Horticulture The Voice of Landscape Ontario
Review
April 15, 2009
Pride grows on trees
Board members in LO’s Green for Life garden at Canada Blooms Page 18
Pesticide ban - Page 12 • Hall of fame - Page 23 • IPM Symposia - Page 24
2 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
Coming events
For more coming event listings, visit www.horttrades.com.
April 24-May 10 Arbor Week What sets Arbor Day apart from other holidays is that while other special days commemorate the past, Arbor Day celebrates the future. Due to the climatic and geographic diversity of Ontario, Arbor Day has been stretched into Arbor Week so all areas of the province can benefit. There are a number of ways to participate in Arbor Week, for more information go to www. arborweek.com. June 24 Golden Horseshoe Golf Tournament Willow Valley Golf Course in Mount Hope Shotgun start at 1 p.m. For more information, or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-265-5656, ext. 354. July 17 Upper Canada Golf Tournament Briar Fox Golf and Country Club Tee off time is 10 a.m. For more information, or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-265-5656, ext. 354. July 23 Toronto Chapter Golf Tournament Glen Eagle Golf Course, Caledon Tee off time is 8:30 a.m., followed by a steak lunch. The chapter’s first poker tournament will be held afterward, with all proceeds going to Sick Kids hospital. Poker tournament tickets are available at www.locc.ca. For more information, or to register for the golf tournament, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-265-5656, ext. 354. August 13-14 Landscape Designer sector group summer tour Ottawa area LO’s Landscape Designer group is holding its summer tour in the Ottawa region. Confirmed to date are visits to Rideau Hall and the Mackenzie King Estate historic garden in Gatineau Park. More details will follow as they become available. August 20 Georgian Lakelands Chapter Golf Tournament Innisbrook Golf Club, Barrie Shotgun start begins at 12:20 p.m. For more information, or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-2655656, ext. 354.
August 26 Waterloo Chapter Golf Tournament Grand Valley Golf Course, Cambridge Shotgun start begins at 1 p.m. For more information, or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-265-5656, ext. 354. August 27 Ottawa Chapter Golf Tournment Loch March Golf and Country Club, Kanata Shotgun start at 1 p.m. Lunch and dinner are included in the registration price. For more information, or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@landscapeontario.com or 800-265-5656, ext. 354.
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 3
NEW MEMBERS Durham Chapter B.J. Flint and Sons Justin Flint 2195 Hwy #2 Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K7 Tel:-905 439 9067 Membership Type: Active Georgian Lakelands Chapter FGL Forest Green Landscaping Ltd Jeff Wilson 6415 17th Sideroad-King. RR 3 Schomberg, ON L0G 1T0 Tel:-888 345 4968 Membership Type: Active
Maddisons’ Pond and Garden Centre Greg Sutcliffe 330 Pine Street. PO Box 370 Waubaushene, ON L0K 2C0 Tel:-705 538 0001 Membership Type: Active Oasis North Landscapes Ltd Mike Chapman 117 Orchard Dr. Box 1037 Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0 Tel:-519 599 2102 Membership Type: Interim
London Chapter Firefield Landscape Supply Wes Vander wal 7847 Scotchmere Drive Strathroy, ON N7G 3H4 Tel:-519 245 2211 Membership Type: Active Carolyn Parr Stratford, ON Membership Type: Horticultural Ottawa Chapter Martha Walsh Ottawa, ON Membership Type: Horticultural Toronto Chapter Dr. Landscape Inc. Anthony Lombardi CLD 202 Oakridge Dr. Scarborough, ON M1M 2B3 Tel:-416 267 3564 Membership Type: Active Forest Hills Design Group Daimon Ferguson 44 Daniela Court Georgetown, ON L7G 5C1 Tel:-416 889 6872 Membership Type: Active Garden Gnomes Tristan Iafolla 549 Glen Park Ave. Toronto, ON M6B 2G4 Tel:-416 899 7636 Membership Type: Active Kingdom Landscaping & General Contracting LTD. Lovneet Chawla 3 Ortona Drive Brampton, ON L6Y 3C9 Tel:-905 459 9122 Membership Type: Active Landscape Creations Supply Centre Bryan Robinson 46 Armstrong Ave. Georgetown, ON L7G 4R9 Tel:-905 702 8342 Membership Type: Active Lawn Patrol Ruben Rossi Countryside RPO. PO Box 30035 Brampton, ON L6R 0S9 Tel:-416 989 5296 Membership Type: Active Rob Forbes Mississauga,ON Membership Type: Horticultural Grayson Kemp Mississauga, ON Membership Type: Horticultural Gino Piscelli Toronto, Ontario Membership Type: Horticultural Waterloo Chapter Ontario Snowplow & Lawn Equipment Sales Etc. Kevin Epp 2 - 40 Taggart. PO Box 695 Stn Main Guelph, ON N1H 6L3 Tel:-519 836 5400 Membership Type: Associate
4 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
Landscape Ontario staff
Landscape Ontario’s mandate is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable environment for the advancement of the horticultural industry in Ontario. Suffix for all e-mail addresses below: @landscapeontario.com
Executive board President
Robert Adams, robertadams@ Past president
Bob Tubby CLP, bobtubby@ First vice-president
Tom Intven, tintven@ Second vice-president
Windsor Chapter
E-mail suffix for all staff members: @landscapeontario.com
Sectors
Executive assistant Kathleen Pugliese, ext. 309, kpugliese@
President: Karl Klinck, kklinck@ Board rep: Garry Moore
Executive director Tony DiGiovanni CHT, ext. 304, tonydigiovanni@
Designers
Controller Joe Sabatino, ext. 310, jsabatino@
Chair and board rep: Beth Edney CLD, bedney@
Garden centre
Tim Kearney CLP, tkearney@
Chair and board rep: Bob McCannell, bmccannell@
Secretary/treasurer
Grounds management
Phil Charal, pcharal@
Chapters
Durham Chapter
President: Brian Marsh, bmarsh@ Board rep: Mark Humphries, mhumphries@
Georgian Lakelands Chapter President: Michael Laporte Board rep: Mark Goodman
Golden Horseshoe Chapter
President: Tim Cruickshanks, tcruickshanks@ Board rep: Walter Hasselman
London Chapter
President: Tim Cradduck, tcradduck@ Board rep: Peter Vanderley
Ottawa Chapter
President: Sarah Johnston Board rep: Bruce Morton CLP, CIT
Toronto Chapter
President: Fiona Penn Zieba Board rep: George Urvari, gurvari@
Upper Canada Chapter President and board rep: Paul Doornbos CHT, CLP, pdoornbos@
Waterloo Chapter President: David Wright Board rep: Mike Hayes
Chair: Mike DeBoer, CHT Board rep: Brian Marsh
Growers
Co-chairs and board reps: Bart Brusse, Dave Braun
Interiorscape
Chair and Board rep: Stephen Schell CHT
Irrigation
Chair: Chris LeConte Board rep: Steve Macartney CIT, smacartney@
Landscape contractors Chair: Peter Guinane Board rep: Bruce Warren
Lawn care
Chair: Gavin Dawson Board rep: Alan White, awhite@
Lighting
Chair: John Higo Board rep: John Scanlon
Snow and ice management
Chair: Ed Hewis Board rep: Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Members at Large Jacki Hart CLP Gregg Salivan
CNLA Board Rep
Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@
Horticulture Review April 15, 2009 • Volume 27, No. 4 Views expressed in Horticulture Review are those of the writer concerned. Horticulture Review and Landscape Ontario assume no responsibility for the validity or correctness of any opinions or references made by the author. Copyright 2008, reproduction or the use of whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Published 12x per year. Rates and deadlines are available on request. Subscription price: $40.43 per year (GST included).
Administrative assistant Jane Leworthy, ext. 301, jleworthy@ Project and Event coordinator Kristen McIntyre CHT, ext. 321, kristenm@ Membership and chapter coordinator. membership services team Stephanie Smith, ext. 354, ssmith@ Membership coordinator, Ottawa Chapter Lynn Lane, 613-796-5156, llane@ Membership coordinator, London and Windsor Chapters Wendy Harry, 519-488-0818, wharry@ Manager, Pesticide Industry Council Tom Somerville, tsomerville@ Nursery Technical Analyst Francesco Pacelli, ext. 377, fpacelli@ Manager, education and labour development Sally Harvey CHT, CLP, ext. 315, sharvey@ Education and labour development Ken Tomihiro, 647-723-5451, ktomihiro@ Education and labour development Kathy McLean, ext. 306, kathym@ Project coordinator, Education and labour development Rachel Burt, ext. 326, rachelb@ Trade show manager Paul Day CDE, ext. 339, paulday@ Trade show sales Lorraine Ivanoff, ext. 366, lpi@ Trade show coordinator Linda Nodello, ext. 353, lnodello@ Sales and business development manager Gilles Bouchard, ext. 323, gbouchard@ Director of public relations Denis Flanagan CLD, ext. 303, dflanagan@ Manager, information technology Ian Service, 416-848-7555, iservice@ Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLP, ext. 314, lak@ Editorial director Sarah Willis, ext. 313, sarahw@ Editor Allan Dennis, ext. 320, aldennis@ Web editor Robert Ellidge, ext. 312, rob@
The Voice of Landscape Ontario
For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com
LO staff members are committed to member service. Please call with your questions or concerns. 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Tel: (905) 875-1805 or 1-800-265-5656 Fax: (905) 875-3942 Web: www.horttrades.com
ISSN 0823-8472 Publications Mail Agreement No. PM40013519 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Circulation Department Horticulture Review 7856 Fifth Line South Milton, ON L9T 2X8
Art director Melissa Steep, 647-723-5447, msteep@ Graphic designer Mike Wasilewski, ext. 343, mikew@ Sales manager, publications Steve Moyer, ext. 316, stevemoyer@ Communications assistant Susan Therrien, ext. 305, stherrien@
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 5
Green for Life: The launch and the challenge Green for Life: The specifics To get on board, visit www.horttrades. com/GFL. There, you may download printquality logos for all your uses. Instructions are posted for uploading your company’s member profile to the new site — enhanced functionality allows you to post photos and your logo, actually giving you your own page on the LO site! You may also order marketing materials. We have gone through over 5,000 GFL stickers, and have 12,000 more coming in a range of sizes and styles. LO’s Branding Committee
Landscape Ontario’s brand comes to life at Canada Blooms
Uxbridge Nurseries
“We keep on growing”
P.O.BOX 400, UXBRIDGE, ONTARIO L9P 1M8
905.655.3379 1.877.655.3379 FAX: 905.655.8544 sales@uxbridgenurseries.com
www.uxbridgenurseries.com 6 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
By Denis Flanagan and Lee Ann Knudsen
P
lease visit LO’s new face to the public, www.landscapeontario.com. Vision, commitment, long hours and resources have come together for LO’s ambitious branding initiative, and we made our Canada Blooms deadline! The new site should make you even more proud of LO than ever. The key to LO’s effectiveness is volunteer spirit, and hard work by the volunteers on LO’s Branding Committee brought Green for Life alive. The strategy and the critical path for GFL were devised over a year ago. Some agricultural commodities, such as beef, pork and milk, have used successful promotion campaigns to drive demand for their products. Our industry has a great story to tell, about the unique family and environmental benefits our products provide. Why not tell our story to the public? The promotional plan proposed was quite brilliant, and it recognized that building success for our industry means treating consumers with respect, and providing true value. We cannot afford to buy TV time or billboards to broadcast our message, but we can build a public-targeted website about the beauty and benefits of horticulture, full of our members’
LO members owe thanks to our passionate Branding Committee members: Robert Adams, Diana Cassidy-Bush, Phil Dickie, Paul Doornbos, co-chair, David Emmons, Tom Intven, Tim Kearney, Shannon Lindensmith, Steve Macartney, Bob McCannell, co-chair, Jim McCracken, Mark Ostrowski, Nick Solty, Melissa Spearing and Alan White. detailed knowledge. Consumers are hungry for information, especially information relevant to our locality, and the richness of the content we can provide reinforces the professional stature of our members. Content of this high quality deserves a top-level visual presentation, and the committee worked through icon ideas and web proposals to arrive at a beautiful visual identity package. Members are embracing it with enthusiasm. Through this process our association name, Landscape Ontario, was transformed into a verb — a call to action — urging all to join in and Landscape Ontario! So we have a plan, a brand and a site. We have built it, but will they come? The committee has done all it can to drive success of this project, but ultimate responsibility for spreading the Green for Life message rests with you. Use Green for Life branding every opportunity you can! Put it on your trucks, your website, your print ads, your jobsites, your invoices, your store signs … and let us know about other exposure ideas you come up with. We have over 2,000 members across the province, and our power to build the brand is the envy of big corporations. Green for Life: let’s landscape Ontario.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Positive opportunities By Robert Adams LO president
B
y now most of you know about the excellent financial opportunity that has been placed before us. It’s a federal tax credit that has finally included our industry. This has never happened in Canadian history. Although legislation is not yet officially in place, the federal budget has included a ways and means bill granting authority to proceed. If we wait until it becomes official, it will be too late for our industry. We must proceed now. It is not up to us to analyse how the government conducts its business. The government of the day has announced the tax credit, therefore at this point there is a tax credit. How they proceed from here is up to the people on Parliament Hill. Our association and the CNLA have worked to create easy-to-understand pieces of information on the Home Renovation Tax Credit. LO’s great looking brochure came out just in time for Canada Blooms. It received
Quote of the Month
“If you want to be a loser, there’s always a way to dwell on the negative. If you want to win, there’s always a way to think positively.”
