques.

But by and large, the advice both technologically and in a director for the New Jersey agriculture grew, the agricultural extension system grew with it. from the agricultural extension terms of productivity. Others Farm Bureau and is a past Because farmers tend to be centers was well received might say that our agricultural president of the New Jersey somewhat skeptical, they were throughout the country and the industry is large enough where State Board of Agriculture. not always so welcoming to American farmers were able it can support itself in these Peter has also been featured on new ideas. One funny story to become the most productive endeavors and that private NJN, News 12 New Jersey and concerning this was related to in the world. As agriculture concerns can pick up the slack on the Fox Business Network.

In Memorandum Mary Jane Willis 1948-2015

Mr. Henry A. Dreyer Jr. 1943-2015

Associate Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Mary Jane Willis (1948–2015), who for more than 40 years has served RCE with diligence and dedication, passed away on December 5, 2015.

Mary Jane’s outstanding service to RCE began as an extension home economist in October 1975, a position she held until she became a Foods and Nutrition Program Leader from 1980-1989. Thereafter, she held several administrative positions of increasing rank within RCE, including serving as the interim chair of both the Department of 4-H Youth Development and the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences over the course of her long career at Rutgers. In July 1994, Mary Jane was appointed as Associate Director of RCE, providing administrative leadership for personnel management, civil rights and affirmative action, as well as responsibility for state and federal reports, among other duties.

In her capacity as associate director, she had the responsibility of serving as administrator of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), a position she held since 1994. She oversaw implementation, and program and fiscal management, as well as reporting and accountability for EFNEP in New Jersey.

She was also tasked with the responsibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) as its administrator since 2007. In that capacity, she provided administrative leadership and oversight to this multi-million dollar program. She remained administrators for both programs until her death.

Director of RCE Larry Katz spoke to her dedication and her character in announcing the news of Mary Jane’s passing to the Cook community.

“I could think of no more dedicated and helpful colleague who initially guided me in my transition into this position and who supported me unwaveringly for the last eight years. Mary Jane will forever live for me as a guidepost to do more for our communities, especially those who represent our under-served brothers and sisters.”

“Her heart and soul was in Rutgers Cooperative Extension and she will be so sorely missed,” he added.

Mary Jane earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Home Economics from Montclair State University, and served as a Home Economics teacher in the Newark school system from 1971 to 1975, before beginning her long and dedicated service to Rutgers.

Henry Arnold Dreyer Jr., 72, who co-owned the legendary Dreyer Farm in Cranford , died December 4 in Overlook Medical Center, Summit, New Jersey.

At an early age, Henry and his brother, John, joined their parents, the late Henry Sr. and Henrietta, in working at the now century-old farm on Springfield Avenue. Thanks to Henry’s broad knowledge and love of agriculture, Union County residents have been faithfully buying their plants, fruits and vegetables there for four generations.

Henry Dreyer was especially proud of the quality of the chrysanthemums he produced by the thousands in the farm’s numerous greenhouses. Many of them were bought for large displays at the World Trade Center and Rockefeller Center. Friends fondly recalled how he spent months before Christmas making countless bows by hand which adorned wreaths and other holiday decorations sold at the farm.

John Dreyer, whose daughter, Jessica Dreyer Costello , is deeply involved in the farm’s recent expansion into new consumer service areas , said of his brother, “Farming was Henry’s life. He totally enjoyed what he was doing and was proud to be a farmer during the times when being a farmer wasn’t as cool as it is to be one today.”

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Henry Dreyer spent virtually all of his life in Cranford, and served the community as a township committeeman for several years before being elected to a one-year term as mayor in 1980. Tom O’Brien, a close friend who served as political campaign manager during those years, observed, “Henry was a gentle giant of a man who was a true son of Cranford. He will be remembered for his wit, wisdom and judgment. He especially was supportive of young people through their rite of passage into adulthood.”

During the off season, he and his wife, Carol, enjoyed vacationing at their home in Longboat Key, Florida, for many years. “Henry cherished those moments when we sat on the lanai having margaritas and watching the sunset,” she said.

His involvement in agriculture and politics led to service on boards of many groups, including the Cranford Planning Board, New Jersey Soil Conservation Committee, Union County Board of Agriculture, New Jersey Farm Bureau and the United Counties Trust (now Wells Fargo).

A Cranford High School graduate, Henry received a degree in political science from Gettysburg College and was a life member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also did graduate work at East Stroudsburg University.

In addition to his wife, Carol Bernard Dreyer, he is survived by two sons, Henry A. III and Brett B. and his wife, Nicole; three grandchildren, Shea, Ava and Teddy Dreyer; his brother John and his wife.

Martha, and their two daughters. He was predeceased by his son Henry’s wife, Deirdre O’Connor Dreyer.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America.

8 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Come celebrate our 50th Anniversary, as we go back to the 60’s and join us for...

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Sounds pretty amazing doesn’t it? Well, I can tell you from a lifetime of experience that it is. Unfortunately, most people would think that this is an advertisement for a high-tech or pharmaceutical company, not a job opportunity working in the green industry, which it is. The reality is that if you asked somebody what green industry professionals do, you’ll hear answers like: mow grass, plant trees, prune shrubs,

install hardscapes, fertilize lawns and rake leaves. Essentially, blue-collar work best suited for high school dropouts and ESL immigrants. Certainly not college educated businessmen and women working on the forefront of a continuously emerging industry. As if?

There is a common misconception that careers in the green industry are only for the have-nots. People who couldn’t cut it in the real world and just needed to make a living. Or maybe someone who was good with their hands and needed to work until they could find a real job.

Work boots, blue jeans and work gloves, along with a strong back and hopefully a drivers license, being the only requirements for success.

Like many stereotypes, there is some truth and historical context to this perception but also, like most stereotypes, this perception applies to a small percentage of

people in our industry. I know this because I have worked in the landscape industry for over 40 years and have seen it mature from long haired, T-shirt wearing landscapers into a multi-billion dollar industry with publically traded companies and more mergers and acquisitions than the banking industry.

The sky is the limit when it comes to careers in landscape.

Look at the incredible growth in green roofs and green walls, agriculture and agri-tourism, turf-grass development and maintenance, plant propagation and hybridization, along with the growing need to manage our water supplies, just to name a few. You would be hard-pressed to find any industry that does not relate to, or interface with, the landscape industry in some way, shape or form. That’s why, regardless of what your goals are, the green industry has incredible opportunities waiting for you.

Interested in medicine?

We’ve got indigenous plant material just waiting to be exploited to find a cure. Thinking about becoming an attorney?

Between legislative issues, tort reform, land use and your run-ofthe-mill lawsuits, we’ve got you covered. How about engineering, computer science, environmental psychology, golf course design and management, natural resource preservation, etc., etc., etc.? All I can say is, yes, yes and yes.

So if you know somebody looking for an exciting career path with incredible potential, they need not look any farther than the green industry. They may not even have to get their hands dirty, unless they want to.

Editors Note: Jody Shilan, MLA provides landscape design services for landscape contractors and homeowners.

Jody is also a professional speaker, green industry consultant and host of radio talk show, Landscape Live!

He has a BSLA from Cook College, Rutgers University and an MLA from The University of Massachusetts and is currently the Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or jshilan@NJLCA.org

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 9

Landscape Contractors Recognized for Excellence The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) held their 2015 Landscape Achievement Awards and Holiday Gala on December 1 at Macaluso’s in Hawthorne, N.J. Forty-four projects were entered into the competition and 34 winning projects were awarded.

The Landscape Achievement Awards are designed to acknowledge landscape professionals who execute quality landscape projects. In sponsoring the awards program, the NJLCA of Elmwood Park, N.J., a statewide landscape association, strives to recognize quality landscaping projects and to encourage landscape contractors’ consistent use of quality materials and workmanship.

