Horticulture Review - July 2010

Chapter events

For more chapter event listings, visit www.horttrades.com.

July 16 Upper Canada Chapter Golf Tournament Briar Fox Golf & Country Club, Marysville Shotgun start at 10 a.m., followed by a steak dinner. Cost is $100 per golfer. For more information, or to register, go to www.horttrades.com/ chapter-golf-events or contact Helen Hassard at hhassard@landscapeontario.com, or 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354.

July 22 Toronto Chapter’s Dick Sale Memorial Golf Tournament Glen Eagle Golf Course, Bolton The Toronto Chapter tournament is set for another season. Non-golfers are welcome at the post-game gathering at the Peters’ residence, but registration is required. For more information, or to register go to www.horttrades.com/chapter-golf-events, or contact Helen Hassard at hhassard@landscapeontario. com, or 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354.

August 15 Toronto Chapter Baseball Tournament Richmond Greens Sports Centre and Park Join the Toronto Chapter for an event that is unique to the Toronto region. This slow-pitch tournament will take place at 1300 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill. The tournament will run from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with trophies and a barbecue lunch included in the fee of $550 per team. Each team is guaranteed two games.

To register, or for more information go to www. horttrades.com/chapter-golf-events, or contact Helen Hassard, at hhassard@landscapeontario. com, or 647-723-5448.

August 18 Golden Horseshoe Chapter Golf Tournament Willow Valley Golf Course, Mount Hope The $135 fee at this year’s event will get you 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch, dinner, use of the driving range and putting green and great prizes.

To register or for more information, go to www. horttrades.com/chapter-golf-events, or contact Helen Hassard at hhassard@landscapeontario. com, or 1-800-265-5656, ext. 354.

August 26 Georgian Lakelands Golf Tournament Innisbrook Golf Course, 2957 Lockhart Road, Barrie The annual golf tournament will take place at the Innisbrook Golf Course. Lunch and registration will begin at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

For further information or to register, go to www. horttrades.com/chapter-golf-events, or contact Heather Williams at handk@sympatico.ca.

2 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

The LO home office in Milton has a dynamic new look, as part of the Green for Life branding initiative. Thanks to Evergreen Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance of Hamilton and Bonzai Landscaping of Newmarket, for the colourful Awards of Excellence images used in the artwork.

Landscape Ontario and industry events

For more Landscape Ontario and industry event listings, visit www.horttrades.com.

July 15 NEW DATE: Growers Research Auction Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton Join the Growers Group for its annual fundraiser.

This year’s event takes place at the LO home office in Milton in conjunction with Member Appreciation Day. The auction starts right after lunch, provided by sponsor Agrium Advanced Technologies. For more information contact Kathy McLean at kmclean@landscapeontario.com, or Kathleen Pugliese at kathleenp@landscapeontario.com.

July 19, 27 and 28 Building Your Prosperity The introductory Prosperity Partnership seminars will get you started on to the road of success.

This program is intended to help green industry members clarify what they excel at and what components of their business needs attention and improvement. Cost of workshop includes lunch.

To register go to http://bit.ly/cdKwGi. Take a free online survey, posted at www.horttrades.com/ prosperity, to measure your strengths and weaknesses in the five prosperity pillars.

Locations: July 19 Garden Creations of Ottawa, 5100 Bank St., Ottawa,

July 27 Fanshawe College, London Campus, R 1042, July 28 Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton, August 20 Trial Garden open house for industry Landscape Ontario, 7856 Fifth Line South, Milton Visit the University of Guelph annual trials at the LO office in the morning, and see for yourself how next year’s crop of new plants performs in the landscape. Trial garden manager Rodger Tschanz will present his findings. In the afternoon, follow him to the University of Guelph trial gardens.

A RCHITECTURALLY D ESIGNED

GARDEN BUILDINGS

GAZEBOS AND S HELTERS

 Tel.: (905) 563-8133 • Fax: (905) 563-7526 Visit us at: www.limestonetrail.com

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 3

Landscape Ontario staff LO staff members are committed to member service. Please call with your questions or concerns.

Tel: (905) 875-1805 or 1-800-265-5656 Fax: (905) 875-3942 Web: www.horttrades.com

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

Windsor Chapter

President

President: Mark Williams Board rep: Garry Moore

Past president

Garden Centre

Tom Intven, tintven@ Robert Adams, robertadams@ First vice-president

Tim Kearney CLP, tkearney@

Chair: Michael Van Dongen Board rep: Bob McCannell, bmccannell@

Grounds Management

E-mail suffix for all staff members: @landscapeontario.com Executive director Tony DiGiovanni CHT, ext. 304, tonydigiovanni@ Executive assistant Kathleen Pugliese, ext. 309, kpugliese@ Controller Joe Sabatino, ext. 310, jsabatino@ Manager, education, and labour development, Sally Harvey CLT, CLP, ext. 315, sharvey@ Administrative assistant Jane Leworthy, ext. 301, jleworthy@

Second vice-president

Chair: Mike DeBoer, CHT Board rep: Brian Marsh

Education, labour, and certification project coordinator Rachel Burt, ext. 326, rachelb@

Secretary/treasurer

Growers

Seminar and safety group coordinator Kathy McLean, ext. 306, kathym@

Phil Charal, pcharal@ Jacki Hart CLP

Provincial Board Durham Chapter

President: Greg Scarlett Board rep: Mark Humphries, mhumphries@

Georgian Lakelands Chapter

Chairs: Mark Ostrowski Board rep: Dave Braun

Membership coordinator, Helen Hassard, ext. 354, hhassard@

Interior Plantscapes

Chapter coordinator, Georgian Lakelands Chapter Heather Williams, ext. 370, hwilliams@

Irrigation

Chapter coordinator, London Chapter Wendy Harry, 519-488-0818, wharry@

Chair and board rep: Stephen Schell CHTI Chair: Chris Le Conte Board rep: Steve Macartney CIT, smacartney@

Chapter coordinator, Ottawa Chapter Martha Walsh, ext. 368, mwalsh@

President: Michael LaPorte CHTC Board rep: Warren Patterson

Landscape Contractors

Golden Horseshoe Chapter

Lawn Care

Manager, information technology Ian Service, 416-848-7555, iservice@

Chair: Steve Tschanz Board rep: Alan White, awhite@

Manager, Pesticide Industry Council Tom Somerville, tsomerville@

Landscape Design

Nursery technical analyst Francesco Pacelli, ext. 377, fpacelli@

President: Tim Cruickshanks, tcruickshanks@ Board rep: Walter Hasselman

London Chapter

President: Tim Cradduck, tcradduck@ Board rep: Peter Vanderley CLP

Ottawa Chapter

President: Sarah Johnston Board rep: Bruce Morton CLP, CIT

Toronto Chapter

President: Fiona Penn Zieba Board rep: Ryan Heath CLP

Upper Canada Chapter

President: Diana Cassidy-Bush CLP Board rep: Paul Doornbos CHTM, CLP

Waterloo Chapter President: Rob Tester Board rep: David Wright

Chair and board rep: Peter Guinane

Chair: Tony Lombardi CLD Board rep: Beth Edney CLD, bedney@

Lighting

Chair and Board rep: John Higo

Snow and Ice Management

Chair: Ed Hewis Board rep: Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@

Members at Large Gregg Salivan Bruce Warren

CNLA Board Rep

Gerald Boot CLP, geraldboot@

For subscription and address changes, please e-mail subscriptions@landscapeontario.com

4 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

Trade show manager Paul Day CDE, ext. 339, paulday@ Trade show manager Lorraine Ivanoff, ext. 366, lpi@ Trade show coordinator Linda Nodello, ext. 353, lnodello@ Conference coordinator Michelle Everets, ext. 396, meverets@ Director of public relations Denis Flanagan CLD, ext. 303, dflanagan@ Publisher Lee Ann Knudsen CLP, ext. 314, lak@

Web editor Robert Ellidge, ext. 312, rob@

The Voice of Landscape Ontario

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 2010, 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).

Director of events and trade shows Gilles Bouchard, ext. 323, gbouchard@

Editorial director Sarah Willis, ext. 313, sarahw@ Editor Allan Dennis, ext. 320, aldennis@

Horticulture Review July 15, 2010 • Volume 28, No. 7

Executive director Ontario Parks Association Paul Ronan, ext. 349, pronan@

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 Angela Lindsay, ext. 305, alindsay@

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The pros and cons of regulation Tom Intven LO president

A

ll of us, no matter the sector of our industry we operate in, face regulations every day. Regulations are rules of conduct put in place by governing bodies, which include any level of government, or self-imposed governing bodies — such as with our own certification programs.

Experts split the types of regulation into three categories: economic, social and process. Economic reguTom Intven lation refers to restrictions on prices, quantity, entrance and exit conditions for business. These are usually set by government. Social regulations include the areas of environmental protection, public health and safety. Process refers to government requirements influencing the operation of the public and private sector, such as paperwork requirements and administrative costs incurred in the operation of business. We all can think of examples of these three categories that apply to our own business and in our everyday lives.

Regulations have positive and negative aspects. They help to set standards of behaviour and quality. Standards are necessary in any business, especially those that set quality, which are lacking in some of our sectors. In landscape construction, for example, there is a real need for a quality assurance system.

Nurseries are heavily regulated for pest control by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and other government agencies.

Minimum size standards have been established, but the area that needs attention is quality assurance. This is particularly important for new cultivars, where tremendous demand can sometimes reduce quality. Right now our association takes a passive role in ensuring quality standards. We really need to stepup, and address this important issue in the coming years.

Helping to build public image Regulated trades enjoy more confidence from the public than unregulated trades. As a homeowner, we hire a certified electrician with confidence, knowing his work is monitored by government inspectors. In our trade, consumer confidence comes from reputation and word of

mouth. Regulation, whether in the form of selfregulated or government-imposed quality assurance systems, goes a long way to help us gain improved public image and confidence.

Sense of order Our industry has come a long way in two generations. From a fledgling industry of unorganized, independently-minded operators, we have evolved into a well organized association of 10 sectors, all striving under the LO banner toward the same goals.

A sense of order is important for our own well being and for outside interest groups and governments. A good example is found in the history of new plant introductions in Canada.

In the 1960s, no plant patent act existed in Canada. Breeders of new plants from overseas were not interested to introduce them into Canada, because there was no way of regulating propagation and the collecting royalties. Canada was considered the Wild West, consisting of a bunch of independent cowboys. A small group of Ontario nurserymen, led by Leno Mori and Lloyd Murray, formed the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation. This allowed the introduction of new plants and protected their propagation and royalty collection, paving the way for a stream of new plants into the Canadian market. The regulation that COPF provided, created an international sense of order and brought investment and new introductions to our emerging markets.

cost to our operations and can reduce margins.

Studies by the World Bank show that regulation can add substantially to costs of doing business.

The study suggests that in most first world countries, regulations account for about 10 per cent of GDP, and for many businesses up to 10 per cent of operating costs. Greece has one of the highest levels of government regulation, and we see the problems it is experiencing. The same applies to our businesses. When we are faced with more regulation, it immediately hits our bottom line.

Recently, a letter of concern was received from a contractor member in the Golden Horseshoe Chapter. His complaint was that municipalities are adding so many rules and regulations for contractors. He feels it is making it extremely difficult to survive. Examples: parking a commercial vehicle on the road while working at a site requires a permit; placing materials on the road temporarily requires a permit; moving more than two truckloads of material in or out of a site requires a permit; excavating more than 100 square feet requires a permit. The list goes on and on.

On the grower front, there is pressure from CFIA that nurseries become domestically certified in pest control and tracking plants. Some nurseries have embraced this regulation, while others are hesitant, claiming the implementation and ongoing costs are prohibitive. They feel this is especially true in this highly competitive market, where margins are already squeezed.

How much regulation is too much? When does it become stifling to business? When does it reach the breaking point, where there is so much regulation that it is no longer profitable to operate a business?

Easy entry into industry A common complaint from some members is that anyone with a pick-up truck and wheelbarrow can become a landscaper. Yet many members entered into our industry with nothing, and became very successful, thanks to a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.

What we fear from easy entry is that newcomers may not be professional. It is felt this may reflect badly on the rest of us who focus on quality work and building a solid reputation. As an association, it is still our mandate to educate from within through certification, management and technical courses and training which enable and empower our members to raise their professionalism. We will remain focused on this. Our goal is to harmonize our educational efforts with those offered by all educational institutions in Ontario.

Regulation can be crippling The dramatic cosmetic pesticide ban last year, imposed by the Liberal government in Ontario, crippled the lawn care sector to a dangerous level. In addition, garden centres lost significant sales from pest control departments. This is an example of how unilateral government regulation can devastate an industry. As we move forward, we will face more regulation imposed by government, and in some cases self-imposed.

Let us proceed with caution on regulations that we as an industry control, and fight stifling government-imposed regulation at every turn.

