The Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association Magazine Fall 2023 Highlights from VNLA FIELD DAY Save the Date for MANTS – JANUARY 10 – 12, 2024
You FIELD DAY SPONSORS, HOSTS AND EXHIBITORS
Thank
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2023 Officers and Directors
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Chris Dowdy 2020
Bennett’s Creek Nursery
Vice President
Jason Stern 2021
Stern Horticultural Sales
Secretary Treasurer
Warner Winthrop 2020
Bartlett Tree Experts
Past President / Board Recruitment / Field Day
Jeff Howe 2016
Windridge Landscaping
Executive Director
Shellie Archer DIRECTORS
Matt Deivert 2017
MANTS Board Representative / Field Day South Riding Nurseries
Neal Beasley 2019
Certification / VCH* Chair
Timmons Group
Robin McCall 2020
Field Day
Williams Brothers Tree & Lawn Service
Tye Saunders 2023
Saunders Brothers
Cameron Stanley 2023
The Gardener Nursery
EX-OFFICIO, VIRTUE OF OFFICE:
Laurie Fox, Ph. D. VA Tech Hampton Roads AREC
David Seward
Reynolds Community College
Montpelier, VA
4 • VNLA News • Fall 2023 10
9702 Gayton Road, Suite
Henrico, VA 23238 Tel: (804) 256 2700 Email: info@vnla.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 • Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 • Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
163
Year indicates start of volunteer service to VNLA Board of Directors
Non-voting
CONTENTS | Fall 2023 6 Upcoming Events MANTS VT-STEM Virginia Tech Turfgrass Road Shows 10 Cover Story Highlights from VNLA Field Day DEPARTMENTS 5 Index of Advertisers 8 President’s Update
* VCH = Virginia Certified Horticulturist
Abby Farms Inside Front Cover www.abby-farms.com
Bennett’s Creek Nursery www.bcnursery.com
Bremo Trees .................................. www.bremotrees.com
Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc. www.camtoocamellia.com
Fairview Evergreen Nurseries www.fairviewevergreen.com
Greene County Fertilizer Co. www.greenecountyfert.com
Hummerbee ..................................... www.hummerbee.com
masLABOR...................... www.maslabor.com
Pender Nursery, Inc. ........................ www.pendernursery.com
Phillips & Turman Tree Farms www.PhillipsAndTurmanTreeFarms.com
Rusty Mangrum Nursery www.rustymangrumnursery.com
Turner & Son’s Nursery
Virginia Turfgrass Council www.vaturf.org
To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications: 615-790-3718
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 © 2023 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.
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 5
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
PH: 919-772-7255 FX: 919-773-0904 www.PenderNursery.com 2620 Wall Store Road • Garner, NC 27529 Discover Diversity AT PENDER NURSERY Discover Diversity AT PENDER NURSERY
FEBRUARY 20 – Harrisonburg, VA
FEBRUARY 21 – Fredericksburg, VA COST – INCLUDES LUNCH
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION
ROAD SHOWS PRESENTED BY UPCOMING EVENTS / OPPORTUNITIES SCHEDULE * CONTACT Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 757-464-1004 virginiaturf@gmail.com 7:30 AM REGISTRATION 8:00 AM CLASS 12:00 PM LUNCH 12:30 PM CLASS 3:00 PM END * DRAFT SCHEDULE
FROM Virginia Tech Turf Team and Experts from North Carolina and Tennessee
UPDATES
DATES AND LOCATIONS
VA
NOVEMBER 8 – Chatham,
NOVEMBER 9 – Abingdon, VA
Free for VTC Members – $50 for others
Recertification * Fertilizer Recertification **
Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Tennessee
For Virginia Certified Fertilizer Applicators only 6 • VNLA News • Fall 2023
https://vaturf.org/road-shows Pesticide
*
**
ROAD SHOWS
Virginia Tech
Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Turfgrass Council
PESTICIDE CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED
Virginia: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, 60 offered in each of the Road Shows
North Carolina: offered November 8 and 9 only
Tennessee: offered November 8 and 9 only
Maryland: offered February 20 and 21 only
West Virginia: offered February 20 and 21 only
DATE (check one or more)
November 8th
Chatham
February 20th
Harrisonburg
November 9th
Abingdon
February 21st
Fredericksburg
PRICE (check one)
NO CHARGE for VTC Members
$50.00 for NonVTC Members
$100.00 Attend and Join the VTC
Make checks payable to Virginia Turfgrass Council and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471
Or charge to credit card:
VISA MasterCard AMEX and fax to (757) 282-2693
Card #:
Cardholder Name:
Verification Code: Expiration Date:
Please type or print clearly:
Name:
Email:
Company:
Telephone:
Fax:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 7 SPEAKERS INCLUDE VT TURF TEAM • Latest Turfgrass Updates for Your Business • Research Updates • Sustainable Turfgrass Management • Earn Pesticide Recertification for VA, MD, NC, TN, and WV • Earn Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification in VA
Grady Miller NC State
David McCall
Shawn Askew
Dan Sandor
Becky Grubbs Bowling University of Tennessee
Mike Goatley
Alejandro Del-Pozo
2023/2024
Jeff Derr
PRESIDENT’S UPDATE from Chris Dowdy
WOW!
