August/Sept. 2014 • Volume 32 • Number 4
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association • Serving Colorado & New Mexico
Thinking Ahead & Staying Engaged 8 Inventory Opportunities & Concerns for 2015 11
Satisfying the Male Shopper 14 Flourish with Awesome New Varieties!
Greenhouse Grower’s 2014 Finalists
myerslawnandgarden.com
GrowiNG your busiNess cAN be A breeze. Now AvAilAble! East Wind Collection | Expanding Line of Co-Ex Containers
New from Myers Lawn & Garden – the industry leader in innovation, selection, quality, sustainability and service – comes an unrivaled selection of products sure to help increase productivity and make your business flourish! East Wind Collection • Distinct colors and designs complement colorful arrangements • Textured, painted finishes stand out in any home or garden • Durable polypropylene construction resists tearing • Drainage holes provide essential root aeration Co-Extruded Containers • Co-ex construction features a barrier layer for maximum opacity • Round and square shapes and depth encourage strong root growth • Lightweight design provides greater cost efficiency • Compatible with carry trays to easily work within your system
DWF Grower Supply 4800 Dahlia St. Denver, CO 80216 dwfgrower@dwfwholesale.com
Order Desk: 303-399-3235 Toll Free: 800-829-8280 Fax: 303-376-3125
©2013 Myers Industries Lawn & Garden Group/Myers Industries, Inc. 10/13
2
13MLG014_DWFTradeAd.indd 1
10/29/13 11:33 AM LooseLeaf August/September 2014
Our Mission Professionals growing for a better tomorrow... your growing resource. Cover Photo Courtesy of Jared’s Nursery, Gift & Garden, Littleton, Colo.
In This Issue 3 Contents, CNGA Board & Staff 4 Message from the Board: Engaging Diverse Customers 6 Member Profiles: Bookcliff Gardens and
14
Flourish with Awesome New Varieties! Greenhouse Grower’s 2014 Finalists
ACME Hydroponics
18 CSU Update: Beyond the Ash Tree
8
Inventory Opportunities & Concerns for 2015
19 CNGA Member Recommendation: Alternatives to Ash 20 All in the Family: Nurturing Long-term Employees 21 Safety Corner: The Importance of Safety Training 22 Calendar & New Members
11
23 Classified Ads & Advertisers List
Satisfying the Male Shopper
24 Psst... Pass It On: Training Idea from Kim Koonce 24 Thank you to our Sponsors!
Board Of Directors
Ex-Officio Members
Bill Kluth, President Tagawa Greenhouse Enterprises, LLC 303.659.1260 x205 bkluth@tagawas.com
Stan Brown, CCNP Alameda Wholesale Nursery, Inc. Phone: 303-761-6131 stan@alamedawholesale.com
Sarada Krishnan, Ph.D. Denver Botanic Gardens 720.865.3679 krishnas@botanicgardens.org
Jesse Eastman, CCNP, Vice President Fort Collins Nursery 970.482.1984 j.eastman@fortcollinsnursery.com
Dan Gerace, CGG Welby Gardens Company, Inc. 303.288.3398 dangerace@hardyboyplant.com
Kirby Thompson, CCNP Britton Nursery, Inc. 719.495.3749 info@brittonflowers.com
Levi Heidrich Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm 710.598.8733 levi@coloradotreefarmnursery.com
Terry Shaw, CCNP Harding Nursery, Inc. 719.596.5712 hardingoffice@aol.com
Dan Wise, CCNP, Secretary/Treasurer Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery 970.484.1289 dan@ftcollinswholesalenursery.com
Publisher
Editorial
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 959 S. Kipling Pkwy., Ste. 200 Lakewood, Colo. 80226 303.758.6672 Fax: 303.758.6805 info@coloradonga.org coloradonga.org
Sharon R. Harris Executive Director Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 303.758.6672 sharris@coloradonga.org
Printer
Jim Klett, Ph.D. CSU Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture 970.491.7179 jim.klett@colostate.edu Sharon R. Harris Executive Director CNGA 303.758.6672 sharris@coloradonga.org
Contributing Writers
Staff
Aaron Bauman Mandy Foster Dennis Hill Bill Kluth
Bill Calkins Michael Geary Tanya Ishikawa Kim Koonce
Mindy Carrothers Sharon Harding-Shaw Dr. Jim Klett
The LooseLeaf feature writer and editor is Tanya Ishikawa of Buffalo Trails Multimedia Communications at 303-819-7784 and i.tanya@comcast.net. The LooseLeaf is published six times a year with issues scheduled for February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November, and December/January. Visit coloradonga.org for classified advertisements, plant publications, upcoming events, a member directory, and much more!
Colorado Community Media 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210 Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80129 coloradocommunitymedia.com
Display Advertising Michelle Munoz, CNGA 303.758.6672 mmunoz@coloradonga.org
coloradonga.org
Sharon Harris
Michele Munoz
Ben Northcutt
Executive Director
Administrative Coordinator
Membership Manager
sharris@ coloradonga.org
mmunoz@ coloradonga.org
bnorthcutt@ coloradonga.org
3
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
Engaging Diverse Customers How would you describe your typical customer? Old or young? Man or woman? Why do you think your typical customer fits a certain profile? Is it the products you offer? Your shopping environment or experience? Are you going for a niche customer or have you developed a niche by accident?
By Bill Kluth CNGA Board President
Today between e-newsletters, e-coupons, social media, customer loyalty cards, print ads, TV ads and a wide variety of communication methods, all customer demographics are getting information about our products and services. We have lots of competition. Not just within our industry but for our customers’ dollars. Can we ensure future success building on our current foundation of customer type? Or do we need to expand our typical customer profile without damaging our current customer relationships? As we plan for next year, we need to consider how to increase our business not just with great new and innovative products and services but
LEADERS IN
with new customers. Getting people in the door is the difficult part. We cannot sell to the person who we have never met. So how do we engage a more diverse customer demographic? How do you get more men or women of all ages into your business? One way is through cross generational marketing and displays. A great example of this concept is fairy gardens. Designed for kids, the fairy gardens involve families and allow kids, parents and grandparents to participate in the whole process from design to selection, location and maintenance. It is an exciting way to get kids to learn about gardening – plants and dirt, and encourages adults to think about design – color and texture – not just in the fairy garden but in their other home and garden projects. Adding vegetables for kids is another opportunity to not just teach children where their food comes from, but to again engage parents in that planting, care and harvesting process. What is
Hardy,
Colorado-Grown NURSERY STOCK
ftcollinswholesalenursery.com availability password: hotwings 2224 North Shields Street Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 970-484-1289 | fax 970-484-1386
800-794-1289 Our quality is your success
4
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
more rewarding than literally seeing the fruits of your labors on your dinner plate? What about the millennial generation? How can we reach out to this important future demographic? We know they are interested in the environment. We know they are careful with their dollars. An example of how this demographic thinks is that at my business we have added a question to our employee interview process: “Are you willing to apply chemicals?” (An interesting question to me as part of a generation who used Temik®.) What do you emphasize in your fertilizer and chemical departments? Do you highlight organic or low toxic or alternative chemicals? Do you offer or grow products with minimal or no harsh chemicals? Do you have millenials on your staff? People like to see others with whom they can relate. Having a CCNP (Colorado Certified Nursery Professional) or CGG (Certified Greenhouse Grower) millennial on staff to offer advice to your customers will go a long way to develop long-term customer relationships. Your marketing should be easy to understand and cross all demographics. “Plant Something” is a perfect example of sending a quick and easy message to consumers. Building on that theme to show the healthful, social,
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
environmental benefits is a simple add-on which you can customize for your business whether you are a retailer or wholesaler. Everyone recognizes the advantage to buying local products. The freshness, suitability to our climate and lower environmental impact makes Grown In Colorado® an important marketing tool to consider. Grown In Colorado® is a registered trademark that clearly identifies your products as having been locally produced. Strict guidelines define Grown In Colorado® products, ensuring that your customers will truly be receiving locally grown. Both Grown In Colorado® and “PlantSomething” are only available to CNGA members. By participating in these programs, not only will you potentially increase your typical customer profile, but you know you will be participating in programs designed for professional greenhouse and nursery growers and retailers.