Entries were judged by a panel of landscape architects, plant experts and former nationally recognized contracting firm owners. The names of entrants are kept from the panel of judges, so as to not affect the decision-making process.

The following were 2015 NJLCA Landscape Achievement Award Winners: Landscapeworks Inc. (Hawthorne, N.J.) for the 9/11 Memorial Garden, the Award of Merit in Maintenance, Commercial/ Industrial; Horizon Landscape Company (Wyckoff, N.J.) for the Yazdi Residence, the Award of Distinction in Maintenance, Residential: Todé Landscape Contractors, Inc. (Midland Park, N.J.) for the Stritmatter Residence, the Award of Distinction in Maintenance, Residential.

Also: Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors (Flanders, N.J.) for the Peapack Gladstone Residence, the Award of Excellence in Maintenance, Residential; Horizon Landscape Company for Phillips Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/ Build, Nightscaping/Lighting; Monello Landscape Industries (Wayne, N.J.) for the Cupola Courtyards, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Nightscaping/Lighting; Exclusive Stoneworks (Lyndhurst, N.J.) for the Sutton Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Outdoor Construction; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development (Midland Park, N.J.) for the Ameres Residence, the Award of Distinction Design/Build, Outdoor Construction; Scenic Landscaping (Haskell, N.J.) for the Miami in New Jersey Project, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Outdoor Construction.

Also: Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors for the Rooftop Garden Project, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Outdoor Construction; Limone Farm and Gardens (Teaneck, N.J.) for the Finkel Project, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Ponds/Water Features; Premium Aquascapes (New Milford, N.J.) for Janine’s Dream Pond, the Award of Excellence in Design/ Build, Ponds/Water Features; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the Connors Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Poolscapes, up to $100,000; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the Nesland Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Poolscapes, up to $100,000; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the McKeon Residence, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Poolscapes, $100,000 - $300,000; Also: Scenic Landscaping for the Pool Carved Into a Mountain Project, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Poolscapes, over $300,000.

Also: Todé Landscape Contractors for the Kane Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, up to $25,000; American Beauty Landscape Design, Inc. (Paramus, N.J.) for the Residential Entrance Path Project, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, up to $25,000; Todé Landscape Contractors, Inc. for the Wyckoff Hardscape Project, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, up to $25,000; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the Kelly Residence, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, $50,000 - $100,000; Sponzilli Landscape Group (Fairfield, N.J.) for the Sapienza Residence, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, $50,000 - $100,000; Monello Landscape Industries for the Cupola Courtyards, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, over $100,000; Scenic Landscaping for the Backyard Oasis Project, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Hardscape Installation, over $100,000.

Also: Young’s Landscape Management, Inc. (Moorestown, N.J.) for the Caruso Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/ Build, Complete Property Installation, $25,000 - $50,000; Horizon Landscape Company for the Ferrone Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, $50,000 - $100,000; Young’s Landscape Management, Inc., for the Caprarola Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, $50,000 - $100,000; Horizon Landscape Company, for the Veights Residence, the Award of Merit in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, $50,000 $100,000; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the Ameres Residence, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000; Siciliano Landscape Company (Red Bank, N.J.) for the Beechwood Bungalow Project, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Complete Property Installationl over $100,000; Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development for the Willkomm Residence, the Award of Distinction in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000; Scenic Landscaping for the Elegant Estate Project, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000; Town and Gardens, Ltd. (Long Island City, N.Y.) for the West Village Townhouse Garden, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000;Wicklow and Laurano Landscape Contractors for the Brookside Residence, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000; Town and Gardens, Ltd. for the Central Park West Penthouse Terrace, the Award of Excellence in Design/Build, Complete Property Installation, over $100,000.

Design/Build projects are judged on design creativity, quality of work performed, and quality of plant material and/or hardscapes used. Maintenance projects are judged on quality of work performed, including bed edging, lush lawns, pruning and cleanliness.

In addition, NJLCA gave awards for Contractor of the Year to Michael McMorrow of VIP Landscape (Wall, N.J.) and Dan Kindergan of Kindergan Landscaping (Bergenfield, N.J.); Associate of the Year to Central Salt (Elgin, Il.) and York Trailers (Butler, N.J.); as well as a Volunteer of the Year Award to Richard Goldstein of Green Meadows Landscape (Oakland, N.J.).

For more information on the Annual Landscape Achievement Awards or the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association, please visit www.njlca.org or call (201) 703-3600.

10 January, 2016

Once again, my older sister Kathleen was sharing some interesting information with me and I had her write it down.

From Kathleen: To keep your cut Christmas tree as vibrant as possible, I learned something interesting from the Christmas tree farmer’s wife. Before watering your tree, boil the water first, let it stand for five minutes and then water the tree!

This will keep the sap from getting hard and allow for the water to go up the bark!

Cold water hardens the sap, clogs the tree’s nutrient transport system and makes your tree die much quicker.

Christmas tree lesson #101.

Now, enjoy your tree well into the new year!

From Richard: To further understand how the nutrient transport system works, plants of all kinds have an effective system to absorb, translocate, store and utilize water. You first need to understand the plant’s plumbing. Plants contain a vast network of conduits, which consists of xylem and phloem tissues. This pathway of

GardenerNews.com

The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

“All Kinds of Uses for That Tree” water and nutrient transport can be compared with the vascular system that transports blood throughout the human body. Like the vascular system in people, the xylem and phloem tissues extend throughout the plant. These conducting tissues start in the roots and transect up through the trunks of trees, branching off into the branches and then branching even further into every leaf, or in the case of your Christmas tree, every needle.

From Kathleen: Typically a week or so after Christmas, when the Christmas tree is dropping a lot of needles, sweep them up and save them in a shallow pan or bowl to continue drying. I also sweep up and save the

pile of needles I get when we drag the tree outside after de-trimming. When the needles feel dry and a little crunchy, scoop them into small cloth bags and tie tightly or use squares of cloth with a scoop in the middle. A rubber band under the string or ribbon will make it extra secure. These sachets are wonderful for making everything in drawers and closets smell woodsy and forest fresh. I like balsam the best, but other needles are fragrant too. Just crush a few and see if they have a good smell. And after a month or so, re-sniff the sachet and if its pungency needs rejuvenation, a few crunches should do it. Any remaining boughs on the tree that have needles can

be cut off and placed over flower beds for winter protection. I usually put a layer of the balsam branches along the house foundation, over the day lily bed, since they are the first to sprout in the spring and need a bit of cover for the still freezing nights. That’s what I do to re-purpose the Christmas tree!

From Richard: And, I also cut the tree trunk up and use it in the fireplace.

Even though it is not the typical hardwood I burn for heat, it does add a festive snap, crackle, pop for a brief time and that is enjoyable as well on a cold winter’s night. Firewood Tidbit: It does not matter what kind of wood you burn: as long as it is really, truly seasoned. In the case of

hardwoods, especially oak, they must be seasoned for over one full year. If you’re wondering about which type of wood is really the best, or what causes the least creosote to build up, the answer is the same.

Speaking of my fireplace, I re-parged the back wall about 18 inches high this summer because, on closer examination, I noticed that there were through and through cracks between the bricks where the mortar was no longer and some of the brick facie had actually cracked off. I used a high heat, over 2,000 degrees, furnace cement that adheres to metal and masonry and was very happy to see that my local hardware store carried it in three different sizes, because it is pricey.

Certain brands take longer to cure, so make sure you read the instructions very well before lighting that first fire of the season.

Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Check out Richard’s photography at; rwperkinsphotography.com

GardenerNews.com “He saw potential in plants and in people, profoundly influencing lives and altering careers and personal directions” (Chlorophyll In His Veins; J.C. Raulston, Horticultural Ambassador).

