TAKE ONE March 2018
Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities
GARDENERNEWS.COM
TAKE ONE No. 179
2018 Flower Show to Explore “Wonders of Water”
Rendering of the 2018 Philadelphia Flower Show Entrance Garden.
By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor Rainforests are the oldest living ecosystems on Earth. Circling the wet, equatorial tropics of our planet, rainforests can receive up to one inch of rain per day, every day of the year. This water creates and sustains an amazing diversity of life. The incredible range of species in the rainforest is the key to its success. Although they cover less than 7 percent
of the Earth’s surface, rainforests are home to more than 50 percent of all animal species, 65 percent of all plant species, and 80 percent of all insect species. All of these species work together in a complex food web that branches from the tiniest microorganisms to great predators like eagles, big cats, snakes, dolphins, crocodiles — even humans! The rainforest is a distinct environment performing an endless cycle of water flow and filtration. The bountiful
water of the rainforest feeds an explosion of trees, ferns, flowers and other plants that work together to create a powerful and self-sustaining water filtration system. On and on, this amazing, endless cycle of water feeds through the filter of the rainforest, bringing life to hundreds of thousands of species – and to us, as well! Following the flow of water and observing plant life in our planet’s rainforests provides new viewfinders to turn on our local ecosystem, and the endless cycle of water
movement downstream and the filtration that happens across different, but connected, environments. The 2018 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, “Wonders of Water,” will celebrate the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water, showcasing the astounding plants that thrive in various environments, from exquisite orchids and flowering vines to luminescent desert blooms. The Entrance Garden is a design interpretation
inspired by the magnificent rain forests of our planet, one of the most astonishing and varied ecosystems on Earth, and a marvelous example of how Wonders of Water interplay. Show goers will explore towering trees and tiny mosses; creeping vines and wide-spreading ferns; withering leaves and a living roof of green; colorful flowers and a myriad of textures. You will enter the show and instantly feel as if you have been transported into a modern, imaginative (Cont. on Page 12)
2 March 2018
G a r d e n C e n t e r D i r e c t o r y GardenerNews.com
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March 2018 3
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4 March 2018
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Every year at this time, growers around the Garden State are hitting the winter meeting and conference circuit. At these events, growers are inundated with sales pitches for new and improved products, must-have and mustdo ideas for the coming year, as well as information about another round of ridiculously over-burdensome regulations that are set to take effect. Other than the regulatory aspect of these meetings, the mood has been generally pretty good. Most growers are fairly confident in the economy, and as usual, are keeping their fingers crossed about the weather. Every year brings its own new set of twists and variations that seem to ripple through the industry. Growers are always seeking out that hot new variety to try and grow. You know, the one that turns out to be so popular that they will be able to retire on it. All they have to do is plant it, and willing customers will seek them out so that they can pay a premium for it.
people were talking about was the “Honeycrisp,” one of the most successful variety releases in the last 100 years. With all of this being said, it is really up to the consumers to decide whether or not a new apple variety will be the next Honeycrisp, or whether a new variety of string beans will go the way of Beanie Babies. Most growers that I know do not get sucked in too deeply by these “Next Big Things,” but they do tend to try them on a small scale. They then observe how they do and listen to their customers for feedback. Think spring!
The Town Farmer By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer
In all seriousness, innovation is one trait that seems to be a common denominator when it comes to successful farm operations. Successful growers are always seeking ways in which they can offer a better product to their customers in a more timely and efficient manner. Whether this is through new and improved cultivars, new equipment, or labor-saving techniques, all of these and more are root causes of enhanced efficiency and profitability. When it comes to new ideas, the trick is being able to sift through them and then determining which ones are worthy of trying, and which ones should be discarded, or possibly even recommended to your competitors. All new varieties tend to look great in
Trends for 2018
the catalog. The question is whether or not you can grow it, and then if that goes well, will your customers want to purchase it? A few years ago, a new variety of spaghetti squash was introduced. Its claim to fame was that it produced a smaller and more uniform squash which would, according to the salesmen, be more desirable to the consumer. It sounded great. What could go wrong? The problem was that it did not really look like the traditional spaghetti squash that people were used to purchasing. We tried it for a couple of years but ended up going back to the old one. I know that this is difficult to fathom, but the public’s enthusiasm for a new type of spaghetti squash did not match the enthusiasm of
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the salesmen for selling the seed. I can also recall attending a winter conference about 20 years ago and hearing about this new apple variety that some people seemed to like. It produced a very weak tree, was susceptible to certain diseases and had some challenges in regards to nutrient management. Why would anyone want to grow that? There are so many other varieties of apples out there now that do not have any of those problems. The salespeople did mention that it seemed as if customers were willing to pay a premium for this apple, so that was enough to get the attention of at least a few growers, so it did gradually take off in popularity. Of course, this apple variety that
Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is currently the Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.
morris county park commission
The FrelinghuysenArboretum Spring Program Highlights When gardens don’t heal*
Dr. Robert Lyons, former Director of Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture, talks about gardens and recovery from personal loss. This program eligible for 1.5 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s
Saturday, March 17 • $30
Introduction to pressed botanicals workshop*
Botanical Artist Beth Murphy guides participants in making a collage or bookmark with pressed leaves, flower petals, and grasses. Fee included materials.
Tuesday, March 20 • $40
Growing small fruit*
Learn how to grow strawberries, blueberries, blackberries & more with Peter Nitzsche, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agent for Morris County. Take home Rutgers Scarlet Strawberry plants. This program eligible for 1.5 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s
Thursday, April 12 • $20
It’s in the news
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Barry William Blenkhorn, known professionally as Barry Williams, looks over a recent edition of the Gardener News while visiting the Garden State. He is an American actor best known for his role as the eldest of the Brady sons, Greg Brady, on the hit ABC television series The Brady Bunch. Following the cancellation of the series in 1974, Williams continued to appear in guest roles on television, and became involved in musical theater, touring with productions such as “Grease,” “The Sound of Music” and “West Side Story.” Williams has appeared in various Brady Bunch TV movie reunions, including the 1988 Christmas movie, “A Very Brady Christmas”. In 1989, Williams was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star “Lifetime Achievement” Award for his role as Greg Brady.
Tubbs Lecture —Dr. Allan Armitage*
The award-winning writer, speaker, and plant expert will give the annual lecture , titled “Tales from the Garden,” at Willowwood Arboretum, followed by a book signing and walk around the garden.
This program eligible for 3.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s
Call 973-326-7601 to register.
Sunday, April 29 • $30
353 East Hanover Avenue • Morris Township, New Jersey • 07960 *Pre-registration required for all programs
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March 2018 5
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6 March 2018
R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E
Turfgrass Faculty Ralph Engel (1915-1995) Named to Inaugural Class to be Inducted into NJ State Golf Association Hall of Fame The New Jersey State Golf Association has announced the formation of its Hall of Fame, with the inaugural class boasting the names of famous players and non-players who have made a unique and lasting impact on the game of golf. Among the individuals honored is the late Ralph Engel, who initiated the twoyear Rutgers Winter Turf Management Course in 1962. As the program administrator and an instructor, Engel graduated over 1,000 students who participated in the course. A native of Nebraska, Engel earned a doctoral degree at Rutgers in 1951 and devoted his life to turf development as a member of the university. His research was focused on improving the quality of turfgrasses and he spearheaded early research in the areas of weed and insect control. He was a highly regarded researcher, gaining widespread recognition for his efforts, which won him the 1993 U.S. Golf Association’s Green Section Award. The NJSGA Hall of Fame has been established to recognize and enshrine men and women who, as New Jersey natives or residents at their time of achievement, have impacted New Jersey golf and/or have made extraordinary contributions to the game through competitive and non-competitive accomplishments. According to the New Jersey State Golf Association, “during his early years in New Jersey, Dr. Engel pioneered the concept of turfgrass visitation service, conducting consulting visitations with superintendents at MGA and NJSGA clubs. These visitations became the basis for the current USGA Green Section Turf Advisory Service. Through his 40-plus years of work, Dr. Engel received many honors, including the GCSAA Distinguished Service Award, election into the New Jersey Turfgrass Hall of Fame, Professor Emeritus from Rutgers University, and the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award from the MGA Golf Course Superintendents Association.” The induction ceremony for the inaugural NJSGA Hall of Fame class will take place on May 1 at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth, home of the association.
27th Annual Turfgrass Research Symposium Focuses on Resourcing the Next Generations of Turfgrass Science
The Center for Turfgrass Science held its 27th Annual Turfgrass Research Symposium on January 12 on the George H. Cook Campus. Executive Dean of the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Robert Goodman welcomed attendees, who were drawn from the turf and golf course industries as well as a number of academic institutions. Goodman also highlighted the many accomplishments of the Rutgers Turfgrass Program over the past three decades. Oral presentations focused on turfgrass microbiomes, weed science, turfgrass management and stress physiology, as well as pest biology and management. The keynote speaker was Jeff Steiner, division director for plant production at the USDA-NIFA Institute of Food Production and Sustainability. Steiner discussed the future of federal funding for turfgrass science in his keynote presentation, “Resourcing the Next Generations of Turfgrass Science,” which is available for viewing on the center’s website. A number of poster presentations were also made at the symposium, featuring current turfgrass research being conducted at Rutgers.