“By participating in Grown In Colorado® and “PlantSomething”, you can increase your typical customer profile.”
Planning to expand your customer base takes lots of work and time. Starting that process now will allow you to develop programs, products and services that will help to ensure a steady stream of customers in your future.
INTRODUCING
Appearing together for the first time in a convenient, liquid pre-emergent herbicide specially formulated for nursery use–the two trusted actives found in Barricade® and Gallery.®* Gemini™ gives you: • A consistent and prolonged herbicide barrier
Two stars just aligned.
• Control or suppression of more than 125 broadleaf and grassy weeds • A cost in use per acre that’s competitive with tank mixing
Prodiamine • Isoxaben
Control times two.
Always read and follow label directions before sale or use of this product. © 2014 An ICL Fertilizers Company, Worldwide Rights Reserved. *Barricade® is a trademark of a Syngenta Finance Corporation. Gallery® is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
coloradonga.org
www.americanclayworks.net
www.kbwsupply.com
5
MEMBER PROFILE
Bookcliff Gardens Nursery 755 26 Road Grand Junction, Colo. 81506 tel 970.242.7766 fax 970.242.0941 bookcliffgardens.com facebook.com/ bookcliffgardens info@bookcliffgardens.com
Native Plant Experts with Extensive Edible Varieties Interview with Dennis Hill, Bookcliff Gardens Nursery Co-owner
Please tell us a little about your company’s staff.
Because we have developed this image (and can back it up), our competitors are doing our hardest job for us – attracting new customers!
Bookcliff Gardens Nursery and Landscape has been in business for more than 45 years, with owners Dennis Hill and Dan Komlo at the helm the majority of that time. Through the years, each has handpicked key employees with unique talents to ultimately build a core staff that can handle practically any situation. Individual strengths are important, but working as a team makes our company really shine.
We believe that for most people gardening is a scary and intimidating mystery. We try to let them know that gardening isn’t rocket science and can be an enjoyable, successful experience. We’re convinced that a novice gardener can become a hard-core gardening addict if we can help them experience success. Our job is to give them the information and materials they need to do it and to help them if they run into problems.
What makes your business stand apart from others?
“We generally try to give men more succinct, to-the-point answers so they can get in and get out quickly.”
6
We have four “cornerstone” values in our company. The first is providing outstanding customer service and satisfaction. It’s something we do every day. From maintaining multimillion dollar client properties to walking through a greenhouse with an elderly lady in search of one geranium, we feel our willingness to really pay attention to customer needs (and then fulfill those needs) plays a key role in making people want to return. The second and third ones are quality and selection. Whether it’s a new tree for their yard, a ceramic pot for the patio, a pack of annual bedding plants, a bottle of spray, an heirloom tomato, or a bag of fertilizer, we strive to offer only the products that will work best for our customers and give them the most satisfaction over the long run.
What ways do you try to appeal to male customers? Men shop at Bookcliff Gardens because they know they can get what they’re looking for quickly, then get back home to get the job done. We generally try to give men more succinct, to-the-point answers so they can get in and get out quickly. Our staff works as a team to identify problems…then provide accurate, no-nonsense information to remedy those issues. We take the time to really listen and coach them. As a result, we see gentlemen return time and again for even more of their garden supplies and plant materials. Some days, they pop in just to look around because they have a little time to kill!
The last cornerstone is knowledge and professionalism. We have worked hard to position ourselves in our market as the garden expert. We get lots of people referred to us from the big box stores for our expertise.
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
Retailer of Healthy Food Growing Resources Interview with Kristin Pozzi, ACME Hydroponics Co-owner
Please tell us about your company’s staff. We are Kristen and Jason Pozzi, owners of ACME Hydroponics. We are avid gardeners and parents to three children. We both worked in corporate America for many years and got our start in the indoor gardening industry while trying to find ways to provide healthy food for our family. As we learned more about healthy living, we felt passionate about sharing what we knew with others. We created ACME Hydroponics to provide information, the necessary gardening supplies and the latest technology for people interested in living healthy, sustainable lifestyles.
What makes your company stand apart from others? #1: Customer service is our core value. We appreciate each and every client who comes through our door and do our best to not only meet, but exceed customer expectations. Much of our business is through word of mouth, so customer satisfaction is number one! Some ways we like to give back is through a customer appreciation day, raffles for ACME gear and Bronco ticket giveaways! #2: We offer quality and hard-to-find products. ACME has exclusively sold non-GMO seeds since the very start of the company! #3: We set high goals and work hard to reach them. Not only do we strive to build on our day-to-day sales, but we also think long
coloradonga.org
term about maintaining and growing our customer base. We strive to get each customer who comes into the shop to be a customer for life. We also look for ways to expand our reach into parts of the community to meet with and teach people who might not think to shop in a hydroponics store.
What industry trends will affect business in 2015?
MEMBER PROFILE
ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St., #3 Broomfield, Colo. 80020 tel 720.524.7306 fax 720.524.7344 ACMEhydroponics.net facebook.com/ACMEHydroponic info@acmehydroponics.net
We wouldn’t necessarily call it a trend but many more Americans are recognizing the values and benefits of growing their own food. Hydroponics, micro gardens and indoor gardens are all on the rise as Americans become more informed about how food is grown and harvested. Many people are moving towards growing their own fruits and vegetables to ensure they know exactly what they are feeding their families.
How do you try to appeal to male customers and the younger generation? We believe reaching the younger generation and males starts by getting them excited about growing and eating their own food! ACME has an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere that appeals to the senses and encourages customers to explore the variety of plants being grown in our hydroponic and indoor gardening systems. We also offer small gardening systems that are the perfect size for a child learning to garden on their own!
7
Dan Heims
Inventory Opportunities for 2015 “I don’t know how anybody can ignore the amount of money being spent on indoor plant growing.” – Terra Nova Nurseries President Dan Heims
Market trends in the U.S. tend to start on the coasts and get adopted sooner or later by consumers and marketers in the inland states. Though this economic flow is most prominent in fashion and music, and less applicable to the green industry, coastal influences can still provide useful inventory ideas to CNGA members. Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova Nurseries in Portland, Ore., agreed to share some of his observations from 2014 and ideas about the upcoming year. Heims said the fastest growing group of gardeners is 20 to 30-year-old men, who are interested in building backyard paradises including barbecues, hardscaping, fire pits and waterscapes. As the older generation of gardeners are retiring and moving to smaller homes, the customer base is becoming younger and more male. “Younger people are viewing the patio and garden as an extension of the home and spend for quality in that area,” he commented. “If the gardening hook captures Gen whatever, the best times will be here to come!”
8
Photos Courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
Container Gardening Containers continue to buck any negative trends and continue to go skyward with people in apartments, Heims said. Container gardening is especially popular for growing edibles. Edible gardening took a slight dip but should make a big comeback when consumers see increasing food prices in the coming year, he explained. “House plants are coming back. We’re getting tremendous interest in begonias,” he said. “The only area I see hanging in there kind of slow is the woodies. Hydrangea sales are up.” Fruits and herbs are really popular, especially for small scale gardens. People are buying the Brazel Berries as a more compact fruit-bearing plant that can
provide a few delicious berries without taking over their balcony or yard.
