Colorado Green Sep/Oct 2020

SEPT/OCT 2020 | VOL 36, NO 5 WWW.ALCC.COM

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In this issue Features

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Designing for the uphill challenge

Native Edge brings client passion to life with functional terraced landscape

BY LYN DEAN

36

Connecting water

utilities, landscape

professionals and customers

Partnerships aid in water

savings, support sustainable landscapes

BY JULIA GALLUCCI

Profiles

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Design to honor where you are Getting to the roots of Tree of Life’s commitment to sustainability

32

BY LYN DEAN

22

Creating beauty, function and joy

Ecoscape celebrates 20 years of sustainable landscapes

BY CHERIE COURTADE

Business Sense

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27

6

Reconcile inventory balances now for a healthier fourth quarter

BY STEVE STEELE

Avoid being left out in the cold: power-up your snow removal contracts now

BY KIMBERLY JEWELL

www.alcc.com

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Sept/Oct 2020 | Vol 36 | No 5

In this issue Departments 010 13

Perspective Green News & Notes

17 19

Advocacy Update

45

Ad Index

Sustainable Landscape Management

Workforce

31

Irrigation boot camp adapts to the pandemic

42

Top Plant Picks

42 44

2019-20 Cool Season Trials yield top picks for off-season color Dalmatian daisy brightens garden and repels insects

Three Questions

46

Colorado inspires a horticulture professional

Native Edge earned The ELITE Award for Sustainability for this terraced landscape.

44 8

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Sept/Oct 2020 | Vol 36 | No 5

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publication ALCC servingindustry the green in industry in the Rocky Mountain region Official publication Official of ALCC servingofthe green the Rocky Mountain region

Perspective

C O L O R A D O

Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region

Colorado Green Production Team

C O L O R A D O

EDITORIAL

Water efficiency is as important as ever — even when business is booming

I

John McMahon

t is no exaggeration to say that 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year. But thanks to a supportive and proactive community, the landscape industry has weathered the storm of the pandemic rather well. I believe that it is due in large part to our ongoing commitment to professionalism and to safety.

When restrictions were put in place, the Colorado landscape industry was quick to respond and adapt. Communication was key, and I watched many companies engage with clients, be open with their staff, and remain vocal about what they needed from ALCC and from government leaders in order to stay in business and succeed.

Unlike many industries, pandemic-related restrictions eventually resulted in increased consumer demand for green industry services. Coloradans who were able to retain their jobs were spending more time at home and discovering opportunities for improving their landscapes. A number of companies have reported having their busiest spring in recent memory.

But with growing drought conditions, the summer of 2020 continued to pose challenges to our industry. Water efficient landscapes are more important than ever, and we must take seriously our role as stewards of the built environment. We are working to make Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) Colorado the standard for maintaining our outdoor spaces so that the inevitable cycle of drought will not have a devastating effect on our landscapes or on our industry.

Heading into autumn, we will continue this mission as we join with industry leaders at our CEO forum. This forum has become an invaluable opportunity to draw upon the expertise of our members as we move forward with ALCC’s strategic plan.

The pandemic slowed us down in the beginning, but the landscape industry is moving forward with momentum, undeterred in our efforts to be responsible stewards of the built environment while building professional success.

John McMahon, CEO, ALCC

ALCC CEO John McMahon Editor Lyn Dean Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region Communications Director Cherie Courtade Circulation and Adminstration Paige Kelly DESIGN

Graphic Design Hilary Stojak

C O L O R A D O

ADVERTISING SALES

Sales Director Amy McCraken (303) 478-7895 AmyM@EvergreenCustomMedia.com Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region Sales Director Martha Dickenson (303) 257-6499 Mimi_nwp@yahoo.com CONTACT

Feedback, ideas, address changes (303) 757-5611 or info@alcc.com

Published by ALCC for the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region

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President Michael Moore Diggable Designs LLC, Lakewood Vice President Phil Steinhauer Designscapes Colorado, Centennial Past President Matt Hiner Hiner Outdoor Living, Colorado Springs Secretary/Treasurer Craig Nesbit Timberline Landscaping, Inc.

Colorado Green (ISSN0195-0045) is published bimonthly by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, Inc., 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222, phone: 303-757-5611, fax: 303-7575636. Colorado Green is distributed to contributing members and professionals throughout Colorado, and educational and governmental institutions across the state. Postage paid at Denver, Colorado. Publisher assumes no responsibility for safekeeping or return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts, and reserves all rights to edit material submitted for publication.

Approval for publication of copyrighted material submitted to Colorado Green is the sole responsibility of the advertiser/contributing authors. ©2020 by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado. All rights reserved. Reproduction of materials contained herein allowed only with permission of the publisher. Post master: Please send Form 3579 to ALCC, 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222. For advertising inquiries, please call Amy McCraken at 303-4787895, or email amym@evergreencustommedia.com.

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Photo courtesy CALCP

Photos courtesy David Staats

Green News& Notes

CALCP volunteers worked together to plant trees.

CALCP volunteers replace trees at Denver Dumb Friends League

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eadership of Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals (CALCP) and volunteers came together at a social distance for their annual Day of Service event. Wearing masks, CALCP members removed dead trees and planted new ones at the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL) on Quebec Street in Denver.

“I love giving back to the community,” said CALCP president, Chris Walton of SavATree. “Even during a global pandemic. We were able to do great work, with a smaller group of people, and the Denver Dumb Friends League appreciated it.”

Russ Witzke, facilities manager at DDFL told CALCP volunteers that the work they were doing helped the staff at the DDFL greatly. “If facilities staff had to take the time to remove the trees themselves and plant new ones, it would take them away from other things they needed to focus on, like the HVAC system.”

The project was completed with the help of Alameda Nursery, which donated the trees, and Bloom Floralscapes’ Emilie Hudson, co-chair of the Day of Service Committee and past CALCP board member. Hudson worked with DDFL to coordinate the Day of Service in a way that would keep everyone safe.

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Green News & Notes

Virtual events continue to fill the connection gap

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ith the fluid situation around coronavirus and restrictions on gatherings, many conferences and other meetings have gone virtual. Among the conferences, meetings and trade shows switching to online formats are LANDSCAPES; the 2020 Water Educator Network Symposium by Water Education Colorado; American Hort’s Cultivate ’20 conference and trade show; Plant Select Annual Meeting: Prairies to Peaks; and the APLD International Design Conference.

Additionally, the Irrigation Association canceled their 2020 conference, opting to move forward with their annual award winners via a YouTube announcement event. GIE+EXPO has postponed their event until 2021.

Media outlets Lawn & Landscape and Greenhouse Management have moved to offer virtual conferences and trade shows as well.