— Tony La Russa,
former baseball manager
lots of positive reaction from the public. The tax credit is a much needed boost for the landscape industry. I, for one, do not want to look a gift horse in the mouth. It is expected most of our members will market this opportunity. With spring on our doorstep and everyone anxious to get busy, the timing is right now. So let’s dust off those shovels, do some stretching and prepare to get busy. Numerous studies have shown that an attractive landscape increases the value of
HERBMATIC Designed for minimal use of pesticide. Allow 3 operations
a home by an average of 7.5 per cent. Those same studies have also revealed that landscape investments are recovered fully, and sometimes doubled, by the increased home value. When marketing our services this year, we can show that this is the time to take advantage of the 15 per cent tax credit, while at the same time adding more value to our homes during a down market. It may seem kind of silly to be saying this, but this is a time of great business opportunities. It’s a time to build on maintaining and increasing our markets. Between the tax credit, society looking at ‘staycations’ and improving our environment, our industry has many opportunities to improve business. With positive attitudes, positive mental pictures and positive thinking, you will only create positive outcomes. If you have a suggestion or concern, contact me at robertadams@landscapeontario.com. I encourage you to become involved in LO. It is your association.
Ideal for seeding small area or to repair existing lawn
1- Apply fertilizer 2- Apply fertilizer + full pesticide coverage 3- Apply fertilizer and pesticide on demand
Compact sprayer for maximum space saving 100 or 200 gallons gas engine or 12 V motor
Available size of 200 to 1000 gallons. Powered by Honda Engine. Trailer version available.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 7
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
One of Canada’s best kept secrets and success stories Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO executive director
I
expect most of your customers purchase products and services for aesthetic and prideful reasons. They are proud of their home surroundings and want the landscaping to look good. Yet, we provide more than a nice appearance. I cannot think of many other industries that provide as many diverse benefits to society. Landscaping, gardening and greenspace preservation and Tony DiGiovanni enhancement provides many benefits to society be it from an economic, environmental, community pride, lifestyle, health, tourism, aesthetic, recreation, therapeutic or spiritual perspective. The horticultural industry also offers many solutions to a number of relevant challenges of the 21st century, including pollution, rising heating and cooling costs, climate change, the urban heat island effect, sun exposure, nature deficit in our children, health, etc. It is time to tell our story of societal benefit to the public. Little-known facts • Economic contribution is valued at $14.48 billion • Approximately $7 billion in Ontario-based on multipliers generated from Statistics Canada Input-Output (“I/O”) tables - $6.98 billion in output and $7.5 billion in value added impacts • Employs 110,750 full-time equivalent positions • Total direct and indirect full-time equivalent employment is 132,776 jobs. With the number of seasonal jobs the actual number is higher • The sector induces a significant number of additional jobs through household spending by employees. It is estimated that for every two jobs, another job is generated in the economy • Employs 66,388 full-time people in Ontario, with 33,000 of those jobs related to the growth and care of turfgrass • Generates $3.8 billion in employment income and another $850 million in 8 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
• •
• • • •
•
•
end-user taxes through PST and GST. Landscape crops are the only sector of agriculture that pays GST The Canadian public spent $8.1 billion on landscape and garden products and services in 2007 The farm gate value of landscape crops (trees, shrubs, sod, perennials, annuals, potted plants, cut-flowers, etc.) was $2.3 billion. In Ontario it was $1 billion. As an agricultural segment, this is larger than corn, wheat, soybeans, fruits and vegetables. There are approximately 20,000 companies operating in the sector, providing significant employment due to entrepreneurial skills The industry has experienced double digit growth for many years. The sod and nursery sub-sectors report the highest annual growth rates at 7.9 and 4.6 per cent, respectively A total of 90 per cent of farm gate receipts are distributed among three Canadian provinces: Ontario (50 per cent), British Columbia (24 per cent) and Québec (14 per cent) The 2006 census of agriculture reveals that the urban market holds the most potential for our sector, with 24.4 per cent of all gross farm receipts generated by farms that are located in metropolitan areas, compared to 7.5 per cent on a national level The production, horticultural services, horticultural equipment manufacturing, and trade and distribution sectors are a stimulus to the entire Canadian economy
Benefits to society Most of the industry is aware of the wide range of benefits that our sector provides beyond the economic measurement. Here is a short list of benefits from a literature review of documented research compiled by the George Morris Centre at the University of Guelph. Landscape for environmental enhancement • Reduces energy costs through the shade, cooling and windbreak effect. Evergreen trees reduce the impact of cooling wind in winter and deciduous trees provide shade in the summer • Stabilize soil and reduce runoff in open spaces • Provide natural habitats and protect
biodiversity • Moderates climate extremes, helping to mitigate urban heat islands • Produces oxygen • Sequesters carbon • Ameliorates pollution • Improves air quality (indoor and outdoor) • Removes contaminants from soil (phytoremediation) • Improves water quality • Improves water management (flood control) and erosion control • Reduces impacts of weather through windbreaks and shelterbelts • Reduces noise pollution • Controls urban glare and reflection • Attracts birds and other wildlife Landscape for economic benefits • Increased property values (residential and business) • Enhances beauty of buildings and communities • Increases public safety and reduces crime and accidents • Attracts tourism • Assists municipalities in reducing maintenance costs and deriving new economic benefits, including spin-offs from parks, sporting facilities and increased tourism Landscape for health • Aesthetic contribution • Improved privacy and security • Increases community health and vitality through civic involvement. Beautification projects represent a sense of pride and value by residents and businesses • Reduces stress and improves productivity (workplace, schools) • Introduces calming effects and reduced discomforts • Promotes quicker recovery (hospitals) • The practice of horticultural therapy improves mind, body and spirit • Increase human health (e.g., use in medicine) • Improve life satisfaction and well-being • Increase positive emotions • Improve general quality of life in urban settings • Create pride in community through com-
munity gardens and allotment gardens • P romotes attention and concentration improvements for children • Reduces aggression and violence • Provide space for recreation • Enhances sport field safety • Encourages healthy active and passive lifestyle pursuits Key trends impacting the sector The sector is positioned for continued healthy growth in the future, because of the following trends: • Aging baby boomer cohort, estimated to spend between $7.8 billion and $14.4 billion annually on garden and gardenrelated activities during retirement
• A return to cocooning or ‘staycation’ due to continued interest in renovations and a poor economic outlook • Rising concern for the environment, encompassing regulatory change and Gen-Y influences and attitudinal changes towards the importance of green • Continued public and government awareness involving the huge and varied societal benefits of the sector from an economic, environmental, community pride, lifestyle, health, tourism, aesthetic, recreation, therapeutic and spiritual perspective • Landscape, gardening and greening activities present the public with solutions to a number of relevant challenges of the 21st century (i.e. pollution, the urban heat
island effect, rising heating and cooling costs, etc.) • Investments in ornamentals have demonstrated financial benefits to homeowners appreciating resale values Sources: Deloitte - The Impact of Ornamental Horticulture on Canada’s Economy, January 2009; Economic Profile of the Turf Industry – Ontario Turfgrass Foundation – 2009 Years ago I was listening to a presentation from one of our members. His description of our industry has stuck with me: “We are in the business of enhancing lives.” What a wonderful way of looking at what we do for a living. It is time we spread our life-enhancing message. This is what the “Green for Life” program is all about.
Masonry seminar sets great example By Dan Clost
In the raw early days of March, Landscape Ontario’s winter education series travelled to Trenton, located in the hinterlands of the Upper Canada Chapter country. The event was a twoday, hands-on seminar entitled ‘Masonry In the Landscape.’ The write-up for the course stated: “During this two-day seminar, an expert will discuss the dos and dont’s of good masonry design and application, including forming, strength, composition, reinforcing, repairing, general construction tips on how to lay and pour better masonry, as well as choosing stone ETEL07_BA Hort.Review.qx 1/30/07
and use of chisels.” The event was hosted by Connon Nurseries/CBV. An example of a dedicated LO member was, when it was noticed that there was no masonry sand, and Sprout’s Premium Products was contacted to see if they could help out. They had to unload an excavator from their float, turn over the entire bin of sand in order to obtain thawed material. Once this took place, the company then offered to deliver it. Twenty minutes later, the sand arrived. No charge. Larry Moore of The Beach Gardener was the hands-on instructor, and was everything an 7:43 AM Page 1
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LO instructor should be: knowledgeable with the ability to pass on that knowledge and aware of the needs of the students. His years of practical experience allowed him to answer all the questions of his peers, and he was cognizant of the retail environment. In fact, he received top marks across the board in the post-course survey. From host, to sponsor, to teacher, to students, this is what an LO training event should strive for every time. Dan Clost is a member of the Upper Canada Chapter board
call us at 416.798.7050 or toll-free at 1.800.870.0926
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 9
PROFESSIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
It’s time to understand employee retention and risk management strategies Sally Harvey CHT, CLP Education and Labour Development Department
I
t’s a no-brainer that hiring and retaining the right employees is critical to the success of any business. Why then is it we still seem to lose the keepers? Those are the employees who breathe and live your company vision, while working towards making it a reality. We tend to overlook the benefits that seasoned and skilled employees provide our businesses. We know that they increase effectiveness and efficiencies and therefore Sally Harvey add to the bottom line. So why do many of us forget about retention strategies? In fact, we often tend to put more time and effort into equipment purchases, or interviewing potential employees, than we do in maintaining and energizing our existing people investment. Business owners and managers must increase efforts in this regard, particularly in these economic times. Staff members, if treated properly and professionally by their employer, will remain and provide consistent increased productivity. This in turn makes for a sweeter bottom line for years to come. Landscaping does provide an amazing career opportunity. Let’s make sure we communicate that to our staff and potential staff by providing the right healthy environment. I recommend that you do not ignore existing staff. Training plays a large part in employee retention. Consult your present staff to identify their training plans to help them continue to develop. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. One of the most important training programs to embark upon is safety training, which is required by law. Since we introduced the safety program to our company many years ago, we have had several employees tell us that they continue to work for us because we care about their safety. Although this was not the original reason that we embarked upon creating a safety culture in our company, it soon became a huge unexpected retention strategy. At Congress this year, I had the opportu-
nity to visit the Landscape Safety.com booth. I was impressed. Here is a technical savvy and convenient online training tool developed by industry members to help any landscape company train staff to a consistent standard. It definitely augments established training programs and provides a management tool at the same time. When an employee completes a section, the manager receives notice of the status. As you embark on maintaining a safe workplace in 2009, you may want to consider this new tool offered by Landscape Safety. com. I urge the industry to take advantage of all the tools available to us today and take action. The season is upon us; it is never too late. If you want more information please contact Landscape Ontario for direction.
