Plant of the Month Apps You Can Use Word on the Street
Volume 36 No. 6 June 2013
Social Media: It’s Still the Early Days
Also Inside
Spring Trials Report, Pt. 1
t h e o f f i c i a l p u b l i c at i o n o f t h e M I n n e s o ta N u r s e r y & L a n d s c a p e A s s o c i at i o n
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Volume 36 No. 6 June 2013
contents 15
32
37 HIGHLIGHTS
15 California Spring Trials Report, Pt. 1 Carolyn Jones highlights new varieties from her annual visit to plant breeders and propagators.
20 Purple Grasses are Popular The plant pigment anthocyanin produces pleasing hues of dark red and purple.
27 Interviewing: The All-Important Step in Hiring Well Set the stage, ask good questions, and plan to pause.
32 Evergreens In a Hurt Locker Drought creates conditions for common fungal diseases to strike.
37 Scheduled Succession Kellee Magee O’Reilly writes about a cardinal sin of business management.
41 Asian Longhorned Beetle Early detection could help keep this pest from causing serious harm in Minnesota.
58 IN THIS ISSUE 8 Events 10 From the President New Executive Director Hired 13 Plant of the Month Hibiscus syriacus and Hibiscus moscheutos 24 Updates on Immigration 48 Plant Apps You Can Use 50 Gypsy Moth Quarantine Proposal MDA has noted a marked increase of moths in the Arrowhead region. 52 Networking News Upcoming meetings plus the latest takeaways from MNLA’s Networking Groups. 56 MNLA News Business briefs, new MNLA members, and renewing your membership. 58 Word on the Street Which leader do you strive to emulate?
Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design Garden Services & Landscape Management Garden Centers Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse Irrigation & Water Management Arborists & Tree Services All
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Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association 1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.TheLandLovers.org www.NorthernGreenExpo.org
A Top Notch Equipment ................................................................................... 29 Alliance Designer Products ................................................................................ 4 Ancom Communication & Technical Center .................................................... 19 Astleford Equipment Co. .................................................................................. 36 Bachman’s Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes .................................................. 26
MNLA Mission: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery &
Beberg Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 44
Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.
Borgert Products, Inc. ....................................................................................... 23
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
debbie lonnee, mnla-cp, president
Carlin Horitcultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus ..................................................... 40 Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 51
Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 651-768-3375 • debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com
Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 44
heidi heiland, mnla-cp, vice-president
Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 47
Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens 612-366-7766 • heidi@BloomOnMN.com
herman roerick, secretary-treasurer
Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601• hermanr@centrallandscape.com
bert swanson, mnla-cp, past president Swanson’s Nursery Consulting, Inc. 218-732-3579 • btswanson2@gmail.com
randy berg, mnla-cp
Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • rberg@smig.net
scott frampton
Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com
tim malooly, cid, clia, cic
Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com
mike mcnamara
Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com
bill mielke
Waconia Tree Farms LLC 612-237-1728 • billmielke@waconiatreefarms.com
cassie larson, cae
MNLA Interim Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz
Farber Bag & Supply Co. .................................................................................. 49 Frontier Ag & Turf ............................................................................................. 55 Gardenworld Inc. .............................................................................................. 40 GM Fleet and Commercial ................................................................................. 3 Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc. ................................................... 23 Haag Companies, Inc. ...................................................................................... 14 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies ........................................................ 34 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 30–31 Kubota Dealers ................................................................................................. 35 Laborforce Specialists, Inc. ............................................................................... 25 Landscape Alternatives .................................................................................... 25 Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 49 Plaisted Companies .......................................................................................... 39 Prairie Restorations, Inc. ................................................................................... 40 RDO Equipment Co. ........................................................................................ 19 Rock Hard Landscape ....................................................................................... 40 TerraDek Lighting, Inc. ..................................................................................... 25
Staff Directory
executive director:
Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz
membership director & trade show manager:
The Tessman Company .................................................................................... 53 Titan Machinery .................................................................................................. 2
Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications director: Jon Horsman • jon@mnla.biz executive assistant: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz receptionist: Jessica Pratt • jessica@mnla.biz accountant: Norman Liston • norman@mnla.biz
Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. .................................................................................. 12, 57
Jodi Larson • jodi@mnla.biz
Wheeler Landscape Supply ........................................................................ 29, 55
advertising sales:
Ziegler CAT ................................................................................................... OBC
government affairs consultants:
All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2013, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA. The Scoop is published 12 times per year by MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville MN 55113. Address corrections should be sent to the above address.
mnla foundation program director:
Pierre Productions & Promotions • 763-295-5420 Betsy Pierre, Advertising Manager • betsy@pierreproductions.com Doug Carnival, Legislative Affairs Tim Power, Interim Government Affairs Director
6
ad list
Volume 36 No. 6 June 2013
➾ sectio n title
mnla .biz
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Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co. .................................................................................. 25 Unilock Chicago, Inc ........................................................................................... 7 University of Minnesota Continuing Education ................................................ 42
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➾ calendar
june 19–22 SIMA Snow & Ice Symposium
➾
➾
Minneapolis Convention Center Sima.org/show SIMA presents its 16th Annual Snow & Ice Symposium featuring a trade show and education on the best principles of business management, snow and ice operations, leadership, and more! MNLA members can attend the tradeshow for Free! Use code: MNLA13-25 when you register.
july 13–16 OFA Short Course (Trade Show: July 14–16) Greater Columbus Convention Center ofashortcourse.org The OFA Short Course trade show, educational sessions, and networking events are all designed to provide the answers you need to keep your business successful (and help you sleep better at night).
MNLA Event
aug1
AUG1 july Garden Center 13–16 Tour ➾
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OFA Short Course MNLA.biz (Trade Show: July 14–16) 651-633-4987 Greater Join yourColumbus colleagues and Convention Centergarden tour the following ofashortcourse.org centers: Bachman’s Inc. in The OFA Short Course Fridley, Waldoch Farm Inc. trade show, educational in Circle Pines; Malmborg’s sessions,Center and networking Garden in Blaine; events areBrothers, all designed Mickman Inc. to Ham provide theand answers in Lake; Green you need to keep your Valley Garden Center business successful in Ramsey. Network (and helpbring you sleep and back better ideas at night). to implement at your own garden center, and share your ideas with your peers!
Lake Service Provider Aquatic Invasive Species Training
➾
DNR Central Region Headquarters Office, 1200 Warner Rd, St. Paul, MN 56106 Contact: April Rust 651-258-5706 The Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering aquatic invasive species (AIS) training to owners of lake service provider businesses in Minnesota so they can legally work in the state’s waters.
aug15 Carlin Buyerfest St. Paul www.carlinsales.com (855) 487-8108 Customers have plenty of opportunities to visit with vendors, ask questions and learn about new product offerings.
2013 MNLA seminars generously supported by John Deere Landscapes
MNLA Event
july23 july Widmer Golf 13–16 Tournament
july 21–27 ➾
Perennial Plant Symposium Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Vancouver, Brit. Columbia perennialplant.org The Perennial Plant Symposium is open to both members and nonmembers of the Perennial Plant Association, and is the only annual professional education conference dedicated solely to growing, retailing, and designing with herbaceous perennials.
➾
aug 18–21 2013 International Low Impact Development Symposium
Key:
Event Education
➾
➾
OFA Course UofM Short Les Bolstad (Trade Show: St. JulyPaul 14–16) Golf Course, Greater Columbus mnlafoundation.com Convention Center 651-631-4987 ofashortcourse.org Join your fellow Hackers TheHorticulture OFA Short Course for for the tradeannual show, educational 23rd Widmer sessions, and networking Golf Tournament. This eventshas arebecome all designed event a to providefeaturing the answers tradition, lunch, you need toakeep your dinner, and day of golf business successful (and with a fabulous group of help youand sleep better to at people a chance night). win great prizes. Proceeds benefit the Research Fund of the MNLA Foundation.
Saint Paul River Centre www.cce.umn.edu 612-624-3708 The LID Symposium will bring together over 1,000 professionals to share their research, implementation, policy, financing, and education strategies to build and restore cities while protecting our environment.
SEPT18 ➾
MNLA Shootout South St. Paul Rod & Gun Club mnlafoundation.com 651-633-4987 Don‘t miss this annual sporting clays charity event that raises money for scholarships! This course runs at a beginner’s level — the focus is on fun. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Scholarship Fund.
All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz. june 13
mnla .biz
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➾ fr om the president
Great News! I have some great news to report on our search to replace Bob Fitch as our executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. On April 11th, we appointed Cassie Larson as executive director!
Debbie Lonnee
Spring Trials Report, Pt. 1
Plant of the Month Apps You Can Use Word on the Street
I am delighted with the board of director’s selection of Cassie. We were pleased to find that we had the very best candidate already under our own roof, which is a real testament to our commitment to building leadership from within. Cassie is a well recognized and respected professional and industry leader and we wish her the very best as she takes on the role of executive director of our very strong and successful association. MNLA members, please help me welcome Cassie as our new executive director! debbie lonnee can be reached at: debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com.