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From the Director’s Desk
Rutgers Outreach Provided by Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. Director
NJAES Web – Your Portal to What Cooperative Extension Has to Offer While this column has covered a wealth of information from our faculty and staff at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES), for regular readers, hopefully you have taken away two notions: 1) there is considerable depth and breadth of applied and basic research and services offered by NJAES, and 2) that you have access to NJAES through your county Rutgers Cooperative Extension office. Your portal to your county’s extension website and NJAES programs, services and publications is through the experiment station’s website: njaes.rutgers.edu. NJAES has just launched a new and improved website, so now is a good time to take you on a virtual tour of the experiment station. Many of you are aware of the Cooperative Extension component of NJAES, but may not know about the research arm. The U.S. Cooperative Extension system is the envy of the world, in part because of the close association between research and extension. This behind-the-scenes part of extension is what drives our recommendations to the public and commercial operations. It is also what brings new tasty varieties of peaches, cranberries and tomatoes to New Jersey farm markets and hazelnut and dogwood trees to local nurseries, downy mildew-resistant basils to farms and succulent oysters to seafood lovers. There are six topic areas that are covered by NJAES cooperative extension and research: Commercial Agriculture; Environment and Natural Resources; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Food, Nutrition, and Health; Home, Lawn, and Garden; and Youth and Community Development. Under each of these topics there are a range of programs, both statewide and local, and newsletters, fact sheets, bulletins and media sources citing our faculty experts. You can find how to submit plant and soil samples for testing and enroll in continuing professional education courses on the NJAES website. We welcome you to explore your county’s cooperative extension website to learn about the programs offered locally. Find your county’s information at njaes.rutgers.edu/county. Most of the county offices of Rutgers Cooperative Extension host faculty and staff from three departments: Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) and 4-H Youth Development. Below is a sampling of programs in these departments. The ANR department hosts the Rutgers Master Gardener and Environmental Steward programs. Programs run by our county agricultural and natural resource agents serve farms, gardens and nurseries, and provide outreach on organic land care and rain gardens. Find more at njaes.rutgers.edu/anr. Additional home, lawn and garden information is available at njaes.rutgers.edu/garden. The FCHS department offers a wealth of information on healthy eating, worksite and school wellness programs, personal finance, and food safety and security. Regular newsletters and fact sheets provide the latest on health and wellness for healthy families, schools, and communities. Visit FCHS at njaes.rutgers.edu/fchs. The 4-H Youth Development department still offers traditional programs like civic engagement, raising small animals, and horse clubs, but also reaches an even wider range of youth with a focus on science, engineering and technology represented in programs in robotics, marine sciences, hydroponics and food and fitness. Find more at nj4h.rutgers.edu. The new website design has enabled NJAES to improve the site’s usability. Rutgers University is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs and activities through its technologies, web pages and services. Rutgers’ goal is to make its websites available to everyone, including users of assistive technologies and people with disabilities. The new NJAES web design better meets federal accessibility standards. Also, the site is mobilefriendly. If you’re in the garden, on the road, or on a work project, the site offers quick and easy access to NJAES information and research. The site sports a clean, uncluttered design, with improved functionality and enhanced content. And, while NJAES serves the ongoing needs of the state, we also boast a little about our past. Rutgers Cooperative Extension has served New Jersey for more than 100 years, and we’ve got stories to tell and some have been documented in an expanded RCE History section. Did you know that artificial insemination of dairy cows in the U.S. got jump-started in New Jersey under the direction of extension dairy specialist Enos Perry, who established the first cooperative artificial breeding association? Before that, dairy farmers faced the hazards of housing dangerous bulls. Another fun did-you-know is that the modern polyethylene greenhouse structures used world-wide in agriculture and garden industries were invented by Rutgers extension specialist in ag engineering Bill Roberts. These “air-inflated, double-layer polyethylene greenhouses” allowed many commercial operations to use greenhouses that otherwise would have been cost-prohibitive if made from glass. And, the excellence continues with work in plant breeding, shellfish research, food safety, storm forecasting, pest management, and more. See what Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station have to offer at njaes.rutgers.edu. Editor’s Note: Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. is Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a Professor of Animal Science. RCE delivers wide-ranging educational programs in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, urban and community outreach, youth development, food, nutrition and health, and related areas of economic and workforce development across New Jersey. Dr. Katz can be reached at 848-932-3591. Visit: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/extension/
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R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E
A Plant of Lusty Appeal
March certainly presents its share of plant related challenges for the gardener. We truly look forward to those initial peaks of color from the early-blooming plants. The challenge comes with their diminished appeal once bloom is complete; they are either overlooked at local garden centers or simply not available due to a lack of consumer interest. Fortunately, some plants can provide alternative rolls in the garden once flowering has passed. I have found Winter Jasmine or Jasminum nudiflorum to be just such a utilitarian plant. Jasminum is a member of the Oleaceae or Olive family and contains over 200 species. The genus was first penned by Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753 when he named and described Jasminum officinalis. The name is derived from the Persian Yasameen, which means “gift from god,” describing the heavenly floral fragrance
of this species. Jasminum officinalis has been cultivated for several thousand years and has been in commerce for so long that the location of its native provenance is uncertain. It appears to be native from the Caucus region east to Western China and has proven hardy in North America to zone 7 (0-10º F). Although Fragrant Jasmine is only marginally hardy at best, Winter Jasmine has proven to be very hardy, readily surviving zone 6 winters when temperatures dip to 10 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. It is native to Northern China, growing in thickets on slopes and in ravines. It is also very tolerant of varying soil conditions, thriving in sandy or silt loams as well as either alkaline or acidic conditions. The species was authored by the English botanist, gardener and orchid aficionado John Lindley (1799-1865) in 1846. The species epithet of nudiflorum means “naked flower” and stems from the plant’s habit of blooming on naked branches before the leaves appear in April.
The red-tipped yellow flower buds open to threequarter-inch golden yellow flowers with red markings on the undersides of the five or six, radially arranged petals. The flowers appear sporadically along the deep green stems during warm spells in January and February, with the main display in March. The one amenity that the flowers are wanting is the strong fragrance of its cousin. At best, the fragrance can be considered as musty moss. It appears the plants are also not self-fertile and those grown in cultivation lack the genetic diversity necessary to produce the small black fruits. Even when not in flower, the leafbare stems of winter provide a rich, deep-green accent for the garden. The stems arch upwards of three to four feet in height, although they are recorded to grow taller. When they come in contact with the soil, they root and repeat the arching habit, making the plant an excellent candidate as groundcover. The compound leaves appear alternately along the stems in
IFNH Building Makes List of New Jersey’s 25 Must-See Buildings While architecture is considered an art based on utility and aesthetics, in the ordinary developed landscape, few structures stand out as striking designs. In this light, USA Today Travel asked American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapters across the country to name 25 structures visitors should see in their state. Included on the list of “25 must-see buildings in New Jersey” is the New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health building at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences on the George H. Cook Campus. This designation is duly notable considering the honor is shared with such iconic New Jersey structures as the Statue of Liberty, the George Washington Bridge, Thomas Edison’s House, a Frank Lloyd Wright house and a doo-wop motel in Wildwood. While the top 25 distinguished buildings represent a range of eras, the IFNH building is one of the few contemporary structures featured. To add another feather to Rutgers’ cap, an additional contemporary structure on the list is yet another Rutgers building, the Rutgers Business School building on Livingston Campus in Piscataway. However, the double recognition doesn’t end there—another building designed by Ballinger, the architectural firm that designed the IFNH building, made the list—the historic RCA Victor Building in Camden. Ballinger has received two awards from the New Jersey chapter of AIA for its design of IFNH. Students, faculty and staff have embraced the IFNH building as the go-to place on the Cook Campus. The bright, open design with multi-functional uses and spaces serves as a popular venue for dining, conferences, meetings and special events. The building serves as Rutgers’ focal point for interdisciplinary collaboration between the university’s research and outreach initiatives in food science, nutrition, public policy, pharmacy, exercise science and sport studies, genetics, agriculture and health sciences research. A top priority of the institute focuses on stemming the epidemic rise in childhood obesity and obesityrelated disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Thus the space is filled with facilities and an atmosphere that revolve around health and wellness. Features of the building include: health and nutritional research laboratories; conference, board and classrooms; the Center for Health and Human Performance; the Culture of Health Academy–a children’s education and research center–part of New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative; an open-concept office suite, a student health and wellness center; and the spots that draw the most devotees: Harvest healthy dining venue and a three-stories high living wall, growing 72 different species of plants. Aside from Passion Puddle during the school’s convocation, the living wall may be the most photographed spot on campus.
April, with each leaf consisting of three to five lance-shaped leaflets of three-quarters to one inch. The leaves remain a deep green throughout the summer, fading to an unspectacular yellow fall color. As mentioned, the plant lends itself to making a dense and fairly weed-suppressing groundcover. However, it can also be thinned and trained up on a wall or over a fence to become an interesting espalier or vine-like architectural compliment, ultimately reaching eight to 12 feet tall. The plants also look spectacular when located above a wall, as the stems will reach over the wall and cascade down 10 to 12 feet. Not only does this help to soften the architecture of the wall, but it also provides a very effective manner of presenting the floral display! With an ironclad constitution and wintertime floral interest that is only enhanced by an inability to self-sow and – much like its cousin Forsythia – resistance to deer browse, one would think this would be a commonly
March 2018 7 used plant. Unfortunately, when most people are shopping for plants, it is but one of those green “things” in a container and people pass it by without a second glance. Jasminum nudiflorum is an incredibly useful plant for brightening and enhancing the garden throughout the year. Its lusty appeal and worthiness warrants recognition by far more individuals in the gardening world! Editor’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 – 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
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-307-6450 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830
Middlesex County Phone: 732-398-5260 Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260 Morris County Phone: 973-285-8300 Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246 Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740 Salem County Phone: 856-769-0090 Somerset County Phone: 908-526-6293 Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040 Union County Phone: 908-654-9854 Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505
8 March 2018
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Governor Murphy Addresses State Agricultural Convention Governor Philip D. Murphy addressed the 103rd New Jersey State Agricultural Convention on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, by giving remarks during the New Jersey Agricultural Society Luncheon at Harrah’s Resort Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City. After a welcome from NJDA Secretary Douglas H. Fisher, the Governor assured the audience that agricultural needs will be a priority during his administration. “From diverse Community Sustained Agriculture farms serving dozens of families, to thousands of rows of blueberry bushes, to the cranberry bogs, to the fields where horses train for race day, to dairy farms, fields of soybeans, to apple and peach orchards, to growing wineries and breweries – and countless other places across our state – New Jersey agriculture is alive and well,” Governor Murphy said. “As Governor, I am committed to working with you to make it even stronger.” Governor Murphy made it clear that he wants to see the state’s Jersey Fresh brand, which started in 1984 and is the oldest state agricultural brand in the U.S., continue to grow. “For years, Jersey Fresh has been synonymous with the best from our farms,” Governor Murphy said. “It helped change entire ideas of what New Jersey is, and what we have to offer. But getting the Jersey Fresh label out before the public doesn’t happen on its own, and it takes more than a sign on a roadside stand, or a placard stapled to a crate on a supermarket floor. Jersey Fresh must be a coordinated message that has real reach, and which leads consumers to want to buy the locally produced, pickedyesterday product over the shipped-here-from-elsewhere one. “We need to expand what people think of when they think of Jersey Fresh. From cheese to beer, we have an entire array of products with their roots planted – literally and figuratively – in New Jersey’s soil. Working with Secretary Fisher and the State Board of Agriculture, I believe we can launch a new era for Jersey Fresh, to take advantage of new platforms to reach new consumers.” Governor Murphy also emphasized the importance of all sectors of agriculture needing to support each other so progress can continue. “This will require a new focus on our state’s agricultural experiment stations, and expanded partnerships with Rutgers University and other researchers,” Governor Murphy said. “It will need better pest management principles and policies, whether we talk about the deer who visit at night, or the hungry insects who sneak in undetected. “We need to make the connections with our residents that farms aren’t just places to drive past. Our farms are an integral part of who we are and how we live. New Jersey farms produce the fresh food in the school cafeteria, and help those with lesser means gain access to fresh produce.” Governor Murphy started and concluded his remarks with a personal thank you to the agriculture community. “So, let me finish where I began, with a ‘thank you,’ ” he said. “And, that’s not just for me, for every New Jerseyan.” Other highlights on Wednesday included the Agriculture Address by Secretary Fisher during the opening session in the morning, remarks from Rutgers University Chancellor Dr. Deba Dutta, a report from New Jersey Farm Bureau President Ryck Suydam and remarks from New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney at the Joint Agricultural Convention Dinner Banquet. The New Jersey State Agricultural Convention is an annual meeting of the state’s agricultural leaders and those interested in agriculture where they can hear and discuss current issues, pass resolutions, elect officers and board members and honor those for service in the industry.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, left, and New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Thomas Beaver, left, Director of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Marketing and Development; Nancy Wood, center, Convention Coordinator, and Administrative Assistant for the Division of Marketing and Development at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; and New Jersey Farm Bureau President Ryck Suydam on the Convention floor.