What a great event Field Day was this year. It was terrific to have members, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, guests and industry partners come together for educational talks, tours and to re-connect.
I must send a few THANK YOU shout-outs. First, to our Field Day committee: Jeff Howe, Robin McCall, Matt Deivert and Seana Ankers. They put together three days of networking, education and tours! It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to prepare for and plan an event such as Field Day.
THANK YOU, Field Day Sponsors!
Lunch Sponsor: SOUTH RIDING NURSERIES
Gold Sponsors: BAILEY AND JAMES RIVER NURSERIES
Bronze Sponsors: LANDSCAPE SUPPLY AND STERN HORTICULTURAL SALES
Water Sponsors: FARM CREDIT AND WILLIAMS BROTHERS TREE & LAWN
THANK YOU, Field Day Exhibitors
TreeDiaper
NYP Corp
Chesapeake Bay
Landscape Professional
VDACS Office of Domestic Marketing & Promotions
Plant Southwest Virginia Natives
VA Dept of Environmental Quality
Farm Credit
Greenworks Tools
Dayton Bag & Burlap
Envu Turf and Ornamentals
VDACS Office of Pesticides
Blue Ridge Prism
Virginia Tech
Hampton Roads
Agricultural Research Extension Center
The VNLA is fortunate and thankful to have had fantastic hosts for Field Day 2023. Thank you!
• RISING SILO BREWERY: Great food and connecting with colleagues at VNLA’s networking social
• HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN AT VIRGINIA TECH: Scott Douglas, Erica Feuerstein, Jahin Gazi, Claire Krotoski and Daphne Williams. The VNLA could not have pulled off Field Day without their support.
• VT WORSHAM FIELD EDUCATIONAL TOUR: Emerson Pulliam, Mike Goatley and Dan Sandor. What an incredible tour and experience for everyone.
• RIVERBEND NURSERY EDUCATIONAL TOUR: Jonathan Cottle, Steve Ronyak, Eric Sanders, Isaac Brantingham and their entire Riverbend team. Impressive!
Terrific educational speakers and panel discussion at Field Day! Thank you for sharing your expertise!
DR. ALEJANDRO DEL POZO provided an update on current research being conducted on red-headed flea beetle, Japanese maple scale and box tree moth. He shared information on the biology, ecology and management of these three key pests for ornamentals.
PEGGY SINGLEMANN shared her expertise related to native plants and opportunities. She discussed information and tools to help think through what to grow while also growing profitability. As well as an update in regard to resources to help navigate the Nativar debate
PANEL DISCUSSION: Labor in our Industry. A terrific forum to ask questions and hear and learn from industry leaders. Thank you, panelists!
