VNLA News - Winter 2019

Winter 2019

The Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association Magazine

Tools for

Clean WateR at your Nursery and Greenhouse

3

Plus, Member Spotlight on Incoming VNLA President, Christopher Brown, Jr.

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CONTENTS | Winter 2019 DEPARTMENTS

12 Cover Story

Tools for Clean WateR3 at your Nursery and Greenhouse

16 Member Spotlight

Incoming President Christopher Brown, Jr.

4 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

6 President’s Letter 6 Index of Advertisers 8 News from VNLA

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association 5101 Monument Avenue, Suite 203 Richmond, VA 23230 Tel: (804) 256 2700 • Fax: (804) 709 0288 Email: info@vnla.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street • Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 • Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com 2019 Officers and Directors Year indicates start of volunteer service to VNLA Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Brent Hunsinger 2015 Brent’s Native Plantings • Fredericksburg, VA Vice President Christopher Brown, Jr. 2013 Lancaster Farms • Suffolk, VA Secretary Treasurer Legislative/Policy Chair Seana Ankers 2017 Meadows Farms • Chantilly, VA Past President Aaron Williams 2014 Board Recruitment Williams Landscape & Design • Williamsburg, VA Executive Director Shellie Archer Richmond, VA DIRECTORS Matt Deivert 2017 MANTS Board Rep., VNLA South Riding Nurseries • Bristow, VA Jeffrey Howe 2016 Windridge Landscaping Co. • Afton, VA Mitzi Marker 2017 Research Foundation Chair Sandy’s Plants • Mechanicsville, VA Cecilia Palmer 2017 Continuing Education Chair West Winds Nursery/Shade Tree Farm • Sudley Springs, VA Scott Price 2016 David Scott Price Design • Earlysville, VA Jim Hassold 2018 Membership & Communication Chair SiteOne • Richmond, VA Jason Stern 2018 Eastern Shore Nursery of VA • Melfa, VA Neal Beasley 2019 Certification/VCH* Chair Timmons Group • Richmond, VA Marshall Saunders 2019 Saunders Brothers • Piney River, VA EX-OFFICIO, VIRTUE OF OFFICE: Non-voting Laurie Fox, Ph. D. VA Tech Hampton Roads AREC • VA Beach, VA Jim Owen, Ph. D. VA Tech Hampton Roads AREC • VA Beach, VA David Seward J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Montpelier, VA * VCH = Virginia Certified Horticulturist

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Changes

AHEAD

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Alliance Material Handling, Inc......15 www.alliancemat.com

Bennett’s Creek Nursery.................11 www.bcnursery.com

Dear VNLA Members, I have been honored to serve you as President in 2019, and the VNLA is in very capable hands in 2020 as Christopher Brown Jr. takes the reins. I would like to thank Aaron Williams, Christopher Brown Jr., Seana Ankers, the entire board, and Shellie Archer for all of their hard work and dedication this year. Everyone has strived to make VNLA a more effective organization and set it up to be successful in the years ahead.

The VNLA Board has several members rolling off the board at the end of this year. I would like to thank Aaron Williams, Jason Stern, and Mitzi Marker for their time and dedication. We look forward to introducing new board members in the new year.

This year’s Field Day was held at Eastern Shore Nursery of VA with over 100 attendees present. The social and tour the next day proved to be highly popular as well. In 2020 we will return to Northern Virginia and you will see a change in the format of this event. Stay tuned for more details!

After discussion at the September board meeting it has been decided that to work more effectively on our members’ behalf, the VNLA Board will meet 6 times a year. The two additional meetings will be used as work meetings to complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner. The first action meeting in November covered a member packet and the board was informed of the membership software system that will be used starting in 2020.

In this newsletter you will find a feature article by Jim Owen and Sarah White, legislative and certification updates, and a member spotlight on incoming 2020 VNLA President Christopher Brown Jr. and Lancaster Farms.

Please join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of MANTS! We owe a special debt of gratitude to all the members, companies, and individuals both past and present who have made this show such a success.