Bobby Ward’s literary work Chlorophyll In His Veins, describes the man J.C. Raulston, who was responsible for building the J.C. Raulston Arboretum and putting North Carolina State University on the world’s horticulture map. For those of you who don’t know, J.C. Raulston, he was the late N.C. State University professor and his legendary efforts warrant him as our “Horticultural Ambassador.”

J.C. should always be seen as a national treasure, as his contributions were colossal.

One gift J.C. Raulston is responsible for a tree he brought back with him, to the United States, during a 1985 expedition to the Korean Peninsula. The stunning Korean Sweetheart Tree, Euscaphis japonica, is a tree that conjures up images, for me, of the Wheel-tree, Trochodendron aralioides,

January, 2016 11 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

My Korean Sweetheart and Seven-son Flower, Heptacodium miconioides. I say these because the thick, lustrous, leathery texture of the Wheel-tree’s foliage, combined with the folding leaves of Seven-son Flower, are rarities that speak to the beauty of the Korean Sweetheart Tree.

Euscaphis japonica is a small- to medium -sized tree that, because of its scarcity, has never made it into the mainstream of American gardens. And that is a tragedy, because this small beauty has so many wonderful attributes!

It is aptly named Korean Sweetheart Tree, because of its rose-red pods that look like tiny, little hearts as they open.

Broad ivory-yellow flower panicles appear in June and are followed by these showy fruits in early-autumn. As

these red pods open, they become even more dramatic, revealing large shiny blueblack seeds.

Another attractive asset of Euscaphis is its bark, with white striations against, what can be purplish-brown markings. This was one of J.C. Raulston’s favorite exotic tree introductions.

Unique horizontal branching helps make this small wonder a bit easier to identify as it matures. Tolerant of drought, a wide variety of soil types and being “hardy” in zones 6-9 should thrust it to stardom.

However, mysteriously hard to find and a connoisseur’s treasure simply won’t allow that to happen yet.

This lovely small tree is also virtually untouched by pests or disease and the young buds are a Korean

delicacy. Birds and other wildlife cherish the fruit and butterflies flock to it. Finally, the wood from this tree contributes to fine furniture, and various plant extracts yield soap, tannins and medicinal components.

Expect Euscaphis to grow roughly 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide and site this jewel where it will appreciate full sun to noticeable shade.

J.C. Raulston brought back this botanical anomaly to North Carolina in 1985 and it has since flourished.

Another famous plantsman, Don Shadow, has been credited for penning Euscaphis’s common name.

Propagation has made this tree an almost impossibility to find and heavy fertilization is said to ensure its success.

In 1993, the Scott Arboretum

Winter: What Happens To The Insects?

By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. Winter can be quite harsh on humans, animals and insects and their arthropod relatives. If you think you’ve ever had a bad winter, you might want to see the movie The March of the Penguins. I would even suggest you encourage your employees and their families to see this award-winning movie. Morgan Freeman narrates this epic adventure and the movie details the

Warner Brothers Studios and National Geographic Films/Photo

Emperor penguins starting their 100-plusmile trip to find a mate and raise a family.

hardships that the Emperor penguins endure as they take their annual 100-plus mile trip to find a mate. In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins so the penguins find the perfect mate and start a family. We know from experience that insects survive the winter and emerge in the warm spring months to complete their life cycles. Insects are not warmblooded animals. Insects do not really hibernate, although this term is used commonly to describe their behavior. Insects actually go into a resting phase caused diapause. Diapause is very complex, so let’s break it down a little.

Diapause is usually done by insects. There are two kinds of diapause: Obligatory diapause--a word that just means that the animal or insect MUST do this at some stage in its development. It has no choice.

Facultative diapause - another big word that means the animal goes to “sleep” because something

bad is going to happen.

With facultative diapause, the creature goes to sleep BEFORE the drought or cold weather. Diapause is the way insects adapt to the world around them. Insects can be active in the rainy season and “sleep” during drought conditions. Insects get warning signals a few times before they actually do anything about it. These warning signs might be days becoming shorter. They can sense this and send out the message for “sleep.”. After a few warning-signal days, the female will lay “diapausing” eggs. These eggs will have their cycle from egg to adult stopped somewhere but will continue when conditions get better for survival.

Most people make the mistake of assuming that super cold winters will kill off most of the insect and mite pests. In cold weather, insects and mites avoid being killed by producing a type of anti-freeze in their bodies or by locating overwintering sites which do not actually freeze. Most

insects and mites which over-winter as eggs, pupae or other resting forms on or near their host plant convert their body sugars into a type of antifreeze. These pests are rarely killed by the extremes of cold in their normal range.

Let’s look at activity levels of some insects over the winter. At 50F, female mosquitoes are actively seeking warm-blooded hosts from which to take a blood meal. We’ve all seen cluster flies and lady bird beetles emerge in the coldest of winter months during a bright sunny day. How many times have you come back at night and seen insects flying around your outside porch light wondering how these insects are going to survive? Many species of ants are active during the winter. Outdoors, the most active ants in winter seem to be leaf cutter ants. They strip vegetation from plants ranging from evergreens, to trees, to ball moss – yes, ball moss!

As for those Emperor penguins we mentioned

in Swarthmore, Pa., received a package from J.C. Raulston Arboretum with a seedling of Euscaphis japonica. Today, this small ornamental tree is over 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, showcasing all of its attributes. Pinnately compound leaves certainly add a textural quality seldom seen. “J.C. has been called ‘America’s horticulture ambassador,’ but he would have modestly rejected that definition. He likely would have been satisfied to be remembered for the signature with which he ended his correspondence: ‘Plan and plant for a better world’” (Chlorophyll In His Veins).

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

early on in this article, they actually need a long, harsh Antarctic winter in order to find a mate and raise a family. They travel over 100 miles to the exact place they were born to find their perfect mate and have their offspring. I could tell you why they do this but I would rather you see the movie and find out for yourself. I promise you’ll have a better respect for our mild winters where you live (compared to what you’ll see about the Antarctic) and you will absolutely be amazed by the life of the Emperor penguins.

Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is a Board Certified Entomologist for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware.

He is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens.

He can be reached at 800-618-2847 or visit www.vikingpest.com

12 January, 2016 R e c e n t l y, many commentators, economists, business mentors and gurus, and even potential presidents, have been telling us the economy is booming.

So they say, but what do the contractors say? Only that people aren’t spending the way they did and not even paying the way they did. Well, that spells it out for me – the economy is not that great. Let’s look at what can be done to “kick it up,� as Emeril Lagasse says.

We can look at the services that landscape companies now offer and brainstorm what can be done to expand them.

Maintenance services typically provide mowing, trimming and bed work, as well as fertilization and pest-control programs. The simple add-ons would be tree and shrub maintenance, as well as horticultural pruning.

Right with these could be roper mulching and planting services.

Of course, you can add hardscape installation to the many services your company can offer. That’s the easy part, but taking it one step further, we can incorporate cleaning and repairing patios and decks into the maintenance mix. In this economy, revitalizing patios and decks can be less expensive while providing an aesthetic improvement in the landscape.

GardenerNews.com The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

The Powers-That-Be Say it’s a Growing Economy; But is it?

The cleaning of decks and patios offer more of a chance to service your clients more thoroughly. Power washing, cleaning gutters, even some small home repairs, can be incorporated into the work you already are doing for your customers. Becoming a fullservice company can offer you and your clients the opportunity to work comprehensively with a single company and therefore streamline the shopping, estimating and implementation processes.