Plus, the trend of disposable plants is still happening, so “Bravo to us.”
Plants for Fun
Improved Gardening Products
On the west coast, growing plants for use in drinks is a big trend. “Everyone wants a mint for their mojito,” said Heims, who cited Amy Stewart’s book, The Drunken Botanist, as one initiator of the trend.
Better bred plants are taking much of the fear of failure away for the newbie gardener. Plants that are less susceptible to diseases and insect attack and more drought resistant are addressing today’s customers’ concerns. “Garden-worthiness is a HUGE factor in Terra Nova’s breeding program,” said Heims, adding that better, more informative tags also help.
“I don’t know how anybody can ignore the amount of money being spent on indoor plant growing. I’ve just watched these tiny (hydroponics) stores just explode,” he added. Beer brewing hobbyists are growing their own hops, and he said, “I’m finding that marijuana is the gateway drug to a lot of people getting into gardening. When they’ve outgrown pot, they will continue growing plants.”
Decorating with Plants Rather than having plants for plants’ sake, consumers are really tying them into their decor and making selections based on color coordination. The color selections reflect the emotion of the time and often follow the new colors marketed by markets and big box stores. “Designers and the Color Marketing Group (colormarketing.org) dictate the trends, though there is certainly a trend of individuality,” he noted. “Foliage is still huge. We’re doing really well with that. The whole marketplace is warming up,” he said.
Drip irrigation and drip-integrated wall systems are hot, as are self-watering containers. Garden centers can always offer new tools that make life easier for their customers. One of his favorite tools is a 36-inch long bulb-auger drill bit attached to an 18 volt drill, which saves him hours of labor with less bending. About the interviewee: Since 1973, Dan Heims has been deeply involved in all facets of horticulture. He’s currently the president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. (terranovanurseries.com), a company noted for its many new introductions to horticulture. Dan’s articles and photography have been featured in a number of magazines. He teaches horticulture courses, wholesales exotic plants, and runs his own design and build landscape business. He has appeared regularly on several radio and television programs. Dan’s work and garden have been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset Magazine, and Organic Gardening. He authored a book of horticultural humor called The Garden Clerk’s Dictionary and Heucheras and Heucherellas with Grahame Ware of British Columbia, now out by Timber Press. Dan can be reached at 800-215-9450 x 314 or dan@terranovanurseries.com
Inventory Concerns for 2015 It’s Not Much Different Across the Pond
Though the European plant market is not connected to the U.S. market, the American green industry might gain some insights by observing our neighbors across the Atlantic. To help us understand what is happening in Europe, I will begin with a brief explanation of our American situation.
By Michael V. Geary, CAE President & CEO, AmericanHort
coloradonga.org
Fundamentals in the housing market may be returning to normal in the U.S.; however, the extremes of the past 10 years, including the Great Recession and the droughts around the country, have caused a major disruption to the supply of plant material. The drastic fluctuations in demand for nursery products, driven by the swings in residential construction activity, have had a profound impact on the industry. Unlike many manufactured materials, plant material
inventories cannot adjust quickly to changes in demand. Production cycles for trees, for example, average four to six years for standard sizes, and therefore supply often cannot be increased in a timely manner to meet short or mid-term increases in demand. Conversely, when demand decreases, nursery materials cannot be warehoused or stocked. Plants are perishable, have a limited shelf life and are expensive to maintain. This leaves the industry with few options in the event of a slowdown. Inevitably, a protracted decline in demand leads to inventory destruction and capacity reduction. As I learned from AmericanHort’s chief economist, Dr. Charlie Hall of Texas A&M University, these unique challenges make it difficult to establish equilibrium between
9
supply and demand of nursery products. When growth rates are stable and economic cycles mild, the disequilibrium is relatively minor causing only slight overages or shortages. However, when economic cycles are extreme, the effect on nursery supply is dramatic. We have seen supply swing here in the U.S. from a massive oversupply to a sudden and extreme shortage. Most significantly, on the nursery side, supply is now out of sync with the construction industry and will likely require years to realign.
emerging as a significant factor. This year, for the first time, Emerging Trends Europe asked the industry some pointed questions about sustainability and they received some revealing answers: three-quarters of respondents include sustainability in their business strategy. Some of this greening is down to the push factor of increased regulation. But there is also a pull factor in that most firms see that sustainability makes business sense, mitigating obsolescence and attracting tenants – and capital. In the new real estate paradigm in Europe, success will be not only about choosing the right assets (including sustainable landscape plant materials) and managing them well, but also about knowing what drives the market – demographics, regulation, changing technology and changing lifestyles. Sound familiar?
Their green industry will, like ours, continue to struggle with developing the new key success factors of the future. These include developing lean principles that are implemented at all stages of the value chain, measurement and control of shrink, and developing greater efficiency in distribution and logistics. Other needed developments are more detailed SKU movement analysis, closer integration of genetic innovations and supply levels with consumer demand, brand management that considers timely consumer demand trends, assimilation of innovative marketing technologies, and the development of skills in building alliances and contracting.
Headline in different font weights here
While we often project that gardening and landscaping are ubiquitous and a part of the European culture, they too are in the midst of recovery. Their economy has been lagging for some time now and that has had an impact on the green industry across Europe. In recent years, however, the economy has been growing slowly but steadily, and political uncertainty over its future declining. Northern Europe is seen to be improving; southern Europe is thought to be past the worst. Equity is flowing in, and loans are becoming easier to find – though how much easier depends on where and for what. Intriguingly, as Europe continues to pull out of recession, the “green” agenda is
All this being said, the trend for plant inventories in Europe is one of mixed optimism. There has been consolidation among Europe’s green industry supply chain just as there has been here. Current housing trends across Europe point to more energy-neutral houses being built and the ever-increasing emphasis on sustainability could be a positive for European growers.
About the contributor: Michael V. Geary, CAE, serves as the president and CEO of AmericanHort, the national trade association for the horticulture industry. Formed by the consolidation of two national associations, AmericanHort brings a combined 220 years of experience to the representation of the whole of the plant industry from plant breeders and growers to retailers, distributors, landscapers, students, educators, and all in the supply chain. Michael has more than 20 years of association management and organizational development experience. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and earned the designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives in 2000. He lives and works in Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
QUALITY WHOLESALE PERENNIALS
We are a wholesale grower of excellent quality Colorado-Grown herbaceous perennials & ornamental grasses. After experiencing the beauty of our plants and the convenience and personal touch of our service, we hope you will consider Britton Nursery your first Wholesale Nursery choice for all your flowering perennials and ornamental grasses.
Britton Nursery, Inc.