“We often tend to put more time and effort into equipment purchases, or interviewing potential employees, than we do in maintaining and energizing our existing people investment.” With Bill C-45, penalties include hefty fines and/or prison terms. In Ontario alone, over 100,000 people work in the green or related industries, and that number continues to grow. The Ontario Ministry of Labour has added 200 safety officials to conduct random inspections, looking for proof of training and other due diligence factors. In light of many recent young worker deaths, any industry that employs young people will be targeted. The Occupational Safety legislation in Ontario is clear, and holds employers and supervisors accountable for every accident. Therefore, it is up to employers and supervisors to take every reasonable precaution by training employees of all ages to prevent injuries and accidents. We do not want to consider the alternative. MTO regulations The MTO has made a couple of minor changes to the ‘In Excess Hours’ regulation. Further, there are changes coming in regards to load
10 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
securing as well. All commercial vehicle drivers operating in Ontario are subject to the new hours of service regulations. Over the past several years, the Canadian provinces and territories have been working through the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) to modernize the commercial vehicle drivers’ hours of service rules by reflecting the advances in scientific research into human sleep patterns and fatigue management practices. The new rules were developed and supported by all Canadian jurisdictions and a broad spectrum of stakeholders. These rules reflect advances into research on fatigue and establish the maximum hours a driver may operate a commercial truck or bus on a highway. The hours of service rules will help commercial drivers receive the necessary rest required to safely operate their vehicles, while keeping Ontario’s roads safe. Driving time 5(1.) After a driver has accumulated 13 hours of driving time in a day, the driver shall not drive again on the same day 5(2.) After a driver has accumulated 14 hours of on-duty time in a day, the driver shall not drive again on the same day. 6(1.) A driver shall take at least 10 hrs offduty time in a day. Note: All these refer back to driving a commercial motor vehicle as defined in the Highway Traffic Act Section 16.1. If a vehicle does not meet this definition it’s exempt from the above. Reg 555 does get very complicated though, and there is much more to calculating hours over a period of days and weeks. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is providing an educational enforcement period to assist drivers and carriers to adjust to the new rules. New provincial rules can be found at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/ trucks/regulations/hours.shtml As our busy season begins, please maintain safety as a priority in all that we do. By actively managing risk in our work environment, we will simultaneously promote employee retention. I wish each and every member in our industry, a safe and prosperous 2009 season. Sally Harvey may be reached by e-mail at sharvey@landscapeontario.com.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
A personal reflection By Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations
I
t’s Sat., Mar. 21st. at 10 p.m., room 1500, in the newly renovated Hyatt Hotel, King St., in Toronto. After working a 12-hour shift standing on a concrete floor at Canada Blooms, my aching feet needed a soaking in warm water. Unfortunately, this trendy hotel only has a shower but no bathtub. This has forced me to be resourceful! As I sit on the edge of my bed with one foot in a garbage can that is half-filled with warm water, the pain has eased and I begin to reflect on the day’s challenges and the reasons I have thoroughly enjoyed the Blooms experience over the last 13 years. I had been reminded of that statistic earlier in the day when Adam Gracey re-introduced me to his 16 year old, six foot, plus, son Luke, who was working on their feature garden. Adam recalled that during the very first Blooms, I had to tell him and his wife Christine to remove their kids from the show floor during construction. It’s a good thing Luke does not hold grudges. Another strong memory I have of that first show in 1996 is one of Casey van Maris directing the creative placement of a boulder, using a walking stick as his pointer. In this year’s show, the family’s creativity continued through his daughter Anna with her booth in Marketplace. And, our impressive Landscape Ontario Green for Life garden was built this year by Tim Kearney with his sons and all the hard working crew from Ottawa. On Industry Night it was great to see Gerald Boot showing off his new grandchild. No doubt, a potential garden builder of the future. Yes, Canada Blooms is always a spectacular event with glorious gardens and stunning flower arrangements, but to me it has become a record of our personal lives. Once a year we gather to celebrate our successes in life, including marriages, births and sometimes to celebrate someone’s memory. I hope as an industry we will continue to pull together as a family and always support this fabulous Canadian tradition. Footnote: Warm water in a pail turns very cold during the time it takes to write a 300 word article.
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Denis Flanagan may be reached at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com. HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 11
Ontario pesticide ban becomes law on April 22 Ontario’s cosmetic pesticides ban takes effect April 22, 2009. The McGuinty government made the announcement on Mar. 4, stating, “The ban protects Ontario families and children from the unnecessary risks of cosmetic pesticides by only allowing the use of certain lower-risk pesticides for controlling weeds and pests in lawns and gardens.” LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni reacted by saying, “Although Landscape Ontario agrees with the intent of the of the legislation, the government actions are callous, insensitive, extreme and disrespectful to a growth industry that employs over 66,388 full-time people ( 22,000 in the turfgrass sector alone). Many safe and effective products have been taken away from the industry and public. It is unrealistic to expect such drastic changes by April.” The provincial announcement stated that the ban will prohibit the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on lawns, gardens, parks and school yards, and includes many herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Over 250 products will be banned for sale and more
than 80 pesticide ingredients will be banned for cosmetic uses. DiGiovanni said, “Many jobs will be put at risk at a time when government should be helping growth industries to expand and create more employment. I am not aware of any other sector in history that has been treated with absolutely no empathy. We could have helped the government achieve its goals over time through public and industry education. This legislation should have been phased-in in partnership with the industry. Instead they have chosen to take a chance with people’s livelihood.” Ontario’s minister of the environment John Gerretsen stated in the announcement that his government had fulfilled its commitment to ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in Ontario. “I’m proud to say that, when the ban takes effect on Earth Day, we will have eliminated this unnecessary risk to
our environment, our families, and especially our children.” There are exceptions for public health or safety reasons such as fighting West Nile Virus, killing stinging insects like wasps, or controlling poison ivy and other plants poisonous to the touch. Other exceptions include agriculture, arboriculture and forestry. The ban takes the place of existing municipal pesticide bylaws in different areas of the province. “It also establishes one clear set of rules, which makes it easier for Ontario businesses to follow,” says the provincial government’s press release. “I am hoping that they see the error of such an extreme approach. We will be there to help when they do,” concluded DiGiovanni. For additional information, visit www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/ index.php.
Tax credit brochure online Landscape Ontario has created a pamphlet to help members communicate details of the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) in order that homeowners may maximize the tax credit. Just in time for Canada Blooms, thousands of the brochures were handed out to consumers during the show. The response was tremendous as the public grabbed up the information, many saying they had no idea landscaping qualified for the tax credit. A copy of the brochure is included in this issue of Horticulture Review. As well, a pdf of the flyer is available online in order that members may print their own copies. See the end of this article on how to locate the brochure. To determine the items that qualify for the HRTC, use the statement issued by the federal government: “Any improvement or renovation of an enduring nature to dwelling or the land on which the dwelling sits.” The key word is enduring. Landscape Ontario interprets this to mean that the following are considered eligible: • new sod • trees • shrubs • perennials • interlocking driveways • decks • retaining walls • pathways • irrigation and lighting systems • ponds and waterfalls
12 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
• garden sheds • professional landscape design services • professional landscape contractor services Listed as not eligible: annuals, lawn and garden maintenance, tree maintenance, snow removal, hanging baskets, containers and planters. Eligible home renovation projects for work performed, or goods acquired, are those between Jan. 27, 2009 and Feb. 1, 2010. A 15 per cent credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, meaning that the maximum tax credit is $1,350. Properties eligible for the HRTC include houses, cottages and condominium units that are owned for personal use. Expenses such as professional labour, building permits, equipment rentals, professional services and incidentals are also eligible. Do-it-yourself labour is not eligible for the tax credit. Receipts will be needed, but consumers are not required to submit the receipts with their income tax filed with Revenue Canada. The receipts will be needed if Revenue Canada requires confirmation of those projects. To download the brochure created by Landscape Ontario go to: www.horttrades.com and look under resources which contains the brochure. You may copy the pdf to create your own brochure to hand out to customers. To find out more from the federal government go to www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Work continues to improve garden tourism By Carol Cowan
A number of studies have shown that public gardens are important tourism products, whether that tourist or visitor comes from around the corner, or from across the world. To explore this aspect, the Canadian garden and tourism industries came together to discuss what each could do to grow their respective businesses through the inaugural Canadian Gardens and Tourism Conference held in Toronto, coinciding with Canada Blooms. The event was organized by Landscape Ontario, with involvement by VIA Rail, Royal Botanical Gardens, Communities in Bloom, Canada Blooms, Toronto Botanical Garden, the Quebec Gardens Association and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism. Speakers at the conference represented some of the luminaries of Canada’s garden and tourism industries, as well as three international speakers: Pascal Garbe, director of the European Gardens and Tourism Conference, held biannually in Metz, France, Mary Pat Matheston, director of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Paul Gray, head of commercial events at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in the U.K. “I think we could easily double garden tourism numbers in five years,” said conference founder Michel Gauthier, who manages the VIA Rail Garden Route program. According to Canadian gardening guru and conference co-host Marjorie Harris, “In Canada we have wonderful gardens that rival any in the world, but no one seems to know about them.” Rogier Gruys from the Canadian Tourism
Commission (CTC) agreed. “You must make gardens front and centre,” he said, “especially as the most recent Travel Activities and Motivation Study states that among affluent mature and senior couples, visits to gardens rank among the top ten things that they want to do while on a pleasure trip.” The other conference co-host, Alexander Reford, who sits on the board of the CTC and the Quebec Association of Gardens, as well as the director of Les Jardins de Métis, added, “We have a legitimate cultural product and we should aim to become a leading tourism product for the next decade.” The conference, which couldn’t have happened without the support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, VIA Rail Canada, the
Royal Botanical Gardens and Landscape Ontario, ended on a high note with the formation of a steering committee, the National Coalition of the Canadian Garden Experience. Like the European conference, after which the Canadian Gardens and Tourism Conference was modeled, Gauthier plans for this to also be a biannual event. For regular updates leading to the 2011 conference, visit www.gardensandtourismconference.com. Carol Cowan sits on the steering committee of the Canadian Gardens and Tourism Conference and is president of Zebra Promotions, a company specializing in horticultural communications, programs and events.
Niagara pack trial cancelled The 2009 Niagara Pack Trial and Marketing Innovation Symposium has been canceled. The announcement was made by the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation (COPF) and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, citing the current difficult economic climate. The pack trial and symposium was held last June through the efforts of both Vineland Research and Innovation Centres and the COPF. “With the majority of companies in the industry looking to cut costs, we felt this wasn’t the right time to ask exhibitors or attendees to take part in a new event,” says Darlene Brown, director of public relations
and communications, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. “This is the time to support the industry by offering new marketing ideas, however, it was felt there may be better means to accomplish this and we along with COPF, will be looking for new and creative ways with which to do so.” “We aimed the Niagara Pack Trials towards attracting U.S. greenhouse industry participants from N.Y., Ohio, Penn., Mich., in addition to Canadian growers and buyers. We intended to make it easy for U.S. participants by locating it not far from Niagara Falls,” said Peggy Walsh Craig, COPF managing director.
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Chapter News Transportation theme popular at chapter meetings By Stephanie Smith
It is always nice to see as many members as possible come out to chapter meetings. With the meeting season wrapping up, it was wonderful to see so many participants at these season-ending chapter meetings. Durham chapter had its Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) meeting on Mar. 3, at the Holiday Inn. There were many members in attendance for this one. In fact, we should have booked a bigger room. On a side note, we would also like to thank the outgoing president Brian Marsh for
all of his hard work and dedication to the chapter. I then travelled to Napanee to visit the Upper Canada chapter during its annual MTO meeting. Once again, we had a great turnout of members and it was nice to see all the new faces. The Upper Canada chapter continues to grow and it is an exciting time to be a part of the group. The final meeting for the week was the Golden Horseshoe chapter’s meeting concerning the MTO. Held at Connons NVK in Dundas, the chapter welcomed ministry officials who provided an onsite inspection.
Special thanks go to Connons NVK for providing the chapter with meeting space, plus a special thanks to all of the staff for their hospitality and shuttle service. We would like to also thank all of the new board members who have become involved with their chapters. Stephanie Smith is Landscape Ontario’s membership and chapters coordinator. She may be reached at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354, or ssmith@landscapeontario.com.