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March 2018 9 Around The Garden By Tom Castronovo Gardener News
An Early Spring Warmup
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Flower shows, gardening classes, plant lectures, and forestry stewardship days are helping to warm up the spring rush in the Garden State. This year, spring bursts into bloom on March 20. So, I’m going to share with you a few of my favorite things that I like to do to help usher out the cold weather. The Annual Meeting of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey (NPSNJ) for 2018 will be held at Medford Leas on Saturday, March 3. Their keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Stephen Yergeau. Dr Yergeau is a County Agent in Ocean & Atlantic Counties for Rutgers Cooperative Extension. He works with municipalities, farms, schools, residents, researchers, and non-profits developing programs and solutions to environmental issues affecting these coastal counties. Steve focuses on creating sustainable landscapes that help to improve soil health, conserve water, and reduce pollution from entering Barnegat Bay. Steve received a B.S. in Biology from University of Massachusetts, an M.S. in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers University. His presentation will be on the benefits to water quality using native plants. The Society will also be announcing the NPSNJ plant of the year! Five plants are being considered. Attendees will vote for the top plant during the day’s meeting. I can’t wait to see which one wins. The Native Plant Society of New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation, protection, and study of the native flora of New Jersey. To learn more about the NPSNJ, please visit them at www.njsnj.org Second is the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, March 3-11. You can read all about the show in this month’s cover story. I can’t wait to see the interplay of horticulture and water. This has always been my favorite flower show to attend. March 9-10, the New Jersey FFA is hosting their Floral Design Competition. This event stimulates the study of and interest in the retailing and arranging of flowers, plants, and foliage through the agricultural education curriculum. The competition includes the creation of an assigned arrangement and the creation of a design-of-choice arrangement. In addition, an itemized bill for the design-of-choice arrangement will be created. FFA activities are an integral part of the instructional program in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education. In 2018, there are 36 FFA chapters in New Jersey with more than 2,500 members. FFA is a national youth organization of 653,359 student members preparing for leadership careers in the science, business, education and technology of agriculture with 8,568 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The PHS show is open to the public. Learn more at www.state.nj.us/agriculture/ag_ed/ffa On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, there are three wonderful events taking place in Middlesex County. I’m going to list them in alphabetical order so I don’t get myself into trouble. The first is The Mercer Green Fest at Rider University. More than 75 ecofriendly businesses, organizations and schools will be offering information and incentives to help you go green and save money from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the University’s Student Recreation Center, which is located on the main campus, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, Lawrenceville, NJ. Mercer Green Fest, which promotes green living for Mercer County families, is presented by the Mercer County Sustainability Coalition. All Mercer county residents are invited to join in on having fun going green! The fair is free and open to the public, rain or shine. For more information on the Mercer Green Fest visit www.mercergreenfest.org Second, you can learn what you need to know about Forest Stewardship & Woodland Assessment, meet the State Forester, and learn about trends in Forest Composition & Stand Age, all at the N.J. Forestry Association’s 43rd Annual Meeting in the Cook Campus Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. If you would like to attend this forestry event, please visit www.njforestry.org Whether your outdoor plans include festive gatherings with friends or peaceful moments of solitude, get your yard or garden ready with expert training at the 42nd Annual Rutgers Home Gardeners School. Registration is now open for this once-a-year event, which will be held at the Rutgers University Cook/Douglass Campus in New Brunswick, N.J. The Home Gardeners School is made up of 38 individual workshop sessions that cover a wide array of horticulture topics. This format allows attendees to select the workshops that are most relevant to their gardening interests so as to create their own unique, customized schedule for a fun day of learning. Expert speakers from commercial horticulture and landscape design firms, as well as faculty and staff from Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), provide attendees with the opportunity to learn from highly-respected professionals with a wealth of experience. For more information or to register for Home Gardeners School, visit www.cpe.rutgers.edu/hgs or call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 848-932-9271. And finally, rounding out the month on March 24, is the 11th Annual Rutgers Mercer County Master Gardener Symposium at the Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, N.J. Meet Joe Lamp’l (aka joe gardener®), one of the country’s most recognized and trusted personalities in gardening and sustainability. His passion for living a greener life is evident to a nationwide audience who watch Joe in his current role as Creator, Executive Producer and Host of the multi-award-winning PBS series, Growing a Greener World® and previously as host of Fresh from the Garden on DIY Network and more. Joe also shares his know-how on NBC’s TODAY SHOW, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Weather Channel and through his popular books, podcast series, nationally syndicated newspaper column and more. Joe was also a featured columnist for the Gardener News. Register early at mgofmc.org I can’t believe Easter and April Fool’s Day fall on the same day this year! 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.
10 March 2018 As a practicing municipal arborist/forester, much of my responsibility falls into the category of public relations. Rather than getting out there with my crews and putting my hands on trees, I spend a good deal of time “softening” residents’ concerns with trees, both street trees and, sadly, often neighbors’ trees. Considering all the other issues we face in life, trees can elicit much emotion. I have had residents claim their hair fell out after a tree was removed. I have had residents claim their dog went into depression after a tree was removed. I have been accused of planting a tree (in the Township rightof-way no less!) to “spite” the resident. For the record, I have never done so. But sometimes I want to. I have also experienced the classic “chaining to the tree,” an attempt to prevent removal of the tree. Protests. Signed petitions. You name it, it really happens. Call the local paper, call the local news agency, call the Mayor and Council and suddenly I am a “Tree Terrorist.” Yes, I have been called such…in
By Brian Bosenberg As Landscape Architects, we are regularly asked to develop landscape lighting plans to create different lighting scenes that complement and accent our landscapes. Strategic lighting can be used to illuminate a focal point, create a safe setting, and set the desired mood. We shy away from drenching the landscape with copious amounts of light. Rather, in the residential landscape, we enjoy creating scenes that entice you to wander through the garden, just highlighting enough to draw you into specific outdoor rooms. The same methodologies can be utilized in public spaces, but security issues have to be weighed more heavily. In order to ensure safety while moving through the garden or public space, steps and low walls washed with illumination to offer a subtle elegance and path lights help guide us in a specific
GardenerNews.com Tree Notes By Steve Schuckman NJ Certified Tree Expert
Trees: Love Them or Leaf Them? print! Yet what residents do not realize or accept is that I am responsible for their safety. No decent, professional arborist wants to remove a beautiful, healthy tree, but sometimes there is no option. Maybe you are building a new house, or making new improvements (i.e. landscape work) that will impact the tree in a negative way. Damage to the tree may cause decline or structural deficiencies that can create a hazardous condition. I often – too often – witness construction that damages the roots of a tree. The tree may not die right away or at all, but the risk of failure is real. We all want to preserve trees, but sometimes it is more prudent to remove the tree and replant.
So, what are the most common tree complaints? Sidewalk lifted by roots, sewer lateral invasion by roots, branches touching house. All legitimate concerns, and we make every attempt to mitigate these issues. Sometimes we can do so without removing the tree, sometimes we cannot and the tree must go. We always make every attempt to preserve the tree, but we also must be realistic and accept that – especially for old, large trees – the built environment has changed. There were no paved roads or curbs when many old oaks and London plane were planted. Now they are mature and impacting curbs and sidewalks and paving… and property owners. Pity the tree, it has done nothing
wrong. I have addressed the above in the past. Yes, trees can and do cause problems for homeowners. It has happened to me and it has happened to you. Yet the value trees provide far outweighs the small problems they may cause, at least that is what I believe. Those small problems are also easy to deal with, despite what one may feel when the sewer backs up. But it is the “silly” things (my opinion) that fascinate me when it comes to tree complaints. Someday I will put these into a small book, but following are my two favorites. Number One. “I have to clean up leaves every year. I have lived here for 30 years and I am tired of it!” Really? Did something
direction. Concealing the fixture and limiting glare are also important when considering fixture selection for a project. In the last decade, we have seen the transformation of outdoor light bulbs from Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide and Incandescent light sources, which have been replaced, almost entirely, by LED, or light emitting diode. The efficiencies and range of colors available make leaps every year, greatly expanding the uses and applications of landscape lighting. Light bulbs have become smaller but more powerful. This allows us as designers to creatively locate fixtures in walls or even in driveways to create new night time scenes and lighting effects. Many fixtures offer dimming capabilities that allow you to change the mood in an instant. For the first-time, light fixtures can change the color output of the light with the touch of a smart phone. These advances can now allow the homeowner to have a high
level of controllability of color, intensity and timing of lighting scenes. Ponds, fountains and pools offer other opportunities to inject light into the landscape. The lighting of a focal point can create a dramatic setting. Light has been the narrator of the story; from the flickering torches of our ancestors, which animated cave paintings bringing their dreams to life, to today’s powerful yet diminutive LED bulbs, which guide us through urban plazas, memorial spaces and home landscapes. Lighting has a powerful effect on our psyche and how we perceive the world; welcoming vs. threatening. All these advances have allowed for the proliferation of nighttime lighting, which has only been available commercially since 1870; that’s less than 150 years. With this advancement comes great responsibility and opportunity. Many times, safe and effective lighting can be created while reducing the amount of light blasted off into
space, diminishing the view of the night sky. Many of you may be familiar with the photo taken from the International Space Station of the light emitted from our cities and suburban landscapes globally. In the United States, from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, there is hardly a stitch of land where we can view the stars without a degree of light pollution. Light pollution has detrimental effects to wildlife and humans alike. We evolved without artificial light. If used carelessly, night lighting has been shown to negatively impact sleep patterns, which can lead to a slew of psychological and physiological challenges. Our lighting decisions are driven by guidelines developed by the International Dark Sky Association. A nonprofit created in 1988 to help curb light pollution in our cities, suburbs and rural areas alike to reduce light pollution and the ability to be able to see the stars above us. The Dark Sky Society is
Shine a Little Light
change in the past few years that did not happen 20 years ago? Move to the desert. Number Two. “Every autumn, things fall out of the tree and I have to clean them up.” Again, really? This past fall I had a young family call with a concern about “things” dropping on their roof and pool and cars. They had recently moved from New York City to a wooded part of town and did not understand that, yes! oaks drop acorns, and hickory and walnut drop big woody fruit. But the question that floored me was, “Does this happen every year? And what can we do?” Move to the desert. Editor’s Note: Steve Schuckman is owner of First Mountain Aboriculture, which provides horticultural consulting and community forestry services. He is currently the consulting forester for Bloomfield, Hawthorne, Maplewood, and Montclair, in New Jersey. He is also a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert. He can be reached at smschuckman@verizon.net
also a great resource for better understanding the challenges of illumination and its effects on the on the night sky. Because of light pollution, many of us in the Garden State can rarely enjoy the full spectrum of the solar system’s wondrous nightly display. Don’t up light, if possible, always try to direct the light source towards the ground to protect our night sky. As Landscape Architects, we are not only tasked with creating seductive and safe nighttime scenes, we must also ensure the scenes we are creating are respecting the natural light cycles of the environment. Editor’s Note: Brian W. Bosenberg is a practicing landscape architect licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine and Vermont, and a principal in the firm of Bosenberg & Company Landscape Architects, Far Hills, N.J. He can be reached at 908-234-0557, info@bwbosenberg.com or www.bwbosenberg.com
GardenerNews.com
March 2018 11
“Founded in 1872 as North America’s first public arboretum, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a leading center for the study of biodiversity and a cherished 281-acre Boston landscape open free year-round. One of the most comprehensive and best documented collections of temperate woody plants in the world, the Arboretum promotes the understanding and appreciation of plants through horticulture, worldclass research, and education programs for all ages” (arboretum.harvard.edu). This garden has always been on my “Bucket List” and a recent trip to Boston had me break away from family and friends for three hours. A short Uber ride later, on a sub-freezing cold January day, found me at 125 Arborway, running through the gate and heading towards Hunnewell Visitor Center. The Arnold Arboretum is a “Systematic Garden Design,” whereas plants are largely grouped by family and genus. “Where every element appears to be the same volume, the same height, the same intensity” (books.google.com). Simply put, the maples are with the maples, the beech with the beech and even the Cork trees, Phellodendron, are all grouped together. You can fully appreciate the similarities the family shares, while marveling at the unique qualities each type can possess. This living collection consists of some 15,000 accessioned plants representing nearly 4,000 kinds of trees, shrubs and vines. All this has been made possible because the trustees of the will of James Arnold (1781-1868), “a whaling merchant of New Bedford, Massachusetts, (who) transferred a portion of the Arnold’s estate to the President and Fellows of Harvard College” (arboretum.harvard.edu). As I passed through the gate, I immediately headed towards Hunnewell Visitor Center. Running towards its front door, I looked left and was gawking at the grove of Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, appreciating their orange winter outline against the bright blue sky.