7075 Wyoming Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Office: 719.495.3676 Fax: 719.495.3749 . info@BrittonFlowers.com www.BrittonFlowers.com
Proud Member
10
Licensed Propagator
Licensed Grower
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
Photo Courtesy of Willoway Nurseries
Satisfying the Male Shopper How to Sell to Men in the Garden Center As garden centers find more men walking through their doors, staff can increase sales by understanding the unique shopping styles of male customers and being proactive in suggesting product options and landscaping solutions. While displays and plants can be geared toward male shoppers’ outdoor interests and desire for low-maintenance yards, the most important factor in selling to men seems to be the same as for selling to women: knowledgable employees and a great selection of quality plants and hard goods. Aaron Bauman
Danny Gouge
coloradonga.org
“It does seem that we have seen an increase in the number of male shoppers over the last couple of years, although there is no quantitative data to support this perception,” said Aaron Bauman of Jared’s Nursery, Gift & Garden in Littleton, Colo. “It used to be that men came in to get bulk material (compost, rock, mulch) or lawn fertilizer. More of them are now coming in with their wives to select plant material, where in the past the wife often came by herself or the husband was merely tagging along. Now, the men seem to take a more active role in
selecting the plant material.” Bauman very seldom sees men come in by themselves to buy annuals, but does see a good number who buy perennials and shrubs on their own. They tend to get the wife’s approval for trees. Most male shoppers at Jared’s are family guys who are interested in improving their gardens, yards and landscapes as part of their family life. The young families who are increasingly shopping together are most interested in learning about the plant material and
11
“Jared’s uses hardscape materials in plant displays to show different uses for materials such as pavers or flagstone, and has a ‘man cave’ with items that have hunting, fishing or sports themes.” – Jared’s Nursery, Gift & Garden Co-Owner Aaron Bauman gardening in general. “Some of the young couples without kids seem to want instant gratification and love the large patio pots and moss baskets for instant impact,” he added. Danny Gouge, the marketing manager at Willoway Nurseries, based in Ohio, said he has noticed an increase in both male and young shoppers in the garden centers, as well as signing up to his company’s social media and e-newsletters. “As we look at the younger generation, both are career oriented and working. In some cases, the wife is actually the biggest breadwinner. The guys are home and have more time than ever,” Gouge observed. For many couples, both work, both do the chores, and time is tight for everyone. “They plant together but don’t have time to shop together. The guys are coming in to pick up the basics and the ladies come in for the color,” he said. “Older men are coming in as well. As you look at our customers in the older age brackets, shopping is still a team effort.” At Willoway, compact and dwarf plants suitable for smaller yards and low care plants are popular with male customers. “All you have to say is ‘It blooms and you don’t have to do anything with it’ and they buy it,” Gouge suggested. Edibles in containers and craft or hobby gardens are also high sellers. The men have shown a lot of interest in growing grapes, berries, brewery-type gardens and culinary gardens that can easily be put in small spaces and reap some benefits. Bauman of Jared’s agreed that his male customers are very interested in edibles, especially fruits and berries, while a fair number are looking for hobby items like hops for brewing. “We have a great pond department and that seems to have a higher percentage of male shoppers than many other departments,” he said. The neighborhoods around his store in Littleton have matured and many customers are looking to update their landscapes or just replace unwanted
12
At the same time, he has seen them asking for very specific products after doing online research.
Photo Courtesy of Jared’s Nursery, Gift & Garden
plants. “Men seem especially interested in what kind of maintenance is required for the plant material; they don’t want to spend a lot of time pruning or watering. Men are often also very concerned with plant material that can be used to block a view of the neighbors, and of course, they want fast growth,” he added. Jared’s generally doesn’t create displays to attract men, but does use hardscape material in many displays to help show different uses for materials such as pavers or flagstone. The garden center does have a “man cave” with many items that have a Harley or hunting, fishing or sports themes. “Probably more women shop that area when looking for gifts for a guy than guys themselves— although they like the BMG bullet bottle openers!” admitted Bauman. He doesn’t see a need to tailor his customer service activities to men, though male customers in general are less patient if they need to wait for assistance. “They do not appear to be any less willing to ask for help or advice than women, although they may be less willing to listen if the advice is not what they want to hear. They are also much less likely to give a precise answer when questioned on their watering or fertilizing procedures,” he said. He hasn’t seen any evidence of men feeling out of place in the garden center.
Though Jared’s does not currently plan events aimed specifically at men, the company did try a guy’s night out a couple of years ago where beer and “guy-type” snacks were served. “It did bring a fair number of guys in, but I’m not sure it had any long-term impact. Our Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off, the last Saturday in September, is a great hit with men and has gotten lots of guys interested in growing pumpkins and other veggies. Our bee keeping classes have also drawn a large number of men,” he recalled. Gouge of Willoway sees a lot of young and male customers attending the nursery’s educational events, like how to build a succulent garden, especially in the winter and spring. “The age bracket that is much younger is not as knowledgable as the older customers are. The young customers are just starting to get interested in gardening,” he said. “I’ve seen people do a really good job of cigar and beer tasting nights,” he added. “Most garden centers are collecting names for gardening clubs, separated by demographics, and offer different events to each.” The shopping decisions made by male customers are driven for the most part by word-of-mouth, including ideas from family and friends as well as social media sites. Gouge has noticed that impulse buys are also huge. “Price point is not a factor; if it looks really good they buy it,” he commented. “Women are much more tolerant of taking the time to go through the nursery. The guys are going to walk in, pick up the first thing they see and then go play golf. It’s a guy thing – don’t ask a lot of questions. But if an experienced employee is there to explain how to use the products, it could make all the difference in the sale.” Customers, male or female, should not be left just to wander around and pick LooseLeaf August/September 2014
“To drive men or women to make a purchase, the staff needs to help them understand the value of that proposition and the high return on investment.” – Willoway Nurseries Marketing Manager Danny Gouge
out products by themselves, because no add-on sales will result and more importantly they won’t get a whole package to make them successful, he said.
mannequin with a full outfit put together at the entrance of a department store. Displays should focus on what looks good at that time of season, and help customers understand when different plants bloom and reach their peaks. Photos Courtesy of Willoway Nurseries
“A perfect example is this weekend when a customer said she loved some of our plants. Our staff talked with her about them and before we knew it she had pots and everything she needed to complete the project and was walking out of the store with a $200 purchase – all because someone took the time to pair the right containers with the plant
colors and help her out,” Gouge related. “That’s definitely what a guy would need. They are not so patient and they may not know what they need. They will only pick up what’s on the bench and walk out the door. So, to be successful, garden centers need to group items for a whole project together.” Displays should link projects together by including the plants, pots and everything needed in close proximity, just like a
To drive men or women to make a purchase, the staff needs to help them understand the value of that proposition and the high return on investment, as well as address their concerns about how much work is involved, explained Gouge. “It is quite simple. This industry is no different than any other where a product is being sold to consumers. If it looks nice, is merchandised well and there is knowledgeable staff to educate them on the product’s use, they will sell it.”
Assisting Business Owners to Monetize Their Lifelong Investments
Cold-hardy specimen trees. Shade, flowering and evergreen.
Baxter
WholeSale NurSery
888-777-8199 Emmett, Idaho | baxternursery.com
coloradonga.org
F L AT I R O N V E N T U R E S I N C
M e r l e T. N o r t h r o p Managing Broker F l a t i r o n Ve n t u r e s , I n c . 1 6 0 0 3 8 t h S t ., S u i t e 2 0 3 B o u l d e r, C O 8 0 3 0 1 3 0N3 - V 4 4E0N - 6T1U 4 1R E S I N C F L AT I R O
13
Flourish with Awesome New Varieties! By Bill Calkins, Ball Horticultural Company
Your greenhouse and nursery is actually an innovation center and the latest new varieties and creative plant concepts are the excitement that keeps customers coming back. Now think back… Are you growing the same product mix today that you produced in 1990? I really hope not because you have such an array of amazing, new improvements that have come along since then. How many calibrachoa baskets were hanging in your greenhouse back then? Angelonia? Black petunias? Well, it’s almost 2015 and it seems like breeders are ramping up, introducing more and more garden solutions each year. At Ball, we introduced more than 300 new plants for 2015 – ranging across all segments, from seed to vegetative annuals, perennials to woody trees and shrubs. There’s no doubt our industry and our end consumers are hungry for new, new, new and today’s breeders and plant selectors are not slowing down. Here are just a few amazing new breakthroughs introduced at the 2014 California Spring Trials you should consider when building your 2015 mix. Each new intro was developed to solve a problem – from a disease-resistant shade solution like Bounce and drought-tolerant Serenita Angelonia to big color garden focal points like Foxlight digitalis and Osteospermum Blue Eyed Beauty. Add in some hightech breeding like Velour Petunias and Burpee Home Gardens Boost highnutrition program, and it’s no surprise millennials (ages 24-34) are gravitating toward gardening in droves! We have a lot of bright, colorful solutions to offer.