CLIFF WILLIAMSON | Virginia Agribusiness Council
JIM SAUNDERS | Saunders Brothers
EMILY MORRIS | másLabor
CHAPMAN WILLIAMS | Williams Brothers Tree and Lawn
Moderator: SEANA ANKERS
Meadows Farms Nurseries & Landscape
A big thank you to everyone involved in making Field Day 2023 a success. To those who attended, thank you for taking the time to participate and making the best of an unexpected, rainy and somewhat chilly day.
I hope the fall season has been good to everyone so far –with landscape contractors planting lots of shrubs and annuals and nursery growers moving a lot of shrubs and pansies to be planted. By now, we have all seen Christmas trees start to show up. Before you know it, lawn maintenance and planting will come to an end and we will be prepping for plants and lawns to take a long winter nap.
I’ll have one more update for you in the VNLA’s winter 2023 newsletter and then my time as President will come to a close. Please know the VNLA Board of Directors continue to work to deliver quality programs, as well as keeping up with changes occurring in the industry. Here is to a prosperous remainder of the busy fall season. •
8 • VNLA News • Fall 2023
4th Annual Virginia Tech School of Turfgrass Ecology and Management ( VT-STEM )
HOW? We provide a traditional written training manual to all students but the highlight of our effort is we use a virtual format with synchronous and asynchronous training in turfgrass management through Virginia Tech’s web-based learning management system, Canvas.
WHAT? VT-STEM offers 13 weeks of training in the principles of turfgrass management delivered by each member of the VT Turf Team and industry guests.
WHEN? Opens online on November 5, 2023 and continues with weekly updates of new material for 13 weeks of training until February 14, 2024.
WHERE? All training and testing is done online within the week on your schedule; weekly Zoom meetings to review material, quizzes, and meet with VT Faculty/Staff and industry guests takes place from 7 – 9 p.m. eastern on Wednesday nights (all are recorded for later viewing when necessary).
WHY? Increase your or your employee’s knowledge, professionalism, and ability to grow in their jobs in the turfgrass industry. All students that complete the VT-STEM requirements are also eligible to sit for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Certified Turfgrass Professional exams that are offered online from February 18 through March 31, 2024 (no additional charge to participate in this program for current VT-STEM students that have satisfied all eligibility requirements). PRICE? $600 per student. (We have discounts for Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel, first responders and veterans, and school teachers – just ask!) Questions or more info? Contact Mike Goatley (goatley@vt.edu), Dan Sandor (dsandor@vt.edu) or Whitnee Askew (waskew@vt.edu). •
UPCOMING EVENTS Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 9
MANTS 2024 JANUARY 10-12 BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ ® MANTS 2024 JANUARY 10-12 BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ ® BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ On-line Registration is available 24/7 beginning late September
at https://tinyurl.com/VT-Turfgrass-School or using the QR code to the right.
Register
Highlights from VNLA FIELD DAY
August 2 – 4, VNLA members gathered for another fun-filled and informative VNLA Field Day! Attendees enjoyed a networking social at Rising Silo Brewery on Wednesday evening, then a full day of learning on Thursday, August 3rd. Updates from Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Educational Presentations, Hahn Horticulture Garden Tours, Legislative Updates, Exhibitors, Lunch and Interaction with Industry Colleagues were all valuable parts of the day’s activities. The event wrapped up on Friday with tours of Lane Stadium and River Bend Nursery.
On
Social and educational events have never been more important for green industry professionals and VNLA is proud to host this event in concert with our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and members!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
LUNCH SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSORS
WATER SPONSORS
10 • VNLA News • Fall 2023 COVER STORY
THREE CHEERS FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS!
Our event volunteers kept the wheels turning smoothly for event attendees.
Volunteers not pictured:
Master Gardeners
Allison Akers
Beth Kirby
Wendy Silverman
New River Valley Master Gardener Coordinator
Virginia Cooperative Extension Montgomery County – Agriculture & Natural Resources
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES AT FIELD DAY
The VNLA is incredibly appreciative of the informative legislative updates from and ongoing partnership with:
Cliff Williams
Executive Director | Virginia Agribusiness Council
Craig Regelbrugge
Executive Vice President Advocacy, Research & Industry Relations AmericanHort
Matt Mika
Vice President, Advocacy & Government Affairs
AmericanHort
Due to a scheduling conflict, the folks from AmericanHort could not be with us in person, but provided a federal-level legislative update that was delivered on their behalf.