Other in-person events moved to a virtual or hybrid format as well. NALP’s annual Renewal and Remembrance event was not possible due to the closure of Arlington National

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Cemetery. However, a small ceremony was conducted and streamed online. Legislative Days on the Hill, which traditionally coincides with the visit to DC for Renewal and Re-

membrance, was canceled as well. Landscape industry advocates planned virtual meetings with Congress members in lieu of the usual fly-in.

Green News & Notes

fter nearly 37 years at Colorado State University (CSU) as an Extension Specialist in the agricultural biology department, entomologist Whitney Cranshaw retired July 31. He will become an emeritus professor at the university and still have an office and email.

During his years at CSU, his research and learning about insects have “been anything but dull. So much about insects is unique to Colorado and in areas within the state.” And he notes that over the years, many changes have occurred affecting insects around the state including “infusion of non-native species, climate change and changes in land use and planting.”

“I am retiring from my ‘day job’ and have no intention of retiring from entomology,” says Cranshaw. “Indeed, I expect I will be able to better pursue several projects that have long interested me.” One of the projects Cranshaw has been working on is a biological control program for the Japanese beetle.

COVID-19 has reduced the amount of travel Cranshaw was planning on to pursue his projects. Though his retirement was planned

for about a year and a half, the coronavirus pandemic has made it difficult to replace Cranshaw even though there was a strong pool of candidates in early 2020. As the pandemic took hold, hiring at CSU has become derailed.

In his emeritus position, Cranshaw plans to continue his involvement “for free,” updating entomology fact sheets and the insect information website and assisting with insect problem diagnosis. He will continue to manage and participate in PestTalk as long as it remains a useful forum for Coloradans.

He remains open to doing presentations and workshops as the opportunities arise.

The Insect Research Hort Crops Fund, a CSU Foundation funded by donations, was created to support needed research, publication and other educational activities that Cranshaw will engage in.

Students ranked Cranshaw high as a teacher, commenting on his passion and humor. Colorado green industry professionals looked to Cranshaw as an expert resource on dealing with pests in the greenhouse, nursery and landscape.

Photo courtesy Whitney Cranshaw

A

Entomologist Whitney Cranshaw retires

Whitney Cranshaw

Mecham retires, receives lifetime achievement award

Photo courtesy Brent Mecham

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Brent Mecham

rent Mecham, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA, CAIS, industry development director of the Irrigation Association (IA), retired in July 2020 after 45 years in the green industry. Mecham and his wife have returned to Colorado, where his career began.

Mecham graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in landscape horticulture and design. After operating his own landscape company, he served Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District for nearly 14 years as a landscape irrigation management and conservation specialist. There, he established demonstration gardens for landscape irrigation, showing the public how they could have beautiful, healthy landscapes while conserving water.

He was also a valued volunteer in the Colorado green industry in many capacities, including his work on the GreenCO advisory committee and helping to create the Green Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado.

In 2007, Mecham left Colorado to begin what became a nearly 13-year tenure at the Irrigation Association. In that position, he became

a nationally known expert on irrigation topics, developing irrigation codes and standards, educating irrigation professionals, and promoting water-efficient technology in the industry.

Mecham was a popular recurring speaker at ProGreen EXPO and green industry conferences across the country. He is known as a great teacher and a strong advocate for IA certification programs.

“Brent has had an enormous impact on not only the IA but the entire irrigation industry,” said IA CEO Deborah Hamlin in a press release. “His technical expertise and knowledge combined with a calm, diplomatic demeanor and a unique ability to explain complex issues in an understandable way, have made him an invaluable member of the IA team, a sought-after instructor and a powerful advocate for the industry.”

IA honored Mecham upon his retirement with one more award to add to his rather full trophy case: their 2020 Industry Achievement Award. This award is the IA’s highest honor and recognizes an individual whose career demonstrates outstanding contributions to the advancement of the irrigation industry, as well as its products and programs. | CG Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Advocacy Update

Colorado legislative session wrap-up

T

he Colorado state legislative session began January 8th, with an expectation that there would be fewer controversial bills since it was an election year. Democratic leadership priorities at the beginning of session included paid family and medical leave, transportation funding, education funding, combating climate change, and justice system reform. As session got underway, it was realized that only a few bills would gain bi-partisanship and large stakeholder process. This left the Colorado business community on the defensive.

But mid-way through the session, the pandemic grew. The legislative session was suspended for just over two months after the Colorado Supreme

court ruled that the session could be continued after the suspension, as the session days need not be consecutive during a public health emergency.

When the suspension ended and the session resumed, the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) had projected a $3.3B budget shortfall. As a result, many bills were postponed indefinitely while new bills were introduced to address issues related to the pandemic.

With the General Assembly planning on being back in session for only three weeks, the new bills flew through the process. Even though there was a plan to go about navigating the session by the majority in both chambers, in actuality the General Assembly went in

a very partisan direction after the suspension, enacting the legislation they wanted and disappointing the Colorado business community. GreenCO teamed up with coalitions and combined efforts were undertaken to amend and revise many of the business policy bills introduced due to cost and practical business application issues. While there were successes during the session, efforts to defend sound business practices and limit governmental overreach continued to the last day of the session.

By mid-July, the Governor had signed more than 250 bills into law.

For a detailed look at some of the bills that affect the Colorado business community, visit https://bit.ly/20COlegsesh. | CG

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Sustainable Landscape Management

Sustainable fall cleanup means embracing benefits of the fall look

S

By Cherie Courtade ustainable Landscape Management (SLM) Colorado has three primary goals for the Colorado landscape industry: • Create a blueprint for all professionals who maintain landscapes.

• Increase water conservation and reduce plant loss.

• Raise the level of professionalism.

When it comes to maintenance, the basic rule is to apply the right maintenance practices at the right time. As we head into fall, Colorado Green takes a look at one sustainable practice of SLM that applies to this time of year.

Nature isn’t tidy

of the client or HOA. After all, many of us have grown up with the belief that an ideal landscape is one free of all brown matter and looks exceptionally tidy.

about having a neat appearance to their landscape may reconsider when they understand the effect that such strict maintenance protocols can have on pollinators.

Why leave the leaves?

How much to leave behind?

Leaving some leaf matter on the landscape allows the natural process of decomposition.

This supports the growth of microbes that rebuild or improve the soil. Nutrients from trees are sent to the leaves in fall; as leaves break down, roots of trees and other plants absorb those nutrients from the soil, reports research from Penn State’s department of ecosystem science and management.