14
Water Wise! Serenita Pink Angelonia This All-America Selections winner bred by PanAmerican Seed is proven to perform in high-heat and extremely dry conditions. Angelonia is a water-wise plant that, when planted in mass, creates dramatic color in any garden bed. Help gardeners overcome hesitation based on the plant’s delicate appearance. Tell them Serenita is tough as nails and show them by planting it in full sun in front of your store. Group angelonias with other drought-tolerant heat lovers to create a water-wise solution.
has excellent branching, making it a good fit for your premium basket program. It has large flowers in three colors (red, orange and dark red) and holds up well in the heat on someone’s front porch. Looking for a deep shade option? Jurassic Rex begonias were bred in Oregon to meet a tight spec in terms of production consistency. Growers can produce all five colors (patterns) to ship at the same time: a true series that can be sold at retail in six-inch pots and larger. Talk about the ability to build a dramatic shade display (with a built-in dinosaur theme)!
Two landscape breakthroughs! Bounce and Cannova Breeders are always watching the news. When they hear about challenges
Begonia Mania! Mistral & Jurassic Begonia breeding is fast and furious, resulting in some real breakthroughs. The all-new Mistral Series from Selecta LooseLeaf August/September 2014
like Impatiens Downy Mildew and canna viruses, they get to work. When they create solutions, we all see the benefits. This is certainly the case with Bounce interspecific impatiens from Selecta – an exciting potential replacement for Impatiens walleriana in the shade landscape. With the habit and flower power of walleriana, Bounce and its larger brother, Big Bounce, are certainly worth trialing and considering for your 2015 offering.
Canna Cannova is the first F1 hybrid canna series from seed, bred by Takii. With this new form, growers can produce a consistent four-color series of top-quality cannas economically, opening up many more uses. Think about four colors of Cannova in a six-inch or gallon program. They can be finished compact enough to put on carts for shipping or retailing but grow to at least three feet in the landscape, an amazing value for professionals and homeowners.
professional challenges; just consider the innovations we’ve already discussed. But in our industry, color sells and big color sells better. Bold blooms and bright colors draw attention at retail and put on a show in the garden. Osteospermum Blue Eyed Beauty from Ball FloraPlant is one of these rock stars and deserves to be on your end cap next spring. The bright, two-tone blooms are attractive and will draw attention from rows away. Produce it like an osteo but pull it out from the crowd because it’s sure to be one of your best sellers in 2015.
Gardeners want perennials that bloom for a long time – that’s no secret. Foxlight digitalis from Darwin Perennials delivers in three amazing colors (plum gold, rose ivory and ruby glow) that blooms from April through September. This first-year flowering perennial grows two-feet tall and is hardy to Zone 7, with novelty colors to drive impulse sales at retail. Like Blue Eyed Beauty, Foxlight is an ideal gallon item for high-traffic end caps.
Programs Refresh! Wave & Burpee Home Gardens Lastly, two leading garden center programs, Wave and Burpee Home Gardens, have added new breakthroughs to their industry-leading lineups – all the result of innovative breeding in the PanAmerican Seed labs.
Show time! Blue Eyed Beauty and Foxlight It’s clear breeders are working on crops that solve consumer and coloradonga.org
First, the established Easy Wave series adds three Velour colors – Berry Velour, Burgundy Velour and Red Velour. What’s cool about the Velours? The flowers look soft to the touch (like velour material) and the colors amazingly deep and bold, unlike anything gardeners have seen before. These are true game changers that will propel the Wave brand into the future.
Speaking of the future of Wave… A few years ago the brand branched out from petunias to add Cool Wave pansies, the ones that trail. This program has really taken off (because it’s new, innovative and consumers love it) and one of this year’s new intros is Sunshine ‘N Wine. With strong, contrasting colors, this one will draw attention across the greenhouse. Grow Cool Waves in premium six packs or larger pots and baskets to help it stand out from the crowd before it starts to trail.
Likewise, generations of gardeners know the Burpee name, primarily because Burpee has been an innovator in packet seeds for decades. Now with a plant program available at leading garden centers across North America, Burpee Home Gardens continues its history of breakthroughs with programs like Boost high-nutrition veggies and herbs. Boost includes varieties specially selected for higher antioxidant levels, including new tomato Mighty Sweet with 45% more lycopene than other tomatoes. Talk about a great message – more health benefits! About the contributor: Bill Calkins is a retail business manager at Ball Horticultural Company. Follow him on Twitter @BillCalkins and email him at bcalkins@ balhort.com. Photos Courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company
15
Greenhouse Grower’s 2014 Medal Of Excellence Finalists By Mandy Foster, Welby Gardens
A team from Welby Gardens in Denver, Colo. was among the 2014 Industry’s Choice Panelists for the Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence plant selections from the spring trials. The team consisted of Al Gerace, Marty Gerace, John Gerace, and Mandy Foster. Here are the plants that were nominated for the Industry and Editor’s Choice Awards.
Industry Choice: Petunia Sanguna Radiant Series (Syngenta Flowers) Complementing the Sanguna series, Radiant Blue and Radiant Rose offer outstanding landscape and container performance. Featuring a one-of-a-kind star burst flower pattern, the Radiants’ unique, bright colors contrast beautifully against dark green foliage. Healthy, vigorous plants offer a strong, branching habit that is well-suited for quarts, gallons and baskets. “Unlike other bicolor petunias, these have a very clear white center and a bright-colored edge.
Both varieties were covered with blooms, so we expect it will be a great performer all around,” noted the Welby Gardens Team.
Industry Choice: Osterospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ (Ball Floraplant) The Blue Eyed Beauty Osteospermum is a show stopper! This osteospermum is special because of its intense, large bright yellow bloom and striking huge bluish-purple eye. Not only is the bloom itself eye catching, but the amount of blooms on each plant is impressive. The plant habit is very nicely shaped and symmetrical. We anticipate this plant will perform well in a patio pot or in the landscape.
Editor’s Choice: Begonia Jurassic Rex Series (Ball Ingenuity) Rex begonias are known for their large unique foliage and the Jurassic Rex adds a nice variety of unique
foliage textures and patterns. Jurassic seems to be a perfect fit to describe this unique series. The series features four different varieties, Silver Point, Watermelon, Green Streak and my personal favorite Silver Swirl. The appealing foliage will add interest in any shady design.
Alternate to Editor’s Choice Last year, Welby Gardens was the only Colorado grower providing Hort Couture but is no longer carrying the plant so it will not be available in Colorado. Instead of this year’s Editor’s Choice Finalist Geranium Glitterati Series (Hort Couture), we suggest choosing one of the following:
Petunia Easy Wave Velour Series (Ball PanAmerican Seed) The Easy Wave Series is a tried and true seed variety of landscape trailing petunias, and with the addition of the Velour Series, they now have added a
HASH TREE COMPANY WHOLESALE CONIFER NURSERY
Growers of Quality Specimen Conifers Selected Seed Sources of Pine, Fir & Spruce
877--875--8733 1199 Bear Creek Road Princeton, ID 83857
Fax: 208--875--0731 E--Mail: Sales@hashtree.com Web: www.hashtree.com 16
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
range of rich velvety colors that have never been seen before in seed petunias. The Velour Series adds an intense deep red, rich burgundy and vibrant berry color that are so incredible, they stand out from a distance and make you want to reach out and touch them.
