A Worthwhile Partnership
Also Inside
How to Sell with Social Media
Crevice Gardens Learning to Lead Summer Tours
TOP PERFORMING ANNUALS Tested and proven in Morris, Minnesota
Vol: 38 No: 10 Oct 2015 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 38 No. 10 Oct 2015
CONTENTS AL
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IN THIS ISSUE 8
Events
10 From the President The Art and Science of Evolving Our Roots 14 Member Appreciation Month Photos from MNLA’s “Thank You” Socials held in August.
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17 How to Sell with Social Media Expo 2016 speaker Jeff Korhan wants you to get buyers to know, like, and trust your business.
22 Thriving Between the Cracks Crevice gardens are a specialized type of rock garden, and an eye-catching landscape feature.
28 Learning to Lead How will you develop the next leaders in your green industry company?
35 2015 Top Ten Performing Annual Flowers The University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center’s annual list of their best performers.
48 Pathogen Immunity & Other Bee Research Research focused on bees and other pollinators continues to search for answers regarding their health and survival.
57 A Worthwhile Partnership In this issue’s Foundation Corner, Jay Siedschlaw talks about the mutual benefits from connecting with schools. Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design Garden Services & Landscape Management Garden Centers Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse Irrigation & Water Management Arborists & Tree Services All
16 Landscape Awards Enter your projects now at www.MNLA.biz. 20 Are You Certified? The MNLA Certification program proves commitment and professionalism in the green industry. 40 MDA Nursery Certification A multi-state group inspection and systems approach. 43 Salt Tolerance in Roses In his Research for the Real World report, Dr. James Calkins presents another factor to consider when selecting roses. 46 A Review of MNLA Summer Tours There’s so much to see and learn each year as your peers guide you through their stores and sites. 62 Northern Green Expo Speakers A preview of the amazing value of education found at the Northern Green Expo. The Scoop, October 2015, Issue 10, is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2015, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. MNLA reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.
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MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!
AD LIST
Volume 38 No. 10 Oct 2015
➾ S E CT I O N TITLE
A Top Notch Equipment ................................................................................... 34
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.NorthernGreenExpo.org
Aspen Equipment ............................................................................................. 11
MNLA MISSION: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery &
Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 45
Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate............................................................... 12 Carlin Horticultural Supplies/ProGreen Plus ..................................................... 45
Cushman Motor Co. Inc .................................................................................. 20
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
heidi heiland, mnla-cp, president Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens 612-366-7766 • heidi@BloomOnMN.com
herman roerick, vice-president
Central Landscape Supply 320-252-1601 • hermanr@centrallandscape.com
scott frampton, secretary-treasurer
Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com
debbie lonnee, mnla-cp, past president
Bailey Nurseries, Inc. 651-768-3375 • debbie.lonnee@baileynursery.com
randy berg, mnla-cp
Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.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
jeff pilla, mnla-cp
Bachman’s Inc. 612-861-7600 • jpilla@bachmans.com
nick sargent
Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com
cassie larson, cae
Everris ............................................................................................................... 18 Frost Inc. ........................................................................................................... 54 Fury Motors ...................................................................................................... 61 Gardenworld Inc. .............................................................................................. 18 Gertens Wholesale / JRK Seed & Supply ........................................................... 2 GM Fleet and Commercial ................................................................................. 3 Haag Companies, Inc. ...................................................................................... 13 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 32–33 Klaus Nurseries ................................................................................................. 54 Landscape Alternatives Inc. .............................................................................. 45 Minnesota Propane Association ....................................................................... 42 MTI Distributing, Inc. ........................................................................................ 54
MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz
Northern Salt Inc .............................................................................................. 21
STAFF DIRECTORY
Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 54
Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz
Plaisted Companies ............................................................................................ 7
executive director:
membership director & trade show manager:
Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz education/cert manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz legislative affairs manager: Tim Power • tim@mnla.biz regulatory affairs manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz administrative asst: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz accountant: Norman Liston • norman@mnla.biz
RDO Equipment Co. ........................................................................................ 51
Megan Buchanan • megan@mnla.biz
Truck Utilities & Mfg. Co. .................................................................................. 45
Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com legislative affairs consultant: Doug Carnival
Versa-Lok Midwest ............................................................................................. 4
foundation program coordinator:
advertising sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420
6
Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 12
MNLA .biz
october 15
Rock Hard Landscape Supply division of Brian’s Lawn & Landscaping, Inc. .... 18 The Builders Group .......................................................................................... 11 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ............................................................................ 16, 42, 56
Ziegler CAT ..........................................................................................Back Cover
➾ C ALE N DAR
MNLA Event
MNLA Event
OCT21
OCT 17–19 UPPER MIDWEST INVASIVE SPECIES CONFERENCE
➾
LaCrosse Center, LaCrosse, WI umisc.net The goal of UMISC is to strengthen management of invasive species, especially prevention, control, and containment.
OCT27
PARKING LOT & SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE with Reduced Environmental Impacts
➾
Workshop & Certification
Midland Hills Country Club, Roseville
MNLA Classroom, Roseville
erwin001@umn.edu; 612-385-6863
MNLA.biz 651-633-4987
This is a joint effort between the University of Minnesota and MNLA, and is tailored to the needs of the greenhouse and nursery industries. Topics relevant to both flower and nursery producers will be presented.
Learn about the impacts winter maintenance has on stormwater, lakes and streams, and how to reduce these impacts through adoption of more efficient practices.
MNLA Event
MNLA Event
JAN12
JAN12
SUPER TUESDAY Design Track: Niche Landscape Design
SUPER TUESDAY Landscape Lighting Design and Advanced Control Applications
➾
(PLT Relicensure) (pending DOLI approval)
Minneapolis Conv Center MNLA.biz This class provides a total of eight hours of continuing education credits for the Power Limited Technician License, with material orientated specifically towards the landscape lighting specialist.
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GREENHOUSE/ NURSERY GROWER PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION
➾
Minneapolis Conv Center MNLA.biz Expand your knowledge, and grow and sustain your design business. This class will provide information on a variety of niche landscape design ideas, including sessions on: therapeutic gardens, hell strip gardening, no-mow lawns, small space urban design, meadow gardens, and rain gardens.
2015 MNLA seminars generously supported by John Deere Landscapes
MNLA Event
NOV 9–13 ➾
NOV18 5:00 p.m.
Long Beach, CA
Entries in the 2016 MNLA Landscape Awards program will be accepted up until 5:00 p.m. on this day.
Keep up with the wave of new technologies, best practices and innovative ideas in irrigation.
651-633-4987 MNLA.biz
MNLA Event MNLA Event
JAN12 CEO SYMPOSIUM: The Transformative CEO
JAN 13–15
MNLA.biz
➾
Event Education ➾
➾
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION WORKSHOP TIES Conference Center, St. Paul MNLA.biz 651-633-4987 This workshop meets MDA Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Requirements. This workshop offers two options for recertification: 1) Categories A (Core) and E (Turf and Ornamentals); OR 2) Categories A (Core), E (Turf and Ornamentals) and P (Vertebrate Pest). This is the last opportunity to recertify in 2015.
Networking reception, dinner, and presentation by Jeffrey Scott, Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc. This is an opportunity for CEO-level members to connect before Expo. This year’s presenter, Jeffrey Scott, will discuss behaviors that CEO’s and managers need to power their companies to greatness. Discover the common traps you need to avoid, and how to create consistent success by adopting these transformative behaviors.
➾
KEY:
NOV20
LANDSCAPE AWARDS DEADLINE
2015 IRRIGATION SHOW & EDUCATION CONFERENCE Irrigation.org
MNLA Event
NORTHERN GREEN EXPO Minneapolis Convention Center Northerngreenexpo.org Attend the premier event for green industry professionals in the northern region. Exhibit contracts are available.
