VNLA News - Fall 2020

Fall 2020

The Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association Magazine

Pest Updates on

Spotted Lanternfly and Wavy Leaf Basket Grass Member Spotlight on

Creation Appreciation

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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Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association 5101 Monument Avenue, Suite 203 Richmond, VA 23230 Tel: (804) 256 2700 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 2020 Officers and Directors Year indicates start of volunteer service to VNLA Board of Directors

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President / Research Foundation Co-Chair Christopher Brown, Jr. 2013 Lancaster Farms • Suffolk, VA Vice President / Legislative Chair Seana Ankers 2017 Meadows Farms • Chantilly, VA Secretary Treasurer Jeffrey Howe 2016 Windridge Landscaping Co. • Afton, VA Past President / Board Recruitment / Research Foundation Co-Chair Brent Hunsinger 2015 Brent’s Native Plantings • Fredericksburg, VA

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Executive Director Shellie Archer Richmond, VA DIRECTORS Matt Deivert 2017 MANTS Board Representative South Riding Nurseries • Bristow, VA Cecilia Palmer 2017 Continuing Education Chair West Winds Nursery / Shade Tree Farm Sudley Springs, VA Neal Beasley 2019 Certification / VCH* Chair Timmons Group • Richmond, VA

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Marshall Saunders 2019 Membership Engagement Chair Saunders Brothers • Piney River, VA

CONTENTS | Fall 2020 DEPARTMENTS

14 Feature Story

Pest Update on Spotted Lanternfly and Wavy Leaf Basket Grass

16 Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight on Creation Appreciation

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

Chris Dowdy 2020 Bennett’s Creek Nursery • Smithfield, VA Jeff Riggleman 2020 Kohler Equipment • Richmond, VA Robin McCall 2020 Williams Brothers Tree & Lawn Service • Staunton, VA Warner Winthrop 2020 Colesville Nursery • Ashland, VA EX-OFFICIO, VIRTUE OF OFFICE: Non-voting Laurie Fox, 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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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Bennett’s Creek Nursery...................3 www.bcnursery.com

Bremo Trees.....................................6 www.bremotrees.com

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc.....13 www.camtoocamellia.com

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries............3 www.fairviewevergreen.com

Leading Edge Communications.......10 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

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

Pender Nursery, Inc..........................5 www.pendernursery.com

Smith Seed Services...........................5 www.smithseed.com

Spring Hill Nursery.........................11 www.springhillva.com

Tidewater Tree Transplanters.........13 www.tidewatertrees.com

The Turfgrass Group..................9, 19 www.theturfgrassgroup.com

Virginia Turfgrass Council................7 www.vaturf.org

Wellmaster Carts..............Back Cover www.wellmaster.ca

To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications:

615-790-3718 888-707-7141 (TOLL FREE) sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com 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 © 2020 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.

Rediscover PENDER NURSERY

PHONE: 800-942-1648 FAX: 919-773-0904

ONLINE: www.PenderNursery.com 2620 Wall Store Road

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Garner, NC 27529

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A Year of

Constant Change It

feels like just yesterday we were all learning of the pandemic and scrambling to find ways to adjust our businesses to new regulations and changing demands in the markets we all serve.

When I look back on this year, I cannot help but think of my home economics class when

we were taught how to cook spaghetti. My teacher gave us an estimated cook time and then, to make things entertaining, told us to throw it at the wall and see if it sticks.

We have all heard the expression ‘see if it sticks!’ That could not be truer about the year we have all had.

Where agriculture and nature meet

434.842.8733 email@bremotrees.com www.bremotrees.com

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By, now, I am sure most of you have heard that MANTS 2021 will be virtual.

The trade show is very important to the VNLA for a multitude of reasons. However, today I want to talk about one of the many changes that we have to address. With all of us not being able to get together in Baltimore this winter, we will have to yet again change the structure of how we do things. Our annual membership meeting will have to take on a new virtual format. As I’m sure all of you are aware, this poses a lot of challenges. I ask that you please bear with us as we are working diligently to provide you all the best membership experience that we can. Zoom and GoTo Meetings have become the new normal for many of us in lieu of traveling, but we are open to any ideas that will benefit our membership.

