The Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association Magazine Fall 2022 Highlights from VNLA FIELD DAY Plus, Save the Date for MANTS – January 11 – 13, 2023
DEPARTMENTS4 Letter from VNLA Leadership 5 Index of Advertisers 6 News from VNLA 8 Cover Story Highlights from VNLA Field Day 7 Upcoming Event MANTS 2 • VNLA News • Fall 2022 CONTENTS | Fall 2022 8 Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association 5101 Monument Avenue, Suite 203 Richmond, VA 23230 Tel: (804) 256 2700 Email: LeadingPublishedinfo@vnla.orgby:EdgeCommunications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 • Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 • Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com 2021 Officers and Directors Year indicates start of volunteer service to VNLA Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE JeffPresidentHowe Windridge2016Landscaping & Hardscaping Vice Montpelier,ReynoldsDavidVALaurieNon-votingEX-OFFICIO,BartlettWarnerWilliamsRobinTimmonsCertificationNealSouthMANTSMattDIRECTORSShellieExecutiveLancasterChristopherVNLHRFMeadowsSeanaPastBaileyJasonSecretaryBennett’sChrisPresidentDowdy2020CreekNurseryTreasurerStern2021NurseriesPresident/BoardRecruitmentAnkers2017FarmsNurseriesandLandscapeChairBrown,Jr.2013FarmsDirectorArcherDeivert2017BoardRepresentativeRidingNurseriesBeasley2019/VCH*ChairGroupMcCall2020BrothersTree&LawnServiceWinthrop2020TreeExpertsVIRTUEOFOFFICE:Fox,Ph.D.TechHamptonRoadsARECSewardCommunityCollegeVA * VCH = Virginia Certified Horticulturist
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 3 Shreckhise Nurseries Groowerrs of qualiity y trees and shrubs in the Shenandoah Valley since 1936 shreckhise com 800-628-5871 A wholesale grower of deciduous and evergreen B&B trees. email@bremotrees.com434.842.8733www.bremotrees.com WHOLESALE GROWER OF EVERGREENS FOR OVER 40 YEARS! WHITE PINE 8' – 16' NORWAY 10' – 16' CALL FOR PRICING DOUG PHILLIPS DAVID PHILLIPS (540) PhillipsRealEstate@gmail.com745-3700PHILLIPSANDTURMANTREEFARMS
Dr.BartlettTecho-BlocShidlerTreeExpertsAlejandroDelPozo Virginia Tech | Hampton Road Agriculture Research Extension Center Dr. Wei Zhang TreeDiaper® & SteadySpring® Bill DeWitt and his entire team at Community Landscape Services The Farm Brewery at Broad Run VNLA LEADERSHIP Thank you to all who attended Field Day 2022! It was terrific to see everyone! W SPONSORS EXHIBITORS Abby VirginiaFarmWholesaleCountryBaileyFarmsSpringsNurseryCreditoftheVirginiasLandscapeSupplyLivingColourLandscapingCo.LynxAssociatesmásLaborProvenWinners®ColorChoice®SaundersBrothersShreckhiseNurseriesSouthRidingNurseriesDepartmentofAgriculture&ConsumerServices(VDACS)WilliamsBrothersTree&LawnService Abby Farms Bennett’s Creek Nursery Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals Farm Credit of the Virginias JK VirginiaTheLandscapeEnterprisesSupplyNYPCorpProvenWinners®ColorChoice®SislersStoneSiteOneGardenerNurseryCooperativeExtensionVirginiaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQualityVirginiaGreenhouseGrowersAssociationVirginiaNativePlantSociety
4 • VNLA News • Fall 2022
hile it was a very hot and humid day, it did not distract from the educational components nor the collaboration and networking – valuable ac tivities from which our industry both thrives and benefits.
A huge thank you to: Seana Ankers with Meadows Farms Nurseries & Landscape Matt Deivert South Riding Nurseries Robin McCall with Williams Brothers Tree & Lawn Service With VNLAgratitude,Board of Directors
The 25th Field Day anniversary was a success because of the combined efforts of our planning committee.