As winter approaches, snow and ice services are a part of the business that many companies will add or are already doing. Careful scrutiny should be given to your insurance policies to be sure that you are fully covered before adding these services. If not already in the snow and ice business, you should seek out advice from one of the member

companies in the Snow and Ice Management Association as to how much work you can handle with the equipment you have and what you may need to purchase. What coverages will you need to add to your insurance? How much help will you need and how will you handle your winter payroll?

And what products should you be using to treat ice conditions? These companies can be an invaluable source of information for contractors looking to expand into this market.

When you start offering winter services, you should not overlook winter pruning. Often, the winter offers a chance to carefully access trees and shrubs and to take care of the pruning that may be overlooked during the hectic growing season.

Proper horticultural pruning means not just indiscriminately shearing plants, but pruning

NJNLA Recognizes George Smith of Blue Sterling Nursery as Nurseryman of the Year.

On December 3, at the annual NJNLA Education Foundation Dinner, George Smith of Blue Sterling Nursery was presented with the 2015 Nurseryman of the Year Award.

George grew up in West Deptford, N.J., and started working in horticulture as a young man. After serving in the Navy, George returned to Southern New Jersey and began working for a landscape contractor.

George’s brother, Jim, founded Blue Sterling Nursery in 1983 and George joined as the company’s first employee. He helped build the hoop houses, worked in propagation and ran irrigation and pesticide programs.

When the plants reached saleable size, George got behind the wheel of the delivery truck and brought the plants to the customers. “George has worked in every part of the nursery industry,� said Steve Wagner, a previous recipient of the Nurseryman of the Year Award, who presented the award to George. “He is well known and well respected in the industry, not just in New Jersey, but around the country. He has had success not just selling Blue Sterling plants along the East Coast, but westward as well, and that’s not easy to do.�

Today, George serves as Sales Manager at Blue Sterling. He is well known for his boundless enthusiasm for the industry and his unfailing good nature. George and his wife, Christine, have two children and live in Hopewell Township.

Each year, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association recognizes one plantsman from its ranks with this, its highest award.

The New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association’s mission is to be passionate advocates for professional nursery and landscape businesses in New Jersey. Our membership consists of nursery growers, landscape professionals, retail garden centers, and greenhouse producers. NJNLA was organized in 1915 and is currently celebrating its 100th year.

back to central leaders, as well as removing weak and crossing branches and sucker growth.

All this can be more easily done when the branching structure of deciduous plants is not hidden by leaf growth. Some mulching can be done in the winter months as well. Again, your association member companies can be a good source of information on how to start up.

When landscape contractors are going through their slow season, a good source of additional work can be the assessing of existing clients’ landscapes and offering suggestions on remedial help you may be able to add when the weather turns around.

Sometimes the job that is waiting to be done can be right under your nose at one of your current customers’ properties.

Designing and planning can be done in the winter months and early-spring. How many times

have contractors and customers discussed a little job here and a little job there, which may go undone if the planning never gets done.

A little creative marketing can inform your client base of the diverse services you are starting to add. The offseason will afford time to set up a program which will outline what other work your company can perform, as well as informing the public of these services as well. The colleges and universities offer training courses which can give you the expertise needed, as well as business seminars, which will help with the additional accounting and recordkeeping that will need to be done.

So, to combat the conversations of our numerous candidates, a discussion was started which can help contractors and consumers, as well as identifying creative ways to survive the down economy that seems to be with us for at least as long as we can foresee.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield.

He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

Funding available for New Jersey Landowners to Protect Agricultural Working Lands, Grasslands and Wetlands 620(56(7 1 - ĘŠ &DUULH /LQGLJ 1HZ -HUVH\ 6WDWH &RQVHUYDWLRQLVW IRU USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) anticipates that $5 million will be available to provide long-term protection of New Jersey’s farmland, wetlands and grasslands in 2016 through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). “Conservation easements are an important tool to help landowners and partners voluntarily protect these vital resources for future generations,â€? Lindig said.

According to Lindig, about $5 million was invested to enroll nearly 475 acres in the program in New Jersey in fiscal year 2015.

The program, established through the 2014 Farm Bill, combines opportunities previously offered through three separate easement programs into one.

ACEP’s agricultural land easements not only protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses, but they also support environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space. State and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements. A key change under the new agricultural land easement component is the new “grasslands of special environmental significance� that will protect high-quality grasslands that are under threat of conversion to cropping, urban development and other non-grazing uses.

Wetland reserve easements allow landowners to successfully enhance and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of these easements, and Eligible landowners can choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement.

ACEP applications may be submitted at any time to NRCS; however, applications for the current funding round must be submitted on or before January 15, 2016.

This past September, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $350 million in financial and technical assistance available through the program would be available nationally.

To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or your local USDA Service Center.

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 13

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Every veteran should have a wreath on their grave

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey State Senator Bob Smith thought it altogether proper and fitting to pay tribute to the father of his Chief-of-Staff, Christine Mosier, John F. Gubernat (1932-2002), a United States Marine who served in Korea, by personally placing a wreath on his grave on December 12, in honor of National Wreaths Across America Day. The date coincided with a wreathlaying at Arlington National Cemetery. The goal of placing a wreath on a veteran’s grave is to remind the public to remember veterans, honor their service, and teach children the value of freedom. Fresh evergreens have been used for centuries as a symbol to recognize honor. Senator Smith sees this tradition as a living memorial to all veterans and their families.

Why grow native plants?

By Hubert Ling First of all, what is a “native plant”?

A New Jersey native plant is one which grew and evolved in New Jersey before the arrival of man and therefore was not introduced by human intervention. There are about 2,000 native vascular plants in New Jersey and about 1,000 alien, introduced plants.

Why are native plants special? Native plants are special because they support the unique community of animals which make New Jersey special. Without native plants, few of the aquatic and land animals would exist. New Jersey would then consist of concrete, asphalt, shopping centers, people, dogs, and a few cats. Well, maybe not exactly, but you get the drift.

Fortunately, most of our native New Jersey plants and animals still exist, but a few have been locally eliminated and several hundred species

are rare or threatened.

Precise studies of ecological interactions involving native plants have been few and far between, but Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware has recently been giving native plant people hard core information to back up our beliefs.

A concrete example is the fact that, of the top 20 woody plants which support butterflies, 19 of these are native and only one is an alien. One does not have to have much of an imagination to figure out that loss of native species is equal to a loss of native butterflies.

Doug has also stated that only 2.6 percent of the Monarch butterflies, the colorful, large, orange ones that migrate thousands of miles to Mexico, currently survive.

Here is something every gardener in the United States can do something about.

Survival of the Monarch depends upon thousands of us growing milkweeds and

restoring them to the urban and rural landscape. The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of miles of roadsides, pipelines, powerlines, and bike, foot and horse trails which can be planted with common, purple, swamp and other milkweeds.

Pipeline and power line companies have ecological staff that are sensitive to public wishes and will respond to carefully planned restoration projects. We can do this! Let’s start with New Jersey. The Native Plant Society of New Jersey will attempt to have milkweed seeds available for all members; so join up and start growing milkweed and ask for them at your local garden store.

If they don’t have milkweed, they can order them and the supply will catch up to the demand. We can’t afford to do nothing and there isn’t much time left!

Monarch butterflies are only one part of our amazing world; the active use of our green thumbs and voices can make a real

difference as to the kind of world our grandchildren will inherit. A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Bluebird, or even a Praying Mantis or Lady Bug can light up a child’s or an adult’s day.

Shouldn’t we be doing all we can to ensure that these wonders endure? Wildlife flourishes when the vegetation is present at all three levels: on the ground (plants 0 to 6 feet tall), at the shrub level (six to 20 feet), and at the canopy level (20 to 150 feet).

The current trend in most communities to clear out the shrubs and understory trees to make it look neater and more like an English park is the exact opposite of what we should be doing to encourage wildlife.