According to the National Wildlife Federations, leaf litter also provides a place for many butterflies and moths to overwinter or lay their eggs. Clients who are concerned

You should determine how much leaf matter can be left behind to allow for speedy decomposition. A heavy layer of leaves may not break down in a timely manner and could suffocate the soil below. You might also mulch the leaves and return some of it right back to the soil to decompose and add nutrients. Once you learn how much you can leave, schedule leaf cleanup less often, but frequently enough to meet your goal.

Of course, you should continue to remove all trash or other materials that will not decompose or add to soil health. | CG

The SLM course and manual recommend that landscape professionals abandon the unsustainable practice of removing every bit of leaf litter from the ground surface. This, along with other SLM practices, may take some educating and convincing on the part Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Profile

Design to honor Getting to the roots of Tree of Life’s commitment to sustainability oth Mark and Emily Maeda, co-founders of Tree of Life Landscapes, Mead, were born and raised in Colorado. Though they strayed to Arizona briefly, when they decided to start their own business in 1998—working with the natural world—coming back to Colorado was the obvious decision for both.

I am motivated by love of place rather than an abstract commitment to the environment.

This shapes our desire to create spaces that ‘fit’ within the context of our state.”

Back when they started out, the Maedas believe they were one of the first Front Range landscape companies to be focused on sustainability.

Sustainability means live where you are

Getting the business started

Growing up on her parent’s farm near Boulder, Emily’s love for plants and the natural environment developed early in her life; during high school and college she created a small herb and vegetable farm and worked on an organic farm.

She studied music and piano performance at University of Colorado (CU) and Arizona State University, yet also took classes in landscape design, and sees the congruence between the rhythm of music and rhythm of nature and applies it to landscape design.

“It was always our intention, when we started our company, to be sustainable, honor the natural environment—its climate, plants and stones,” Emily says. “We [humans] are part of the natural world and we need to honor its rhythm by paying attention to the environment we are in and honor its uniqueness.

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With his degree in finance and accounting from CU, and his work experience in Arizona, Mark had some knowledge about business, but the Maedas needed more education in landscape design and installation, and they needed to be able to educate their clients.

“So many suppliers and landscape yards helped us,” says Mark. “We used all outlets available to us.

We learned as we went, and trial and error taught us.” Another important educational resource was Emily’s cousin who is a landscape architect.

of Life’s designs. This is especially true for clients who have come from other states where the environment is different from Colorado’s.

“We show people gardens and yards we have designed for others. We also show them landscapes we have installed on our commercial properties,” Mark says. “Recently, we have invested more in photography to capture looks that embrace Colorado, as opposed to resisting what this climate offers, and share the photography with clients.”

He adds, “Our intention is to show clients the value of creating sustainable landscapes with four-season interest. Using our commercial properties as examples around the Front

Photos courtesy Tree of Life Landscapes

B

By Lyn Dean

Many need to see ‘local’ beauty to believe it

The Maedas admit that education is required for many clients to appreciate the beauty of native plants and other elements in Tree

Mark and Emily Maeda

Profile

where you are

Range, we hope to change people’s perception on a larger scale about the value and beauty of native sustainable landscapes.”

In addition, using 3-D design, Emily can show clients what “the design in their yard would look like.”

In recent years, both agree that most clients come to them because of what they offer, meaning more people are coming around to sustainable landscaping and its benefits for the environment. “It’s not just about native plants and water savings, but also about allowing ecosystems to develop on their own by attracting native birds, insects and other animals that are already adapted to our native plants,” says Emily.

Adversity spurred positive change

About nine years ago, a few unanticipated events occurred which affected the Maedas and their business. Just a few months after their sixth child was born, the couple’s oldest child, a son, Thomas, was diagnosed with cancer. For about a 4-year span, Emily pulled back and contributed less to the business. A couple of years later, in 2015, Mark was ill from a liver disease and eventually received a liver transplant from Emily’s nephew, taking him out of the business for about eight months.

Mark has recovered well and is back in the business. Their son was treated and also has recovered, and he graduated from CU in spring 2020.

The good news is not only that Mark and Thomas have recovered, but having to pull back from the business meant Mark and Emily had to hire others and delegate more broadly.

“We realized we could be replaced! This was a good lesson,” says Mark. “We cast the vision of our company more broadly. The business has expanded, become more diverse in its offerings while doing beautiful, high quality sustainable work.”

Both Emily and Mark agree that the biggest challenge they faced in their business was themselves. “Letting go of the things that I’m good at, and sharing my expertise with others and letting them do it, was a challenge,” reflects Emily.

“I am very thankful that I did. It was great for us, the company and our employees.”

Where to now?

Tree of Life engages family in the business, if interested. The Maedas have seven children with the tail-ender—just 1 year old—arriving nearly eight years after the sixth. Three of their children have worked during the summer on crews, and the three younger ones say they want to work on crews too. Other extended

A commercial property designed and maintained by Tree of Life

family members also work in the business.

“And very importantly, we recognize that even though our family is involved, our designers, project managers, and installers make this company thrive,” says Emily. “Without them, our vision doesn’t go forward.”

The children are still young, and Mark says that if none of the children are interested in the business, he will make it employee-owned.

Regardless of ownership, “our goal remains the same,” Emily expresses. “We want to give people a transformative experience in their gardens. We want to design creative spaces where people can see the dynamism of nature and enjoy it.” | CG Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Profile

Creating beauty, function and joy Ecoscape celebrates 20 years of sustainable landscapes

By Cherie Courtade

W

hile 2020 marks 20 years in business for Ecoscape Environmental Design, the pandemic restrictions have curtailed any celebrations of the anniversary. A gathering of employees past and present is on hold, but the Boulder-based company, which offers design, installation, and maintenance services, is moving forward, creating beautiful and beneficial landscapes. Their specialty is native and edible gardens, which grew out of president/owner Bill Melvin’s passion for sustainable landscaping.

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Melvin was initially drawn to Colorado by his love for skiing. He attended CU Boulder’s School of Environmental Design and spent time after college in Crested Butte. Later, he began working in medicinal herb farming and land stewardship, tending to 200 acres of forest land by mitigating fire hazards. But his desire to create beautiful landscapes that are in harmony with the earth and its inhabitants inspired him to start his own landscape company.

Clients share company passion

Fortunately for Melvin, he has been able to focus his work on those beneficial landscape projects by connecting with clients who share his passion. “Quite a percentage of our clients want

a holistic company that doesn’t use chemicals, are looking to create a place for pollinators and enrich our local ecology,” he says.

“We integrate a lot of native plants, berries, and fruit trees in our landscapes” to support wildlife. “Thankfully a huge trend is people growing more fruits and vegetables at home,” Melvin says. That matches with Ecoscape’s approach to incorporating edible plants that support birds and other pollinators.