Virginia Agribusiness Council Executive Director
Another large thank you to so many others who made Field Day 2022 a success with expert talks, demonstrations and providing a beautiful venue: Paul Westervelt Saunders Brothers, Inc. Ed
The VNLA is honored and grateful for special guests who took time from their busy schedules to attend Field Day and provide legislative-related industry updates: Secretary Lohr Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Craig Regelbrugge AmericanHort Executive Vice President Advocacy, Research, & Industry Relations Sara Neagu-Reed AmericanHort Director, Advocacy & Government Affairs Kyle Shreve
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 5 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Bennett’s Creek Nursery www.bcnursery.com Better ProductsBilt 14, Inside Back Cover bbponline.com Bremo Trees .................................... www.bremotrees.com Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc. www.camtoocamellia.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries www.fairviewevergreen.com masLABOR...................... www.maslabor.com Pender Nursery, Inc. Phillips & Turman Tree Farms PhillipsAndTurmanTreeFarms.com Rusty Mangrum Nursery www.rustymangrumnursery.com Shreckhise Nurseries shreckhise.com Turner & Son’s Nursery To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge sales@leadingedgecommunications.com888-707-7141Communications:(TOLLFREE)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 © 2022 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. PH: 919-772-7255 FX: 2620www.PenderNursery.com919-773-0904WallStoreRoad•Garner, NC 27529 Discover Diversity AT PENDER NURSERY Discover Diversity AT PENDER NURSERY
arl Fletcher “Fletch” Flemer III peacefully entered the kingdom of heaven on June 30, 2022 with his family at his side. He was born on January 16, 1946 and grew up at Ingleside in Oak Grove, Virginia. He attended Fork Union Military Academy, graduated from Christchurch School, attended William & Mary, and graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS in Horticulture. Fletch joined the U.S. Army in 1969, where he spent three years as a commissioned rotary wing aviator with the 174th Assault He licopter Company, flying over 1,000 hours of helicopter mis sions in Vietnam. He was a decorated war hero, was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, and 22 Air Medals, and was a loyal member of the Combat Helicopter Pilots Association and a Life Member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. Fletch went to work at Ingleside Nurseries in 1972 and be came president of the company upon his father’s retirement in 1985. He recently retired as president, was proud to turn over nursery operations to his nephew Jordan Flemer, and re mained board chair. Fletch was an accomplished nurseryman and developed Ingleside into one of the largest nurseries on the Eastern Seaboard. He was active in the nursery industry, was president of the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association (VN LA) in 1978, the Southern Nurserymen’s Association (SNA) in 1989, the American Association of Nurserymen (ANLA) in 1995 and the only Virginian to hold all three titles from state, regional and national associations. He also supported the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS). He received the David E. Laird, Sr. Memorial Award (1979) and the Slater Wight Memorial Award (1995) from the SNA. Fletch was the first Virginia Certified Nurseryman (now Certified Horticulturist) and held Certificate #1. There were 10 leaders on the committee who wrote the original certifica tion manual. The program began in 1978. He was a strong supporter of industry research through both the VNLA Horticulture Research Foundation and Horticultural Re search Institute (HRI). Fletch was committed to his church and his community. He was a loyal member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oak Grove, where he served as a lay reader, warden, and on numerous com mittees. Fletch served on the boards of the Virginia Farm Bureau, Peoples Community Bank, Christchurch School, St. Margaret’s School, and the Westmoreland County Wetlands Board. Fletch was also a founder of the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
Fletch was predeceased by his father, Carl Fletcher Flemer, Jr., and is survived by his mother, Shirley Hallock Flemer, broth ers Doug Flemer (Nancy) and Christopher Flemer (April), his sisters Sherri Flemer and Sara Simpson (Kennedy), nieces Sara Wright (Rusty), Carlyn Flemer, and Tierney Jutzi (Joe) , nephews Brad Pugh, Doug Pugh (Brenda), Jordan Flemer (Bekah), Will Simpson (Maggie), and Palmer Simpson (Jessica), great-nephews Ryan Pugh and Owen Simpson, great-nieces Kira Wright, Maia Wright, and Kennedy Jutzi, his former wife Darlene Flemer, his adopted brother John Hopkins (Mary Anne), his companion Joyce Gunderson, and his beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Ace.
Fletch lived life to the fullest. He was an accomplished horseman and fox hunter, riding with Commonwealth Fox Hounds, Casanova Hunt, and Caroline Hunt. He loved beach music, shag dancing, and countless hours on the Rappahan nock River on his pontoon boat, the “Fun Ship,” where he rev eled in serving his signature “Fletcheritas.” Fletch never sent a text or email without a long string of emojis demonstrating his exuberant enthusiasm for his country and his passions. There will be a private family memorial service followed by a celebration of life on a date to be announced in the near future. A public visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on July 8, 2022 at Welch Funeral Home-Montross Chapel. The family requests donations to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 601 Colonial Avenue, Colonial Beach, Virginia 22443 or to a cancer research charity of one’s choice.
• 6 • VNLA News • Fall 2022 You are invited to submit a nomination for a VNLA award. Please email the VNLA at info@vnla.org for more details and to request a nomination form for the following awards. The person you nominate must be an VNLA member or work for a company that is a VNLA member. DISTINGUISHED VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL of the YEAR YOUNG PROFESSIONAL of the YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE ! NEWS FROM VNLA In Memoriam “FLETCH” FLEMER III CARL FLETCHER C
COVER STORY VNLA would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support, and each member who attended to make this a memorable event. 8 • VNLA News • Fall 2022 SNAPSHOTS FROM VNLA FIELD DAY eld on August 4th at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, the return of the VNLA Field Day was a great success. Opportunities for networking, education, and legislative updates were abundant, and it was great to have so many members together again!H AmericanHort Update Meadows Farms Nurseries showed up BIG at Field Day VA Agribusiness Update
COVER STORY • continued 10 • VNLA News • Fall 2022
Denie and Sam Smith, Brick House Nursery
Robin McCall and Ingrid Wilson Bartlett Demonstration Secretary Lohr, Virginia Agriculture & Forestry
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 11 The finest Taxus and Boxwood in the industry FairviewEvergreen.com 7463 West Ridge Rd. P.O. Box 189 Fairview, PA 16415 800.458.2234 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com Spirea TorMiss Kim Lilac Sugar Maple Purple RhododenPassiondron Cornus Florida AvailabilitySeeListonourwebsite!
COVER STORY • continued 12 • VNLA News • Fall 2022 (800) 758-8121 | CamTooCamellia.com 805 OAKBURY COURT | GREENSBORO, NC 27455 Cold Hardy Zone 6 | Cold Tolerant Zone 7 | New Hybrids Zone 8 & 9 Liners and 1, 3, 5, 7 | 15 and 20 Gallons Available | Wholesale Only Country Springs Plant ID ExhibitorsBeekeeper Pollinator Activity
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 13 continued • COVER STORY
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