Dec 2014/Jan 2015 Issue

Dec.2014/Jan.2015 • Volume 32 • Number 6

Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association • Serving Colorado & New Mexico

Keeping Members in the Know

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ProGreen EXPO 2015 14 The Question of Neonicotinoids 16 The Mysterious Art of Beekeeping 18 Unleash the Power of Your Personal Sale

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13MLG014_DWFTradeAd.indd 1

11:33 AM LooseLeaf December10/29/13 2014/January 2015

Our Mission Professionals growing for a better tomorrow... your growing resource.

Cover Photo by Pat Hayward. Courtesy of Colorado State University and Plant Select®

In This Issue 4 Message from the Board: Preparing Employees

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for 2015 & Beyond

5 CNGA – Here for the Members: Greetings from the

The Question of Neonicotinoids The Mysterious Art of Beekeeping

New Executive Director

6 Member Profiles: Cooperative Resource Design, Olson’s Greenhouse, Osuna Nursery

10 Funding Research & Education: Two Foundations Merge to Double Impact

17 Safety Corner: Cost Containment Certification 18 Marketing Techniques:

Unleash the Power of Your Personal Sale 20 CSU Update: Announcing Plant Select® 2015 22 Calendar & New Members

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23 Classified Ads & Advertisers List

ProGreen EXPO 2015 CNGA Recommended Seminars

24 Psst... Pass It On: Young Nursery Professionals 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 Nursery 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

Jim Klett, Ph.D. CSU Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture 970.491.7179 jim.klett@colostate.edu Allison Gault, MBA Executive Director CNGA 303.758.6672 agault@coloradonga.org

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

Allison Gault, MBA Executive Director Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 303.758.6672 agault@coloradonga.org

Fred Berns Dan Gerace Bill Kluth

Staff

Visit coloradonga.org for classified advertisements, plant publications, upcoming events, a member directory, and much more!

Printer

Contributing Writers Mindy Carrothers Tanya Ishikawa Henry I. Miller

Allison Gault Dr. Jim Klett Kirby Thompson

The LooseLeaf feature writer and editor is Tanya Ishikawa of Buffalo Trails Multimedia Communications at 303-819-7784 and office@tanyaishikawa.com.

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.

Colorado Community Media 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210 Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80129 coloradocommunitymedia.com

Display Advertising Michelle Muñoz, CNGA 303.758.6672 mmunoz@coloradonga.org

coloradonga.org

Allison Gault, MBA

Michelle Muňoz

Ben Northcutt

Executive Director

Administrative Coordinator

Membership Manager

agault@ coloradonga.org

mmunoz@ coloradonga.org

bnorthcutt@ coloradonga.org

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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

Prepare Employees for 2015 & Beyond “You are always a student, never a master.

You have to keep moving forward.”

By Bill Kluth CNGA Board President

“Nothing helps your staff focus on training more than providing a student with a chance to experience your business.”

Is your staff ready for 2015? Do your managers and supervisors have their training programs updated? Do your managers and supervisors know what training they need for 2015? We all know what we know. This defines our training programs.

We sometimes know what we don’t know.

We can add that information to our training programs. But what is really scary is not knowing what you don’t know. We can never add that information to our training programs.

So how do you prepare your staff to know everything? Training is a combination of the reinforcement of existing practices and procedures and introducing new stuff, whether that new stuff is varieties, ideas or processes.

ProGreen EXPO, January 13 to 16, is your opportunity to provide your managers, supervisors and staff with education and training. It is an opportunity to learn best practices and incorporate those into your daily business. It is an opportunity to learn about new trends, varieties and products. It is an opportunity to update your existing training programs with the latest information and methods. It is an opportunity to learn what you didn’t know that you didn’t know.

When you have the information you need to update your training programs. How do you know your training is successful? Do your employees get it? Make sure that your training includes not just the “how” but the “why”. Make sure your training message matches your company goals of quality products and services. Tie the training back to specific examples your staff is sure to recognize.

– Conrad Hall, cinematographer customer questions and complaints. The initial reaction of an employee to a customer question or complaint defines that customer’s experience and then sets the customer’s experience for the future. We all read the reviews online from unhappy customers. Often, the problem was exaggerated by a poor initial response by the employee.

Talk to your staff; they are in the thick of things. They know what problems they have experienced. Tailor your training to include those employee experiences. It will make the training go easier when the employees are engaged. Be sure to talk to both your long-term employees and new staff. They both will bring unique ideas to your attention.

Finally, consider adding a student to your staff – either as an intern or through a local education program. Nothing helps you and your staff to focus on training more than having the responsibility to provide a student with a chance to experience your business. At Tagawa’s we have interns for six months. Our staff looks forward to having them work in their departments.

Each department must train the student for work. This allows some departments with very low turnover to have an annual review of their responsibilities and provide training. It updates everyone while training the student.

2015 is going to be great. We need to be prepared because greatness doesn’t happen by accident. It is purposeful. And it requires great training to fulfill that purpose.

See you at ProGreen EXPO!

Then after you have given your staff the training experience, test them. Ask questions about how to handle specific circumstances.

Have them demonstrate they have learned and can correctly execute it. This is important for employees handling machinery like forklifts or tractors. But it is equally important for handling

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Greetings from the New Executive Director Hello CNGA Members and Supporters!

My name is Allison Gault and I joined the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association as the new executive director at the beginning of October. I’m honored to represent the association.

CNGA has a powerful reputation in the green industry as a leader in providing unparalleled nursery and greenhouse education, networking and operational support, and I look forward to keeping that reputation in the future.

I am excited to work with the Board of Directors to identify areas in which we can assist you in growing your business in the future. As you know, CNGA has many partnerships with other associations in the green industry and I plan to

continue those relationships and identify new areas in which we can collaborate to better the industry.