Some larger recent projects included edible landscapes with not only berries and other fruits but also medicinal and culinary herbs which serve function and beauty. Raised garden beds make growing easier for people at home, and “the desire for edible landscapes

Profile

Photos courtesy Ecoscape Environmental Design

Billl Melvin

has grown. We have continued to promote this with existing and prospective clientele.”

Melvin noted that while there was a slowdown during the beginning of the COVID19-based economic shutdown, they are now getting more calls than ever. He says that many calls come from “people at home, coming up with ideas for projects,” though these projects are often not the size and quality that Ecoscape would prefer to take on. But Melvin is quick to point out that he is “grateful that we’re in a bit of an economic bubble, but we don’t take it for granted.”

He is also grateful for the business growth and technological advances that allow his team to create “exceptional outdoor environments. We live in a beautiful state with amazing weather, and we are lucky to be able to create outdoor living spaces with fire, water, and places to cook food. The industry has really helped allow for that with new products and innovations for outdoor living.”

Clients sow and together we reap joy

“One of the greatest rewards,” Melvin says, “has been hearing from previous clients how much they love spending time with their fam-

ilies in the space we have created for them. It brings family together in the outdoors. That is the ultimate reward.”

For one client, Ecoscape created an integrated edible landscape for an older couple who were retiring and loved growing their own food but didn’t have the resources to make that happen. In a small space, the Ecoscape team installed a wide array of features—20 different types of berries, seven fruit tree varieties, a water feature, and an outdoor patio—for the family. “That was so rewarding because of how much they loved it. They literally harvested joy from their garden. They are wonderful cooks and used everything: grapes, berries, roots, mushrooms, to make food like meals, jams, pickles, and more.”

Committed employees move us forward

Another reward has been creating opportunities to let his team grow. A number of employees have been with Ecoscape for a decade, and about a quarter of employees have been around for much of

the company’s history. “The biggest part of sustainability starts with people. The people over the years who helped create Ecoscape have made us resilient through years of challenges and were vital in our years of success.”

This year is certainly not without its challenges. A couple of longtime employees have made major life changes in response to the pandemic and left the company to retire or to move closer to family elsewhere. But those who remain have risen to the challenges and moved the company forward.

“Our landscape manager of nine years, Andrew Haller, has been promoted to general manager to run the daily operations at Ecoscape,” Melvin explains. “I have taken a big step back this year, and he’s steering the ship and doing an exceptional job in the most challenging of circumstances.”

With a dedicated staff who share Melvin’s passion, Ecoscape looks forward to another 20 years of creating landscapes that support the natural environment, feed people and wildlife, and bring people joy. | CG Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

Reconcile inventory balances now for a healthier fourth quarter

By Steve Steele

A

s we near the close of the third quarter of 2020, there is no better time to reconcile your balances of on-hand inventory items like irrigation parts, nursery stock, mulch, rock, hardscape materials, snow removal materials like ice melt and magnesium (mag) chloride and other materials your company buys in bulk to use for customer projects. If you have a shop mechanic, parts used to repair trucks and equipment also need to be inventoried.

Start now

If reconciling on-hand inventory is not a regular part of the monthly financial closing process, it should be, and there is no better time to start than September. Why? Third quarter revenues are generally strong and if there is a need to write down large amounts of inventory that is still on the books but was used on projects and not accounted for, it will have a less pronounced impact on the net income numbers. The process also allows you to find and dispose of damaged and obsolete

inventory, and possibly sell overstock back to the vendor. It is also a prime time to count snow removal materials such as mag chloride, ice melt and sand in preparation for use in the fourth quarter. Most importantly, it ensures clean financials entering the fourth quarter.

Regular physical inventory count

Best practice is to conduct a physical count of on-hand inventory monthly so balances on your financials properly reflect amounts in stock, and any difference is handled as either an increase or decrease to cost of goods sold on the profit-and-loss statement. This process ensures that revenues and expenses are matched, as much as possible, in the period they were incurred. It can also reveal missing inventory due to internal or external theft.

Not reconciling inventory balances regularly can lead to overstated inventory value on the balance sheet and underreporting of cost of goods sold on the profit-and-loss statement, meaning gross margin and net profit may be artificially high.

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

It may not be practical to count certain inventory items, such as irrigation components and small engine or truck parts, monthly. These items should be counted at least quarterly or annually to ensure that the true value of the asset on the books is correct. December is the perfect time to do this since the use of some of these items may be substantially less at this time of year. Remember to count off-site or remote storage areas.

Make inventory counts someone’s regular job

The old saying that if everyone is responsible for it, nobody is responsible for it, certainly applies to inventory counts. It can be a tedious responsibility and difficult to get accurate counts for items that are used regularly. Assigning a couple of specific people to regularly be responsible for the task helps ensure consistency and accountability for conducting the physical counts accurately and on time. This person(s) is a point of contact for others and monitors and controls the removal or addition/return of inventory after it has been counted. They are also responsible for clearly marking areas that have been counted and making sure access to counted

areas is controlled. This process helps to ensure the inventory counts on the final day of the financial period are accurate. Failing to control access to inventory that has already been counted prior to the end of the financial period may result in inaccurate counts and inability to detect missing inventory.

Have a documented bulk materials usage process

Inventory ‘leak’ occurs when bulk inventory materials are taken and not accounted for. Implement a process that requires crews taking materials to complete a ticket containing date, item, amount, and job the material is being used for. Handle these like any other vendor pick ticket so that the inventory usage is reported and properly accounted for as a job expense. Monitoring bulk materials provides more accurate job costing in addition to improved inventory control.

Getting inventory balances under control will help give the company a better understanding of the true costs associated with the jobs they perform and keep revenues and expenses accurately matched. The end result is improved accuracy of cost of goods sold, gross margin, and net income reporting. | CG

Photo courtesy Steve Steele

Count inventory at least annually

—Steve Steele, MBA, is president at Steele Dynamic Services, LLC, a green industry consulting firm based in Arvada that focuses on internal business operations.

He has over 20 years’ senior and executive level management experience in a variety of industries, and has served the landscape industry through ALCC on the board of directors and legislative committees. Learn more at SteeleDynamicServices.com.

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Business Sense

Avoid being left out in the cold: Power-up your snow removal contracts now

By Kimberly Jewell

Y

ears ago, I purchased framed art for my office wall. Within it was a photo of a massive wave crashing on a beach, and the saying at the bottom of the print read: “You must ride the wave of change or find yourself beneath it.” I left the art for my previous employer when I came to GroundMasters 21 years ago, but it is something that I think of frequently even so. Everything changes over time.