Common native shrubs to plant in central and North Jersey are: viburnum, spicebush, dogwood, winterberry, elderberry, blueberry, witch hazel, American hazelnut, mountain maple, moosewood, bayberry, flowering raspberry and redbud. In South Jersey,

you should consider returning the huckleberry, sweet pepperbush, and Virginia sweetspire.

Unfortunately, newly planted shrubs in almost all of New Jersey must have protective fences installed or else you are just providing the local deer with an interesting salad bar.

Since Doug Tallamy states that 96 percent of North American terrestrial birds rely on insects to feed their young, it is easy to understand the survival of songbirds is in a direct relationship to the health and quantity of native plant vegetation. In respect to community conventions, a five-foot path of grass should edge your property but the rest should be a designed multistoried jungle of native plants, rocks, logs and ponds.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is the Horticulture Chairman for the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net

18 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Sales from U.S. Horticulture Operations Up 18 Percent in Five Years, USDA Reports :$6+,1*721 ' & Ę&#x160; 7KH 8 6 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUHÂśV 1DWLRQDO $JULFXOWXUDO 6WDWLVWLFV 6HUYLFH 1$66 UHOHDVHG WKH &HQVXV RI Horticultural Specialties report on December 14, which shows that horticulture operations sold a total of $13.8 billion in floriculture, nursery and specialty crops in 2014, up 18 percent since 2009. The number of horticulture operations in the United States increased 8 percent during this time to 23,221. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This report contains the results of the tenth Census of Horticultural Specialties,â&#x20AC;? said Chairman of the Agricultural Statistics Board Mark Harris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;First conducted in 1889, the horticulture census provides data on industries for which there are no other comprehensive data sources. It is a valuable tool to highlight the contribution horticulture growers bring to state-level economies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether in sales earned or expenses paid for hired labor.â&#x20AC;?

Horticulture production was concentrated in 10 states which accounted for 65 percent of all U.S. horticulture sales in 2014. California ($2.88 billion), Florida ($1.80 billion) and Oregon ($932 million) led the nation in sales.

Other key findings from the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties report include: Family- or individually-owned operations made up the largest number of operations, accounting for 53 percent, but corporately owned operations accounted for 76 percent of sales ($10.5 billion).

Total industry expenses were up 16 percent since 2009, with labor being the largest, accounting for 37 percent of total expenses in 2014.

Food crops grown under cover gained in prominence as the number of operations engaged in this practice increased 71 percent to 2,521. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because horticulture production is becoming more diverse in the United States, NASS worked with key stakeholders to ensure the 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties would meet the needs of growers, industry leaders, and policymakers,â&#x20AC;? said Harris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We added 60 new items to the questionnaire to provide the most up-to-date assessment of current industry trends, including items like peonies, lavender, rudbeckia, cacti and succulents.â&#x20AC;?

The top commodities in U.S. horticulture sales reflect this diversity. The top commodities sold in 2014, and compared to 2009, were: Nursery stock, $4.27 billion, up 11 percent Annual bedding/garden plants, $2.57 billion, up 11 percent Sod, sprigs and plugs, $1.14 billion, up 30 percent Potted flowering plants, $1.08 billion, up 24 percent Potted herbaceous perennials, $945 million, up 12 percent Food crops under protection, $797 million, up 44 percent The Census of Horticultural Specialties is part of the larger Census of Agriculture program. It provides information on the number and types of establishments engaged in horticultural production, value of sales, varieties of products, production expenses and more. All operations that reported producing and selling $10,000 or more of horticultural crops on the 2012 Census of Agriculture were included in this special study.

According to Bruce Eklund, U.S. Department of Agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Jersey State Statistician, New Jersey ranks 10th in the nation overall with $355.7 million in total horticultural sales, 5th in the nation in value of sales in the Family or Individual category, 6th in Potted Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 12th in Nursery Stock Sold, 8th in Food Crops Grown Under Protection, 5th in Potted Flowering Plants for Indoor or Patio Use, 3rd in Acres in the Open for Cut Flowers, and 4th in Sales of Cut Flowers.

For more information and to access the full report, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

Pinus bungeana Zucc ex Endl â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A Sacred Pine Despite the cold, I have always found January to be an interesting month for the Garden. No longer are flowers at the forefront, but rather the leafless forms of the trees combined with evergreen shrubs and conifers are now paramount to a gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design.

Among the many conifers that provide dramatic presence is an infrequently used evergreen with wonderfully attractive bark â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Lacebark Pine, or Pinus bungeana.

Pinus bungeana, as one would gather, is a member of the Pine Family or Pinaceae, and is native to mountainous regions of Northeastern and Central China at elevations near 4,000 feet. The genus Pinus was officially ascribed to this group of plants by Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753, as it was already the Latin name for pine trees. The name may have come from the Indo-European name of 3ĆŻW, or resin, a reference to the sticky

resinous sap or pitch of most pine trees.

The species name honors Aleksandra (Alexander) von Bunge (1803-1890), a Russian Botanist who taught at the University of Dorpat. During his 1830-31 expedition to China, Bunge collected seed and dried specimens from a plant located in the temple gardens of Beijing. Joseph Zuccarini (1797-1848), a German botanist who focused upon describing plants from Asia, honored Bunge with the species epithet and described the plant as best as possible from the rather limited specimens at hand. It was not until Robert Fortune (1812-1880) brought back living plants of Lacebark Pine in 1846 that the Austrian botanist Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher (1804-1849) was able to provide a complete description in 1847. Since the description by Endlicher was based upon Zuccariniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, both botanists are recognized as the authors.

Although first discovered and described by Bunge, it was Fortune who was far

more attuned to literary prose and wrote at length about the beauty of the Lace Bark Pine.

In Chinese Temples, the plants live well beyond 100 years and reach heights nearing 100 feet.

The plants are typically â&#x20AC;&#x153;multitrunked,â&#x20AC;? with the individual trunks growing bolt upright.

In Fortuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s description of one tree that had some eight to 10 trunks, one trunk measured at three feet above the ground was 12 feet in circumference!

However, the habit of the tree is not the main attraction of the plant. Rather, as the common name reveals, it is the bark. And oh, what bark! When the plants reach 10 years of age, the grayish brown bark begins to â&#x20AC;&#x153;popoffâ&#x20AC;? or exfoliate in patches.

The bark initially reveals a green underbark that â&#x20AC;&#x201C; much as with people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; becomes an attractive white with age. In China, the entire trunk will transition to a ghostly white, which is what attracted the plant explorers and gave this plant a location of honor near temples. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the

white underbark rarely coalesces into totally white stems outside of Asia. Yet, the trunks still remain highly attractive.

Another element that the plant explorers overlooked is the texture of the foliage, since the two- to three-inchlong, deep-green needles are bundled in fascicles of three, rather than the normal two or five. In addition, for those who like to forage, the seeds or pine nuts are edible and are prized for the sweet, nutty taste.

Of course, no tree is without its issues. Pinus bungeana is slow-growing from seed, typically only growing a few inches during the first few years. During adolescence, as again with people, the plants begin to â&#x20AC;&#x153;stretch-outâ&#x20AC;? and grow eigh to 10 inches annually. Although it is native to windy cliffs and cold mountainous regions, the brittle wood is not tolerant of New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavy wet snow. It is not unusual to lose a major leader following a snowstorm. The solution is to

select or train plants as singlestemmed specimens.

Although this may not be the ghostly white-barked pine of Asia, Pinus bungeana remains a very graceful plant with bark that is more than deserving of a sacred garden location. Combined with a constitution that tolerates wind, heat, cold and droughty soils, along with edible seeds, the plant almost justifies the need for two authors.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 19

20 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

2015 Person of the Year (Continued from page 1) with degrees in marketing and management, joined the Department in October 1983 as an agricultural marketing specialist. In that role, he helped develop the Jersey Fresh, Jersey Grown and Jersey Seafood marketing campaigns, which have become synonymous with New Jersey agriculture. In 1995, he was named Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Market Expansion and in 2000 promoted to Director of the Division of Marketing and Development. He also conducts trade calls and maintains industry contacts throughout the Atlantic Seaboard and Canada.