All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz. october 15
MNLA .biz
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➾ F R OM THE PRESIDEN T
The Art and Science of Evolving our Roots A few months ago, in our home garden, we were fortunate enough to host a handful of plein air artists practicing their craft. “En plein air” is a French expression which means “in the open air” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
Heidi Heiland
Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens
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i immediately related to these artists as I also prefer to practice my craft outside, versus at my computer or drawing board. However, my palette of colors is the wide array of plant materials with which we make brush strokes on the earth. These plein air artisans and I shared our experiences of the occasions when we felt “in flow” and our talents seemed to percolate from us as if we were simply the conduit of some superior design mastery. Truly a gift from above! While the desire to be “in flow” or to bring our best efforts consistently to our clients is most certainly a goal, the reality of life is that many times we are forced to perform our art in less than ideal situations. Too many times the external pressures of deadlines, weather, product availability and client expectations loom in our creative spaces. I challenge myself to find my flow state, but am not always successful. However, when pushed to the limit, when I seem to be struggling or hitting a wall, I hone my craft even further. I believe without reaching, stretching, or exploring we may not gain new insight. I believe landscape designers may be tested more than other artists since typically other canvases are static, but our piece is an ever-evolving landscape of living art. A well-placed accent in our landscapes can embellish any presentation and evoke a thoughtful response. Whether we are trying to illicit calm, curiosity or mere enjoyment, our creative skill is necessary to connect our clients to their land. Even more important than the visual appeal of our outdoor environments is the functional system of our designs. Regenerative landscapes with whole-system strategies that consider soil fertility, water management, biomass inputs, pollinator habitat, educational opportunities, and available
october 15
A painter works en plein air in Heidi's back yard.
resources can be achieved along with the aesthetics. The art and science of growing plants do not have to be mutually exclusive. This year my son and I explored how we could best achieve a permaculture design in our own yard that is also sale-able to our high-end clients. We are thrilled with the results of harvesting a diverse crop of annual and perennial edibles while managing the site with a closed loop intention. Additionally the beauty has piqued interest and is educating our neighborhood, community and tour groups that come
➾ F RO M T H E P RE S I D E N T
Heidi’s front yard food forest.
C O M M E R C I A L - G R A D E AT TA C H M E N T S AERA-vator Capturing the landscape of living art.
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through. Sharing information over the garden fence is how our industry began! I am extremely grateful that I am paid for my art and have this unique platform to assist in shifting our natural world back into indigenous wisdom. I am also thankful that my mom acquired one of the plein air paintings for my birthday so that I can stay connected to my gardens with this artistic reminder. This piece cues my memory of flow state, of sharing with others outside, of favorite foliage and blooms. The people– plant connection is an important priority that I am not sure we focus on enough as a culture. Our art is truly a gift from above! MNLA PRESIDENT HEIDI HEILAND welcomes your feedback at 612.366.7766 or Heidi@ bloomonmn.com
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âžž ME MBER APPRECIAT I O N SO C I AL S 2 0 1 5
THERE WAS A GREAT TURNOUT OF MEMBERS for the 1st annual Member Appreciation Socials in the month of August! There were two events, one at Waconia Tree Farm and one at the MNLA office in Roseville. Both were to thank MNLA members for all they do to make this the best association in the region.
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STAY TUNED FOR the 2nd annual Member Appreciation events in August 2016.
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2016
It’s time to enter your project.
DEADLINE:
NOV. 18
You will find the link to the entry form on the home page of www.MNLA.biz. The process will be completely online; full entry rules will be posted on the entry form. Each winner receives a plaque, a ticket to the MNLA Awards Gala, a crest to display in print and for posting on their website, a link to a video of their project, and other marketing materials. MNLA Landscape Awards is a program of recognition for installed landscapes. Submitting companies must be MNLA members who offer design, installation, bid/build, design/build, or other landscape specialty to their clients.
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Notable Dates Oct. 1, 2015: Entry Portal Opens Nov. 18, 2015: Submission Deadline Dec. 7-11, 2015: Status Notifications Jan. 13, 2016: MNLA Awards Gala
Judging Reminders
Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
LandscapeAwards16-HalfPageOctScoop.indd 1
• There are no categories. • Entries are judged anonymously. • The size and cost of a project are not part of the judging criteria. • Entries are not judged against each other; rather each entry is judged against the standards of excellence.
9/4/2015 4:15:37 PM
HOW TO SELL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA: GETTING BUYERS TO KNOW, LIKE, AND TRUST YOUR BUSINESS Jeff Korhan | New Media and Small Business Marketing
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➾ S OCIAL MEDIA
The Social Marketing Process ©Jeff Korhan
A
dvertising was synonymous with marketing during the early days of television, a medium that was perfect for promoting products to the masses. Those were the glory days of Madison Avenue, when perception was everything. “Sell the sizzle, not the steak” was one popular catchphrase from this era that marketed excitement, glamour and intrigue. It turned out that more than a few expectations were unfulfilled because the products or services did not meet marketing’s promise. As a result, even though product and service excellence was once the most reliable method for achieving and sustaining business success, it’s now expected. This creates new marketing challenges and opportunities, but fortunately we now have flexible media channels for capably responding to both. #1 — Marketing Today Starts with Attractive Content
Buyers today have access to abundant information for quickly and easily eliminating businesses that do not meet expected standards of excellence. As a result, any use of marketing to address quality is usually a distraction at best. To make your business attractive today you have to create helpful media content that answers questions and solves relevant problems. This is generally known as content marketing, and it is so integral to social media marketing success that many consider them to be one and the same. Content that educates, informs or entertains makes a business attractive. It helps buyers to better know and relate to the people within the business, thereby giving them reasons for developing a relationship with it. However you position it, your content marketing should be designed to create value. Viewed another way, it actually adds value to the product and service, and that makes it a differentiator. #2 — Social Media Engages Interested Buyers
If the goal of content marketing is attraction, then the next logical step is engagement with interested buyers. Apparently, this is something that many marketers do not understand. They imagine their social media channels will somehow magically generate new business, going straight from attraction to a sale. While that may occasionally be possible, it is unlikely — much like progressing directly to marriage after a first date. People need time to get to know, like and ultimately trust your business, and that is only going to happen if you are having conversations with them. You have to monitor your social media and respond to inquiries as you would with any other communication channels.
The reality is social media marketing works on its own time, with some buyers requiring more information and attention before they learn to trust your business. Just know those that engage on social media are very likely in a greater state of readiness, which is all the more reason for giving them your full attention. For the remaining silent majority, keep sharing great content that helps them do more of what they want to do, which is presumably getting more enjoyment out of their outdoor environment.
To make your business attractive today you have to create helpful media content that answers questions and solves relevant problems. This is generally known as content marketing, and it is so integral to social media marketing success that many consider them to be one and the same. #3 — Sales Converts Trust into Profitable Outcomes
The truth is that social media rarely sells, but instead prepares buyers for the sales process that ideally is designed to seamlessly integrate with it. This is often a method the business founders intuitively developed to successfully get and keep those earliest customers. That process has to be refined to make it as efficient as possible, so it can adapt to market changes, such as the influences of social media. For example, when I started my landscape business in the late 1980’s, most leads were either personal referrals or telephone inquiries directly to the office. It was easy to manage. Today, every business with a website or social media presence is developing relationships with people across multiple channels, and this is happening before it is even aware of their existence. This is why everyone on your team should thoroughly understand the next steps for engaging with those educated buyers when the time comes. That first response today is so important, because unlike the days before the Internet, more than 50% of the decision-making process is complete before your business has the opportunity to personally engage. What follows next should be a high value response that gives the buyer confidence for proceeding further. That could be some form of personal, authentic communication, such as sharing a relevant story. The point is that in a world where buyers are better educated and informed, every team member that has any contact october 15
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➾ S O CI A L M E D I A
What will reliably handle most inquiries is having the entire sales and marketing process organized, with the key steps named and described so that everyone can explain how it works using essentially the same language.