Volume 36 No. 6 June 2013
Social Media: It’s Still the Early Days
Also Inside
Bailey Nurseries, Inc.
cassie has been serving as MNLA’s interim executive director since November. She has provided dynamic and thoughtful leadership throughout her eight years with the organization in a variety of demanding positions, including communications director, education director and associate director. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College and holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives. The MNLA Board of Director’s Search Committee, along with KeyStone Search, a leading executive search firm emphasizing cultural fit, narrowed the list of applicants to a slate of very qualified candidates for the search committee’s review over a span of three months. The committee was impressed by the quality and experience of the people on the slate and narrowed it to three finalists, which ultimately led to our final recommendation to the board of directors of Cassie. We hired the person who is the right fit for MNLA, today and into the future. Larson takes over leadership following the departure of former Executive Director Bob Fitch. Fitch announced his resignation in October 2012 after 16 years of MNLA leadership. He leaves a long history of success and the creation of a solid foundation for the organization’s future.
t h e o f f i c i a l p u b l i c at i o n o f t h e M i n n e s o ta n u r s e r y & l a n d s c a p e a s s o c i at i o n
on the cover
Purple and dark red foliage is an attractive attribute found in many grasses, including Pennisetum (fountain grass), Panicum (switchgrass), and Schizachyrium (little bluestem). This colorful foliage is due to the presence of anthocyanin, a plant pigment also responsible for red coloration in many fruits and flowers. The University of Minnesota’s Dr. Mary Meyer, and Jennifer Boldt, former graduate student, share their findings on the presentation, problems and purpose of red and purple plant coloration. 10
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➾ tas k team report
task team final report EX EC UTI V E D I RE CT O R S E A RCH
Debbie Lonnee | MNLA President
In MNLA’s new strategic plan, Task Teams are appointed as a flexible, project-specific, and time-limited work group. The Executive Director Search Task Team has completed its work, and presents this report.
BACKGROUND
When long-time MNLA Executive Director Bob Fitch submitted his resignation in the fall of 2012, the board of directors set out to find the next staff leader for the organization. At its quarterly board meeting on October 5, 2012, the board of directors moved to empower the association president to chair and appoint a search team to replace the executive director. Several board members, as well as past presidents and members-at-large, were appointed to the team to find the next staff executive. The board also approved funds to hire a search firm to assist with the hiring process.
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
As their first initiative in November 2012, the team interviewed several search firms to assist with the hiring process. After presentations from three firms, the group selected KeyStone Search as the best fit for our organization and goals. Once KeyStone was selected, the task team, along with KeyStone, set about revising the job description and qualifications. KeyStone then began identifying and screening candidates for the position based on the position qualifications and requirements. Once the slate of top candidates was identified, they were presented to the task team for analysis. The search team then selected and performed two rounds of interviews with their selected candidates. Lastly, the task team deliberated and identified a final candidate for hire and made their recommendation to the board of directors on April 11, 2013. The board of directors approved the recommendation and I presented an offer to Cassie Larson, CAE who accepted the position on April 12, 2013.
TASK TEAM MEMBERS
A big thanks to the search team members for volunteering their time to this important process! If you get a chance, please say thank you to these members who invested countless hours to ensure the future success of MNLA.
Debbie Lonnee Bailey Nurseries, Inc. & MNLA President — Chair Tim Malooly Water in Motion & MNLA Board Member
Randy Berg Berg’s Nursery/Landscapers/Garden Center & MNLA Board Member
Patrick McGuiness Zlimen & McGuiness
Van Cooley Malmborgs & MNLA Past President
Colleen Moran Southview Design
Barb Dunsmore Countryside Gardens, Inc.
Bert Swanson Swanson’s Nursery Consulting & MNLA Past President
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➾ plant of the month
plant of month the
Rose of Sharon—Hibiscus syriacus, Rose Mallow—Hibiscus moscheutos
Rose Mallow rose of sharon or Hibiscus syriacus, native to Asia and India and Rose Mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, native to much of the southern and eastern United States, are both part of the mallow family. There is quite a bit of “common name” confusion with the two species from many people because of the trait similarities of the two, including slow emergence in the
spring, love of wet spaces, size, flower colors, shapes and zone hardiness. Hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous shrub that can also be formed into a small tree. It gets up to twelve feet tall by six feet wide, depending on the variety, and is hardy to zone 5. They are beautiful plants worth dedicating space to because they are easily grown in full sun to part shade. Being patient for Hibiscus syriacus to emerge in the spring will be well worth the wait. Usually, Rose of Sharon will peek out towards the end of May, into the beginning of June, depending on how warm the spring is. Blooming from July through September, depending on the variety, you can expect colors that range from lavender, pink, magenta, red, white and blends of pink/white. The blooms are liked by butterflies and hummingbirds. Although Rose of Sharon doesn’t have the
plant of the month was written by amy levander, bailey nurseries, inc.
Photos courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.
enormous dinner plate blooms of Rose Mallow, the plant packs a punch with its prolific and long bloom period. Hibiscus moscheutos (Rose Mallow) is a 3–8 foot shrubby looking perennial, that’s considered a zone 4 (some cultivars are a zone 5), dying back to the ground every winter and re-emerging in the early summer. The dinner plate-size blossoms of some varieties can be red, pink, fuchsia or mixes of these colors in a prolific display that will last many months. Hibiscus moscheutos ‘Party Favor’ pictured here, has heavily ruffled flowers that are 8–10" in diameter. The plant will reach a height and width of 5 feet. Rose mallow is easily grown in a wide range of soil types. As long as it’s not allowed to dry out, this deer resistant species of plant will be a great addition to any rain garden or other area near water or woodland edge.
She can be reached at amy.levander@baileynursery.com.
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2013 california spring trialS
report: PT 1 Welcome to the 2013 California Spring Trials Report! It’s time to look at new varieties for 2014! California Spring Trials (formerly Pack Trials) is the annual open house hosted by breeders and propagators to show off what they do best…create new varieties! In addition, they show off some great ideas for marketing and merchandising. This year did not disappoint, and there are some plants I’m sure you’ll be excited about. We’ll run through the stops I visited, starting in Gilroy, near San Jose, and finishing in Vista, near San Diego. Once again, this review will be in two parts, so please remember to check out the July Scoop as well. Here we go…….. Carolyn Jones | BFG Plant Connection
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➾ spring trial S repo rt
Danziger Lobularia Stream™ Series – This is the third year of new colors in this series! Purple and Bicolor Lilac (lilac with white flowers on the tips of the stems) join the line of compact, fragrant Lobularia. Cascadias™ Rim Magenta – A lovely new petunia with a subtle difference in the petal form. It’s dark purple/burgundy with a creamy white rim. Salvia Sally Fun™ Sky Blue – A farinacea type salvia with bi-color blue and sky blue flowers. This series is great for pots and garden as well. Heartbreakers Tomato – This is a cute little pot tomato with a heart shape, especially noticeable when it’s cut in half. A fun novelty item with great POP available. American Takii Gerbera Royal™ Bicolor Red – A striking new bicolor of red and white in the Royal family, which is great for 5"–6" pots. > Canna South Pacific – The first F1 canna from seed offers a week earlier flowering with supple leaves and lot of breaks. Orange/red flower color.
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Sakata SunPatiens® Spreading Pink Flash – A great new bicolor flower in light and darker pink. Two other new colors were also introduced in the Compact series, Red and Hot Coral. They are pushing SunPatiens for both sun and shade. Profusion® Zinnia – There are three new colors this year. Double Hot Cherry and Double Deep Salmon are both AAS winners. Double Yellow is the third color. Syngenta Flowers Verbena Lanai™ Twister – Two new colors, Red and Purple, join Twister Pink. These verbena have a unique bicolor flower, and because the color break is not virus-driven, the color will hold up through the stress of summer heat. The Lanai series is also very disease resistant. Gerbera Cartwheel™ Strawberry Twist – This is a large flowered gerbera with amazing yellow/pink coloring…it’s one that will stop your customers in their tracks! You will see different color patterns in each flower. Sized for 5" pots or larger.
Photo courtesy of All-America Selections.
Pentas Starcluster™ – A new series of Pentas with four colors, Lavender, Red, White and Rose. The flower clusters are large. The plants will work well in 6" pots or gallons. Great for hot, summer conditions. Cuphea Sriracha™ – Large-flowered cuphea series from seed in three colors, Pink, Rose and Violet. Great for heat and drought tolerance. New Guinea Impatiens Florific™ – A new series of New Guineas from seed, these have a fast crop time and work well for high density production. These are a good alternative for impatiens wallerana in the garden.
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➾ spring trial S repo rt
Dummen Begonia Unstoppable Upright Bg Fire – A new begonia introduction that is upright with dark mocca-colored leaves and hot orange flowers. This is a bolivensis-type begonia, great for pots. Calibrachoa Red Fox Hula series – A new series with flowers that have an appealing “hoop” of color in the center (will remind you of the Punch series from PW). They have a semi-upright habit and big flowers. Great for baskets! Six colors. Petunia Sweetunia Johnny Flame – A “wow” kind of flower that is purple with dark, almost black “flame” markings on the petals. Very unique! Petunia Peppy Cerise – Peppy is a vigorous series, great for baskets, with star-type flowers. Cerise is a new pink-red color. Another unique item. Verbena Wicked Pink Pepper – Wicked is a new series of bi-color verbena similar to Twister from Syngenta. There are four new colors, but the Pink Pepper is really unusual with both pink and red plus white in the flower.