It has been my pleasure to serve our members, and I look forward to assisting Christopher as we enter 2020. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have at brenthunsinger@gmail.com.

I hope you all had a productive 2019 and wish you all the best in 2020!

Respectfully, Brent Hunsinger 2019 VNLA President

VNLA Annual Member Breakfast Meeting

Bremo Trees...................................15 www.bremotrees.com

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc.....19 www.camtoocamellia.com

Evins Mill Nursery............................7 www.evinsmillnursery.com

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries............7 www.fairviewevergreen.com

masLABOR............Inside Front Cover www.maslabor.com

Smith Seed Services.........................19 www.smithseed.com

The Turfgrass Group........................3 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Turtle Creek Nursery......................19 www.turtlecreeknursery.com/aboutus.html

Virginia Horticulture Foundation...10 www.vahort.org

Virginia Turfgrass Council..............17 www.vaturf.org

Thursday January 9, 2020 / 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Sheraton Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Wellmaster Carts..............Back Cover

RSVP by December 16 to: info@vnla.org or 804-256-2700

Willow Springs Tree Farms...............5

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www.willowsprings.com 6 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

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NEWS FROM VNLA

LEGISLATIVE Year In Review

L

egislative advocacy is quite possibly the most important membership benefit that you don’t really even know about. As a year in review, we will share a few of the many things our board and members do throughout the year to promote our industry and advocate on those issues that impact us daily. These issues are ever-evolving and do not just stop at H-2A and H-2B labor, transportation, invasive species and noxious weeds, pollinator protection, research funding, regulation and deregulation of licensing, state and local ordinances impacting water quality and usage, land use, taxes, groundwater and rainwater harvesting and now even solar farms. It seems that our volunteers are working yearround to help protect the interests of our members.

From the late evening of the VAC Legislative Appreciation Banquet to the early morning bill reviews during the General Assembly, Legislative Advocacy begins when most of us kick off our year, at MANTS. In fact, our legislative volunteers go back and forth from Baltimore to Richmond and often back again that week. Part of our advocacy is not only to educate but to thank our legislators who we often turn to in our efforts to incite change. In 2019, we were fortunate to have State Senator Ryan McDougle join us for a portion of the Banquet, which is said to be the highlight of the General Assembly. Former Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Basil Gooden also joined us and is all too familiar with what impacts our industry. Over the summer, we were honored to

have Delegate Rob Bloxom attend our Field Day at Eastern Shore of Virginia Nursery, which is in his district.

It is not all banquets and photo ops, though. Board and member volunteers log thousands of miles throughout the year, making trips to Richmond and Capitol Hill to represent our industry in fly-ins, State and National Policy Meetings and are often turned to with important decisions on how to rewrite a bill to protect our members. Our Legislative Policy Committee, chaired by Seana Ankers of Meadows Farms, includes board members, as well as passionate members of our association who see the importance of taking time to help educate members of the state and local government on the true impact of policies, especially ones having to do with our industry’s largest concern — labor.

While Seana Ankers represents us throughout the entire year in all areas, this is a committee that truly cannot function as a committee of one. In order to make a difference, we need the individual stories that members share with our legislators and knowledgeable representation at various working groups. Cecelia Palmer of Shade Tree Farms and West Winds Nursery often participates in fly-ins and has represented us in the Pollinator Protection Strategy Meeting.

Our President, Brent Hunsinger, is the previous committee chair and still attends various committee meetings and working groups. He and Seana have represented us at the Virginia Solar Stakeholder Meetings, as well as

March 2019 Virginia Agribusiness Council National Policy Meeting

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA Legislative Policy Chair, Meadows Farms; Kyle Shreve, VAC Executive Director; Danny Shreckhise, Shreckhise Nursery; Beck Stanley, VAC Director of Government Affairs; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Doug Phillips, Phillips and Turman Tree Farm.