Just exiting, or entering the arboretum, massed near the Dawn Redwoods in a wet area, is an evergreen bamboo, groundcover type, Kuma bamboo grass, Sasa veitchii. Captivating my attention was its large, broad leaves that are dark green with white edges. Extremely well maintained and contained, for a bamboo, this grove is most likely cut down every spring to manage its height. Known for being aggressive and stubborn, this bamboo type is clearly being managed with the same painstaking efforts that every other plant in the Arboretum receives. “The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University discovers and disseminates knowledge of the plant kingdom to foster greater understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of Earth’s botanical diversity and its essential values to humankind” (arboretum. harvard.edu). This, their mission, is realized through research, horticulture and education. Blessed to be able to see natures finest in a mature state, I have James Arnold to thank for his generosity and vision and Charles Sprague Sargent for “knocking” the arboretum together. Sargent was appointed the Arboretum’s first director and spent over five decades shaping its policies and programs. Finally, Frederick Law Olmsted, the Father of American Landscape Architecture, worked closely with Sargent, defining many of the Arboretum’s spaces. These men, their vision, benevolence and philanthropy, along with a phenomenal steak dinner, at Abe and Louie’s, made for one unforgettable weekend!
Unique Plants By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
After a brief introduction with an arboretum employee, I was told that a guided tour had just left. Quick to join that group I ran over a half mile to catch up with them. Passing the Magnolias, Tulips and Lindens, running down Meadow Road, I was almost through the Cork trees when I caught up. Minutes later I realized that this group’s pace was too quick for me and I found myself out of touch with them and again on my own. I simply could not take in all that was afforded to me on their 45-minute tour. Mentioning the staggering number of plants the Arnold Arboretum has in its collection, no single article could ever do it justice. Every visitor will undoubtedly take away his or her personal favorites. My quick overview of the property certainly provided me with several handfuls of favorites. The second stand of trees to hold my attention was the impressive collection of Cork tree types, Phellodendron. Native to China and Manchuria, this distinct collection was easy to identify, given their corky bark patterns. Easy to identify the genus, but not the species. A humbling experience to see so many mature trees that are similar, yet different. Nobody can ever know it all. The Amur Cork Tree, Phellodendron amurense, was my favorite on this day, as the bark was particularly ridged and furrowed. Continuing down Meadow Road, located on the bend near the water, was an obscure tree which I had to read its tag for its identity. Castor-aralia, Kalopanex septemlobus is one of those “hardy” trees no one in retail ever asks for. Armed with tons of thorns on its youngest stems and hanging clusters of spent fruit on long, thin stems, I felt I should have remembered this tree as I had once learned it. Regardless, I
had to cheat and read the tag. As mentioned earlier, The Arnold Arboretum’s vast collection includes thousands of different kinds of plants. What held my attention the longest was the Explorers Garden, specifically the Chinese Path. Chock full of personal favorites, this is where I spent a third of my time. Given that my visit happened in the middle of winter, for me it was all about bark appreciation, as all the deciduous trees had already lost their leaves. Seven-son Flower Trees, Heptacodium miconioides, huddled together, anyone would have appreciated their shredded, torn creamy-brown multistemmed bark. A conifer that blew my mind was a Plum Yew type, Cephalotaxus sinensis, whose sheer size and splintered, yet smooth patchwork of purple-brown markings on its bark, was something I had never seen so pronounced. Seeing such a collection in a mature state, grouped as they are, my opinion concerning a certain genus “held water” here. Stewartia are known by many plants people to be one of those quintessential trees that can do it all. Flowers, fall color and gorgeous bark are reliable on most. The Arnold Arboretum has many candidates close to one another so you can quickly and easily choose your favorite for your garden. Beaked Chinese Stewartia, Stewartia rostrata, Japanese Stewartia, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Chinese Stewartia, Stewartia sinensis were all so close to one another that it helped solidify my choice as to who has the best bark. Japanese Stewartia, Stewartia pseudocamellia, still comes away as my clear favorite and the one we chose for our home. On this cold day, nestled in with all the rest, the Arboretum’s mature Japanese Stewartia did
not disappoint. Awesome exfoliating, muscled bark with smooth plates, continued to remind me of a boa constrictor’s skin. Another type with remarkable bark, Korean Stewartia, Stewartia koreana, is a close second, however. The “Grand Champion” of plants I saw, on this day, came to me as I climbed the path. This tree seemed to greet me with open arms as its largest limbs were so outstretched. I have never seen a Paperbark maple, Acer griseum, with such size and unique form. A candidate whose trunk is measured in feet, the likes of which are seldom seen in our country. Exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark was everywhere and I was only sorry to have missed its brilliant red fall color. However, I did appreciate having met and “hugged” this tree, as it left an impression on me of what can happen given enough time, care and effort. A life lesson to be a bit more patient, stay connected with nature and focus more on experiences rather than screens. To date, this is one of the most impressive trees I have ever come across. Covering 281 acres in 3 hours was nearly accomplished by me. However, this was a broad paint stroke at best. I could have spent three weeks and my soul would not have been fully nourished. Running that first half-mile to catch the initial group, I passed a wooden bench. Meandering back, as I was losing daylight, I visited that same bench. Made of Douglas fir, this is “Ed’s Bench.” Edward I. Masterman 2016, “With gratitude for the miles I walk here with nature.” I could not help but think, given further opportunity to these surroundings, that I too would share the same sentiment. Hell, I share that sentiment after walking only a few short miles in 20-degree weather, once!
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.
12 March 2018
GardenerNews.com
2018 Flower Show to Explore “Wonders of Water” jungle, reminiscent of nature’s diverse rainforest, featuring a playful, wildly colorful embellished landscape. An entrance canopy of lush greenery, hanging flowers and vines with cascading plants will immerse everyone. A labyrinth of scaffolding will create an architectural structure filled with plants and flowers. Elaborate-cut, tropical flower arrangements will sit atop bamboo stands, with hanging flowers and vines suspended overhead, and pops of colorful flowers will climb bamboo poles. An ever-shifting rain curtain will guide you to a tropical pond surrounded by palm and ficus trees, massive ferns and colorful tropical plants and flowers. You will flow past a fish pond, with lily pads in a misting pool and be led to a “suspended” rope bridge, and through a brilliant green rainforest. Marvel at a modernistic, 25-foot waterfall, which reveals itself as the backdrop to this rain forest garden, and a six-tier bamboo
structure with cascades of falling water, adorned by plants and flowers, and flowing into a stream. Nearly 4,000 plants of more than 165 varieties will be used in this year’s entrance garden – making for one of the most diverse displays in the history of the show. These plants will decorate almost 500 square feet of bamboo and comprise the more than 2,000 leaves of the rainforest canopy. The wonder of water will be liberally represented by about 2,500 gallons of water which will circulate over the falls and throughout the water features. The entrance garden will cover over 10,000 square feet, bringing visitors up close and personal to the plants and flowers of the rainforest. The beauty and wonder of the rainforest entrance garden will also highlight the three most important stages of the water cycle: precipitation, flow and collection, and evaporation. Scientists from the Academy of Natural Sciences will be on hand to provide visitors with
(Continued from page 1) information about these stages and answer questions about plants featured in this year’s entrance garden. “We want to capture all the sensory elements of the rainforest ― its fantastic colors, scents and sounds ― and demonstrate its unique and vital role in purifying water and sustaining our environment,” explained Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows & Events. The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event, and features stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the show introduces the newest plant varieties, garden and design concepts, and organic and sustainable practices. In addition to the major garden displays, the Flower Show hosts world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations and
demonstrations, special events, and the citywide Bloom. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1827, that connects people with horticulture, and together creates beautiful, healthy and sustainable communities. Proceeds from the Philadelphia Flower Show support the work of PHS to transform lives and landscapes across the region. Through the innovative greening programs of PHS, people of all backgrounds work together to tend community gardens, plant trees, green vacant lots, and create and maintain iconic public landscapes. These efforts provide healthy food for families in need, teach job skills to returning citizens, build stronger and safer communities, and make our world a greener, more beautiful place. The 2018 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show will be held on March 3 to 11, 2018, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The show
hours are: Saturday, March 3, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 4, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Monday-Friday, March 5-9, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 10, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, March 11, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show and to purchase tickets, visit theflowershow. com, and follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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
March 2018 13
NJDA Education Leader Trivette is President-Elect of Association for Career and Technical Education
Pesticide Storage Inventory Due May 1 to Fire Department
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) members recently voted New Jersey Department of Agriculture education leader Nancy Trivette as PresidentElect. Trivette has been a part of the NJDA’s Ag Education program for 23 years and currently is the leader of the state program for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Education and is the State FFA Advisor. “This is a well-deserved honor for Nancy,” NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “She has long been a proponent of Ag Education in New Jersey and nationally. Her dedication and involvement have allowed her to build a foundation which ensures she will have a very successful term as ACTE President.” Beginning on July 1, 2018, Trivette will serve three consecutive one year terms as the President-Elect, President and then Past President. The election was open to ACTE’s membership of 25,000 educators, administrators and other CTE professionals. ACTE is the national organization for all of career and technical education. “I am extremely excited and humbled to serve as the ACTE President,” Trivette said. “I am committed to serving the organization with purpose, professionalism and passion. I am honored to have been elected and am looking forward to the opportunity to serve ACTE members nationwide.” Trivette has been working in Ag Education and has been the State FFA Advisor since 1983, first with Rutgers University, then at the New Jersey Department of Education and she has been with the NJDA since 1995. She also has been the ACTE Agricultural Education Division Vice-President, the President of the National Council for Agricultural Education, the President of the National Association Supervisors of Agricultural Education, the ACTE Region I Vice President and is currently the National FFA Treasurer. “Changes in our world, such as an ever-growing population and declining natural resources, over the next 40 years will continue to require Career and Technical Education leaders to be visionary, progressive and responsive,” Trivette said. “We must successfully prepare greater numbers of students for postsecondary education while ensuring their success and readiness for current and emerging careers. We must model and promote seamless transitions to postsecondary experiences and/or careers for all students.” Under Trivette’s leadership, New Jersey currently has more than 2,500 FFA members who engage in personal, career and leadership development activities that challenge them to excel as they develop agricultural skills and competencies for the future. She has also been a leader in assisting schools to develop CASE, the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education. CASE is an instructional system that provides intense teacher professional development and curriculum that is changing the culture of agriculture programs. Learn more about FFA, CASE and New Jersey Agriculture Education at http:// www.jerseyageducation.nj.gov. ACTE is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities. For more information about the ACTE, visit https://www.acteonline.org.
Licensed pesticide applicators and dealers in New Jersey who store pesticides are required by law to send a copy of their inventory along with a cover letter to their local fire company by May 1st each year. Applicators and dealers must maintain a list of the pesticides stored or likely to be stored during the year. The inventory should be kept separate from the storage area. Applicators and dealers must keep the letter on file for three years and should have it available for NJDEP upon request. This does not apply to pesticides for personal use, or to storage of pesticides at loading or application areas for less than 7 days. Pesticide Storage Inventory Form – The purpose of the inventory is to provide local fire departments with a description of materials stored in case of fire or emergency. Cover Letter – Licensed pesticide applicators and dealers who store pesticides are required by law to send a cover letter with a copy of the inventory to the local fire company. NJDEP regulations require that, “The cover letter will state that this list has been sent pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:30-9.5(b).4.” New Jersey regulations require a description or diagram depicting the specific location on the property where the pesticides are stored.