More than once in 2020 I have prayed for wisdom and understanding on how to run a business during COVID-19 with all the uncertainty. Change is here, and we must evolve with each passing day. Whether I do everything aptly, one thing is certain: I am determined to make sure our organization is positioned well for snow removal in 2020-2021.

Before the pandemic there were aspects and verbiage an effective snow removal contract required, but with COVID-19 alterations are necessary: Scope of work, aka service criteria. A specific scope of work should be completely spelled out so there is no misunderstanding.

This is a must. No guess work, put it in black and white! Making sure the level of service is specific is key, as the end result without this is open for anyone’s interpretation.

Changes to scope of work. In the event that either you (the contractor) or the client want to make a change after the contract is executed by both parties, it MUST also be in writing. This is not only for the benefit of both parties, but also the Snow Removal Limited Liability Act requires everything be in writing—or it doesn’t mean diddly-squat.

Cancellation clause. Although this should already be within the terms of the agreement in some fashion, usually a 30-day-out clause, consider adding another clause that in the event your client is not paying timely, the contractor can cancel within a certain number of days’ notice.

Not getting paid timely. The contractor needs some provision that collection efforts and/or attorney fees will be paid by the client.

A lot remains unknown with COVID-19, and as such the contractor needs the protection and Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

27

Business Sense the bill stands as invoiced. This will help close up misunderstandings and set the policies.

Service Area. Defining your service area is always a must, but more than ever, you should provide a map with details of where the work is being performed, including walks, lot and drive lanes. Earlier this year with COVID-19, many clients wanted fewer areas serviced, but this cannot be done verbally. It must be documented to legally protect all parties. If the contractor is asked to clear half a parking lot due to fewer tenants, document a map, make it clear and specific, and get the client to sign off and date the document or the liability could be yours if an incident occurs in the “unserviced area.”

Prevailing Contract. Many times a contract is drafted by the client, and the contractor’s snow and ice management contract is attached as an “exhibit.” If there is any ambiguity or conflicting information, it can be difficult to ascertain whose contract prevails.

To eliminate this aspect, state within your contract that yours prevails.

Often we are hesitant to strike through or disagree with wording in a client’s contract for fear of losing the business. The strongest advice I can give a colleague in the industry is: don’t be afraid to do so.

Read through the contract, and if you cannot agree to the terms, strike through it. Some-

times you have to walk away from business. But the good news is that there is plenty of business out there, and finding the most suitable business for your organization is key. Lastly and importantly, if uncertain always seek legal advice.

It’s well worth it. | CG

Photo courtesy ALCC

peace of mind to cancel swiftly if they are not being paid timely, and to recoup fees associated with collection.

Force majeure. “Force majeure” is a common clause in contracts that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, crime, epidemic or an event described by the legal term act of God, prevents one or both parties from fulfilling their obligations under the contract. In practice, most force majeure clauses do not excuse a party’s non-performance entirely, but only suspend it for the duration of the force majeure.

If this is not in your contract now, contact your legal department or attorney and make certain you have protection. Now more than ever with the pandemic, protests, and the simple fact that more uncertainty is looming, we could find it difficult to perform services or get necessary supplies, and although we were found to be essential this spring, we do not know how services for the 2020-2021 snow season will play out.

Dispute on Payment. The reality is that questions or concerns on an invoice can and will come up. Clients have the right to ask questions or request more information as it pertains to services. However, there needs to be a timeline established to do so. Spell this out in the contract with a specific time frame, and after such time,

—Kimberly Jewell is General Manager at GroundMasters/Snow Management Services, where she has worked since 1999. She is Accredited Snow Contractors Association Certified (ASCA-C), a Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) Certified Snow Professional, and a LEED Green Associate. Snow Management Services LLC, Denver, CO has been ISO Certified since 2013. Jewell received ALCC’s John Garvey Person of the Year Award for her 2018 advocacy work for the green industry and snow management industry.

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Workforce

Photos courtesy ALCC

Irrigation boot camp adapts to the pandemic

A

LCC’s popular irrigation boot camp series will return this fall, with modifications to allow social distancing and safety measures related to coronavirus. The boot camp is part of The Landscape Career Pathways program, designed to increase the workforce of the Colorado landscape industry and develop the skillsets of industry newcomers.

The boot camp is hosted by DBC Irrigation Supply at their Wheat Ridge store location. To maintain social distancing, the course is limited to 12 participants. Two sessions will be offered in order to meet the demand. ALCC is implementing a number of additional safety protocols, including temperature checks and additional cleaning and sanitization of materials to be used.

The 40-hour course has been offered each spring for the last three years, often reaching capacity as employers look for ways to train staff for much-needed irrigation technician positions. It began as a cooperative effort with a Denver-area technical college with just a few

students but quickly grew into an industry-led initiative to increase the number of professionals with the technical irrigation skills that are in demand.

Irrigation boot camp hit a roadblock in the spring of 2020, however, when the pandemic forced a shutdown of many operations. Boot camp was canceled in the interest of public health, but both students and instructors were eager to reschedule.

“We had a sold-out boot camp, but due to COVID-19 restrictions we were forced to cancel,” said Melissa Emdin, ALCC Programs and Education Director. “We faced a challenge in rescheduling, as the situation around the pandemic is rather fluid. We also had to consider the availability of both participants and instructors who were incredibly busy through

the summer season and not able to take part in classes during that time.”

Boot camp was rescheduled for October when workflows might more easily allow instructors and participants to take time from their regular work schedule to participate. | CG Landscape Career Pathways Platinum sponsor

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

31

Designing for the

challenge

By Lyn Dean

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Photos courtesy Adrian Flynt, Native Edge Landscapes

Native Edge brings client passion to life with functional terraced landscape

S

takes can be high when creating a landscape design on a steep slope—a design that not only mitigates erosion but is attractive and functional. Add into the design equation that the “soil” of the area to be landscaped is mostly infill from a remodel of the clients’ home, making it difficult to determine native grade, and you get the design challenge faced by Adrian Flynt, landscape architect at Native Edge Landscapes, Boulder.

Native Edge’s client wanted to repair the erosion damage of the steep-sloped area and bring their passion for urban farming and sustainable agriculture to their outdoor space. They also wanted a patio area in which to relax and take in the mountain views, to preserve the single tree on the property and to make the sloping yard easy to navigate and maintain.

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Distinct aesthetics convey functional areas “A combination of timber walls and drystacked buff stone walls was used to terrace the slope,” says Flynt. “Timber walls define the vegetable beds, and buff stone walls define pollinator-friendly perennial beds. Granite boulders help transition wall materials.”

Buff stone also represents relaxation. A small buff stone seating patio is situated in the lower area bordered by a stone wall and stone steps before transitioning up to the timber staircase and permeable pathways among the timber planting beds.

