June/July 2016 Volume 34 • Number 3
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association
green
Challenges of the
Industry
8
Perspectives on Pesticide Bans
11
Japanese Beetle & Emerald Ash Borer Challenge Us
13
Water Efficiency through Effective Irrigation
15
Keeping Customers Focused on Water Efficiency
Cold-hardy specimen trees. Shade, flowering and evergreen.
Baxter
WHOLESALE NURSERY
888-777-8199 Emmett, Idaho | baxternursery.com
Bareroot
Fruit, Nut & Shade Trees Since 1938 Offering the Largest Selection of Fruit Varieties in the U.S. Many Suitable for Cold Climates
Tomcot Apricot
Arctic Jay Nectarine
Flavor Supreme Pluot®
Emerald Drop Plum
Order Early for February/March Delivery Sean Sheridan • 209-988-0931 • sean@davewilson.com www.davewilson.com
2
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
Our Mission To create opportunities for horticultural and associated industry professionals to collaboratively grow their businesses through fellowship, education, advocacy and certification.
In This Issue 4
Message from the Board: Hiring and Training for Success
5
13 Water Efficiency through Effective Irrigation
CNGA – Here for the Members: The Forgotten Benefits
6
15 Keeping Customers Focused on Water Efficiency
Member Profiles: Colorado Springs Utilities Colorado State Forest Service Nursery
16 CSU Research Update: 2015-16 Cool Season Trial Winners
8
Perspectives on Pesticide Bans – Jonathan Handy & Nick Gerace
17 People – Our Greatest Resource: Ten Steps to Hiring Success
18 Funding Research & Education: 11 Japanese Beetle & Emerald Ash Industry Leader Leverages his Legacy Borer Challenge Urban Landscapes 12 Getting Ahead of EAB
19 Calendar, New Members, Classified Ads, & Advertisers List
Board Of Directors Jesse Eastman, CCNP President Fort Collins Nursery 970.482.1984 j.eastman@fortcollinsnursery.com Dan Wise, CCNP President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery 970.484.1289 dan@ftcollinswholesalenursery.com Levi Heidrich, Officer-At-Large Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery, LLC 719.598.8733 levi@coloradotreefarmnursery.com
Directors
Ex-Officio Members
Bill Kluth Tagawa Greenhouse Enterprises, LLC 303.659.1260 x205 bkluth@tagawas.com
Kirby Thompson, CCNP Britton Nursery, Inc. 719.495.3676 info@brittonflowers.com
Stan Brown, CCNP Alameda Wholesale Nursery, Inc. 303.761.6131 stan@alamedawholesale.com
Kerri Dantino Little Valley Wholesale Nursery 303.659.6708 kerri@lvwn.com
Sarada Krishnan, Ph.D. Denver Botanic Gardens 720.865.3601 krishnas@botanicgardens.org
Beth Gulley Gulley Greenhouses 970.223.4769 beth@gulleygreenhouses.com
Publisher
Editorial
Contributing Writers
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
Jesse Eastman, CCNP Jonathan Handy Ben Northcutt
Printer
Staff
Matt Edmundson Tanya Ishikawa Laura Pottorff
Jim Klett, Ph.D. CSU Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture 970.491.7179 jim.klett@colostate.edu Allison Gault, MBA Executive Director Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 303.758.6672 agault@coloradonga.org
Allison Gault Jodi Johnson Jean Seawright
Nick Gerace Dr. Jim Klett
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. Visit coloradonga.org for classified advertisements, plant publications, upcoming events, a member directory, and much more!
Colorado Community Media 9137 Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210 Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80129 coloradocommunitymedia.com
Display Advertising Ben Northcutt, CNGA 303.758.6672 info@coloradonga.org
colorado coloradonga.org
Allison Gault, MBA
Ben Northcutt
Executive Director
Membership Manager
agault@ coloradonga.org
bnorthcutt@ coloradonga.org
3
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD
By Jesse Eastman, CCNP CNGA Board President
“Our business is not just a place where people come to buy plants. It is a process that creates successful gardeners and landscapers.”
Hiring and Training for Success Here at Fort Collins Retail Nursery, we just held our yearly all-staff training session. We get our new seasonal hires into the same room as our returning seasonal salespeople and our permanent employees and share stories, tips, techniques, and get to know one another before the spring season hits us like a freight train. The goal is to make sure everyone is on the same page, following the same guidelines, and running towards the same finish line. Each year, we try to put a slightly different spin on the session, and each year we’re rewarded by learning things about our team that are new, exciting, and help us grow in unexpected ways. This year, we wanted to make sure our staff understood that our business is not just a place where people come to buy plants. It is a process that creates successful gardeners and landscapers. Each employee plays an important role in that process, from growing healthy plants to creating an inviting and welcoming environment for customers, to equipping those customers with the tools, resources, and most importantly, the knowledge to go forth and have a positive and successful experience with their purchases. Just as we aim to treat customer interactions as a process, not a transaction, we want our employees to see their time here as a process. We don’t particularly want the employee who is just here to sell plants and go home, repeat the process for three months, and then move on to find a winter job. This business stays strong because employees have the drive to seek personal growth while they are here, and we actively foster an environment that encourages positive employee development. This culture of empowerment and growth is not an accident. We encourage employees to take plants and products home with them; we give employees a healthy discount so they can explore and cultivate their horticultural passions. We seek out and send employees to a variety of educational opportunities,
4
including short courses, community classes, and CCNP and CGG certification courses and exams. By doing this, we put our money where our mouth is when we tell our staff we believe they have potential, and it pays off when they discover interests and passions that make them ever more effective salespeople. Of course, it would be naïve to say we can just create a great employee out of any person who shows up on our doorstep. While my various hiring managers each have their own preferred methods for selecting new hires, one thing is constant: we hire for personality. This is the single most important characteristic we look for: a personality that will fit into our culture of high energy, helpfulness, and teamwork. We can teach someone to use a cash register. I can send someone home with a list of 400 plant descriptions to study, but I can’t teach someone who is unwilling to put extra effort into helping a coworker or supporting his or her teammate. Just because someone loves plants doesn’t mean they will love helping customers find their perfect tree. Our employees have to understand how to find enjoyment in helping others succeed. If they possess that quality, plants just become a tool for enabling success. Intellectually, I understand that if we do a good job hiring people who embrace our company culture, introduce them to each other in an atmosphere of camaraderie, and show them that we truly believe that they have something to contribute to our collective good, we create the perfect conditions for success. As I chatted with new employees following this year’s training, I encountered an enthusiasm and excitement about the upcoming season that was entirely unexpected, and I realized that this isn’t just textbook jargon. When you take the time to craft a team, and when you can then be your team’s biggest fan, they become capable of truly great things.