NJ Agricultural Society Announces Award Recipients The New Jersey Agricultural Society announced its 2018 award recipients who will be honored at the Society’s annual gala on March 17th at the Boathouse at Mercer Lake, West Windsor, NJ. Richard Nieuwenhuis of Belvidere, NJ, will be awarded the Gold Medallion Award, the NJ Agricultural Society’s highest honor. Additionally, Fralinger Orchards, Bridgeton, NJ, and Hensel Farms, Milmay, NJ will each be receiving the Century Farm Award, commemorating at least 100 years of continuous farming within the same family. The Gold Medallion is annually awarded to farmers who have been actively involved in statewide agricultural organizations and provided leadership in a variety of ways. Recipients have also included agribusiness people who have worked to change the industry through advanced marketing plans or business management tools for the industry. Recipients have also included career employees who have been extraordinary in moving the industry forward. Richard Nieuwenhuis along with his wife Trudy, own and operate Scenic Valley Greenhouses in Belvidere, NJ. The operation produces quality flowering plants and focuses on specialty annual flower production to high-end retail garden centers. Nieuwenhuis has a long affiliation with the New Jersey Farm Bureau, and served as the organization’s president from 2002 to 2012. Additionally, he served on the NJ State Board of Agriculture from 1994 - 1998, and served as its President. He remains active in a host of agricultural organizations, and has received many honors including: the NJ State Board of Agriculture’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture, FTD Golden Sales Award, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service award. Since the event coincides with St. Patrick’s Day, the theme will revolve around a “New Jersey agriculture salute to the Emerald Isle” featuring NJ farm products being used in traditional Irish dishes. For more information and tickets, please visit www.njagsociety.org
14 March 2018
GardenerNews.com
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Now accepting leaves, tree branches, limbs, trunks, brush and wood chips.
16 March 2018 Following January’s article on Gardening in the Age of Elizabeth I, many readers asked for more information about Shakespearean Gardens. “Bardies” rejoice: there are lots of ways to pay tribute to William Shakespeare in your garden. In my last article, we discussed the knot garden, but if you do not possess the favored “four square” bordered by hedges and intersected by paths, you can still bring the Bard to your yard. Keep in mind these Elizabethan garden design principles: marry the garden’s design to the house’s architecture; plant beds with flowers of the same height, but intermingling colors; plan a garden of four season interest; include the element of scent. No gravel paths? Top off your containers with gravel. This will impart pots with a formal, finished look and connect them stylistically. With proper placement, you can imitate the look of a knot garden. No giant topiary? Add evergreens. Boxwood clipped into a simple geometric shape will lend an authentic Elizabethan air to your garden and provide some year-round interest. No room for a maze or labyrinth? Use water-proof paints on canvas to create one and roll it
As of this writing, several NJLCA members are coming home on a train from Washington, D.C. You see, the NJLCA participates in several legislative “flyins” (although we usually go by car or train, since we are close) and Legislative Days on Capitol Hill a year. This most recent “fly-in”, we partnered with the Federal Employees and Workers of America and feel it was a productive day. A “legislative day” consists of our members and others from across the country visiting with legislators to discuss topics related to our industry. Prior to our visit, the NJLCA office works with the schedulers for each legislative office to set up meetings for a single day. Sometimes we are not able to meet directly with the Congressman or Senator themselves but are always able to meet with their Chief of Staff or Legislative Assistant if they are not available. Believe it or not, these people have great influence as well. Once appointments are set, we share talking points and prepare for our meetings. On this particular visit, we were in Washington to discuss
GardenerNews.com The Garden Historian By Lesley Parness Garden Educator
Bring the Bard to Your Yard
out over your lawn when you are feeling bardlike. No time for a pleached bower? What about a pre-fab arbor? “An arbor shadow’d with a mix of rosemary and eglantine” oozes Shakespearean authenticity. A good eglantine, or dog rose, for New Jersey gardens is Rosa Rugosa “Therese Bugnet,” or fudge it a bit and go for the thornless, but equally fragrant “Zepherine Drouhin.” Grow plants mentioned in his works. Accompany these with signs as ornate or plain as you wish to remind you of his words. You may already be growing Shakespearean plants in your herb garden. Rosemary, thyme, lavender, marjoram, mints, balm and chamomile were all believed to refresh the brain and stimulate memory. The library and the internet will yield many quotations to use from his 37 plays and 154 sonnets.
Add the element of scent with a fragrant groundcover. Layers of scented herbs and rushes covered floors of that period in houses royal and regular. Plant some foot traffic tolerant plants in the cracks between garden pavers: one of the many Creeping or Wooley Thymes, Sweet Woodruff, Lilyof-the-valley, or Corsican mint will work. Use his plants faithfully. During the English Renaissance, flowery language was much favored, as was the symbolic language of flowers. Begun in ancient times, and in full swing during the Tudor age, the language of flowers was incorporated into elaborate flower arrangements for display and personal use. Women and men alike carried nosegays, or tussie-mussies to cover up the abounding unwholesome aromas. Google “the symbolic language of flowers in Tudor times” and construct your own bouquets with
hidden meanings. Just head out to your garden with a truly Tudor drink - a cold glass of ale. Enjoy it whilst you pull some weeds, about which the gardener in Richard II said, “I will go root away the noisome weeds, which without profit suck the soil’s fertility from wholesome flowers.” For further inspiration, there are several Shakespeare Gardens to visit within a day’s drive. In Washington, D.C., The Folger Shakespeare Library’s gardens and Tudor reading room are worth the trip. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Shakespeare Garden exhibits over 80 plants with relevant quotes. The Central Park Shakespeare Garden’s lovely fouracre landscape contains many herbaceous and woody plants mentioned in the bard’s works. At Princeton University, a tiny, hidden gem of a garden sits in a brick courtyard. At Union
The NJLCA Today By Gail Woolcott Director of Operations
NJLCA Storms the Hill in Washington, D.C. issues with the H-2B program. H-2B is a temporary worker visa that allows unskilled laborers to come to America for a temporary period of time for seasonal work. The H-2B program is essential for small and seasonal businesses that are committed to hiring a legal workforce but are unable to fill seasonal jobs with American workers despite extensive recruitment efforts. The H-2B program is important to American workers whose year-round positions are reliant upon seasonal laborers during peak seasons. It is said that every H-2B worker supports and sustains 4.64 American jobs. Many people think “H-2B” is a source of cheap labor, but it is far from it. Employers must apply months ahead of time and spend thousands to
obtain these employees. They must first prove that they have a need and run ads in regional or statewide newspapers, have taken interviews with anyone that applies and hire those workers if they are eligible. If they’re unable to meet their demand of employees with American workers, they may get laborers from participating countries and are required to pay them anywhere from $14 to $17 per hour for unskilled labor. These companies are doing the right thing by hiring legal employees and are paying a premium for them. There is currently a cap on the number of these employees that can enter the U.S., which is quickly met, as the program is used by restaurants, hotels, landscape contractors, the seafood industry, painters and
more. Another issue we have brought to the attention of our legislators is a bill negating contracts whereby a property owner holds himself harmless in the case of a slip and fall due to snow or ice on their property. Many times, the property owner will put in a contract that if someone slips on ice, the snow and ice management company is at fault. However, they also put in the contract that the snow and ice management company many not plow or salt until there is a specified amount on the pavement. Therefore, even though he/she is not allowed to do anything about the snow or ice until it is over a certain amount, the contractor is still held liable for someone slipping when there is less than that amount
County’s Cedar Brook Park, a splendid Shakespeare Garden, designed by Olmsted Brothers of Boston has been faithfully and lovingly supported and maintained by the Plainfield Garden Club since 1927. Elizabethans viewed the garden as a place to renew the body and refresh the mind and spirit. So, however you decide to honor Shakespeare in your garden, take time to enjoy it! This article is part of the author’s talk “Gardening in the age of Elizabeth or Bring the Bard to your Yard,” which also includes period horticulture, botanical literature and a how-to guide for creating a Shakespeare Garden. Editor’s Note: Lesley Parness offers a variety of presentations and workshops for garden clubs, plant societies, and horticultural gatherings. Recently retired from her position as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, and with four decades of teaching environmental science and garden education, her focus now is garden history. A complete listing of her talks can be seen at lesleyparness.com and she can be reached at parness@verizon.net. This column will appear in the paper every other month.
on the ground. There are many issues that affect the landscaping and snow industries, and ones that affect any small business that we speak to our legislators about. Others include labor laws, pesticide regulations, organic pest remediation and more. We at the NJLCA are currently watching over 12 bills that may affect our industry. We also support legislation that helps protect our bees and pollinators, requires education for fertilizer use, and many more that are protective of the Earth and its citizens. Knowing and meeting with your legislators, whether it is to discuss an issue, thank them for doing something for your community, or simply getting to know them, is a great practice. You can simply call their office and request an appointment. They are your legislators and will be happy to meet with you. Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott is Director of Operations for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. She can be reached at (201) 703-3600 or by emailing gwoolcott@NJLCA.org
GardenerNews.com
March 2018 17
Carl J. Torsilieri Honored
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Long-time New Jersey greenhouse grower, landscape contractor, nurseryman, and United States Navy Veteran Carl J. Torsilieri celebrated his 90th birthday on February 4, 2018. On February 12, Mr. Torsilieri was honored by Far Hills Mayor Paul J. Vallone, M.D., and the entire Township Committee with an “Outstanding Service Award” for serving as the borough’s mayor from 1995 to 2010, and for grateful appreciation and distinguished recognition of his devotion and dedication and commitment to the Borough of Far Hills. Mr. Torsilieri began his green industry career by growing and selling cut flowers and nursery stock. In 1968, he established Torsilieri Inc., a well-known landscape contracting firm that is most famous for harvesting and delivering the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Rockefeller Center Plaza (West 48th and 51st Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues) in Manhattan, for the past 35 years. Mr. Torsilieri still works side-by-side in the family’s corporate Gladstone, Somerset County, N.J., office with his sons Dean and Guy. From left to right are Far Hills Mayor Paul J. Vallone, MD., Carl J. Torsilieri, and Guy Torsilieri.