With the uncertainty this year has brought forth, I am grateful for all that the VNLA offers its members and am proud to be a part of this association. The board is working tirelessly to show that no matter what challenges are presented, we can adapt and overcome without losing sight of our mission to enhance, promote and advocate for Virginia’s nursery and landscape professionals. Stay tuned for updates on the new, exciting ventures that we have started this year to guide us for years to come.

I hope that everyone has a safe and prosperous fall season; and as always If you ever have any questions or concerns please reach out to me and I will gladly help you with whatever issue you may have.

Sincerely, Christopher J. Brown, Jr.

HOW DOES OUR INDUSTRY SUCCEED? By building and investing in stakeholder relationships; sharing info on a regular basis; maintaining our focus on the bigger picture and not on possible differences; staying connected and teaming together anywhere and everywhere we can.

Jeff Fedorchak Vice President, Corporate Affairs of TruGreen First, I want to say THANK YOU for all of the work you are doing in being advocates for the folks in our industry during these very different times. The information that I see coming from you is much needed… and APPRECIATED! Aaron Simmons Superintendent of Parks and Maintenance Dept of Parks, Recreation and Events The City of Fredericksburg

I just wanted to let you know that you’re doing an amazing job of keeping everyone updated with COVID-related updates. I have had plenty of messages from turfgrass professionals and I can quickly point them to VTC’s timely updates.

Keep up the good work, from a socially isolated place of course.

David McCall Assistant Professor VT Turfgrass Pathology

Want to send a quick note of thanks, as VTC is doing a fantastic job in communicating with the membership. I have been forwarding your emails to other state associations and distributors.

Zenon Lis Burlingham Seeds

Your e-blasts and info are reaching folks.

One of our employees quoted you and your hard work.

Phil Bailey Virginia Green

You are crankin’ it up! This is such a massive pivot in a short time. Thanks for all your hard work.

Thanks for everything you’re doing for the industry, you should be earning combat pay at this point!

Jeff Fedorchak TruGreen

Thank you so much for always being informative! We greatly appreciate you!

Amy Thomas Reynolds Landscaping

Just wanted to tell you that VTC is doing a good job at communicating to the industry what is going on. Thank you for your leadership as we all try and figure out how to survive during these difficult times.

Patrick Connelly Landscape Supply

Richard Lindsay MowCow We appreciated your information that you provided us, it was very helpful.

Thank you for the letter justifying our work during this situation. I travel to multiple jurisdictions so I’m concerned about how each one might interpret the governor’s order. I believe this will help should I be questioned about my travel.

Barry Robinson Sustainable Horticulturist & Agriculture Consultant

I do not know if VTC is receiving enough congratulations for their work during all of this.

Being at home and pumping out information through emails may not seem like much, but for those of us who are leaving our families and asking our employees to enter harm’s way, and without much of a playbook, I can tell you what you are doing is a lot.

Chad Peevy Assistant Director of Grounds and Landscapes Old Dominion University

The VTC is working diligently to keep our industry alive during this epidemic, and I can’t say enough how relieving it is to know that I still have full capability to provide for my family!

Thank you, VTC for all of your efforts to help minimize the disruptions to the industry during this time.

Alex Austin

Ray Funkhouser

Craig Koster Premier Sports Fields

Thanks so much for your help on keeping us informed. We at Premier Sports Fields are very appreciative of all the work the VTC does on behalf of our industry. You are helping to keep our business going in this unprecedented time.

Bob Benyo Premier Sports Fields

Thanks for all you do.

Ep Curling

I’ve spent a good bit of time monitoring the response of turfgrass associations around the country and by far the VTC are being the most proactive in your communications and advocacy for your members. I think it’s a great comfort to know that someone is working on their behalf and that there’s a community supporting each other during this challenging time.

Julie Holt Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

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

NEWS FROM VNLA

Working ON YOUR BEHALF W

hether the topic is labor, legislation, transportation, licensing, water quality, or noxious weeds, VNLA is always working on your behalf. Throughout any given year, the Legislative Policy Committee and Executive Director give each of you a voice in local, state and national issues facing our industry.

We are often called upon to support or oppose legislation or serve on working groups to help develop smart legislation and guidelines that impact our industry. Once such working group is the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee. This committee was established to support the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) in valuation and risk assessment for plants that may be determined noxious weeds.