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
The Forgotten Benefits Every association has a large variety of benefits they offer their members, and it’s expected that not all members will take advantage of every benefit offered by the association. CNGA is not unlike most associations; we have a lot of benefits and hope our members utilize many of them. I wanted to highlight some of the “forgotten benefits” that CNGA offers in the hopes that you’ll start to take advantage of them. First, our affinity programs offer a variety of discounts on products and services that you use every day in your business. Our Office Depot program provides members with up to 80 percent discounts on office supplies. At CNGA, we use this for all of our supplies and save at least 50 percent on paper alone! Heartland payroll and credit card processing is another program that you can utilize, and the CNGA office takes advantage of. All members receive a discount on payroll services as well as credit card processing fees. Did you know that Heartland also provides company-branded gift card services? In addition to our discount programs, CNGA is active at both the state and federal legislative levels. We are a founding and participating partner in the Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO), an organization that is committed to water conservation and industry-wide best management practices as a way of doing business. During the Colorado legislative session, the GreenCO lobbyists review every bill
CNGA — HERE FOR THE MEMBERS
presented by the House and the Senate for impacts to the green industry. Any bills that could have a potential impact are reviewed and discussed by the Legislative Committee, which provides direction for support or opposition of bills. On a federal level, CNGA works with AmericanHort’s Lighthouse Program, which provides members details on federal legislation that could impact your business. In 2015, we signed on to a number of important letters to support or oppose federal legislation. The last benefit I’d like to highlight is certification. As an association, we offer three certifications: Colorado Certified Nursery Professional, New Mexico Certified Nursery Professional, and Certified Greenhouse Grower. Certification provides your staff members with the knowledge and tools to further extend their value to you and your customers. Certified employees help your business stand out and show your customers that you value their business and want to be of the best possible service to them. We offer preparation classes for each certification as well as the tests each year. For more information on any of these benefits, please visit the CNGA website at coloradonga.org, call us at 303.758.6672, or email me at agault@coloradonga.org. If you aren’t already taking advantage of these benefits, I hope you consider adding them to your association “toolkit” soon!
By Allison Gault, MBA CNGA Executive Director
“CNGA is not unlike most associations; we have a lot of benefits and hope our members utilize many of them.”
knowledge experience &
B&B SHADE • FLOWERING TREES • CONIFERS • JUNIPERS • CONTAINER PLANTS
sales
Eric Celmer: 208.863.9732 - ericc@wcwnidaho.com Carla Carter: 208.863.2350 - carlac@wcwnidaho.com
25455 Lansing Lane • Middleton, ID 83644 • Fax - 208.585.5797 coloradonga.org
...we grow plants to age gracefully
Willow Creek WHOLESALE NURSERY LLC
5
MEMBER PROFILE
Water Supplier to the Landscapes of 464,000 People Interview with Catherine Moravec, Senior Water Conservation Specialist
Colorado Springs Utilities 2855 Mesa Road Colo. Springs, Colo. 80904 tel 719.668.4559 fax 719.668.4599 cmoravec@csu.org csu.org
Why is Colorado Springs Utilities interested in horticulture? As a municipally owned utility, we provide electric, gas, water and waste water service to 464,000 people. Since 42 percent of the residential water supplied by us is used for landscape applications, we have a vested interest in making sure our customers understand the relationship between the water provided by us and how their individual landscapes use it.
How have residential landscapes changed over the years?
Our water conservation staff, from left to right: Scott Winter, Ann Seymour, Lisa Pace, Catherine Moravec, and Molly Morris
In the early years of landscape development, we saw the introduction of plants that worked well in other parts of the U.S., usually from back East, with the assumption that they would perform the same here. Obviously, our environment is different and we learned that you can’t change the environment for the plants. Then, the trend was to use plants from similar climates, like Mediterranean species, some of which are well-adapted to our location. Over the past 15 years, that approach has given way to what I think is the best strategy yet. Now we are educating our customers about native plants that are already adapted to our climate, our soils and our often crazy weather. With an ever-growing supply of these natives that CNGA members provide, we feel confident in recommending these plants both for their lower water requirements and attractive landscape appeal.
Which native plants are you excited about? We know how much our customers like colorful flowers. But often times they choose varieties that require a fair amount of water. We’re excited to promote many of the Southwest native flowers like Agastache, which are drought tolerant, have colorful flowers and make good pollinator habitats. Once you show people the
6
native flower options and explain the benefits, they’re usually willing to try them. Some of our native grasses are being used in landscapes more, too – species like Little Bluestem provide great aesthetic diversity and really don’t require much water once established.
How are you preparing for future water shortages? We’re pleased to have the newly adopted Colorado Water Plan as a framework from which we can meet our water management challenges. Statewide, we’re looking at a possible water shortage gap of about a half million acre feet/year by 2050 (according to the 2010 State Water Supply Initiative report). The plan sets a goal of reducing this gap by 15 to 35 percent through landscape water management options. To get there, we will continue our many education programs and outreach efforts that include rebates, sprinkler system audits, classes, information on our bills, videos, consultations, and radio spots.
How does CNGA membership help Colorado Springs Utilities? We really value the relationships with our local nursery and greenhouse partners that CNGA has enabled. For example, when we’ve faced implementing water restrictions, their input has helped make our goals realistic and our ordinances better overall. We enjoy attending the BBQs to connect with members and share our latest news. In fact, I’d like to invite everyone to join us on September 30, as we’ll be hosting the CNGA BBQ at our Conservation and Environmental Center. We’re excited to give everyone a tour of our popular Xeric Demonstration Garden and highlight our implementation of the GreenCO Best Management Practices that we employ. LooseLeaf June/July 2016
The Source for Low-Cost, Native Seedlings Interview with Joshua Stolz, CSFS Nursery Manager
What is the nursery’s history? The nursery began in 1957 at the CSU Foothills Campus and encompasses about 130 acres. We were established to provide low-cost, Colorado native seedlings strictly for soil conservation purposes. In the early days, our trees were commonly used for wind breaks and snow fences. Now our plants are also used for flood and fire reforestation, erosion control, and habitat for wildlife and pollinators. We provide bare root and containerized stock and operate with five full time-staff and seven to 15 hourly student employees.
Where does your stock come from? We grow most of our plant material from native seed that is collected in Colorado by seed brokers and partner organizations such as the Southern Rockies Seed Network. We use the seed to grow seedlings in seven-inch tube shaped containers or in the field for bare root material, which we typically harvest at 16 to 18 inches, depending on the species.
Who are your customers? About 75 percent of our plants go to our Cooperators. These are agencies such as county extension offices, Colorado Forest Service branches, NRCS offices and conservation districts that work directly with landowners to help them identify the best plants for their particular conservation needs. The remaining 25 percent is sold to individuals who purchase on our website, use our paper order forms or buy at the nursery. One thing that most people don’t realize is that our coloradonga.org
plant sales are our only source of revenue. We don’t receive any outside funding support, so it’s essential that we provide the highest quality plant material possible as well as newer plants that our customers are seeking.
What are your most popular species? Rocky Mountain juniper has long been our number one seller and is still used for wind breaks and snow fences. Our second most popular plant is ponderosa pine, followed by chokecherry and native plum. Demand for native perennials is growing, although we only offer about 10 species at this time. One of the trends we’re seeing is using the same plant for more than one purpose. For example, chokecherries can be grown as an ‘edible windbreak’ – providing both function and food. Another trend is a growing demand for eco-typical species where the user can be confident of a plant’s seed source location and elevation. Finally, we’re seeing a huge need for native riparian species to help mitigate the massive amount of flood damage that occurred along the northern Front Range in 2013.