18 March 2018
GardenerNews.com
The Moon’s Pull
By Jeannie Geremia Contributing Writer
Just the word, “moon,” conjures up images of the glowing celestial orb shining its silvery moonlight over Earth’s land and sea. It awakens our sense of civilizations past as we fall under its spell, just like the ancients We have been inundated with photos, articles and news reports of the extraordinary stages of the moon we’ve had the privilege of witnessing in the New Year. My interest was piqued at the very beginning of January when my Aunt Sam (Lorlyn Covert), in discussing the New Year’s Day Super Moon with me, also called it a Wolf’s Moon. She opined that the cyclone bomb snowstorm that struck the Northeast and caused major flooding in Boston was exacerbated by the full, Super Moon as the storm hit at high tide causing excessive water to be drawn from the Atlantic. Aunt Sam also regaled me with stories of her elders planting at different times of the moon phases to maximize germination and thereby producing a bountiful harvest. Naturally, I had to research the moon’s possible effects on gardening and the lore behind it all as the moon has always presented us with a source of awe and mystery. How lucky that in this year of 2018, we were greeted with a Super Full Moon only to be followed on January 31 with a Super Full Blue Blood Moon. Wow! Now we know that it is not a usual circumstance to have two full moons in one month, hence the second full moon becomes a Blue Moon. Added to that, is our Super Blue Moon passed through the Earth’s shadow, blocking the sun’s light that reflects
off the moon casting a reddish blush, hence Blood, is added to the phenomenon (sun’s light causes the moon to normally glow). The Blue Moon usually occurs only once every two or three years, but this year we’re being treated to another Blue Moon on March 31 as we have a full moon on March 2, making two full moons in one month again, making a bonanza of blue moons. What’s that saying --“Once in a Blue Moon”? We may have to rethink that one. I was so enthralled with learning more about the moon that I decided that I would share some of this with you, my gardening friends, in this article. Bob Markey, Square Foot Gardening instructor and friend from Rahway, seemed to receive this intention of mine telepathically as he sent me the “Moons and Blooms 2018” calendar with accompanying information shortly thereafter and the amazing thing is that Bob and I had not talked about the moon. I don’t know how many of you subscribe to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, but it is inundated with gardening tips, prognostications and many articles on the moon. The Full Moon names vary in the calendar and the almanac but the names reflect nature and are a treat to read. They mostly reflect the gardening year, such as Sap Moon, Pink Moon, Flower Moon, Strawberry Moon, Green Corn Moon, Harvest Moon, and most are derived from the Algonquin Indian tribes of the Northeast. Fascinating is the theory that all aspects of gardening can be maximized by adhering to the phases of the moon, hence the “Moon’s Pull” comes into play. In various articles I’ve been reading, the case is made that planting above-ground
crops such as annuals and herbs will produce stronger, more abundant plants during the new moon to full moon as the waxing moon’s light is stronger at pulling water to the surface. The planting of belowground crops such as bulbs and root vegetables in the waning phases of the moon will produce stronger roots and more robust plants. There are favored lunar phases on each aspect of gardening and it would be interesting to experiment as you may end up growing a colossal pumpkin or a harvest bonanza that you can share with friends, neighbors and your local food bank. Will I incorporate any of this newfound information into my own gardening? No is the correct answer, as I’m lucky just to get my plants in the ground, as there is not enough time in the day or night, but I’d love to hear if any of you garden by the moon. My Blue Jay riddle was solved thanks to the author, Bernd Heinrich, whose book I referenced in February’s Gardener News article. Our Blue Jays are back from years of absence with a bumper crop of acorns that we haven’t had since gypsy moths decimated our oaks in 2007. I didn’t get the acorn/Blue Jay correlation that birds follow their food source, which makes perfect sense. Always learning! Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is The Garden Club of New Jersey First Vice President, GCNJ Wildlife Habitat Chair, and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Accredited Life Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club, The Raritan Township Historic Committee and the Raritan Township Board of Health. Jeannie’s email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com
Organic Fresh Produce Retail Sales Reach Nearly $5 Billion in 2017
Buoyed by strong consumer demand, sales of organic fresh produce items reached nearly $5 billion in 2017, an 8 percent increase from the previous year according to data released by the Organic Produce Network (OPN) and Nielsen. Overall, nearly two billion pounds of organic produce were sold in grocery stores last year, which is a 10 percent volume increase from 2016. Partnering with Nielsen, OPN’s review of 2017 organic fresh produce sales at retail stores across the US shows dollar sales of organic fresh vegetables were $2.4 billion, while organic fresh fruit sales topped $1.6 billion. A near $1 billion in organic value added produce items brought total sales to $4.8 billion in 2017. Overall from last year, 2017 sales of organic fruit volume and dollar sales were up 12.6 percent from 2016, while organic fresh vegetables sales showed a four percent increase in dollar sales and a six percent increase in overall volume. Organic packaged salad was again the leading organic fresh produce item sold last year, approaching $1 billion in sales. Packaged salad still accounts for one in five organic dollars, but the 2.3 percent growth rate was below the department average. The most notable growth occurred within organic fruits, led by the 22% increase in organic berry volume sales. Not far behind was the growth of bananas and apples. Organic berry sales, which include strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, topped $586 million in 2017, with volume up 22 percent from last year. Organic apple and banana volume increased 11 and 17.5 percent respectively last year, while the average retail prices for each category went down eight and three percent. “What’s most impressive about these two categories is the growth they were able to achieve in organic despite stagnant or declining conventional fresh produce sales. This also highlights that even the most mature categories have opportunity to grow the consumer base and sales through an organic offering,” said Matt Seeley, co-founder and CEO, of Organic Produce Network. “Not many product groups can claim double-digit growth in today’s competitive environment which reinforces the power and importance of organic produce.” Rounding out the top five was double-digit growth from organic fresh produce beverages and the herb and spices segment. “Potatoes, grapes and citrus all rank in the top 10 for conventional sales but fail to crack the top 10 in organic sales which shows that some categories still have opportunity for an increased market presence,” said Matt Lally, an associate director at Nielsen. “Understanding and setting pricing strategies between conventional and organic varieties is critical for success. People will pay a premium for organic, but at some point they will trade to conventional or out of the category all together.” Source: Organic Produce Network
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March 2018 19
A month ago, I visited my friend Paul who lives in central Delaware, over 100 miles south of the Garden State. I know he is anxious to get started on his lawn program, but I told him to hold off for a while until the weather turns in favor of growing a great lawn. Your lawn needs some fertilizer first thing in the spring to start greening it up and to get it growing after its long winter’s nap. Usually lawns have that brown-yellow look to the blades in early-spring. The question is, “When is early-spring in your area?” This “early-spring” date will vary based on your location. You should be aware if your state has a “start” date for lawn fertilizer applications. In New Jersey, it is March 1. The best thing to do before you start any lawn applications is to take a soil test to see if your lawn has nutrient deficiencies or needs some pH adjustment. In New Jersey, if you wish to fertilize your lawn in early-March, I’m all right with that strategy.
to see if a low soil pH value has stunted your grass growth over the years. You can safely apply limestone-calcium carbonate products to raise soil pH on the same day you apply grass seed. Using a “startertype” fertilizer is also beneficially when seeding. This also can be applied on the same day as grass seed. Starter fertilizers usually have a high phosphorous number to promote root growth. Phosphorous is the middle number on the bag of fertilizer. So getting out early on your lawn is good, just not too early, depending on Mother Nature and what you wish to apply first this spring. Last year, Paul had one of the best lawns I’ve ever seen in Delaware. I expect his lawn will be high on the list again this year. Good luck, Paul!
By Hubert Ling Our native Eastern or Canadian hemlock is in trouble and, as usual, people are to blame. The immediate culprit is the hemlock woolly adelgid, which is a small fluffy white bug which proliferates in such numbers that they can actually suck a tree dry. In fact, the bugs are so efficient that the southern Appalachians may lose most of their hemlocks within the next 10 years. The adelgid was accidently brought to the United States from Asia in 1924 and started expanding rapidly in the hemlock’s southern range in the 1960s. A project is underway in the Great Smokies to save the largest trees. In their northern range, hemlocks are doing better but infection is common in New Jersey. Thus, unless you want to be faced with repeated pesticide treatments, you might want to delay
Turf ‘s Up By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant
The early bird gets the worm… I think you should delay applying any preemergence crabgrass herbicides in early-March. Air and soil temperatures should dictate when to apply any crabgrass preventer. Many folks tend to apply crabgrass preventers too early because they think they will get crabgrass in summer if they do not apply these products before the forsythia blooms. Crabgrass seeds start to germinate when soil temperatures reach around 55 degrees, but many weather and sunlight variables can delay germination over many weeks. Remember, soil temperatures are cooler than air temperatures, so use a soil thermometer for best application timing.
What, you do not have a soil thermometer? Most stores have them available, remember to place it at least five to 10 feet away from the house foundation and do not run over it with the lawn mower! First of all, do you need any crabgrass preventer this year? If you have not had a crabgrass problem for a few years, perhaps you can skip this application if your lawn is thick and weed-free. With today’s improved crabgrass preventer technology, Dithiopyr, which is the chemical name for Dimension, you can control crabgrass effectively with applications up to four weeks after traditional crabgrass preventers. This allows for improved control
into early-summer. Crabgrass does not grow in shaded areas so there is no reason to apply these products in shade. If you are seeding this spring, yes, let’s get started early! My reasoning for this strategy is if a hot, dry summer comes along, hopefully your new seedlings are established enough that they will not die off. Remember, if you apply grass seed in earlyspring, germination days may be delayed because of cool and rainy weather. Be sure to properly prepare the soil for best results, including raking out debris and scratching the ground vigorously to establish a softer soil bed for better root growth. Again, this is a good time for a soil test
planting hemlocks until better adelgid control methods are developed. The woolly adelgids can be treated with pesticides containing imidacloprid or dinotefuran, but complete control is still difficult. The U.S. Forest Service is currently conducting a study attempting to control them with a natural predator, Laricobius nigrinus beetles. The study will be completed in 2019 and hopefully we will have an efficient weapon to combat this plague. Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, is our largest eastern evergreen tree. Given good conditions, hemlocks can live over 500 years. The record height is 174 feet and the largest diameter has been recorded at five feet, nine inches. Generally, most trees top off at about 100 feet with a two- to three-foot diameter. The needles are flattened, blunt tipped, and about a halfinch long. Small trees grow fast and are bushy but they do
not make good Christmas trees since they drop their needles quickly. The cones are light brown and petite, only about three-quarters of an inch, so they fit well in miniature Christmas decorations. Hemlock wood is light and soft. It is used for general construction and pulp for paper manufacturing. It is also used, after treatment to prevent mold attack, for railroad ties, since it holds spikes well. Hemlock bark was once important as a source of tannin to preserve leather. No parts of the tree are poisonous to humans, but being conifers, hemlocks have the same resinous products as other evergreens which deter insects and larger herbivores from grazing. However, some outdoor rugged individuals actually enjoy hemlock tea. This is not the same hemlock tea which Socrates took, which comes from two plants of the carrot family and is deadly. These very poisonous hemlocks Circuta maculata and Conium maculatum are
both found in New Jersey. They are relatively small, herbaceous, water-loving plants which look similar to Queen Anne’s lace, the wild carrot. Be sure you do not confuse these two poison hemlocks with wild carrot or wild parsley; this is a mistake you may only make once. Fortunately, woody evergreen trees and plants in the carrot family are easy to tell apart. Paleoecology studies have determined that Eastern Hemlock was one of the dominate trees in the southeastern U.S. forest about 10,000 years ago. From careful analysis, it was determined that the population crashed about 5,500 years ago. The cause of this crash is unknown, but pathogens or climate change probably contributed to this phenomenon. Later, the population recovered somewhat but never rose to the previous peak. One might wonder if hemlocks might again throw off this current plague of woolly adelgid given enough time.
Another Tree In Peril
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
Hemlocks naturally grow in cool moist areas where temperatures do not rise above 95 degrees F. They do not do well in droughts, full sun, or strong wind. For this reason, they are frequently found in ravines near sources of water and in the southern U.S. they are generally limited to mountainous regions. Propagation is by cuttings, which must be treated with rooting hormones, and by seeds, which should be stratified for three or four months. Over 300 cultivars of Eastern Hemlock have been developed; most of these are bushy dwarf forms. The graceful, lacy branches are produced in profusion and make a beautiful winter display, if only the woolly adelgid problem can be solved. Visit some mature hemlocks at Tillman’s Ravine, Stokes State Forest. 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
20 March 2018
GardenerNews.com
Federal Funding Available for Promotion of Garden State Agricultural Products
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for 2019 United States Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grants. “We welcome the opportunity to provide this federal funding for the research and promotion of specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, trees, plants and flowers,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “Organizations may apply now by proposing their projects to creatively support our specialty crop industry.” Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops and floriculture. Most of New Jersey agriculture falls into the specialty crop category. To be eligible for a grant, projects must “enhance the competitiveness” of specialty crops and might include, but are not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, trade enhancement, food safety, food security, plant health programs, education, “buy local” programs, increased consumption, increased innovation, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, environmental concerns and conservation, product development and developing cooperatives. Download the application at www.nj.gov/agriculture/ grants/specialtycropblockgrants.html. The deadline for submitting applications is March 23, 2018.