A few words about where I come from: My career began at Medical Group Management Association as an assistant. During my 12 years with that association, I worked in a variety of departments and gained different skill sets. I spent the last six years there in the Membership & Certification Department, managing the relationships with our state associations, working with key board members overseeing the business planning and budgeting process, and managing our member-only social networking site, one of the key member benefits. I received a bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s in business administration from Regis University. Outside of work, I spend my time with my three kids playing outdoors in all of the great Colorado seasons.

F L AT I R O N V E N T U R E S I N C

Te s t y o u r b u s i n e s s ’ s “ S e l l a b i l i t y S c o r e ” on my website: www.BusinessSolutionsAdvisory.com Click the button and complete the quick questionnaire about your business.

L e a r n h o w t o i m p r o v e i t s “ S e l l a b i l i t y ”.

I hope to see you at the ProGreen EXPO, January 13 to 16 in Denver. We have a great line up of speakers and presentations as well as our Industry Celebration on Thursday evening. I would love to hear what you feel the most valuable member benefits are and what you would like in the future.

CNGA — HERE FOR THE MEMBERS

By Allison Gault, MBA CNGA Executive Director

“I am excited to work with the Board to identify areas in which we can assist you in growing your business.”

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 1 303-440-6141

coloradonga.org

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MEMBER PROFILE

Cooperative Design Resource, LLC 5715 W 11th Ave. Lakewood, CO 80214 tel 720.675.8062 info@cooperative designresource.com cooperativedesign resource.com

Experienced Providers of Collaborative Design Services Interview with Tom Trench, Partner

Please tell us about your company.

The exceptional landscape designers of Cooperative Design Resource (CDR) provide services to residential and commercial contractors involved in exterior work, including landscape, construction, concrete, irrigation, decking and fence companies. With more than 135 years of combined landscape design and sales experience, CDR’s designers draw from a solid knowledge base to help our clients provide creative, consistent and timely designs to their customers, adding value to their projects and profits to their bottom line.

Who are the designers?

I graduated from State University of New York-Farmingdale in 1969 with an AAS Degree in Horticulture, and have been a partner in three successful, award-winning design-build firms. I served as the president of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, and taught classes at the ProGreen EXPO.

My partners include Terry Rudolph, a University of Georgia graduate; Venessa Lines, University of California-Davis; Jennifer Verprauskus, University of MassachusettsAmherst; and Roger Hupfer, Colorado State University. Each designer has been in the landscaping industry for many years and contributes outstanding talents and expertise as well as a wealth of knowledge from continuing education in specialized disciplines and participation in professional organizations in the green industry.

What’s the difference in how you provide services?

We offer contractors completely rendered landscape design services for both new and remodel projects so they don’t need to hire a full-time landscape designer or a salesperson.

Each contractor has us work directly with their clients to make the sales and design presentations.

While we provide one convenient contact from our firm for the contractor’s client, they benefit from the collaboration that happens between the five of us in our office. Consequently, contractors enhance their reputation, construction appeal and planting aesthetic – all while saving quality time and money!

As a regular ProGreen attendee and speaker, how do you make the most out of your experience?

I look at the ProGreen seminar schedule ahead of time and circle all the topics and people I want to see. I try to make the most of it, timewise and cost-wise, whether I can be there everyday or just one. There’s just so much information right there in front of you. You just can’t collect that much information in one place anywhere else.

For me, the biggest benefit is the trade show and networking opportunities. The EXPO offers a unique opportunity to go around and meet people. I run into a lot of the contractors I want to talk to on the floor or in seminars. It’s also way once a year that I get to go through and see pretty much the best of equipment and products available at that moment.

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Family Operation Focuses on Premium Plant Performance

MEMBER PROFILE

Interview with Brian Lloyd, Vice President of Sales

11610 County Road 14.5 Fort Lupton, Colo. 80621

Please tell us about your company.

Olson’s Greenhouse started in the 1940s in Santaquin, Utah, when Roy Olson decided to turn his hobby of growing flowers for the local community into a full-fledged business. Familyoperated ever since, we are currently transitioning into our fourth generation of ownership. After many years of selling into the Colorado market, Olson’s Greenhouse took advantage of the opportunity to expand operations into the state with the bank sale of two facilities (roughly 35 acres under cover) in Fort Lupton in early 2014.

Bart Olson has worked full time in the family business since high school in the mid '70s, and has been president of Olson’s Greenhouse Gardens since incorporation in 1990. He and his wife, Yvonne, purchased the company from Bart’s parents, Jack and NolaRae Olson, in 1996.

Other key members of Olson’s staff include Brian Lloyd, vice president of sales; Chad Olson, vice president of operations; Cody Swenson, facility manager; Nate Barker, production manager; and Brandon Olson, facility manager.

While many family members work at Olson’s Greenhouse, we owe our success to the dedication of many non-family employees whom have played key roles in our growth and profitability over the years. We have several employees that have been loyal to the company for more than 30 years!

What is your business recognized for?

Customer service is always our top priority.

Although we primarily sell to retailers, we do not feel that the service stops until the end consumer is satisfied. We do everything we can to ensure our products provide for a positive gardening experience. This includes research and planning for the best genetics, methods and culture during the growing stages, assistance with merchandising at the retail level, and after-sale support with clinics, how-to’s and so forth.

Olson’s Greenhouses of Colorado, LLC

and enticing on the store displays and will thrive after planting or display by the consumer.

tel 855.241.8537

Olson’s Greenhouse has become most recognized for its mixed combinations in hanging baskets and planters.

This all started a long time ago when Grandma NolaRae would design and plant every combination by hand. We know the importance of creating an appealing “ready to use” planter with eye-catching color, shape and texture combinations.

Bart Olson – bbolson@ogg.com

Brandon Olson – jbolson@ogg.com

What plant health issue is of most concern to your customers?