MEMBER PROFILE
Colorado State Forest Service Nursery 3843 Laporte Ave. CSU Foothills Campus, Bldg. 1060 Fort Collins, Colo. 80521 tel 970.491.8429 fax 505.898.9517 CSFS_Trees@mail. colostate.edu csfs.colostate.edu/ seedling-tree-nursery
How does your CNGA membership help the nursery? In two key ways. First, CNGA helps us build awareness about the nursery and our focus on providing low-cost, native plants for conservation applications. Secondly, we value the knowledge that CNGA provides through resources like LooseLeaf magazine. We also really value the knowledge exchange that CNGA enables. We want to share our knowledge with members, too, and to be known as a valued resource for any aspect of growing Colorado native plant material. We welcome CNGA members to visit us anytime – we’ll be happy to give you a tour!
7
Pesticide
Bans
A PUBLIC SERVANT’S PERSPECTIVE Jonathan Handy Pesticide Applicator Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Agriculture
In recent years, nationally we have seen more cities initiating bans to protect pollinators. In some cases, the motivation to ban pesticides may not be based on sound science and could needlessly prohibit use of some of the most widely used and effective pesticides available today.
(public collections of documents on a given topic, typically on the internet) have been opened for all neonics. The agency has said it expects to complete the review in 2018. This information can be found at: epa.gov/pollinatorprotection/schedule-reviewneonicotinoid-pesticides.
Neonicotinoid pesticides seem to be the most controversial at this time. In Colorado, local jurisdictions have considered neonic restrictions of one sort or another, and some municipalities enact restrictions on city- or county-owned property, which is allowed.
A neonic concentration of 25 parts per billion in nectar has been shown to be deleterious to honey bee health. Recent surveys have shown concentrations under real world field conditions rarely reach this level. In specific cases, the risk may be greater. Use has been withdrawn for linden trees by pesticide manufacturers, for instance.
The Colorado Pesticide Applicators’ Act (PAA) requires statewide uniformity of pesticide regulations and places limits on such initiatives. During a sunset legislative review of the PAA in 2014-15, significant attempts were made to restrict pesticide use and remove the state uniformity limitation, but they were unsuccessful. Industry and regulatory agencies have expressed concerns that earlier state-level action may lead to restrictions based on limited or inadequate science. This could cause an uneven playing field with different requirements in different jurisdictions, harming rather than helping efforts both to protect pollinator health and ensure the safe and effective use of pesticides. According to Richard Cowles, a nationally recognized expert with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment
8
Station, the two primary suspected causes of adverse effects on pollinator health are 1) neonic insecticides and 2) diseases transmitted by varroa mites. To date, experts have concluded that diseases are the more likely causative agent leading to impacts such as colony collapse disorder (CCD), and that undue focus on neonics could unduly impact the horticultural and agricultural industries reliant upon these insecticides. Due to concerns about a link between neonics and adverse effects on bee health, the EPA is reviewing the registration of neonic pesticides. Dockets
A variety of factors impact decisions about whether to use pesticides. Best management practices in the cultivation of any crop can help reduce the need for pesticide use. However, depending on a given year, certain pest pressures can prevail and crop survival or acceptable economic yields may depend on the use of one or more pesticides for success. In the broadest sense, crops and other plants have been raised for thousands of years using selective techniques, including the control of pests. Over time, both the available pesticide tools and the resultant increase in production have gone hand in hand. Although organic production fills a niche in the economy it currently cannot meet the demand Continued on page 10
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
Pesticide
Bans
A GREENHOUSE GROWER’S PERSPECTIVE Nick Gerace Facility Operations Manager at Welby Gardens Company Inc.
Recently states have started to get in on the trend of banning pesticides. In April, Maryland became the first state to pass a bill banning homeowners from buying neonicotinoids starting in 2018. More and more regulations on what pesticides can be used are being implemented all over the United States, Europe and South America.
looking at many factors other than just killing bugs and disease on crops. The kinds of pesticides growers are using now are more mild; they are definitely less harsh on people and the environment then 15 to 20 years ago.
Media coverage of the pollinator issue and the anti-neonic movement have put the idea of bans on the forefront of people’s minds. Everybody heard about the bee kill in Oregon within a week. Twenty years ago, that news would not have spread so quickly to Colorado. What was missing from the speedy news reports was that the Oregon situation was caused by using an off-label pesticide at the wrong time of day illegally and not by Department of Agriculture standards. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. Neonics are actually one of the safest pesticides for applicators and other people in the operation. As people switch away from neonics to other pesticide options due to public perceptions and bans, they are going back to using old chemicals that are not as safe to use and usually require more chemical treatments. It’s a shame because the chemicals being used instead of neonics can have the exact same negative impact on bees if used improperly. The days of the green industry using large amounts of dangerous pesticides are behind us. Industry leaders are
coloradonga.org
that show neonics cause CCD, though they could be a contributing factor. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) does a great job of informing growers and people in the green industry about proper pesticide use and they follow it. I’m on the CDA Pesticide Advisory Committee with people from all over the Colorado agricultural community. We are kept up to date with people’s reactions and public comments about pesticide issues. It’s important that people educate themselves and know what’s happening. We as an industry need to be transparent and offer more education to end consumers.
Photos courtesy of Welby Gardens
We have to think about the workers, consumers and environment. Our industry also has to adapt to everything from drought to bad weather. We are very dependent on mother nature. We are willing to adapt to different pesticide methods if neonics are found to be the real culprit for colony collapse disorder (CCD), rather than just the scapegoat. The bee situation is something new and a big issue because selling flowers is a big part of our industry. I have yet to see any hard research and scientific data
I invite anyone to walk through our greenhouse and look at what we use and why and when. We are very open and honest about our pesticide use with our customers. We have a system that can identify every plant and what treatments have been used on it. Here at Welby, we are looking at employee health, crops and consumer preferences. We are listening to our customers and trying to run a business; it’s a balancing act between the two. As a company, we are trying to use as few neonics as possible. We are not using neonics on anything smaller than one gallon, but are still using them on baskets and patio pots We use neonics mainly on crops that Continued on page 10
9
Pesticide
Bans A Greenhouse Grower’s Perspective Continued from page 9 are most susceptible to aphids and in our poinsettia production, because it’s not acceptable to have white flies on those flowers when we send them to customers. If people are worried about neonics and bees, our use on poinsettias shouldn’t raise concern because they are grown in winter and indoors when and where bees are not active. Welby trains our growers and staff to look at pesticides as a tool and not a crutch for bad growing practices. We treat pesticides with respect and use them responsibly. We take extra precautions to make sure all employees are safe and in the know. Having a good healthy fear of chemicals is a good thing, though most are basically harmless to humans. Overall, we use IPM (integrated pest management), which is not just about the use of chemicals. It’s made up of practices such as having clean growing spaces, the right amount of water, and environmental controls to create temperatures where pests don’t thrive but plants still do well. It’s about managing where and when to vent and use insect screens. For us, IPM is about knowing our insect threshold, and how many is acceptable for us as a grower. It’s about
making sure the last thing that we use generally is a chemical, and when we use a chemical that we use it correctly, not over and over again to create a resistance. We don’t just blanket spray the greenhouse for bugs; we spot treat. When people hear pesticide, they automatically think insecticide with a danger label, but organic methods are also used – usually at a higher cost. Pesticides can be parasitic mites, funghi or lady bugs. Nematodes are used in home gardens to prevent soil-borne diseases. Pesticides are not cheap so the less we use, the better off we are as a business. Beyond being more economical by not using as much pesticide, we can save money on training, licensing and equipment. If we can do without and make sure our crop is consumer ready, that of course is the way we will go. The bottom line is that the consumer expects pest-free products so some sort of pest management has to be used. We have a lot of wholesale customers, including independent garden centers and landscapers. They can’t have a crop failure. That will affect their living and jobs. Even if we had the perfect crops, perfect weather and perfect greenhouses,
Photo courtesy of Welby Gardens
so we could grow all crops without any pesticides, it wouldn’t stop customers’ plants from getting pests. What a lot of people don’t realize is that homeowners tend to be the worst when it comes to overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. Problems are caused by people who don’t implement proper IPM. It’s not necessarily the regulated businesses that cause problems. Overall, the green industry is very much on the forefront of using chemicals in the right way and doing the right thing for the environment.