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MNLA CERTIFICATION SSIO
MNLA CERTIFICATION PROVES COMMITMENT AND PROFESSIONALISM. The MNLA Certified Professional status benefits individuals by instilling pride and confidence, bringing greater value to the nursery and landscape industry, demonstrating commitment to the nursery and landscape industry, and enhancing employability within the industry. MNLA member businesses that employ certified professionals enhance their own professional image, increase customer recognition and respect, provide a consumer marketing tool, and offer an additional tool for employee motivation, evaluation, and advancement.
In order to become certified, one must pass a general horticulture exam and then one of the specialization exams: Garden Center, Grower, or Landscape. The exam is given in an electronic format with integrated photos and videos. Applicants take the exam at a computer station and receive the results immediately after completing the exam. October is an excellent time to begin reviewing the study materials to prepare yourself to take the exam in 2016. Visit www.mnla.biz for certification information and to download chapters of the MNLA certification manual.
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with customers has to be too, regardless of whether they are in sales, marketing or production. Many buyers are already “sold” when they reach out to your business, they just need confirmation of their present understanding and answers to a few questions, such as what happens next, and what happens after that, and so on. This is the magic of a welldesigned sales process, and it can be a deal maker or breaker. What will reliably handle most inquiries is having the entire sales and marketing process organized, with the key steps named and described so that everyone can explain how it works using essentially the same language. This is vital for giving prospective customers the confidence for taking the leap to work with your business. While this takes time to initially develop, it is much easier once you learn why every business needs a visible, named and branded process, and a behind-the-scenes process that supports it every step of the way. If this sounds like work, it is. However, I promise you this will dramatically reduce your sales and marketing costs, while concurrently increasing the rate for closing new business, not to mention differentiating your business for social media savvy buyers. You’ll get it all at my two sessions at the Northern Green Expo in January. I’ll see you there.
is the author of Built-In Social and host of This Old New Business podcast, and will be speaking at the 2016 Northern Green Expo. He helps organizations adapt traditional business growth practices to a digital, social and global world. Connect with him on Twitter @jeffkorhan or speaker@jeffkorhan.com. JEFF KORHAN
➾ C RE V ICE GARDEN S
THRIVING BETWEEN
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Loree Bohl
EN THE CRACKS Crevice gardens, a specialized type of rock garden, are a great way to feature distinctive plants.
Note from editor: This article originally appeared in Digger magazine, which is published by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (www. DiggerMagazine.com). Written by Loree Bohl for Oregon gardeners, it contains Oregon-based plants, advice, and locations. However, it nevertheless covers important information for a Minnesota-based professional audience. The concept of crevice gardening will prove to be of interest to a wide array of MNLA members, with applications large and small for Minnesota plant and landscaping sales.
Crevice gardens can showcase a wide variety of plants in narrow spaces. (Photo by Kenton J. Seth.)
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➾ C RE V ICE GARDEN S
Native to Colorado, Physaria bellii blooms at the Endangered Plant Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens. (Photo courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens.)
T
wo simple questions asked by Kenton J. Seth illustrate the idea behind the crevice garden: “Do you have weeds in the cracks of your sidewalk?” and “Do those plants grow better than some plants in the garden?” Seth, owner of Paintbrush Gardens in Grand Junction, Colorado, further explained crevice gardening as “a style of rock gardening which is essentially paving your raised bed with rocks, and then planting plants in those tiny little spaces.” Crevice gardening formally began in the Czech Republic before the fall of the Iron Curtain, according to Mike Kintgen, curator of the Alpine Collection at the Denver Botanic Gardens. “Czech gardeners have some of the most amazing and beautiful crevice gardens filled with very choice alpine plant material,” Kintgen said. “They are some of the most devoted and esteemed rock gardeners in the world.” Zdenĕk Zvolánek, self-described “missionary for crevice rock gardening” and internationally recognized expert in the field, traces the genesis of the crevice garden back even farther. “There was a construction with ‘vertical stratification’ in England made for the Chelsea [Flower] Show in 1923 by Symons-Jeune. It was very nice, brave, but crevices there were not planted, so it was only [a] romantic and decorative effect.” 24
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Sedum acre, Sempervivum and Limonium binervosum (also known as rock sea-lavender) thrive in rock crevices. (Photo by Kenton J. Seth.)
Zvolánek and another Czech, botanist Josef Halda, are credited with perfecting this style of gardening and bringing it to North America. Zvolánek, however, also credits American plantsman and author H. Lincoln Foster; his writings inspired the Czechs, who “discovered quickly all the advantages of this modern kind of construction.” In the United States, the current epicenter of crevice gardening is Colorado. The Denver Botanic Gardens features several crevice gardens. Kintgen, who has been involved with the garden since the age of 11 when he began volunteering there, explained that three crevice gardens are nestled within the Rock Alpine Garden. “One large, south-facing xeric for steppe flora, one east and north-facing for alpines, and one partially shady, north-facing for Primula, Saxifraga and other cool-loving, shade-needing (in Colorado) species.” The crevice advantage
Home gardeners in Denver and beyond are discovering this style of planting. It allows them to successfully grow plants they had previously failed at. Another benefit, as Seth pointed out, is one sure to please gardeners frustrated with shrinking space: the peaks and valleys of a crevice
Self-described “missionary for crevice rock gardening,” Zdenĕk Zvolánek constructs a large installation. (Photo courtesy of Zdenĕk Zvolánek.)
garden actually increase the surface area of the garden. There’s more room available for plants, and the topography creates distinct microclimates, such as shady spots, where none previously existed. Additionally, the plants are smaller in size. In the space where only two or three shrubs might grow, 20 or 30 of these pocket-sized gems can flourish. Like those cracks in the sidewalk, the crevice provides an ideal microclimate — a cool, yet moist place for the plant’s roots to grow. Available water is quickly funneled down along the rocks, which encourages deeper root growth, while the top of the plant stays dry. Rock gardening has a reputation for demanding excessive amounts of attention and care, but crevice gardening is often referred to as “the lazy man’s rock garden.” Once the crevice garden is built, little in the way of maintenance is required. Building a crevice garden requires strength and patience, and there’s no rushing that which must be done right. “Take time to do the stone work correctly,” Kintgen advised. “A well-made crevice garden is an investment in time; however, it will last for decades and is capable of growing plants that will not grow anywhere else in
the garden. A well-made crevice garden is a work of art, beautiful throughout the seasons.” Creating the crevices
Seth estimated that 50–75 percent of his time is spent building crevice gardens, but it’s an investment well spent. He credited these gardens for making xeriscaping much more interesting. When choosing the location for a new crevice garden, a site with little competition from nearby trees is best. Tree roots may grow into the garden and compete with the plants for available moisture, and falling leaves can create a maintenance nightmare. The crevice garden style is one that works on any scale, from an entire garden to a small trough. “Don’t skimp on rock! It takes way more rock to build a crevice garden than a regular rock garden.” Kintgen said. “If you find yourself on a budget, build a small crevice garden that can be added onto in time.” Seth starts work with the outside edge — the foundation stones — for support and boundary development. He places big stones along the ends, then smaller stones in the middle on a mound of material, october 15
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➾ C RE V ICE GARDEN S
Primula and Saxifraga tucked neatly into crevices. (Photo by Kenton J. Seth.)