Concerns for pollinator health is the hot topic right now. We at Olson’s Greenhouse take very seriously the challenge to provide healthy, pest-free plants without harming the environment or beneficial insects. Our customers want pest-free plants produced without neonicotinoids (although approved by the EPA), and we are doing everything possible to utilize viable alternatives for pest control. Starting in January 2015, Olson’s Greenhouse will be labeling plants that have been treated with neonicotinoids so that our customers can be more informed in their purchases.

We pride ourselves on growing high quality bedding plants that will hold up in harsh retail environments AND perform in the landscape.

Our goal is to provide plants that are appealing coloradonga.org

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MEMBER PROFILE

Osuna Nursery 501 Osuna Rd. NE Albuquerque, N.M. 87113 tel 505.345.6644

Whole Plant Care Specialists with a Quality Reputation

fax 505.345.0019

:Interview with Vanessa Sanchez, Marketing Director

info@osunanursery.com

Please tell us a little about your company.

osunanursery.com

Osuna Nursery gets our name from our location on Osuna Road, considered the garden district of Albuquerque where shoppers can visit several plant businesses within a few minutes of each other. The nursery was opened

by Chang An, a Korean immigrant, as a greenhouse and plant maintenance business in 1980. The business expanded over the years, and in 2009, when An passed away his wife, Myong, took over.

Since our beginnings, the nursery has grown from a half acre to six acres and has increased our variety of plants and services. In addition to our popular native and xeric plants, Osuna has the largest selection of any retail greenhouse in New Mexico, including plants in a wide range of sizes, varieties and uses. In addition to great

bedding plants, we have a large tree and shrub section, we grow many types of plants including annuals, perennials, veggies and herbs, and have an on-site florist.

What is Osuna Nursery known for?

We try to maintain our reputation, established by our founder who everyone knew and loved for treating every customer with great care. We want each customer to feel like we will spend whatever time is needed to help and will go the extra mile for them.

With all our different departments and products, we like to think of ourselves as a one-stop garden center. Plus, if we don’t have something you want, we will put it on a wish list and our buyers will add it to our next order if available.

We also continue to offer plant maintenance services. We have plant consultants and designers that help plan landscapes, and if we install the plants we will warranty them.

What plant health issues are your customers concerned about?

In the summer, New Mexico had a big grasshopper problem, so customers were trying to deal with that. As it gets toward harvest time, people are interested in learning how to care for fruit trees and different issues with edible plants.

They are also wanting to know how to winterize their landscapes.

We have a plant diagnostics service and a lot of people bring samples from problem plants, and we tell them what we suspect and give advice on how to deal with different issues. We actually have a section in our store called the pharmacy, where instead of medical doctors we have plant doctors make diagnoses.

We have three to five staff members who are really strong in diagnosing plant problems and we call them over when a customer needs help.

Customers can also self diagnose by using a touch screen where they can identify bugs or some plant diseases, but it’s always best for them to talk to a real person who can ask questions about plant care habits, which may affect plant condition.

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

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FUNDING RESEARCH & Education

Matt Edmundson CHREF President

CHREF Board of Directors Matt Edmundson (Arbor Valley Nursery) Foundation President Mike Kintgen (Denver Botanic Gardens) Foundation Vice President Steve Echter (Echter’s Greenhouses) Foundation Secretary/ Treasurer Gary Dean (Wadsworth Controls) Gary Epstein (Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery) Jack Fetig (Fossil Creek Nursery) Gene Pielin (Gulley Greenhouse)

Two Foundations Merge to Double Impact To better coordinate and leverage donation sources for endowments and more effectively raise funds, the Colorado Floriculture Foundation (CFF) and Colorado Nursery Research and Education Foundation (CNREF) merged in September 2014. The new organization, called the Colorado Horticultural Research and Education Foundation (CHREF), was also formed to broaden the call for which regionally relevant research projects will be funded.

The purposes of the two former organizations were to raise money from the horticulture industry to invest in research and scholarships for the industry, with separate projects for the nursery and greenhouse sectors. “We will continue to support the future leaders of the Colorado nursery and greenhouse industry by funding scholarships for students who major in nursery and greenhouse production and management and plan on staying in the state for their careers,” said CHREF President Matt Edmundson.

The new foundation is improving its visibility and communication by having regular updates in the Looseleaf magazine and on CNGA’s website. “We want to tell our story to the community, provide updates on research projects and keep in touch with past scholarship recipients,” Edmundson added.

A few former board members including Mike Bone from Denver Botanic Gardens and Les Ratekin of Ratekin Enterprises will continue volunteering on the golf tournament committee.

The foundation also welcomes new and returning volunteers to support current or future fundraising endeavors. One of the foundation president’s goals

is to develop a planned giving program for those who are interested in long-term donations or including CHREF in their estate plans.

Until then, inquiries about the foundation or donating can be directed to the CNGA office at 303.758.6672 or info@coloradonga.org. Also, be sure to look for Gnomey at the Industry Celebration during ProGreen, and consider bidding on him during the lively auction so you can start off 2015 with a valuable contribution to CHREF and its projects, supporting industry research, professionals and students!

Cold-hardy specimen trees.

Shade, flowering and evergreen.

Baxter

WHOLESALE NURSERY

888-777-8199 Emmett, Idaho | baxternursery.com

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

2015 CNGA Recommended Seminars January 13–16, 2015

coloradonga.org

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January 13-16, 2015 Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street Denver, Colo. progreenexpo.com

Tuesday — January 13 — 1–2 P.M. “Neonics, Nurserymen and Bees” Presented by Randy Oliver biologist, researcher and commercial beekeeper, Grass Valley, Calif.