Verbena Wicked Mad Magenta (Dummen Red Fox) The Wicked series in general is very stunning, but the Mad Magenta is exceptional. The Mad Magenta is the first tri-colored verbena. The center of its flower cluster is such a bright magenta, it appears to glow against the white and purple bicolor outer blooms. The habit is nice and compact and will be a great addition to combination hanging baskets and patio pots.
Industry and Editor’s Choice: Begonia boliviensis Bossa Nova Series (Floranova) The first F1 seed series of Begonia boliviensis, Bossa Nova varieties are full-flowering and available in four bright colors, red, rose, white and
coloradonga.org
orange. Brilliant blooms cover the wellbranched plants from late spring until frost. Plants look stunning in containers, as part of a combination or as a stand-alone specimen. “This series has all the colors in demand, as well as a habit that is a bit more upright. It looks like it will work well in pots and hanging baskets,” described the Mast Young Plants Team of industry panelists.
Industry and Editor’s Choice: Calibrachoa Kabloom Series (PanAmerican Seed) This breeding breakthrough series of calibrachoa from seed offers growers a full color line series of calibrachoa for premium production at a lower cost than vegetative varieties. Seed will be available September 1. Already trialed by more than 80 growers, the series includes six colors and a bicolor. “The first seed series of calibrachoa, Kabloom offers growers an alternative to expensive vegetative cultivars. Easy to
Available in 2016
grow and no concerns about storage or availability,” wrote Team Raker.
Industry and Editor’s Choice: Impatiens Bounce & Big Bounce Series (Selecta) The new interspecific series of impatiens from Selecta, Bounce and Big Bounce are resistant to downy mildew while delivering the habit and flower count consumers love in Impatiens walleriana. Both series are touted to bounce back after wilt and thrive in both sun and shade. Bounce is for containers and baskets while Big Bounce is bred for the landscape. “I observed the series in the Costa Farms trial and was impressed with performance in sun and shade. Earliness, color vibrancy and flower canopy were outstanding,” stated industry panelist Vaughn Fletcher of McHutchison. Thank you to Carol Miller with Meister Media and Group Editor for Today’s Garden Center and Greenhouse Grower for providing research assistance for this article. Photos courtesy of Welby Gardens
17
CSU UPDATE
Beyond the Ash Tree Tree Options for Colorado
By James E. Klett Professor and Extension Landscape Horticulturist
In this update, I would like to discuss six deciduous trees that merit more planting especially due to Emerald Ash Borer being found in Boulder County in late 2013, and the overall need for more tree diversity. Further discussion about additional deciduous and evergreen trees, trialed at Colorado State University over the past 35 years, can be found in the new publication entitled “Dependable Landscape Trees” from the CSU Arboretum. This publication (numbered XCM-150) is available from the CSU Resource Center for $19.95 and online at www.csuextstore.com.
Acer negundo ‘Sensation’ – Sensation Boxelder Many consider boxelder to be a weed tree with little landscape value. However, ‘Sensation’ is a considerable improvement over the species. It has a slower growth rate, which allows for a more uniform oval to rounded growth habit. It is a seedless cultivar with leaves turning a bright red in the fall, lasting about two weeks.
Acer saccharum ‘Caddo’ – Caddo Sugar Maple ‘Caddo’ is a naturally occurring maple native to Kansas and Oklahoma. It has better heat and drought tolerance than sugar maple. The leaves are more resistant to leaf scorch, which can be sited in direct sun. Fall color is yellow to orange. We have tested this variety since 1996, and once established we have not observed any cultural or pest problems with this clone.
Aesculus glabra x flava ‘Homestead’ Homestead buckeye is a hybrid of Aesculus glabra and Aesculus flava introduced by South Dakota State University. Its dense, rounded crown is more formal looking than A. glabra. Its yellow flowers and dark red to orange fall color are great ornamental attributes. We have observed this plant since 1987, and it has adapted well and has formed little fruit over the years. It matures to about 40 feet high and 30 feet wide.
18
Corylus colurna – Turkish Filbert Turkish Filbert is an attractive medium-size tree with few known pest problems. It seems to be tolerant of drought and adaptable to different soils. It has a formal pyramidal upright growth habit. The medium green leaves turn yellowish in the fall. It is a good choice for urban areas and tolerant of a variety of conditions.
Quercus muehlenbergii – Chinkapin Oak Chinkapin Oak is a large tree with attractive glossy leaves and good adaptability to alkaline soils. The bark is gray and roughlooking. Growth habit can vary greatly but is generally more open with a rounded crown. The one-inch acorns mature in one season and the cap encloses about half of the fruit. Fall color varies from yellow to reddish.
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
Quercus robur – English Oak This large oak has a broad, rounded habit when mature with lobed dark green leaves that form a dense canopy. Mature bark is gray with many furrows and ridges. It develops an elongated acorn with one third enclosed by a cap. Fall color is not very impressive. This species frequently holds its brown leaves into the fall and winter. No major pest problems observed on four test plants. These are just six examples of larger deciduous trees that could act as possible replacements for ash due to the threat of Emerald Ash Borer. More trees are discussed in “Dependable Landscape Trees”, and a session on replacement trees will be offered at ProGreen in January 2015.
CNGA Member Recommendation:
Alternatives to Ash
By Dennis Hill, Bookcliff Gardens Nursery and Landscape
Finding a replacement for Ash perhaps isn’t yet a high a priority on Colorado’s Western Slope as it is for those in the South Platte river basin. Still, we’ve always told people that it isn’t a question of if, but a question of when Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) arrives in western Colorado. We’ve been pushing Zelkova as a great tree with Ash-like benefits for years and customers seem to be catching on. Ditto for Kentucky Coffeetree. We’re trying to overcome people’s natural aversion to that dirty three-letter word, Elm, because of their experiences with Siberian Elm. Still an uphill battle, but we have hope someday… We’re focusing on more Oak species. Burr Oak has been a longtime staple, but we are loving how the Burr-English cross ‘Heritage’ is performing in our heat, dryness and terrible soils. Chinkapin Oak is working well for us as well and we’re giving Northern Pin Oak another try. We’re trialing Hardy Rubber Tree and even Yellowwood (though I don’t have high hopes for it doing well in our area, it’s a beautiful tree). In addition, we’re stepping up our recommendations of some tried and true trees that never have achieved great popularity in our market. Trees like Littleleaf Linden, Western Catalpa (oh, to have a sterile variety some day!), and Fruitless Mulberry are all getting increased attention from our staff and our customers.
RichaRds, seeley & schaefeR, inc.
Insurance by Greenhouse Specialists WestminsteR, coloRado
303-429-3561 castle Rock
303-814-2679
www.rss-insurance.com eschaefer@rss-insurance.com
Workers’ Compensation Dividend Plan Member Discounts Safety Plans Competitive Pricing
Greenhouse Packages Garden Center Packages Boiler/Crop Insurance Commercial Automobile Home & Auto
EndorsEd by thE Colorado nursEry & GrEEnhousE assoCiation
“Professional Insurance Service with a Personal Touch” coloradonga.org
19
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Nurturing Long-term Employees Creating an environment where employees can flourish as part of the family has been the key to retaining a great staff at Harding Nursery. Harding employs more than 50 seasonal employees and around 25 full time. Several have spent more than a decade at the Colorado Springs company and some more than two decades.