NJ Department of Agriculture to Highlight Top Farmers Participating in Farm To School Activities Applications Available For Farmer Recognition Award New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today announced applications are now being accepted for the first annual Jersey Fresh Farm to School Farmer Recognition Award. One farmer will be honored as best in the State during Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week September 24-28, 2018. Farmer Recognition is an opportunity for all farmers to highlight their Farm to School efforts and provide them with resources to help feature their Jersey Fresh produce in local school meals. “New Jersey school students benefit greatly from consuming healthy local produce but also can learn a great deal from our farmers about how their food is grown,” Secretary Fisher said. “The Farmer Recognition Award Program is an opportunity to thank the farmers who are already involved in farm to school activities, honor one outstanding farmer, and encourage more farmers to connect with schools.” Farmers can apply for the 2018 Jersey Fresh Farm to School Farmer Recognition Award at www. farmtoschool.nj.gov/agriculture/farmtoschool/document s/2018NJF2Sfarmerrecognitionappl.pdf. The deadline to complete and submit the application is March 31. Participating farms will receive an exclusive Jersey Fresh Farm to School promotional materials kit, which includes a Jersey Fresh Farm to School banner, hats, aprons, seasonality charts, and stickers. Farm to School programs provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities to help students learn about local agriculture, how food grows and what it means to eat healthfully with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
NJ Agricultural Society By Al Murray Executive Director
A Tale of Two States During these bleak winter months, many people’s thoughts drift longingly toward those southern climes in the land of sun and fun. For a few lucky people, these thoughts turn into reality, as they enjoy a brief respite from Old Man Winter soaking up warm rays in Florida, Mexico, or perhaps some exotic locale. For me, as the temperatures dip below freezing, I eagerly peruse the latest ski reports and snow conditions tempting me from all over New England. So far, this winter, I’ve strapped on the old boards and schussed (yes that’s a real word) down the slopes of Killington, Pico, Okemo, and Gore. Anyone who has skied in New England knows that many of these resorts sit far off the interstate; accessible by traveling an hour or more on two-lane roads coursing through farm fields and local villages. A couple of days ago, while on my endless search for fresh powder, I happened to be riding in the passenger seat, enjoying the passing scenery. Maybe it was the gloom of an impending snow squall, or perhaps the luxury of watching the scenery pass without having to keep an eye on the road, or even the fact that I’ve spent my whole life in agriculture and might see things from a different perspective. Regardless, I was overcome with a sense of melancholy. Many a tourist photo from Vermont includes those “quaint” scenes of an ancient faded red barn, missing a few boards, sitting forlornly in a field, surrounded by the fall splendor in the mountains behind. Or perhaps, the endless miles of stone fences that border the country roads, put in place over the centuries as those hardy Vermonters scratched out a living in that rocky, inhospitable terrain. So many of those forgotten stone fences once belonged to farms, encircling pastures where grazing herds produced the milk that made the famous Vermont Cheese. Today, these fences lie
crumbling, as the former pasture land is now overgrown in forest. And while those barns might look artistic from a photography point of view, missing boards, crumbling sides, a patchwork of roof repairs, broken fences, and rusting equipment all suggest an underlying problem: lack of capital necessary to sustain a profitable business. Seventy percent of Vermont’s agricultural industry is dairy. This is largely due to their geography and climate. Sadly, the nation’s dairy industry is in crisis. While the reasons are too complex for this column’s space, the basic problem, according to dairy economists, is that our present system of pricing commodity milk from the farm is broken and cannot be fixed. There is simply too much milk being produced; not just in the US, but worldwide. As the road gave way to more snow-covered fields, I couldn’t help but compare Vermont to New Jersey’s agricultural industry. One hundred years ago, New Jersey’s census of agriculture showed that the dairy industry was king in our state. At the time, New Jersey boasted over 3,500 dairy farms. Today, that number hovers somewhere around 60. Farming in New Jersey has its own unique set of challenges, and I’d never suggest that it is even remotely easy. However, unlike our friends to the north, New Jersey is blessed with a number of advantages that help our farmers cope. With a moderate climate, fertile soils, a large state/regional population (customer) base, and a premier transportation system, forever resilient New Jersey farmers have the ability to adapt their operations to meet everchanging marketing needs. While dairy ruled in 1918, in 2018 New Jersey’s agricultural industry has changed considerably. Nursery, Sod, and Greenhouse production is our state’s largest agricultural
sector. New Jersey sod is highly coveted due to its sandy, loamy composition – and covers high school, college and professional athletic fields all over America. New Jersey wineries continue to grow in popularity. A recent report from the New Jersey Winegrowers Association shows that New Jersey’s wine industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in agriculture. According to the report, New Jersey’s wine industry had a $323 million economic impact on the state. Wine production increased by 73.1 percent, from 405,954 gallons in 2011 to 702,671 in 2016. The number of wineries in the state increased from 38 to 50, and grape-bearing acres also grew from 1,283 to 1,582 acres. Our “aqua-culture” industry is also growing along our coasts. Last summer, for the first time in many years, the first oysters were harvested from the Barnegat Bay. These oysters join New Jersey’s famous “Cape May Salts”, and Delaware Bay Oysters in helping an industry rebound, and provide opportunity in our state. These are just some of the many good news stories coming out of New Jersey, and a testament to our farmers’ ability to adjust and adapt. National Agriculture Week will be observed March 18 – 24. Please remember our hardworking New Jersey farm families who do so much to keep agriculture green and growing in the Garden State. Editor’s Note: Al Murray is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Established in 1781, the Society is New Jersey's oldest organization whose purpose is to advocate, educate and promote on behalf of New Jersey's agricultural industry. Mr. Murray previously spent his entire career at the NJ Department of Agriculture, serving as the Assistant Secretary. He can be reached at njagriculturalsociety@gmail.com
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March 2018 21
Nip Misinformation In The “Bud” By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. “Bud/bəd/ -- a compact knoblike growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower or shoot. An undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the top of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately.” Misinformation (especially when put out on purpose), does more harm than good. Many times misinformation is put out in social media forums and it keeps going and going. My hope in writing this column is to share how misinformation and the lack of “fact checking” can waste valuable resources, time and energy. “Fact checking is often too little, too late.” My first field experience with “misinformation” was early on in my career. I was called to a large corporate Hello everyone! Time for a somewhat healthy food topic: bowls, or “poke” bowls, are popping up everywhere these days and are becoming increasingly popular. Many of you have heard of them and many more soon will. Basically, what they are is a grain such as quinoa, rice or Asian style noodles that are chilled, topped with fresh ingredients such as seaweed salad, avocado, cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced radish, fresh mango, sprouts and so on. Then there is usually some type of protein, such as raw tuna, cooked shrimp, raw or cured salmon or tofu. Next you have your dressing, which is usually an Asian-inspired dressing which may include soy sauce, citrus and/or sesame oil. This is the basic idea behind these bowls. Admittedly, I have to say they are delicious when made properly and are pretty darn nutritious as well. Hence, their increasing popularity
office complex and was told “the cable mites are back. You need to come in and spray!” I knew I did not know everything there was about insects, so my curiosity was peaked and I personally went to inspect for these “cable mites.” The account representative was a senior manager and every year the department was “sprayed” for “cable mites.” After a thorough inspection, accumulating a large amount of swabs in the area where the “cable mites” were “biting,” I took the sample back to the lab eagerly awaiting what “cable mites” looked like. After spending hours under the scope looking at the samples, all I could see was debris, detritus, and small colored fabric. No insects or bugs whatsoever. I happened to mention this to the owner of the company, a wise man with more experience in pest control than I had been on this earth. He brought me into his office and showed
me his files on “cable mites.” He took his time and taught me all about “cable mites” and other mythical creatures (and actual causal agents) that cause contact dermatitis, skin irritations or eruptions. It seems that for years the manager had demanded that the area be sprayed or “we will just get someone else” to do it. We came up with a plan to deal with the “cable mites” once and for all. What was causing the “bites” were fibers and insulation that was being rubbed off as the workers handled cables that had metal woven fibers on the outside to prevent the wires from being exposed. The cable insulation was wearing off, getting on the skin and causing “contact dermatitis.” The reveal was planned out, but had to be handled so the senior manager would not lose face from staff or peers. Backed with articles and letters from entomologists, I initially met with her bosses and upper management. Environmental Health was
brought in to help since insects or bugs were not present, but environmental irritants were the causal agents. After that meeting, we met with the senior manager and the entire staff. We explained what we were going to do to alleviate the problem. We actually went in at night with the cleaning crew and vacuumed and cleaned every place we could find. We treated with anti-static compounds (as recommended by the environmental hygienists) to carpets, curtains and upholstery. The air was humidified to bring the winter time humidity of 18 percent to a more comfortable 45 percent. Any old cables and wires were replaced. Long story short, the “cable mites” stopped biting and the situation was resolved. It was not until technology replaced the old cables and the senior manager had retired that the company would allow us to disclose how we solved the problem. This may sound like a cute
From the Deep By Craig Korb Executive Chef
Psst … it’s pronounced “POH-keh” around the country. At the Claw, we have started doing some basic bowls and have received good reviews on them. Poke is a Hawaiian term for sliced or cut fish, it originated in Hawaii and is generally served as an appetizer and sometimes as a main course. You really can’t really go wrong with this, you can get really creative or you can just do it buffet style if it’s for your family or a gathering. Just cut and prep everything, put it in small bowls and have everyone make it themselves. Easily a make-ahead item, personalizing it makes it even more fun. Not to worry, I’m not getting all dietetic on everyone. I just really enjoy food, ALL
food, unfortunately. Anyhow these are super tasty and so easy. Next month I will make sure to have a super heavy, somewhat unhealthy dish for you. I will definitely start to talk about spring produce and what you should be looking for at your local stores as well. Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner, which means asparagus is sooooo close, too. I love me my asparagus and I will make sure to incorporate it in my recipe as well. Good luck with the bowls and have fun with this! By the way, I am giving you the recipe for the bowl we have been serving at the restaurant over this past off-season.
Crab’s Claw TunaQuinoa Bowl (serves 2) 8 oz. of good quality sushi style tuna, sliced thin 1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted, skin removed and sliced thin 1 cucumber, sliced thin on a bias 4 oz. seaweed salad 1 cup cooked quinoa 2 wedges of lemon for the dressing2 oz. soy sauce 1/2 oz. rice vinegar 1/2 oz. sesame oil -whisk together and serve on the side, or optionally pour over the bowl method-place half of the quinoa in a bowl -top with half of the
story, but “misinformation” created a problem that took time, resources and efforts that created a very sensitive situation. We still deal with real issues such as “my doctor told me a brown recluse spider bit me” or “my doctor told me I have bed bugs.” If something “bites” you in the garden, don’t assume it’s a spider or a bug. It just may be a simple case of skin sensitivity. Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is Director of Technical and Training for Viking® Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ . He is a Board Certified Entomologist and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware. Bill is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens. His career in Professional Pest Control started in June 1974. He can be reached at 732-356-3100 or visit www.vikingpest.com seaweed salad, followed by half of the avocado fanned over the quinoa, -fan half of the sliced cucumber next to the avocado, top with half of the sliced tuna -serve with the dressing on the side or pour it over everything in the bowl -repeat with the next bowl 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.