In its early years, the committee first worked together to develop the tool that is used to assess plants and to assign one of three tiers to plants to be considered as noxious weed. The committee consists of representatives from 16 different agencies and interest groups, and we are fortunate to always have a Board Member serve. Currently, Legislative Policy Committee Chair, Seana Ankers, serves in this capacity, but we hope to have another committee member take over for her soon. Past-President Brent Hunsinger was involved on the committee at the time that the tool was first being developed, and we appreciate the time he spent making sure that our sector of the industry was well represented. Members will be glad to know that the first item of the tool deals with commercial viability of the plant, and the plant being considered cannot proceed on in the process if it is currently commercially viable in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this way, our growers and their crops are currently protected from being considered.

The committee works together by ensuring that submissions follow the guidelines of the tool, are complete and are backed up with scientific research from qualified sources. It is not a fast process, but the committee works as efficiently as it can to suggest additions to the list in a timely process. They are still in the process of trying to get species added that are of greatest concern, and even private individuals can make submissions. In 2018, the committee recommended additions to list. From the initial recommendation and comment periods, VDACS reviews the list that eventually makes it to the Governor to decide if it will proceed, before the list is presented for a final public comment period. The most recent period ended on July 22, 2020, and the Noxious Weed Regulation was amended and published the following day.

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The Noxious Weed List has been edited to include the recommended plants and can be found at the following link https://law. lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title2/agency5/chapter317/section20/.

Plants currently on the list are as follows: A. The following plants are hereby declared Tier 1 noxious weeds: 1. Salvinia molesta, Giant salvinia.

2. Solanum viarum, Tropical soda apple.

3. Heracleum mantegazzianum, Giant hogweed.

B. The following plants are hereby declared Tier 2 noxious weeds: 1. Imperata cylindrica, Cogon grass.

2. Lythrum salicaria, Purple loosestrife.

3. Ipomoea aquatica, Water spinach.

4. Vitex rotundifolia, Beach vitex.

5. O plismenus hirtellus spp. undulatifolius, Wavyleaf basketgrass.

6. Corydalis incisa, Incised fumewort.

C. The following plants are hereby declared Tier 3 noxious weeds: 1. Ailanthus altissima, Tree of heaven.

2. Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Porcelain berry.

3. Celastrus orbiculatus, Oriental bittersweet.

4. Hydrilla verticillata, Hydrilla.

5. Persicaria perfoliata, Mile-a-minute weed.

Statutory Authority § 3.2-802 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes Derived from Volume 31, Issue 09, eff. January 29, 2015; amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 04, eff. November 30, 2017; Volume 36, Issue 22, eff. July 23, 2020. •

If you or anyone in your organization would like to make submissions to be considered in upcoming committee meetings, full guidelines, definitions and forms can be found by following this link: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/ title2/agency5/chapter317/

The World’s #1 Zoysiagrass

www.THETURFGRASSGROUP.com

NEWS FROM VNLA • continued

H-2B and APPROPRIATIONS

By Laurie Flanagan & Craig Regelbrugge

On

July 31, the House of Representative passed a multi-bill Fiscal 2021 funding package that includes funding for the Labor Department.

Prior to the floor debate, the Democratic leadership removed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bill from the package due to disagreements within the Democratic Caucus over some of the bill’s provisions related to President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. The previous week, the House passed a funding package that included funding for the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

While the Homeland Security funding bill was not passed by the full House, it is still significant that the Committee-passed bill includes the authority for DHS to increase the H-2B cap if it determines that the needs of seasonal U.S. businesses cannot be met with U.S. workers. The fact that the language is included in bill improves the chances of H-2B cap language being included in a final spending package later this year.

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The Senate has not yet taken any action on Fiscal 2021 spending bills. We anticipate that Congress will need to pass at least one temporary spending measure, or continuing resolution, to keep the government funded beyond the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. Federal funding for the next fiscal year is unlikely to be resolved until after the November elections. •

NEWS FROM VNLA • continued

John Lancaster A

gain, it is with a heavy heart that we share the following on behalf of the family of John Lancaster, Jr. The VNLA is so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with John and his leadership as a previous VNLA Board President. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone at Bennett’s Creek Nursery.

Obituary for John Lancaster Jr.

It is with great sadness that the family of John M. Lancaster, Jr. announces his passing on Monday, August 10, 2020 at the age of 71. A native of Portsmouth, VA, he was born to John and Marian Lancaster. He travelled extensively in his youth before settling back in Virginia, where he graduated from Woodbridge High School.