Negative aspects of regulation On the negative side, regulation adds time and

Tom Intven may be reached at 519-631-1008, or tintven@landscapeontario.com.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010  5

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Public image and landscape professionals Tony DiGiovanni CHT LO executive director

O

ne of the central problems of our industry is the lack of public image and awareness. Even though we work in a wonderful and growing sector that enhances lives and generates economic, environmental, social, therapeutic, recreational, emotional, spiritual and legacy benefits, we are in many ways still invisible. Perhaps we are too humble in telling our remarkable success story.

Tony DiGiovanni One manifestation of this was revealed recently in Ottawa.

Algonquin College is considering shutting down its horticulture program. The committee responsible for the program review did not have a clue about the value of our sector to the community.

The committee members were surprised to

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Quality and Selection 6 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

learn we are an industry of 20,000 small businesses, employing over 132,000 individuals (as a comparison Chrysler Canada, employing 5,000) and generating over $14-billion in economic benefits.

This lack of industry knowledge manifests itself in many negative ways. It is one of the reasons why people will pay $10 for a glass of good wine, yet think twice about buying a $200 tree that will last many generations and will return huge economic and environmental benefits. This is also the reason that people will pay $80 per hour for a plumber, yet balk at paying over $20 for a landscape professional.

Raising public awareness (telling our story) is central to the continual advancement of the horticultural industry. This is the main reason Landscape Ontario started the Green for Life campaign. This is also why we invested in a new public website, dedicated resources to support full-time public relations, participate in Canada Blooms and many other community events and projects.

All of us contribute to raise awareness for the benefits of our industry every time we communicate with our clients, produce quality work and generate goodwill through our service-oriented ethic. We still have a long way to go.

A perennial comment I hear from members is that fly-by-nighters and “trunk-slammers” ruin our image by performing shoddy work and mistreating clients. “Anyone with a truck, shovel and wheelbarrow can call themselves a landscaper,” they say.

Humble beginnings The lack of barriers-to-entry into our industry is blamed for this situation. However, this low barrier has also been positive for many of our most successful, competent and professional members.

Gerald Boot started his company going door to door. Tim van Stralen started Sunshine Grounds with a beat up, oil-dripping lawnmower. The Pepetones started Terra and Holland Park selling a few plants from a store-front grocery store.

Many of you started from the same humble circumstances. It is not the barrier-to-entry that is necessarily causing the image problem (although it contributes), it is substandard work, uncaring attitudes and unprofessional behaviour.

One of the reasons Landscape Ontario exists is to set apart those who believe in building a professional, ethical, recognized and valued industry. In order to join, candidates must be full-time in business for at least three years.

They must receive the recommendation of two sponsors, agree to uphold a professional code of practice and comply with WSIB and insurance requirements. The Awards of Excellence program, Canada Blooms, Contractor Rating System and public/media relations program are aimed at differentiating members. Is this enough?

Support certification We also support certification and accreditation to provide additional tools for differentiation. Is certification or membership a guarantee that the public will receive good work? Should our certification process be more comprehensive? I am reminded of the Mike Holmes comment, “Good contractors know what they are doing and care.”

Perhaps our future accreditation should include a peer and customer review process. Perhaps we should develop a 360 degree evaluation for horticultural businesses.

In England, the garden centre association employs a consultant (Eve Tigwell) to audit garden centres, based on a variety of criteria. She then issues a rating and provides a report that is used by the company to improve its operations.

It is like a comprehensive employee evaluation for the business. Ms. Tigwell is currently offering her services to Canadian garden centres. At his request, she is auditing LO president Tom Intven’s company this month.

Last year first vice president Tim Kearney introduced the concept of company accreditation. The board asked Tim to chair a committee to explore this concept. The contractors and grounds maintenance groups feel it is a good idea, as long as the process is accessible and relevant to any size operation. It must not be elitist.

Accredited companies must be willing to mentor others that are early in the development journey.

Is it time for a new company accreditation process that identifies and reflects a model for proficiency, professionalism and public trust? If so, what does this accreditation process look like? How can we avoid elitism, while at the same time differentiating companies that have achieved high levels? How do we design a process that assists companies at various stages in their journey to aspire to greater accomplishments?

Tim Kearney and I would love to hear your views, even if they are contrary. Please email Tim at timkearney@gcottawa.com, or me at tony@landscapeontario.com.

Improving our image is something that you do on a daily basis. Accreditation may help.

PROFESSIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

More jobs than skilled people to fill them

By Sally Harvey CLT, CLP Education and labour development department

A

report, People without Jobs, Jobs without People, identifies some interesting points. “With the emergence of our knowledge economy, the proportion of the labour force requiring some form of education or training beyond high school will increase dramatically,” states Rick Miner PhD, who wrote the report for Ontario’s Labour Market Future in Sally Harvey February of 2010.

It is estimated that by 2031 our industry will need 77 per cent of our workforce to possess post-secondary credentials, either through apprenticeship, industry, professional associations, college or university. This is huge, as we presently stand at about 60 per cent.

The green industry in Ontario presently contributes approximately $7-billion, based on multipliers generated from Statistics Canada Input-Output tables. We also employ 66,388 full-time people in Ontario, alone!

The landscape horticulture industry presently has more jobs than skilled workers. We gain only about 200 post secondary graduates into the industry annually. With double-digit growth for many years, it is expected to potentially double in size with the retirements of the early baby boomer cohort. There is a huge gap, considering the Deloitte study of the impact of ornamental horticulture on Canada’s economy, released in January 2009. We are potentially expecting a

shortfall of over 150,000 skilled workers within the next 10 to 12 years.

What does this mean for the green industry? We must change our attitude towards postsecondary education and training in order to fill our jobs with skilled employees. It will take planning and hard work to secure talent for the future. Employers and potential employees alike will need to take responsibility for skills development and life-long learning to remain competitive today and into the future.

There are many opportunities for businessminded employers. Employers looking to make an investment in their company’s future must embark on motivating life-long training opportunities for their existing staff. These opportunities may include, but not limited to: • Apprenticeship (to register go to: www. horttrades.com/apprenticeship • Landscape Industry Certification offered at Milton in July and October and Kemptville College in September www.horttrades.com/clt • Landscape Ontario fall and winter seminars • Expo and Congress symposia and seminars • College or university programs Landscape Ontario has been involved recently with several colleges to revise and enhance programs. At one institution we are resurrecting a program, while working with others to develop completely new programs. Interestingly, those institutions that aspire to develop programs have aligned well with the industry. They have a solid understanding of the gaps and future needs of the industry, seeing the opportunity that lies ahead and aligning with industry to ensure they remain relevant.

However, there are those programs that are at risk of extinction. They have not been attached to industry, thereby unable to understand the

opportunities of today and those that lie ahead.

In this case, the industry had the opportunity to present a state of the nation report that identified our huge need for skilled workers, combined with forecasts for growth. It was amazing to us that the decision makers had no idea of the magnitude of the industry, nor the potential that the horticulture industry offers to educators and society as a whole.

We missed the opportunity to tell our story somewhere along the line. Throughout the process, the message remained clear and consistent: In order for our industry to begin to supply itself with relevant, skilled workers, all education and training programs must partner with the industry and industry with all education! I urge all horticulture employers and skilled employees to make themselves available to any of the secondary and post secondary education institutions, whether it is secondary schools, apprenticeship, industry, professional associations, college or university.

Without attachment to industry, we will lose the opportunity to cultivate amazing talent needed to lead our industry technically and horticulturally into the next generation. Innovation and strong business sense will be the strategic survival tactics for the next 20 years.

I encourage our members to get involved at local schools, adopt a school or training program. For more info, go to http://bit.ly/aOf34s.

Your contributions may include advice, materials, a seminar, a hands-on learning with a class or student, a tour, materials, tools or equipment, training, mentoring, etc. What is the advantage to employers? A supply of trained, skilled workers who will advance your business.

Sally Harvey may be contacted at sharvey@landscapeontario.com.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 7

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Backbone of the business

By Denis Flanagan CLD Director of public relations

R

ecently, my wife and I have been regular visitors with some good friends who, unfortunately, have experienced some health issues. I worked with Fred and Laura Petersen for many years in the landscaping business. F.H. Petersen was once the main contractor for the Weall and Cullen’s flagship store in North York, back in the 1970s and ’80s.

During our long drives to the hospital, I Denis Flanagan found myself reflecting on how this couple’s business had survived and flourished over the years. Their story is a familiar one in our industry. With a young family, they immigrated to Canada, worked in a garden maintenance company, and eventually started their own company. Through hard work and talent,

the business evolved from maintenance into a full landscape construction firm.

Through their affiliation with Weall and Cullen, the F.H. Petersen Company often contributed to Landscape Ontario community projects with the Toronto Chapter A great deal of the credit for their success belongs to Laura, the backbone of the business.

Like so many other landscape companies during the ‘50s ‘60s and ‘70s, the husband was often the public face and onsite supervisor, relying on his wife to raise the children, be a part-time bookkeeper, make appointments, create schedules, order supplies and carry out many other important functions for the business.

The Petersens are from the old school.

When I had to discuss a design or a contract, it was always combined with an invitation to sample one of Laura’s home-cooked meals and an occasional glass of schnapps (what a great motivator to develop more business). I was always treated like a member of the family. In fact, Fred and Laura later became our children’s godparents.

Laura and Fred Petersen

Many people in the industry will relate to this story. They already know good business is often built on personal relationships.

Many people were associated with the Cullen business in those days, including Bob Tubby and Jacki Hart, who will no doubt remember the Petersens, and would agree that Laura was typical of all those marvelous women who were truly “Prosperity Partners.”

Today, things have changed a great deal. We see many women who themselves are leaders in the industry, running successful companies and contributing on many boards and committees at Landscape Ontario. They work to promote this great industry that I believe still maintains many of those great family values.

We are often told that our new Green for Life brand, with the young girl on a swing image, symbolizes a strong sense of family connecting with nature. But, perhaps we were beaten to the concept well over 60 years before.

I think it is always important to pay homage to our history and to recognize the commitment made by all of those original partners in prosperity. If you have some particular memories you would like to share, please send your stories to me at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.

With your permission, we would like to feature them in future issues of Horticulture Review and at the Legacy Room during Landscape Ontario’s Congress.

Belated thanks to Veronica In my column that appeared in the May issue of Horticulture Review, I omitted mentioning Veronica Schroder, OALA candidate, who spoke on the panel in Picton for the Shire Hall project fundraiser. She was part of the panel that included Steve Poole of Connon Nurseries/CBV, Scott Wentworth of Wentworth Design Group and Mark Cullen, representing Home Hardware.

My apologies to Veronica for leaving her name off the list.

8 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS

Are superstars too expensive?

By Mark Bradley

In this month’s article Dan and Bill discuss the importance of recruiting and hiring the best people.

D

an and Bill met for a 6 p.m. dinner meeting at the local diner. Dan’s day had been a disaster. A layout mistake at a site led to an entire armor stone installation torn down and rebuilt.

Shortly after, his equipMark Bradley ment dealer called and explained that the skid steer that went in for repair needed major undercarriage work. The cause was neglected maintenance.

“How can this budget help me, when we keep making costly mistakes? We’re our own worst enemy!” complained Dan. “I can’t be the one to follow up on the little, important things – but when I don’t, nobody else seems to care.

And when I have to chase people to make sure every little task is done properly, I can’t manage the big important things.”

“You have a responsibility to build a successful company. You can’t allow a few bad apples to get in the way of achieving success. If you fail, your entire team — stars and poor performers alike — will be looking for new opportunities,” said Bill. “In my experience, the best companies solve the people problem by: • Systematically hiring great performers, while avoiding bad ones • Training and developing superstars in-house • Retaining superstar employees with career opportunities “Are you doing anything to recruit and train your people, or do you always hire the first guy in the door with a driver’s licence, and just let him grind away until one of you loses interest?”

“We are investing more in training this year, and it’s starting to help for sure. I’ve tried to hire good people,” said Dan, “but they all want more money.”

“Your budget will tell you what you can afford. But you need to attract and hire the best people for your money. Most companies in this industry don’t follow a hiring process. Put together and follow a hiring process, and the best will actually want to work for you.

“Have you ever considered how much

money your company loses by not hiring great people?

Crew Hours Total Total Labour For example, let’s say you’re average per sales wages to considering three candidates wage year sales for foreman. One is excelper hr. ratio lent, one is average, and Super one is a poor candidate. The $18.33 5,000 $408,000 $91,650 22.5% crew excellent candidate wants $25 per hr.; the average candidate wants $21 per hr.; Average $17.00 5,000 $340,000 $85,000 25% crew and the poor candidate only wants $18/hr. In my experiPoor ence, excellent candidates $16.00 5,000 $272,000 $80,000 29.5% crew can be up to 20 per cent more productive than average candidates, and they can lish exactly what you can afford, but don’t ignore be up to 40 per cent more productive than poor the hidden costs of under-performers either. Your candidates. Excellent foremen plan their work budget, looking at both expenses and sales, can better, have more experience, better leadership, make decisions like this simple. and hold crews to higher standards of production “The best people in any industry are lookand efficiency.” ing for the best opportunities. Make the right Dan interrupted, “So how do I avoid hiring first impression with an amazing website, a probad candidates, since I can’t afford the excellent fessional hiring process, an engaging interview ones?” process and a compelling offer of employment.