In February 2007, he was named New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. From January 2009 to March 2009, he served as Acting New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture during an interim period between a resignation and an appointment of a new Secretary.

“Al Murray is a one-of-akind human dynamo who works tirelessly and effectively for the interests of New Jersey farmers and all who are associated with agriculture,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “He is a great friend and a leader who demonstrates a phenomenal

ability to connect people. I know he truly enjoys what he does and we all appreciate his great ability, talent and humor.

What a great choice to have him selected as ‘Person of the Year’ by the Gardener News.”

“We at the Eastern Produce Council would like to congratulate Al Murray, a member of our Board of Directors and long-time member, on being the Gardener News Person of the Year,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, executive director of the Eastern Produce Council.

“His years of experience at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and knowledge of the produce industry have been a tremendous asset to our organization, and for that, we are grateful. Through his direction, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has hosted a council meeting annually for decades, which has become a highlight of our calendar year. Well deserved, Al.” Dominick Mondi, executive director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, said: “I value my friendship with Al and can’t emphasize enough on how influential he has been in advancing awareness for the

Jersey Grown program and the state’s nursery and floriculture growers. Al has had a significant and lasting impact on New Jersey’s nursery industry.”

“Al Murray is a friend and an asset to all types and sizes of agriculture in New Jersey for what seems a lifetime. He is very fair, open, forthcoming and available,” said Ryck Suydam, president of the New Jersey Farm Bureau. “All of us at the NJ Farm Bureau congratulate Al as Gardener News Person of the Year.”

Chris Nicholson, president of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association said: “Al has been a moving force in the New Jersey Christmas tree industry and has helped our organization tremendously.

And if you are a farmer, Al Murray is a friend and his door is always open for you.”

Murray is affiliated with and number of organizations: He is a firefighter, a life member, and treasurer, for the Audubon Fire Department; a ruling elder, Board of Session for the Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church; a member, Sons of the American Legion, Squad 84, Oaklyn, N.J.; a life member and past president of the Camden County Mayor’s

Association; a past president for the North American Agricultural Marketing Officials; a member, and sits on the board of directors, for the Eastern Produce Council; a member of the United Fresh Produce Association, Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Produce Marketing Association and the New Jersey Agricultural Society; a recipient of the Honorary American FFA Degree (2014); has an Honorary Membership in the New Jersey Nursery Landscape Contractors Association (2011); a recipient of Distinguished Service Award, Atlantic County Board of Agriculture (2011); a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, Burlington County Board of Agriculture (2009); a recipient of the Thomas W. Kelly Government Service Award, New Jersey Food Council (2008); received an Honorary State FFA Degree, New Jersey FFA Association (2007); and a Friend of the Grange, New Jersey State Grange (2007).

This paper now wholeheartedly salutes New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray for having a special set of relevant skills and expertise in his

chosen field. And for being a true professional person that demonstrates a high level of responsibility and reliability.

He is also saluted for being an honest, decent, fair, trustworthy dependable person who travels the extra mile to ensure that things are done as intended.

Gardener News began the annual “Person of the Year” cover story in 2008. Gardener News will annually bestow our “Person of the Year” award to a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the agricultural, farming, gardening and/or landscaping communities.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 21

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Here we go again, time to review and renew your New Year’s resolutions.

What’s it going to be? Will you try to lose weight, drink less, exercise more, or fix your lawn?

No one wants to be thinking of their lawn during winter! The good news is you still have until earlyspring to really begin making changes to your lawn.

I am pleased and amazed at some of the pictures I have received at my office from homeowners just like you who have developed wonderful lawns. A wonderful lawn, like a “Wonderful Life,” is not always created in one growing season. Converting a poor lawn to one you can be proud of may take two to three seasons or more.

One of the lawns I am most proud of is that of Gardener News OwnerPublisher Tom Castronovo.

Tom continues to send photos and tell me how many people stop their cars and wonder how he got such a great lawn. Tom followed a sound lawn care plan like we have been talking about

Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

What are Your New Year’s resolutions? for a number of years.

The basis of a great lawn is to use good quality grass seed, adjust the soil pH to a desirable level to grow the proper type of grass, and to feed the lawn at the proper time. Actually, there is more to a great lawn: proper watering and mowing practices, monitoring for fungus and insects and improving soil quality are important, too.

How do you buy good quality grass seed? Look for seed from reliable sources or ask a neighbor with a great lawn what they used. Grass seed is a product of nature, so look for low percentages of weed seed, less than .10 percent, other crop seed, less than .25 percent and inert matter under 2.00 percent.

Introducing more weeds

or difficult-to-control crop seeds makes your lawn care plan tougher to get ahead.

In the mid-Atlantic and northeastern states it seems that Tall Fescue-based mixtures have become the grass seed of choice over the last 30 years. The greatest improvements have been thinner grass blades than older “meadow-type” fescues and darker green color. Choose the best time of year to re-seed, either early-spring or early-fall.

I took a call from a homeowner around November 15 and they asked if this is a good time of the year to seed? They said they heard that “the fall” is a good time to seed?

Yes, it is but why not seed in early-fall, not late-fall, so you get the maximum

growth potential before cold weather sets in.

Why is soil pH so important? All plants like to grow within a certain range of soil pH to thrive. If your lawn soil is too low or too high, grass plants will struggle to survive. Soil pH levels of 6.2 to 7.0 are best.

If you do not know your soil pH, buy a tester from your local lawn and garden center or hardware store.

Use calcium-based products to raise soil pH and sulfurbased products to lower soil pH to a desirable growing level.

Lawn grasses like and need to be fed during the growing season, from earlyspring through late-fall.

If you start with quality grass seed and your soil is balanced, feeding the grass

and watching it grow is the fun part. You may be able to do away with any crabgrass controls if your lawn has been growing thick and green for a few years.

I would suggest three to four feedings a year, one in early-spring and then again in early-June, early-fall and then late-fall.

If you have been only feeding your lawn one to two times a year, you need to increase that to three to four times a year to develop a good lawn. You might want to consider introducing some organic lawn fertilizers into your lawn care plan, too. These are wonderful soil builders and offer a slow, gentle feeding that stimulates soil microbes for better lawn growth.

Keep these ideas in mind while you enjoy a winter of football, basketball, hockey or other hobbies.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

22 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Highlights from the 6th annual New The Eastern Produce Council and Produce Business magazine once again joined forces on December 2 to present The New York Produce Show and Conference, an exciting world-class event for the industry, at New York’s Jacob Javits Center.

A great convergence of buyers and sellers gathered between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to take part in networking opportunities, a trade show of over 400 companies, a retail “thought-leader” breakfast panel hosted by Jim Prevor, Produce Business magazine editor-in-chief and founder of The New York Produce Show and Conference, and educational micro-sessions. The following day included tours of the region’s vibrant industry, including the local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and urban farms and unique eateries.

The New York Produce Show and Conference is an annual opportunity for the industry’s finest produce and floral suppliers, as well as the industry’s leading service providers, to meet and interact with buyers from around the globe.

Uniform booth sizes “leveled the playing field” and kept the focus on products/services and relationship-building. There were no mega-booths or giant pavilions to slow the traffic.