A dry creek bed provides drainage for the property and is planted with pollinator-loving perennials.

Staging the build took careful planning The house sits at the top of the hill with the yard extending downward, surrounded on three sides by a fence. “The only access to the yard was from a 48” gate,” says Flynt.

“We used Dingos® to move materials from the driveway, through the gate and down the hill.”

“Because of all the infill, it was hard to tell when it was native grade,” he says. “We set the elevation benchmark at the base of the one existing tree and staged the build in a way that allowed the best movement of materials. We started at the bottom and worked up.”

Constructing from bottom up while having access only from the top was challenging. “Materials had to be moved down the construction site in small batches and then moved up again as needed in the build,” says Flynt. “We had a clever foreman who did a great job managing the staged excavations and movement of materials as construction moved up the hill.”

To move the materials on the site, a construction path was created that would be torn up and become part of the system of pathways for the raised garden beds. At the lowest part of the yard, below the patio, was an area that would be restored to native grass. It was used as temporary holding area for hardscape materials used in the build. “About ¾ of the stone for wall and patio and several boulders where taken to the bottom,” Flynt recalls. “Then we constructed the drainage bed and set some boulders. The remaining boulders were staged for each terrace level.”

Timber boxes are all one structure The instability of the infill necessitated careful construction of the timber retaining structures.

“The multiple timber beds are structurally integrated as one unit” says Flynt. “Deadmen from the lower beds connect to the base structure of the beds above.”

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Tom Sunderland and Adrian Flynt

Family members working in the raised timber beds.

“We were building the timber boxes as we went and it seemed they were kind of floating in the air."

— Adrian Flynt

Flynt's design showing the single tree and patio near the bottom, with walkways and timber beds above.

Sometimes the team and client were unsure during construction whether it would come together as planned based on elevation benchmarks. “We were building the timber boxes as we went and it seemed they were kind of floating in air,” Flynt recalls. “We had to trust the design until the last timber box. The client was happy and relieved—as was the crew—when it all worked out.”

Final built landscape provides great functionality Though the timber structure was essential for shoring up the slope by terracing, “the raised bed timber boxes for gardening were extremely important for the clients, who are active in the local ‘community farm scene’ and wanted to create their own small farm,” says Tom Sunderland, founder and landscape architect at Native Edge.

The homeowners took advantage of the inherent adaptability of the timber beds. For example, they added hoop frames and protective netting as needed for their crops. Netting was very useful for keeping the birds out of the lowest beds, which are planted with fruiting perennials including berries.

The new terraced landscape offers multiple options for navigating and appreciating the property. A ramp allows wheelbarrow access to the gardens, and circulating paths offer easy access for planting and harvesting, as well as allowing visitors close encounters with raised bed plants. A staircase provides access to the seating patio.

Irrigation ease adds to garden flexibility Each raised bed is its own irrigation zone, giving the client the flexibility to repurpose beds and modify irrigation needs as required by the planted crop. Valve boxes for each bed are located next to the garden access paths that weave around the beds, making them easily accessible for maintenance.

Drip zones provide supplemental water to perennial areas, and spray zones provided water for establishment of the native area. The smart controller guiding the entire irrigation system can be controlled remotely with a smartphone.

True to the customer’s vision “It’s cool that the homeowners are using their new landscape to live their best life outdoors,” says Flynt. Education about food and sustainable practices are important to the clients. Growing the vegetable gardens has become not only a family activity with their children, but friends and neighbors have become interested in learning more.

“This project is a great example of why we do what we do,” explains Sunderland. “Our purpose as a company is to help people live their best life, and we accomplish this through communication during the planning and design. We want to know their feelings and their goals for bettering their lives outdoors.”

He adds, “Though we don’t get to be there with the client during their ‘outdoor moments,’ this client has told us of the joys they and their children have experienced in their landscape.”

The project—Foothills Terrace Farm— was completed in Fall 2017 and earned Native Edge the 2020 ELITE Award for Design/ Build under $150,000. | CG Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

35

Connecting water utilities, landscape professionals and customers Partnerships aid in water savings, support sustainable landscapes

By Julia Gallucci, Colorado Springs Utilities

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Photos courtesy Colorado Springs Utilities

A

t Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) our job is to provide water to customers. We also need to save water in order to meet the future needs of our growing community. Over the next 10 years, Colorado Springs Utilities’ annual water savings goal is 342 acre feet (111.4 billion gallons).

And, it’s important that we save this water while we continue to support and promote sustainable landscapes.

What we have and what we face

Building partnerships with landscape professionals is critical to saving water and promoting living landscapes that improve our community’s economic vitality. Colorado Springs Utilities’ Water Conservation team works alongside landscape professionals as they provide input on our programs, give feedback on how best to implement our water waste ordinance and work through drought years—together.

In Colorado Springs, landscape watering makes up 30% of our community’s overall use. While some customers are careful about the water they use, others use too much water, regardless of the cost, to ensure their turf areas are lush and green in our arid climate.

That’s why we work with our customers as we develop programs that are impactful, particularly in landscape horticulture and irrigation education.

Colorado Springsa Utilities demonstration garden shows water-wise landscapes full of color and texture.

Even with these programs, some of our customers have been slow to adopt the best water-saving irrigation equipment. Local irrigation equipment suppliers shared with us that just 30% of their business accounts for purchases of the best irrigation equipment. More incentive may be provided by the new state law mandating water-efficient sprinklers that goes into effect January 1, 2021, and there will be fines for non-compliance. Landscape contractors who are not currently shopping for the most water-efficient equipment may be following client directives to purchase lower priced components, but installation of inefficient equipment will not be legal in the new year.

As landscape professionals can likely attest, most customers—both residential and commercial—have a steep learning curve regarding the basics of irrigation management such as proper controller scheduling and fixing leaks. Without this knowledge, some use too much water while others struggle to give their landscapes proper care.

Even while outdoor landscape watering is the single largest use by our customers, Colorado Springs (and other Front Range communities) has experienced a significant decline in the number of homeowners who properly water to maintain living landscapes. Nearly 50% of Springs Utilities’ customers water at a modest to severe deficit, leading to decreased property values and eventually lower econom-

ic vitality. To counter this, Colorado Springs Utilities’ Water Conservation team continues relationship building and outreach, and has the freedom to test new ideas and solutions.

Identifying new opportunities

In 2017 and 2018, our team revisited the assumptions used to develop best-in-class programs, including common industry practices. What we learned helped us evaluate programs for better results: • The landscape industry works with far more of our customers than we do. If we invest in their knowledge and work, they’ll use more water-savings products and techniques and pass these benefits on to our mutual customers.