“Maybe you can’t afford NOT to hire the When candidates experience a professional hirexcellent candidate,” retorted Bill. “I’ll use ing process, they naturally assume they are dealsimple numbers to illustrate what I mean. Let’s ing with a professional company, offering the say an average foreman on a crew of three gen- best opportunity.” erates $340,000 in annual revenue. Using the “Our website was built for customers; I performance adjustments we just discussed, the never considered recruits would look there,” said superstar crew would generate $408,000, while Dan. the poor crew only generates $272,000. Since the “These days the Internet is the first place labourers get paid the same on all three crews, the recruits look for company information. A profesdifference in the total annual wages between the sional website not only attracts better customers crews (at 5,000 total hours) is less than $12,000. — it attracts better people.”

But, the difference in revenue is over $135,000.

Bill continued, “Managing people is one of The superstars cost, per sales dollar, is actually the hardest tasks of a business owner, Dan. But to lower than the other two candidates – you can be successful, you must recruit the best performsee that clearly by looking at the labour to sales ers and use systems to turn average performers ratios.” into great performers. Think of your company as “Although it may seem that your superstar a sports team — you recruit, play and pay your is the most expensive option, it’s not really the superstars well to help you win every game. Poor case. To save $7 an hour in wage costs ($25/hr performers don’t make the cut. Playing them will vs. $18/hr), your less-expensive foreman might hurt your team and drive your superstars to look actually cost your company over $100,000 per elsewhere. The people process is a challenge, but year. And, wages aren’t the only costs involved. winning this challenge will reward you and your Superstars take better care of equipment (reduc- people with improved profits, happier customers, ing replacement and repair costs), train their and better quality of life.” crews better (improving productivity and development of new superstars), and require less man- Mark Bradley is president of The Beach agement and supervision (freeing up more of Gardener and the Landscape Management your time to develop your business).”

Network (LMN). For more information about “I never actually considered all those LMN’s landscape business management tools costs,” said Dan. and systems, email info@landscapemanageBill nodded, “Your labour budget will estab- mentnetwork.com, or call 1-888-347-9864.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 9

Expo 2010 promises exciting new features Expo 2010 (formerly Garden and Floral Expo), now in its 11th year, has a new name which reflects a broader appeal to a larger segment of the horticultural and floral industries.

Over 3,000 visitors are expected to attend the show in October. “These visitors represent garden centre owners and buyers, nurseries, growers, florists, retail chains, and also landscape designers, architects and contractors who increasingly see the show as an opportunity to reconnect with their peers while seeing what’s new, what’s hot and what needs to be planted next spring,” says show manager Lorraine Ivanoff.

Partners for the annual show include the Master Gardeners of Ontario, with members manning not only a booth, but conducting four presentations at the Green for Life Stage. The lineup of great speakers includes Ron Rossini, Sean James, Robert Pavlis and Dianne and Gary Westlake. Topics will be geared toward hot issues, such as native alternatives to invasive ornamentals and gardening mistakes.

Two partners at Expo, Flowers Canada (Ontario) and Niagara Economic Development Corporation, will represent the flower growers industry. Building on the resounding success at

Garden and Floral Expo 2009, the Landscape Ontario Resource Centre will take visitors on a journey through the association’s key product and service offerings, particularly the five pillars of Prosperity Partners.

The third annual Garden Party is on Tues., Oct. 19, and will run from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring live music and complimentary refreshments on the show floor.

The Garden Centre Symposium, on Mon., Oct. 18 at the Toronto Congress Centre, will feature topics on merchandising, running a profitable garden centre, and how to use the tools available through LO aligned with the Prosperity Partners pillars. Speakers will include Judy Sharpton, Ideas to Reinvent/Refresh Your Business, and Doug Green, Social Media in the Nursery. The main sponsor is Fafard.

The Landscape Designers Sector Group will host a breakfast and networking event on Tues., Oct. 19, from 8 to 10 a.m. The event is sponsored

by Permacon and Connon Nurseries NVK. The Interiorscape Sector Group is also planning a breakfast meeting on Wed., Oct. 21, from 8 to 10 a.m., entitled Environmental Design: Interior Plantscape Symposium. The event will

feature a panel discussion with speakers from the industry, education and facilities. Joanne Young, Living Walls in the Industry, and Kathy Fidew, LEED Program and Certification, will take part in the panel presentation.

The show hours are: Tues., Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wed., Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for Expo 2010 opened on July 1.

For more information, contact show manager, Lorraine Ivanoff at lpi@landscapeontario. com, or go to www.loexpo.ca.

Kitchener venue for Snow and Ice Symposium The huge success of Landscape Ontario’s Snow and Ice Symposium has resulted in it needing to find a larger home for the 2010 edition.

For the past number of years the symposium took place Landscape Ontario’s home office in Milton. This year it will take place at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, on Sept. 1 and 2, in conjunction with the Municipal Equipment and Operations Association - Fall Trade Show. In addition, the Ontario Parks Association will provide an educational component.

Day one at the event is entitled, Build-ABid put on by the Snow and Ice Management Association, while the Sept. 2 portion of the show is the trade show and symposium. “The two events being held together will definitely open up a new stream of delegate to the partner associations,” says Gilles Bouchard, Landscape Ontario’s director of events and trade shows.

“The added delegate count will be greatly appreciated by all exhibitors and having various levels of educational symposiums and technical demonstrations will provide great knowledge.”

Snow show also in Ottawa As of press time, little information was known about the snow and ice symposium scheduled for Ottawa, other than it will take place Sept. 14, at the Rideau Carleton Raceway, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Look for the August edition of Horticulture Review, LO e-news, or www.hortrades.com for additional information as it becomes available.

For more information on becoming a visitor or exhibitor, contact Gilles Bouchard for exhibitor information at gbouchard@landscapeontario. com, or Michelle Everetts for show information at meverets@landscapeontario.com.

10 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

MEMBER PROFILE

Janet Ennamorato remembers when design was all about selling plants

Janet Ennamorato takes a moment in her own garden.

By Allan Dennis

J

anet Ennamorato didn’t begin her working life as a landscape designer. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a major in geography and minor in history, she thought her working life would involve an interior environment, not an exterior one. A career as a teacher was her plan. But as with many of life’s plans...

A women’s workshop on assessing abilities suggested that teaching or landscape design were good choices. So, it was off to Ryerson Institute of Technology where she enrolled in the landscape architect course. The school was appropriate for her, as Ryerson began in 1852 as a combined teacher training centre and agricultural college. Married with two children, completing the course was a hectic time, but with determination she graduated.

From Ryerson, Ennamorato was hired by Weall and Cullen Nurseries, working with Mark Cullen in residential design. “In the early days, design was used to help sell more plants,” says Ennamorato. “Very few clients understood the importance of hiring a professional designer in those days. Slowly the public began to understand that a great garden begins with a professional design.”

During that time, Ennamorato began to work with Dynascape CAD-based design programs. “It created quite a change in the design process,” she says. “Now very few designers use

hand drawing.”

After a short stint with Sheridan Nurseries, Ennamorato moved into freelance work. From there, it wasn’t long until she began her own business in 1995, Creative Garden Designs. The business prospered and grew. “I expanded the company into a design and installation service.

It soon became so busy that it took over my life,” she said. Ennamorato sold the installation part of the business, and came back to her home base to focus on design work. Recently Paul and Kurt Reeves at Plant World in Etobicoke approached her to work for their company. Between that work and Creative Garden Design clients, it’s a busy schedule.

“I walk clients through the whole design process, as well as coordinate installation. The goal is to create a garden oasis for the client,” she says.

Serves chapter and sector groups Janet Ennamorato has served on the Toronto Chapter board and the Landscape Design Sector Group for the past five years. “I find it is important to be involved with Landscape Ontario to be part of the larger group. It gives our industry and sector a stronger voice.” She also says that the exchange of ideas with like-minded people is very valuable. “Being involved with the various LO groups gives an opportunity to meet many of those industry people who otherwise we would not have an opportunity to engage with in

a social setting. As designers, we all speak the same language when it comes to concerns and interests.”

Asked if she has seen major changes in landscape design processes and trends, Ennamorato simply says, “Of course.” She says that people have come to appreciate nature much more, and want to bring it to their own back yards. “For them their garden is a very personal place.”

The new attitude towards the environment is also changing design. “A growing number of people are losing their lawns in favour of gardens that are easier to maintain. They want natives or plants that don’t require great quantities of water.”

She also notes that nurseries are continually introducing new plants which allow designers more and more tools to create imaginative landscapes. “At the same time a well-designed garden should blend in with the rest of the neighbourhood, and of course must follow the basic principles of design,” says Ennamorato. She adds that a well-designed garden should fit with a client’s ability to maintain the creation, or with his willingness to hire professionals.

NEW DATE!

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LO Growers Research Auction FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.horttrades.com/ auction2010 Or phone 1-800-265-5656 Kathleen x309, Kathy x306 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 11

MEMBERSHIP

Meet your new membership and chapter coordinator

By Helen Hassard

I

’d like to introduce myself as Landscape Ontario’s new membership and chapter coordinator. It’s so exciting to join such an enthusiastic and highly functional group of people.

My background is in the education industry, so when I first approached LO about the position, I wasn’t sure how well it would go over. I wondered if during my interview they would ask me to identify species of trees, Helen Hassard or explain the proper way to lay interlocking brick. Either question would have left me stuttering for an answer. I soon realized that horticulture and education have a lot in common; both industries are huge and no one expects me to have all the answers.

The second thing I noticed is both are focused on building a brighter future, whether

encouraging others to improve, or making the improvements ourselves. Lastly, in horticulture, like education, people are driven by passion. We work hard, because we can’t imagine working any other way.

Sure there is money to be made, but that’s not what drives us. How many of you work 13 hour days, seven days a week, only to use your down time to work on your own garden, or property?

There is one other thing I’ve noticed that educators and people in the horticulture industry have in common; they know how to have fun. To help with this, our chapters have each organized an exciting summer of activities to help you cut loose. The golf tournament schedule goes as follow: Upper Canada on July 16, Toronto on July 22, Golden Horseshoe on Aug. 18, Georgian Lakelands on Aug. 26, Ottawa on Aug. 27, London on Sept. 10 and Windsor on Sept. 11. In addition, Toronto is holding a baseball tournament on Aug. 15 and LO is offering an Argos and Tiger-Cats football game on Oct. 15.

If you’re like me and have a lot of energy and a

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fuel efficient car, you’re welcome to register for all nine events. Registration details are available online on horttrades.com, or contact me directly at hhassard@landscapeontario.com.

Spending time in backyard is popular The information from an online survey by The Weather Network bodes well for the landscape industry. Many of those taking the survey, indicated their most popular summer activity is enjoying the backyard.

The survey had over 30,000 responses. Camping led the way with 23 per cent, or 6,824 votes, while Enjoying my backyard was a close second with 21 per cent, or 6,327 votes.

Other categories in the survey were well back in popularity. They included, Going to the cottage, Sitting on the patio, Going to the beach and other.

Questions to ask about succession planning

By Robin Wydryk

Over the next 10 years, many owner/managers (i.e. the boomers) will face one of the most important decisions of their business lives: “What to do with my business?” Many prefer not to even think about it, and very few who do think about it, actually plan for it.

Years ago, most businesses would be passed on to the next generation. Today, that is only one alternative, and not necessarily the best one.

Before you even start a succession plan, you must ask yourself three key questions: When?

You need to set a succession target date. The timeframe need not be written in stone, but you need a target so you can eventually implement the steps in your plan. Ideally, you should allow five years to create and carry out the plan. The benefit of creating a succession plan well in advance of the target date is to allow for the unexpected, such as a death or disability. You want to guarantee both your family and your business are protected.

Who? Who would want your business? If it is the next generation, do they really want the business and are they capable of taking it over? These are two very difficult questions, and you must be honest with your answers. Too often, the correct answer to at least one of the questions is no.

The first question, the when, is really ETEL07_BA important if it’sHort.Review.qx the next generation 1/30/07 who will

be taking over. Timing is key. It cannot be too premature, since the successors need time to develop their necessary skills and knowledge.

By contrast, it would be wrong for an aging owner to still call the shots over his middleaged successors. If the next generation is ready, capable and waiting in the wings, the succession is well overdue. The best-case scenario occurs when the next generation is able to take the business to a whole new and successful level.

Then, the timing of the torch passing is ideal.

If the next generation is not an option, who, then, might want to buy your business?

Is the current management capable and willing to be your successor? Have you consciously created your own buyer within your organization? It is possible to groom younger individuals within your company to eventually buy you out? The grooming period and the buyout can be structured over several years. If the payout is properly financed, it will be a win-win situation for both buyer and seller.

Would someone else buy your business, a competitor, a customer or a supplier, perhaps?