8 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

AmericanHort Impact Washington September 16–18, 2019

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA Legislative Chair, Meadows Farms; Art Parkerson, Lancaster Farms; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Evan McWalters, Legislative Assistant to US Senator Tim Kaine D VA; James Wheeler, Legislative Correspondent to US Senator Tim Kaine; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers

Left to Right: Brian Wriston, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Don McEachin, D VA 4th District; Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Art Parkerson, Lancaster Farms

Left to Right: Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Congressman Denver Riggleman R, VA Dist. 5; Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Valeria Sandoval, Legislative Correspondent to U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D VA; Art Parkerson, Lancaster Farms; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers (Photo courtesy of AmericanHort)

Left to Right: Seana Ankers, VNLA, Meadows Farms; Brent Robinson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Rob Wittman, R VA Dist. 1; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor

Left to Right: Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers; Congressman Ben Cline R VA Dist. 6; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms

Left to Right: Seana Ankers VNLA, Meadows Farms; Kerry Scott, Mas Labor; Bonnie Krenz, Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger D VA 7th Dist.; Julie Zeijlmaker, Battlefield Farms; Jim Saunders, Saunders Brothers

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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NEWS FROM VNLA • continued an Invasive Species Stakeholder Workshop. Jeff Howe of Windridge Landscaping and Hardscaping represents us at Workforce Summits throughout the year and has big plans in that area.

While engaging our board in these areas continues to be a focus, we truly value the dedication from our members who reach out on local, state and national levels for our industry. We also rely on state and national organizations to be a sounding board for our concerns and to alert and advise us when something comes up. Though there are countless others, the main organizations we rely on are the Virginia Agribusiness Council, AmericanHort and Mission H2O. As a direct result of some of these, we are included in working groups, policy and stakeholder meetings and have a voice even when we are not present. While we had to miss the VAC Summer Fly-in this year, a few of our members were in attendance and really felt they had a voice in Washington.

Most recently, several members attended AmericanHort’s Impact Washington Summit, September 16–18. Top notch speakers, such as Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and so many others, left attendees with a feeling of inclusion and understanding. It was the heartfelt story of the Libre Initiative’s Daniel Garza that left members truly touched and inspired. For this three-

day event, Seana led the group from Virginia, with the help of Jim Saunders of Saunders Brothers. They were joined

by Julie Zeijlmaker of Battlefield Farms, Art Parkerson of Lancaster Farms and Kerry Scott of Mas Labor, as they met with staff from both Senator Mark Warner and Senator Tim Kaine’s offices. In addition, they met with or dropped information off to Congressional staff for nearly every district in the state. They had the honor to meet directly with both Congressman Denver Riggleman and Congressman Ben Cline, who both seem knowledgeable and dedicated to making a difference for our industry.

As the year comes to a close and another begins, we look at all of those who have been there along the way and are inspired to think of those who will help carry this advocacy on. It is ever-changing and often an uphill battle, but if we do nothing, then who will? From quick phone calls and emails to fly-ins and policy meetings, we encourage you to continue telling your stories to those who will listen. Do not get discouraged, as you never know when the right person will be touched by your experiences. We are truly a community, and we can be most effective when we come together as one.

Thank you to all those who have joined us and to those who may be inspired to help us in the future. Everyone’s voice is important. That includes YOU! •

MID-ATLANTIC HORTICULTURE

SHORT COURSE

CEUs from 12+ ORGANIZATIONS & AGENCIES

DAILY WALK & TALKS

JANUARY 14 - 16, 2020 NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN R EGISTER AT WWW . MAHSC . ORG

10 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

UPCOMING VIRGINIA CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST CEU OPPORTUNITIES Norfolk Botanical Garden • 6700 Azalea Garden Road • Norfolk, Virginia 23518-5337 • (P) 757-441-5830 Gardens of Japan

2 VCH CEU’s

With Director of Living Landscapes Brian O’Neil Thursday, November 21 • 9:30–11:30 AM Take a virtual journey through some of Japan’s most beautiful gardens in this PowerPoint presentation. Learn how to incorporate Japanese style gardening in your yard.