There has been a public outcry about neonicotinoid insecticides and their impacts on bee colonies. Consequently, the use of neonics is coming under heavy fire. Is this the beginning of the end for using neonics? This session will feature a lively and well-researched talk about the world of bees and Randy Oliver neonics, by someone who has more than 40 years of commercial beekeeping experience. Randy is unique because he is also a biologist and an organic grower who constantly researches, analyzes and digests beekeeping information from all over the world. As a result, his no-nonsense commitment to hard facts has helped him develop practical solutions to many of today’s beekeeping problems and he will gladly share in this enlightening session.

Randy’s presentation is an excellent follow up to Dr. Joe Bischoff’s presentation, “The Science Behind Neonics and Pollinators,” Tuesday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bischoff will present what science is currently telling us, what we still need to know, and what the industry can do to advance bee and Joe Bischoff pollinator health through stewardship. Together, these two sessions will give you the “Rest of the Neonic Story” – the one the public isn’t hearing.

Tuesday — January 13 — 3:30–4:30 P.M. “Alternatives to Impatiens walleriana” Presented by Bruce Hellerick Brickman/Valley Crest, Plumsteadville, Pa. How do you adjust to this void of seeing a favorite floral plant suddenly become unusable or otherwise unwanted? In the case of Impatiens walleriana, downy mildew has basically killed the use of this plant within the U.S. What are your replacement options? In this session, Bruce will share his Bruce Hellerick considerable horticultural experience on what plants make good sense as substitutes for Impatiens. He will also explain how environmental modifications in the landscape can help create better growing conditions.

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Dan Heims is a veritable celebrity among horticultural professionals. He has hosted radio shows and appeared on numerous national TV programs including Martha Stewart TV, HGTV and British television. With his work featured in national publications such as USA Today, Better Homes and Gardens and Sunset Magazine, Dan is a sought after expert who frequently travels the world to keep his audiences at the forefront of “what’s new.” Don’t miss his two very informative and entertaining sessions.

Thursday — January 15 — 9–10 A.M. “Dryscaping: How to Survive the Drought”

Dan Heims

Presented by Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries, Canby, Ore. Drought is a fact of life in the West and a critical consideration for ensuring proper plant selection and landscape design. The ‘Dryscaping’ session will offer excellent suggestions for a wide variety of planning considerations for drought, including drought-tolerant species, water storage and distribution, and design do’s and don’ts. You’ll also receive an informative handout of recommended publications and websites.

Thursday — January 15 — 11 A.M.–Noon “New Perennials from Around the World: How New Plants Are Found” Presented by Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nurseries, Canby, Ore. Looking for new plants that can give you a competitive advantage? You can be the trend setter! The ‘New Perennials’ session will take you on a whirlwind tour of the world, looking at favorite plants from industry movers and shakers in 10 countries. You’ll learn about hardy perennials as well as ‘temperennials’ that can enhance your inventory of ‘gotta have’ plants.

Thursday — January 15 — 11 A.M.–Noon “Tree Diversity – Underused Trees in the Industry and Replacement Trees for Ash” Presented by a Panel of Industry Experts: Tim Buchanan, City of Fort Collins; Gary Epstein, Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery; David Flaig, City of Littleton; Stan Brown, Alameda Wholesale Nursery; Scott Grimes, Colorado Tree Consultants; Facilitated by Jim Klett, Colorado State University Extension.

With the recent discovery of the emerald ash borer in Boulder County, experts agree the pest poses a serious threat to Colorado’s urban forests. It may be only a matter of time before ash (Fraxinus spp.) populations are severely reduced. This is an especially sobering fact given that the Denver metro area alone has nearly 1.5 million ash trees. What to do? How do we prepare for the decline of our ash tree populations? The key is to use a wider selection of lesser known trees that have proven performance in Colorado, offer equal aesthetic value, have good pest and drought-resistant characteristics, and are readily available. Now is the time to anticipate replacing ash trees as well as using less of them in landscape designs. This panel of highly experienced tree experts will give you its version of a “Top 10” list and explain why their recommended species make good sense.

coloradonga.org

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Perain, USDA

Be sure to stop by the CNGA booth early to pick up your “Proud Member of CNGA” and “I am CNGA Certified” ribbons, and show your support of your association!

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The Question of Neonicotinoids

Photo Courtesy of Britton Nursery

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LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Neonic Ban Won’t Benefit Bees, Or Humans If neonicotinoid pesticides were banned – as activists are demanding – U.S. farmers’ productivity would drop and they would resort to more toxic chemicals, the nation’s agricultural economy would be damaged, food prices would increase, and bees would be much worse off.

The vast majority [of substances with pesticidal properties] that we consume occur “naturally,” and they are present in organic foods as well as those that are produced with conventional methods.

Henry I. Miller

The Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association board position has been and continues to be, until the research proves otherwise, that no position needs to be taken in support or opposition of neonicotinoids (neonics). In an attempt to bring information about this controversial topic to you and expand the conversation, we have excerpted informative sections from a relevant article from Forbes magazine.

The article was titled “The Dreaded ‘Green Blob’ is the Most Dire Threat to Bees” and appeared on September 24, 2014, on Forbes.com. The title was conceived from several references in the original article about radical environmental activists and how they are like a Green Blob that could become the real culprit in the extinction of bees, due to their insistence on banning neonics based on bad science.

To read the full article, go online to coloradonga.org, click on the Resources tab and then click on Education & Research Links to find the link to the Forbes website in the list of resources.

CNGA will add further links on that web page to relevant information on neonics if received as a response to this article.

The Forbes.com article author is Henry I. Miller, a physician and molecular biologist, who uses the tagline “I debunk junk science and flawed public policy.”

Miller is the Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy and Public Policy at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

He was previously a Research Fellow at the NIH and the founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology. coloradonga.org

In a landmark research article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, biochemist Bruce Ames and his colleagues found that “99.99 percent (by weight) of the pesticides in the American diet are chemicals that plants produce to defend themselves.