It’s time to start thinking about summer tournaments Once again the tournament season is upon us and we are planning another great selection in your area. Landscape Ontario chapters raised thousands of dollars for some great charities last year, and we are hoping with everyone’s support this year we can do it again. It’s a great way to have fun, network and give to a great cause. We will kick off the season with the Golden Horseshoe golf tournament on June 24, at the Willow Valley Golf Course. Lunch and dinner are included and there is a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Last year, we sold out, so book early to avoid disappointment! Our next tournament will be July 17 in the Upper Canada chapter. The course is Briar Fox and tee off is at 10 a.m. Dinner is included in this tournament. The Toronto chapter tournament is on July
23, at a new venue this year, Glen Eagle Golf Course. Tee time is set for 8:30 a.m., followed by steak lunch. Last year we sold out, so this year we are offering a bigger course to accommodate more golfers! If you missed out last year, get your registration in now. New this year is a poker tournament for golfers and non-golfers, in conjunction with the Toronto tournament. The Big Boys Toys Garage will hold its first poker tournament and everyone is welcome. So if golf is not your thing, come and try your luck at poker. The fee to enter is $25 and all of the proceeds will go to Sick Kids. The poker tournament will start at 4:30 p.m. and tickets for poker only are available at locc.ca. Georgian Lakelands chapter will host its golf tournament on Aug. 20 at Innisbrook Golf Club in Barrie. There will be a 12:20 p.m. shot-
gun start. Last year this tournament also sold out, so again book early to avoid disappointment. Waterloo chapter will host its tournament on Aug. 26th at Grand Valley Golf Course in Cambridge, with shotgun start at 1 p.m. This tournament is always a sell out, so to avoid disappointment get your registration booked early. Ottawa chapter will host a golf tournament on Aug. 27 at a new course this year. It will take place at Loch March with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Both lunch and dinner are included. London chapter’s fourth annual tournament will take place on Sept. 11 at the Pine Knot Golf Course. For more information, contact Wendy Harry at 519-488-0818, or wharry@landscapeontario.com. The Windsor chapter will host its tournament on Sept. 12 at Fox Glen Golf Club. For more information, contact Wendy Harry as noted above. There is one more tournament that sells out every year, and that is the Toronto Chapter Baseball Tournament, held on Aug. 16, at Richmond Green Ball Diamond. Enter your team now to avoid disappointment. To register for any of these coming events, please contact Stephanie Smith at 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354 or e-mail ssmith@landscapeontario.com. We look forward to seeing you this year!
14 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
Keeping your chapter connected Julie Moir Messervy inspires Ottawa By Welwyn Wong Principal designer, Welwyn Wong Landscape Design
As with the Ottawa chapter’s previous highcalibre public presentations, audiences were not disappointed with our choice of guest speaker Julie Moir Messervy. The lecture took place on Feb. 25 at Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa. Both her seminar and half-day workshop were made possible by the generous combined efforts of LO’s Ottawa chapter, the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society and sponsors. Moir Messervy captured her audience’s attention with pictures of her experiences both growing up and studying in Japan. The audience oohed and aahed over some of the wonderful spaces she has created within her clients’ landscapes, as well as her explanation of the J.S. Bach-inspired Toronto Music
Garden. Attendees Barbara and her friend Linda noted that the pictures of Moir Messervy’s work were the highlights of their evening. She effortlessly simplified garden design into ‘pleasure principles’ intuitively used by designers, explaining how and why using these principles works within a landscape. Those in attendance learned about emotional-spatial relationships, dividing them into seven different categories: sea, cave, harbour, promontory, island, mountain and sky. She said that the garden reflects our own life’s journey: as we mature along from infancy to wizened old age, we progress through each of these special experiences as comforting places to experience. Moir Messervy’s workshop the next day expanded on these archetypes and much more. Design professionals, landscape trades people, and regular homeowners attended. They
completed a multiple-choice quiz, based on the Meyers-Briggs personality test, in order to discover each person’s ‘inward garden’ style and ‘aesthetic preferences.’ The funfilled group activity, arranging objects on the circular tables, was a useful tool to abstract the garden components into shapes, colours, and topographical relationships, using any found objects in the room and on our person. Many of the exercises are explained in her new book, Home Outside, which is available online now and will soon also be available in local bookstores. We thank her for coming to speak at both events, and for making the elusive world of landscape design make sense to the general public. As Tony DiGiovanni expressed at the close of the evening event, “We are all inspired by your lessons.” We designers may “hear the stream with open eyes,” but now the rest of the world gets it.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 15
Hillen Nursery Inc Botanical Name
1 gal 2 gal 3 gal price price price
Vines - 1, 2, 3 gal.
Akebia quinata ‘Silver Bells’ 8.00 Ampelopsis glandulosa ‘Elegans’ 8.00 Aristolochia durior 6.00 11.00 Campsis ‘Balboa Sunset’ 11.00 Hydrangea anomala petiolaris 6.00 Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ 8.00 Lonicera X ‘Mandarin’’ 8.00 Lonicera per. ‘Belgica Select’ 8.00 Lonicera per. ‘Serotina’ 8.00 Polygonum aubertii 6.00 Parthenocissus quinq ‘Engelmannii 6.00 Parthenocissus tri ‘Veitchii’ 6.00 Azalea ‘Golden Hi Lights’ 13.50 Azalea ‘Orchid Hi Lights’ 13.50 Buxus microphylla 5.00 11.00 Buxus semp. ‘Green Mound’ 5.00 11.00 Buxus semp. ‘Green Gem’ 5.20 11.20 Buxus ‘Green Mountain’ 5.00 11.00 Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ 5.20 11.20 Buxus micr.’Faulkner’ 5.00 Chamaecyparis pis ‘Filifera Aurea 5.00 11.00 Chamaecyparis pis ‘Aurea Sungold’ 11.00 Cotoneaster adpressus ‘Compactus’ 5.00 9.00 Cotoneaster ‘Coral Beauty’ 5.00 7.00 Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Major’ 7.00 Cotoneaster microphyllus 5.00 9.00 Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Repens’ 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Canadale Gold’ 7.00 Euonymus fort.’Emerald Gaiety’ 5.00 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘E.T.’ 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald n Gold 5.00 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Goldtip’ 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Sunrise’ 5.00 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Sarcoxie’ 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Surespot’ 7.00 Euonymus fortunei ‘Vegetus’ 7.00 Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Prince’ 5.00 11.00 Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Princess’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus media ‘Mint Julep’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus media ‘Pfitz.Compacta’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus procumbens nana 5.00 11.00 Juniperus communis ‘Repanda’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus conferta’Blue Pacific’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Blue Horizon’ 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Blue Prince’ 5.00 Juniperus hor ‘Icee Blue’ 6.00 13.00 Juniperus hor ‘Andorra Compact’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Torquoise Spreader 5.00 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Wiltonii’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Yukon Belle’ 5.00 11.00 Juniperus hor ‘Youngstown’ 11.00 Juniperus sabina 5.00 Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Carpet’ 5.00 11.00
Evergreens - 1, 2, 3 gal.
Botanical Name
1 gal 2 gal 3 gal price price price
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ 5.00 Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ 5.00 Larix laricina 7.00 Microbiota decussata 5.00 Metasequoia glyptostroboides 7.00 Myrica pensylvanica 7.00 Picea abies 7.00 Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’ 5.00 Picea glauca 7.00 Picea glauca ‘Conica’ Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue’ Picea glauca ‘Densata’ 7.00 Picea omorika 7.00 Picea pungens kiabob 5.00 7.00 Pieris jap ‘Mountain Fire’ Pinus mugo mughes Rhododendron ‘Northern Starburst’ Rhododendron Aglo(PJM) Thuja occidentalis 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Danica’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Hetz Midget’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Giant’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ 5.00 Thuja occidentalis ‘Wintergreen’ 5.00 Thuja plicata ‘Spring Grove’ 5.00 Tsuga canadensis 5.00 7.00 Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’ Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ Taxus cuspidata ‘Aurescens’ 5.00 Taxus cuspidata nana 5.00 Taxus media ‘Densiformis’ 5.00 Taxus media ‘Hicksii’ 5.00 Taxus media ‘Hillii’ 5.00 Taxus media ‘Wardii’ 5.00 Yucca filamentosa 5.00 Yucca flaccida ‘Golden Sword’ 5.00
11.00 11.00
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7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
1 gal 2 gal 3 gal price price price
Buddleja davidii ‘Royal Red’ Buddleja davidii ‘White Profusion Berberis thunbergi’Rose Glow’ 6.00 11.00 Betula papyrifera 11.00 Caryopteris cland. ‘Dark Knight’ Cephalanthus occidentalis Cercis canadensis 11.00 Cercidiphyllum japonicum Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Nivalis’ 11.00 Chaenomeles superba’Texas Scarlet 13.00 Clethra alnifolia ‘Paniculatum’ Clethra alnifolia ‘Pink Spire’ Cornus alternifolia Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ 11.00 Cornus alba ‘Ivory Halo’ 11.00 Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ 11.00 Cornus amomum 11.00 Cornus kousa chinensis 11.00 Cornus racemosa 11.00 Cornus stolonifera (sericea) 11.00 Cornus stolonifera ‘Bud’s Yellow’ 11.00 Cornus stolonifera ‘Kelseyi’ 11.00 Corylus avelana 11.00 Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ 11.00 Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic’ 11.00 Cotinus coggygria’Royal Purple’ Cotoneaster acutifolius 11.00 Cotoneaster horizontalis 13.50 Diervilla lonicera 13.50 Deutzia crenata ‘Nikko’ 5.00 11.00 Deutzia gracilis Deutzia x ‘Strawberry Field’ 11.00 Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ 5.00 11.00 Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ 11.00 Forsythia X int. ‘Goldtide’ Forsythia int.’Lynwood’ 11.00 Forsythia ‘Northern Gold’ 11.00 Forsythia ‘Kumson’ Forsythia ovata ‘Ottawa’ Hibiscus syr.’White Chiffon’ 5.60 Hydrangea arbor. ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea macroph.’Forever Pink Hydrangea macroph.’Nikko Blue’ Hydrangea’Endless Summer Blushing Hydrangea mac.’Endless Summer’ 8.00 Hydrangea macroph.’Glowing Embers Hydrangea macroph.’Merritt’s Beau Hydrangea macr’Princess Beatrix’ Hydrangea macroph.’Penny Mac’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Grandiflora’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Kyushu’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Little Lamb’ Hydrangea pan.’Limelight’ Hydrangea pan.’Pinky Winky’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Tardiva’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Little Geisha’ Hamamelis virginiana
Deciduous Shrubs - 1, 2, 3 gal
Acanthopanax sieboldianus Acer campestre Acer ginnala Alnus rugosa Amelanchier laevis Aronia melanocarpa Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic” Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’ Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’ Buddleja ‘Ellen’s Blue’ Buddleja davidii ‘Ile de France’ Buddleja davidii ‘Nanho Purple’ Buddleja davidii ‘Pink Delight’ Buddleja davidii ‘Petite Plum’ Buddleja davidii ‘Purple Prince’
Botanical Name
7.00 7.00 9.50 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.45 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 16.00 17.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 8.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
8.00 8.00
8.00
9.00
7.00 7.00 7.00 14.00 14.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.30 7.00 7.00 7.60 7.60 7.60 7.00 7.00 7.60 7.00 8.00
c. Botanical Name
Many More Cultivars and sizes available
1 gal 2 gal 3 gal price price price
Ilex verticilata 7.00 Ilex vert.’Afterglow’F 7.00 Ilex vert.’Winterred’F 7.00 Ilex vert.’Southern Gentleman’M 7.00 Kolkwitzia amab ‘Pink Cloud’ 7.00 Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’ 7.00 Lonicera tatarica ‘Arnold Red’ 7.00 Lonicera xylost.’Clavey’s Dwarf’ 7.00 Lonicera xylost.’Emerald Mound’ 7.00 Magnolia loebneri ‘Leonard Messel 11.00 Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’ 11.00 Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ 7.00 Philadelphus ‘Innocence’ 7.00 Philadelphus ‘Natchez’ 7.00 Philadelphus schrenkii ‘Snowbelle 7.00 Philadelphus ‘Minn.Snowflake Dwar 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius’Coppertin 7.85 Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ 7.60 8.60 Physocarpus opulifolius’Dart’sGol 7.00 Physocarpos opulifolius ‘Luteus’ 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolius’Summer Wi 7.85 Populus tremuloides 7.00 Prunus cistena 5.00 7.00 8.00 Prunus virginiana 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Abbotswood’ 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Cor.Triumph’ 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Dakota Sunrise’ 7.00 Potentilla ferrari ‘Gold Drop’ 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Goldstar’ 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Pink Beauty’ 7.00 Potentilla frut ‘Tangerine’ 7.00 Quercus bicolor 7.00 Quercus robus ‘Fastigiata’ 7.00 Quercus rubra 7.00 Ribes alpinum 7.00 Ribes aureum 7.00 Rosa Bonica 7.50 Rosa Carolina 7.00 Rosa Henry Kelsey 7.00 Rosa X ‘J P Connell’(ex) 7.00 Rosa ‘Pavement Scarlet’ 7.00 Rosa rugosa 7.00 Rosa rugosa ‘Hansa’ 7.00 Rosa x ‘Champlain’ 7.00 Rosa X ‘The Fairy’ 7.00 Rubus odoratus 7.00 Rhus aromatica 7.00 Rhus aromatica ‘Low Grow’ 7.00 Rhus typhina 5.00 7.00 Salix bebbiana 7.00 Salix discolor 7.00 Salix eriocephala 7.00 Salix exigua 7.00 Salix gracilis ‘Purpurea Nana’ 7.00 Salix integra ‘Flamingo’ 7.00 Salix integra ‘Hakuro-nashiki’ 7.00 Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’ 7.00
Botanical Name
1 gal 2 gal 3 gal price price price
Salix nigra Sambucus canadensis Sambucus canadensis ‘Aurea’ Symphoricarpos chenaultii ‘Hancoc Spiraea alba Spiraea arguta Spiraea bumalda ‘Anthony Waterer’ Spiraea bumalda ‘Crispa’ Spiraea bumalda ‘Froebelii’ Spiraea bumalda ‘Goldflame’ Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’ Spiraea fritschiana Spiraea japonica ‘Alpina’ Spiraea japonica ‘Dakota Goldchar Spiraea japonica ‘Dart’s Red’ Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’ Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’ Spiraea japonica ‘Manon’ Spiraea japonica ‘Neon Flash’ Spiraea japonica ‘Shirobana’ 5.00 Spiraea japonica ‘White Gold’ Spirea tomentosa Spiraea vanhouttei Sorbaria aitchisonii Sorbaria sorbifolia Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ Syringa hyac. ‘Pocahontas’ Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’ Syringa vulgaris Syringa vulgaris ‘Beauty of Mosco Syringa vulgaris ‘Monge’ Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation’ Tilia cordata Tamarix pentandra Viburnum dent.’Chicago Lustre’ Viburnum ‘Emerald Triumph’ Viburnum lantana Viburnum lentago Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’ Viburnum recognitum/dentatum Viburnum trilobum ‘Bailey Compact Viburnum trilobum ‘Compactum’ Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’ Weigela ‘Elvira’ Weigela florida ‘French Lace’ Weigela florida ‘Minuet’ Weigela florida ‘Purpurea Nana’ Weigela florida ‘Rumba’ 5.00 Weigela florida ‘Victoria’ Weigela florida ‘Nana Variegata’ Weigela ‘Red Prince’ Weigela ‘Polka’
7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.25 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.60 7.60 7.60 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00
8.00
8.00 8.00
Botanical Name
Evergreens - 5 gal.