John was a sergeant in the US Army from 1969–1971 and served in the Vietnam War. Following his military career, he served for 10 years in the Fairfax County fire department.

John returned to Portsmouth after leaving the fire department to help grow Bennett’s Creek Nursery under the mentorship of his uncle, Arthur “Junie” Lancaster and his aunt, Millie Lancaster. He became COO in 1994 and remained there until his retirement. John had an incredibly strong work ethic that carried beyond his career supporting many associations and charitable organizations. He did extensive work with the Virginia Nursery and Landscapes Association, the Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, and the Virginia Horticulture Foundation. He also did work with the Holiday House in Portsmouth, VA., continuing a tradition started by his father and uncle.

John was preceded in death by his parents, as well as two sisters, Joy Sanderson and Juliana Danaka. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Lancaster; sister Bess Beard; his children with previous spouse, Nadine Lancaster: John Lancaster and wife Darcy, Joseph Lancaster and wife Andrea, and Alissia Lancaster and fiancé Matt Smith; his children by marriage: Salina Kodmon, Sarah Burr and husband Shawn, and Brian Kodmon, as well as eight grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Services will be private due to current COVID-19 restrictions. In lieu of flowers, John’s family suggests donations be made to the Holiday House of Portsmouth in his memory. • 12 • VNLA News • Fall 2020

Photos courtesy of Michele Fletcher

2020 VNLA Award Nominations Due November 6th The VNLA is calling for nominations for the following awards:

DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

This award is given to honor a member of our green industry. The selection criteria are based equally on a candidate who has spent their career promoting and advancing the green industry. The individual is selected on the basis of long-term contributions to the local and/or state organizations of Nursery and Landscape Associations.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

This award may be given to a young member (defined as 40 years of age or younger) of the VNLA to recognize the remarkable achievements thus far in their career. The recipient will be involved in the industry beyond their daily job and will also have contributed to the success of the member company.

The recipient will demonstrate leadership, innovative thinking and enthusiasm for the industry.

Top Quality Grower of B&B and container, shade, evergreen and flowering trees Since 1986 We use root-pruning containers to produce better root systems.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD

To be eligible to receive this award, the recipient must be a current VNLA member (individual or company) in good standing. One award will be presented each year based upon adequately fulfilling or exceeding the criteria.

Otherwise, the award will be skipped that year. Participants are encouraged to maintain due diligence in practicing and utilizing best management principles (BMP) resulting in the least negative impact on our environment.

Each individual or company will promote and show that our horticultural industry has a more positive than negative impact on our environment by how we operate on a day-to-day basis.

www.TidewaterTrees.com Info@TidewaterTrees.com 1900 Munden Point Road • Virginia Beach, VA 23457

HONORARY MEMBER

This award may be given to one or more members for their distinguished meritorious service to the VNLA and the horticulture industry.

The nomination form is available on the VNLA website homepage.

All nominations are due Monday November 6, 2020. • Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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FEATURE STORY

PEST UPDATES

Spotted Lanternfly and Wavy Leaf Basket Grass

By Timothy Ohlwiler, Extension Agent – Horticulture, Virginia Cooperative Extension Fauquier County Office

Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula Spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first found in Winchester in 2018.

It has since spread to Frederick and Clark Counties in Virginia.

This planthopper is native to China, India and Vietnam. It is also an invasive pest in Korea. Spotted lanternfly looks to be a problematic pest on grapes, orchards, hardwoods and hops. It is also a nuisance pest in residential settings.

What can be done?

With SLF there are two avenues to try and manage the plant hopper. The first is to eliminate tree of heaven. The removal of its preferred host plant will go a long way to reducing the chances that this insect will become established in an area. And tree of heaven is a weedy invasive tree, so glad to have a few less tree of heaven. The second avenue is to manage the insect directly. This is done by injecting tree of heaven with a systemic insecticide. These two methods have been incorporated by VDACS in the Winchester area to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly in the past two years.

VDACS, Virginia Cooperative Extension and other partners continue to survey various parts of the state looking for spotted lanternfly. If you find spotted lanternfly, please contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office or report it at https://ask.extension.org/groups/1981/ask.