Photo courtesy of Proven Winners Proven Winners Proven Winners – had their display in a new location this year, on the north end of Spring Trials in Santa Cruz, California. Superbells® Pomegranate Punch – The newest member of the Punch family, this is a true red flower with a dark center. Good performance and a mounding habit for pots or baskets. Supertunia® Flamingo – A lovely pink petunia that will replace Cotton Candy. It has a smaller flower size than Cotton Candy and a vigorous, flat landscape type habit. Supertunia® Orchid Charm – A small-flowered petunia with a dense, mounding habit and a lovely lavender-pink color. The Charm series is a great alternative to calibrachoa in the landscape, if you want a small flower size. Superbena® Violet Ice – The first Superbena® introduction in a few years (that isn’t a Royale). This is a large flower in a lovely violet color with a white eye. Good disease resistance. Great for baskets. Note: Proven Winners have added the Calliope™ geraniums under a new name, ’Boldly™’, and the Caliente™ geraniums under a new name, ‘Timeless™’. In addition, they have added the Big Begonia series under the name ‘Surefire™’. 18
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WE WERE THERE When you needed to give your crew direction.
When project coordination helped you meet a deadline.
Two-Way Communications
SALES: 952-808-0033 RENTALS: 952-890-7570 SERVICE: 952-808-7699
sales @ ancom.org
WWW.ANCOM.ORG When you needed reliable two-way communication. Skagit Gardens Skagit is a company from Washington State that grows primarily perennials, and some annuals.
MOTOROLA, MOTO, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2013 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Leucanthemum Real Series – A new series with unique flower types. Zone 5 hardy. ‘Real Glory’ is a beautiful flower form that will remind you of an Echinacea. Helenium Short n Sassy – A compact Helenium that flowers earlier than most. Short and compact (12–18"), and long blooming. A beautiful orange/yellow bicolor flower. Zone 4.
Indeed, it was a great trip this year! When you are passionate about plants, there are always new varieties to get excited about! Please remember to check back in your July issue for the second half of the 2013 Spring Trials Report.
All photos courtesy of Carolyn Jones except where noted.
carolyn jones can be reached at cjones@bfgsupply.com.
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âžž cov er st ory
cover story:
purple grasse
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Mary Meyer and Jennifer Boldt | University of Minnesota, professor and former graduate student
s are popular
Purple plants are popular; people love their unique color and distinctive appearance. Purple and dark red foliage is an attractive attribute found in many grasses, including Pennisetum (fountain grass), Panicum (switchgrass), and Schizachyrium (little bluestem).
‘Ruby Ribbons’ switchgrass makes a border along this Arboretum walkway with its three-foot-tall red foliage.
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➾ cov er st ory
Purple fountain grass grows well in bright sun and dry conditions.
C
olorful purple foliage is due to the presence of anthocyanin, a plant pigment also responsible for red coloration in many fruits and flowers. A top seller is purple fountain grass, Pennisetum advena, (formerly known as Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’), a tough annual that has no cold tolerance, but grows well in hot weather and dry conditions. Many gardeners wish purple fountain grass was perennial, however, this plant is invasive in Hawaii and California, so its lack of cold tolerance makes it one less invasive plant for Minnesota. With new research at the U, we found that light makes a difference in the extent of purple color in grasses. The higher the light, the more anthocyanins, or purple and red pigments, that were present in the foliage of switchgrass and purple fountain grass. In fact, it was hard to mimic the outdoor conditions even in a greenhouse; the high light and complete spectrum of light found outdoors caused the highest coloration in these grasses. In late summer and fall, we found that anthocyanin levels increased and chlorophyll levels decreased, causing increased red foliage color. However, cultivars with red or purple foliage tend to have lower chlorophyll levels than plants of the same species with all green foliage and are thus not as strong or robust. This can show up as the purple plants being shorter, with fewer leaves and less vigor. We still wonder if this is not due to a lack of phosphorus, however in short term (four week) experiments we could not determine that phosphorus was limiting for the purple forms. We also found that high light intensity plays a more significant role than cool temperatures in influencing foliage coloration. What is the purpose of anthocyanins in these grasses? For many species, these chemicals act like a biological shade cloth, protecting cells from excess light and damaging molecules that often form when leaves are exposed to too much light. Anthocyanins are
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‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass has green foliage that increases in red coloration as the season progresses.
antioxidants and can remove free radicals, which is good for human health and for plants. The exact role of these purple chemicals in switchgrass and fountain grass remains uncertain. It is obvious we have selected these plants for their appearance, but there may be little significance for their coloration in switchgrass in nature, as they are wimps in terms of chlorophyll content and vigor and would likely not live without our care and domestication. Purple fountain grass is more weed-like and although it sets little or no seed, its ability to grow in dry hot climates enables it to live where other plants cannot. Because both switchgrass and purple fountain grass are C4 plants that prefer hot weather for growing, they should be planted in full sun and once established, need little additional water or irrigation. There are several new red or purple forms of switchgrass on the market today. ‘Ruby Ribbons’ is the result of a controlled cross between Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ (female parent) and Panicum virgatum ‘Haense Herms’ (male parent). ‘Ruby Ribbons’ is shorter than most switchgrass, only 2–3' in height, with dark purple foliage and dark seedheads. The selection was made by Mark Brand at the University of Connecticut. ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Cheyenne Sky’, and ‘Prairie Fire’ are other red forms of switchgrass, growing 3–4' with foliage or seedheads that increase in red coloration from summer to fall. Seventeen cultivars of switchgrass, both purple and green selections are being trialed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in the Ornamental Grass Collection. The trials are open to the public and will be featured at two 2013 Open House events: Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 4:00–6:00 PM and Thursday, October 3, 2013, from 2:00–6:00 PM.
mary meyer
can be reached at meyer023@umn.edu.
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➾ Natio nal Government Affairs
Updates on Immigration These updates on national government affairs issues are available thanks to MNLA’s partnership in the ANLA Lighthouse Program. MNLA Executive Director Cassie Larson, CAE with Minnesota Senator Al Franken at a meeting of the Minnesota Business & Advocacy Immigration Coalition on May 3, 2013. Franken invited Larson and other leaders representing a variety of Minnesota organizations to discuss national immigration reform.
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Keep H2A and H2B workers from health care mandates, ANLA argues
Immigration reform should include better visa options for landscape industry
On March 18, the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) filed comments in response to an Internal Revenue Service notice of proposed rulemaking on the subject of “shared responsibility for employers regarding health coverage” under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The comments were filed on behalf of ANLA as well as government relations partners the National Christmas Tree Association and OFA. In summary, ANLA and partners argued that foreign workers on temporary and seasonal H-2A and H-2B visas should not count toward the employer’s calculation of full-time equivalents, nor should the workers be subject to the law’s individual mandate. To review ANLA’s comment submission, visit www.mnla.biz/ category.asp?paper=5&cat=38.
Joint Congressional testimony submitted in early March by the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) and PLANET urged Congress to maintain the H-2B program and to fully consider the need for better visa options for job opportunities defined as “lesser-skilled,” as Congress works to modernize America’s immigration system. The ANLA and PLANET statement was filed for a March 14 hearing by the House Education and the Workforce subcommittee. Specific to H-2B, the statement urged that two hostile Labor Department rulemaking initiatives should be prohibited from moving forward, and that the expired H-2B “returning worker exemption” should be made permanent. To review the joint written testimony submitted, visit www.mnla.biz/category.asp?paper=5&cat=38.
june 13
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You find the contracts and we provide you
TRAINED LANDSCAPING LABORFORCE
Elieth Hoffman l Direct: 612-490-3394 Lorena Frampton l Direct: 612-328-5174
help@laborforcemn.com
www.laborforcemn.com
NEW
SCOOP COMING In January, MNLA will be introducing a redesigned Scoop. Our goal is to provide even greater value to you, the member, through this vital communication service. To do that, we need to know what your current needs are! We would like to gather your feedback on how you read The Scoop, which content you value most, and what you wish we would include. Please take five minutes and give us your opinions via a quick 5-question survey found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScoopFeedback. If you’d rather forward your comments via email, send those to jon@mnla.biz. WRITERS WANTED We’re also looking for members who love to write – members who want to share useful information,
Interviewing: THE ALL-IMPORTANT STEP IN HIRING WELL In past articles, I discussed creating an overall hiring process and how to write a great job posting. Now it is time to talk about the interview process, which is one of the most important tools your organization or business has when hiring. Patrick McGuiness | Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC
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➾ I NT E RVIEWIN G CAND I D ATES
H
ow many times have you had a candidate that looked incredible on paper turn out to be a dud during the interview process? Read on to find out about questions you can ask that will point you to the right candidates for the positions you are trying to fill. Have a level playing field. It would be unfair to give one candidate more time than another to explain their qualifications. So, set a time limit for each interview and stick closely to it. However, don’t put a stopwatch on the table; that just makes things unnecessarily awkward. Create a comfortable interview environment for all the candidates. You want people to be at ease at first when they are being interviewed so that they feel comfortable opening up to you when they answer questions. Prepare ahead of time. Have specific questions planned for each interview ahead of time. If you are using a panel to interview candidates, assign each question to a specific person so that the interview flows smoothly. Often interview questions end up a lot like bad job postings. The questions are too easy to anticipate, such as “Tell me about a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.” Whenever you have questions that are anticipated by the candidate, you are going to get ‘canned’ responses that do not give you very much insight into what the candidate is really like. Ask good questions. Ask questions that will give you clues about the candidate’s ability to perform well at the job you are hiring for. Don’t ask leading questions; instead try to keep questions neutral so that you can find out how the candidate honestly feels, not how they think you want them to feel. For example, if you ask, “Would you be able to start at 7 am every day and work some weekends?”— of course the candidate is going to say yes. Then once they have the job, they may start complaining about the hours. Instead, try asking “What would your ideal work schedule look like?” While the answer they give may not match your hours exactly, you will get insight into the candidate’s work ethic, and whether they researched your organization.