5 gal price
Chamaecyparis nootk ‘Green Arrow’ Chamaecyparis nootkatensis’Pendula’ Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ Juniperus scop. ‘Blue Haven’ Larix laricina Metasequoia glyptostroboides Metasequoia glyp. ‘Goldrush’ Picea abies ‘Acrocona’ Picea glauca ‘Conica’ Pinus mugo mugo Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’ Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Holmstrup’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Little Giant’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Wintergreen’ Tsuga canadensis
36.00 36.00 19.00 16.00 17.00 25.00 40.00 35.00 28.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 19.00 33.00
Acer palmatum’Bloodgood’ Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’ Acer rubrum Cercis canadensis Cotinus coggygria’Royal Purple’ Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ Hydrangea mac.’Endless Summer’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Compacta’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Grandiflora’ Hydrangea pan. ‘Kyushu’ Hydrangea pan.’Limelight’ Magnolia loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ Magnolia ‘Susan’ Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’ Populus tremuloides Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ Spiraea bumalda ‘Flaming Mound’ Spiraea bumalda ‘Goldflame’ Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ Syringa prestoniae ‘Donald Wyman’ Syringa pres’James Macfarlane Tilia cordata Viburnum ‘Emerald Triumph’ Viburnum trilobum ‘Compactum’
51.00 51.00 51.00 25.00 19.00 18.00 35.00 21.70 17.00 17.00 17.00 17.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 16.00 25.00 13.00 13.00 16.00 16.00 16.00 17.00 18.00 16.00
Deciduous Shrubs - 5 gal.
8.00
8.00 8.00 8.00
Botanical Name
Evergreens - 15 gal.
15 gal price
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis’Pendula’ Metasequoia glyptostroboides Thuja occidentalis ‘Brandon’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Wintergreen’ Thuja plicata ‘Spring Grove’
49.00 41.00 41.00 41.00 41.00 41.00
RR 2, Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0 Tel: 519-264-9057 • Fax: 519-264-1337 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 17
Landscape Ontario’s brand evident throughout Canada Blooms
Landscape Ontario promotes chapters to the public at Canada Blooms
As one entered the 13th annual Canada Blooms at the Toronto Convention Centre, the vision presented left no doubt as to the influence of Landscape Ontario on Canada’s largest flower and garden festival. Held from Mar. 18 to 22, the festival also marked the launch of Landscape Ontario’s new branding initiative Green for Life and the new consumer website (www.landscapeontario. com). Throughout the show, banners, posters, brochures and LO staff sported the new, and quickly becoming well-known, logo. The new logo was also found on display in the New Product Showcase, Skills Canada competition area, Communities in Bloom exhibit, Sod Growers Association display and LO members exhibiting in Marketplace. All LO member feature gardens also showed the Green for Life plaques, and the logo was displayed on the celebrity stage every day during seminars. The logo was also in front of everyone through numerous signs, videos, postcards,
chapter signage. As well, this year LO produced the show guide included with Garden Inspiration magazine. For the first time visitors to the show received the show guide free of charge. A great deal of media such as TV, radio and print journalists were out in force. Front and centre was the main focus for LO, its feature garden that was created by Tim Kearney CLP and his company Garden Creations of Ottawa. To say the amazing garden received rave reviews would be an understatement. From the fantastic design and flower content, to the giant 40-foot oak tree, the garden definitely had a wow factor. The garden’s theme covered the many community projects that LO chapters are involved in. Each of LO’s nine chapters had a poster displaying its community service projects. “The crowning glory was to watch the crowds and lineups circle our booth for a chance to be in our special place. It was a place dedi-
18 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
cated to all the volunteers in our wonderful association,” says Kearney. See Time Kearney’s perspective on page 20. The oak tree was the first item of business on the floor, when the crew from PAO Horticultural brought in the giant for placement. It became the centrepiece of the garden. The tree was donated in the name of popular weatherman Dave Devall after he was honoured with an award on Mar. 20. During move-in a serious problem occurred with the quality of sand to construct the gardens. The builders could not use the material that was supplied. On a Saturday night Pat LaManna from Earthco opened his yards and supplied 300 tons of good sand to the show. Six acres of garden More than 80,000 visitors enjoyed six acres of feature gardens in full bloom, including over 100,000 square feet of green-thumb shopping, 200-plus hours of seminars, workshops and demonstrations, a special children’s garden and
much more. “Each year visitors from Canada and beyond enjoy the gardens, marketplace and educational features of Canada Blooms,” said Gerry Ginsberg, Canada Blooms general manager. “Again this year, all of the plant and building materials used to create the spectacular gardens of Canada Blooms were reused and recycled following the festival.” The plants and flowers were once again donated to the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto received approximately 1,000 flowers and plants that went to a number of its long-term care homes so that seniors could also receive a fresh, colourful bloom to brighten their day and living environment. Flowering bulbs, trees and shrubs recovered from Canada Blooms will also be added to the outdoor garden at Cummer Lodge and Lakeshore Lodge, providing a safe, accessible, colourful outdoor space for residents, clients, their families and guests to enjoy. In addition, approximately 75 perennial shrubs and trees from Canada Blooms will be maintained at Downsview Park until the weather warms up, and then planted in locations city-wide. “This year’s proceeds from Canada Blooms will benefit the Toronto Botanical Garden’s children’s programs. These programs fill an essential role in educating and inspiring urban children about the value and beauty of our natural world,” says Ginsberg. New partnerships “This year we built new partnerships and added
highlights such as the Canadian Cancer Society’s Connected Garden and the Grey Power Celebrity Stage,” adds Ginsberg. “Thanks to the tremendous support of our sponsors, dedicated staff and volunteers, we continue to be Canada’s largest garden and flower festival and look forward to an even bigger event next year.” An added attraction at Canada Blooms this year was the new product showcase under the direction of Lorraine Pigeon-Ivanoff, Landscape Ontario’s assistant show manager. A number of companies and products were featured. Overall consumer response to the display gave positive hope to continuing a new product showcase next year. Pigeon-Ivanoff gave special thanks to Donna Armstrong, coordinator and professor, Lindsay Darjes, technician, Helen Krispis, instructor, and the first year students of the Visual Merchandising Arts Program at Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Contributions were also received from Manchester Products, CMC Wholesale and Charlie’s Garden Centre, with help from Norm Mills, The Gardenin’ Guy. City TV’s Breakfast Television featured some of the new products on Wed., Mar. 18 during the Frankie Flowers segment. Featured were AWS sensor, Indoors and Out’s director chair and Gardena trimmers. Canada Blooms has grown to become this nation’s premier garden show. The hard work by those involved in the great spring event ensures that status will hold true.
Industry Night is now a Canada Blooms tradition A time and venue change proved successful for LO’s Contractors Group and its annual lecture series, held this year in conjunction with Industry Night at Canada Blooms. Landscape architect Real Eguchi spoke on his career, projects, and perspectives on how design works within nature’s larger scheme. Contractor Joe Murgel of Stonetech Corperation connected with his audience by describing how he loves his industry, despite problems with holdbacks, general contractors and downturns. The Contractors Group extends thanks to sponsors Unilock, Beaver Valley Stone, Eloquip and Dufferin Aggregates. Great network event Now in its second year, Industry Night has be come a Canada Blooms tradition. Its purpose:
to recognize and celebrate the essential role our green industry plays in the festival. A wine and cheese reception, sponsored by Sinclair Cockburn and Ariens, kicked the night off. LO executive director Tony DiGiovanni spoke on the association’s Green for Life initiative and Canada Blooms general manager Gerry Ginsberg graciously thanked the many volunteers and staffers who make Canada Blooms possible. A highlight of his presentation was the announcement of a special award for former LO president David Turnbull, who has contributed to the smooth operation of Blooms for years, and is now retiring his post. Ginsberg closed the evening by presenting feature garden awards to the many dedicated and deserving builders.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 19
Tim Kearney reflects on creating LO’s garden for Canada Blooms it to grow and prosper right across our province and our country.