The Tidewater Garden in Winter

2 VCH CEU’s

With Director of Horticulture Les Parks Tuesday, December 3 • 9:30–11:30 AM Learn about the most visually striking, yet hardy plants to include in your personal Garden for year round interest. Indoor lecture followed by outdoor walking tour.

12 Plants of Christmas

2 VCH CEU’s

With Greenhouse Technician Meredith Simmons Thursday, December 5 • 1–3 PM Get into the Holiday Spirit by exploring the 12 Plants of Christmas! Indoor presentation followed with outdoor tour. Walking required.

Winter Sowing

2 VCH CEU’s

With Greenhouse Technician Meredith Simmons Friday, December 13 • 1–3 PM This family friendly class will have you gardening even in the dead of winter. Turn recycled milk jugs into mini-greenhouses to produce tough, hardy seedlings for your pollinatorfriendly garden in spring.

VA Turfgrass Council: Horticulture Short Course Winter Symposium and December 9–12, 2019 Central Virginia Nursery & Landscape Belmont Golf Course Recreation Center Association (CVNLA) Short Course: 1600 Hilliard Road • Henrico, VA 23228

The BRAND NEW Horticulture Short Course.

This new event will condense the first semester of “Principles of Horticulture” into four days. http://vaturf.org/short_course.html

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, VA February 12 – 14, 2020 Three days of horticultural excellence for greenindustry professionals and seasoned gardeners. https://www.lewisginter.org/learn/adult-classes/ symposia-seminars/

Intro to Indoor Plants

2 VCH CEU’s

With Adult Education Manager Alexandra Cantwell Tuesday, December 17 • 1–3 PM Learn the basics of houseplant care, and the benefits of adding them to your home. Participants will not only leave with an understanding of common houseplants, but one of their own!

Behind the Scenes Propagation Garden Walk & Talk 1 VCH CEU

With Greenhouse Manager Julie Finn Thursday, December 1 • 10–11:30 AM These casual informative walks allow plenty of time for questions and photos. Included with Garden Admission! Walking required

Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course (MAHSC) Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, VA January 14 – 16, 2020

Three full days of keynotes and concurrent sessions, MAHSC offers dedicated continuing education tracks in Arboriculture, Business Management, Horticulture, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, and Insects & Disease, as well as training and recertification for pesticide applicators. https://mahsc.org/index.html

Smithfield, Virginia Locations in Smithfield, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Currituck, NC Local: (757) 483-1425

www.bcnursery.com

Toll Free: (800) 343-4611 Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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COVER STORY

Clean WateR TOOL S FOR

3

A T YOUR NURSERY A ND GREE NHOUSE

By Jim Owen, Ph. D., Associate Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech and Sarah White, Ph.D., Professor, Clemson

The

recently completed Clean WateR3 project funded by USDA-NIFA comprised five years of research and innovation to Reduce water use, Remediate contaminants and pathogens, and aid in water Recycling. Scientists and cooperating nursery and greenhouse growers aimed to increase profitability, secure water resources, and develop tools to manage water for reuse or release offsite. Project results led to a greater understanding of the chemical, economical, physical, and social dynamics within nurseries and greenhouses, providing systems-wide strategies, including web-based tools, to help growers better manage water. Simultaneously, the carbon and water footprints of crops, ranging from boxwood to begonia, were analyzed and reported by Drs. Ingram and Hall. This and more can be found at http://www.cleanwater3.org/.

Agrichemicals, including water soluble and controlled release fertilizers, are used to produce ornamental plants in soilless substrates. Soilless substrates tend to have little water holding capacity, resulting in potential for agrichemical and sediment runoff. Drs. David Sample and Jim Owen’s team at Virginia Tech demonstrated nutrient runoff load from nurseries are similar to that of urban runoff, with 35+ times greater total nitrogen and phosphorus runoff during a storm than during an irrigation event. Sediment runoff is greater in nurseries, regardless if rain or irrigation driven, when compared to urban runoff. Sediment can carry latent agrichemicals (think phosphorus and pesticides) that can eventually impact on-site collection water reservoirs or local ecosystems if sediment leaves the property.