typically sand. This big-to-small arrangement is the opposite of how the finished garden looks, where the middle rocks appear to be taller. As he builds the garden, he keeps the rock strata aligned, so the look stays organized and natural: he described the visual effect as “one stone broken into pieces.” For inspiration, he looks to natural rock formations. The typical foundation on which the rocks are placed is builder’s sand or concrete sand — not sand meant for a kid’s sandbox. A 50/50 mix of sand and gravel with no organic material can also be used. “Sand has texture, lots of oxygen and humidity in the air spaces. Humidity in soil is good for the roots,” Seth explained. This mix provides excellent drainage and also protects the rocks from frost heave in the winter. A top dressing of gravel keeps the sand from washing away. The rocks must be buried deep enough that they won’t tip over. “You’re burying 90 percent of the rock cash you spend,” Seth lamented. While round stones aren’t traditional, they can be used. Recycled concrete (aka urbanite) is another option. “Make sure the rocks touch one another and actually lock one another into place,” Kintgen said. “Planting pockets are created between the stones by leaving small spaces between layers of stone.” The width of the space between rock layers is key in creating a true crevice garden: one inch is the target normally mentioned, although larger plants may require wider spacing. Broad crevices risk not creating that ideal microclimate, and drainage will also suffer. 26
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When asked about the aesthetic of a successful crevice garden, Zvolánek said some constructions fail because they are too flat and uniform, while others have “crevices imitating canyons, where the surface of substrates is not level with the tops of the stones.” Future maintenance is also a consideration during the building phase. “Make sure to leave access points and places to step in the garden if it is large. One needs to be able to reach every nook and cranny in the garden to weed and plant,” Kintgen cautioned. When it’s finally time to plant, Seth shocks many by bare-rooting the plants before packing them into small planting pockets. He goes so far as to wash the roots free of soil and then uses a Hori-Hori, butter knife or even chopsticks to carefully work the delicate roots down into the sand. By removing the existing soil, he’s forcing the roots to grow down into the layers, along and beneath the rocks. Plants for crevices
“Crevice gardens were originally created to grow alpines in an environment that resembles, both to the eye and functionally, their native habitats,” Kintgen said. “One could grow whatever they please in a crevice garden. Larger plants will cover much of the stonework. Smaller plants such as choice cacti, dwarf shrubby plants, and alpines are the best options.” Truls Jensen is co-owner of Wild Ginger Farm in Beavercreek, Oregon, a retail nursery specializing in rock garden, alpine and
Designed by curator Mike Kintgen, “Roots ‘n Rocks” is the featured crevice garden in the Mordecai Children’s Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens. (Photo by Kenton J. Seth.)
woodland plants from around the world. Jensen has built several crevice gardens over the years, including a few smaller, trough versions. He reported our native Penstemon are particularly well adapted to life in a crevice garden, as are Lewisia, Primula and Campanula. Jensen has been known to anchor smaller, more delicate plants in place with groupings of Jovibarba. These tiny succulents look like Sempervivum but instead of expanding via offsets on stollons, they produce new plants attached directly to the mother plant, staying in tight clumps that fit within the crevice. J. heuffelii is a particularly attractive choice, with shades of red and green. J. hirta and J. sobolifera both produce off-sets that roll off the mother plant to form new plants, a habit which has earned them the common name “rollers.” Jensen grows several Saxifraga, including S. x anglica ‘Cranbourne’ — “an early flowering cushion saxifrage with small, bright green foliage and large pink flowers held just above the cushion.” S. x boydii ‘Cherrytrees’ is a dwarf plant with clear yellow flowers. Saxifraga means “rock breaker” in Latin, and these diminutive plants often grow in rock crevices in their native alpine habitats. Scleranthus uniflorus, a New Zealand native, and Azorella trifurcata ‘Nana’ from Chile form dense mounding cushions that fill empty crevices with a soil-stabilizing green carpet. With their compact rosettes and bright flowers, Lewisia is a musthave plant for many crevice gardeners. Most Lewisia do exceedingly
well in a crevice garden, particularly L. longipetala ‘Little Mango’, ‘Little Peach’ and ‘Little Plum’ — all offered by Little Prince of Oregon Nursery, a wholesale nursery in Aurora, Oregon, specializing in ground covers, ornamental grasses, ferns, native plants and succulents. Mark Leichty, director of business development at Little Prince, also suggested Armeria maritima, a compact, low-growing plant with grass-like foliage and small magenta flowers. He also recommended A. maritima ‘Alba’ for white blooms and ‘Nifty Thrifty’ for bright pink blooms. Finally, the challenging Castilleja miniata, or Indian paintbrush, just might be the crevice garden plant mentioned with the greatest reverence. As difficult to find as it is to grow successfully, both Champoeg Nursery in Aurora, Oregon, and Sevenoaks Native Nursery in Albany, Oregon, grow limited quantities.
is a plant lover who writes about her garden and plant-related adventures on her blog, thedangergarden.com. She is also a partner at plantlust.com. She can be reached at spikyplants@gmail.com.
LOREE BOHL
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➾ G I LI
LEARNING TO LEAD
How do you develop the next leader in your green industry company? Where can that person fast-track their growth and learn how to take your business to the next level? The Green Industry Leadership Institute is a program developed BY the green industry, FOR the green industry to be the answer to those questions. The program is designed to take into account the seasonality and special conditions that exist for operating within the green industry, and draws on the expertise within successful MNLA businesses. Building from the work done by the Networking Committee and its Task Team, facilitators and core instructors, Steve and Terri Wilcox (who previously built and sold three green industry businesses) of Resultants for Business designed the course with the content and configuration that will truly impact the participants and the companies behind them. The class of the 2015 Green Industry Leadership Institute has been set on a path of developing skills and acquiring the tools needed to accelerate business and personal growth. From the beginning, when each person received coaching on the results of a strengths assessment, every candidate has been challenged to incorporate the lessons from the class into their realworld assignments. Here’s an example of just that.
From a nursery company staff member:
Terri Wilcox of Resultants for Business takes the students through an exercise designed to help them think outside the box.
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MNLA.biz MNLA .bizoctober august january 141513
Over the years, I have developed close working relationships with many different departments and have good rapport with those higher up in the food chain as well as those farther down. All of the associations with the higher-ups began haltingly because I was a newcomer who asked a ton of questions. I was unrelenting (and probably a pest). As I learned who had the most patience, I would ask more and more questions of them. At our last GILI session I asked how being in production fit into customer service and the answer was, “You have customers — they are just within the company.” I decided I wanted to make it my goal to be that person with the most patience, so people could pick my brain for information and advice like those people I used to pester. I started making it my business to make sure they had everything they needed from me. I talk to shipping every morning to see how they need to be staffed for the
The class of the 2015 Green Industry Leadership Institute has been set on a path of developing skills and acquiring the tools needed to accelerate business and personal growth. day. I talk to inventory every morning to alert them to new planting or moves. I sincerely ask everyone “Is there anything I can do for you?” At first I got looks like they didn’t know if I was serious. After the second day, they would stop, think, and tell me “no” or “yes, there is this one thing…” I ask those with whom I work closely the same question several times every day. It helps me decipher who is doing well, who may need guidance, and who might need some hands-on help and elbow grease. Now, I get other people asking me the same question: “Is there anything I can do for you?” Holy Cow! Sometimes, that one question opens up Pandora’s Box; sometimes it closes the Box before it is barely open. I will be forever grateful to the people I used to pester. They are the ones who were living examples of leadership and great customer service.
The 2015 class of the Green Industry Leadership Institute: Shaina Berg, Bachman’s Inc. Chad Buran, Margolis Company Chad Harrer, Irrigation by Design Kim Knutson, Phillips Garden Brian Lachermeier Chris Laurie, Irrigation by Design Todd Lewis, Prescription Landscape Aaron Madson, Natural Creations, Inc. Lucas Martynec, Bailey Nurseries, Inc.
MNLA created the Green Industry Leadership Institute in partnership with Resultants For Business, Inc. The program is a year-long cohort-based learning experience where your company’s top prospects fast-track their leadership capacity, their confidence in decisionmaking, and their community of peeradvisors. Space is limited to 15, and applications are accepted from November 1, 2015 through January 22, 2016. If you would like to learn more or are interested in submitting an application for the 2016 class, please visit www.MNLA.biz or contact MNLA Communications Director Jon Horsman at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.
Cathy Maxson, Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. Sue Mayer, Bailey Nurseries, Inc. Aaron Smith, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscape Chris Wacker, Bailey Nurseries, Inc.
Discussions with peers are a core piece of the program, as the feedback and relationships gained during this time are invaluable.