COVER STORY • continued 12 • VNLA News • Fall 2023
Cliff Williamson with VAC
BEST INTERN VOLUNTEERS
Claire Krotoski and Erica Feuerstein
A wholesale grower of deciduous and evergreen B&B trees. 434.842.8733 email@bremotrees.com www.bremotrees.com (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
Jill Kiecolt and Jim Bixby Master Gardeners
14 • VNLA News • Fall 2023 . Grow Your Business and Let Us Grow Your Plants! MFR/HQ: Greensboro, GA MAKE YOUR LANDSCAPES SHINE! MFR BUY/SHIP DIRECT GreeneCountyFert.com 4-0-2 FloraGreene™ Tree, Shrub, Palm, Plant, Garden & Ornamental Fertilizer WHOLESALE GROWER OF EVERGREENS FOR OVER 40 YEARS! WHITE PINE 8' – 16' NORWAY 10' – 16' CALL FOR PRICING DOUG PHILLIPS DAVID PHILLIPS (540) 745-3700 PhillipsRealEstate@gmail.com PHILLIPS AND TURMAN TREE FARMS SPEAKERS AT FIELD DAY The VNLA is grateful for incredible partners and their time. Thank you for sharing updates and vision for future plans. Dr. Mike Evans Director VT School of Plant and Environmental Sciences Scott Douglas Director Hahn Horticulture Garden Instructor VT School of Plant and Environmental Sciences Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo VT Assistant Professor Entomology Extension Specialist and Dr. Mary Burrows VT Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Director, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station Dr.
Director VT School of Plant and Environmental Sciences Scott
Garden
Mike Evans,
Douglas, Director Hahn Horticulture
Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo and Dr. Mary Burrows
EDUCATIONAL TALKS AT FIELD DAY
TOPIC:
From red-headed flea beetle to box tree moth: an update on emerging and invasive pests in ornamentals (pictured)
SPEAKER: Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo
VT Assistant Professor Entomology Virginia Cooperative Extension Specialist
TOPIC: Native Plants, Our Next Opportunity
SPEAKER: Peggy Singlemann Creator, RVA Gardener LLC
Host, co-producer, Virginia Home Grown
VPM / PBS & Horticulture Speaker and Garden Coach
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 15 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 Tor Miss Kim Lilac Sugar Maple Purple Passion Rhododen dron Cornus Florida See Availability List on our website!
Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo Peggy Singlemann
PANEL DISCUSSION AT FIELD DAY
TOPIC: Labor in our Industry
PANELISTS: Cliff Williamson | Virginia Agribusiness Council
Jim Saunders | Saunders Brothers Emily Morris | másLabor
Chapman Williams | Williams Brothers Tree and Lawn
MODERATOR: Seana Ankers | Meadows Farms Nurseries & Landscape
NETWORKING SOCIAL AT RISING SILO BREWERY
16 • VNLA News • Fall 2023
ATTENDEES AT FIELD DAY AT HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN
EXHIBITORS AT FIELD DAY AT HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN
Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association • 17
Exhibitors at Field Day 2023
TreeDiaper Exhibitor
Greenworks Exhibitor
VA 811 and VSLD Exhibitors
Enjoying Hahn Horticulture Garden
Attendees
Field Day and Tours
Attendees
Re-Connecting
Attendees
Chuck Wood and Seana Ankers
Hahn Horticulture Garden Tour
Networking Break
HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN EDUCATIONAL TOUR
VIRGINIA TECH WORSHAM FIELD EDUCATIONAL TOUR
RIVERBEND NURSERY EDUCATIONAL TOUR
18 • VNLA News • Fall 2023
Education at VT Worsham Field
Great Group Shot VT Worsham Field
Dr. Dan Sandor, Emerson Pulliam and Dr. Mike Goatley
MANTS 2024 JANUARY 10-12 BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ ® THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ Everything you need and more than you expected. MANTS Means Business. On-line Registration is available 24/7 beginning late September