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Another good question that may have nothing to do with the job you are filling is “Give me a synopsis of a recent book you read and why you did or didn’t like it.” While reading may not be a core skill that is needed for your position, a candidate’s answer to this question will tell you a lot about their desire to self-improve, and general intelligence level. Pause and pay attention. While you are working within a timeframe, don’t jump to the next question whenever there is a lull in the candidate’s response. Take a second and pause before starting the next question. Often this pause will spur the candidate to keep talking and expand on what they have already said. This will give you further insight into the candidate’s level of preparedness. Make it a habit to add this silent pause before asking more questions. You will be surprised how candidates fill the space you create. Questions for the interviewers. At the close of each interview, leave a little bit of time to ask each candidate what questions they have for you. If they do not have any questions, they did not prepare. No matter how thoroughly a candidate scoured your website, there will always be unanswered questions. A well-prepared candidate will have at least two or three questions for the interviewers. This article provides general information on employment law matters and should not be relied upon as legal advice. A qualified attorney must analyze all relevant facts and apply the applicable law to any matter before legal advice can be given.
is a partner at Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC. His law practice focuses on assisting small business owners on a wide range of legal issues. He can be reached at pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com. If you would like more information regarding employment law or other legal matters, please contact Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at 651-206-3203 or www.zmattorneys.com. patrick mcguiness
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evergreens in a
hurt locker Is it just me, or do evergreens out there look like heck? Faith Appelquist | Tree Quality
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Needle cast on white spruce. Photo courtesy of Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.
T
hin, sparse canopies. Dead branches. Brown, yellow and orange should be colors of vegetables, not conifers. One possible reason for this is that our conifers are simply drying out with the extended drought occurring in Minnesota. The National Drought Mitigation Center listed conditions in Minnesota as “severe drought” to “extreme drought” in February 2013. The drought this past summer left many plants, especially evergreens, stressed and weakened. Evergreens are exquisitely sensitive to moisture loss. Exposed needles of evergreens such as spruce, pine, and arborvitae are at the mercy of nature as cold winds pull moisture from the leaves, killing them. And when trees are stressed they cannot defend themselves against insects and disease. Two common fungal diseases attack drought-stressed evergreens: Cytospora canker and Rhizosphaera needle cast. Cytospora canker: Fungus typically shows scattered branch dieback, often starting on the lower branches. A close look at the dead branches usually reveals the presence of sticky white sap. Infected trees produce this resinous sap in response to the infection by the canker fungus. Rhizosphaera needle cast: The disease is usually first evident on lower branches and then works upward gradually. Interior needles turn a purple or brown color and eventually fall from the tree. After several successive years of needle loss branches may die. In general, trees appear to die from the bottom upward. In some cases, however, infections start higher on the tree, giving the appearance of scattered dead areas.
Left: Cytospora canker causing branch dieback on blue spruce. Photo courtesy of Andrej Kunca, National Forest Centre — Slovakia, Bugwood.org. Above: Cytospora canker causes branch mortality, and can eventually result in the death of the tree. Photo courtesy of Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.
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➾ ev ergreens
®
Cytospora canker on silver fir. Photo courtesy of Andrej Kunca, National Forest Centre - Slovakia, Bugwood.org.
As with many diseases, the best control is prevention.
• Avoid planting Colorado blue spruce, the most diseaseprone evergreen. • Plant trees in a good site, one that is well-drained, and allows unrestricted growth and good air flow as the tree matures. • Adding mulch around trees increases overall health in many ways, including reducing competition from turf grass. • Keep trees well watered. • Avoid fertilizing a drought stressed tree. Fertilizers contain salts that can pull more moisture from already dry roots. • Remove the landscape rock, fabric and edging. This prevents water and nutrients from getting to the root system of the tree. • Avoid planting in rows close to the highway as a buffer. These trees are vulnerable as de-icing salt spray from highway trucks wicks moisture out of roots and leaves. Drought-Tolerant Evergreens to Try
• Austrian Pine • Juniper (all shapes and sizes) • Swiss Stone Pine • Eastern Red Cedar • Serbian Spruce faith appelquist is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®. Faith can be reached at faith@treequality.com.
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succession: a cardinal sin of management
Despite my marginally clever play-on-words, this isn’t an article about Pope Francis I. (A man whose qualifications for the job he has been elected to I am woefully incapable of evaluating.) What this article is about is a dangerous phenomenon: one that I have witnessed in businesses large & small; in families, in nonprofit associations, in city governments, and in volunteer committees of all shapes and sizes. It’s a phenomenon that — given its pervasiveness in society — I could surmise might have plagued the Papal Conclave as well. Kellee Magee O’Reilly | MonkeyBar Management
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➾ business successi o n
“It’s His Turn”
• What specific skills does the organization need today?
You’ve surely witnessed this plague in action: • He’s the first born (son), so he’s going to take over the family business.
• What are the biggest obstacles we face on the path to success?
• Susan was the vice chair of the event last year, so she’ll become the event chair this year. • Max has ‘paid his dues’ on the board for five years so he should ascend to the vice chairmanship. • Mary has been the coordinator in that department for three years, so now that Bob has been promoted to director, she should logically take over his position as manager. • The current city council members have an off-the-record conversation that “If Gene wants to run for mayor, we won’t run against him…” I suppose it is statistically possible that the ‘next in line’ actually IS (by coincidence rather than design) the best person for the task at hand. But particularly given the pace of change in the world today, my observational experience says it’s more-than-likely not to be the case. Worse than just not ideal — allowing an “It’s His Turn” philosophy to flourish can truly be a kiss of death for an organization. Even the perception of this ethos at work can signal that the company is not actually responsive to client/constituent needs. That merit and skill are less valued than time served. That we are out of touch with what is actually going on in our community. That we are not transparent about our process. For the sake of the Catholic Church and the 1 billion + people worldwide that they serve, I hope that the College of Cardinals asked questions like these when considering whom to elect: 38
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• What kind of personality traits are best suited to address our needs and challenges? • What communities will be emboldened or disenfranchised by the selection? What changes are coming rapidly that we need to prepare for; who has the vision to see them clearly? To the public eye, the College of Cardinals had the opportunity to choose anyone (well, any Catholic male) to lead them. I am hopeful that with days of prayer, reflection, and holy wisdom-seeking that they didn’t simply select the person who was the ‘first runner-up’ to Benedict during the prior voting. Given the secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding the process, we can’t know. Surely he is being lauded by the media (and Catholic friends of mine who are more equipped to gauge) as the “right man for the job” — with traits that do seem to answer at least some of the questions above. Decisions in your world may not attract such scrutiny or media attention, but if it feels like “It’s His Turn” for something in your world, ask yourself – ask your team: SHOULD it be? And if the answer is no, I pray that you have the courage to vote differently. Your business depends on it. provides an umbrella of services and connections led by the Director of Doing, Kellee Magee O’Reilly. Holding a degree in international business with an applied focus in peace and conflict resolution, Kellee has invested over two decades building the success of small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the US and Europe. monkeybar management
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➾ Research for the R eal Wo rld
Asian Longhorned Beetle Quarantine, early detection, and eradication will play a central role in keeping this destructive pest out of Minnesota.