Biology Spotted Lanternfly hatch from eggs laid on hard surfaces about the end of April. The eggs may be laid on stone, rusty metal or tree trunks. Egg hatch is followed by four nymphal instars. The first three instars are black with white spots. The fourth instar is red with black and white spots. And finally, the insects enter their adult phase in about August. There is only one generation per year in Virginia. They feed on over 70 different woody plant species, but their preferred feeding host is tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima. In the juvenile state they feed on many different plant

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species, but in the adult phase they feed exclusively on tree of heaven. In September the females begin laying egg masses covered with a light brown protective covering and this is how they overwinter. It is also thought that because they lay their eggs on surfaces such as stone and metal that this is the way that they can easily be transported long distances to infest new parts of the commonwealth. As a planthopper they feed by sucking the juices of the plant. In residential areas the major damage SLF does is that they drop honeydew and then surfaces become sticky and dark with sooty mold.

Quarantine VDACS has created a quarantine for Frederick County and Winchester City. Businesses must obtain a permit from VDACS and inspect items that could be a risk for movement of spotted lanternfly. The business will inspect and complete an inspection statement when shipping items out of the quarantine such as stone, plants, lumber, outdoor furniture, wood crates, etc. To obtain a permit business must complete a spotted lanternfly training and submit their training credential and completed SLF permit application. For more information, or a permit application please visit VDACS at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industryservices.shtml.

Wavy Leaf Basket Grass Oplismenus hirtellus This was first found in Baltimore, Maryland in 1990’s, but it continues its relentless spread though local woodlots. Think of an aggressive perennial Japanese stiltgrass and you are well on your way to understanding this weed. It likes the shade, but can emerge from much heavier leaf cover in the woods than stiltgrass.

It has awn (seed) that are sticky, and like a bur will attach to clothing and pet hair to travel along trails and with equipment to new sites. It is slightly larger than stiltgrass with leaves that are three to four inches long and a wavy leaf blade, which is how it gets its name. Hand weeding (making sure to remove the runners the plant is producing) and herbicides can both be effective at managing this weed. Seeds are produced from July through frost on this perennial grass native to southern Europe and Asia.

Keep an eye out for wavy leaf basket grass and remove before it becomes established. •

Red fourth instar nymphs and adult spotted lanternfly feed on tree of heaven in Frederick County.

Spotted lanternfly is a new invasive pest that has become a nuisance to residents in the Winchester area.

Please notify Virginia Cooperative Extension if you find spotted lanternfly in your area.

Photo by Mark Sutphin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent in Frederick County

Photo by Mark Sutphin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent in Frederick County

Wavy leaf basket grass has been spreading in the area for over two decades.

Think of it as an aggressive, perennial stiltgrass.

Photo by Mark Sutphin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent in Frederick County

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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Member Spotlight on

CREATION

APPRECIATION W

ith many businesses suffering during the spread of COVID-19—furloughing employees, reducing hours, closing doors temporarily, or sometimes for good—the workplace at Creation Appreciation Landscaping almost seems like an alternate reality.

“I don’t think we’ve ever been so busy,” says owner Jeremy Parker. “We can’t keep up. If we kept to ourselves and our work, we wouldn’t even know there was such a thing as a global pandemic and quarantine.”

It’s taken 18 years to get here. In 2002, Parker, a Virginia Tech horticulture grad, ran a landscaping business on evenings and weekends while he managed production at a large-scale grower in Orange County. He called his new company Creation Appreciation.

One year later, he and his wife and the business moved back to his hometown of Afton, west of Charlottesville in the Rockfish Valley. The company enlarged the next year to a fulltime venture, with its first four employees hired.

Since then, it’s been slow but steady growth for Creation Appreciation, which mainly serves residential homes and associations in Wintergreen Resort and the Stoney Creek village. The biggest leap forward occurred at the end of 2018, when the business moved from the Parkers’ backyard to its new headquarters one mile away, a sizable shop and warehouse with four acres of outbuildings, equipment, and a materials yard.

About the same time, Creation Appreciation’s staff expanded.

Parker now leans on the support of a small but powerful management team: Chris Kell, head of sales and development; Adam Ellinger, operations manager and head of maintenance; and Carol Harrison, vice president and accounting manager. Heidi Layton, former office manager, is now out in the field, overseeing a new plant and flower division.