• Our programs and services are attractive to a subset of our customers.

We target our work, incentives and limited resources to connect with those customers who are considering more sustainable landscape choices, are willing to spend the time to learn and are motivated to save water in order to save money, the environment or both.

• We must provide more compelling customer and contractor incentives.

This may help support economic vitality, increase landscape sustainability and stem the tide of landscape Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

37

Consumers attend a Springs Utilities water-wise landscape class.

New programs show benefits quickly

We began to offer new programs in 2018, and in just one year were able to increase our annual water savings by 18%. And, in Colorado it’s cheaper to save water than to buy more: while purchasing new water rights now costs Colorado Springs Utilities about $25,000 per acre foot, our cost to gain these savings was $3,500 per acre foot, or about 14% of the cost to buy.

The following are two examples of new programs that have made tangible improvements to the built landscape while increasing water savings.

Landscape Trade Allies program

This program strives to increase the purchase and installation of efficient irrigation products through rebates. We do this by improving contractor knowledge of efficient irrigation practices, which can potentially increase their business by promoting our rebates to their customers. We designed this program with input from local landscape contractors who explained that continuing education is important to them but not readily available in Colorado Springs.

In 2018 and 2019 we sponsored five Irrigation Association (IA) classes and eight Landscape Industry Coupon classes. These programs brought in over 247 attendees from more than 70 organizations.

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We also hosted IA certification exams for 13 landscape professionals. Continuing education credits (CEUs) are applicable to both IA certification and Landscape Industry Certified Technicians.

Through our landscape industry coupon class, we award a $500 coupon for attending a free, two-hour class on efficient irrigation techniques, equipment and water management. We include local case studies to help contractors sell these services and equipment to their customers.

As part of this program, we established contracts with wholesale irrigation equipment suppliers who promoted our classes to their customers. Most suppliers chose to offer additional perks for redeeming the coupon at their business. Once installed, the total equipment purchased with these coupons will save 14 acre feet of water for our community.

Irrigation Upgrades Grant program

We’ve performed 250 irrigation audits since 2015 and learned that many commercial properties need help improving their irrigation systems but don’t make these changes because of cost and lack of knowledge. In July we were awarded a grant from Colorado Water Conservation Board to implement an irrigation upgrades program designed to reduce those barriers.

This program targets commercial customers with a large savings potential, financial need and a capacity to maintain improvements. These organizations are typically middle-income homeowner’s associations and small business complexes constructed before

1990. The water savings goal is 10-14 acre feet per year at a cost of $7,000 per acre foot.

While COVID-19 brought challenges to some of our programs, we quickly moved to virtual options to deliver educational content and have defined safe ways to conduct commercial audits and support landscape professionals this year. While we have not engaged with as many customers as anticipated, we’ve actively engaged landscape professionals and earned their buy-in on prohibiting water waste and other rules. By helping educate them to follow the rules, clients will save money in the long run, which will make the landscape pros look good.

Managing landscapes and irrigation are challenging for most homeowners and businesses. For Colorado, we need to increase our community’s understanding of outdoor water use to assure that landscapes are beautiful and sustainable in our climate while meeting the growing needs for water. | CG Photo courtesy Colorado Springs Utilities

abandonment in single-home yards, neighborhood common areas and open space.

Julia Gallucci is the Water Conservation Supervisor for Colorado Springs Utilities—a four-service, community owned utility—where she’s responsible for gaining important water savings to assure adequate supply for the community we serve.

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41

Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

2019-20 Cool Season Trials yield top picks for off-season color

E

ach year, the Cool Season Trials assess the ability of different pansy and viola varieties to overwinter in the Northern Colorado climate. Eighty-four varieties were evaluated in the 2019-20 Cool Season Trial.

Planted in early October 2019, varieties were monitored and observed weekly through May 2020. They were watered and fertilized initially until sprinklers were winterized November 1, and then hand watered when soil was dry and temperature above 40o F. The plots were snow covered for about two months of the trial period.

During the week of May 4, 2020, members of the trial garden committee individually visited, viewed and scored the plants due to COVID-19 distancing guidelines. Six varieties were ranked as Top Performers after receiving high scores. The Best of Show and five other Top Performers are shown below.

Consider these cool season plants to brighten up your fall/spring color displays. Find out more at flowertrials.colostate.edu and click on the Cool Season tab. | CG

Best of Show ‘Freefall™ XL Yellow Blotch Pansy’ from Syngenta Flowers

This pansy stole the show in the trials with its numerous yellow flowers with a dark, central blotch. The yellow color was quite bright and could be seen from a distance.

Tips and Tricks:

The plants have clean/tidy habit with larger flowers and overwintered excellently.

Top ranked performers: pansies

Flowers were true to color—vibrant blue—with a nice large blotch.

The plants were very uniform in growth habit and flowers were so abundant that foliage could barely be seen.

Tips and Tricks: The vibrant blue flower color pops and the plant had good winter survival.

42

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‘Matrix® Yellow Purple Wing Pansy’ from Ball Horticultural Company

This pansy was ranked high due to the vibrant color combination of purple with yellow blotch. The flowers were large on uniform but vigorous plants.

Tips and Tricks: A great pansy choice for those who want a purple/yellow combination with many flowers.

Photos courtesy Rebekah Savage

‘Matrix® Blue Blotch Improved Pansy’ from Ball Horticultural Company

Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

LEGEND Full sun

Useful for containers

Adapts to part shade

Xeric

Prefers shadier conditions

Requires moisture Requires more moisture Contributed by James E. Klett, Ph.D., professor and extension horticulturist, Colorado State University, department of horticulture and landscape architecture.

Top ranked performers: violas ‘Sorbet® XP True Blue Viola’ from Ball Horticultural Company

‘Sorbet® XP Blue Blotch Viola’ from Ball Horticultural Company-

Quicktime™ Mickey Viola’ from Ball Horticultural Company

Tips and Tricks:

Tips and Tricks: Flower color is really not

Tips and Tricks: The flower color is a

This viola was ranked high for its uniform growth habit and many flowers. Evaluators stated it had “incredible color.”

The unique and abundant bloom defined this variety due to its petite size. Flowers were well distributed all over the uniform plants.

Photos courtesy Rebekah Savage

The flowers were a rich blue color with many tiny whiskers, and the flowers covered the entire plant. Growth habit was uniform throughout the entire season.

This viola is very dependable for abundant flowers and uniform growth throughout cool season.

a true blue but an “iridescent” deep purple.

vibrant purple and cream structures such that they resemble ‘Mickey Mouse’ faces.

Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Top Plant Picks: Plant Select®

Photos courtesy David Winger

Dalmatian daisy brightens garden and repels insects

D

uring the early spring months, the blue-green dissected leaves of Dalmatian daisy (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) offer mounds of fern-like texture throughout the garden. When the daisies bloom, they float a mass of one-inch pure white flowers with prime yellow centers that mask plants below.

Though the profuse white composite flowers may seem to be a pollinator’s heaven, Dalmatian daisy’s floral display is only for show. This daisy contains small amounts of pyrethrum, a natural chemical that repels insects, including bees, butterflies, aphids and mosquitoes. Try using Dalmatian daisy to naturally manage undesired populations of insects in the garden, or plant it near basement windows to minimize insect home intrusion.

The name “Dalmatian” denotes its native origin in the Dalmatia coastal region along the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. Plant Select has utilized many plants found in the semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Dalmatian daisy is

44

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water-thrifty and grows well in part shade.

The plant can brighten small spaces and awkward areas that are difficult to water and maintain such as foundations of sheds and commercial buildings. When the blooming of flowers begins to slow, deadhead the plants to let the show start all over again.

Its floral display offers a traditional cottage garden style and may be a perfect fit for HOA landscapes.

In the semi-arid gardens of the West, Dalmatian daisy is the perfect substitute for other more thirsty or invasive daisies. | CG Size: 16-20” tall x 18–24” wide Flowers: June to July Leaves: blue-green dissected leaves Form: mounding perennial Light: full sun to part shade Culture: clay, loam soil Hardiness: USDA Zones 4-10 Deer resistant: yes

Design/Maintenance tips 1. Water at least once per week as the plant is not completely xeric.

2. As flower blooms begin to slow, deadhead the entire plant to bring about another bloom cycle.

3. Use to soften edges and offer natural beauty when in bloom, which is especially helpful around manmade objects such as utilities and mailboxes.

4. Use with companion plants including Chieftain manzanitas, First Love™ dianthus, CORAL CANYON® twinspur, Winecups or SKY’S EDGE® scutellaria.

—Contributed by Ross Shrigley and Emily Goldman for Plant Select®

Learn more at www.plantselect.org

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Those who do business with Alameda know exactly how it works. In tight times and in good times, we look after and support our customers— regardless of their size. We have been proud to support the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) through their ELITE awards program, the Landscape Industry Certified Technician program, the ProGreen EXPO, and their magazine Colorado Green for too many years to count. For three generations, Alameda has treated its customers with courtesy, and provided premium plants, and fast, efficient deliveries. If you would like that kind of long-term respect and service from your nursery, come talk to our friendly staff.

DWF Grower Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 www.dwfwholesale.com

Alameda Wholesale Nursery, Inc.

Bobcat of the Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 www.bobcatoftherockies.com Colorado Materials, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.coloradomaterialsinc.com

Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply . . 2-3 www.ewingirrigation.com Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . 28 www.ftcollinswholesalenursery.com GMCO Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 www.gmcocorp.com Harding Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 www.hardingnursery.com Honnen Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 www.honnen.com

1950 West Dartmouth Avenue Englewood, Colorado 80110-1311

(303) 761-6131 | (303) 761-6132 fax Check our online inventory at www.alamedawholesale.com

Advertiser Proof March/April & JULY/AUGUST Client: Alameda Wholesale Size: 1/3 Square Publication: Colorado Green

Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.horizononline.com Hunter/FX Luminaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC www.fxl.com LL Johnson Distributing Co. . . . 12, 24, 41 www.lljohnson.com Pioneer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 www.pioneerco.com Siloam Stone, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 www.siloamstone.com Stevens Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.stevenscorp.com Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.unilock.com

721 N. Powers Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Colorado has a challenging climate for growing...

Our knowledgeable sales staff can help you with all of your plant and landscape questions.

We supply trees, perennials, shrubs & evergreens to Colorado and surrounding areas.

719.596.5712 In tough climate come see us!

www.hardingnursery.com

Wagner Rents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC www.wagnerrents.com Sept/Oct 2020 Colorado Green

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Three Questions

Photos courtesy Debi Borden-Miller

Colorado inspires a horticulture professional

Get to know

Debi Borden-Miller Debi Borden-Miller has been involved in the green industry in many capacities, most recently working at Welby Gardens for nearly 30 years. She also serves on the board of directors of Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association (CNGA) and ProGreen EXPO. She has been a longtime on-air gardening expert for local Denver television.

1

How did you find your way into the green industry?

My interest in horticulture started as a child.

My grandparents owned a very small motel and restaurant in Vermont, and my parents managed it. We all lived on the property, and one of my favorite memories is going to the local greenhouse in the spring with my grandfather and picking out the annual flowers to plant around

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www.alcc.com

the business. Then I got to go help do the planting and later on the watering and maintenance.

Also, there was a large perennial & herb garden between their house and the restaurant and we would get paid (25 or 50 cents!) to go and cut herbs for the chef at the restaurant to use in various dishes. I loved all that!

2

What do you get out of your involvement with ALCC and green industry organizations?

I love all the connections I have made over the years by belonging to ALCC and other green industry organizations. The opportunities that have been available by belonging and participating in the green industries have been wonderful. My involvement in those organizations has been fun and enjoyable and given me a

sense of working together for the good of the whole industry. I love how we, as an industry, all collaborate and share our knowledge and skills and our love of plants.

3

What is your favorite Colorado landscape?

My favorite Colorado landscapes?

That’s a tough one! I love our public gardens like Denver Botanic Gardens, Hudson Gardens, Betty Ford Gardens in Vail. In general. Being able to hike and see all the wonderful native wildflowers is awesome: Shrine Pass, all over Crested Butte and Steamboat are some of my favorite natural landscapes. I think the Trial Gardens at CSU are fabulous too. I have also gotten to see many private gardens that ALCC members have created and there are a lot of spectacular yards out there! | CG

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*Financing offers valid from July 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021. 0.0% interest for 60 months financing with zero down payment available only on the following new Cat machines manufactured by Caterpillar Inc.: Skid Steer Loaders, Mini Excavators, Compact Track Loaders, Compact Wheel Loaders, Backhoe Loaders, Small Dozers, Small Wheel Loaders, and Telehandlers. Financing, zero down, and published rate terms are only available through Cat Financial for customers meeting credit approval and subject to Cat Financial offered terms and conditions. Not all buyers will qualify. Higher rates may apply for buyers with lower credit rating or lesser qualifications. Offer available only at participating Cat dealers. Flexible payment terms available to those who qualify. Offer is available to customers in the USA and Canada only. Offer subject to machine availability. Offer may change without prior notice and additional terms and conditions may apply. Contact your Cat dealer for details.

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