Andy Wilson, Wilson’s Nursery, Inc. Rick Winter, Prescription Landscape
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Join us for a full day of education prior to the Northern Green Expo.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016 Minneapolis Convention Center
Landscape Lighting Design and Advanced Lighting Control Applications (PLT Relicensure)
More information and online registration is on www.MNLA.biz. There will be NO onsite registration. Please note that registration fees are separate from those for the Northern Green Expo. Early bird pricing available until Dec. 18!
(pending DOLI approval)
This class provides a total of eight hours of continuing education credits for the Power Limited Technician License, with material orientated specifically towards the landscape lighting specialist. Take away greater knowledge of landscape lighting design and control applications, get updated on NEC code, and receive continuing education credits for your PLT license.
Design Track: Niche Landscape Design
Early Bird Price: Member: $129 Non-member: $149 Regular Price: Member: $159; Nonmember: $179
Expand your knowledge, and grow and sustain your design business. This class will provide information on a variety of niche landscape design ideas you can add to your design repertoire. Topics such as: therapeutic gardens, hell strip gardening, nomow lawns, small space urban design, meadow gardens, and rain gardens. Presented by industry experts, including: Dr. Jeannie Larson, Arboretum/Center for Spirituality and Healing; Evelyn J. Hadden; Jason Rathe, Field Outdoor Spaces; Peter MacDonagh, Kestrel Design Group; and Roy Diblik, Northwind Perennial Farm.
CEO Symposium: The Transformative CEO
Early Bird Price: Member: $129 Non-member: $149 Regular Price: Member: $159; Nonmember: $179
Includes networking reception dinner and presentation by Jeffrey Scott, Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc.
The MNLA CEO Symposium has become the “place to be” on Tuesday night. This popular evening creates an opportunity for CEO-level members to connect. Jeffrey Scott will discuss behaviors that CEO’s and managers need to power their companies to greatness. Scott will touch on common traps that The need to be avoided, and how to create sustainable success by adopting Minnesota these transformative behaviors. Learn how to build and sustain Turf and Grounds the company of your dreams by fulfilling the leadership Foundation will also present a potential within you! full-day Super Tuesday education MNLA/MTGF Member-Only Event program on January 12, 2016. Early Bird Price: $129 Please watch for details to come Regular Price: $139 in your inbox, the Scoop, and on www.MTGF.org.
➾ JOB B OARDS
JOB BOARDS AT TH E 2 0 1 6 N O RTH ER N G RE E N E XP O
GUIDELINES FOR POSTING POSITIONS ON THE JOB BOARDS AT EXPO
There is no official form for job postings. Bring your own job posting (no larger than a 81⁄2 x 11 sheet of paper) to place on the boards any time after 7 am on Wednesday, January 13th. The Jobs Boards are located in the Hall D Lobby inside Career Central. Please list only one job description per posting to ensure that your posting can be put under the correct category heading. Expo staff will place empty acrylic holders on the boards along with category headings at the beginning of the show. Feel free to bring several copies of the posting which will allow potential employees to take a copy of your posting with them for response after the Expo. Acrylic holders will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they are full, a single posting can be tacked up to the board, but multiple copies cannot be left. It is your responsibility to keep tabs on the job posting. If your copies run out, Expo staff will not be responsible for filling them. However, if you’d like to make additional copies, there is a UPS store available onsite. Note: Please do not include confidential information that you might not, for any reason, want available to the general public. You might be interested in increased visibility for your job posting(s) — consider a Scoop ad. Contact Faith Jensen at 952-934-2891 / faith@pierreproductions.com.
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➾ S E CT I O N TITLE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WEST CENTRAL RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER
2015 TOP TEN PERFORMING ANNUAL FLOWERS Steve Poppe | Senior Horticulture Scientist Esther Jordan | Communications Specialist
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➾ 2 0 1 5 TOP TEN AN N U AL S
One of the largest and most impressive displays of annual flower varieties and cultivars in the Upper Midwest can be found at the University of Minnesota (U of MN) West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) Horticulture Display Garden in Morris, Minnesota. Voted as the Best Public Display Garden in Minnesota by WCCO/CBS in August 2015, the Garden features annual flower cultivars from plant breeding companies around the world.
A
produces amazingly large blossoms of three-inch peach frilly flowers from mid-spring to early fall. This Begonia is a hybrid cross between a tuberous begonia and a wax begonia. Solenia Apricot is a high-maintenance annual bedding plant which requires dead-heading to keep it looking nice. Deer don’t particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier plants.
> Begonia Solenia® Apricot
36
If looking for a quick-blooming vigorous begonia, it’s hard to beat BIG Red with Green Leaf. Although the fire-engine bright crimson red flowers are exceptional, the combination with the glossy green foliage is outstanding. BIG Red with Green Leaf grows well in partial shade, grows to a height of about 20", and is perfect for a mass planting.
Begonia x benariensis BIG® Red with Green Leaf —
nnual flowers are evaluated on unique characteristics, exceptional performance, color and vigor under regional conditions. Only the highest rating cultivars earn the distinction of a Top Ten Performing Annual. The goal of evaluating this vast array of cultivars is to develop recommendations for Minnesota. Even though the annual flowers are under evaluation, the plants are placed into an aesthetically pleasing design, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of the garden. All flowers are labeled, allowing visitors to take note of top performing cultivars under regional conditions. The Horticulture Display Garden is open daily from dawn until dusk; admission is free. For a complete list of results, please refer to www.wcroc.cfans.umn.edu.
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Calibrachoa Superbells® Garden Rose has
abundant, small petunia-like flowers all season long. Superbells® Garden Rose features distinctive, shiny, striking flowers that don’t fade in the summer heat. This variety has long, trailing branches that cascade over the sides of hanging baskets. Superbells® Garden Rose is a low-maintenance plant with no necessary deadheading, perks back up after a rain and stays compact and bushy.
> Plectranthus (Coleus) Mainstreet Broad Street™ features
burgundy leaves with a lime green edge and was an outstanding performer in the 2015 display garden. Grown in partial shade in a garden bed, Broad Street™ is extremely compact and uniform and growsto a height of about 20". In general, coleus is a durable plant with significant gardening potential for a wide range of gardeners. Coleus has a long history of use as a foliage plant; its ease of establishment after planting combined with a wide range of selections has made coleus a popular favorite for gardens and containers. Coleus was the annual selected as the National Garden Bureau’s Annual of the Year for 2015. > Dahlia Hypnotica® Lavender — These
outstanding dahlia plants bloom profusely from planting into early fall. The beauty of Hypnotica® Lavender is its vigorous plant habit, clean foliage and large flowers that were real eye catchers in our garden beds. The lavender blooms compliment many other planting companions. It requires occasional deadheading for a neat appearance. october 15
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➾ 2 0 1 5 TOP TEN AN N U AL S
is a 2015 All-America Selections bedding plant award winner. This dianthus has large, showy flower heads on strong stems that perform extremely well all summer long. Jolt™ Pink has bright pink-fringed flowers, and is an easy to grow and trouble-free annual for the gardener looking for neat and tidy low-maintenance flower varieties.
> Dianthus Jolt™ Pink
A seed type geranium from the Pinto series, Premium Lavender Rose is a great garden performer with uniform plant habit and early flowering. Its most appealing feature is the disease-free clean foliage all season long. Premium Lavender Rose is an outstanding seed geranium; perhaps the best we’ve trialed at the U of MN.
Pelargonium (Geranium) Pinto™ Premium Lavender Rose —
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Impatiens walleriana Lollipop™ Fruit Punch is
an outstanding impatiens from greenhouse to garden with exceptional uniform plant habit, growth and vigor. The rose flowers provide an intense pop of color throughout the entire growing season. The Lollipop™ series also comes in other colors including Orange, Raspberry Violet, Cherry Red, Pomegranate Carmine, Coconut White and Peach Salmon.
offers a vigorous, full mounding habit of hot pink flowers in a landscape bed. Buds open continuously from the center and all along the stems, so there are no “flat-topped” or empty-centered plants as the season progresses. Surfinia® Sumo Pink is perfect for large containers and hanging baskets because its unique habit changes from mounding to trailing.