Existing and new Best Management Practices (BMPs) can be employed to reduce agrichemical and sediment movement at your operation. First, irrigation should be scheduled to apply only the amount of water needed when it is needed.

Additionally, micro-irrigation should be used whenever economically feasible to minimize non-target water application that does not go to the individual plant and thus contributes to excessive runoff. These approaches to irrigation will minimize water handling, water treatment, and associated energy or chemical costs in addition to improving water security at time of drought.

12 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

Nurseries and greenhouses should routinely conduct inhouse trials to determine if substrate, fertility, integrated pest management strategies, or growth control products can be modified to be more profitable and further improve environmental stewardship. Dr. Owen’s lab demonstrated that amending pine bark with fiber, Sphagnum peat and coir, can improve storage of available water for a given plant between irrigation events resulting in less water stress and potentially less production time. Concurrently, his lab identified that current substrate extract and foliar phosphorus sufficiency ranges are greater than needed. The phosphorus content of water soluble or controlled release fertilizers can be reduced by 25% or more when producing six economically important woody ornamental shrubs without reducing shrub quality or size. Drs. Jake Shreckhise and Owen also found that incorporating common amendments (lime and micronutrients) reduced phosphorus leaching from containers both at planting (70%) and throughout the growing season (50%). Amendments could potentially be considered an “automatic” BMP. Similarly, Dr. Chris Wilson at the University of Florida found that common substrate components pine bark and peat retained at least 80% of imidacloprid, mefenoxam, and paclobutrazol residues; incorporation of water treatment residuals or similar amendments may be needed to increase retention or decrease movement of acephate and imidacloprid.

Dr. Tom Fernandez at Michigan State University demonstrated effective remediation of pesticide residuals using woodchip bioreactors for 20 minutes, reducing bifenthrin by 49%, chlorpyrifos by 73%, and oxyfluorfen by 25%. Woodchip bioreactors also consistently reduced nitrate concentrations from 80 ppm to less than 1 ppm. In greenhouse production, Dr. Paul Fisher and his team at University of Florida found that paclobutrazol laden water, regardless of pH, was effectively treated (>90% reduction) when passed through a granular-activated carbon system for approximately one minute. In a follow-up study, Dr. Fisher reported using the same system to eliminate (i.e. below detection) residual acephate, flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, uniconazole, chlorine (free and total) from production runoff. The granular-activated carbon

Sediment basins at nurseries and greenhouses are used to remove and retain sediment before water is reused for irrigation or leaves the production site. Photo credit: Sarah White

Nursery and greenhouse runoff from irrigation and storms can affect surface water quality before water is reused for irrigation or leaves the production site. Photo credit: Sarah White Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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COVER STORY • continued system was also able to reduce bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, glyphosate, triclopyr, and hydrogen peroxide by more than 70%.

Additional BMPs to slow and reduce sediment movement and the agrichemicals carried with it include covering production surfaces with fabric or plastic, lined or vegetated strips or ditches, vegetative channels, riparian buffers, and flow control structures that slow water, allowing sediment to settle out. Flow control structures include filter socks, detention ponds, and in-line sediment traps that are easy to clean out and maintain. Additionally, Dr. Darren Haver at University of California has demonstrated 80% or more reduction in sediment using a negatively charged polyacrylamide (PAM) deployed via PAM incorporation into filter socks.

Polyacrylamide can also be incorporated into “curtains” at the inlet of a pond, to encourage sediment settling.

Pathogens remain tricky, however. Dr. Jennifer Parke’s team at Oregon State University determined a simple method

for growers to test irrigation water for Phytophthora using Rhododendron leaves or pear fruits as bait. Using an inexpensive diagnostic test kit to confirm that the brown spots emerge are potential disease, subsequent water treatment with chlorine was shown to be effective means of control.