Dr. James Calkins
Research Information Director MNLA Foundation
RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD
Information compiled by the MNLA Foundation to help the success of your business today MNLA.biz _________ The Scoop _________ MNLA eNews
although it has not yet been found in minnesota, Asian longhorned beetle (ALB; Anoplophora glabripennis), a roundheaded borer, is another non-native insect threat that should be on everyone’s radar. Should this destructive pest find its way into the state, the consequences for native forest ecosystems and designed landscapes could be devastating. Nursery and landscape professionals are an important component in the quarantine and management efforts designed to prevent the introduction of ALB into new areas. These professionals should be on the lookout for adult beetles and infested trees in a proactive effort to identify potential infestations quickly and enable a rapid response in the hope of eradication. Quarantine and early detection will play an important and central role in eradication efforts and in preventing the spread of this highly destructive insect. Also known as the starry sky, starry night, or sky beetle because of the distinct, white markings on its shiny, black wing covers, the Asian longhorned beetle is native to eastern China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. It damages and kills trees by feeding on phloem, cambium, and, most significantly, xylem tissues. Infested trees are typically killed in three to five years. Severe outbreaks are not believed to have occurred in China until significant numbers of non-native species were planted; primarily non-native, hybrid poplars. In response to the significant damage that can be caused by the ALB, a considerable amount of research has focused on this destructive pest in both China and the United States and research focused on improved detection and control measures continues today. In contrast to most species of borers that attack woody plants, but similar to emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis), ALB can attack and kill healthy trees. Unlike emerald ash borer, which attacks only ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), and most of the other introduced pests we are familiar with like Dutch elm disease (DED), oak wilt,
and chestnut blight that only attack trees in a single genus, ALB has a wide host range that includes multiple genera. It is this characteristic that makes ALB so alarming. The most susceptible species include maple (Acer spp.; including boxelder), poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), birch (Betula spp.), and elm (Ulmus spp.); but ash (Fraxinus spp.), mountain ash (Sorbus spp.), buckeye and horse chestnut (Aesculus spp.) are also common hosts. Additional species including hackberry (Celtis spp.), stone fruits (Prunus spp.), apple/flowering crabapple (Malus spp.), pear (Pyrus spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), and
top takeaways Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has not yet been found in Minnesota. Similar to emerald ash borer (EAB), ALB can attack and kill healthy trees. Infested trees are typically killed in three to five years. ALB has a wide host range with the most susceptible species include maple, poplar, willow, birch, and elm, but ash, mountain ash, buckeye and horse chestnut are also common hosts. Maples are the most likely to be attacked by ALB. Research indicates 80% of the trees removed in infested areas have been maples. Large, 3⁄8 to ½-inch round exit holes on living trees (big enough to easily accommodate the insertion of a #2 pencil) are an almost certain sign of an ALB infestation. ALB infestations in North America remain fairly limited and confined and eradication efforts have proven to be successful.
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âžž research for the real w o rld
Photo courtesy of Joe Boggs, Bugwood.org.
others have been reported as being attacked, but confidence is lacking; whether these and other species are truly susceptible remains to be seen. Several of these species are included on suggested replanting lists including Malus, spp, Prunus spp., and Celtis occidentalis. Maples are an important species in North American forests and landscapes and are the most likely to be attacked by ALB. Research indicates 80% of the trees that have been removed in infested areas in the United States have been maples. Maples are a popular species and have been widely (probably too widely) planted, as 30% of the urban trees in the eastern United States are maples. The prevalence of maples and the ability to attack healthy trees and a wide host range are the reasons why ALB poses such a severe threat to native forest ecosystems and urban and community forests. ALB adults are surprisingly large and impressive insects. The beetles are one to one-and-a-half inches long (not including the antennae), smooth and shiny black with distinct, irregular, white or yellow (A. glabripennis form nobilis; rare) markings on 42
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Figure 1. Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) adult and distinctive round exit hole; the Asian longhorned beetle is an impressive insect and so is the damage it can cause to trees; be on the lookout for this destructive pest to help prevent its establishment in Minnesota. Photo courtesy of Alan Sawyer, USDA/APHIS.
Photo courtesy of Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.
their wing covers (backs), and have distinctive, segmented, white and black-banded antennae that are between one (females) and up to two times (males) their body length. Excluding the antennae, males tend to be smaller than females. ALB larvae are segmented, legless, rounded in cross section, and white to cream colored and can be up to two inches or more in length. After hatching, the larvae feed on the phloem for a few weeks, but are xylem feeders for most of their existence. As they feed they create winding galleries in the xylem which disrupts the transport of water and nutrients, which is ultimately responsible for the death of infested trees. ALB adults are good flyers, but, unlike EAB adults, they are not inclined to fly long distances and tend to stay close to the trees from which they emerged as long as suitable host trees are available. This behavior has likely contributed to the more localized infestations that have been observed for ALB compared to the larger and more widely dispersed infestations observed for EAB. In Minnesota and neighboring states, ALB can be confused with the white-spotted pine sawyer beetle (Monochammus scutellatus), a native beetle that attacks stressed (damaged and diseased) conifers, mainly pines (Pinus spp.) and primarily white pine (Pinus strobus), but also spruce (Picea spp.) and fir
(Abies spp.). The white-spotted pine sawyer also has white markings, but they are less distinct than those of ALB. Other defining characteristics include rough wing covers, bronze-black coloration, and a distinct white spot just behind the head which is lacking on the ALB. In addition to the presence of adult beetles, signs of an ALB infestation include rounded to oval, oviposition (egg laying) pits/niches, oozing sap (sometimes associated with egg niches), excelsior-like frass (a mixture of excrement and sawdust; produced by feeding larvae), wood shavings/coarse sawdust (produced by egg-laying females and feeding larvae; found on branches, in branch forks, and on the ground under infested trees), and round, â…œ to ½-inch diameter adult exit holes that extend deep into the xylem (big enough to easily accommodate the insertion of a #2 pencil; the exit holes of the phloem-feeding EAB are D-shaped, smaller, and much shallower), broken branches (the result of weakened branches caused by larval feeding), woodpecker activity (searching for larvae; not as good an indicator as they can be for EAB), canopy decline (thinning and dieback), and dead trees (tree decline and death can be slow, much slower than for EAB, but death can be sudden with no signs of canopy decline for maple). Large, round
exit holes on living trees are an almost certain sign of an ALB infestation. Adults feed on leaves (typically near the veins) and young twigs (cambium and phloem tissue), but the damage caused is usually minor. ALB was first discovered in North America in Brooklyn, New York, in 1996 and has subsequently been confirmed in the Chicago (Illinois) area, several locations in New Jersey and Massachusetts, additional locations in or near New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island), and most recently in Bethel, Ohio (2011; a small town east of Cincinnati). Infestations have also been found in Ontario, Canada (2003 in Toronto and neighboring Vaughan). In addition to its introduction to North America from China, where wooden packing materials are believed to have been the vector, the Illinois and Ohio infestations highlight the potential for long-distance transport by humans and the importance of not transporting firewood, logs, and other wood products that may harbor immature individuals and emerging adults. Authorities believe infestations in the northeastern United States may have been present for more than a decade before the first discovery in 1996. Adult beetles have also been found and infested materials have been intercepted at ports and in warehouses in other states across the june 13
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➾ research for the real w o rld
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United States including Maine, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, and California. ALB infestations have also been found in several locations in Europe including Austria, France, Germany, and Italy and most recently in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands (both in 2012). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates annual losses of $138 billion if existing ALB infestations are allowed to expand and affect hardwood forests. So far in the United States, hundreds of square miles have been quarantined, tens of thousands of trees have been infested, hundreds of thousands of trees have been removed and destroyed (chipped or burned), and about a million trees have been treated proactively with insecticides. ALB produces one generation per year. Adults emerge in late spring/early summer and are active until late fall. Eggs are laid singly throughout the summer months and hatch in 10–15 days. The young larvae feed under the bark at first (1st and 2nd instars), but soon bore into the wood (xylem) to a depth of five or six inches (3rd, 4th, and 5th instars); when ready to pupate they move closer to the surface. The larval phase normally lasts for approximately 10–11 months and the full life cycle from egg to adult typically takes 1–2 years depending on climate. Infestations tend to start in the branched crown, but eggs can be deposited anywhere within the tree crown from the ground up. Roots near the surface can also be infested. ALB adults are killed by a hard frost, but eggs, larvae, and pupae can survive the winter. Successful management of ALB involves quarantine to prevent long-distance transport and infestations in new areas, education of tree care professionals and the public, early detection, removal and destruction of infested trees and all susceptible trees within a prescribed distance of infested trees (cutting and chipping or burning), stump removal, and systemic insecticides. Early detection is primarily dependent on visual observations of trained ground and aerial (observers in buckets and tree climbers) spotters and public reporting. Significant infestations are easy to spot, but trees with minimal infestations are much less obvious
and can be difficult to detect. Discoveries of ALB infestations have often been preceded by sightings of adult beetles as well as other signs of ALB activity on heavily infested trees. The effectiveness of targeted detection programs typically ranges between 30% and 70% (ground vs. aerial detection methods). As a result, less than obvious infestations can be missed at a rate of 30% or higher. This is one of the driving factors behind recommendations to remove all susceptible trees near trees that are known to be infested. Systemic insecticides alone are not the answer; they primarily target adults and young larvae as they are mainly transported in the phloem and are primarily used to treat susceptible species in buffer zones around known infestations. Larvae in the xylem are not affected and will mature and emerge as adults from trees that have been treated. Replanting with a diverse population of resistant tree species is recommended in infested areas. Examples of species that are suitable for use in Minnesota landscapes include hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), linden/basswood (Tilia spp.), Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica), oak (Quercus spp.), hickory (Carya spp.), catalpa (Catalpa spp.), walnut (Juglans spp.) serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), pine (Pinus spp.), spruce (Picea spp.), larch/tamarack (Larix spp), fir (Abies spp.), and juniper (Juniperus spp.). In North America, eradication is the ultimate management goal and eradication efforts have been proven successful in several areas. In response to concerted eradication efforts infestations have recently been eradicated in Canada (2013), Illinois (2008), and New Jersey (March, 2013) and several other locations in the northeast. The most recent success story is Canada where beetles have not been observed since 2007 and where ALB was declared eradicated earlier this month (April, 2013) by the Canadian government. Sadly, though we should know better based on past experience, destructive invasive species continue to be introduced to the United States. Recent research has indicated new introductions are occurring about every two years and introductions have actually been on the rise for the past
decade. Given the concerns associated with invasive pests, most would agree this trend is very disappointing. Preventing new introductions must be a high priority given the associated economic and environmental costs associated with these pests. Again, humans are the primary long-distance vector and are responsible for new infestations removed from existing infection zones. On their own, ALB infestations expand slowly (one reference reports about 300 meters/year — 985 feet; another reports estimated ranges from 330–1980 feet/year; APHIS recommends a minimum control zone of ½ mile — 2640 feet — from infested trees). Thus far, ALB infestations in the United States and Canada have been limited in size and most have not involved forested areas; most infestations have been in urban areas. This is very fortunate from an ecological and eradication perspective as eradication success would likely be significantly more difficult in woodland areas. Unfortunately, forest infestations have recently been reported in Massachusetts and Ohio and infestation patterns appear to be somewhat different in forested areas. For example, only maples have been affected (especially red maples) and larger trees tend to be the primary targets. On a positive and encouraging note, ALB infestations in North America remain fairly limited and confined and eradication efforts have proven to be successful. So long as these conditions persist, complete eradication may be possible and is the current goal.