Who, in your opinion, is best positioned to buy your business? Buying a business is like an investment; it should give the buyer a good rate of return and also pay for itself over a reasonable period of time. If you really give this question serious consideration, you will undoubtedly be able to identify the most suitable buyer.

How? Transferring the business to the next generation usually involves a significant amount of 7:43 AM Page 1 tax planning.

Whether you sell, gift or freeze

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the value of the business, for tax purposes you are expected to sell the business at a fair market value. Every situation is unique and needs the appropriate tax plan. A business valuator can value the business for this purpose. One common method is to freeze the value of the business at the current level and transfer its future growth to the next generation. This method is designed to defer the tax.

If you plan to sell the business to management, financing and a good tax planning structure are essential. Frequently, the business owner will finance a portion of the buyout, but be sure to put the proper security in place.

Selling to an unknown party could take one to two years once the business is ready for sale, especially if a potential buyer has not yet been identified. Normally this process is conducted through a business broker. There are a number of companies that specialize in selling owner/manager businesses. If you are going to sell your business, make sure that it is saleable.

It should have a strong management team and not be totally reliant on you. Also, you want to ensure you get the highest price possible. To accomplish this, you must maximize your profits. There are numerous value-enhancing techniques that businesses can undertake to achieve this; but that topic is for another article. Just remember, it may take three to five years to get your company ready for sale.

Ask yourself all three questions above, and be honest with your answers.

Robin Wydryk is a partner in SB Partners LLP, Burlington.

call us at 416.798.7050 or toll-free at 1.800.870.0926

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HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 13

Chapter News Durham members improve historical site’s irrigation

LO golf season offers many benefits Landscape Ontario members are ready to enjoy another great season of golf.

More than just golf is available at each tournament. Those who have taken part in the past well know the great business opportunities found on the links and in the clubhouse. In other words, taking part in a LO golf tournament is good business. It’s about networking, an essential part of doing business today.

Social events can be a goldmine of opportunities. We all have a story about meeting someone at an industry event, who turns into a valued associate.

Check out all the golf events that LO chapters are sponsoring this summer. Click on any one of the highlighted names of Chapters

on the web page http://www.horttrades.com/ chapter-golf-event to view a brochure on its tournament, which includes registration forms.

From Ottawa to Windsor, members and staff work hard to create an event that provides a good time, and a great opportunity to work in a bit of business.

Golf tournament schedule Upper Canada Toronto Golden Horseshoe Georgian Lakelands Ottawa London Windsor

July 16 July 22 Aug. 18 Aug. 26 Aug. 27 Sept. 10 Sept. 11

Durham Chapter completed an irrigation project on the west lawns, gardens and the formal rose garden at Parkwood in Oshawa, the historical home of auto baron R. Samuel McLaughlin, founder of General Motors of Canada.

“This stand alone automated in-ground irrigation system with a SMART controller for water conservation is a big asset to Parkwood and the grounds crew, as they maintain what is considered one of Canada’s finest and last remaining grand estates. The retail value of the irrigation system is approximately $9,000,” said Mark Humphries, past president and provincial board rep. for the Durham Chapter.

The gardens have been deemed nationally significant. They are open to visitors at no charge from summer through autumn.

The Durham Chapter was pleased to provide the labour. Professional services and direction were purchased from Green Turf Irrigation, an OGS company of Brooklin. The products utilized were donated by Rain Bird. The delivery of these products was facilitated through Vanden Bussche Irrigation.

Volunteers to install the system, included, Mark Humphries, Humphries Landscape Service; Steve Thiebaud CIT, CLP, Green Turf Irrigation; Greg Scarlett CHTC, Urban Landscape Solutions; John Fullford, Gerritt’s Property Services; Brian Baun, B.K. Baun Landscaping; and Harry VanStavern, VanStavern’s Landscaping.

Industry’s rally helps save Ottawa horticulture program The horticulture industry members in Ottawa are being credited with preventing Algonquin College from cutting its horticulture program.

Area news media quoted Doug Wotherspoon, the college’s executive director of advancement and a member of its strategic programs and services planning committee, “While there are still significant issues with some existing programs, what we did hear in the feedback

14 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

process were opportunities for partnering with industry and the importance of particular programs for industry.”

A public consultation took place on June 1. Of the 22 speakers registered at the forum, over half were LO members who expressed support for the horticulture program.

A report, entitled Embracing Change, Ready to Act, was presented to the college’s board of governors, recommending that the horticulture program not be cut, but com-

pletely redesigned. The report did suggest that 11 programs be phased out.

Wotherspoon says many industry leaders came forward to offer suggestions for redesigning the curriculum and its delivery. One area being examined in a revised horticulture program is green-roof technology.

The college’s board is expected to make a final decision by the end of August.

Gilda’s Club receives state of the art irrigation Thanks to Earle Graham of Lakelands Irrigation of Elmvale and Rain Bird, Gilda’s Club in Barrie has a state of the art irrigation system.

“Over the past year it has been amazing who has come out of the community to help us,” said James Thomson, executive director for of Gilda’s Club.

As reported in the June 2010 issue of Horticulture Review, the Georgian Lakelands Chapter of Landscape Ontario contributed time, material and funds to create the beautiful landscaping at Gilda’s House.

After the landscaping crews left the site, another group provided a complete irrigation system for the property, complete with the newest technology. With a number of delays, the irrigation component was one of the last things to go in.

“We’re honoured to put it in place and show people what the future will be,” said Earle Graham, who donated product and installation services for the first commercial installation of its kind in Barrie.

“Traditional irrigation systems work on timers that schedule watering perhaps every other day in the early morning. With this installation,

the timing concept has been left behind. Smart controllers divide the property into zones the have specific factors to determine the amount of water required including location, soil type, plant type and sun exposure. It also monitors weather including the amount of rain fall to determine whether the sprinklers are even required to come on,” said Graham.

From left, Earle Graham, Mike Ross and James Thomson.

“In the past five years there’s been a big shift in how we look at and system, but with a typical installation providuse water,” said Mike Ross of Rain Bird, who ing a 35 per cent reduction in water costs, it is donated the irrigation products to the project. estimated that paybacks are approximately two “Many of the technological advances are coming years. “The faster we adopt this technology the out of California where water shortages have led better. In ten years there will be no more timers in the industry,” said Ross. to mandated water conservation.”

“It’s really about beautification because the The system is programmable, much like a house thermostat, allowing the human factor to members of Gilda’s Club need to feel good and be removed from the process. “Overwatering have a healthy atmosphere. A healthy green space can be just as bad as underwatering,” said Ross. adds to the aesthetics of the building. The project “With this system, it only uses the amount of is also about showcasing the latest the industry has to offer, so other businesses and institutions will water the plants need.”

The cost is higher than a traditional timer know it’s out there.” said Graham.

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Hillen Nursery Inc Botanical Name

Qty. Avail.

1 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

2 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

3 Gal Botanical Name Price

VINES Ampelopsis glandulosa ‘Elegans’ 392 8.00 Campsis radicans ‘Balboa Sunset’ 245 8.00 Hydrangea anomala petiolaris 421 6.00 Lonicera per. ‘Belgica Select’ 151 8.00 Lonicera X ‘Mandarin’ 90 8.00 Parthenocissus quinquefolia 241 6.00 Polygonum aubertii 515 6.00

EVERGREENS Azalea `Golden Lights’ 315 Azalea `Orchid Lights’ 439 Buxus `Faulkner` 975 Buxus microphylla 335 5.00 375 Buxus X `Green Gem’ 740 5.20 Buxus X `Green Mound’ 220 5.00 1,000 Buxus X `Green Mountain’ 1,000 5.00 Buxus X `Green Velvet’ 1,000 5.20 1,000 Chamaecyparis pisifera `Filifera’ 150 5.00 222 Chamaecyparis pisifera `Filifera Aurea’ 210 5.00 52 Cotoneaster dammeri `Coral Beauty’ 1,000 5.00 141 7.00 Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Major’ 1,000 7.00 Cotoneaster microphyllus 224 5.00 40 Cotoneaster salicifolius `Repens’ 965 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Canadale Gold` 45 5.00 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Coloratus` 382 5.00 Euonymus fortunei `E.T.` 465 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Emerald Gaiety` 120 5.00 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Emerald ‘n Gold` 215 5.00 213 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Goldtip` 498 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Sarcoxie` 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Sunrise` 140 5.00 280 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Surespot` 1,000 7.00 Euonymus fortunei `Vegetus` 290 7.00 Ilex X meserveae `Blue Prince’ 109 5.00 201 Ilex X meserveae `Blue Princess’ 79 5.00 402 Juniperus chinensis `Gold Star’ 369 Juniperus chinensis `Mint Julep’ 260 5.00 521 Juniperus chinensis `Pfitz. Compacta’ 350 5.00 524 Juniperus chinensis ‘San Jose’ 290 5.00 168 Juniperus chinensis`Gold Coast’ 513 Juniperus communis `Repanda` 200 5.00 296 Juniperus conferta `Blue Pacific’ 205 5.00 327 Juniperus hor. `Andorra Compacta’ 940 5.00 1,000 Juniperus hor. `Prince of Wales’ 230 5.00 31 Juniperus horizontalis `Bar Harbor’ 390 5.00 785 Juniperus horizontalis `Blue Prince’ 247 Juniperus horizontalis `Icee Blue` 380 6.00 222 Juniperus horizontalis `Wiltonii’ 579 5.00 221 Juniperus horizontalis `Yukon Belle` 300 5.00 568 Juniperus horizontalis ‘Turquoise Spreader’ 595 Juniperus media `Armstrongii` 300 5.00 230 Juniperus procumbens nana 381 Juniperus sabina 290 5.00 595 Juniperus sabina `Skandia` 247 5.00 Juniperus squamata `Blue Carpet` 130 5.00 93 Juniperus virginiana `Grey Owl` 290 5.00 264 Larix laricina 1,000 7.00 Metasequoia glyptostroboides 925 7.00 Microbiota decussata 455 5.00 407 Picea abies ‘Nidiformis 627 Picea glauca `Conica’ 346 Picea pungens ‘Globosa’ 257 Picea pungens kiabob 100 5.00 770 7.00 Pinus mugo var. mugo 1,000 Rhodondendron ‘Northern Starburst’ 191 Taxus X media `Hicksii’ 144 5.00 566 Taxus X media `Wardii’ 490 5.00 314

16 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

13.50 13.50 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.20 11.00 11.00 11.00

11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 22.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00

Qty. Avail.

1 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

2 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

Taxus X media ‘Hillii’ 700 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis 80 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Brandon’ 490 5.00 866 Thuja occidentalis `Danica` 100 5.00 593 Thuja occidentalis `Little Giant’ 890 5.00 574 Thuja occidentalis `Nigra’ 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Smaragd` 1,000 5.00 1,000 Thuja occidentalis `Wintergreen’ 990 5.00 501 Thuja plicata ‘Spring Grove’ 140 5.00 300 Tsuga canadensis 1,000 5.00 250 7.00 1,000 Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’ 405 Tsuga canadensis ‘Pendula’ 285 Abeliophyllum distichum 232 7.00 Acanthopanax sieboldianus 967 7.00 Acer ginnala 840 7.00 45 Acer rubrum 562 7.00 Alnus rugosa 689 7.00 Aronia melanocarpa 174 7.00 Aronia melanocarpa `Autumn Magic’ 527 7.00 Betula papyrifera 929 7.00 Betula populifolia 270 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Dartmoor’ 250 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Ellen’s Blue` 500 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Ile de France’ 490 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Nanho Purple’ 390 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Petite Plum` 440 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Pink Delight’ 345 7.00 Buddleia davidii `Royal Red’ 344 7.00 Buddleia davidii `White Profusion’ 230 7.00 Callicarpa japonica `Issai’ 140 7.00 147 Caryopteris cland. `Dark Knight` 326 7.00 Caryopteris cland. `Grand Blue` 287 7.35 Celtis occidentalis 450 7.00 Cephalanthus occidentalis 1,000 7.00 Cercidiphyllum japonicum 230 7.00 Cercis canadensis 975 7.00 Chaenomeles spec.`Texas Scarlet’ 662 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Paniculatum` 490 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Pink Spire` 292 7.00 Clethra alnifolia `Sixteen Candles` 295 7.00 Cornus alba `Elegantissima’ 1,000 7.00 Cornus alba `Gouchaultii’ 444 7.00 Cornus alba `Ivory Halo` 1,000 7.45 Cornus alba `Sibirica` 231 7.00 Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ 231 Cornus amomum 1,000 7.00 Cornus kousa chinensis 329 7.00 Cornus racemosa 1,000 7.00 Cornus stolonifera (sericea) 1,000 7.00 Cornus stolonifera `Bud’s Yellow` 459 7.00 Cornus stolonifera `Kelseyi’ 1,000 7.00 Corylus avellana `Contorta’ 360 15.00 Cotinus coggygria 200 7.00 Cotoneaster horizontalis 545 7.00 Cotoneaster preacox `Boer` 500 7.00 Deutzia crenata `Nikko’ 90 5.00 752 7.00 Deutzia gracilis 860 7.00 Deutzia gracilis ‘Aurea’ 230 7.00 Deutzia X `Strawberry Field` 285 7.00 Diervilla lonicera 1,000 7.00 Euonymus alatus `Compactus` 804 5.00 1,000 8.00 1,000 Fagus sylvatica `Purpurea ` 530 7.00 115 Forsythia ‘Kumson’ 490 7.00 Forsythia ovata `Ottawa` 939 7.00 Forsythia X inter. `Northern Gold` 1,000 7.00 Forsythia X intermedia `Lynwood’ 679 7.00 Hamamelis virginiana 149 7.00 904 Hibiscus syriacus `Diana’ 80 5.00 260 Hydrangea arborescens `Annabelle’ 1,000 7.00

3 Gal Price 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 11.00 13.50 13.50 8.00

8.00

8.00

9.00 8.00

8.00 8.00

c.