Only 52 natural pesticides have been tested in high-dose animal cancer tests, and about half (27) are rodent carcinogens; these 27 are shown to be present in many common foods.”

The bottom line of Ames’ experiments: “Natural and synthetic chemicals are equally likely to be positive in animal cancer tests. We also conclude that at the low doses of most human exposures the comparative hazards of synthetic pesticide residues are insignificant.”

In other words, consumers who buy organic foods in order to avoid pesticide exposure are focusing their attention on 0.01% of the pesticides they consume– and paying a huge price premium.

Neonics Are Safer and More Effective than the Alternatives The neonics were derived from a naturally-occurring plant substance, nicotine, about 20 years ago. They act on the nicotinic receptors in insects’ nervous system, which are critical to insects’ functioning but are almost insignificant in vertebrate and mammalian – including human – physiology. Consequently, these compounds are much safer for humans and other vertebrates than previous generations of pesticides, such as carbamates and organophosphates.

Neonics are also more selective in their action than earlier pesticides.

Commonly applied as a seed treatment or to the soil at the plant’s roots, the pesticide is taken up into the plant, becoming more dilute as the plant

grows, so that it is present at only low levels in the plant’s flowers and fruit. By far the highest concentrations of neonics are in the stems and leaves of plants – where predatory insects most often feed – rather than in the flowers, where pollinators feed.

The result is that especially in the crop’s vulnerable seedling stage, the neonics in the plant control only the insects that actually feed on the crop – quite an improvement over earlier pesticides that killed insects indiscriminately, often with disruption of the wider ecology. Moreover, a single neonic seed treatment, sometimes supplemented by a single sprayed application, is usually enough for the whole season for many crops–another advance over previous compounds that required multiple sprayed applications throughout the growing season.

Contrary to oft-repeated claims, honeybee populations are not declining.

According to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization statistics, the world’s honeybee population rose to 80 million colonies in 2011 from 50 million in 1960.

In the U.S. and Europe, honeybee populations have been stable (or even rising slightly over the last couple of years) during the two decades since neonics were introduced, according to U.N. and USDA data. Statistics Canada reports an increase to 672,000 honeybee colonies in Canada, up from 501,000, over the same two decades.

It is true that during much of the past decade there have been higher-thannormal overwinter bee-colony losses in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as cases of bees abruptly abandoning their hives, a phenomenon known as “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD), but this has little or nothing to do with neonics.

There is only circumstantial or discredited experimental evidence of harm to bees by neonics. Many laboratory studies performed on both sides of the Atlantic purport to show that various lethal or sub-lethal effects can be induced in bees by different engineered exposures to neonicotinoids, but the large-scale field studies that have exposed bees to field-realistic doses of neonics have not shown adverse effects on bees from such exposure. (There have been three such studies in Europe, one in the U.K., and two in Canada.)

A supposedly contrary study often cited by ban-the-neonics activists is one

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conducted by Chensheng Lu of the Harvard School of Public Health, which exposed the insects to 30-100 times their usual exposure in the field. That did poison the bees (which one would expect), but it doesn’t replicate real-world bee exposures and tells us nothing about Colony Collapse Disorder, contrary to Lu’s claims. In any case, CCD seems now to be declining.

According to University of Maryland entomologist and director of the Bee Informed Partnership Dennis vanEngelsdorp, not a single case has been reported from the field in the last three years.

Bees Have Bigger Problems Bees would not benefit from a ban on neonics, because these pesticides are not the chief source of bees’ health problems.

They seem to be caused by Varroa mites along with at least 19 viruses, many of them lethal, that the mites introduce into bee colonies as they suck the bees’ hemolymph, the equivalent of blood. In the process, Varroa transmission transforms what were formerly nuisance infections into colony-killers. Other pathogens, including the gut fungus Nosema ceranae, which prevents infected bees from absorbing nutrients through their digestive systems, contribute to the complex of factors that affect bees’ health.

pests in an entire region, like whitefly in Florida and in the Southwest. Without this “halo effect,” these populations could spiral out of control, and their density could overwhelm the weaker pesticides permitted to the organic industry, damaging it as well.

[A corn grower at a February meeting in Iowa] pointed out that if neonics were banned, farmers would not simply watch their crops being eaten and their farms bankrupted by uncontrolled crop pests.

They would instead revert to applying

The Mysterious Art of Beekeeping Neonics Have Not Proven A Threat

By Kirby Thompson, Britton Nursery

and prevent harmful insect infestation with pesticides brings into question the affect on the health of our bees, and the neonicotinoid debate is crucial to this discussion.

We share the emotions of the “beesafe” debate: honey bees are important contributors to our environment as pollinators and we should protect them, making sure that threats against them are minimized. That said, we have not found concrete evidence connecting the treatment of our perennials with neonics to a direct negative impact on the health of our bees. We have been told that neonic concentrations are higher in the stems and leaves of the plants but are almost untraceable in the flowers. We therefore make it a practice to avoid applying pesticides to flowering plants at times of the day when bees are working the flowers.

Rounding out the mix of stressors are the scarcity of clean, diverse forage (exacerbated by wide-scale monoculture) and the presence of pesticides introduced into hives by beekeepers to control mites and other predators.

No Neonics Means Major Crop Damage A neonic ban... would devastate North American agriculture and the communities that depend on it. Neonics are the last line of defense for Florida’s citrus industry against the Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that spreads a devastating disease of citrus trees called huanglongbing, or HLB. They’re also the first line of defense in Texas and California, where HLB is only just beginning. Without neonic protection, Florida’s citrus industry will be extinct within a few years. And without the use of these pesticides, tomatoes in Florida and vegetable crops in Arizona, California and the Pacific Northwest would be imperiled. If whitefly infestations weren’t kept in check with neonics, a huge portion of U.S. winter vegetable production would be lost.