The spring of 2020 got off to a slow start, with a nationwide quarantine and a record-breaking late spring freeze. There were days when the team didn’t know where to send certain crews or they resorted to splitting firewood.

T I M E L I N E

2002

Creation Appreciation moves to Afton, Virginia.

Jeremy Parker starts his part-time landscaping business.

2003

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2004

Parker purchases Sunshine LawnCare, and launches the lawn maintenance division.

2009

The first four employees are hired.

2005

The company converts to an LLC.

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PHOTO 1: The Creation Appreciation team at their new home base: 20 Hedge Lane, Afton, Virginia • PHOTO 2: Patio and lighting for an outdoor fire pit PHOTO 3: Signature dry creek bed for drainage • PHOTO 4: A custom Color Creations pot at Wintergreen Resort • PHOTO 5: A fall/winter Color Creations flowerpot arrangement

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The list of services expands, including hardscapes, irrigation, tree work, etc., and the company sustains 30–40 employees.

2009 – 2016

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2016

A Head of Sales joins the team, and Creation Appreciation moves to its new home: 20 Hedge Lane in Afton, Virginia.

2018

Creation Appreciation launches Color Creations, a container garden program.

Parker hires a Vice President and Head of Maintenance.

2017

New Head of Operations and Vice President come on board.

2020

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • continued

Yet the mentality was that of “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Parker says there was no alternative. “We figured we would keep on until we couldn’t anymore.”

But soon any cause for worry melted away with the frost, and the typical spring demand has extended into late summer, which is usually when business slows down a bit. Not this year!

The thirty-some employees at Creation Appreciation feel fortunate to have avoided the hardships of their neighbor businesses.

The only suffering happening here is due to a heavier-than-usual workload—“a problem that feels petty to complain about,” says Parker, “but that will require some consideration that we don’t have time for right now.”

Vice President of the company, Carol Harrison, confirms that sentiment: “We all are extremely busy, and a 14-hour-day is not unheard of, but we manage with a handful of Oreos and a quick ‘Hey, how are ya?’ Rarely are two days alike, and it is never boring!”

What makes Creation Appreciation stand out in the community is the team’s commitment to quality. Work must be completed with care and attention—the end goal, of course, being the homeowner’s pleasure.

“We almost want it to look like we were never there,” Parker says. “That visitors to the property only see beauty to the point that they don’t think about who did the work—they just feel contentment.”

The latest undertaking is their container garden program, Color Creations. This team designs, constructs, plants, and maintains flower pots, raised beds, and other container gardens— featuring flowers, vegetables, and herbs—for homes and businesses. Professional landscape lighting is another new initiative, headed by Chris Kell.

With so many clients in Wintergreen, view enhancements are a much sought after yet delicate endeavor, which Creation Appreciation tree crews have mastered. They are also seeking to sow wildflower meadows, with native species, to attract pollinators, create low-maintenance beauty, and promote natural sustainability.

Creation Appreciation is most of all a family-oriented workplace. They’ve had parents, spouses, siblings, in-laws, aunts, uncles, and cousins all working together. “Our employees see an opportunity for good, stable work and they want to share with their family members,” Parker explains.

“I have never worked for a company where there was so much respect for one another,” Harrison says. “Each member is part of the team and valued as such. That feeling and belief starts from the top and works its way throughout the organization. It is not just a mission statement, it is a reality: our employees and customers are still the most important part of what we do.”

During these unpredictable times, the Creation Appreciation team is grateful to have been able to keep their troop of “essential workers” in consistent jobs, and they in turn have been able to keep food on their tables.

Parker says that’s what he’s most proud of—that it’s a rewarding workplace environment, where employees feel comfortable bringing their families and children. Their head mechanic, Miguel Alonso, now works with his teenage son, Miguelito, and you will often see Heidi Layton tending to flowers around Wintergreen Mountain with her three daughters.

18 • VNLA News • Fall 2020

With Parker’s own mother driving a water truck and his 15year-old son coming on full time this summer, there are three generations of Parkers working at his one-time side hustle. He and his wife look forward to one day seeing the next generation of Creation Appreciation.

“If the future of this business has the same trajectory of the last 18 years, it’s really going to blow our minds,” he says.

“We feel very fortunate.” •

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PHOTO 6: New paver patio • PHOTO 7: Dramatic landscape lighting PHOTO 8: Lantern-style flower bed lighting

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