On display in the booths was a plethora of produce offerings, ranging from fresh harvest seasonal produce and regional fruits and vegetables to products beginning to arrive from the Southern Hemisphere. Many of the booths had chefs and other personnel handing out the tastiest dishes that gave ideas for attendees to pass on to their customers. Attendees also saw some of the latest packaging innovations and new product premieres from Kurt Zuhlke & Assoc., Inc., also known as ProducePackaging.com.

Never before has there been a trade show of 400-plus produce exhibitors gathered in New York City on one day.

Also attending the show were New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, New York Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard A. Ball and South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh E. Weathers.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh E. Weathers, left, and Jim Prevor, Produce Business magazine editor-in-chief and founder of The New York Produce Show and Conference.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, left, and Jim Prevor, Produce Business magazine editor-in-chief and founder of The New York Produce Show and Conference.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

The King’s Food Markets produce manager team led by Arthur Gongalves, front center, vice president of Floral and Produce for Kings Food Markets, at the entrance to the New York Produce Show.

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 23

York Produce Show and Conference

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Jim Allen, left, president of the New York Apple Association, Molly Zingler, center, director of marketing for the New York Apple Association, and New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball in the New York Apple Association booth.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Gardener News featured columnists Pete Melick, left, and Tim Hionis on the trade show floor.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Joe Atchison, an Agricultural Marketing Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in the Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jersey Fresh booth.

24 January, 2016 Happiest of New Years to everyone out there! Hope your holiday season was a great one; mine sure was.

I’m going in a little different direction this month, being that most of our produce will be dormant for the next couple months.

I will, however, be writing about another very important Jersey “crop.” That being scallops, a marine bivalve mollusk that are found in all of the world’s oceans. They are a highly prized source of food and are New Jersey’s most valuable seafood crop.

New Jersey and Massachusetts are responsible for the majority of East Coast scallops, the leading scallop catch in the world! Pretty impressive for our little state. At the restaurant, we purchase the majority of our scallops locally. Throughout the year, my father-in-law and I will periodically open up a fresh bag and eat them raw. That is how good and how fresh they are. They are incredibly sweet and delicious.

So this month, I am going to give a recipe that combines three of I have said time and time again that the winter months are a time of reflection and a time of preparation for the upcoming year.

To be successful in the nursery industry, whether it is on the growing end for commercial purposes, wholesale distributor, retail operation, landscape professional or anything in between, you need to evolve with the market and its demands.

This concept is known to all veterans in the industry, you cannot stay stagnant or stubborn in your ways on how things are done. They need to keep re-inventing the wheel to keep themselves relevant and ahead of the curve.

In order to be successful, you need to always be improving on what is working, and also trying to fix trouble areas that need more attention to succeed.

The off-season (or winter months) is a great time to do so, because it may be easier to focus on this without many distractions. It may be something that just needs

GardenerNews.com From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Scallops for the New Year my favorite things: that is scallops, potatoes and my ultimate favorite, butter. The more butter the better. The potatoes will have plenty of butter in them, the scallops will be seared with a touch of butter and the sauce will be made of butter!

I know this time of year I’m supposed to be writing about some steamed veggies or something like that for those doing that “healthy” post-holiday resolution thing, but hold off for another week or so, no one will know. This is a threepart recipe and I will try to keep it as easy as possible.

Lastly, being a former Gardener News Person of the Year, I would like to congratulate this year’s winner! Good luck with this recipe and enjoy!

Seared scallops over mashed potatoes with beurre blanc (serves 2) 1 lb. scallops, muscle removed 1 1/2 sticks, plus 1 Tbsp., butter 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into lareg pieces 1/4 cup heavy cream, plus 1 Tbsp.

Salt and pepper to taste, white pepper also 1 small shallot, minced 1 bay leaf 1Tbsp. light olive oil or vegetable oil for sautéing 1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns 1/4 cup dry white wine 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. white vinegar Method: -in a small pot, simmer potatoes until fork tender,

then drain and reserve -in a separate pan, combine heavy cream and 1/2 stick of butter, simmer until butter is melted -using a potato masher, mash potatoes and slowly add cream and butter mixture until smooth and most lumps are gone -season with salt and white pepper to taste, set aside, keeping warm -in another small pot, combine bay leaf, peppercorns, shallot, vinegar and white wine and simmer until reduced by 3/4 -add heavy cream and simmer an additional minute -remove from flame and whisk in 1 stick of butter, cut into small pieces until sauce is smooth and butter is dissolved, strain through a strainer, pushing through with

The Professional Grower

By Tim Hionis Greenhouse Specialist

Re-Inventing the Wheel a little tweaking to make it work or a major overhaul or upgrade to take it to the next level.

One of the greatest challenges in the industry is forecasting what the next trend may be for the upcoming season. Even seasoned veterans in the industry wrangle with this concept. But those who can figure this out tend to have the advantage when the season opens.

There are many different ways to try to sway this to your advantage. Marketing and informing the consumer on what and when to expect certain items to be available is one way to help sway things in your favor. Today’s consumer wants to be educated. So,

the more information you may provide to them, the more they feel better about their purchase, and their ability in succeeding with their purchase is increased.

The consumer wants to succeed with their plant purchase.

Another challenge that is always addressed in the horticultural and nursery industry is timing of the crops. Timing is a very important aspect, because you need to fill the end consumers’ needs at the exact moment. A good example of this is, who wants a Poinsettia after Christmas? Or an Easter Lily after Easter?

Here is a more subtle example, it’s early-April and there is a break in the weather. The sun opens up

and it is unusually warm for a few days. This gives consumers an urge to visit your shop, and they want color, they’ll pick up anything that shows color and gives them the feeling that spring is here, but they come in to find empty tables. The last thing as a retailer you want to do is to disappoint that person from fulfilling their sense of pleasure.

Being in the horticultural end of the industry, flowers are often an impulse buy. If the consumer is in the mood for what they see as they are walking by, 90 percent of the time they will pick up the flower or plant and put it in their basket. Their sense of euphoria overrides their other senses that may

the back of a spoon, set aside -in a large, non-stick pan heated to medium/high heat, add oil, season scallops with salt and pepper and sear slowly, not moving the scallops or turning them until they are well browned -once browned and caramelized on one side, turn over and repeat on the opposite side, adding 1Tbsp. butter part way through cooking -drain on paper towellined plate -place mashed potatoes on a plate and press several scallops gently into the potatoes to stabilize them -spoon butter sauce over top of scallops and mashed and repeat with next plate.

ENJOY! Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visit www.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447. cause them to question the purchase.

This is why many retailers outside of the nursery and garden centers often put a plant or flower display at the entrance of their stores. Flowers and plants break down a subconscious barrier in the psyche of a consumer.

By overloading the sense of color, fragrance and freshness, it produces a warming sense in the brain that makes people more comfortable with their overall purchases. The goal of the retailer is to keep their displays looking fresh at all times.

So, in conclusion, this article is giving me inspiration and ideas to get out into my own place and make some much-needed upgrades for the upcoming season.

Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling (908) 534-7710.

GardenerNews.com

January, 2016 25

Flying into the New Year!

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey Time just seems to be picking up speed instead of slowing down as the decades go tumbling by. I’ve been quite reflective lately with the holiday bustle all about me as we’re headed into the New Year.

I made it a point to physically slow down and read one of the many books I’ve accumulated as I keep telling myself that I will get around to reading this one or that one someday (sound familiar?). The book I chose is “Cape Cod” by Henry David Thoreau. I believe I needed to be transported back to another age, where the pace was slower, and see life through the eyes of a keen observer with a close kinship to nature.

Cape Cod, it’s fair to say, has undergone drastic changes since Thoreau trekked through the sands, but the remarkable thing is that the 68.14 miles which includes the great Outer Beach is part of the protected National seashore and is still as Thoreau saw it in the mid1800s, a pristine wilderness of sand, beach plums, bayberry, bearberry, shrub oaks and beach-grass. Kudos to those who had the foresight to preserve this great natural resource in 1961, resisting the momentary monetary bonanza for long-term benefits to wildlife and mankind.