Ironically, neonics are indispensable to the organic farming industry. Neonics can help to hold down populations of target

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the available but inferior EPA-approved pesticides used in the past. These are broad-spectrum pesticides, typically sprayed or spread on the soil in granular form. They kill everything that flies, crawls or creeps in the field, and these applications need to be repeated. In place of one or two neonic applications, there may be a half dozen or more applications of older, more toxic chemicals. It’s hard to see how that would be good for bees—or for that matter, for humans.

Al Britton Jr. kept bees at Britton Nursery’s 6.5-acre property in Colorado Springs since the 1970s up until his passing in December 2013, and we intend to continue in his footsteps. Our beehives have easy access to all 20 of our production greenhouses as well as nearby open fields and our irrigation pond.

Each year, we harvest several hundred pounds of honey from our hives.

Keeping bees is a mysterious art more than an exact science. Sometimes bees get viruses, swarm or become agitated without apparent reason. Each winter, drone bees are literally “kicked out into the cold” by the worker bees and left to die just outside the hive doorstep. Each spring, a pile of dead drones always needs to be swept up.

As both a perennial grower and a beekeeper, we encounter the conflicting priorities of managing our plants and our bees. Insect control is an enormous factor to ensure plant health and quality. No matter what techniques are used in a perennial growing operation, pests like aphids, thrips, mites, mealy bugs and hoppers are bound to threaten plant health. The necessity to control

The pivotal factor that we cannot ignore is that our customers do not want us to deliver perennials that are infested with unwanted insects. And we have found that insecticides containing nionics are far more effective than others to control harmful insect infestation. Since neonics are systemic, there is also a residual resistance that prevents future infestations of unwanted insects.

Using beneficial insects to control harmful insects in a greenhouse operation producing containerized perennials is absolutely untenable. We would need to continually purchase and release beneficials since our plants finish growing and are sold in a month’s time during the heavy-selling season.

Occasionally, a bee hive will turn up empty in the spring. The bees are just gone. The empty hive will usually get “raided” by bees from the other hives that will steal remaining honey. Why did they leave? Was it Colony Collapse Disorder? Or did the queen decide to head off somewhere else and take the other bees with her?

As I said before, beekeeping isn’t an exact science as much as it is a mysterious art!

LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

SAFETY CORNER

Cost Containment Certification – Easier Than You Think There are many reasons Pinnacol policyholders should implement Colorado’s Cost Containment Certification (CCC) program. Policyholders who have achieved Cost Containment Certification often see a decrease in claims costs, a reduction in losses, and experience less severe injuries.

The certification can also make policyholders eligible for a discount on their workers’ compensation premium. More importantly, certification demonstrates your organization’s commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of your employees.

Colorado’s Cost Containment Certification requires that employers have a six-step formal safety program in place and document its effectiveness for one year. In addition to these steps, the following also must be kept throughout the year:

Additionally, we offer the Employer’s Guide to Cost Containment Certification – free of charge – online at Pinnacol.com under the “Order Materials” section of our website. Along with this workbook, we created a Cost Containment Certification webinar series. The series is an exclusive benefit to Pinnacol policyholders and was designed to assist you with development of your CCC program and to walk you through the six-step process, documentation and application.

You can access the webinars at any time from the Resources section of Pinnacol.com.

From Pinnacol Assurance

If you have any questions about the materials or the process, please contact our Safety On Call hotline at 303.361.4700 or 888.501.4752.

• Safety orientation documentation for all new employees • Safety training documentation on (at least) a quarterly basis. (Pinnacol recommends monthly safety awareness training to promote better safety awareness and to develop a good safety culture for your company.)

• Accident investigation reports for all incidents reported, including corrective measures to be implemented • Documentation indicating the designated medical provider(s) the company selected has been distributed to all existing and new employees • Documentation showing efforts towards instituting modified duty that conforms to the treating physician’s restrictions • Required documentation must be dated and signed Keep in mind: you probably already have the majority of the components of the CCC program in place. If you have implemented a solid safety program and the program and its results have been well documented – then you may have met some of the above requirements.

Regardless, our Pinnacol safety consultants can help with every step of the process.

coloradonga.org

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MARKETING TECHNIQUES

Unleash the Power of Your Personal Sale It’s never been easier for customers to find the services and products you sell elsewhere.

Competition has never been keener.

By Fred Berns ProGreen EXPO Speaker

Google “garden center: Denver,” for example, and 2,370,000 listings show up in a nanosecond.

As Nick Ozimek of Silver Sage Garden Centers points out: “We’re competing these days with Lowes, Home Depot and even King Soopers.

They sell perennials and mums, too.”

But there’s one thing customers can’t get elsewhere: YOU. You should promote yourself and your team accordingly.

The power of the personal sale is the underlying theme of my three presentations at the ProGreen EXPO. One of those presentations based on my book of the same name is entitled: “Sell Yourself! Get Them to Buy from YOU.”

The greenhouse, garden center, landscape, lawn care and other professionals I’ve met in recent years generally do a fine job of providing their services. They’re good at what they do. But they’re not as good at telling others how good they are. In many cases, they are their own best-kept secrets.

The problem is that, first and foremost, they’re not selling mowing and maintenance and mulch.

First and foremost, they’re selling themselves.

The Personal Sale is the most important sale they ever make.

So what’s it take to make that sale? Step one involves the initial impression.

“Promoting yourself begins with making a positive first impression, by looking visitors in the eye, say, at a home and garden show,” says Robert Hahn, the owner of Denver-based Yard Works Design.

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

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Licensed Propagator

Licensed Grower

LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Go to Yardworksdesign.com, and you’ll discover that Hahn includes on his site something few other landscape professionals do: a promotional bio.