A Public Servant’s Perspective Continued from page 8 supplied through conventional agriculture, using the full range of chemical tools available. The integrated use of pesticides with other pest control practices has been widely recognized and accepted as a successful approach to pest control over the simple use of chemicals. In addition to chemical pesticides, practices such as control over eradication, preventative cultural practices, monitoring, mechanical and biological controls, and the responsible use of pesticides are all part of integrated pest management (IPM). The industry must continue to use pesticides judiciously to provide the necessary pest protection, while ensuring little to no impact to the environment it’s applied to. The safe and balanced use of chemical tools is beneficial to all. A key
10
component of such use is simple adherence to the requirements of the label – the label is the law. The Colorado General Assembly has recognized the importance of safe and effective use of pesticides in the Colorado Pesticide Applicators’ Act: “The general assembly hereby finds and declares that pesticides perform a valuable function in controlling insects, rodents, weeds, and other forms of life which may be injurious to crops, livestock, and other desirable forms of plant and animal life, to structures, and to individuals. The general assembly further finds and declares that pesticides contain toxic substances which may pose a serious risk to the public health and safety and that regulation of pesticide use is necessary to prevent adverse effects on individuals and the environment.”
Pesticide use is an evolving topic, with new issues arising each year. The Colorado Department of Agriculture encourages industry stakeholders to take an active role in the safe and effective use of pesticides. This includes communication, outreach and a proactive approach on the part of industry organizations such as the Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association, as well as contributions by individual producers. Participation in organizations, meetings and training events has been and will continue to be central to the continued safe and effective use of pesticides in Colorado. Participation in and comment on government rule making, initiatives, and groups such as the Pesticide Advisory Committee is also extremely important.
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
JB&EAB
Challenge Urban Landscapes By Laura Pottorff, Agriculture Program Manager, Colorado Department of Agriculture
A quarantine on nursery stock imported from Japanese beetle-infested states helps slow the progression of the insect and prevent new Colorado introductions. Nursery stock may only enter Colorado if treated with certain insecticides or certified to be Japanese beetle free.
Ash Borer, EAB Emerald Agrilus planipennis, is an extremely aggressive invasive species. First detected in the U.S. in 2001, the alien insect has quickly spread to more than 25 states over the last 15 years. The host of concern is Fraxinus (all species of ash).
What makes dealing with EAB so challenging is that ash trees have no defenses of their own; an ash tree will die within three years of infestation if unprotected. As with any invasive species, pesticide use is intensified as a management strategy, begging the question: “Is every ash worth treating?” The answer is: blanket treatment of all ash is excessive and environmentally inappropriate. Rather, calculated assessments of each tree’s health, location and value is imperative, and employing pesticide treatment for high-value, healthy trees only. DA
JB
Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, transported on nursery stock from the East and Midwest, has become established sporadically along the Front Range from Pueblo to Fort Collins. This insect has a very wide host range and is difficult to control. Host plants will suffer severe damage from it. Management of Japanese beetle relies heavily on insecticide use and changes to the types of plants we use in our yards as well as to the way we irrigate our landscapes.
transporting to other areas of the state. CDA inspectors will be discussing this proposal and answering questions during routine inspections this year.
,C
Two invasive pests from Asia are spreading along the Front Range, creating challenges and requiring change to the way we think about and manage our urban landscapes.
ch
D
ep
t.
of
Ag
ric ul
tu r e
ba EAB was first The new reality of en alt K detected in Boulder n managing invasive h o J y P h o to b in September 2013. As pests in our urban of April 2016, the pest has landscapes includes: The Colorado Department of not been detected outside 1. Be aware of how invasive pests Agriculture (CDA) is proposing Boulder’s city limits. This spread. Firewood and nursery stock to expand our state’s will change as the are high-risk pathways for spread. quarantine to include the population of EAB Follow all state quarantines and counties of Pueblo, El increases and trees nursery laws. Ensure that all nursery Paso, Douglas, begin to die. The stock offered for sale is pest free (it’s Arapahoe, Jefferson, insect spreads in the law), and spread the “DON’T Denver, Boulder, ash wood debris, MOVE FIREWOOD” message. Broomfield, nursery stock Adams, Weld and 2. Pesticides may need to be employed and on its own Larimer to prevent to maintain healthy susceptible hosts. power, flying spread of the pest Read and follow all pesticide label about one to one from known directions. Only treat high-value, and a half miles a infested areas in healthy plants. Integrate the use of year. The state’s the Front Range to pesticides with other pest response to EAB is a locations in eastern management techniques such as o ad quarantine to slow Colorado and the lo r watering turfgrass as little as possible o C f P h ot o human-assisted spread Western Slope. If adopted, c o u r t e sy o to discourage female Japanese beetles of the insect by banning all nurseries and landscape from laying eggs. movement of ash nursery stock contractors in Front Range counties 3. Plant diversity should be of highest and restricting movement of all will need to make sure plant material priority. Encourage customers to plant hardwood firewood and untreated ash grown or held within the Front Range is certified Japanese beetle free before wood outside of Boulder County.
Continued on page 12
coloradonga.org
11
JB&EAB
Getting Ahead of EAB
Continued from page 11
a wide variety of plants in the landscape. In the event an invasive pest species becomes established, there is a greater chance that multiple plant species will not be susceptible to the pest. Loss of one or two plants, while unfortunate, is certainly better than losing a large number of susceptible plants and the investment associated with them. Diversification of the urban landscape is long overdue; let’s begin as soon as practical. 4. Get over it – certain plants may need to be avoided. Ash (Fraxinus sp) should no longer be planted due to its susceptibility to EAB. If Japanese beetle is winning the battle, consider replacing some host species with non-host species.