Tim Kearney CLP
It is truly difficult to put into words the energy that develops when people bring their abilities together to create something special. This unique feeling began to develop as soon as the idea of building LO’s booth entered my mind. We all know that Canada Blooms is our industry’s best exposure to the consumer. Over the last dozen or so years, many volunteers, companies and individuals believed in the brand that has become Canada Blooms. It may not be well publicized, but many of us outside the GTA region also believe in the brand. In fact, we want
Time to step up This is why I thought it was time that those who criticize the lack of Landscape Ontario presence should step forward and help. Many clichés come to mind, including “put your money where your mouth is,” and, “Ask not what Canada Blooms will do for you, but what you can do for Canada Blooms!” I was one of the most outspoken. It was mainly due to a passion for the industry and what I saw as missed opportunities to promote everything that we stand for. I especially felt that the volunteer work many of our chapter members willingly donate to their communities received little fanfare. Of course, our industry always acknowledges its own, but does the general public understand it? I sense not. This was my goal to change that. After discussing this with my staff, their eyes lit up and within minutes the answer was to go for it. Our own Stephanie Scott unleashed her passionate design ideas and visionary skills. Within a day or two, I was receiving drafts of what the garden could look like. From there, my job was to sit back and enjoy the process of members working together to achieve a unified vision. This coupled with a most opportune unveiling of our wonderful branding initiative, all the ingredients were there to ensure success. It is embarrassing for me to receive the
praise for what we as a group achieved. Because, without so many dance partners this would not have been possible. You needed to have Canada Blooms and Landscape Ontario willing to have this contractor from Ottawa do his thing in prime real estate at the entrance to the show. I needed my staff to know the high level that was expected and the amount of planning and re-planning necessary to ensure this could be done in a short time. Fabulous help I needed and received fabulous help and advice from our own head office staff, including Kristen McIntyre, Denis Flanagan, and of course the entire branding team of Lee Ann Knudsen, Robert Ellidge, Darren Bosch and Ian Service. You need companies like PAO Horticultural to step up and provide the most dramatic of impact pieces, our history, our roots and our strength…our wonderful oak. You need the Permacons, Fossil Landscapes, Moonstruck Landscape Lighting and Peter Bosman to provide thousands of dollars of product and time to help us do this within a budget. You need staff members to work ‘til midnight to make sure all is ready and on schedule. You need volunteers from as far away as Ottawa and Windsor, to local apprenticeship students from Humber and Kemptville who quickly took ownership of “their profession” and willingly and professionally helped. There were many sleepless nights, heated
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arguments and frustrating hiccups that raised the stress level of everyone. The funny thing is the only common denominator not in jeopardy throughout the process was the desire to create a special showpiece. There was the lousy air, of which we all complained. There were the head colds that everyone got (some worse than others), but no one complained about. How could you complain when testament to our being was proudly displayed as testimonials to the many community events in which we participate? And then of course, the crowning glory was to watch the crowds and lineups circle our booth for a chance to be in our special place. It was a place which is dedicated to all the volunteers in our wonderful association. A place where a nice person like Vanessa Howarth could still be with us, despite being taken away from us …volunteering! A place where Beth Edney can invite you into her “kitchen” for a bite to eat, while working countless hours on her booth and still help everyone else. The moral of the story is there is phenomenal esprit de corps within our ranks when people believe in what you do. I believe now that many more people “get it” and that momentum has been created and that we should all be proud of this. I also believe we don’t talk enough and
Well-known weatherman Dave Devall received a special presentation at Canada Blooms from Landscape Ontario. He is shown on left with Mark Cullen.
communicate enough. Instead, it is easier to criticize from the sidelines, instead of trying to make a difference. Believe me, it is a hell of a lot more fun to help than to throw mud. Remuneration comes in different ways. No amount of money can pay for the smiles of elderly enjoying the flowers, or couples pensively reading the various community work displays or watching video in our booth. You can’t pay me enough compared to when a student thanks me for the opportunity and says they thought it was “really cool,” and
Many help create LO’s garden A big thank you goes to all the dedicated and hard working individuals who helped to make the Landscape Ontario’s feature garden at Canada Blooms, Green for Life, such a great success. From the builders who worked long and dirty hours, to the people staffing the busy garden display during the event, to the tireless workers helping take it all apart again and put it away. Volunteers: Garden Creations of Ottawa, Tim Kearney and his staff: Jeff Scott, Stephanie Scott, Ryan Kearney, Tim O’Brien, Jason Robinson, Tim Scullion, Lynda Blackburn, Nathan Armstrong, Lindsay Ross, Todd Pugh, Chris Kuhn, Cynthia Burns, Ryan Kelly, Will Loudon. Sponsors: Sonja Hirsig, Norm Mills, Diana Cassidy-Bush, Rob Windle, Adam Hellyer, Marianne Schmitz, Rohan Harrison, Walter Hasselman, Neil Bouma, Elaine Bouma, Paul DeGroot, Michael LaPorte, Cory Hendricks, Pam McCormick, Natalie Hunt, Dennis DelVecchio, Nick
Solty, Terry Kowalski, Fiona Penn Zieba, Mark Poloniato, George Urvari, Natallie Hunt, Kim Hendriks. Donors: Bosman Homefront, Camilla House Import, Connon Nurseries, NVK Holdings, Fossil Landscapes, Humber College Apprentice Program, Kemptville College Apprenticeship Program, Moonstruck Landscape Lighting, PAO Associates, Permacon Group, RJ Rogers Landscaping, University of Guelph Trial Gardens. Apprenticeship Students: Simon Barnes, Adam Bonin, Nadia Cantelmo, Lisa Cassidy, Sabryna Curran, Adrian Foekens, James Groenwold, Adam Henderson, Sherri Hornsey, Jordan Hulzebosch, Colin Johnston, Ryan Judd, David Juhasz, Jeremy Lahie, Cesar Silva, Greg Sullivan, Andel Van, Robert Veevers. Also, a big thank you goes to everyone who contributed to all of the other various Landscape Ontario displays, as well as LO and Canada Blooms staff.
they were going to come back when the show was open and bring their parents. So instead of thanking me, look around and thank all the volunteers who year in and year out give of their time and make things better…for all of us. Respectfully, Tim Kearney CLP Garden Creations of Ottawa
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Quality and Selection HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 21
Winning gardens at Canada Blooms The Sheridan Nurseries Award for Outstanding Garden, Small Size McCartney Landscaping & Sander Design
The Laguna Water Garden Award for Outstanding Use of Water Simple Solutions Landscaping
The Leslie L. Solty Memorial Award for Best Overall Creativity in Garden Design Gardens for Living Inc.
The S.G. Ulbright Award for Outstanding Garden, Medium Size Ronald Holbrook & Associates Landscape Architects Inc. & Royalty Landscaping Garden Sponsor: Canadian Cancer Society
Outstanding Use of Natural Stone Near North Outstanding Use of Pre-Cast Pavers Jodi M. Liptrot Landscape Design & Stone-Link
The Landscape Ontario Award for Best Overall Quality of Workmanship Dr. Landscape Inc.
The Gordon A. MacEachern Award for Outstanding Garden, Large Size Humber College Landscape Technician Program Garden Sponsor: Heart & Stroke Foundation
Outstanding Use of Walkways Beth Edney, CLD & Creative Impressions Landscaping Ltd.
Outstanding Interpretation of the Show Theme “A Celebration of Canadian Talent” City of Toronto Outstanding Use of Artistic Elements in a Garden Landscapes by Lucin Outstanding Representation of Sponsor Requirements Allweather Landscape Co. Ltd. Sponsor: The Home Depot Most Imaginative Garden Design Gardens for Living Inc.
Outstanding Use of Structure Elite Environments Inc.
Outstanding Outdoor Living Space Be-Leaf! Landscape Design & MCP Landscape Contractors Outstanding Outdoor Entertainment Area Garden Creations of Ottawa Ltd. Garden Sponsor: Landscape Ontario Universal Access Award Gardens for Living Inc. The Garden Club of Toronto Award for Best Overall Use of Colour City of Toronto
Outstanding Use of Trees D.A.Gracey & Associates Ltd.
The W.E. Bridgeman Award for Best Overall Use of Hard Landscape Elements Ronald Holbrook & Associates Landscape Architects Inc. & Royalty Landscaping Garden Sponsor: Canadian Cancer Society
Outstanding Use of Annuals and/or Perennials Humber College Landscape Technician Program Sponsor: Heart & Stroke Foundation
The Humber Nurseries Award for Best Overall Use of Plant Material Garden Creations of Ottawa Garden Sponsor: Landscape Ontario
The Environmental Award b sq. landscape design studio
Canada Blooms thanks the following suppliers for donations of material for the gardens, and the equipment to build them. Equipment and material suppliers: Albion Rental, Battlefield Equipment Rentals, Beaver Valley Stone, Champion/Volvo Construction Equipment, ClubLink Corp., Dufferin Aggregates, Ford New Holland, GreenTractors. ca, Gro-Bark (Ontario), Hewitt Material Handling, Indoors and Out, Ironco Equipment Sales and Rentals, JCB Utility Construction Equipment, Komatsu Canada, Kubota/B.E. Larkin Equipment, Matthews Equipment, M.K. Rittenhouse and Sons, Moonstruck Landscape Lighting, Nortrax, Ryder Lift Trucks, Swanston Equipment, Toromont Cat, Unilock, United Rentals of Canada, Walker Equipment
Plant suppliers: Braun Nursery, Brookdale Treeland Nurseries, Canadale Nurseries, Centennial Park Conservatory, Connon Nurseries AVK Nursery Holdings, Connon Nurseries Neil Vanderkruk Holdings, Flowers Canada, Foxwood Greenhouses, JM Peeters Nurseries, K and K Greenhouses, Kobes Nurseries, Maple Leaf Nurseries, Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario, Orchard Park Growers, Palace Perennials by Sipkens Nurseries, Pioneer Flower Farms, Seaway Farms, Sheridan Nurseries, Turtle’s Nursery, Yoder Canada
22 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
The Canada Blooms Judges’ Choice Award for Best Overall Garden HONOURABLE MENTION D.A.Gracey & Associates Ltd. The Canada Blooms Judges’ Choice Award for Best Overall Garden Ronald Holbrook & Associates Landscape Architects Inc. & Royalty Landscaping Garden Sponsor: Canadian Cancer Society Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA) Award of Distinction Ronald Holbrook & Associates Landscape Architects Inc. The Certified Landscape Designer Awards for Outstanding Garden Design Beth Edney, CLD and Dr. Landscape Inc. The People’s Choice Award for Favourite Garden 2009 Humber College Landscape Technician Program Garden Sponsor: Heart & Stroke Foundation
The 2009 Canada Blooms Awards Judges: Haig Seferian, principal, Seferian Design Group Jeff McMann, Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence/CNLA/CIB Judge Real Eguchi, principal architect, Eguchi & Associates Tom Sparling, professor meritus, Ryerson University Alistair Johnston associate with Strybos Barron King Ltd. Liz Klose – CNLA Ron Koudys – Landscape Ontario Designers Group Arnis Budrevics president, OALA Maryam Siddiqi, The National Post
Memory of Joseph DeLuca honoured with hall of fame induction
Joseph DeLuca with his wife Jean DeLuca
A pioneer of the landscaping industry was honoured posthumously by the Hamilton-Halton Construction Association, naming Joseph DeLuca as the recipient of the 2009 Construction Hall of Fame Award. Bill DeLuca accepted the honour at the association’s AGM in February on behalf of the family. Joseph DeLuca passed away on July 7, 2007. Joe DeLuca began his landscaping career
in 1952. It was noted at the induction ceremony that he nurtured his admiration for the land into one of the largest landscaping contractors in North America, Aldershot Landscaping. Many of DeLuca’s innovations changed the face of landscaping. Over the years he won many awards and accolades for his innovative designs and attention to detail. In the mid-1950s, landscaping was predominantly sod and a walkway, with a patio for good measure. “Joe DeLuca’s early designs helped change all that. He would use moss covered rocks and the best materials in his early work on some of Burlington’s finest homes,” stated the short history presented at the ceremony. Aldershot Landscaping was also a pioneer in engaging landscape architects and designers for its projects. Under Joe’s leadership, the firm grew from a maintenance company to large scale design and construction management business, throughout Ontario and Quebec. When Joe DeLuca was well past the age of retirement, it was common to see him traveling to project sites to ensure the job was up to his
standard. He would not allow a project to be considered complete, until he saw each imperfection corrected. “For 55 years he operated a company whose success is built on quality and performance. From hard working parents, he learned the value of effort, along with the benefit of a kind word. He came to love the land and echo that love in his work. We welcome Joseph DeLuca into the Construction Hall of Fame as an example of the spirit of our construction industry,” were the words that officially inducted Joseph DeLuca into the hall of fame. The company and family have been involved with Landscape Ontario for many years. In 1994, Joe DeLuca was one of only four people to receive the Landscape Heritage Award for creating a legacy of excellence that positively influenced the profession. The Hamilton-Halton Construction Association initiated the Construction Hall of Fame to recognize excellence of service to building, to the construction community, to its associations, and to the community.