Concurrently, Dr. Loren Oki’s team at University of California found slow sand filters (SSF), once populated by community of microorganisms, can provide quality water from irrigation runoff by breaking down Phytophthora and tobacco mosaic virus; SSF did not effectively eliminate Fusarium.

Floating treatment wetlands, rafts upon which plants are grown can also mitigate sediment, agrichemicals and pathogens. Drs. Sample, Sarah White, Lauren Garcia Chance and Laurie Fox reported floating treatment wetlands planted with Pontederia cordata or Panicum virgatum removing more than 65% of total N and P after establishment of approximately five weeks. Drs. White and Natasha Bell established Pontederia cordata in floating treatment wetlands

The experimental nursery at Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center being used to understand the response of crop growth to reduced water use, varied substrate hydrology, and subsequent agrichemical fate in runoff and leachate. Photo credit: Jim Owen

Substrate and crop interactions are studied at the soil-plant-air continuum lab at Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Photo credit: Jim Owen 14 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

and noted a reduction in the number of viable Phytophthora zoospores that flowed through a vegetative channel under flow rates typical of cyclic nursery irrigation patterns. Additional work is needed to quantify and verify longterm efficacy of floating treatment wetlands for Phytophthora remediation.

This is only a brief summary of accomplishments and potential new tools for increasing efficiencies in nursery and greenhouse water management investigated as part of Clean WateR3 project. We encourage you to visit the CleanWateR3.org website, managed by Dr. Fisher and his team at the University of Florida, to learn about other water management tools, to ask a question, find answers to your water problem, peruse our research, watch recorded webinars, and sign up for trainings and the newsletter.

Virginia Tech CleanWateR3 Leaders James “Jim” S. Owen Jr., PhD Associate Professor & Extension Specialist School of Plant & Environmental Sciences Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center jsowen@vt.edu | (757) 363-3904

Where agriculture and nature meet

David J. Sample, PhD, PE, WRE Associate Professor & Extension Specialist Biological Systems Engineering Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center dsample@vt.edu | (757) 363-3835 Laurie Fox, PhD Horticulture Associate School of Plant Environmental Sciences Hampton Roads Agricultural Research & Extension Center ljfox@vt.edu | (757) 363-3807 Jim Owen is the Virginia Cooperative Extension Nursery Specialist and an ex officio board member of the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association since 2012. Dr. Sarah White, professor and Extension Specialist at Clemson University (swhite4@clemson.edu), is the leader and project director of Clean WateR3 project. •

434.842.8733 email@bremotrees.com www.bremotrees.com Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

Incoming VNLA President

CHRISTOPHER BROWN, JR. of Lancaster Farms

What is your title/who do you work for?

Western Farms Manager / Lancaster Farms How many years have you been in this position?

4 years in my current role, 12 years with Lancaster Farms How did you decide to pursue a career in the green industry?

I started working in the industry as a young teenager in North Carolina for what was then Wight’s Nurseries with my father as a summer job. After working several summers on the farm I went away to school but still found myself coming back each summer to work. I always loved sharing my passion for the industry with my father and decided to pursue it as a career soon thereafter.

What path led you to your current position?

Since my start in the green industry I have been fortunate to work in and manage many of the departments in the nursery.

I would say that being able to experience all aspects of production and shipping has led me to where I am today. That along with my father and countless other mentors and peers constantly challenging me to think differently.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is simple, the people! Everyday in our line of work is different, however the one constant is the people. They are by far our industry’s greatest asset, besides the plants we produce of course. It does not matter what part of the industry you are in, the relationships we have with our colleagues go much farther than just business and we all strive to make each other the best we can be!

What are some unique challenges of your job?

We tell everyone that we are in the plant business, but I like to think that we are in the people business. My father has always told me “it does not matter how smart you are, you can not run a nursery alone.” That saying has stuck with me over the years and I try to remind myself of it everyday. The profession we have chosen is demanding, physically and mentally! Constantly striving to produce plants at a higher quality and more efficiently takes its toll on everyone and managing not only yourself through the ups and downs of a season but others as well is a daily challenge.

What is one lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your career?