There are over 300 plants that are susceptible to Japanese beetle; particular favorites are: • grape • rose • hollyhock • rose of Sharon • black walnut • apple and crabapple • cherry, peach and plum • American linden • American mountain ash • American elm • Lombardy poplar • turfgrass • Virginia creeper Plants that are not favored by Japanese beetle: • silver maple • red maple • euonymus • boxelder • boxwood • holly • oak • lilac • mock orange • evergreens (pine, spruce, fir)
If ongoing studies of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) by the Colorado State Forest Service bear fruit, communities across the state could be spared some of the impacts experienced by other states. The plan is to make improvements in trapping and detection of the destructive insect based on research results in and around the city of Boulder, which became the first confirmed location of EAB infestations within Colorado in 2013. Colorado State Forest Service Forest Entomologist Dan West, Ph.D, is heading up a few EAB research projects. West and Rob Davis of the Colorado Forest Health Advisory Council visited Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison in the Great Lakes region last summer to gather information about EAB behaviors observed in those hard-hit areas. Although those major cities had difficulty detecting EAB for a number of years, their first EAB detections were in high-traffic corridors and intersections, indicating the insects were hitching rides on vehicles and railways. So, last summer, West and his forest service team worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Boulder County to put 30 traps in high-traffic corridors on the edges of the city of Boulder. “We were trying to see if we could detect EAB so we could help with the effort of stopping the spread out of the city,” West said. “We found several species, some new to the state, but none that fit the bill for EAB. We don’t know if they’re there and we’re not detecting them or they’re just not there, but we at least have a reference point now.” The Forest Service hopes to broaden the network of locations this year to increase overall detection, because as he said, “It’s all about trying to find the next location with EAB.” From June to October last year, he was also working with the U.S. Forest Service on research into which traps are most effective for catching EAB. At 10 locations across the city of Boulder where high EAB populations had been observed,
12
three different types of traps were hung in four tree species as well as on PVC poles. The traps, which were similar to ones used in the Great Lakes states, included green Lindgren funnel traps made of a series of funnels that capture insects in the bottom where ash leaf scent attracts them; purple Delta two-foot tall, pyramid-shaped traps with a series of sticky traps also baited with ash leaf scent; and green Delta pyramid-shaped traps. The Delta traps were tried in ash trees, non-ash tree species, and on 10-foot tall PVC poles, to help understand which traps are most effective and efficient in Colorado. “In our preliminary findings, we found that the green Delta traps and green Lindgren funnel traps did better here than in the Great Lakes states. There, the light purple Delta traps did better,” West explained. Whereas the most effective traps in the Midwest were the purple Delta sticky traps, those only caught about 20 to 22 insects per trap on non-ash trees in Boulder. Meanwhile, the green Lindgren funnel traps caught hundreds of EAB as well as attracting Colorado’s native wood borers. With only one year’s worth of results, the scientists have a “myriad of guesses” as to why one trap was more effective than another. A similar study already began this spring to gather more evidence. “If we can come up with a better trap that works here in Colorado, our detection efforts will be ahead of the game,” he said. Another study begun in April is aimed at discovering whether theories are correct that ash trees are declining faster in Colorado than they did in other states. A series of photos is being taken throughout Boulder, every two weeks, of 60 trees that have not been treated with insecticide. The plan is to compare the photos along a timeline with photos of EAB-infested ash that had declined in the Great Lakes area to determine whether the speed of decline is greater. A final project under West’s oversight is a nine-city LooseLeaf June/July 2016
Photo courtesy of Rain Bird
assessment of symptomatic ash trees and branch sampling to determine whether EAB has spread to Boulder’s neighbors. “A lot of governments around the city of Boulder don’t have staff right now or resources to do a wide-scale assessment of all ash trees, so we did roadside surveys, driving 400 miles in jurisdictions adjacent to Boulder,” he said. A total of 350 trees were assessed in Westminster, Broomfield, Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont during a six-week period from July to September last year. In the fall, branch samples were removed from 60 trees that were considered to be the “worst of the worst” exhibiting EAB infestation symptoms: woodpecker holes, epicormic shoots (secondary buds caused by stress), persistent mini leaves, abnormal bark splitting, and early fall color. The branch samples were put into rearing chambers around the area, including some heated facilities to see if the insect’s life cycle would increase and it would emerge early. Speeding up the process was expected to help gain detection results earlier so the cities could act more quickly if necessary. As of late April, no EAB had been detected in any samples, and the emergence of insects if present were expected from the last week of May into June and July (after this magazine’s printing date). “These assessment and sampling activities will be an ongoing effort that we hope to increase over time, so we can help find the next EAB detection and really help the state to get ahead of the game,” West said. “Other studies are coming up like research on what temperatures EAB die at in late winter and early spring. This will be an ongoing battle for the near future,” he added.
RESOURCES: Colorado State Forest Service: csfs.colostate.edu Colorado Dept. of Agriculture: eabcolorado.com
coloradonga.org
Water Efficiency through Effective Irrigation Irrigation experts agree property owners can efficiently water landscapes by using the right technology and a little care. More complex irrigation systems can achieve water savings through more automated features, while many of the same functions can be performed with simpler systems combined with a little more hands-on operation. Before irrigation begins, a conducive environment for efficient water use can be set with good soil preparation and landscape design, where plants with similar water needs are placed in the same irrigation zones. Aerating, using fertilizers that contain wetting agents and mowing turf on the highest height setting further improve drainage and enhance water retention as well. “The two primary ways to save water with an irrigation system is with the controller and the emission devices or sprinkler heads,” said Lowell Kaufhold, president and CEO of CPS Distributors Inc. based in Westminster, Colo. “If you have an older mechanical controller, install one that is digital because it is much more accurate. The next level would be to install a new weatherbased controller that takes the weather of the previous day into account and changes the controller setting appropriately.” Weather-based controllers receive weather data from local WeatherBug online weather data sources or their own onsite weather sensors, Kaufhold explained. Some of
these controllers can be run with a smart phone. Optional accessories can be installed such as rain and moisture sensors that keep the water turned off if it has rained or the soil is saturated. Some systems can even control irrigation levels for each season and different geographical areas. Wes Brazelton, senior sales account manager of DBC Irrigation Supply based in Denver, added that when it comes to saving water,
“There’s no substitute for a well-designed, well-installed and well-maintained irrigation system.” Good demand-based controls that schedule when to initiate or discontinue irrigation events have been around for a decade or more, Brazelton said. Some are simple sprinkler timers while others determine when to water based on soil moisture or evapotranspiration levels. Continued on page 14
SERVING THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY SINCE 1893
WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE & PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Your Full Line Distributor for: plant containers • shade cloth ground covers • greenhouse structures greenhouse equipment & coverings organic and traditional fertilizers biological and traditional pesticides planting media • hydroponic supplies winter protection fabric
ACW SUPPLY WORKS FOR YOU BY ANSWERING YOUR GROWING QUESTIONS
857 BRYANT ST., DENVER, CO 80204
800-873-2297 OR 303-534-4044 Visit our website at www.americanclayworks.net
13
Effective Irrigation Continued from page 13 Even without fully programmable irrigation controls, homeowners can make manual adjustments to sprinkler timers when the weather or other conditions change watering needs. “It’s old school but pretty effective and easier than using a hose. If you don’t have a smart control device, then use your own brain and turn the system on and off as needed,” he pointed out. Water can also be saved through the proper installation and use of the distribution system, including the pipes, sprinkler heads and nozzles. He and Kaufhold agree drip irrigation is the most efficient way to irrigate. “Low flows and low pressures are always good for saving water,” Brazelton explained. “While they are fragile systems and maintenance intensive, drip systems are extremely good from a water-saving perspective. If all landscapes in the metro area were irrigated with drip only, they would see a 75 percent savings in water usage. It’s not always practical and that’s why it’s not done, but you should put it where you can.” Whether drip or not, irrigation systems should regulate water pressure to ensure larger water droplet size, and manage
C O L O R
Both he and Brazelton noted the importance of making sure irrigation systems are in good working order. They also emphasized how proper irrigation can develop stronger, healthier, deeper root structures, which consume less water.