Research 41(9):1729-1742. http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/x11-097 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS). 2010 (revised version). Wanted: The Asian Longhorned Beetle. http://www.aphis. usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/ printable_version/alb_wantedbrochure.pdf USDA, APHIS. http://www.aphis.usda.gov; click “Asian Longhorned Beetle” under “Hot Issues.” USDA, APHIS. News Release: New Jersey Declares Itself Free From Devastating Tree-Killing Pest. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/ hot_issues/alb/documents/ALB%20NJ%20 Eradication%20News%20Release.pdf USDA, APHIS. 2012 (updated). Asian Longhorned Beetle: Annotated Host List. http:// www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_ info/asian_lhb/downloads/hostlist.pdf USDA, APHIS. Asian Longhorned Beetle: Control Strategy. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ plant_health/plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/control.shtml USDA, PHIS. http://www.beetlebusters.info. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). April 5, 2013. Asian Long-horned Beetle Eradicated from Canada. http:// www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/ newsroom/news-releases/2013-04-05/ eng/1365168144940/1365168154936
for additional information
Hu, J, S. Angeli, S. Schuetz, Y.L. Hajek, and A.E. Hajek. 2009. Ecology and Management of Exotic and Endemic Asian Longhorned Beetle Anoplophora glabripennis. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 11(4):359–375. http:// onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.14619563.2009.00443.x/full
Boggs, J. and A. Stone. 2012. Asian Longhorned Beetle: The Threat in Black and White. Tree Care Industry 23(4):9-14. http://www.tcia. org/digital_magazine/tci-magazine/2012/04/ index.html#?page=8
Haack, R.A., F. Hérard, J. Sun, and J.J. Turgeon. 2009. Managing Invasive Populations of Asian Long-horned Beetle and Citrus Longhorned Beetle: A Worldwide Perspective. Annual Review of Entomology 55:521-546. http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2010/ nrs_2010_haack_001.pdf
and detail about ALB and its management see the following selected resources:
Parker, B.L., M. Skinner, K. Dodds, and M. Bohne. 2012. Asian Longhorned Beetle and its Host Trees. United States Department of Agriculture. http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/alb/alband-host-trees-09-12-2012-screen.pdf
Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 2012. Asian Longhorned Beetle. http://www.mda. state.mn.us/plants/insects/alb.aspx
to comment on this month’s update,
Dodds, K. and D. Orwig. 2011. An Invasive Urban Pest Invades Natural Environments – Asian Longhorned Beetle in Northeastern US Hardwood Forests. Canadian Journal of Forest
suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@MNLA.biz.
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social media
for small business: It’s still the early days The art of marketing has always been about making meaningful connections with ideal buyers. Modern marketing is a practice that is new to most small businesses. Prior to that, small businesses made meaningful connections through selling, not marketing. Jeff Korhan | New Media and Small Business Marketing
O
ne of the reasons for this is that most of the media available in recent decades, including magazines, radio, and television advertising, were far too costly for the average small business.
The early days of modern marketing
In the early days of marketing, impressions were a common metric that media agencies measured. The idea was that the more times an ad was served to a target audience, the more likely it would stimulate buying behavior. That’s not a problem anymore. In fact, these days the practice of focusing on impressions is considered spamming. Every business has the capability to use technology to achieve countless impressions, and that is possible with even the smallest budget. As a result, we have gone full circle. Now we are right back to where we started — seeking to use social media marketing to make meaningful connections with our ideal buyers. This requires practice, training, skill, and a bit of good fortune. Digital marketing requires a strategic approach and committed focus. In the earlier days, most small businesses used the same forms 46
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of marketing — advertising in local newspapers and telephone books (Yellow Page advertising). Today, mainstream small businesses have moved their focus to Facebook. Is that the best approach for your business? It may well be, but the truth is achieving results with Facebook is challenging, because the changes are ongoing and many. Whereas, by comparison, Twitter largely works today as it did in its early days. One could argue the same is true for LinkedIn and more recently, Google+. These are early days for social media
It’s true that the good old days of Twitter were five or six years ago. I was there, and I can say that getting in early was a lot of fun. It enabled me to learn by rubbing shoulders with leaders such as Chris Brogan, John Jantsch, and Mari Smith. There are really two early days here: this thing that we once referred to as new media, and its use by respective business communities. New media is no longer new, but its use by many small businesses is.
➾ social media
I was delighted to hear Michael Stelzner comment in a recent television interview that we are indeed in the early days of social media. That has certainly been my experience from speaking to small business groups in multiple industries, including retail, franchising, agriculture, construction, and hospitality. The challenges and opportunities for small businesses are much the same from one industry to the next. Blogging and content marketing are still practiced by just a few, although nearly everyone is waking up to the fact that it is a practice that effectively attracts leads that drive their social media engagement. What’s next for you and me?
Those of us that have been doing this for a while have learned two things: 1. What works for you may not work for my business, but I can still learn from your practices. 2. You have to make this a practice, expect to make mistakes, and then find a business model that works. What I find fascinating is how social media amplifies our strengths, weaknesses, and personal qualities and capabilities. For example, I could never match the personal magnetism of Mari Smith, the productivity of John Jantsch, the community focus of Chris Brogan, or the businessmindedness of Michael Stelzner — but I can learn from them. And so can you. The fact that we are still in the early days means you have plenty of time to find your way. What are your unique qualities that will best help your communities? That’s what’s next for you — and me. Find it. Show up — and show us who you are. You’ll probably surprise yourself, and make a significant contribution as a result. Are you ready?
is the author of Built-In Social: Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business. Get more from Jeff at www.jeffkorhan.com.
jeff korhan
Inspire your customers with MNLA’s Outdoor Living Catalogs. Titles include Trees & Shrubs, Perennials, and Ideas for Outdoor Living (a hardscapesfocused catalog). Visit MNLA.biz or call Sue at 651-633-4987.
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plant apps you can use Purdue Tree Doctor (iOS, $1.99)
This app is from two extension specialists at Purdue University, Janna Beckerman (formerly an extension agent with University of Minnesota) and Cliff Sadof: After two years of development, we have released a new smart phone app that will help you diagnose and find recommendations to manage over 175 tree problems on over 60 kinds of trees common to the Midwest and Northeast United States. We call it the Purdue Tree Doctor. It will be like having our entire library of photos and recommendations in your pocket when trying to make a diagnosis. More importantly, you will be able to use these high resolution photos to help you (or your clients) diagnose and manage some of the most common problems affecting trees in our area. If you know which type of tree you have (maple, oak, pine etc.) the app will help you match damaged plant parts with hundreds of high-resolution photos, based upon the location of the problem: leaves, branches, stems, roots, etc. Once you have a tentative diagnosis you can double check it by following links on each photo to detailed descriptions
Landscaper’s Companion – Gardening Reference Guide ($6 on iOS, $5 on Android; pro upgrade for $9.99)
With experience in landscaping and gardening with botanical gardens and the USDA, Dave Stevenson and his researchers have compiled the most comprehensive plant app on the market today. The app’s plant catalog has over 26,000 plants from around the world, and is filled with detailed information on USDA zones, sun requirements, mature sizes, water requirements, bloom times, and deer resistance. The photo database is impressive as well, with over 21,000 full-color photos of plants so far, with more being added monthly. You’ll find annuals, bulbs, cacti, conifers, flowering and fruit trees, groundcovers, herbs, 48
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of damage and stages of problem development. From there you can get advice for management. Alternatively, if you know the problem, you can use the app to find management tips by searching through our problem list. This app is useful for most problems you will encounter in the Midwest and Northeast United States. For those of you with spotty internet connections, you will be pleased to know that we designed the Purdue Tree Doctor to have all of its critical information and photos on the phone in a modest package size (250 MB) with a modest price — the Purdue Tree Doctor costs only $1.99 and is available now for the I-Phone, and the I-Pod touch at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/purdue-tree-doctor/ id561944017?mt=8 Although not yet optimized, it can be downloaded onto an iPad, where you can enjoy the larger pictures and format. Currently we are developing the application for Android phones and expect it to be out in Spring of 2013, along with apps for the diagnosis of problems on annuals and perennials, and HD versions for the iPad interface.