Botanical Name

Many More Cultivars and sizes available Qty. Avail.

1 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

2 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

3 Gal Botanical Name Price

Hydrangea arborescens `Dardom` 334 7.60 Hydrangea macr. `Bouquet Rose` 305 7.00 Hydrangea macr. `Glowing Embers` 200 7.00 Hydrangea macr.`Princess Beatrix` 327 7.00 Hydrangea pan. ‘Limelight’ 351 7.60 Hydrangea pan. ‘Little Lamb’ 830 7.60 Hydrangea pan. ‘Pinky Winky’ 688 7.60 Hydrangea paniculata `Kyushu’ 500 7.00 Hydrangea paniculata `Tardiva’ 392 7.00 Hydrangea serrata `Bluebird` 560 7.00 Hydrangea serrata ‘Little Geisha’ 245 7.60 Ilex vert. ‘Winterred’ 285 7.00 Ilex verticillata 1,000 7.00 Ilex verticillata `Afterglow` 1,000 7.00 Ilex verticillata `Southern Gentleman` 393 7.00 Kerria japonica `Pleniflora’ 784 7.00 Kolkwitzia amabilis `Pink Cloud` 787 7.00 Ligustrum vicary 390 7.00 Ligustrum vulgaris 470 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum `Clavey’s Dwarf’ 686 7.00 Lonicera xylosteum `Emerald Mound` 595 7.00 Magnolia X loebneri `Merrill’ 345 11.00 Philadelphus `Innocence` 679 7.00 Philadelphus `Minnesota Snowflake’ 312 7.00 Philadelphus `Natchez` 280 7.00 Philadelphus coronarius `Aureus’ 243 7.00 Physocarpus opul. ‘Coppertina’ 315 7.85 Physocarpus opul. ‘Seward’ 385 7.85 Physocarpus opulifolus 1,000 7.00 Physocarpus opulifolus `Diabolo’ 1,000 7.60 1,000 8.60 Populus tremuloides 475 7.00 Potentilla frut. `Coronation Triumph’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Abbottswood’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Dakota Sunrise` 760 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Gold Drop’ 1,000 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Goldfinger’ 621 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `McKay’s White’ 400 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Tangerine` 645 7.00 Potentilla fruticosa `Yellow Gem` 395 7.00 Prunus cistena 1,000 7.00 Quercus alba 365 7.00 Quercus bicolor 275 7.00 Quercus palustris 400 7.00 Quercus robur ‘Fastigiata’ 924 9.00 Rhus aromatica `Low Grow` 1,000 7.00 Rhus typhina 740 7.00 Rhus typhina ‘Tiger’s Eye’ 546 12.50 Rosa ‘Henry Kelsey’ 345 7.00 Rosa `Bonica` 577 7.00 Rosa `J P Connell` 195 7.00 Rosa rugosa 1,000 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Alba’ 1,000 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Hansa` 138 7.00 Rosa rugosa `Morden Blush’ 170 7.00 Rosa X `Champlain` 206 7.00 Rosa X `The Fairy’ 221 7.00 Rosa x ‘Morden Amorette’ 240 7.00 Rubus occidentalis 760 7.00 Rubus odoratus 283 7.00 Salix bebbiana 38 7.00 Salix beblonia ‘Crispa’ 100 7.00 Salix discolor 961 7.00 Salix eriocephala 1,000 7.00 Salix exigua 1,000 7.00 Salix gracilis `Purpurea Nana` 431 7.00 Salix integra `Hakura Nishiki’ 150 7.00 Salix integra ‘Flamingo’ 117 7.00 Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa Aurea’ 170 7.00 Salix nigra 360 7.00

Qty. Avail.

1 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

2 Gal Qty. Price Avail.

3 Gal Price

Salix repens 50 7.00 Sambucus canadensis 1,000 7.00 Sambucus canadensis `Aurea’ 531 7.00 Sambucus nigra `Guincho Purple’ 210 7.00 Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ 45 9.50 317 11.50 Sambucus nigra ‘Thundercloud’ 185 7.00 Sorbaria aitchisonii 300 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia 1,000 7.00 Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’ 558 7.00 150 8.00 Spiraea `Pink Parasol` 120 7.45 Spiraea alba 1,000 7.00 Spiraea arguta 265 7.00 Spiraea betulifolia `Tor’ 150 7.00 Spiraea bumalda `Gold Mound’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea bumalda `Gumball` 30 7.00 Spiraea jap. ‘Dakota Goldcharm’ 315 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Alpina’ 997 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Anthony Waterer’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Crispa’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Flaming Mound’ 772 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Froebelii’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Golden Princess’ 125 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Goldflame’ Spiraea japonica `Little Princess’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Magic Carpet’ 1,000 7.25 Spiraea japonica `Manon` 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Neon Flash’ 1,000 7.00 Spiraea japonica `Shirobana’ 163 7.00 Spiraea japonica ‘Genpei’ 200 7.00 150 8.00 Spiraea japonica ‘White Gold’ 580 7.00 Spiraea tomentosa 418 7.00 Spiraea vanhouttei 1,000 7.00 Spriaea vanhouttei ‘Golden Fountain’ 30 9.00 Stephanandra incisa `Crispa’ 1,000 7.00 Symphoricarpos albus 1,000 7.00 Symphoricarpos chenaultii `Hancock` 377 7.00 Syringa patula `Miss Kim’ 30 8.00 Syringa vulgaris `Beauty of Moscow` 77 7.00 199 8.00 Syringa vulgaris `Primrose` 327 7.00 Syringa vulgaris `Sensation’ 65 7.00 287 8.00 Syringa vulgaris ‘Dappled Dawn’ 45 7.00 Syringa vulgaris ‘Monge’ 15 7.00 210 8.00 Syringa X hyac. `Pocahontas’ 107 7.00 Tamarix pentandra 337 7.00 Tilia cordata 400 7.00 Viburnum `Emerald Triumph` 90 7.00 Viburnum dentatum/recognitum 287 7.00 Viburnum dentatum`Chicago Lustre` 130 7.00 Viburnum lantana 196 7.00 Viburnum nudum `Winterthur’ 150 7.00 Viburnum opulus `Nanum’ 90 7.00 Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ 24 7.00 160 8.00 Viburnum rhytidophyllum `Alleghany` 91 7.00 Viburnum trilobum 570 7.00 Viburnum trilobum `Bailey Compact` 253 7.00 Weigela florida `Alexandra’ 250 7.60 Weigela florida `Bristol Ruby’ 546 7.00 Weigela florida `Elvira` 275 7.60 Weigela florida `Java Red’ 90 7.00 Weigela florida `Minuet’ 1,000 7.00 Weigela florida `Nana Variegata’ 690 7.00 Weigela florida `Polka’ 790 7.00 Weigela florida `Purpurea Nana` 980 7.00 Weigela florida `Red Prince’ 345 7.00 Weigela florida `Rumba’ 580 7.00 Weigela florida `Tango’ 515 7.00 Weigela florida `Variegata’ 382 7.00 Weigela florida `Victoria` 200 7.00 Weigela florida ‘Minor Black’ 105 7.00

RR 2, Mount Brydges, ON N0L 1W0 Tel: 519-264-9057 • Fax: 519-264-1337 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 17

LO apprentice emcees Breakfast with the Mayors at the recent Ontario Skills competition and apprentice at the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) in partnership with LO, emceed the event.

Tyler and his partner Joseph Isaak were thrilled with the win, which was extremely impressive considering their school doesn’t offer a landscaping program.

Through much determination and a Tyler Garrad, left, and Joseph Isaak with their teacher Jan little help from their co-op teacher, Lehman.

Jan Lehman, the boys wowed the

By Helen Hassard Ontario Skills judges with their concentration and skill.

Golden Horseshoe Chapter members and LO staff In addition, Gail Smyth, executive director shared a time of pride during the Halton Industry Education Council’s Halton Apprenticeship Advisory Council (HAAC) Honour Roll Awards.

It was part of the semi-annual Breakfast with the Mayors event, held in late May. Members of Landscape Ontario have a great LO has been a long-time supporter of opportunity to advertise their services to thouHAAC, a community effort to foster growth of sands of people free of charge. the skilled trades. The event, held in Burlington, Landscape Ontario members (active, was well received with almost 300 guests in intro and satellite) are strongly encouraged to attendance, including Mayor Rob Burton from create or update their member profile on www. the Town of Oakville, Mayor Cam Jackson from landscapeontario.com. It’s a great opportuthe City of Burlington and Mayor Gordon Krantz nity to promote your company and services from the Town of Milton. All three mayors, to thousands of consumers who are inspired along with Regional Chair Gary Carr, took the about landscaping, horticulture and outdoor opportunity to bring greetings, while discussing living. As an example of the number of conthe importance of skilled trades and community sumers visiting the site during the month of collaboration in Halton.

May saw just over 27,000 individual visitors This year the breakfast was particularly to Green for Life website. special for Landscape Ontario, because Tyler Members can add their company logo, Garrard, gold medalist in Landscape Gardening and up to 12 photos of their work. Spending

of Skills Canada – Ontario, spoke of the exciting events, while representatives from the Halton Catholic and Halton District School Boards acknowledged all of the student winners in attendance.

Sally Harvey, manager of education and labour development at LO and Tyler’s trainer during his apprenticeship, stated, “LO is proud to have one of the members of the gold member team on board in partnership with CNLA.” Harvey went on to say, “Tyler is a great role model for our youth today. As a student of horticulture, he is pursuing multiple educational pathways to reach his goal; starting with an apprenticeship with CNLA and LO and pursuing college this fall.”

Web profile: Free marketing opportunity

18 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

only a few minutes to update your profile will make your company easier to find when potential clients search for an LO member to do work on his home or business. It’s like having your very own page within the popular LO site.

You are no longer limited to promoting your company based on where your head office is located. If you do work in several cities and towns, by entering those client addresses (your client’s address will not be shown) in your profile, potential customers in those cities and towns will find you.

To take advantage of this opportunity, go to www.horttrades.com/how-to-update-yourmember-profile.

Two Ontario projects part of sustainable sites study Two Ontario projects are part of an international pilot project to evaluate a new rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Sustainable Sites Initiative announced the selection of the Humber Arboretum Centre and Wildflower Farm.

The new landscape rating system will be used in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, used in both Canada and the U.S. Presently, the LEED system contains only basic landscape requirements.

Over 150 other pilot projects were approved to take part in the Sustainable Sites program, 34 from the U.S., Iceland and Spain. One other Canadian site — the Alderwood Rest Home, Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia — was named to participate in the program.

Wildflower Farm The pilot project at Wildflower Farm in Coldwater will include the establishment and growth of a native plant nursery, demonstration gardens and seed production fields to help demonstrate the low maintenance and sustainability of native wildflowers and grasses on a large commercial scale without the use of irrigation.

Miriam Goldberger and her husband Paul Jenkins launched the Wildflower Farm (see Member Profile article, Horticulture Review, October 2008) with her husband in 1997. They grew to specialize as a leading native plant nursery and natural garden centre. This led the couple to Eco-Lawn, a blend of fine fescues as part of a sustainable lawn.

Letter to the editor Editor’s note: The author of this letter to Prosperity Partners program manager Jacki Hart has requested that it appear in Horticulture Review as a Letter to the Editor.

Good morning Jacki, With delight, I read your column (Prosperity Partners) in the June 15, 2010 issue of Horticulture Review. I found it to be truly professional and contributing.

While discussing our company’s tax bill recently, my son and I came to the conclusion that we must all become more vocal and involved in the huge wastes in our govern-

ments; whether at the municipal, provincial or federal level. Negative work ethics can certainly result in one such waste. The article is not about bashing government employees, but rather how to balance work and personal life, and deriving a benefit from both.

Thanks for reminding me to reflect on if I would work for me. I am going forward with a different attitude. Love your article, and thanks for your leadership.

Sincerely, Cor Vanderkruk Connon Nurseries, C.B. Vanderkruk Holdings

Garden Tourism group needs members The Ontario Garden Tourism Coalition’s (OTGC) mission is to put the province’s gardens on the map of public consciousness.