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New Jersey Garden Center, Landscape and The 8th Annual New Jersey Plants Show, endorsed by the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA), hosted New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman on January 31, 2018. The two-day show (January 30-31, 2018) was held at the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison, Middlesex County. The show draws together landscape professionals, garden center owners, nursery growers, suppliers and commercial groundskeepers to exchange ideas and develop connections that could make the season ahead more profitable. “It was standing-room-only at the educational sessions, which included attendees from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Landscape professionals, garden center owners, nursery growers, suppliers and commercial groundskeepers who attended the event seeking to obtain 11 different types of continuing education credits” said Lori Jenssen, executive director of the NJNLA. “Speakers came from as far away as Texas and Ohio to present topics that included snow and ice liability, labor issues, licensed tree expert and licensed tree care operator licensing, spotted lanternfly updates, a live drone demonstration and talks on pests and diseases that are of concern to landscapers and other green industry professionals,” said Jenssen. The NJNLA is the leading organization for the advancement of green industry businesses in New Jersey. The organization fosters networking and communication among industry professionals to share the best management and business practices available and to keep them current on industry trends. The association was first organized in 1915. The NJNLA honored Bateman with the “Green Industry Advocate of the Year” award on December 11, 2017 at the NJNLA Annual Awards Dinner, held at The Boathouse at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. The Senator has been a long-time advocate of the green industry, as demonstrated by his commitment to issues affecting the nursery and landscape industry: Water Conservation and Water Quality, Invasive Plants/Native Vegetation, Snowplow and De-icing Limited Liability Legislation, Horticultural Therapy Week, New Jersey Agriculture Day, New Jersey Public Gardens and Arboretum Day, and more. New Jersey Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, and Thomas Beaver, director of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Marketing and Development, also visited the show.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, center, with green industry leaders in the Toro landscape equipment booth.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, right, with Matt Kopf, left, and Alonzo Bess from New Jersey One Call.
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March 2018 23
Nursery Trade Show Hosted State Senator
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, right, with Ed Wengryn, a Research Associate for the New Jersey Farm Bureau.
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New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, center, with the professional turf crew from Jonathan Green, a New Jersey based family business specializing in family and pet friendly lawn products.
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Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, right, with Joe Canzano from Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, left, with Tim Hionis, co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses in Whitehouse Station, N.J.
Lori Jenssen, Executive Director, New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, left; Cece Peabody, Executive Director, New Jersey Turfgrass Association, second from left; New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, second from right; and Gail Woolcott, Director of Operations, New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey State Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, right, and Chris Markham, Co-Owner and Founder of New Jersey Deer Control.
24 March 2018
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March 2018 25
Emergency Funding for Spotted Lanternfly in Pennsylvania U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced $17.5 million in emergency funding on February 7, 2018, to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly in southeastern Pennsylvania. “We’ve seen a dramatic expansion in the range of this pest over the last year and we need to take decisive action to prevent the spotted lanternfly from spreading throughout Pennsylvania and into neighboring states,” Perdue said. “We have the tools to fight this invasive insect and -- together with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) -- we have developed an area-wide approach that will begin before the pest starts to re-emerge in the spring.” The spotted lanternfly, with its distinctive and colorful wings, was first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014. The affected area expanded from 174 square miles in fiscal year (FY) 2016 to approximately 3,000 square miles by the end of FY 2017. “I am pleased to see USDA acting quickly on the invasive spotted lanternfly, which is wreaking havoc on Pennsylvania’s agricultural producers and landowners in 13 counties,” U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson said. “This pest is a threat to apples, grapes, peaches, stone fruits and various tree species throughout Pennsylvania. These funds will go a long way in helping the Commonwealth treat, gather data and perform the coordination needed to contain the spread of this devastating threat. I thank Secretary Perdue and USDA for its commitment to combatting this destructive and invasive pest so we can hopefully eradicate it for good.” “This is an immediate and timely solution for my constituents in Southeastern Pennsylvania, whose farms and daily lives have been impacted by the spotted lanternfly. I have heard their concerns and have been working with my colleagues and the USDA to increase funding for combatting this pest. This announcement means we will now have funds for coordinated treatments, outreach to farmers and others who have been impacted, and for detection surveys that will result in critical data. Thank you to the USDA and Secretary Perdue for his focus on solving an issue that is important to so many Pennsylvanians,” said Rep. Ryan Costello. This emergency funding, which was made available through existing Commodity Credit Corporation balances, will allow for a two-pronged approach with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) managing the outer perimeter of the infestation and PDA focusing on a 3-mile perimeter surrounding the core infested area. The goal of this expanded surveillance and control program is to stop the leading edge of the infestation and start pushing it inward while at the same time reducing the density of spotted lanternfly populations in the core-infested area. In addition to emergency activities in Pennsylvania, APHIS is planning to use existing resources to conduct surveys, and control measures if necessary, in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, where there is growing concern about the potential spread of SLF. “Since the spotted lanternfly was first detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, we have benefitted from strong community involvement and support,” Perdue said. “Continued outreach and education will be critical to the success of our ongoing efforts. We need the help of producers, businesses and the public to look for this pest and take actions to control it.” USDA and PDA’s cooperative efforts will help protect Pennsylvania’s agricultural and forested lands from the damaging effects of the spotted lanternfly, which feeds on more than 70 types of plants and secretes a sticky residue on leaves that can lead to the growth of sooty mold fungus affecting overall plant health For more information on the spotted lanternfly, please visit our Hungry Pests website at https://www.aphis.usda. gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/the-threat/spotted-lanternfly/spotted-lanternfly?utm_keyword=/the-threat/spotted-lanternfly.php
New England GROWS to Dissolve After 25 Years After 25 years, the award-winning horticultural tradeshow New England GROWS is discontinuing operation. The GROWS board of directors, representing the four founding partner organizations, made the unanimous decision to dissolve and disband both the GROWS event and the organization. “The decision to dissolve New England GROWS was difficult, but we all believe it is the right decision at the right time, “ said GROWS President Michelle Harvey of Lakeview Nurseries in Lunenburg, MA. “Changes both within and outside of the industry contributed to the decision to close GROWS, but this does not diminish the significant and positive contributions GROWS has made to the local green industry over the past 25 years. “ Founded by New England Nursery Association, Massachusetts Arborists Association, Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association, and Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals in 1993, New England GROWS’ mission was to educate, elevate and support the region’s commercial horticulture industry. Over the course of more than two decades, the not-for-profit organization contributed millions of dollars in educational grants to the industry through its partners, as well as to horticultural and community groups like Cooperative Extension, the Horticultural Research Institute, FFA organization, local vocational schools, and the Boston Schoolyard Initiative. “We want to thank each and every one of the countless volunteers who worked tirelessly to produce GROWS over the past 25 years, as well as the loyal exhibitors who supported the show from day one,” said Virginia Wood, Executive Director of GROWS. “GROWS was known for its world-class educational programming that brought innovative thought leaders from around the world to Boston, and we are proud to have helped bring this level of excellence to New England ‘s green industry .” Looking back, New England GROWS has seen it all: Super Bowl championship parades, historic blizzards, Presidential campaign rallies, even marriage proposals. While the renowned event has run its course, the founding organizations are confident that its mission will continue to be met by individual green industry professionals, companies and associations that together make up New England’s vibrant horticulture community.
Managing Deer in Suburban and Agricultural Landscapes in New Jersey A Workshop for Municipal and County Governments, and Farmers Rutgers Eco Complex, Burlington County www.ecocomplex.Rutgers.edu Monday, March 19, 2018 from 9:30am –3:30pm This FREE workshop will present examples and case studies from landowners/managers who have implemented successful deer management plans. Learn from the experience of others, while considering common obstacles. Know what tools are available for your specific situation. Open to all municipal and county administration/ elected officials, and managers or farmers of agricultural lands. Must RSVP** to Shelley Coltrain by March 5, 2018 at Shelley.Coltrain@dep.nj.gov or 609-292-6685 Spots are first come/first serve. ** Registered participants will receive detailed directions and agenda. Presented by New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife in partnership with New Jersey Audubon Society.
26 March 2018
GardenerNews.com 2018 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show Celebrates Highest Registration in 10 Years
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March Columnists Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Gail Woolcott Lesley Parness Bob LaHoff Steve Schuckman Larry Katz Peter Melick Craig Korb Al Murray
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Annual Green Industry Marketplace Forecasts Excitement and Growth for Horticulture Industry in 2018 The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show celebrated another successful year January 10 – 12, 2018 as the show attracted the largest number of registrants since 2008. A diverse group of green industry professionals traveled from across the country and around the world to gather in Baltimore for the show’s 48th year. MANTS welcomed over 11,565 total registrants (including exhibitors) representing 46 states and 15 foreign countries to this year’s show, the best attendance in ten years. These attendees, who gathered to do business, network and learn about the newest green industry trends for 2018, had the opportunity to visit 963 exhibiting companies spread out over 1,536 booths. In addition to exhibitors, 3,659 non-exhibiting/buying companies were represented on the show floor. Covering 300,000+ square feet of contiguous exhibit space at the Baltimore Convention Center, MANTS is the premier green industry marketplace for business. “In addition to our increased registration, it was incredible to walk the show floor and feel the energy and excitement our colleagues already have for this season,” said Vanessa Finney, Executive Vice President of MANTS. “Business was booming at MANTS this year, too. 81% of our attendees were designated as final decision makers by their companies and it showed; many exhibitors commented about the quality of the attendees and the amount of business conducted during the show’s three days. We are so glad MANTS continues to be a valuable asset to the industry.” Speaking of business, MANTS continues to have a large economic impact on the city of Baltimore, bringing in thousands of tourists who enhance business for attractions like hotels and restaurants in an otherwise slow time of the year. During this year’s show, MANTS guests booked over 5,500 room nights at 10 Baltimore area hotels. MANTS 2019 is scheduled for January 9-11 at the Baltimore Convention Center. For the latest information, visit www.mants.com or call (410) 296-6959. Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS): The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, MANTS, is known as the Masterpiece of Trade ShowsTM and is sponsored by the State Nursery and Landscape Associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. MANTS is the place where horticulture industry leaders gather every January because MANTS means business. A brief history of MANTS may be found on http://www.mants.com/about-us/.
SPRAY TECHNICIAN NEEDED
Small, growing company (NJ Deer Control) is looking for a backpack spray technician. Tech is needed to spray landscapes with a natural deer repellent. Must enjoy working outdoors. Landscape/spray tech experience is a plus, but not required. Valid driver’s license is a must. Paid training period then $14-$15 hourly pay with 30-40+ hr work week available! Please send resume for possible interview to info@njdeercontrol.com Deadline: Until filled.
Full Moon, March 1 & 31, 2018 Eastern Daylight
TIP OF THE MONTH
March is a perfect time to give indoor plants a new lease on life by transplanting them into a larger pot with fresh soil. This is especially important if your plants are root bound (you’ll see roots coming out of the pot’s drainage holes). Also, if the roots are growing in a tight ball, loosen them with your fingers to encourage new growth. March is also a good time to prune houseplants that might have grown leggy over the winter. Pruning will also encourage new, more compact growth. When pruning to encourage healthy, balanced growth, take a step back from the plant and look at its structure and shape. Then, make judicious cuts to encourage the kind of growth habit you’re ultimately looking for. It’s not a good idea to remove more than 25 percent of a plant’s foliage at one time u nless you’re dealing with a plant that likes to be cut down to the soil every spring.
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March 2018 27
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28 March 2018
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