Only one lesson I have learned the hard way? I do not think that one lesson I have learned came easy. Obviously listening

16 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

to the advice of others has helped me and made some things easier, but it has also hurt me. The best and worst part about growing plants is everyone does it differently. What works for me most of the time will not work for you. That is by far the thing that took some getting used to and it is still hard for me today. When I see other nurseries doing something differently I have to pause and look at it from all angles before I try it.

Do you have a mentor in the industry?

There are so many people who have influenced me along the way directly or indirectly. Whether it has been someone

Christopher with Nikki, Finn and Lilly

You work hard for your clients…

Isn’t it time you join an organization that will work just as hard for you?

Membership Benefits:

Our Activities:

• Free Pesticide Recertification training • Free Certified Fertilizer Applicator training • Free entry to the Turfgrass Tour at Field Day in Virginia Beach • Subscription to a bi-monthly journal • Discounts for our various educational programs

• Government Relations • Representing the Industry to Elected Officials • Mid Atlantic Turfgrass Expo • Come to the Bay • Come to the Valley • Field Days • Environmental Outreach

• On-Site Pesticide/ Fertilizer Recertification • On-Site Pesticide/ Fertilizer Certification • Regional Seminars • and much more

In addition to the benefits listed above your membership provides you access to an organization that fights hard for your rights in Washington, in Virginia’s General Assembly and at the local level.

For more information or to become a member visit www.vaturf.org or call 757.464.1004

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • continued taking me under their wing or just motivating me to be the best I can be; to pick one just does not seem fair. My constant mentor however is my father! He is the reason I am where I am today. He has always tried to guide me in the right direction, but also given me the space I need to grow both as a professional and a man. I can only hope and pray that one day I will be able support my children the way he has supported me and my family.

asked her she would probably say that I never want to do anything, but I love just relaxing with my family whether it’s on the couch or on the beach. She would also tell you that I golf too much! I love to golf, I have found that as I get older it is the one sport I can play and not need to go to the doctor the day after. It is just as much of a mental challenge as a physical one and it also helps me get a lot of my competitiveness out in a constructive way.

How did you come to serve on the VNLA Board?

I was always interested in serving on the VNLA board, but I honestly did not know where to start. The best I can remember Matthew Sawyer and I were talking at IPPS about the VNLA and his role in the organization in 2012. He asked if I would be interested and I jumped on the opportunity and the rest is history.

Tell us about your family.

I married the love of my life a little over a year ago. Everyday is always different, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

She is such a strong and supportive force in my life that I would not be where I am today with out her. I only hope that I am able to support and inspire her as much as she does for me. She would also be very upset if I did not mention our two dogs, Finn and Lilly. They bring so much joy to our lives each and everyday.

What are your goals as incoming president for VNLA? That is a tough question given that you only have one year as president of the VNLA. I would say my goals are simple, well at least simple to write down on paper. As many of you know, several years ago we hired a new executive director, Shellie Archer. For those of you who have not met her already I strongly urge you to reach out and do so! She comes to work everyday with one goal in mind and that goal is to help our members succeed. I want to be able to do the same by giving her the best tools we can for her to assist our membership and by being available to personally engage our members questions and concerns as often as possible.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to keep my free time simple and laid back by spending time with my loving wife, Nikki, and our two dogs. If you

What would your advice be for people entering the nursery and landscape industry now?

If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone entering the green industry I would say it would be to network! Our industry is great because we are so open with our ideas and processes. Not a day goes by that I do not lean on someone for advice or guidance and the only reason that is possible is because my mentors pushed me to get out and network! I know that we all can not go to every event that comes around but do find one that you love and try to attend it every year.

My event is IPPS. I attend it every year and not a year goes by that I do not meet someone new or learn something that I can bring back with me. Go out and find yours! •

Aerial view of Lancaster Farms Murphy’s Mill

18 • VNLA News • Winter 2019

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The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, VNLA News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright Š 2019 by the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association.

VNLA News is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: VNLA News allows re- printing of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information.

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