The coalition was the brainchild of Michel Gauthier and Carol Cowan. It became a reality after this year’s Canada Blooms, resulting from the first-ever garden and tourism conference in 2009.

Landscape Ontario is the home base of the new organization.

“I think we could easily double garden tourism numbers in five years,” said conference founder Gauthier, who also manages the VIA Rail Garden Route program, with which LO is also associated.

Membership is comprised of botanical gardens, public gardens, garden focused communities (i.e. cities, towns and municipalities that pride themselves in their horticultural offerings, such as, but not limited to, Communities in Bloom members), garden trails, allied industry members and more.

“Currently we are working to raise grant monies for an OGTC strategy and action plan, much the same as the Ontario wine and culinary industries did a number of years ago, and then implemented with great success,” said Gauthier.

For more information, contact Carol Cowan at 416-929-1066.

Humber Arboretum Humber Arboretum was selected because of its existing environmentally friendly elements, as well as its potential to implement and model new sustainable technologies.

Established in 1977, the Humber Arboretum is a joint venture of Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, the City of Toronto, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The arboretum features 250 acres of land and more than 10 kilometres of paths and trails through public gardens, meadows, forests, wetlands, wildlife corridors and waterways.

The program runs through to June 2012, with the final rating system and reference guide issued by early 2013. More information is available at www.sustainablesites.org.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 19

LO member wins conservation award erosion control, and other measures to prevent physical and human damage to this wetland on Grindstone Creek.”

Helder plans to erect signage on the business’s property to inform visitors of the partnership with Gelderman Landscaping and Conservation Halton.

Categories of award winners include citizen, community, education, corporate, and stewardship.

Nathan Helder, left, receives his award from Conservation Halton chair Brian Penman.

Nathan Helder and his company Gelderman Landscaping received a 2010 Conservation Award, in the stewardship category.

The award is handed out annually by the Conservation Halton program to recognize those who help protect the natural environment within the Halton watershed. Helder, president of Gelderman Landscaping, was presented the award in a ceremony on June 3 in Burlington.

Conservation Halton presented the background on what lead to Helder receiving the award, stating that when Helder purchased the company’s property in 2007, he was not aware it contained a natural wetland adjacent to Lake Medad Valley Swamp and Grindstone Creek Watershed, which is deemed provincially significant.

Hassaan Basit, director of communications services for Conservation Halton, stated, “Within your industry you have taken

a leadership role with your position as chair of Landscape Ontario’s Environmental Stewardship Committee. On your business property, a number of steps were taken, including the removal of a mulch pile, the planting of native shrubs, and grass seed to encourage natural

Traps to detect emerald ash borer Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is using a new insect trap to detect and monitor the emerald ash borer (EAB) spread.

The program is part of the effort to slow the spread of the insect. In addition to visual inspections, green insect traps baited with a lure will part of this year’s EAB survey across Canada. The surveys target trees surrounding areas where the EAB has been detected.

In addition, in areas where EAB has not been

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New name for Gelderman In other company news, Nathan Helder announced a name change of his company from Jan Gelderman Landscaping to Gelderman Landscaping.

“We created a new logo and graphic look to stay fresh with our customers. After 55 years, we thought it was time to do some designing of our own, stated Helder, president of the company.

As well, Gelderman completely redesigned its website, www.gelderman.com.

found, surveys are also being conducted at sawmills and other facilities that handle or transport wood, as they are considered at high risk for the introduction of the pest.

As the camping season begins, the CFIA reminds Canadians that moving firewood can spread the EAB or other forest pests to new areas, as the insects can hitchhike on firewood.

It is best to always buy firewood locally and to burn it on-site.

Greening highways in next phase that it reduces carbon dioxide, which causes climate change and is a byproduct of vehicle emissions.

Representatives of Landscape Ontario and Vineland were part of a tour of the highway sites conducted by MTO officials in early June. Among those taking part in the tour were Dr. Hannah Mathers of Vineland, Peter Braun,

president of Braun Nursery, Tony DiGiovanni, executive director of LO, and Allan Dennis, editor of Horticulture Review.

The mass planting was about 80 per cent completed when the group visited the sites.

Members hope to return for another viewing at the end of August.

Ag Energy and university to develop solar technology

The busiest highway in North America is receiving a green make-over.

At two of the highest traffic volume intersections on Hwy. 401 through Toronto, over 7,000 trees are being planted as part of project to green Ontario highways.

The intersections are at the 401 and 427, near Pearson Airport, and 401 and Allen Expressway at Yorkdale Mall. It is estimated that 500,000 vehicles pass through the 18-lane highway per day.

The project is a partnership that includes Landscape Ontario, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The province has funded the pilot project, and oversees the planting, while Vineland and LO provide the coordination and expertise on growing some of the trees. The majority of the trees were purchased from other nurseries and sources unknown.

Back in September 2009, the Minister of Transportation at the time, Jim Bradley, announced during an open house held at Vineland that $1-million had been allocated to the project. In the late spring of 2010, the planting process began.

About 2,000 trees were grown at Vineland, as well as Braun, Willowbrook and Sheridan Nurseries. Trees chosen for the project were those resistant to winter highway salt and summer dry spells. At the end of two years, the trees will be evaluated for survivability. It is hoped that those varieties that show durability can be produced by Ontario nurseries for further highway greening.

The importance of highway greening is

Ag Energy Co-operative is teaming up with the University of Waterloo to accelerate the research and development of a new solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

The farmer-owned co-operative believes the dye-sensitized solar cell is a promising device concept that has high potential for cost-effective application suitable for the agricultural sector.

“Currently we offer Ontario farmers 10 kW ground-mounted solar PV systems and roofmounted systems of all sizes. We believe this is a good opportunity for them as well as a good application. But one thing we have noticed is that the efficiency of even the best solar cells produced is unusually low,” Mike Bouk, chief executive officer of Ag Energy Co-operative told Horticulture Review. “We believe the dyesensitized solar cell with the nano-structured electrodes will increase the efficiency because of

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its three-dimensional technology. In other words, there are just more places for the sun to hit the three-dimensional cell than the one-dimensional cell.”

The University of Waterloo will work to develop the novel three-dimensional technology and demonstrate the technical and economic advantages to the packaging and installation of such solar cells.

“Not only is it the right thing to do both environmentally and socially, but it just makes economic sense,” says Bouk. “Ag Energy is honoured to work with the University of Waterloo and its widely accredited research team.”

Bouk went on to explain that solar does well in unobstructed areas and the agricultural sector has plenty of this. “So marrying up a better, more-cost effective technology with the best locations makes sense to us.”

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LO STAFF PROFILE

Rob Ellidge Web editor

What is your basic job description at LO? My primary task is to manage, update and add content to landscapeontario.com. I am part of the LO branding team that includes Denis Flanagan and Lee Ann Knudsen.

Together, we execute the plans of the Branding Committee and educate members on the Green for Life program, because it is designed to promote their business. I take photographs and videos at both LO and public events. I am also responsible for all classified advertising in both Landscape Trades and Horticulture Review, as well as on the trade website. I also serve as the property manager for the Milton site, and help any of the other departments when needed.

What is your background before coming to LO, and when did you begin work at LO? I graduated from the Humber College School of Journalism in April 1995, focusing on print media and design. I was hired by Rita Weerdenburg in May 1995 to produce Horticulture Review.

When not at work, where can you be found?

Playing hockey, visiting with family, taking pictures and video of my daughter.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut.

What inspires you during your time at LO? The volunteers. The leaders on our board, committees and chapters are all so successful in their own business, yet they still manage to find the time and energy to carry out the goals of the association.

Name your all-time favourite movie, musical group and TV show.

The first two Austin Powers movies by Mike Myers are a laugh.

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, there were so many great comedies and groundbreaking science fiction movies — it’s hard to choose just one.

U2 is my all-favourite group. They were my first concert in 1987, and I have seen them live too many times to count. The only TV show I have watched religiously over the past five years is Doctor Who. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I went on my dream vacation and toured Australia in March 2007. If I could go anywhere else, I’d go to lower Earth orbit. It would be a unique experience to see the world from up there.

Tell us one thing about you that few of your colleagues know about you.

I actually saw the Easter bunny in my room when I was four.

22 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

Time to make mid-season airblast sprayer adjustments

By Dr. Jason S.T. Deveau Application Technology Specialist, OMAFRA

I

n June it’s about mid-season for many orchard, high-bush and nursery spray applicators. Some airblast sprayers have already put in over 100 hours. There have been significant increases in canopies since the sprayers were calibrated at the first of the season. Larger, denser canopies mean that it’s time to reconsider spray distribution and sprayer settings. Beyond re-calibrating the sprayer, here are a few important adjustments:

Fan speed Growers are recognizing that excessive air in early season blows spray straight through the canopy. To correct this, they reduce air speed. This is a good practice. Now, however, canopies are fuller and growers may have to increase the fan speed to compensate. To increase your fan speed, use a higher PTO speed, gear-down and throttle-up, adjust blade pitch or use a hydraulic motor. Remember, you only need enough air to overcome ambient wind and to move leaves and deposit spray in the middle of the canopy. Do not perform alternate row middle spraying.

Nozzle wear The rate of tip wear depends on spray pressure, the product sprayed and the nozzle material. Upgrading to a harder, more durable tip can reduce maintenance costs, but even ceramic is generally worn in two years. I’ve already pulled disc-core nozzles from sprayers that were new in April, but are completely spent now. How are your nozzles holding up? Even if the sprayer empties where it normally does, plugged filters and strainers can cancel out worn nozzles and you can’t tell with just a shoulder-check. Clean the nozzle strainers and nozzles with a toothbrush in a bucket of water, then check nozzle output one by one. If one is out by 10 per cent, compared to the manufacturer’s rate, replace it. If two are out, replace them all. It’s worth it.

just the bottom of the target. Yes, this means replacing all your nozzles with a set that puts out a higher volume, but your nozzles will last longer since you’re changing them mid-season.

Sprayer output There’s no hard and fast rule, but you should consider increasing overall sprayer output by at least 15 per cent. I was in an orchard early this season, working with a grower to determine an optimal sprayer output. At 600 L/ha, it was over-sprayed. Now, however, the grower needs almost 700 L/ha to achieve adequate coverage in the same trees.

Forward speed Since you will be reconsidering nozzle rates anyway, also consider slowing down a little to improve canopy penetration. I was visiting a grower last week who was having trouble achieving adequate coverage in the centre of his trees. When we redistributed the spray pattern to match his canopy and slowed down to 5 kph, his coverage improved significantly.

Remember, when you make any changes to your sprayer, put water sensitive paper in the middle of the target canopy about two-thirds from the top (generally the hardest-to-hit location). Spray from both sides and go back to check your coverage. If you don’t see good coverage, further adjustment is required.

Dr. Deveau may be reached at jason.deveau@ontario.ca.

Spray distribution More canopy often means re-thinking sprayer distribution and output volume. For example, some apple growers choose to open another nozzle position lower on the boom to hit low-hanging branches, but this is not the best way to redistribute spray. The better approach is to turn on a lower nozzle position and then redistribute a higher sprayer output over the entire boom. This way, the whole canopy gets more spray, not

Tornado damages greenhouses A tornado hit the Leamington area in early June causing extensive damage to a number of greenhouse operations.

Keepsake Plants, N & M Farms and Essex Nurseries all reported some damage when the tornado hit on the weekend. Early estimates put the damage at around $24 million.

Hard hit was Keepsake Plants, formerly known as Yoder Canada. Eight acres of greenhouses were flattened, but news reports say the company was shipping plants on the Monday after the storm.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 23

OMAFRA TURF REPORT

HORT PROTECT

Fiesta research update

Savings plan for the disabled

By Pam Charbonneau OMAFRA Turf Specialist

T

he broadleaf herbicide Fiesta (active ingredient iron in the form of FeHEDTA, 4.43 per cent) is very new to the marketplace. We continue to test its efficacy on broadleaf weeds, weed re-growth after treatment and safety on newly seeded turf.

It provides a very quick defoliation of dandelion and black medick in a mixed stand with turf at label rates. When applied as a broadcast application, it also results in the greening-up of the turf. Fiesta showed some re-growth of dandelions, regardless of the application rates used in the fall of 2009 (200 mL, 400 mL or 800 mL). By the following spring, the percentage of dandelion cover was back up to the same level as the beginning of the experiment for all of the Fiesta rates.

The Fiesta label does state that you can “repeat once in four or more weeks.” In this experiment, Fiesta was not re-applied because the application in early October did not allow time for a re-application before the onset of winter. We conducted tagged weed trials following individual dandelions treated once with Fiesta and treated twice with Fiesta, four weeks apart. So far, the results with the single application of Fiesta applied in the spring resulted in regrowth. The second application with Fiesta will be applied soon.