Interview with Sharon Harding-Shaw, CCNP Harding Nursery
“The company sees the benefit of trained, long-term employees when the customers come in each spring, excited to see them again, tell them how their plants are doing and show them pictures.”
“Many nurseries are family owned, like ours. We have always tried to make our employees feel like part of the Harding Nursery family,” explained co-owner Sharon Harding-Shaw, CCNP. Working in the green industry includes some production jobs that are repetitive where a company can hire an inexperienced person, put them into a slot and have them perform successfully. But overall, Harding-Shaw said, employees must have knowledge about what kind of plant material they are working with, how it grows, what mature size is, and what color it blooms – especially in sales positions. Hiring and keeping key people who are motivated and knowledgable is critical, rather than constantly rehiring and training, she said. Interviewing carefully for new hires is an important way to determine whether a person will fit in long-term. “In addition to being qualified for the position, it seems like you almost have to get a feel for their personality to understand whether they will stay,” she said. “At the same time, our employees that have been with us the longest started off in seasonal positions. Our field manager, propagators and wholesale manager were all hired as summer help way back when. I don’t think if you would have asked them in their first month that they would have said they would be here in 14 to 20 years. After hiring new people, Harding Nursery gives them the opportunity to take the lead on how they can become an asset to the company. Though a relatively small business, it has different divisions for employees to try out, and HardingShaw said, “It doesn’t take long before you see where a person’s true talents start shining through.” The owners allow employees who are excited about their positions to take responsibility for their work and implement practical changes. “For instance, a sales manager can come up with ideas on what will get people to purchase a plant, and a production manager who is excited about a certain plant variety can add that to the product line. We listen to them and let them flourish.” Harding Nursery has experienced employees who work alongside new hires to train them. In-house classes and outside seminars further train employees. Within the company, sales
20
people are taught horticultural plant terminology and plant identification and tour the growing operations for a better understanding. They also learn sales policies, procedures and phone answering techniques. Harding-Shaw continues a tradition of teaching plant fundamentals, encourages employees to go to the CCNP seminars and exams, and holds a little celebration when they pass. The company sees the benefit of trained, long-term employees when the customers come in each spring, excited to see them again, tell them how their plants are doing and show them pictures. The customers continue to return because they know the staff can help them with any of their plant needs and has the knowledge and relationships to support them. “Our staff is really part of our Harding Nursery family. We all work hard so we can play hard,” she shared. The company thanks the employees for their hard work and adds a bit of fun to the job in many ways every season. From May to September, the owners provide a catered lunch for the employees on weekends, “so they can run in and have a nice meal and run back out to help customers needs, loading or potting.” Harding-Shaw bakes cookies for Valentine’s Day, corn beef and cabbage for Saint Patrick’s Day, makes treats for Easter, and provides goodies for Halloween. The company hosts an employee appreciation barbecue in the fall when families can join in a nice steak dinner, farm tour and pumpkin picking in a pumpkin patch. At Christmas, it hosts an employee appreciation potluck for families with prime rib, turkey, ham and presents provided by the owners to show our appreciation. “Negativity is not tolerated at our nursery. They pretty much get voted off the island. They get the opportunity to do it better and redirect their thoughts. We have zero tolerance for gossip or talking about people, because it can become toxic,” she observed. “We really try to make our employees feel that they play a really important role at the nursery. We can’t do it all, so we really appreciate their hard work and they know it so they put themselves out there.” Harding-Shaw has learned the value of her company’s great employee relations from reading thank you letters from the employees over the years. Some started out as seasonal employees when they were just graduating from high school or between jobs. Years later, they are still employed and express great appreciation for the owners’ support in getting them through their early years. LooseLeaf August/September 2014
The Importance of Safety Training Effective safety training is one of the most important elements of your safety program. Without it, your employees can learn behaviors that keep them from performing their jobs correctly. Conducting effective safety training means that your employees are trained to do their job in the correct way, which means the safe way. There are many benefits to providing effective safety training to your workforce. It creates a culture of safety within your organization which helps to establish desired behaviors and attitudes, teaches proper work practices, encourages safe behaviors while maintaining efficiency and productivity, reinforces these behaviors over time and works to eliminate preventable and costly accidents. When employees have the right materials and equipment to do their job correctly and safely, and know that employers are concerned about their well-being, then employees are more engaged in their jobs. This results in increased productivity and better quality work.
SAFETY CORNER
5. Use organization-specific data that includes accident losses and trends, industry requirements and employee input to identify training content. 6. Tailor content and delivery so the information is appropriate based on the audience needs. Taking the time to make sure your safety training is effective ensures that your employees have the right knowledge to do their jobs correctly, which means they are doing their jobs safely. As employees become more skilled at their jobs, injuries and claims should decrease. Setting the tone for a safe environment in the workplace lets your employees know that you care about protecting them – and as you protect your employees, you also protect your business.
From Pinnacol Assurance
For more detailed information and other effective safety training tips, visit the Training page on Pinnacol.com or contact Pinnacol’s Safety On Call Hotline at 303.361.4700 or 888.501.4752.
How can you ensure that your safety training is effective? Even though this may be challenging, you can make your safety training program more impactful by following a few of Pinnacol’s guidelines and recommendations: 1. Identify when training is the best option to eliminate or minimize the risk of injury. Sometimes other safety and prevention measures are a better choice. For example, if you can eliminate the hazard completely, or put engineering controls in place to minimize risk, that may be your best option. 2. Determine which type of training is most beneficial to your employees. Choose between job-task training and safety awareness training depending on whether your employees need specific or general information. Both types of training are important in establishing a safety culture and equipping employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to work safely and efficiently. 3. Prepare for training and reinforce learning by understanding employees current challenges so you can design and deliver training in a way that mitigates obstacles from the start. 4. Present information in a way that your employees can relate to so they are more likely to retain it.
coloradonga.org
21
2014 calendar
SAVE THE DATE for CNGA’s 2014 events and mark your calendars now! New Mexico Certified Nursery Professional (NMCNP) Thursdays: Santa Fe and Albuquerque (Locations TBD) The NMCNP gives your employees the knowledge and tools they need to continue to be valuable to you, your company, and your customers. Investing in your business and employees through certification communicates to your customers that you value the industry and their business. Take the time to get yourself and your employees certified this year. Aug. 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Perennials Seminar Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Trees Seminar Aug. 28, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Shrubs Seminar Sept. 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Landscape Design Seminar Sept. 18, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Exam Plant Walk Thursday, Aug. 21, 3 - 5 p.m. Craig Hospital Rehabilitation Garden, Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colo. Enjoy a tour of the beautiful rehabilitation gardens led by Susie Hall, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and Registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR), who works individually with patients and regularly offers group gardening classes and activities. Craig Hospital has been exclusively dedicated to the specialty rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) since 1956. Come learn how horticulture impacts these patients. Outreach & Member BBQs Tours 3:30 – 5 p.m., BBQs 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, 4-6 p.m., Elena Gallegos – Kiwanis Open Space, Albuquerque, N.M. Thursday, Sept. 4, Gulley Greenhouse, Fort Collins, Colo. Friday, Sept. 19, Four Seasons Greenhouse & Nursery, Dolores, Colo. Thursday, Oct. 2, Phelan Gardens, Colorado Springs, Colo. Join your CNGA friends at our free member BBQs around the region. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the host location and see what’s new! Thank you to our sponsors: Pinnacol Assurance, Richards, Seeley & Schaefer, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Safety Training – Back Safety Tuesday, Sept. 16, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Pinnacol Assurance, Denver, Colo. Back injuries are one of the most common issues for the CNGA membership. This FREE course covers what you need to know to prevent back injuries at work including risk factors, common back injuries, preventative measures, correct and safe lifting and carrying techniques. Open to all CNGA members! This is a Pinnacolapproved training for our Safety Group Members. Women in Horticulture Luncheon Thursday, Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood, Colo. An annual tradition for women in the green industry – come and enjoy lunch, networking with your peers and friends, and our guest speaker, Rebecca L. Haller, HTM directs the hortuclutral Therapy Institute in Denver, Colo. She teaches horticultural therapy classes at several sites across the U.S. in affiliation with Colorado State University, where she developed a concentration in horticultural therapy at the Bachelor’s level. Join us for this exciting new take on the benefits our industry has on others. Thank you to our sponsors: Wells Fargo Insurance Services and Welby Gardens!