New Jersey, not to be outdone by its sister state, Massachusetts, has preserved much of our great state and our citizens, time and again, vote to continue preserving our precious open space as it’s an irreplaceable resource for our citizens now and for future generations. We have the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a 12-milesquare natural oasis for wildlife including migratory waterfowls such as mallards, American black ducks, green winged teals, American

wigeons, northern pintails, gadwalls, northern shovelers, blue-winged teals and buffleheads.

Many of these species have been captured by my husband’s and his buddies’ cameras, and each and every one are breathtakingly beautiful. The camera shows us in a magnified close-up, the exquisite detail of each and every feather, the beauty in the gaze, the glorious symmetry they exude. This area came close to being lost to us, as a huge battle was fought between Jetport proponents and countless volunteer opponents who won this epic battle in 1960. Not only did we protect our wildlife, but also all our citizens living in the surrounding suburban areas.

The New Jersey Pinelands U.S. Biosphere Reserve was established by Congress in 1978 and is the first National Reserve with New Jersey and the federal government partnering to preserve, protect and enhance the natural and cultural resources, many of which can’t be found in any other locality in the world.

The Pinelands Reserve covers portions of seven New Jersey counties and encompasses over one million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. The Pinelands are home to dozens of rare plant and animal species and the Kirkwood Cohansey aquifer system. Protecting this vast area from outside pressure is the task of every citizen of New Jersey. We must be vigilant, as threats continue to be made in the guise of enriching the state when it is all too fleeting a reward for doing irreparable harm to our environment.

Conservation and preservation should be the key words in our vocabulary. All we have to do is look at states where “fracking” for oil and gas has been embraced to see that they are suffering almost immediate calamities, such as multiple earthquakes when earthquakes had been a rare

occurrence in those states. We must be constantly vigilant to protect our natural resources and to restore our environment and as we “fly into this New Year” let us all do our part to “scale back” on our rampant consumerism.

The good news is that our citizens are becoming more aware of the challenges we face in restoring a healthy environment and the steps each and every one of us can take to rebuild a vibrant eco-system.

Our parent organization, National Garden Clubs, Inc., has joined over 30 other likeminded organizations in the “Million Pollinator Garden Challenge” and taking it a step further by creating a certified “Wildlife Habitat” under the guidelines of the National Wildlife Federation.

For more information on how to create your own wildlife habitats, plan on coming to the New Jersey Flower & Garden Show at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, 93 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, N.J., February 11 (1 p.m.) through February 14, 2016.

We can’t wait to show you how you can build pollinator hotels and bugdominiums showcased in the “Party with our Pollinators” Invitational as part of our GCNJ Flower Show entitled “Celebrate—A Party for the Senses.”

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Community Garden Chair, Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair, and Backyard Wildlife Habitat Chair for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc., Accredited Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is the GCNJ 2016 State Flower Show Chair and can be reached by emailing: jeannieg42@earthlink. net Garden Club of New Jersey website is: www. gardenclubofnewjersey. com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.

USDA Surveying Local Floriculture Operations The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is now conducting the 2016 Commercial Floriculture Survey in the Northeastern Region.

The Commercial Floriculture Survey collects data on production area, product sales and the number of agricultural workers on an operation. For specialty industries like floriculture, which are a vital part of our local agricultural economy, these data will provide a timely report that producers, researchers, and industry and government leaders can use to ensure policy decisions are based on facts provided by growers.

Producers will be asked to provide 2015 calendar year information for items including, retail and wholesale quantity and value of sales for cut flowers, potted flowering plants, herbaceous perennials, annual bedding/garden plants, foliage plants, cut cultivated greens and propagative floriculture material. Information will also be gathered on area in production, gross value of sales and the peak number of hired workers for the operation.

NASS will publish the survey results on April 26, 2016 in the Floriculture Crops Summary, available at www.nass.usda.gov. This report will help local growers make vital business decisions and evaluate the results of the recent growing season.

Mango Seed Weevil Host List Expanded USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) notified State Plant Regulatory Officials they will expand the list of countries whose mango (Mangifera indica) seeds and fruit are prohibited entry to the United States. This action is effective December 23, 2015 and will prevent the introduction and establishment of the mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius)).

APHIS will prohibit the importation of mango seeds and fruits from Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Martin-Sint Maarten.

For further information on the host list, refer to the Web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/import.

26 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

19th Annual Deep Cut Orchid Society’s Orchid Show Thousands of spectacularly colorful flowers will brighten cold winter days at the 19th Annual Deep Cut Orchid Society’s Orchid Show.

The largest orchid show in the tri-state area is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016 at the Dearborn Market, Route 35, Holmdel, N.J. Exhibition hours are Thursday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, orchid experts will present free lectures on How To Grow Orchids and information on popular species.

There will be exhibits from orchid clubs in the Mid-Atlantic area and vendors from across the United States. Certified American Orchid Society judges will award prizes to the best exhibit and flowers.

Deep Cut Orchid Society is a non-profit organization devoted to educating people about orchids.

Admission and parking are free. Lunch is available in the Dearborn Market, and visitors can eat in the 11,000 square foot garden facility, where the orchids will be exhibited.

Larry Desiano of Middletown, DCOS president says: “Orchids breathe color and fragrance during the winter doldrums. The bright flowers are long lasting and hardy.”

Desiano, who has collected orchids for 30 years, suggests an orchid is a terrific gift for Valentine’s Day. “Flowers can last months,” he says, “and your wife will continue to remember your thoughtful gift longer than cut flowers or a gift put away in a drawer.”

Faye Arnett of Millstone, past DCOS president and show co-chair, says: “Over my lifetime, I have had several passions. Orchids – watching them bud and bloom – has been a lasting love.”

Helen Kroh of Milltown, show co-chair, says her love of orchids began 40 years ago when she went to orchid events with her aunt. “There is nothing else like the thrill of seeing a new spike (stem) and then full flower,” she says.

A limited number of special group tours with a knowledgeable orchid expert as a guide can be arranged. There is no cost, but arrangements MUST be made ahead of time by calling Bonaventure Magrys at 732-310-7039 or writing bonaventure@optonline.net.

For more information about the show itself, call Helen Kroh at 732-828-7727.

Deep Cut meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Monmouth Reform Temple on Hance Ave., Tinton Falls. Every meeting has a guest speaker, a show table and refreshments. Meetings are open to the public at no cost.

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TIP OF THE MONTH

Bird feeders should be located out of the wind. The east or southeast side of a house or near a row of trees is ideal. It is best to have a perching spot, such as a bush or tree, for the birds to use to survey the feeding area and provide sufficient cover for safe refuge from predators and shelter from the wind and weather. The feeders should be positioned near cover, but in the open to allow birds to watch for danger. Oil sunflower is a great overall seed to offer in the winter. It has a high calorie/ounce ratio due to its high fat and protein content and its relatively thin shell. Suet is also a great food to offer in the winter. Suet is a high energy, pure fat substance which is invaluable in winter when insects are harder to find and birds need many more calories to keep their bodies warm.

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January, 2016 27

28 January, 2016

GardenerNews.com

inspiration strikes

Spinach Frittata Find your inspiration with the healthy recipes at kingsfoodmarkets.com/healthy

UNEXPECTED WAYS TO EAT HEALTHY IN EVERY AISLE At Kings, healthy eating is anything but ordinary. You’ll find organic produce, non-GMO ingredients and exciting new foods to try around every corner.

With a vast array of hormone- antibiotic- and pesticide-free options, it’s never been easier to explore your culinary range with smart choices.

Start off a truly inspirational New Year at your neighborhood Kings today.

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