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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 23
IPM symposia see increased interest For the 44th consecutive year, the IPM Symposia provided members of the green industry with upto-date information on the latest research, products, ideas and strategies, including reports from OMAFRA and the MOE. Issues in 2009 are quite a bit different than those found back in 1965. Today’s industry must cope with the province-wide pesticide ban that takes effect on Apr. 22 this year. Attendance at the IPM symposia in Ottawa, London, Barrie and Toronto were all up over 20 per cent from
last year. “The focus of the symposia this year was not what we can’t do, but what we can do when it comes to the dealing with the pesticide ban,” said LO’s conference coordinator Ken Tomihiro. IPM has always been about good plant management through nutrition and plant health, and preventing problems from occurring. That continued this year with an impressive list of guest speakers at all four symposia. There was a total of 760 registrants at the
four symposia. Speakers included Violet Van Wassenaer, Ministry of the Environment, Evan Elford, University of Guelph, Pam Charbonneau, turfgrass specialist with OMAFRA, Jennifer Llewellyn, nursery crop specialist with OMAFRA, Ann-Marie Cooper of Plant Products, Jeff Gabric of Becker Underwood, Stacey Hickman of Natural Insect Control, Cathy Wall of Quality Seeds, Ken Pavely of Dol Turf, John Wright of Wright Lawncare Service, Joe Uyenaka of Cargill, Tim Cradduck of Turf Revolution, Jeff Watson of Sarritor and Doug Hubble of Agrium Advanced Technologies. The program’s sponsor was Turf Revolution.
Nursery analyst on staff Landscape Ontario is pleased to welcome its newest staff member, Francesco Pacelli, who has filled the position of nursery technical analyst. Pacelli has an Honours Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences Studies and Technology degree from the University of Naples (Italy), which is recognized by the University of Toronto as a Bachelor of Science, with a Specialization in Agriculture. He successfully completed the Arboriculture Course, which included arboriculture, greenhouse management, soils and plant growth, at the University of Guelph. In Italy, Pacelli worked as a research technician for the University of Naples. He has also worked as a nursery consultant on plant disease, insect control and fertilizer recommendations. Pacelli moved to Canada four years ago and worked for Kraus Nurseries, where he was responsible for the pesticide management program. His duties there required him to be in constant contact with CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regarding policies and procedures for pest control and plant movement. In his new role as nursery technical analyst, Pacelli will help nurseries to become certified under the Domestic Phytosanitary Certification Program (DPCP) by providing assistance in manual writing or review and implementation processes as required. An important part of Pacelli’s duties will be the development of programs and communications to assist growers interpret, understand and respond to government policies along with interacting with Rita Weerdenburg, grower manager at CNLA. To reach Pacelli, contact Landscape Ontario at 1-888-211-5606, ext. 2377, or e-mail fpacelli@landscapeontario.com. 24 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
HORT PROTECT
Do you know your automobile insurance benefits? By Darren Rodrigues National programs manager
I
f you’re like most people in Ontario, you are probably not familiar with the accident benefit entitlements under your auto insurance policy. You likely haven’t read your insurance policy recently, and maybe not at all. When people think of auto insurance, it usually brings to mind physical damage to their car, or liability insurance in case they are sued. What many don’t immediately conDarren Rodrigues sider are the benefits available if they are injured in an accident. Every auto insurance policy in Ontario has mandatory accident benefits coverage set out in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (also known as SABS). Coverage pays medical and even funeral expenses for you, members of your family and passengers in the event of an auto accident, regardless of who caused the accident. Mandatory first party accident benefits provide injured parties with a basic level of treatment and care, also regardless of fault. The operative word here is basic. It is important to note that you may also purchase optional benefits to fit your specific situation and income needs. Many people buy additional protection beyond the mandatory coverage, including extra income replacement, protection against additional medical and rehabilitation costs, larger death benefits and inflation coverage among others. Here is what is included in a standard policy, with optional benefits noted in italics: • Medical/rehabilitation and attendant care benefits provide up to $100,000 over a period of 10 years for medical/ rehabilitation expenses. If your injury is serious enough to be termed catastrophic, under the SABS, this benefit increases to $1 million over a lifetime. The standard maximum for attendant care is $72,000. You may buy optional benefits, which will cover up to $1,172,000 in additional medical, rehabilitation and attendant care expenses, and up to $3 million for catastrophic injuries. • Income replacement benefits are available after a seven-day waiting period. You
“What many don’t immediately consider are the benefits available if they are injured in an accident.” can receive up to 80 per cent of your net weekly income. This benefit is normally capped at $400 per week, but there is an option to increase this amount in your policy up to $1,000 per week. • Funeral and death benefits are paid if an insured dies as a result of an accident. The insurer may be required to pay funeral expenses to a maximum of $6,000 and a sum of $25,000 to a spouse or dependants. If the insured was a dependant, there is a $10,000 benefit for the person the insured was dependant upon. If you buy optional benefits, you can increase these amounts to $50,000 to your eligible spouse, $20,000 for each dependant and $8,000 for funeral expenses. • Caregiver benefits are paid if you need to hire someone to care for your dependants. The standard maximum amount for caregiver benefits is $250 per week for one dependant, plus $50 per week for each additional dependant. If you buy optional benefits, the coverage increases to $325 per week for one dependant, plus $75 per week for each additional dependant. For many, the standard benefits available are not enough if they are injured in an accident. Take income replacement, for example: If you operate your own business and/or are
the sole provider for a family, the $400 per week is clearly insufficient to meet expense needs. The income replacement benefit is often increased for self-employed professionals and trade contractors. Similarly, for medical/rehab benefits the maximum amounts of $100,000 for less serious injuries or $1 million for catastrophic impairments sound like a lot of money. But you would be surprised how quickly health care costs can eat away at these sums. For no-fault benefits, very specific criteria are set out to help determine whether a person is catastrophically impaired. This typically means that individual impairments must add up to 55 per cent of ‘whole person impairment’ as interpreted through the American Medical Association’s Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The bottom line is that you could have a serious injury that is not deemed a catastrophic impairment, but still requires extensive medical care. That means accident benefits are capped at $100,000. Given the expenses associated with modern health care and rehabilitation, some consumers choose to increase this benefit. You have many choices when buying auto insurance. All of these options, and your deductibles, will have an effect on the cost of your policy. Don’t let a lack of information keep you from ensuring that you have the coverage you need. If you have questions, give us a call at Sinclair Cockburn Financial Group. We can discuss your options and give you the information you need to make the right choice. Darren Rodrigues of Sinclair Cockburn can be reached by phone at 416-494-9883, or by e-mail at darren.rodrigues@scfg.ca.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 25
OMAFRA TURF REPORT
A watershed moment in turf industry By Pam Charbonneau OMAFRA turf specialist
I
t is a watershed moment in Ontario’s turf industry with the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act taking effect on April 22, 2009. It is no longer business as usual in the turf industry. It also influences what I can recommend in this column. OMAFRA remains committed to helping identify solutions to your pest management problems that will fit into the biopesticide category that has been designated for use on home lawns and gardens in Ontario. Use of good cultural practices, fertilization, irrigation, mowing, aeration, overseeding and topdressing will be more critical than ever to help customers maintain healthy lawns. Managing expectations in the event of insect and weed infestations is going to be a necessary, yet tricky business.
Snow mould damage is widespread The snow melt in early March gave a clear indication of the extent of the turf damage that occurred under the snow. There is a lot of pink snow mould to deal with and a touch of grey snow mould. Many winters only result in snow mould in the areas where snow is mounded, as a result of plowing streets and shoveling driveways. This spring the snow mould damage is much more widespread than in the past, due to the very prolonged period of snow cover. The recommendation to deal with the snow mould scars has not changed over time. Also, as usual, the damage is most often superficial, or on the leaves, only with usually no crown (or permanent) damage to the grass.
Rake the damaged areas to encourage them to dry out and apply a light application of fertilizer to encourage the grass plants to grow quickly
“Managing expectations in the event of insect and weed infestations is going to be a necessary, yet tricky, business.” and replace the dead leaves with new ones. The extremely wet season last summer and fall meant that there was not a lot of evidence of European chafer damage in the late summer and early fall. This could change rapidly this spring when the mammals and birds that prey on grubs start to become active. The axiom for spring control of grubs with insecticides holds true for spring control of grubs with nematodes: don’t bother. Do make a note of customers who do have grub damage and order your nematodes in advance. The ideal timing for applying entomopathogenic nematodes for grub control is in mid- to late-August and early September at the latest. Water before application and water after application and preferably apply the nematodes on a cloudy day or in the evening or early morning. The Heterohrabditis bacteriaphora (Hb) species or a combination of Hb and Steinernema carpocapse seem to work best. Leatherjackets had ideal conditions Back in the fall, conditions were absolutely
26 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
ideal for the hatching and development of leatherjackets. We have not been completely successful in determining the appropriate nematode species for leatherjacket control. It would appear that the best timing is in the fall when the leatherjackets are young and small. The complication is that at that stage, they don’t live or feed in the thatch or soil, but at the very top of the thatch in amongst the leaf blades. This makes it difficult to target them with nematodes that usually reside in the soil and are susceptible to ultraviolet light, if not watered in. We will do some trials in the fall with various nematodes species, rates and timing as well as looking at surfactants to allow the nematodes to hold on the plant for a long enough period of time to infect the small leatherjacket larvae. On the subject of leatherjackets, in spring 2007 it was confirmed that there was a new species of crane fly in Ontario. It is the common crane fly, Tipula oleracea. It is thought to have two generations per year in this area. Adults fly in May and again in September, unlike the European crane fly where adults fly only in September. We are interested in finding out more about this new species of crane fly. We are asking for the assistance of golf courses, lawncare companies and sod farmers in Ontario. If you see adult crane flies flying during the month of May, I would appreciate if you would contact me by phone at 519-8244120, ext. 52597, or by e-mail at pamela.charbonneau@ontario.ca. I would like to collect samples and identify them to see exactly where in Ontario this new species currently exists. Here is wishing you good luck in the upcoming season with the new legislation.
LEGAL ISSUES
Risk management during an economic downturn: Part Two
By Rob Kennaley McLauchlin & Associates
L
ast month, we discussed how contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can better protect themselves in poor economic times by being more diligent and aware of risk in negotiating contracts and dealing with changes in the work. This month, we will discuss how contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can better manage the risk of non-payment when problems begin to arise on a project. Rob Kennaley First, suppliers of services or materials to construction projects should take care to properly document site activities and communications. If a project faces cost overruns, or if someone above you in the construction pyramid canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay, it is not for those who owe to grab hold of any argument they can to justify non-payment. Properly documenting your file and responding to issues as they arise, in writing, will assist you to some extent, by removing some of the arguments that might be made against you and by making it more difficult for the other side to prove allegations. Secondly, participants on a construction project should keep their ears close to the ground and be on the lookout for signs that problems may be developing, either above them or below them in the construction pyramid. Problems which arise above you in the contractual chain are, of course, problematic because these problems might result an interruption in the flow of funds. Problems that arise below you in the pyramid, however, can be equally troublesome. They can result in trades beneath you stopping work for non-payment, associated delays (for which you may be held responsible) and the registration or delivery of claims for lien which will themselves stop the flow of funds from the owner on down. Pay attention to job site Paying closer attention to what happens on job sites might involve the principals of your company attending on-site more often. It might also involve asking questions of other trades to determine if they are getting paid, or if their schedules are being met. Paying attention to schedul-
ing issues, in particular, can be important. If a project is significantly delayed, problems will often arise. One way to obtain comfort that those beneath you in the construction pyramid are getting paid, is to obtain statutory declarations from those you pay for ongoing services and materials. These standard statutory declarations, which are commonly used on most non-residential projects, require payees to swear that the funds they received on the last progress draw were distributed to those below, such that everyone below is paid up-to-date. This provides some comfort (though no guarantee) that a problem with unpaid trades is not festering further down the contract chain. In good times, when the person we contract with tells us that our money is coming from higher up the food chain, we often agree to co-operate and keep working. In uncertain economic times, however, this becomes increasingly risky. One option is to ask the person who owes us to give a direction as to the person who owes him. We can then approach that person and confirm both the money that is owed and that the direction will be honoured. In this way, particularly where the higher up appears solvent and credible, we can have better comfort that we will be paid.
our claims for lien before the homes in question are turned over to the ultimate purchaser. Again, these issues have been covered in more detail in previous articles. We must also be careful to meet our own obligations in relation to the construction holdback and the construction trust. In these economic times, if the flow of funds down the pyramid suddenly stops, we can face significant problems if those beneath us in the pyramid remain unpaid. This is particularly so if we have not retained holdback when we should have, or if we have utilized funds previously received in relation to the project without paying those beneath us who are owed money for their services or materials. Robert Kennaley is a former landscape design build contractor and an honourary member of Landscape Ontario. He can be reached at 416368-2555, or at kennaley@mclauchlin.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice.