Lowell Kaufhold
Wes Brazelton
soaking cycles to match soil types and plant zones. Flow sensors are also available to manage the rate of water application, which can help avoid wasting water. Master valves control water release to the full system to help avoid water wasted through leaks from damaged pipes, and inexpensive check valves keep water in pipes and not draining out after irrigation cycles. Kaufhold added, “Almost all sprinklers need to have a nozzle attached to them that determines the water flow, direction and distance. Using new rotary nozzles or newer high efficiency spray nozzles will put water down slower and allow for the water to sink in which helps save water.”
I T
G R E E N™
“Training turf to create deep root systems is achieved by using sprinklers that put water down evenly and slowly so that water has a chance to penetrate deeper into the soil. This and using your system three times a week as opposed to every day will train the turf to reach deeper in the soils, making it stronger,” Kaufhold said. Brazelton added, “Over-irrigated lawns don’t have good root structures. What happens really quickly in a drought and during water restrictions is lawns that didn’t develop healthy roots dry out faster. The ones with deep roots remain healthy through periods of reduced water consumption.” “The number one way to achieve efficient water use is for salespeople to provide education to customers,” he concluded. “We are all consultants when customers come through our doors, so we can share our expertise on how to use our products in ways that save the most water.”
ver gO win rado o r o G Col ended 50 m om ties! c e R rie Va
Tim Flood: 800.236.4242 Cary Hall: 303.702.1063
NORTHERN GROWN ▪ QUALITY PLANTS ▪ DIRECT DELIVERY
Your Plant Source for: ▪ BALLED & BURLAPPED ▪ CONTAINER GROWN ▪ BARE-ROOT ▪ SHADE TREES
▪ ORNAMENTAL TREES ▪ DECIDUOUS SHRUBS ▪ EVERGREENS ▪ LINERS
P.O. Box 185, 750 South Monroe Street, Waterloo, WI 53594
800-236-4242 ▪ Fax: 920-478-3615 ▪ www.mckaynursery.com
14
Shade, Ornamental, and Fruit Trees B&B and Containers Located in Southwest Idaho 208.482.6600 www.claytontreefarm.com LooseLeaf June/July 2016
Keeping Customers Focused on Efficient Water Use understand their own water consumption and if they are doing their best toward being efficient.
Growers and garden centers can educate their customers about efficient water use every day – not just when the threat of drought is imminent. Businesses in the green industry can also lead by example, by growing their own plants in water-wise ways or showing customers how to design water-efficient landscapes. Staff can talk with customers about yards that better match their needs while using water more efficiently. For example, homeowners can install turf only for play spaces, but plot larger areas for vegetable gardens or other landscapes with lower water use. They might consider planting shrubs or native plants if they know it can help them attain efficient water use as well as survive drought conditions. Staff can emphasize to customers how to effectively and efficiently irrigate plants and yards, including seasonal adjustments, appropriate timing, using the cycle/soak method, deep and infrequent watering, keeping the system in good repair, and watering appropriately for sun, shade or other microclimate differences. We always recommend using the right plant in the right place. One example would be planting Mahonia or Grape Holly in a shaded area with northern exposure. It’s always important to share the “wait, don’t irrigate” message. If rain is in the forecast, landscapes don’t need to be watered. Leave it to nature to lend a helping hand. We think it’s important for there to be continued education and language about limited water supplies. Drought or no drought, landscapers can work with customers to educate them on how much water they need versus how much water they’re using. It’s also important for garden centers to educate their customers about understanding their landscape’s ability to weather the next drought and coloradonga.org
By Jodi Johnson Conservation Specialist Denver Water
prioritizing water use during droughts. For example, healthy bluegrass can go dormant and some low-water plants can survive with no supplemental water for a year. And because trees are a huge investment, trees become the priority for watering in a drought. Finally, we’d encourage garden centers and growers to urge customers to make use of utility rebate programs to help them to become more efficient. Denver Water provides rebates for WaterSense-certified smart sprinkler system controllers. When installed and programmed correctly, they will make watering adjustments automatically based on the weather.
Customers can be encouraged to take an interest in monitoring the water needs of their landscapes. They can do self inspections of yard soil moisture such as the screwdriver test, where a screwdriver is stuck in the ground and the water needs are determined by whether soil sticks to the tool or not. Garden centers and growers can also educate customers by making sure water is being used as efficiently as possible at their businesses, too. This includes inspecting all irrigation lines and hoses for leaks, and making sure hoses have nozzles with shut-off valves. Puddles or water flowing down paths from leaking hoses or overwatering sends customers the wrong message. In addition, keep in mind
that in a drought perception is reality. Water features with constant flow — like fountains — give the appearance of water waste. We encourage not displaying such features in a drought. And of course, we’d recommend garden centers and growers support the drought rules of the local municipalities. Partnering with professional organizations like CNGA, GreenCO, Associated Landscaper Contractors of Colorado, Colorado Water Wise, and Irrigation Association are great ways to be in touch with laws that would impact customers. Because city codes for landscape health can vary, it’s also a good idea to talk with local forestry and parks departments or code enforcement officials, and check the websites of local municipalities or utilities. Finally, encourage customers to review their water bills for information.
Denver Water is also working on a program to help customers understand their water use and level of efficiency. We’re currently testing a method in certain neighborhoods where we’re sending individualized letters to our customers each month to show what their actual consumption is, compared to how much they should be using based on the size of their yard. Those who water by hand are generally our most efficient water users. We encourage water customers to go out into their yards and get dirty. Pull back the mulch and see if irrigation is required. Regardless of weather conditions, it’s important that people
15
CSU RESEARCH UPDATE
By James E. Klett, Ph.D. Professor & Landscape Horticultural Specialist Colorado State University
To see more photos of these flowers, go to flowertrials.colostate.edu, click on “Trials” on the top menu, and click again on “Cool Season Results”.