A bio is your most vital, valuable and versatile personal selling tool. It is the single marketing piece that differentiates you, notes your experience and accomplishments, and communicates your credibility. Think of it as a personal “brag sheet” that speaks to your specialness in print so you need not do so in person.

Meanwhile, there are numerous ways that green industry professionals can share their knowledge, and promote themselves in the process.

For starters, they can position themselves as experts, by discussing everything from droughtresistant plants to pollination in webinars, podcasts, posts, articles, and columns. As Tony Bass, a national landscape business consultant, puts it: “No amount of advertising will ever build the credibility of one well-positioned article or presentation.”

Writing for local newspapers, hosting programs on local radio or TV stations, and speaking to garden groups, service clubs and other organizations are among the ways

horticulture professionals can distinguish and differentiate themselves from bigger competitors with deeper pockets. I’ll cover those strategies in my ProGreen presentation called “Marketing to Beat the Big Boxes.”

A single word can help landscape, greenhouse, garden center and other professionals to make the all-important personal sale, and that word is “Only.”

You can make an instant impact by revising your personal commercial to include your “Only,” as in: “I’m the only local irrigation contractor with a horticulture degree,” or “I own the only landscape company which works with five local shopping centers.”

MARKETING TECHNIQUES About the contributor: Fred Berns coaches, writes promotional copy for and speaks to green industry professionals nationwide.

He’s the author of the book “Sell Yourself! 501 Ways to Get Them to Buy from YOU.” For more information, go to www.whatsyouronly.com, or contact Fred@Whatsyouronly.com or 303.589.3013.

How to pinpoint and promote your “Only” will be the focus of my third ProGreen EXPO presentation: “Own Your ‘Only!’ Master Your Marketplace with a Single Word.”

Standing out in a crowded, noisy marketplace is a greater challenge than ever before for green industry professionals. Promoting themselves with pizzazz is a powerful way to overcome that challenge.

It doesn’t matter how good you and your company are if only you know about it. You are, after all, too good to be your own best kept secret.

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: E--Mail: Web: coloradonga.org

208--875--0731 Sales@hashtree.com www.hashtree.com 19

CSU Research UPDATE

Announcing ® Plant Select 2015 Plant Select® is pleased to announce six new plants to be promoted in 2015, along with three new additions to Plant Select® petites. In 2015, we will also launch our new marketing and brand strategies for Plant Select® with a redesigned logo and tagline. The main emphasis on marketing will be our new brand “Plant Select® – Plant Smarter”. The six plants being promoted include three new plants and three recommendations.

Desert beardtongue (Penstemon pseudospectabilis) is

By James E. Klett Professor and Extension Landscape Horticulturist

Windwalker® big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii ‘P003S’) is an upright ornamental grass selected for its powdery blue foliage that turns plum/purple in September when the burgundy plumes wave in the air. The columnar form makes it ideal for both residential and commercial applications. It grows six feet tall and two feet wide and grows best in full sun in dry, loam or sandy soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.

Engelmann’s daisy (Engelmannia peristenia) is an incredibly tough and adaptable perennial wildflower of the Southern Great Plains. It forms rosettes of ruffled gray foliage adorned nearly all summer with bright yellow daisies. It is easy to grow and adaptable to most garden conditions. It grows to 28 inches high and 14 inches wide in part shade to full sun in clay, loam or sandy soils. It is hard to USDA zones 5 to 10.

Coral Baby penstemon (Penstemon barbatus ‘Coral Baby’) is a new introduction which sports bouquets of coralpink flowers from May to June. The upright flower spikes are beautiful in a dry border or rock garden. It is a favorite of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. It grows 15 to 18 inches high and about 12 inches wide and prefers full sun in a sandy well-drained soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.

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a recommended plant with mounds of deep blue-green foliage, which are topped with vivid purple-magenta trumpets for much of the summer.

This long-lived southwestern U.S. native perennial grows well in water-thrifty gardens where it attracts pollinators of many types. It grows to 30 inches in height and 15 inches wide in full sun to partial shade in a dry site in a clay or sandy soil with a little humus. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9.

Windwalker® royal red salvia (Salvia darcyi x s. microphylla) is a new introduction, which is a robust grower crowned with blood-red flowers from late June through October. It grows 36 to 48 inches tall and 48 inches wide in full sun in a moderate to xeric area in a clay, loam or sandy soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9.

Woodward Columnar Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Woodward’) is an elegant upright evergreen with soft textured, dark green foliage, which turns gray-blue in winter. Its erect stature stands up to very windy conditions and sheds snow loads. It grows up to 20 feet in height and two to four feet in width and prefers sun and a moderate to dry clay, loam or sandy soil. It is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9.

LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

Also in 2015 we are introducing one and recommending two new Plant Select® petites.

Desert Moss (Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’) has fine textured bright green foliage, which resembles moss yet it is drought tolerant. It is superb for xeric gardens, between paving stones in paths and patios, and as a companion to hardy cacti and succulents.

Goldhill golden-aster (Heterotheca jonesii x villosa ‘Goldhill’) is a natural hybrid of Silky Rock Jasmine (Androsace sarmentosa ‘Chumbyi’) is a tough little plant from high in the Himalayas. The graygreen rosettes proliferate with runners to form semi-evergreen patches. Clusters of pink flowers form in early summer, which can be a focal point in a rock garden or permanent containers.

coloradonga.org

two western U.S. wildflowers and was selected for its dense habit and vigor. Gray fuzzy foliage makes dense mounds in a sunny garden with season-long yellow daisies.

‘Goldhill’ is apparently sterile so it will not seed.

More information about all these 2015 Plant Select® plants can be found at www.plantselect. org.

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CNGA calendar

SAVE THE DATE for CNGA’s 2014 & 2015 events and mark your calendars now!