house plants, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shade trees, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, berries, water plants, ferns, and even palms. Neither tropicals nor orchids are available at the moment. One nifty feature the app provides is the ability to take the large encyclopedic volume of plant information and filter out any zones irrelevant to you. In fact, the entire Landscaper’s Companion plant catalog is fully searchable. Start with a simple name or plant type search, or combine fields to narrow down plants to find just the right plant for your project. Bob Tedeschi of the New York Times said, “The search feature is nicely designed. You can enter ‘cucurbita pepo’ or ‘zucchini’ or ‘summer squash’ and the software will find the same vegetable.”
➾ plant apps
A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins
TM
The pro upgrade for $9.99 offers more tools for professional landscapers. • Manage multiple plant lists specific to your projects. Create client plant lists quickly, and share your lists with clients and subcontractors. • Add you own plants and plant pictures. • Keep detailed notes on any plant in the database. The publisher’s website includes these encouraging quotes from landscapers: • “Your app is great!!! As someone who works as a landscaper and nursery retailer/buyer this is most helpful for my customers.” – Jessica, New Mexico • “Landscaper’s Companion has a comprehensive plant catalog and makes it easy to create plant lists. It saves me time and helps me serve my clients better.” – Curtis Ellis, All Pro Landscape Design
Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous
TIME to RENEW your (651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816 MEMBERSHIP! www.outbacknursery.com
Renew online by June 8 to be entered in a drawing for 2 Expo registrations and a hotel Call us first for all stay; or watch for your renewal by needs mail soon. your native planting
Dirr’s Tree and Shrub Finder (iOS, $15)
If there’s such a thing as a horticultural “rock star” then Dr. Michael Dirr is it. Dr. Dirr’s classic work, The Manual of Woody Landscape Plants is the basis for this app, which has garnered rave reviews from app reviewers, home gardeners, plantsmen, and landscapers alike. Timber Press, the publisher of the app, calls it “the most comprehensive, authoritative, and interactive directory for trees and shrubs,” and it is. With 9,400 plants and 7,600 photos (plus another 1,120 line drawings), this app sets a new standard in the brave new world of digital horticulture publishing. Trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers and more are searchable by 72 criteria such as hardiness zones, water and light requirements, growth characteristics, flowers, fruits, and fall colors. The search experience is smooth and you’ll find the perfect plant for your situation quickly and easily. Once you do, you can email the plant art as well as the simple plant descriptions. You can also build a list of your favorite plants, which you could use as an ad hoc client meeting plant list. What apps do you use in the field?
If you have a favorite plant app not listed here, we’d love to hear about it. What are the apps that help you do your job better? Send an email to jon@mnla.biz or post about it on our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MNLA1) or LinkedIn (http://www. linkedin.com/groups?gid=939747) pages. 34
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➾ gypsy moth
Quarantine proposal Gypsy M o th Quarantine Pr o p o sal f o r L a ke & Co o k Co unties in M inneso ta Lucia Hunt
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Division
Legend: • 1–5 • 6–10 • 11–15 • 16–20 • 21–32 • 33–60 • 61–150 • 151–1062 ▲
The MDA’s annual survey has noted a marked increase of moths over time in the Arrowhead region.
Gypsy Moth Background ranked among america’s most destructive forest pests, the gypsy moth has caused millions of dollars in damage to woodlands as it advanced from New England to Wisconsin. Gypsy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest, causing ecological harm to the landscape, economic harm to forest resource industries, and a nuisance for people. These hungry pests are found throughout Wisconsin and are now establishing populations in eastern Minnesota. Nationwide, a system of trapping, treatments, and regulations has kept Minnesota gypsy moth-free for decades, but in recent years moths have been trapped in increasing numbers along the North Shore. Therefore, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is proposing a quarantine of Lake and Cook Counties in the spring of 2014 to restrict movement of potentially infested items and thereby contain the infestation. Since the first treatments around Schroeder in 2006, the MDA has taken action to prevent and stifle the growth of gypsy moth populations in Lake and Cook Counties.
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Lake & Cook Counties are now considered infested by gypsy moth. Populations have now grown to a point where treatments are ineffective. Minnesota will be the 21st state to be completely or partially quarantined for this invasive species. Quarantines in other states have benefited Minnesota’s forest resources by keeping them gypsy-moth free until now. General Quarantine Information The MDA’s goal in establishing quarantines is to prevent the human-assisted spread of a dangerous or destructive pest or disease organism, in this case, the gypsy moth, from known infested areas into non-infested areas. Depending on the quarantine pest, certain items are called “regulated articles” because they
have the highest risk of spreading the pest. The following items are federally designated as regulated articles for gypsy moth: Trees and woody shrubs with roots (nursery stock) and trees without roots (Christmas trees) Logs, pulpwood, bark and bark products. Mobile homes and associated outdoor household articles (residential and camping equipment). Any other products, articles, or means of conveyance that may spread gypsy moths. There are no legal restrictions on movement of regulated articles within contiguous quarantined areas. Regulated articles can move into quarantined areas unrestricted but once inside, all regulated articles become subject to quarantine restrictions. It is illegal to move these regulated articles out of a quarantine area unless they are accompanied by an MDA certificate (when destined for another site in Minnesota) or a joint MDA/USDA certificate (when moving across state borders). Certificates are only available when a compliance agreement is signed by the company, city, county, agency, or organization interested in moving the regulated article.
Volume Discounts on Garden Center Trays Visit MNLA.biz or contact Mary at 651-633-4987.
The quarantine is designed to limit the movement of high-risk materials but, at the same time, provide options for moving regulated articles pest-free and so as not to hinder commerce. Compliance Agreements A compliance agreement (CA) allows regulated articles to move out of a quarantine area by defining how they will be handled to mitigate the spread of gypsy moth. CAs are documents prepared and agreed to by the company and the MDA. A CA or other certification must be finalized before any regulated items are transported to or through a non-quarantined area. An MDA official will be available to determine if a CA is needed and to answer questions about the requirements or business practices. Training opportunities will be offered before and after quarantine implementation for a seamless transition. Out-of-state movement of regulated articles requires additional federal certification. More Information Your comments on this proposal are very important. Please take time to complete our survey at: www.mda. state.mn.us/gypsymoth. Details about compliance agreements, inspection requirements, and more will be made public well before the Spring 2014 implementation. Stay apprised of new information through your forest resources professional organization. For further questions about gypsy moth or this proposal, contact the MDA at 888-545-6684 (voicemail) or gypsy.moth@mda.state.mn.us.
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➾ NE T W ORKIN G GROU PS
networking news Professional Gardening Services Leader:
Julie King, Sage Landscape
Meeting Date:
4/3/2013 – 4pm at Sam’s Grill in Bloomington.
Top Takeaways: We had 10 people attending, including 3 who had not attended before. 1. Many topics were covered, including: • Employee orientations • The complicated rules for taxing various services and the need to keep track of use tax • Various ways to stay connected • Sending handwritten notes to show appreciation • Sending picture CD’s of the client’s garden from the previous year along with the retainerrequest for this year’s annuals • Scheduling a pre-spring meeting with clients • Doing a walk-through of the garden in September to decide what do next year with clients • Names of bankers, lawyers and insurance people we would recommend 2. Dynascape webinar on dealing with clients was recommended. 3. Simplifying the tax rules would probably be the one item that we would like to see MNLA work on.
Sustainable Environment Leader:
John Moe, Earth Wizards
Meeting Date:
4/17/2013 – 1pm at MNLA Office
Top Takeaways: 1. Our industry segments should collaborate more. Have a consistent message for the client. 2. Our current infrastructure (compacted soil, etc.) is a tough place to grow things. 3. Good Resources: Holzer Agro Ecology (and the work of Sepp Holzer, in general) and The Water Cycle video (youtube). 4. Would like MNLA to survey members regarding sustainable practices — define what sustainability means to different segments of our industry. Can we work toward an agreed upon definition and promote companies that reach that level? 5. Would like a sustainability info booth at the Fair.
Tuesday, June 11 time and location TBD.