> Petunia Surfinia® Sumo Pink
Portulaca Mojave® Tangerine — This
durable and colorful flowering succulent blooms profusely all summer long without deadheading. The flowers of Portulaca close at night and reopen with sunlight. Mojave® Tangerine performed well for us in a block wall planter next to an asphalt parking lot with limited moisture. Mojave® Tangerine is a great plant choice for warm climates and poor, drier soils.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on annual flower research at the WCROC, please visit wcroc.cfans.umn.edu. Steve Poppe can be reached at poppesr@morris.umn. edu, and Esther Jordan at ejordan@morris.umn.edu.
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➾ MDA
NURSERY CERTIFICATION MULTI-STATE GROUP INSPECTION & SYSTEMS APPROACH
Josh Plunkett
(MDA, Plant Protection) Nursery & Export Unit
THE INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION OF NURSERY STOCK is becoming increasingly more complex for the industry and regulatory agencies due to broader and faster shipping patterns and the expanding number of regulated pests. The National Plant Board (NPB) and regional chapters of the Horticultural Inspection Society (HIS) are responding to this challenge by piloting a new process for incorporating a Systems Approach to Nursery Stock Certification (SANC). The goal of SANC is to: “Develop, promote and implement a risk-based nursery and greenhouse certification system utilizing existing state authorities and programs to enhance uniformity, increase efficiency and reduce pest distribution.” Another way to state that is to balance and focus resources to better manage high risk commodities such as nursery stock.
In the long term, realized benefits of SANC will include: a reduction in pest risk, cost efficiencies, increased interaction with industry staff and regulators, and uniformity among state programs. With these goals in mind, nursery inspectors from seven central states
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attended the Horticultural Inspection Society (HIS) multi-state group inspection hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This unique opportunity to share inspection challenges, as well as tips, and observe plant pests not commonly encountered in Minnesota was a truly valuable experience. HIS members attended field inspection at two nurseries in the Indianapolis area. In addition to regional inspectors, Purdue Entomologist Dr. Cliff Sadof, and Purdue Plant Pathologist Dr. Gail Rhule provided valuable expertise and advice for scouting and diagnosing Midwestern pests and pathogens. Inspection techniques, plant pest identification and treatment methods were discussed and practiced as a group. Additional SANC training helped inspectors identify critical control points (CCPs) and develop practical means of reducing pest risks. To start the group inspection, Ken Rauscher from the National Plant Board led a training interview at the first
When it comes down to it, production practices and scouting for pest and diseases is the cornerstone of plant pest and disease mitigation for all plant producers.
nursery. The discussion focused on control points such as: plants, potting media, storage, sanitation, production practices, pest and disease scouting, employee training, record keeping and even cull piles. Those are a few of the identified SANC targets or “choke points� in plant production where best management practices can effectively control plant pests and diseases. The first part of the discussion focused on plants and propagation, which are the most important part of the review process for nursery inspectors. Incoming plants tell the larger story of what an inspector focuses their attention on. Cuttings, bareroot, and tissue culture plants come from different sources, both domestic and foreign. Regularly asked questions are: do these plants come from regulated locations; and if so, have they been shipped following the appropriate import regulations? Other frequent questions include: did the plants come from certified seed sources, virus-indexed mother plants; and does the facility provide training on sanitation methods if propagated on site? Inspectors then moved the discussion to growing media, pots, trays and containers. All represent high risk and potential for the introduction into, or spread within a nursery, of soil borne diseases. Sterile soilless media is preferred by most reputable growers and propagators. Storing containers in a clean, sanitary location away from production areas ensures the best chance for clean healthy plants. Site selection and maintenance help reduce the risk of contamination by pests and pathogens. Roads and pathways should allow for water to drain. Minimizing standing water both in the field and in the greenhouse can prevent pathogens via splash dispersal. Cull pile placement and frequency of attention to this critical control point is very effective at keeping away unwanted pests. Adjacent fields are also a source of pests and diseases. Harvesting operations in adjacent fields can push pests over to nursery plants. Anticipating these factors and controlling weeds in the perimeter will go a long way to reduce risks associated with growing nursery stock. In addition to site evaluation, water management should be considered when it comes to control and avoidance of pathogens. Disinfecting recycled and recaptured water avoids contamination of plants and media by pathogens such as phytophthora and pythium. Limiting overhead watering, correcting drainage problems, raising containers off the ground and treating water are all excellent ways to prevent harmful waterborne pathogens, fungus gnats, mollusks and nematodes from entering and spreading into the plant production process. Shipping and receiving plant material is another catch point for limiting the spread of pests and pathogens. Inspecting incoming plant
deliveries limits unwanted pests introductions. Segregating high risk plants and putting them through an observation period is a good practice. Segregating the same plant material from different suppliers will minimize the spread of unwanted pests from a single source. Disposal of unsold plant material not actively being managed will also reduce pest risks. If plants need to be destroyed, make sure the load is secured so no plant material or pests will escape before reaching the dump site. When it comes down to it, production practices and scouting for pest and diseases is the cornerstone of plant pest and disease mitigation for all plant producers. Controlling weeds and avoiding the use of media or soil known to be infested with pests or pathogens is an easy and effective practice. Scouting nursery fields and the frequency of this activity can save businesses big money by reducing the number of chemical treatments. Inspecting all plant deliveries and cleaning soil and plant debris from receiving docks is another good management practice. Maintaining good records throughout the production process allows persons involved access to valuable information. Inventory numbers, dates, stock sources, scouting dates and pest or pathogen results are some of the more important types of records that should be documented. By having records readily available, work staff and regulatory officials can better track the many individual parts of nursery operations. SANC was designed to do just that: better manage all the critical control points related to nursery stock. As inspectors concluded their visit at the facility, the discussion changed to compliance inspections or audits. At this point, the facility and inspector jointly develop best management practices to mitigate risks associated with the critical control points discussed earlier. After the management plan is approved, the facility is eligible to receive a certificate of compliance. State agencies are able to issue certificates of compliance that are recognized nationally or serve as the basis for international phytosanitary certificates. Some may ask, what are some of the real world problems for this type of evaluation and training for compliance agreements? Good examples are: shipping Christmas trees out of gypsy moth infested areas or boxwoods from boxwood blight regulated areas. With the right amount of training and oversight, businesses will be more prepared for the ever changing menu of regulated plant pests and diseases.
(MDA, Plant Protection) Nursery & Export Unit can be reached at joshua.plunkett@state.mn.us.
JOSH PLUNKETT
october 15
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Go Propane and SAVE!! Up to a $2000 Incentive
• On the purchase of a new propane or dual-fueled pickup or conversion of a 2005 or newer model. Call the MPA for details. • • • • • •
Why Propane?
Propane is a green, clean burning alternative fuel Propane is less expensive than gasoline or diesel Propane is affordable to implement Propane is reliable Propane is produced in the United States Proane is an alternative fuel that is ready now!
For more information call the Minnesota Propane Association at 763-633-4271
➾ RE S E ARCH FOR THE R EAL WO R L D
Salt Tolerance — Another Factor to Consider When Selecting Roses Roses (Rosa spp.) have been a garden favorite for generations and their popularity continues today.