2015-16 Cool Season Trial Winners One hundred and sixteen varieties were evaluated in the 2015-16 Cool Season Trials from planting in mid-October 2015 through April 2016. At the end of the observations, eight plants were selected by the Annual Trial Garden Committee as top-rated performers. All
varieties were monitored and observed weekly during the trial period. Plants were watered when the soil was dry and the temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but we had good snow cover for about two months of the trial period. The eight winners are listed below.
Best of Show Pansy: Cool Wave® Frost from Pan American This is a spreading type of pansy and would be excellent for hanging baskets. This variety had good flower cover, producing many blooms in a multi-color pastel blue and white.
Best Violas: Pan American Seed Company’s Sorbet® XP Series: This series dominated in each of the categories in this year’s cool season trial.
Best Blue/Violet Pansy: Inspire® Plus Marina from Benary This pansy had a soft blue color with a contrasting eye of golden yellow. This is a traditional, more upright type pansy with a very uniform habit with short pedicels and upward facing flowers. Best Yellow Pansy: Freefall® Golden Yellow from Flora Nova This is another spreading variety that would be excellent for baskets. The flowers are a clear golden yellow with prominent, darker whiskers in the center of the flower. It provided excellent flower cover over the entire plant. Best Orange Pansy: Spring Matrix® Orange Deep from Pan American This is a new category for 2015-16 since we had a lot of orange pansy entries. It is a traditional, more upright growing pansy with deep orange, frilly flowers. This variety overwintered extremely well.
16
Best of Show and Best Blue Violet: Sorbet® XP Beaconsfield Improved This won in both of these categories because of its eyecatching bicolor viola with a deep blue/violet center that faded to a lighter blue/violet with a nice bright orange eye. It had excellent flower cover and overall would add great curb appeal. Best Yellow Viola Category: Sorbet® XP Yellow Blotch from Pan American The flower color was a deep yellow with a nice chocolate blotch. It had very uniform growth habit with strong flower stems and a very even flower cover. Best White Viola: Sorbet® XP White Blotch This variety had a very uniform and consistent growth habit with many very large flowers for a viola. The flower color was white with a bluish blush. Best Novelty Viola: Sorbet® XP Orange Jump Up Also a new class this year, this plant’s flowers were a stunning contrast of deep violet and vibrant orange and flowers showed no sign of fading.
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
Ten Steps to Hiring Success So... after a few tough years, your business is finally growing again. You’ve added new customers, services, and equipment. And your new marketing strategy is starting to pay off with more inquiries every day. The pressure is on and you need to hire now. But wait; don’t just hire the first person who applies with experience. You need good help! Your culture, team, new customers, and hard-earned image and reputation are at stake. A comprehensive and effective hiring process can help ensure you don’t fall into the trap of “hiring the best of the worst.” To avoid making this or other costly hiring mistakes, here are 10 steps to follow: Step One: Determine the precise traits that are essential for success in the position. Consider the position duties, organizational needs, and company culture. Develop a list of personal characteristics, attributes, experiences, and requirements necessary for success in the position. Use this list to create targeted, job-related interview questions. Step Two: Develop and post job ads that are creative and attractive. If you place a “two-line” ad, you will attract just that. (Need I say more?) Ensure that your ad sounds and looks better than other ads seeking the same candidates. When selecting ad venues – cast a wide net! Post your ad on multiple internet sites and job boards. Step Three: If you require candidates to submit resumes, read them carefully! Look for gaps in employment, longevity, type of experience, proper grammar and spelling, a professionally worded cover letter, and complete employment information. Prepare questions for candidates about the information on their resume. coloradonga.org
Step Four: Require completion of a comprehensive application form with legally-worded questions and then read it! Get a complete work history and don’t accept unanswered questions or comments such as, “see resume.” Resumes do not contain reasons for leaving, rates of pay, and other pertinent information required on the application. Identify and address any discrepancies between applications and resumes. Step Five: Conduct an effective and adequate interview. Don’t cut corners! Get to know the person you are about to trust with your business. Develop and ask probing nondiscriminatory questions that are specific to the position. Use the position qualifications, resume, and application to develop questions that help determine if the candidate has the traits necessary for success. Step Six: If the position calls for it, require completion of job-related profiles or tests to identify natural strengths and qualification for the position. Ensure that any prehire tools you use are effective and do not inadvertently discriminate. Step Seven: Conduct reference checks and document your results. DO NOT overlook this important step in the hiring process. The best predictor of future performance is past performance! Even if you can’t get any information from a former employer – document your attempt. This can help minimize the risks associated with negligent hiring or negligent retention. Step Eight: Conduct adequate background checks. If your workers perform services on customer property (especially inside homes), it is imperative that you obtain adequate background reports on prospective candidates. Absent any special restrictions, employers have the right to
PEOPLE–OUR GREATEST RESOURCE
obtain background reports such as motor vehicle records, criminal histories, social security traces, and others. Use a good thirdparty vendor to obtain background reports and follow all applicable regulations pertaining to use of these reports. Step Nine: Carefully evaluate all documents and results. Identify and follow up on any discrepancies or red flags. Keep in mind that risks are inherent in employment; however, your objective is to hire qualified, competent workers who do not pose an unreasonable risk of harm to others. Step Ten: Extend a conditional job offer to candidates who are acceptable and require an immediate preemployment drug test. There you have it! Ten important steps that can help you hire employees who will make you proud!
By Jean L. Seawright, CMC President Seawright & Associates About the contributor: Jean Seawright is president of Seawright & Associates, a management consulting firm located in Winter Park, Florida. Since 1987, she has provided human resource management and compliance advice to employers across the country. She can be contacted at 407.645.2433 or jseawright@ seawright.com.
Cultivating Love & Life
A family-owned wholesale perennial grower since 1979, Britton Nursery is Cultivating Love and Life in order to produce both healthy and beautiful plants as well as joyful and vibrant people. Our secret is that we are Rooted and Established in Love! (Ephesians 3:17) We invite you to come see what a difference love makes!
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
Licensed Propagator
Licensed Grower
17
FUNDING RESEARCH & EDUCATION
Industry Leader Leverages his Legacy with Major Donation Leadership is no simple thing. It is developed over time by trial and error, training, and learning from mistakes.
By Matt Edmundson CHREF Board President
In my personal journey, I have met many influential people who have guided me on my path and given me encouragement, coaching and even enough rope to hang myself, so to speak. When I think of the ones I most admire, those that I want to emulate the most, one word comes to mind: legacy. Legacy is the impact we have on those who our leadership has influenced. How will we be remembered? To apply the force of leadership and legacy to influence the largest amount of people possible, leverage is
Spending too much on natural gas? YOU ARE!
Locked into utility company prices? YOU AREN’T! YOU HAVE A BETTER OPTION: United Energy Trading, LLC Contact us today for a free, no-obligation energy savings analysis.