Garden Center: Wednesday, June 19th; 9am Purple Onion Café in Minneapolis. Topic: Success and challenges from Spring 2013
Professional Gardeners: Monday, June 17th; 4pm 685 Sue Place, St. Paul 55116. Guest Speaker: Patrick McGuiness
CEO: Wednesday, July 17th, 11:30 am Park Tavern, St. Louis Park. Topic: Generational Differences/Roundtable
Sustainable Environment:
Upcoming Meetings:
> > Time to renew your mnla membership! SEE page 56. 52
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............
............
Tessman Company ............ Greenhouse Buying Expo August 14, 2013 Please RSVP by Friday, August 9th T 651-487-3850 • F 651-487-3115
& Specials Dating!
Darren Kellar
Greg Stone
Dan Faust
dkellar@tessmanse e d.com
gstone@tessmanse e d.com
dfaust@tessmanse e d.com
• New Product Lines
C ome visit us at our G re enhouse Buying Show. Take advantage of our Show Specials & D ating. Your H ome town Team is ready to help with all your G re enhouse, N ursery, G ard en C ent er and Landscaping ne e ds!
• Detailed Product Information • Show Buying Specials & Dating • Breakfast and Lunch Provided • Multiple Vendors Attending • Informational Speakers
Date:
We dnesday, A ugust 14, 2013
• Dosmatic repairs available at a Show discount!
Where:
The Prom Center 484 Inwoo d Avenue N orth O akdale, M N 55128
Time:
9am - 4pm
Bring your injector to the show or ship it to us prior to the Buying Expo Show.
Greenhouse
Garden Center
Tessman • St. Paul, MN 1300 Sylvan Street St. Paul, MN 55117 Tel: 651-487-3850 Toll Free: 800-882-5704 Fax: 651-487-3115
Tessman • Fargo, ND 610 - 39th Street North Fargo, ND 58102 Tel: 701-232-7738 Toll Free: 800-474-7238 Fax: 701-232-7278
Landscape Tessman • Tea, SD 46958 Mindy Street Tea, SD 57064 Tel: 605-368-2586 Toll Free: 800-234-1965 Fax: 605-368-2809
The Tessman C ompany is Locally O wne d and O p erate d
➾ v olunteer
mnla
member
volunteers needed f o r netw o r king gr o ups
The best part about belonging to MNLA is the opportunity to participate. When you give your time to make MNLA and the green industry better, you’ll find personal connections, knowledge, and wisdom you won’t gain anywhere else. Personally and professionally, you will grow with MNLA.
Looking for a fun, informal way to connect with industry professionals and get “just-in-time” answers to nagging questions? Get involved in MNLA’s networking groups. There are a variety of groups to choose from!
Get involved! We know you’ll take away more than you were expecting.
What is a networking group? It is an informal, volunteer, special interest group made up of MNLA members. Networking groups were created at the request of members and serve several purposes including: Creating more ways for members to connect with each other…peer-to-peer interaction. Providing opportunities for enhancing organizational and personal success. Producing a vehicle for special interest group input to MNLA on educational, government affairs, and professional development programs. Being a platform for future leader development within the organization. The following networking groups are currently recruiting new members! Garden Centers
Landscape Designers
Landscape/Hardscape Contractors
Professional Gardeners Landscape Management
Commercial Arborists Sustainable Environment Nursery Growers CEO Commercial Flower Growers Irrigation
You will walk away with ideas you can implement and life-long industry contacts. 54
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LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS | The Scoop
Your Business Partnerships – Are They a Happy Marriage or Near Divorce? By JohnTurrittin
business relationship training.
W
In every aspect of our lives, those that are most successful have developed a unique talent and perceptive understanding of the value of strong relationships. Think about relationships based on friends, family, spouses, and social activities such as bowling buddies, hunting pals, the card group, and your church groups. All close relationships that you value highly, you nurture and you work hard to preserve them when conflict enters that relationship.
hat are those essential building blocks of a highly successful business? Generally, you do not spend time thinking about them because John Turrittin you established your business years ago and the business is doing well enough. If you were to list those building blocks, I am sure the list would include a good business plan, adequate capital, good credit lines, quality personnel, good marketing plan, defined business base, etc. Something probably not on that list because it is often taken for granted would be
Do you consider those people and businesses that you work with as relationship partners? Or just another person/business doing only what you would expect them do. And if they fail once or their price is slightly higher than
someone else, you change allegiance without a second thought. Or, maybe the scenario is reversed. You take your partners for granted and they may leave you at the drop of a hat. The point is simple and not rocket science, business to business relationships are vital for the success of any business. These relationships must be consciously nurtured, not taken for granted. Establishing, nurturing, preserving partnerships is a learned talent. Relationship building is not the box of candy or bottle of wine at the end of the season. It is doing what is right, it is making time for others, it is dedicating your efforts to make sure you have done Continued on page 42
11151 Chaparrel Ave. 4105 85th Ave. North Shakopee, MN 55379 Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 (800) 831-4891 (763) 493-5150 (952) 496-1043 ext. 214 ocTober 2012 | www.MNLA.biz
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➾ mnla news
business briefs J UN E 2 0 1 3
bailey nurseries announces new marketing team Natalia Hamill becomes Brand and Business Development Manager; Alec Charais takes over as Marketing and Communications Manager. ornamentals marketing and brand management and will focus on developing strategic marketing plans for the company’s key brands. She’ll also manage grower networks and work closely with the new varieties team. Hamill was previously the Senior Marketing Manager with Sakata Ornamentals. Alec Charais was promoted to Marketing and Communications Manager. For more than 12 years Alec has been a key sales team member at Bailey Nurseries. In his most recent role as retail specialist, Charais helped create and execute strategic sales plans for Bailey’s large retail accounts.
In April, Bailey Nurseries introduced two new leaders in the company’s marketing team. Natalia Hamill joined the company as the new Brand and Business Development Manager. Natalia brings more than 20 years of horticultural marketing experience to the Endless Summer®, First Editions® and Easy Elegance® brands. Hamill has a background in
time to renew on mnla.biz! Summer is the time for renewing your membership in the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association. To continue your membership without interruption, please take a moment to renew by logging on at MNLA.biz. While you are logged in to your account, please review and update your company’s listing which will be published in the 2014 MNLA Membership Directory and in the online directory. On-line renewal is the most accurate and least expensive option! Your continued support and involvement as a member of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is greatly appreciated. Providing you with education, legislative representation, networking, and other member services is why MNLA exists.
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“We are excited for Alec to start his new role with the company,” says Marc McCormack, director of sales and marketing at Bailey Nurseries. “His enthusiasm for the garden center industry, strong customer relationship skills and innovative ideas made him a natural choice.” As the new marketing manager, Charais will oversee Bailey marketing and communications programs and continue to build a strong presence for the Bailey brand. Charais has worked in the industry for more than twenty years. He currently serves on the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) communications committee as well as on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS).
mnla welcomes members new
Astleford International Trucks, Minneapolis, MN BC Lawn Services LLC, Spring Lake Park, MN Countryside Lawn & Landscape, Inc., Zumbrota, MN Element Landscaping, LLC, Nowthen, MN Fabcon Precast, LLC, Savage, MN Kahnke Brothers Tree Farm, Plato, MN Leaf to Root Consulting, Minneapolis, MN Peterson Lawn Services, Hopkins, MN Untiedts Garden Market, Waverly, MN WINFIELD, Eden Prairie, MN
➾ the last word
word on street the
question: which industry or business leader do you strive to emulate and why ? seth midura, natural creations, inc.
I’ve relied on several business owners and industry leaders for advice and mentoring since starting Natural Creations, Inc. I’ve truly enjoyed listening to these seasoned veterans and professionals describe their challenges and ways the industry has changed over the years. Ron Bowen of Prairie Restoration has set the bar extremely high for young business owners and industry leaders. His passion of combining thoughtful planning with installation of environmentally beneficial landscapes, along with a vision towards long-term maintenance and sustainability can be emulated in most landscape projects and Minnesota properties.
nick tamble, lawn
& landscape gardens
The businessman I read about and do my best to emulate is Henry Flagler. This man is a pinnacle of perseverance and white-heat passion, for at the age of 74 he decided to begin the Key West Extension from Miami to Key West. Flagler was masterful at surrounding himself with smart decision makers who orchestrated a 6 year build over 129 miles of open water and land patches...and what›s more unbelievable: This 8th Wonder of the World was self-funded.
heidi heiland, heidi’s lifestyle gardens
I admire Dale Bachman immensely, not only for of his business acumen but because of his huge heart. Dale always has a smile and extends a hand to encourage associates in our industry. Dale is full of integrity and has many philanthropic interests. Thanks for being a great leader, Dale!
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june 13
jennifer wilson, wilson’s nursery, inc.
For years I’ve watched with some awe and much admiration, Heidi Hensel Heiland, of Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens. She seems to be everywhere! And everywhere she is, she is energetic, engaged and enthusiastic. There is no “same old, same old” with her. She is curious and warm, innovative and intelligent. She not only sees opportunities, she makes them. I would like to have her holistic, down-to-earth approach. It’s one that has brought her success and fulfillment. It must be so wonderful and grounding to base your life and career on something you love so much, and not only that, but encourage and mentor others as well.
Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association 1813 Lexington Avenue North Roseville, MN 55113