22
CNREF & CFF Golf Tournament Monday, Sept. 22, Noon shotgun start. Colorado National Golf Club, Erie, Colo. We’re excited for a new location this year! Located just 20 minutes north of Denver, Colo., National Golf Club (formerly Vista Ridge) is the premier golf course on the front range – voted Colorado’s #1 Rated Golf Club in 2010, 2011 & 2012! Come and see for yourself and have fun while supporting the CNREF and CFF foundations. Safety Training – Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Pinnacol Assurance, Denver, Colo. Open to all CNGA members! This FREE course covers prevention strategies to help keep your employees safely on their feet and slips, trips, and falls safety techniques that work. This is a Pinnacolapproved training for our Safety Group Members. Owners & Managers Meeting Friday & Saturday, Nov. 7 & 8 Antlers Hilton, Colorado Springs, Colo. Mark your calendars to attend this meeting designed for decision makers to share experiences, ideas, and practical information both in the meeting and the social offerings. Thank you to our sponsors: Tagawa Greenhouses, Pinnacol Assurance, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Arbor Valley Nursery and Richard, Seeley, & Schaefer. Colorado Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) Seminars Tuesdays, Denver Metro Area, Colo. (Locations TBD) CNGA’s CCNP program was designed to promote high quality standards and professionalism for the Colorado nursery industry. The certified employee receives the satisfaction of being recognized as a professional by industry owners, their peers, and by the public – or feel free to enroll in a seminar (or two) just for the education! Employers can be assured that a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional is dedicated to the industry and can provide exceptional customer service, knowledge and professionalism. The CCNP exam can be taken on its own – enrolling in the seminars is not required. Nov. 4, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Perennials Seminar Nov. 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Trees Seminar Nov. 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Shrubs Seminar Dec. 2, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Landscape Design Seminar Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Exam at ProGreen EXPO, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo. Tuesday, Jan 27, 2015, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Exam at Location TBD, Denver, Colo.
new members Andrew Hundelt 1760 Steel St. Louisville, Colo. 80027 314.749.3460 Local Plant Source, Inc. 1704 ½ South Congress Ave. Ste. F Austin, Texas 78704 Zac Tolbert, President 512.826.8878
The Planted Earth of Carbondale P.O. Box 5061 Aspen, Colo. 81612 Glenn Loper 970.948.1122
LooseLeaf August/September 2014
classified ADS CNGA offers free posts of online classified ads to members, including items for sale or lease and job openings. For more information on the postings below and to see other current postings, visit coloradonga.org, click on the Resources tab and click on Classifieds.
Help Wanted
For Sale
Western Sales Associate Botanical Interests Seed Co., Broomfield, Colo., has an opening for a Western Sales Associate. This position provides overall support to the sales team with an emphasis on western customers and reps. Email resumes to Judi Werling at judiw@ botanicalinterests.com
Greenhouse – For Sale by Owner Turnkey greenhouse facility in sunny Las Cruces, N.M. 56,000 sq. ft. Gutter Connect greenhouses, all concrete/rolling benches, hot water and natural gas heating/evaporative cooling; 11,000 sq. ft. Warehouse with loading dock, two enclosed offices and large walk-in cooler. 2.92 Acres of land; 3 wells with 16 acre feet water rights; 10,000-gallon storage tank, also connected to city water; fertilizer injector and insecticide application systems; plumbed throughout. Established market. Trained employees. Price: $650,000. Please contact Lynn Payne at ld@paynes.com or 505.988.9626.
Customer Service and Inventory Support Technician Arbor Valley Nursery, 2979 N. Highway 83, Franktown, Colo. 80116, is hiring for a Customer Service and Inventory Support Technician who will enter data for all inventory receipts, location transfers, and some sales orders and will assist with other projects as needed. Computer literacy is essential and knowledge of plant material is favorable. Experience in our industry is not required. Apply here: https://ciims.cindexinc.com/filter/?apply=A550CC Landscape Labor & Crew Leaders Steve Koon Landscape & Design, Inc., 2301 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood, Colo. 80110, is now hiring motivated landscape laborers and crew leaders for their residential landscape company. There are opportunities for education, advancement and benefits. Email resumes to SteveKnLandscape@aol.com. Plant Health Technician Steve Koon Landscape & Design, Inc., 2301 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood, Colo. 80110, is seeking an experienced pesticide and fertilizer applicator for our landscape/tree farm/maintenance company. Department of Ag. license is preferred. Pay commensurate with experience. Must have a valid driver’s license and clean MVR. Email resumes to SteveKnLandscape@aol.com. Outside Sales Manager Plant World, Inc., 250 El Pueblo Rd. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87113, is seeking a customer service-focused, goal-oriented and sales-driven Outside Sales Manager with an assertive, aggressive results-oriented attitude. Position is responsible for direct outside sales activities within an exclusive territory. The Outside Sales Manager will be providing outstanding customer service to existing and prospective clients to retain, renew and build sales. Email resumes to Veleta Clay at vclay@plantworldinc.com.
advertisers LIST American Clay Works & Supply Company . . . . . . 17 Baxter Wholesale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Britton Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Circle D Farm Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Clayton Tree Farm LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 DWF Grower Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Everris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Flatiron Ventures, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Harding Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hash Tree Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Jayker Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 McKay Nursery Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Richards, Seeley & Schaefer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Register for calendar events with CNGA unless otherwise noted. Tel: 303.758.6672 • Fax: 303.758.6805 • Email: info@coloradonga.org CNGA is the host of calendar events unless otherwise noted. For more information, registration forms, and directions to programs, go to coloradonga.org and click on the Events tab to view the Calendar. coloradonga.org
23
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 959 S. Kipling Pky, #200 Lakewood, CO 80226
Acknowledging our Major Sponsors Corporate Sponsor – Tagawa Greenhouse Enterprises Marketing Sponsor – Pinnacol Assurance Partner Sponsor – Wells Fargo Insurance Services
ThankYou PSST... PASS IT ON
Training Ideas MOOC: Massive Open Online Courses I learned about MOOCs a year ago when attending a conference. They have a huge following and those in the academic world love the fact that universities are sharing their knowledge at no cost.
By Kim Koonce Tree & Shrub Buyer Plant World, Inc.
24
Most of these online classes are free and offered by some of the world’s best universities. Categories range from professional and academic to just about anything you can think of (like the range of college electives.) Looking for certification? Some offer that, too.
Here are some examples of portals to these courses (click on featured courses or browse subjects in the libraries to find a class that matches your interest): • coursetalk.com • edx.org • coursera.org Want to learn something fun? Check out the home pages of those above and start exploring! Are you geared towards technical interests? You must visit udacity.com.
LooseLeaf August/September 2014