The re-growth of black medick was similar to dandelion in the fall of 2009 and spring, 2010. By the spring, only the 800 mL rate had a lower percentage of black medick cover than the weedy check. The label rate range (200 and 400 mL per 100m2 rates) had re-growth equal to the weedy check. Again, the second application that is allowed on the label at four or more weeks after the first was not applied, so this experiment

does not shed any light on how well the Fiesta would work at controlling black medick with two applications, four weeks apart.

The situation with the narrow-leaved plantain was a bit different than the dandelion or black medick. Fiesta did not result in a quick defoliation. Instead, the percentage of narrowleaved plantain cover decreased at each rating date for all of the Fiesta rates and decreased more quickly than in the plots treated with Par III. By the spring, the percentage of narrow-leaved plantain was almost completely gone from all of the plots, including the weedy check. This indicates that the growth habit of the narrow-leaved plantain is such that it is slow to re-grow in the spring, regardless of whether it has been treated with a herbicide or not. Again, a second application was not applied and the results may be quite different with a second application.

This spring we also tagged weed trials where we are following individual dandelions treated once with Fiesta and treated twice with Fiesta, four weeks apart. So far, as with the dandelions mentioned above, the narrow-leaved plantain has resulted in re-growth after two weeks.

As I mentioned, more trials are underway at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute on Fiesta rates, timing (spring applied vs. fall applied) and with and without re-application. As also mentioned, there are trials underway following tagged individual weeds (dandelions, narrow-leaved plantain, broad-leaved plantain and clover) that have been treated with Fiesta to evaluate re-growth.

By the end of the 2010 season, we should have a much clearer idea of how well this product works.

I will update the results later in the season.

Pam Charbonneau may be contacted at 519824-4120, ext. 52597, or by e-mail at pamela. charbonneau@ontario.ca.

By W. Michael Thomas, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C., R.F.P.

W

e are all familiar with RRSPs, and since 2008 with TFSAs and the benefits of each one. However, not many are familiar with the new Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).

The RDSP was unveiled in the 2007 budget and is currently offered by only two of the five Canadian chartered banks. As less than one per cent of the Canadian population is expected to qualify for it, this savings plan has so far flown under the radar compared to the launch of the tax-free savings account (TFSA).

For a disabled person, however, the RDSP is designed to help with long-term savings and in this context fills a very important need.

This niche offering can provide those with a qualifying disability a significant sum of money as a result of generous grants and bonds from the Canadian government. RDSP accounts consist of contributions by the plan holder, government grants and bonds, and investment earnings. The main financial benefits of the RDSP are as follows: Canada Disability Savings Grant (CDSG), Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB) and tax sheltered investment earnings.

Although it is the most effective investment vehicle for a person with a qualified disability, there are some concerns with respect to ineligibility as a result of recovery or death before age 60, refund of grants and bonds that were not in the plan for 10 or more years, and the availability of the plan, only until one turns 49 years of age.

The 2008 budget did not make any changes to the RDSP, but did promise to review the RDSP every three years to ensure that the plan continues to meet the needs of Canadians with disabilities. For a more in depth look at the savings potential and limitations of this plan, visit the website at: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/ eng/goc/rdsp.shtml.

If you have any questions, contact Michael Thomas, a partner with Investment Guild, endorsed provider of the HortProtect Group Insurance Program, and a director of Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation. 1-800-4598990, info@hortprotect.com.

24 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 25

OMAFRA NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE REPORT

Biocontrol is alive and growing

By Jen Llewellyn OMAFRA nursery crops specialist

I

n May, I was privileged to attend the International Organization for Biological Control in the Americas, held in Niagara Falls, Ont. All the who’s who in the world of biocontrol attended the conference. I made a lot of contacts and gleaned several new ideas and approaches to biocontrol in the greenhouse, nursery and related production systems. I would like to share some of the highlights from the speaker program.

Ladybird beetles When it comes to rapid, effective biocontrol options, ladybird beetles are not exactly on the top of the list. They exhibit poor colonization, high levels of cannibalism (yes, they feed on each other), high levels of dispersal and slow reproductive rates.

In nature, ladybird beetles arrive late in the pest lifecycle, when there are already high numbers and plant damage is quite significant.

Personally, I have found ladybird beetles a little more organized than their reputation may suggest. These predatory insects have been interfering with the Viburnum leaf beetle trials that I’ve conducted in the last couple of years. In my 2008 trial, various species of ladybird beetles consumed most of the beetle larvae across my entire trial, all within about two weeks.

United States Department of Agriculture researchers discovered an interesting observation of the unfortunate relationship between ladybird beetles and lacewings. An important predator of soft-bodied insects, lacewings will do everything they can to avoid laying their eggs in areas that are occupied by ladybird beetles. Researchers discovered that lacewing adults are actually repelled by the semiochemicals that can be found in the tracks of ladybird beetles.

Scientists are looking at sprays in food crops to attract the predatory ladybird beetles earlier, so that they are already there when midseason aphid pests start to build.

Interestingly, ladybird beetles also have non-predator effects on plant feeding insects: their presence causes aphids to drop off the plant.

If you have ever looked at ladybird beetle mandibles under a 40 x microscope, you understand the aphid’s response. Obviously, the aphid loses valuable feeding time and in many cases, may not successfully re-colonize the plant. It may even fall victim to another predator.

26 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

Spiders as biocontrol Spiders are not well studied in the role as predators of economic plant pests. Researchers at the University of Kentucky discovered that 40 per cent of the spider species he studied in agricultural crops have aphid DNA in their digestive tract. Several species of aphids when alarmed, exhibited significant levels (up to 50 per cent) of dropping from the plant. Remember how those big mandibles must look to them?

Talking to another conference delegate, I learned that greenhouse operators, who have taken the time to monitor arachnid activity, have noticed much lower aphid pressure where spider activity (i.e. webbing) was observed beneath and around the crops.

Weakest link The main strategy for biocontrol is to understand the enemy, and then discover its weakness, so you can enhance the predators, parasites and parasitoids that might best exploit this weakness. For plant pests that lay their eggs in soil, you need to create an environment that will support ground-dwelling predators, such as ground beetles that love to feast on soil-dwelling eggs and larvae. For plant pests that cannot fly, but must walk to find host plants, you might try interrow cropping with non-host plants to confuse and complicate their journey. Where beneficial parasitoids need a pollen and nectar source to support their reproductive energy needs, conservation strips of flowering annuals and perennials can significantly increase the success of that biocontrol system.

Biocontrol products in Canada Dr. Michael Brownbridge and Dr. Rose Buitenhuis of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre gave a summary and some predictions about promoting success with bios in the future. There is no question the Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is probably the most successful example of biocontrol we have for ornamental plant production.

Botanigard (Beauveria bassiana Strain GHA) is being touted as a significant solution for the suppression of sucking insect pests in greenhouse crops. Beauveria fungal spores in the spray solution germinate on the cuticle of the insect and penetrate the cuticle to colonize the inner tissue, eventually killing the insect.

By trialing and observing the performance of biocontrol organisms in various crops and environments, and tweaking the production and formulation, we will be in a much better posi-

tion to improve the performance. An example is the current project that looks at the synergy between entomopathogenic nematodes and Met52 (Metarhizium anisopliae strain F52) and the attractiveness of various ornamental host plants for the management of black vine weevil. The granular formulation of Met52 was recently registered and classified for use in container production of ornamentals (outdoor and greenhouse) to be mixed into the growing media at potting to manage black vine weevil and strawberry root weevil.

Emerald ash borer biocontrol According to Nick Mills, University of California, about 30 to 35 per cent parasitism needs to be observed before we can be confident that the invasive pest population will be overcome. Emerald ash borer is an example of a newly-introduced pest where the level of parasitism and predation of the pest is still quite low, but we have great hope that these levels will increase sharply over the next decade.

In Michigan, the natural callusing response of the tree has been credited a 20 to 40 per cent reduction in the successful colonization of the larvae in our native ash trees. In other words, researchers have found signs of early larval feeding under the bark, but the larval tunnel was never completed, with the insect obviously walled-off by overgrowth of callus tissue.

Also in Michigan, woodpeckers have been observed as predators of emerald ash borer larvae and pupae, but at a very small level. Interestingly enough in Asia, woodpeckers are the most significant predators of emerald ash borer larvae and pupae. North American scientists have been studying this beetle in its native Asian habitat to see if there were some biocontrol organisms that we may be able to introduce here. I guess the importation of Asian woodpeckers was out of the question, since scientists chose three species of Asian wasp parasitoids (insects that lay their eggs inside the body of other insects). These wasp species were mass-reared and small numbers were introduced into Michigan (2008) and in both Michigan and Ontario (2009). So far, things are looking up. The level of wasp parasitism increased from 1.1 per cent in 2008 to 4.2 per cent in 2009.

Jennifer Llewellyn may be reached at 519-8244120, ext. 52671, or by email jennifer.llewellyn@ ontario.ca. Her Nursery-Landscape Report can be found at http://apps.omafra.gov.on.ca/scripts/ english/crops/agriphone/index.asp.

LEGAL ISSUES

The Ontario New Home Warranty Program

By Robert Kennaley McLauchlin & Associates

M

ost of us have heard of the new home warranty, however, we may not understand how that program works and, accordingly, how it might, or might not, play a role in what we do for a living. Tarion Warranty Corporation, also known in its more formal title as as the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONHWP), is a private, non-profit and self-funded corporation designated by the Rob Kennaley Lieutenant Governor in Council pursuant to the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act to, among other things: • administer the new home warranties plan established under that Act • require the registration of new home builders and vendors in Ontario • assist in the conciliation of disputes between new home owners and new home builders/ vendors in Ontario (each as defined under the Act) • establish and administer a compensation fund providing for the payment of compensation to new home owners in Ontario in accordance with the Plan • improve communication between new home owners and new home builders/vendors in Ontario.

The New Home Warranty Program applies to the construction of all new homes in Ontario.

The statutory warranties established under the Act are provided at first instance by the vendor of the new home in question. Where a vendor has failed to meet his obligations under the Act, new homeowners may in certain circumstances claim against the compensation fund.

A new homeowner’s claim against the statutory warranty is subject to conditions. First, the new homeowner’s claim must be brought within the timeframes contemplated by the Act. In this regard, there are three types of warranty, and a different time frame associated with each: • a one-year warranty (subject to some exclusions) against, most construction defects • a two-year warranty against water penetration into the building, detachment,

displacement and physical deterioration to the building envelope, mechanical and electrical system failures and violations of the Ontario Building Code affecting health and safety • a seven-year warranty against (subject to exclusions) major structural defects, the definition of which is somewhat complicated, but includes material load bearing structural failures or load bearing problems which materially impair the homeowner’s ability to use the home as intended The timeframes within which the above warranty claims must be made (one, two and seven years, respectively) run from the new homeowner’s taking possession of the home (as indicated on a Certificate of Possession for detached or semi-detached homes, or the date the condominium was registered under the Condominium Act in the case of a condominium unit).

Under the Act a builder is a person who undertakes the performance of all work and supply of materials necessary to construct a completed home whether for the purpose of sale by himself or under a contract with a vendor or owner. The vendor then provides the warranties discussed above.

The Act provides that where an owner has a cause of action against a vendor or builder for damages resulting from a breach of warranty claimed within the applicable warranty period, the owner is entitled to be paid by Tarion, out of the compensation fund, the amount of such damages. Tarion is also, however, entitled to perform work, or to arrange for the performance of work, in lieu of paying the damages (or costs of repair) claimed by an owner. New home purchasers are

also entitled to claim compensation in relation to lost deposits in the event the purchase of the home does not, in some circumstances, close.

Tarion is then subrogated to all rights of recovery of a person to whom payment in respect of a claim has been made out of the compensation fund. This allows Tarion to pursue not only the vendors or builders who may have breached their obligations under the Act, but also any other person that might have been responsible for the deficiencies at first instance. In that regard, Tarion also requires the vendor/builders to post security in relation to new homes under construction, which is held against possible warranty claims in relation to those homes.

For landscape contractors and suppliers, it is noted that the warranties apply to any structure or appurtenance used in conjunction with the home. In some circumstances, then, the warranties will apply to decks, cabanas or other structures. Landscape contractors and suppliers will, of course, rarely (if at all) ever be a builder or vendor or a new home. However, Tarion’s rights of subrogation may arise in circumstances where a homeowner makes a claim as against a builder. In those circumstances, it is important to have a general understanding of how the New Home Warranty Program works.

Robert Kennaley practices construction law in Toronto. He speaks and writes regularly on construction law issues and can be reached for comment at 416-368-2522, or at kennaley@ mclauchlin.ca. This material is for information purposes and is not intended to provide legal advice in relation to any particular fact situation. Readers who have concerns about any particular circumstance are encouraged to seek independent legal advice in that regard.