Timing is important We can also utilize options to put pressure on those who owe us funds. These options include the use of the written notice of a claim for lien, the preservation of lien, letters in relation to construction trust obligations and notices in relation to labour and material payment bonds. These issues have been discussed in previous articles, and we will not repeat them here. Suffice to say, that in difficult economic times the earlier you exert these types of pressures the more impact they might have. It is also, of course, important that we not let limitation periods expire in relation to remedies. We must know what our contractual obligations are in relation to the claims we wish to make and we must know how our 45-day time period for lien preservation is to be calculated and when that period will expire. As well, we must know if a certificate of substantial performance has been, or is to be, published and we should be aware if a labour material payment bond exists. If we are working on condominium, townhouse or subdivision projects, we must be careful to preserve HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009â&#x20AC;&#x192; 27
CLASSIFIED ADS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
EQUIPMENT
SERVICES AND SUPPLIES
SELL YOUR MAINTENANCE COMPANY Established landscape company interested in buying a small or medium-sized landscape comapany with interior or exterior maintenance contracts. Please fax info to: (416) 757-3845
BOWIE HYDROMULCHERS (New and Used) FLEXTERRA FGM HYDROBLANKETS BFM F4 NETTLESS ECB MULCH IT P.O. Box 100, Putnam, ON N0L 2B0 Tel: (519) 425-0342 • Fax: (519) 425-4195 www.mulchit.on.ca
Pest Problems on Trees? • The new Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, 2008 still allows pesticides to protect the health of trees. Vic Palmer at The Green Team has been doing this for 30 years! • Before these trees are treated, Land Exterminator License holders must get a written opinion from a recognized professional. A Certified Arborist of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) can give this opinion.
NURSERY STOCK GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED Your Ontario source for ornamental and native ground covers. Call, fax, or write for the 2009 Catalogue and planting guide. GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED 1045 Porter Road, P.O. Box 190 Bethany, ON L0A 1A0 Tel: (705) 277-3005 Fax: (705) 277-9213
Hydroseeders and Bark Blowers New and Used All Types of Mulches, Soil Guard (BFM), Erosion Control Blankets, Tackifiers Call Peter 1-888-298-9911 www.fibramulch.com
PERENNIALS Large assortment of perennials, ground covers and native plants. Price - Variety list available. FRANK SCHENK PERENNIALS 663 River Road (Belfountain), Caledon, ON L7K 0E5 Tel: (519) 927-5415 Fax: (519) 927-9084
Used Lerio 15, 20 & 25 gal pots $4.50 each Fax requests to: (905) 898-0360 Tel: (905) 898-6856 Attention: Frank Matos REIST LANDSCAPER 72” wide, 3 pt. hitch, hydraulic upper link, complete with seed box, new condition, very low hours. $3,300. Call (905) 859-5384
EQUIPMENT CORE AERATOR Ryan Lawnaire 28: Aerating width 28”, 24,000 ft2/Hr., 7.9 Kawasaki engine, well maintained with extra set of tines. Asking $3,500. Call Bob at (613) 349-6805
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INFORMATION
All classified ads must be pre-paid by VISA or Mastercard. Rates: $42.00 (GST included) per column inch Min. order $42.00. 10% discount on 6 consecutive insertions of the same ad. Annual rates available. Box Numbers: Additional $10. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). Space is limited to a first come, first served basis. To advertise: E-mail your ad to Robert at classifieds@ landscapeontario.com or fax to (905) 875-0183. Online advertising: Website only ads are available for $42.00 (GST included). Website ads are posted for 30 days and are limited to 325 words.
SERVICES AND SUPPLIES TREE TRANSPLANTING Transplanting trees up to 9” truck diameter with 10,000 lb. rootball. 44”, 80” & 90” spades to move trees with and can basket up to 90” 100 acres of trees to choose from. BOTANIX OXFORD INSTA-SHADE RR # 2, Burgessville ON N0J 1C0 Tel: (519) 424-2180 • Fax: (519) 424-2420 Toll Free: 1-800-387-0246 Contact Jan Veldhuizen E-mail: botoxfor@oxford.net www.botanixois.on.ca
28 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
Vic Palmer at the Green Team is an ISA Certified Arborist with all necessary licenses and can do this for you! • When Integrated Pest Management procedures are followed, and a pesticide application is the most effective control, consider this. Vic Palmer at The Green Team is IPM Certified (Level 2) and can help you. I offer the Certificate of Opinion to select clients who choose to do their own pesticide applications with their own licensed exterminators and equipment. The Green Team also offers to do the appropriate applications with our exterminators and equipment. Call Vic at (905) 793-3266 See our website at www.thegreenteambrampton.com or e-mail us at info@thegreenteambrampton.com
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ONTARIO LANDSCAPING LIMITED Experienced landscape labourers required to perform manual work. To assist in cultivating, digging and planting of trees. Labourer hourly rate $15.00. Also required driver – class A licence, Z certificate and mobile crane operator 0-8. Driver hourly rate $17.50. Seasonal employment starting April 1/09 to Nov 30/09. Job Site Keswick, Ont. Fax resume to (905) 898-0360 or call (905) 898-6856
View these ads
and MANY MORE on our website at
www.horttrades.com/classifieds
ADVERTISER’S INDEX COMPANY
PAGE
PHONE
WEBSITE
Braun Nursery Ltd............................................ 14,27........ 905-648-1911........................... www.braungroup.com Caledon Hills Perennials.....................................21.......... 905-473-1145..........www.caledonhillsperennials.com Country View Nurseries......................................25.......... 519-424-9696............... countryview@execulink.com Dutchmaster Nurseries Ltd.................................32.......... 905-683-8211.......... www.dutchmasternurseries.com Engage Agro Corp............................................. 2,31......... 866-613-3336..................www.broadstarherbicide.ca G & L Group (Brock Aggregates Inc.).................9........... 416-798-7050..................www.brockaggregates.com Gro-Bark (ONT) Ltd.............................................23.......... 519-885-3411.................................www.gro-bark.com Hillen Nursery Inc.............................................16-17.......519-264-9057 HortProtect (CNLA).............................................13.......... 888-446-3499............................www.hortprotect.com Landscape Safety................................................3........... 877-482-2323...................www.landscapesafety.com Mankar Ontario Inc..............................................11.......... 647-309-7826.................................... www.mankar.ca MS Sprayers.........................................................7........... 819-474-1910................................www.msspray.com NewRoads National Leasing..............................12.......... 866-414-8151................. www.newroadsleasing.com Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.........................................23.......... 866-843-0438................. www.sipkensnurseries.com Stam Nurseries....................................................15.......... 519-424-3350......................www.stamnurseries.com Stonemen’s Valley Inc.........................................26.......... 905-841-8400..................www.stonemensvalley.com Uxbridge Nurseries Ltd........................................6........... 877-655-3379................www.uxbridgenurseries.com V. Kraus Nurseries Ltd.........................................4........... 905-689-4022.....................www.krausnurseries.com Vanden Bussche Irrigation..................................24.......... 800-263-4112.................... www.vandenbussche.com Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd....................................20.......... 519-647-3912.........................www.winkelmolen.com Zander Sod Co Ltd..............................................29.......... 877-727-2100............................www.zandersod.com
Delivering superior sod and quality service • Healthier, greener sod • No.1 Kentucky Bluegrass • Premium Bentgrass • Extreme Fescue • Large or small rolls •Custom grown sod available 17525 Jane Street, RR1, Kettleby, Ontario L0G 1J0 (905) 727-2100 • (877) 727-2100 • (416) 364-5700
www.zandersod.com
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 29
PROSPERITY PARTNERS
April can be a time of anxiety By Jacki Hart CLP Prosperity Partners program manager
W
ell folks, it’s that time of year again. The snow has disappeared (unless you are in Muskoka, or points north!), the trucks are warmed up and ready, staff is hired and in training (right?) and you probably have sweaty palms regardless of the temperature outside. For me April has always been bittersweet. It’s traditionally a tugof-war between the frustrations and stress Jacki Hart of running my business, and my passion for plant health care, design and creating beauty for my clients to enjoy. Winter is over. The birds are back, and the grass is greening up. And, there’s that darn phone ringing off the hook. Endless questions are fired at me from all directions. There are rarely enough hours in the day to get it all done, yet the plants are waking, the earth smells wonderful and spring bulbs smile back at every glance. It’s the time of year when many of us quietly mutter, “Why didn’t I work on fixing this or that last winter? I should have…., I meant to……, Oh no, here we go again…..” If you have sweaty palms, anxious nights, stressful days and are living the same tug between
passion about your business, and exhaustion from what it takes, there is a solution. This month, I’m sharing another experience from someone who took the Prosperity Partners introductory seminar. Mike Hayes, a certified arborist, has been in business for 19 years, performing tree care, removals and consulting. His company, AllGreen Tree Service, covers an area which includes Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and the Cambridge area, including Elmira, Elora and Fergus. He employs nine to 10 people in peak season, including his office staff. Mike and I chatted at length about the challenges of running a growing business, and the challenges which are common to so many across the green industry. He shares with you here, the clarity he defined about his business through the Prosperity Partners seminar process, and the confidence he has gained by moving forward effectively through the next few years: Q. What are the Core Values and Vision of your business? A. Our core values are summed up by saying: “Quality Work with a safe and enjoyable work environment. The vision of AllGreen Tree Service is to be considered THE tree service in the area by our clients and our staff.” Q. What are the things that keep you up at night? A. Finances and compliance. Finances are extremely important, but are far from my favourite part of the job. I usually give it a
AllGreen Tree Service is putting lessons learned in Prosperity Partners to work.
30 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009
lower priority than other duties. The Prosperity Partners seminar taught me to see where I have blind spots in this area, and how to better fill the gaps. Compliance at 100 per cent is very difficult for a small operation. We are very good, but the paper trails can be enormous. Q. What stuck with you the most from the PP introductory seminar? A. It helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses. This seminar, thankfully, is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is designed so that everyone in the room can apply the tools to their respective business in a relevant way. Sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. This seminar helps you identify your blind spots and make sense of what’s going well and not so well with excellent clarity. Once you are clearer on where you need improvement, you may better focus on those areas. Q. How have you been able to apply the things you learned in the Prosperity Partners seminar to improve your business? A. Knowing that I am weak in the management area, I used some of the suggestions in the seminar, and started to track independent parts of our operation. One example is that we started tracking onsite time versus travel and non-productive time. It sounds simple, but what an eye-opener. Without this revelation from the seminar, I wouldn’t have seen where I can tighten up operations and procedures in order to minimize wage costs and down time. Q. What are your next steps in the business, and did the program help clarify them for you? A. Yes, the program definitely clarified what is needed in the near future in order for me to gain better balance and sensible growth. The next steps for me include improving, streamlining and simplifying some of our processes in the day-to-day operations. We are no longer a two- to three-person operation. Now I can see the value in adapting differently to our growth and changing resources. To arrange a Prosperity Partners seminar in your local Landscape Ontario chapter, please contact me at prosperity@landscapeontario.com.
HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009 31
Dutchmaster N U R S E R I E S
Proud Manufacturers of: Tree Spades
L T D
3735 Sideline 16, Brougham, ON, Canada, L0H 1A0
Your one-stop location for: Trees
Shrubs T : 905 683 8233 F : 905 683 8213 E : info@dutchmantreespade.com
Evergreens
Perennials
Tree Tyers
Tree Planters
Nursery Supplies
Potters
T : 905 683 8211 F : 905 683 3734 E : sales@dutchmasternurseries.com
Tree Rexes
3735 Sideline 16, Brougham, ON, Canada, L0H 1A0
TWO COMPANIES WITH ONE MISSION TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS 32â&#x20AC;&#x192; HORTICULTURE REVIEW - April 15, 2009