Dr. James Calkins
MNLA Foundation Research Information Director
within the genus Rosa, the namesake genus of the rose family (Rosaceae), there are about 150 species and thousands of named cultivars. Breeding and selection efforts have focused on a variety of plant characteristics including flowering (e.g., color, petal characteristics, repeat bloom), soil adaptability (e.g., drought tolerance, pH tolerance), growth habit, thornlessness, fragrance, cold hardiness, pest resistance, attractive fruits (hips), and fall color. More recently, being cold hardy and low maintenance have become increasingly important selection criteria as the landscaping public is increasingly interested in roses that are both beautiful and carefree. Just as they are worldwide, roses are popular landscape plants in the upper Midwest, including Minnesota where many species and cultivars are grown. Although most of the varieties grown in Minnesota are of hybrid origin, four species of roses are native to Minnesota — Rosa acicularis (prickly wild rose), Rosa arkamsana (prairie wild rose), Rosa blanda (smooth wild rose, meadow rose), and Rosa woodsii (wild rose, Woods’ rose). Being found in all but a few scattered counties, Rosa blanda is the most widely distributed species in the state. Additional species are native just to the east and south in Wisconsin and Iowa, but may also be occasionally found in eastern Minnesota — Rosa carolina (pasture rose, Carolina rose) and Rosa palustris (swamp rose). All six species are rhizomatous, produce fragrant, pink or rosy-pink, single flowers and red, berrylike fruits (hips), and are valuable wildlife plants. In general, roses prefer full sun, a well-drained moisture-retentive soil, and an acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0–7.0). Although their flower color is limited, the wild species are certainly cold hardy and tend to be less susceptible to insect pests and diseases than many of the commonly-grown hybrids. The Earth-Kind® Landscaping Program (http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/) is a Texas A&M
University program that was started in the early 1990s, and “uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum garden and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting the environment” by combining “the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a horticultural system based on real world effectiveness and environmental responsibility.” The Earth-Kind® initiative encourages water conservation, reduced fertilizer and pesticide use, energy conservation, and a reduction in the amount of yard waste entering landfills. Specific to roses, Earth-Kind® is a special designation given to select rose cultivars by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service (part of the Texas A&M system) through the Earth-Kind® Landscaping Program (http:// aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkindroses/) in an attempt to identify the most adaptable roses available. The Earth-Kind® designation is only awarded to rose selections that demonstrate superior pest tolerance combined with outstanding landscape performance with minimal inputs. Earth-Kind® roses must also be produced on their own roots. Recognizing a need for a broader perspective, the Earth-Kind® program has been expanded nationwide and includes the Northern EarthKind® Rose Trial program which was initiated in 2007 with a focus on cold hardiness and includes work by Dr. David Zlesak (University of Wisconsin, River Falls). The goal of the program is to identify roses that will grow across the country using environmentally-responsible cultural practices. Several Earth-Kind® roses are good choices for Minnesota landscapes including Carefree Beauty™ (‘BUCbi’) which was named the 2006 “EarthKind® Rose of the Year” by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and is a proven performer in Minnesota. The Earth-Kind® evaluation process does not include salt tolerance, but salt stress is both an existing and october 15
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➾ RE S E ARCH FOR THE R EAL WO R L D
Figure 1. Fourth of July™ climbing rose (Rosa ‘Wekroalt’; a cultivar with dark green, disease resistant foliage and attractive clusters of fragrant, red-and-white-striped flowers) at the Lake Harriet Rose Garden in Minneapolis; interest in new and improved roses for use in designed landscapes remains high and continued research is needed to create superior selections for site-specific landscape use based on factors like cold hardiness, growth habit, disease resistance, and salt tolerance (Photo Credit: Jim Calkins).
emerging factor from a landscape perspective. In general, roses are considered to be salt-sensitive and elevated soil salinity levels can have a negative effect on plant growth and performance. As a result, soil salinity can be of increased concern where water quality is poor, when reclaimed water is used for irrigation as a conservation practice, in arid regions where rainfall is limited and evapotranspiration levels are high, and in northern areas where deicing salts are commonly used for vehicular and pedestrian safety. In such cases, information about the relative salt tolerance of roses would be useful in selecting roses for landscape use, but is generally unavailable. In response to this lack of information on the salt tolerance of roses, a greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the salt tolerance of 18 container-grown, Earth-Kind® rose cultivars including Belinda’s Dream, Cecile Brunner, Climbing Pinkie, Ducher, Duchesse de Brabant, Else Poulsen, Georgetown Tea, La Marne, Madame Antoine Mari, Marie Daly, Monsieur Tillier, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Mutabilis, Perle d’Or, Reve d’Or, Sea Foam, Souvenir de St. Anne’s, and Spice using two salinity levels based on the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water — a 1.2 dS·m-1 (deciSiemens per meter) nutrient solution and a 10.0 dS·m-1 saline solution prepared by adding sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) to the control nutrient solution. The authors of the study report that roses tend to exhibit negative effects when salinity levels exceed 3.0 dS·m-1. A growing medium composed of equal parts of sand, composted bark, and ground bark (1:1:1 by volume) was used. Plant growth and performance were quantified based on visual damage ratings, leaf greenness (chlorophyll content), shoot dry weight, shoot growth, flower number, flower dry weight, leaf gas 44
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exchange (photosynthetic rate), stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. Of the 18 rose cultivars studied, Belinda’s Dream, Climbing Pinkie, Mrs. Dudley Cross, Reve d’Or, and Sea Foam were the most salt-tolerant and Cecile Brunner, Else Poulsen, Madame Antoine Mari, Perle d’Or, Spice, and Souvenir de St. Anne’s were the least salt-tolerant. Based on the results, the remaining seven cultivars were classified as moderately salt tolerant. This information shows there are measureable differences among rose cultivars based on salt tolerance and, combined with evaluations of the salt tolerance of additional rose cultivars, and landscape plants in general, could be useful in breeding and selection programs to develop superior landscape plants. Most importantly, it highlights the need for additional information relative to sitespecific factors that can influence plant performance under landscape conditions including salt tolerance. Such information would be helpful in selecting plants for specific landscape situations that require fewer inputs resulting in healthier plants and landscapes that are more sustainable. Citation: Cai, X., Y. Sun, T. Starman, C. Hall, and G. Niu. 2014. Response of 18 Earth-Kind® Rose Cultivars to Salt Stress. HortScience 49(5):544-549. http:// hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/49/5/544.abstract (abstract only)
TO COMMENT ON THIS RESEARCH UPDATE, 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.
d v c w y c i o h y t
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➾ S U MM ER TOURS
MNLA
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING MNLA MEMBERS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS YEAR’S SUMMER TOURS!
This design by Stonepocket, Inc. shows how to create a connection between the natural environment and a gathering/living space.
Jason Rathe, Field Outdoor Spaces, discusses the challenges of designing for small urban spaces.
This design by Phillips Garden, Inc. was created to match the style of the home architecture and blend with the character of the neighborhood.
Highlights of this intimate courtyard design by Phillips Garden, Inc. include a sunken patio, corten steel seat wall and textured gardens.
Attendees admire the design by Mom’s Landscaping, which included an outdoor fireplace, a large kitchen, and a dining area.
To keep deer and rabbits out, Stonepocket, Inc. created four 6-foot long by 3-foot high and 30-inch deep corten steel planters.
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Landscape Design Tour: Field Outdoor Spaces; Ground One Enterprises of MN, LLC; Mom’s Landscaping; Phillips Garden, Inc.; Stonepocket, Inc. Garden Center Tour: Bachman’s Cedar Acres; Knecht’s Nurseries & Landscaping; Switzer’s Nursery & Landscaping/The Gardens of Castle
Rock; Pahl’s Market; Bachman’s Inc, — Apple Valley. Both tours were well attended, and registrants were treated to sunny weather and warm hospitality at all of the sites!
This design by Ground One Enterprises of MN, LLC is an example of designing for entertaining and gathering. It includes a fireplace, layers of gardens, a dining patio, swimming pool, and pool house.
John Daniels welcomes attendees and provides some history of the Bachman’s Cedar Acres location.
View of ceremony garden at the Gardens of Castle Rock. Glenn Switzer shared his experience of repurposing a retail space and display gardens into an outdoor wedding and event center.
The lovely ladies of Otten Bros. with a display of trees at Knecht’s Nurseries & Landscaping in Northfield.
It was neat to have an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the CSA program boxes being packed with Pahl’s Market’s fresh home-grown produce.
An example of one of the many colorful displays at Bachman’s Apple Valley.