ProGreen EXPO 2015

Safety Training

Tuesday – Friday, Jan. 13 – 16, 2015 Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo.

Every year more than 4,500 green industry professionals gather at ProGreen EXPO to sharpen their skills, establish important business connections and measure the pulse of the coming year. With nearly 100 educational sessions and the region’s largest trade expo, there’s no other industry event where you can accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. Interested in exhibiting? If you want to join 200 companies who have already reserved their booths, you better hurry as exhibit space is going fast. For additional information, call 303.798.3664 or visit the ProGreen EXPO website at www.progreenexpo.com.

Note: If you are a member of CNGA’s Safety Group Program, you will need to attend at least TWO safety training classes prior to October 1, 2015, to maintain full compliance with the program.

Classes at ProGreen give you a convenient way to meet this requirement in one day.

Colorado Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) Exam Employers can be assured that a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional is dedicated to the industry and can provide exceptional customer service, knowledge and professionalism. There are two upcoming opportunities to get certified: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, 1 – 5 p.m, ProGreen EXPO, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., CNGA Office, 959 S. Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, Colo. 80226

CNGA Industry Celebration Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, 4 – 6:30 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Denver, 1450 Glenarm Place, Denver, Colo.

Join us for our happy hour event with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks! The Industry Celebration is a great time for you to catch up with your peers and friends, network with your customers, forecast for your business, support the association, and honor people in our industry. Watch for the E-Leaf with more details and to register. See you there!

Safety Training Classes at ProGreen EXPO 2015 Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo.

Since so many CNGA Members attend ProGreen, it is a convenient opportunity to do your safety training at the same time. Here are two classes you can attend to satisfy your Safety Group Program training requirement. These classes are open to all registered ProGreen EXPO attendees.

• “They’re Here: How to Prepare for an OSHA Inspection” Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, 1 – 2 p.m.

Are you ready for an OSHA inspection? Have you ever had a surprise inspection or been involved in an OSHA audit? Do you know what to do or what to expect when an OSHA inspector arrives? In this class you will learn your rights before OSHA knocks on the door. You will know when to take notes, pictures and/or video. You will know whether employees have to talk to an OSHA inspector. Finally, you will understand how the appeal process works if you receive a citation. This is a Pinnacol-approved training for CNGA Safety Group Members.

• “Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention” Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Approximately 300,000 U.S. employees are disabled each year as a result of slip, trip and fall accidents. In Colorado, slips, trips and falls are almost always the No. 1 cause of employee injuries.

These claims can be costly for employers, as well as painful and debilitating for the injured worker. What do we know about most of these injuries? They don’t have to happen. In this class, you will learn techniques that keep your employees safe. You will review the true costs of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. You will be able to identify common slip, trip and fall hazards and know what injury prevention resources Pinnacol can provide. This is a Pinnacol-approved training for CNGA Safety Group Members.

new members Cooperative Design Resource, LLC 5715 W. 11th Ave. Lakewood, Colo. 80214 Tom Trench, Partner 720.675.8062 Crystal Gardens 251 Chair Mountain Dr. Redstone, Colo. 81623 Jasmine Pierce, Owner 970.355.4270

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Don Musso 4149 West 11th St. Pueblo, Colo. 81003 719.544.0116 Native Roots Garden Center 26266 Highway 160 Durango, Colo. 81303 John Wickman, President 970.259.5111

Olson’s Greenhouses of Colorado, LLC 11610 County Road 14.5 Fort Lupton, Colo. 80621 Bart Olson, President 801.806.9099 Osuna Nursery, Inc. 501 Osuna Road NE Albuquerque, N.M. 87113 Jason Seo, General Manager 505.345.6644

LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015

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

Shrub and Tree Grower

Landscape Labor & Crew Leaders Steve Koon Landscape & Design, Inc., 2301 W Oxford Ave., Englewood, Colo. 80110, seeks motivated landscape laborers and crew leaders for their residential landscape company.

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, seeks an experienced pesticide applicator for our landscape/tree farm/maintenance company.

Must have experience. Department of Ag license is preferred but not necessary. 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.

Silver Sage Garden Centers, 9010 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, Colo. 80125, is looking to hire a grower to head up an expanding production line of shrubs and trees. This is an exciting opportunity to help create a new line of business at an established garden center. Prior experience is required. Please email resume to teddy@silversageco.com

advertisers LIST American Clay Works & Supply Company . . . . . . 21 Baxter Wholesale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Britton Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Circle D Farm Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Clayton Tree Farm LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 DWF Grower Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Flatiron Ventures, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Harding Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Hash Tree Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Jayker Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 McKay Nursey Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Richards, Seeley & Schaefer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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

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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

Member Benefits Young Nursery Professionals (YNP) The code: Members under the age of 40 The mission: Networking and industry involvement As I turned 41, I realized I was on the wrong side of the hill and would be ousted from this fun group. Fortunately, it turns out that the code is more of a guideline. The name may have morphed but the mission stays the same: to increase the involvement and inclusion of the younger members in the association. Sometimes it’s who you know; industry people gather for comradery, guidance, tackling issues and idea sharing.

By CNGA Member Dan Gerace Production Manager Welby Gardens Company, Inc.

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The YNP helps us make connections within the industry and make friends across company lines. We are stronger together than alone: we

have accomplished so much working together; the Colorado green industry is unique even in the world of associations. Looking forward, the association must also focus efforts on helping the next generation of industry leaders get started on becoming just that: leaders of the industry.

In early October, 14 of us became better acquainted over a few beers. Fun was had by all, and we are planning another event Wednesday, Jan. 14 after the ProGreen EXPO; bar to be determined later… join us before the rum is gone. [Look for details in an upcoming E-Leaf or on the Events calendar on coloradonga.org.]

LooseLeaf December 2014/January 2015