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 27

CLASSIFIED ADS SERVICES AND SUPPLIES

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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: jan@oxfordinstashade.com www.oxfordinstashade.com

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 until Nov 30/10. Job Site Keswick, Ont. Fax resume to (905) 898-0360 or call (905) 898-6856

EQUIPMENT 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

FINN Hydroseeders & Bark Blowers New and Used • Flex Guard FRM • Soil Guard BFM • Erosion Control Blanket Seed & Fertilizer Toll free: (888) 298-9911 Fax: (905) 761-7959 www.fibramulch.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INFORMATION All classified ads must be pre-paid by VISA or Mastercard. Rates: $45.20 (HST included) per column inch Min. order $45.20. 15% discount on ads run for entire calendar year.

Box Numbers: Additional $10.

Confidentiality ensured. Deadlines: 20th day of the month prior to issue date. (eg: June issue deadline is May 20th). January deadline is Dec. 1.

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 $45.20 (GST included). Website ads are posted for 30 days and are limited to 325 words. View these ads and more online at:

www.horttrades.com/classifieds 28 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

Since 1913, the people at Sheridan Nurseries have helped make the difference to our business. As a pioneer of horticulture in Canada, we continue to be a leader in our field with 4 nursery business units, 9 retail garden centres in Ontario and a team of enthusiastic and dedicated professionals ready to make things grow.

Have a strong interest in how people and technology interact with a passion to pursue improvement opportunities?

Sheridan Nurseries, Georgetown, is searching for an Industrial Engineer-Nursery Operations To be part of a team that shapes the dynamic future of a major part of our “growing” business.

Analyze the diverse yet interdependent financial and operational statistics from our nursery business units. This position reports to the Vice President, Nursery Operations.

Requirements • Desire to operationally excel in an fast, ever-changing environment with often small windows of opportunity • Strong business conceptual skills, change management and implementation • Desire to lead and assist in process change and improvement • Solid spread-sheet and presentation skills • Highly organized, able to work independently and able to balance multiple priorities.

Qualifications • Microsoft business applications including Access and Excel manipulations • Post Secondary Education in Industrial Engineering. Experience in agronomy will be an asset.

• Strong business and operational acumen, implementation-, facilitation- and negotiating skills.

Apply to Jim MacLeod, HR Manager, Sheridan Nurseries R.R. #4 12302 10th Line Georgetown, ON L7G 4S hr@sheridannurseries.com Fax: 905-873-2478

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN One of Canada’s largest, award winning landscape companies, family owned for 4 generations with a staff of 80 people, is growing again!

We require experienced, motivated people to join our team.

Landscape Construction Foreman (3 positions) available. Minimum 10 years experience in all facets of large residential and commercial construction. Top wages commensurate with experience. Will pay relocation fees for successful out of province candidates.

Please forward resume to salivan@bellnet.ca

NURSERY STOCK GROUND COVERS UNLIMITED Your Ontario source for ornamental and native ground covers. Call, fax, or write for the 2010 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 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 Hofland Gardens Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Groundcovers Tel: 905-355-3392 E-mail: hoflandgardens@phc.igs.net

LABOUR MARKET SEEKING PLANTING CREW POSITION Experienced landscape crew member able to help out with planting installations and getting the right spacing and placement. Good driving record. Trained and experienced in horticulture and landscape design. Located in downtown Toronto.

Please contact Heather at 416-768-2311 or heatherspeakman@sympatico.ca

Get INSPIRED Get CONNECTED

AD INDEX COMPANY

PAGE

PHONE

WEBSITE

ACO Systems Ltd................................................27.......... 877-226-4255.....................................www.acocan.ca Caledon Hills Perennials......................................6........... 905-473-1145......... www.caledonhillsperennials.com Christmas Decor (Turf Management Systems)....21.......... 866-615-4147..................... www.christmasdecor.net G & L Group (Brock Aggregates).......................13.......... 416-798-7050................. www.brockaggregates.com Hillen Nursery Inc.............................................16-17.......519-264-9057 Hort Protect (CNLA) ...........................................20.......... 800-328-7887............................www.hortprotect.com Landscape Safety ..............................................29.......... 877-482-2323...................www.landscapesafety.com Legends Landscape Supply Inc.........................10.......... 905-336-3369....................... www.landscapestore.ca Limestone Trail Company Ltd..............................3........... 905-563-8133........................www.limestonetrail.com M Putzer Nursery................................................31.......... 800-337-3363....................putzernursery@primus.ca Mankar Distributing Inc........................................8........... 647-309-7826.................................... www.mankar.ca Newroads National Leasing................................29.......... 416-587-1021................. www.newroadsleasing.com Oregon Associations of Nurseries.......................2........... 800-342-6401.........................www.farwestshow.com Performance Hino...............................................32.......... 519-716-9844................. www.performancehino.com Riverbend Farms (Ontario) Ltd...........................19.......... 519-765-2130......... riverbendfarms@amtelecom.net Sipkens Nurseries Ltd.........................................12.......... 866-843-0438................. www.sipkensnurseries.com Stam Nurseries....................................................23.......... 519-424-3350.................... www.stamsnurseries.com Stonemen’s Valley Inc..........................................7........... 905-841-8400..................www.stonemensvalley.com Truly Nolen (Turf Management Systems)..........15.......... 866-615-4147............................. www.trulynolen.com Uxbridge Nurseries Ltd.......................................24.......... 905-655-3379................www.uxbridgenurseries.com V. Kraus Nurseries Ltd........................................15.......... 905-689-4022.....................www.krausnurseries.com Winkelmolen Nursery Ltd.....................................3........... 519-647-3912.........................www.winkelmolen.com Zander Sod Co Ltd..............................................12.......... 877-727-2100............................www.zandersod.com

Artistry with bulbs A lecture by Jacqueline van der Kloet

On September 16, Dutch landscape designer Jacqueline van der Kloet will inspire Canadian landscapers with her stylish naturalistic designs featuring brilliant mixes of perennials and flower bulbs with blooming shrubs and trees. Her gardens have a relaxed random feel that belies the artistry behind her plant placement.

This is a special member-only event! Proceeds benefit the Toronto Botanical Garden — staff will lead a tour after the lecture, and a massive planting of 10,000 bulbs on the TBG grounds will take place in October.

Thursday, Sept. 16 Toronto Botanical Garden 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto Tickets are $15

8:15 to 9:00 a.m.

Continental breakfast 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Lecture, Q&A session Break Guided tour of the TBG and bulb planting area

Before Aug. 23, phone 416-397-1362 to register After Aug. 23, register at www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca or phone 416-397-1341

HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 29

PROSPERITY PARTNERS

Prosperity is a company-wide benefit

By Jacki Hart CLP Prosperity Partners program manager

W

ould somebody please just wave a wand and make things better at work?

Starting up a business is hard work.

Running a business is hard work. Tweaking a business on the fly is even harder work.

If you talk to industry employees long enough, sooner or later they admit that they have some unspoken (or secreJacki Hart tively spoken) criticism of their employer and how things get done at work. If you’re reading this, and you’re one of them, my suggestion is to write your suggestion down, or ask your boss to make a few minutes to privately chat about something on your mind.

Complaining to oneself about something being bad or wrong is a useless waste of energy. It has no end, and no purposeful intent, other than dragging down the possibility of having a collaborative team. If there’s waste somewhere, whether related to people resources or material resources, for Pete’s sake pipe up! Think about it. If every employee in every business shares an observation from personal experience, just think of how much less tension, waste and conflict there would be, which in turn would help create more profit.

Then, perhaps, more funds would be available for wages and benefits.

On the other hand, I can think of only a handful of business owners I’ve met who aren’t entirely convinced they know the best way to do everything. They have created a culture which strikes fear in the hearts of most wellintentioned employees, who in turn would never consider sharing their opinion.

The gap can be crippling Time and time again, I converse with business owners who desperately want someone to come in and fix their business-related headaches and problems. I have found that in a half-day or less, I can usually determine the top five sustainable improvements to reduce company-wide stress, improved companywide attitudes and retention. Time and again, 30 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010

most of those five things revolve around communication, behaviour and problem-solving.

What I also know, is that there are no magic wands. Change only starts when the pain becomes too uncomfortable.

It usually takes years to build a system, try it out and find that you goofed. The bad news is that unless behaviours change, new systems usually won’t stick. Start by asking everyone on the team name a benefit of change. The first thing they will say is they WANT things to be different and better. They’re just too afraid or unsure of how to go about starting a conversation to change things.

Many of the problems are the result of a stressed-out, multi-tasking, over-burdened boss who is running flat-out, trying to keep all of the balls in the air and still show a profit at the end of the year. He is the same person who lacks experience in how to effectively manage people, communication, and problem solving. It feels impossible to step back and take a breath when things are coming at you from all directions and at the speed of lighting.

It’s way easier to see the forest for the trees, when you are standing on the outside looking in. It’s even easier to commiserate with each other about what’s being done wrong by the boss, than it is to take some action, and offer genuine input and ideas. Ideas spark change. Change creates new possibilities.

Most green trade business owners, especially those with fewer than 10 employees, are exhausted at this time of year. Pressure is coming from all angles: logistics, cash flow, technical competence, changing project scope, (that’s what I call it when a customer asks, “While you’re here, would you also do .......”), capacity to perform the work booked to expectation, job costs, quality and family. This is when you should all step back as a team. Try the suggestions below.

Employees, answer the following: If I were the boss here, I would stop doing __________________ immediately.

Instead, I would start doing _________________________________.

The result of making this change would be _________________________________.

The benefit to the employees in making this change would be ___________________.

The benefit to the company would be _________________________________.

Here are some or all of the steps I think would help in making this change, _______________________________.

Don’t limit your answers to the space in this column! Take as much space as you need to explain in your own words what should change, why, and how.

Employers answer these questions: Without looking at my employees’ answers, here are the things I think they might identify as needing to change (list one for every employee): _________________________________ Here’s why I haven’t changed them (list a reason for every item): ________________ If I had some ideas and buy-in from staff, I would really like to change the following: _________________________________.

Share the list The employer must share the list with the employees. By doing so, staff members now know what the boss wishes to do differently, but just isn’t there yet. Staff can then start to think of ideas on how to make these changes possible.

The employees each present their lists, in confidence, to the employer. By doing so, they aren’t worried about others judging their idea, and their idea is finally in the hands of the only person who can initiate change to act upon the suggestion. It’s a step closer to making the problem go away.

I have seen this simple exercise create new levels of mutual respect and engagement in many companies. You have nothing to lose, no matter what your role in the company. The only risk is of being honest and well-intentioned to make work a better place for everyone. It’s a pretty safe bet, in my opinion.

Good luck!

Make the time to come in from the frantic pace of your business, and get a handle on your journey to prosperity. Go to www.horttrades. com/prosperity to learn more.

Jacki Hart may be contacted at prosperity@landscapeontario.com.

NEW MEMBERS Georgian Lakelands Derek Stevens Designs Derek Stevens 3 Pheasant Trail Barrie, ON L4N 6W4 Tel. 705-791-9181 Membership Type: Active

Toronto Bush Brothers Landscaping Stephen Bush 229 Randall Crescent Toronto, ON M1M 3K3 Tel: 416-723-2413 Membership Type: Interim

Golden Horseshoe FloraTech Landscaping & Maintenance Inc. Eva Joao 1425 Alderson Road Carlisle, ON L0R 1H1 Tel: 905-689-5466 Membership Type: Active

Curtis Construction and Landscaping Ltd. Matthew Boven 10593 Sixth Line Georgetown, ON L7G 4S6 Tel: 905-873-7988 Membership Type: Active

London Advance Landscaping Co. Ltd. Bill McAvoy 20891 Denfield Road, RR 41 London, ON N6H 5L2 Tel: 519-657-1210 Membership Type: Active Old South Lawn, Garden & Construction Bren Silk 34 Langarth Street East London, ON N6C 1Z1 Tel: 519-902-6341 Membership Type: Active Ottawa Kemptville Truck Centre Limited Rick Kader 750 Dalton Avenue Kingston, ON K7M 8N8 Tel: 613-546-0567 Membership Type: Associate

Trees

Dreamscape Contracting Steve Mothe 18 Sandrift Square Toronto, ON M1E 4N6 Tel: 416-287-3651 Membership Type: Active Greenscape Exterior Design Ltd. Joe Natale 9 Duval Drive Toronto, ON M6L 2J9 Tel: 416-249-4635 Membership Type: Active Upper Canada Danova Ltd Rob Costa 3432 Princess Street Kingston, ON K7P 3A6 Tel: 613-384-7213 Membership Type: Active

Lawnscape Chris Kidney PO Box 542 Stittsville, ON K2S 1A6 Tel: 613-769-5296 Membership Type: Active

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Growing today for a greener tomorrow M. PUTZER HORNBY NURSERY LTD 7314 Sixth Line, Hornby, Ontario L0P 1E0 SHIPPING: Phone: 905-878-7226 • 905-878-7367 1-800-377-3363 • Fax: 905-878-8737

www.horttrades.com/ horticulturereview

ADMINISTRATIVE & ACCOUNTING: Phone: 905-878-7226 • Fax: 905-878-9745 E-mail: putzernursery@primus.ca

Quality • Service • Selection HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010 31

32 HORTICULTURE REVIEW - JULY 15, 2010