Matt Tracey mtracey@uetllc.com
(303) 634-7415
Your Growing Resource
PROUD MEMBER
Firmly Planted
needed. The importance of leverage should not be overlooked. One person who I am lucky enough to have been influenced by is Gary Epstein. Gary has been very involved in the foundation since it was CNREF and now as CHREF. He invested his time and energy into the organization as board member, president, gnome auctioneer, and in countless other ways, year in and year out. Gary retired from the nursery business this spring after a very long and successful career. He is a very humble man, never one for grandstanding or showboating. After reflecting a lot on his career and the legacy he is leaving behind, he recently decided to bequeath to the foundation a sizable IRA he had accumulated – as if he has not done enough already. Explaining why, he said, “I have enjoyed a lot of success in the nursery business over my career and much of it has to be attributed to the people who have worked for me over the years.” “There are two former scholarship recipients on the staff at Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery who are integral to our operation. As Ann and I were looking over our retirement plans, we decided the income from this IRA is something we may not really need and thought we could use it to invest in the future of the industry that has given us so much,” he continued.
The couple made CHREF the beneficiary of the IRA, which currently has a fund balance of $64,320. Though federal law requires him to take distributions from the IRA beginning six months after his 70th birthday, he explained that if he and his wife don’t need the funds, they will give them to CHREF until his passing, when the foundation will receive the remaining balance. All of us in this industry have an opportunity to provide leadership, legacy and leverage in our own measure – with our time, efforts and energy, with mentorship or financial support. There are many ways we can support the foundation. Many friends and colleagues are nearing retirement age, as Gary has, and will be opening new chapters in their lives. I would ask that as you look to write that new chapter you consider the many ways you can use your leverage to extend your legacy over the future of this industry that has done so much for you and your families. Long-term giving, like what Gary decided to do, can be done in many different ways. Other assets such as life insurance, retirement accounts, stocks or bonds can be designated or bequeathed to the foundation. If you are considering such a gift, let me or Allison know so we can inform you of the particulars in ensuring your wishes are fulfilled.
“I have enjoyed a lot of success in the nursery business over my career and much of it has to be attributed to the people who have worked for me over the years.” — Gary Epstein
18
LooseLeaf June/July 2016
CNGA calendar To get more information about CNGA programs and events, go to coloradonga.org and click on the Events tab to view the calendar, or contact the office by phone: 303.758.6672, fax: 303.758.6805, or email: info@colroadonga.org. Colorado Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) Seminars Colorado Springs, Colo. • Perennials: Tuesday, July 19, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Britton Nursery • Shrubs: Tuesday, July 26, 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery • Trees: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. Harding Nursery • Landscape Design: Tuesday, Aug. 9, 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. Colorado Springs Utilities • Exam: Tuesday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m.– 1 p.m. Colorado Springs Utilities
Outreach & Member BBQs • Friday, July 22, Plantivity, Eagle, Colo. • Thursday, Aug. 11, Fort Collins Nursery Fort Collins, Colo. • Friday, Aug. 26, Echter’s Nursery & Garden Center, Arvada, Colo. • Thursday, Sept. 1, Jericho Nursery Albuquerque, N.M. • Friday Sept. 30, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Springs, Colo. Young Hort Professionals C.B. & Potts, Westminster, Colo. Friday, July 29, 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Women In Horticulture Luncheon Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood, Colo. Thursday, Sept. 15, 11:30 a.m.– 2:30 p.m. CHREF Golf Tournament Arrowhead Golf Club, Littleton, Colo. Monday, Sept. 19, noon shotgun Owners and Managers Leadership Retreat The Lodge at Vail, Vail, Colo. Friday & Saturday, Nov. 4 & 5
NEW members Brick House Flowers 5708 S. Timberline Road Fort Collins, Colo. 80528 Bret Pulse 970.672.1753
Dave Wilson Nursery 19701 Lake Road Hickman, Calif. 95323 Sean Sheridan 209.988.0931
Gardenz 7695 W. 23rd Place Lakewood, Colo. 80214 Marie Peacock 303.919.1351
Rocky Ridge Nursery & Landscape 327 E. County Road 60 Fort Collins, Colo. 80524 Joe Eversman 970.484.7102
classified ADS CNGA offers free posts of online classified ads to members, including items for sale or lease and job openings. For more details about the classified listings below and to see other current postings, visit coloradonga.org, click on the Resources tab and click on Classifieds. Greenhouse Workers and Landscape Crew Leaders Dwyer Greens and Flowers 4730 County Rd. 335, New Castle, Colo. 81647 Distribution Office Assistant & Loading Specialist, Distribution Alternate Crew Foreperson Little Valley Wholesale Nursery 13022 E. 136th Ave., Brighton, Colo. 80601 Horticulturists/Gardeners, Landscape Architect/Estimator, & Tree Farm Position Steve Koon Landscape & Design, Inc. 2301 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood, Colo. 80110 Various Landscape Positions Webb Nursery & Landscape 162 Glendale Rd., Bellevue, Idaho 83313 Professional Gardeners and Farm Interns Gardening By Tess, 1669 Hoyt St., Lakewood, Colo. 80215
Assistant Nursery Manager, Nursery Sales, Landscape/ Maintenance Technicians, Design Assistants, Supervisors, & Managers in Summit, Eagle & Grand Counties Neils Lunceford, Inc., P.O. Box 2130, Silverthorne, Colo. 80498 Various Positions Paulino Gardens, 6300 N. Broadway, Denver, Colo. 80216 Flower/Garden Crews, Construction & Irrigation Positions Henkes & Associates, P.O. Box 5623, Vail, Colo. 81657 Plant Care Technician Sand Creek Wholesale Nursery 17050 E. Smith Rd., Aurora, Colo. 80011 Shipping Manager, Inside Sales Associate, & Wholesale Delivery Driver Harmony Gardens, 4315 E. Harmony Rd. Fort Collins, Colo. 80525
advertisers LIST ACW Supply.................................................................. 13 Baxter Wholesale Nursery, Inc........................................... 2 Britton Nursery, Inc. ........................................................ 17 Circle D Farm Sales, Inc. .................................................. 15 Clayton Tree Farm, LLC .................................................... 14 Dave Wilson Nursery ....................................................... 2 coloradonga.org
Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery ......................................... 2 Harding Nursery, Inc....................................................... 12 McKay Nursey Company ................................................. 14 United Energy Trading, LLC.............................................. 18 Willow Creek Wholesale Nursery ...................................... 5
19
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 959 S. Kipling Pky, #200 Lakewood, CO 80226
LET THE CNGA HELP YOU
DRIVE MORE CUSTOMERS
INTO YOUR STORE Join our award-winning Plant Something Colorado campaign. We had great results in 2015 and have plans to expand the campaign in 2016. We’ll provide you with a Plant Something kit to help drive consumers to your store to get the plant stake and seed packet. We also have sponsorship opportunities available to extend your reach to consumers. Last year, our sponsors increased their company social media page followers by an average of nearly 10% in three short months.
Exciting tactics planned for the 2016 campaign include: Participating in live events (Denver Botanic Gardens spring sale, Hudson Gardens concerts, and more) Continuing the contest with great prizes Increasing member participation Gaining more social media engagement Increasing opportunities for media coverage
SIGN UP! Contact Allison Gault
agault@coloradonga.org | 303.758.6672
2015 Campaign: More than 6,100 new visitors to the website, a 700% increase over 2014 1,200 followers on our social media sites 1,000 photographs posted in our contest