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âžž S E CT I O N TITLE
PATHOGEN IMMUNITY & OTHER BEE RESEARCH
Research focused on bees and other pollinators continues to search for answers regarding their health and survival. Specifically, nursery and landscape professionals may be interested in a number of studies that have recently been published in the open access, peer-reviewed journals PLOS ONE and PLOS Pathogens. Dr. James Calkins | Research Information Director Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association Foundation
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Transfer of Immunity
In a study published just two weeks ago — Transfer of Immunity from Mother to Offspring Is Mediated via Egg-Yolk Protein Vitellogenin — researchers affiliated with universities in Finland, the United States, and Norway believe they have solved an entomological mystery related to how insects — including bees — fight pathogens. Although insects do not produce antibodies, they do have immune systems that are capable of recognizing specific pathogens and can transfer immunity to certain pathogens to their offspring. As reported by the authors of the study, this ability, referred to as transgenerational immune priming (TGIP), has been documented for a variety of insects including mealworms, red flour beetles, cabbage loopers, tobacco hornworms, and honey bees whereby exposure to bacterial constituents through ingestion and other means can subsequently impart immunity to their offspring. How this transfer is accomplished by insects in the absence of antibodies has, however, been a scientific mystery. Working with bacteria, including the gram-positive bacterium that causes American foulbrood disease in bees by attacking and killing honey bee larvae (Paenibacillus larvae) and Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium, the authors determined that an egg-yolk protein called vitellogenin can bind to bacterial constituents, serves as the carrier of immune priming signals, and may be responsible for the transfer of immunity to the next generation. For honey bees, the theory is that queen bees are exposed to pathogens through a variety of mechanisms including the presence of pathogens in their food. For example, pathogens may be acquired by worker bees while foraging for nectar and pollen and subsequently fed to the queen. Upon ingestion, the fragments of these pathogens are transported in the hemolymph (insect “blood”) to an organ called a fat body which is also the site where vitellogenin is synthesized. Upon binding with vitellogenin, the pathogen constituents are transported to the ovaries and ultimately the eggs where they function as immunity triggers for the next generation. This is a very interesting theory that may help to explain how insects fight pathogens and may have the potential to enable the development of vaccines for beneficial insects like honey bees. Understanding the mechanisms involved in transgenerational immune priming may also be helpful in developing new methodologies for controlling insect pests. Pathogens Predict Colony Strength
A second study — Pathogens as Predictors of Honey Bee Colony Strength in England and Wales — investigated the presence of pathogens in
honey bee colonies as a measure of colony strength (health) and evaluated the presence of various pathogens as potential predictors of colony decline in England and Wales. The research was conducted with the assistance of the National Bee Unit (NBU) whose apiary inspectors identified honey bee colonies that were in trouble for unknown reasons. The inspection process eliminated colonies that had died for obvious reasons including factors like starvation, queen failure, poor Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) control, or acute pesticide toxicity. Although the inspectors could not find a clear explanation for the vast majority of colony losses, when a primary cause was identifiable it was most often determined to be the result of a Varroa mite infestation. Based on subsequent pathogen analyses, the colonies where a definitive cause of decline could not be identified were categorized as being strong or weak and it was determined that weak colonies tended to be associated with higher numbers of pathogens in adult bees compared to strong colonies. Among the pathogens detected, only deformed wing virus (DWV) was identified as a good predictor of colony strength. These findings were consistent with the findings of other research efforts in search of predictors of honey bee colony decline. The findings also highlight the potential involvement of DWV in honey bee colony collapse. Given that Varroa mites are known to be important vectors of bee viruses and the protocol that eliminated colonies where Varroa mites were determined to be the cause of colony decline (poor Varroa mite control), the researchers suggest these results might indicate a “legacy effect” whereby DWV was able to persist in spite of effective mite treatments. Based on their findings, the authors suggest that beekeepers in England and Wales should concentrate on Varroa mite control, queen maintenance, and timely feeding as methods to reduce honey bee colony losses. A clear link was demonstrated between poor colony strength and presence of DWV. While controlling DWV would also likely be beneficial, effective anti-viral treatments do not currently exist. This research reinforces the belief that pathogens are a significant contributing factor in honey bee colony decline and adds to our knowledge and understanding of the role of biotic and abiotic factors in honey bee and honey bee colony health. Aluminum in Bumblebee Pupae
Working with bumblebees (Bombus sp.), the objective of a third study — Bumblebee Pupae Contain High Levels of Aluminium — was to investigate whether aluminium (aluminum in the United States and Canada) might play a role in the reported declines in the populations of bees and other pollinators. The authors suggest october 15
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➾ PAT H O GEN IMMUN IT Y
Figure 1. A bumble bee (Bombus sp.) foraging for nectar and pollen (note the orange pollen in the pollen basket, technically called a corbicula, on the left hind leg) on purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis; also called purpletop verbena and tall verbena) — at a time when concerns about declining pollinator populations are commonplace, the green industry can play an important role in supporting pollinator health and survival by educating the public about the value of bees and other pollinators, supporting pollinator research, endorsing and practicing integrated pest management and the proper use of pesticides, and providing pollinator habitat by promoting and growing plants that benefit pollinators (Photo Credit: Jim Calkins).
an increasing presence of biologically-available aluminium in the environment as a result of human activities may have implications for bees. Although they were able to document high levels of aluminium in bumblebee pupae, which suggests high level of exposure, and observed an apparent negative relationship between aluminium level and the weight of pupae, they were unable to demonstrate any “other statistically significant relationships” between aluminium and bumblebee or bumblebee colony health. It was suggested that pollen, and perhaps nectar, were the sources of the aluminium relative to bees. The authors report that there are no comparable data for bumblebee adults or pupae, or the pupae of other terrestrial insects, but that aluminium levels between 4.6 and 15.5 μg/g on a dry weight basis have been reported for adult honeybees (Apis mellifera) based on a study published in 2012; levels that are much lower than the levels for bumblebee pupae found in their study. Although aluminium may have the potential to be toxic in high doses, any relationship between aluminum and bee health and performance would be purely speculative based on the information available at this time. Still, the idea that toxic effects of aluminium might be related to declines in the populations of pollinators is interesting and highlights the expanding search for cause-and-effect relationships that might threaten pollinators. 50
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Predictive Model Developed
In a fourth study — Prospective Large-Scale Field Study Generates Predictive Model Identifying Major Contributors to Colony Losses — researchers monitored bee pathogens, bee population, and winter weather conditions for 179 honey bee colonies at three locations across the USA in an attempt to evaluate the potential contributions of these factors to honey bee colony losses. Eight bee viruses including Kashmir Bar Virus (KBV), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Lake Sinai Virus (LSV), and Varroa Destructor Virus–1 (VDV-1) were followed along with the prevalence of Varroa mites (Varroa destructor) and the unicellular, fungal parasite Nosema ceranae. The results indicated that Varroa mites and bee viruses, mainly DWV replication, accounted for approximately 70% of colony losses. The researchers also developed a predictive model that indicates a single factor may not be sufficient to trigger colony losses; instead, a combination of stressors is more likely to impact hive health and be responsible for a colony collapse. The study did not account for other factors that might influence the health of honey bee colonies including things like migration, treatment with antibiotics and miticides, nutrition, or exposure to pesticides.
The researchers also developed a predictive model that indicates a single factor may not be sufficient to trigger colony losses; instead, a combination of stressors is more likely to impact hive health and be responsible for a colony collapse. Pollen-Stressed Larvae Become Poor Foragers and Waggle Dancers
And finally, a fifth study — Honey Bee Workers That Are Pollen Stressed as Larvae Become Poor Foragers and Waggle Dancers as Adults — investigated the effects of poor nutrition (pollen stress as a result of limited pollen availability) on European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). The findings indicated that pollen stress during larval development had significant negative effects on the health and performance of the adult worker bees (body weight, longevity, foraging activity, and waggle-dance behavior) that were produced when the juveniles became adults. Nutritional stress during the larval stage resulted in adults that weighed less, were poor foragers, had shorter lifespans, and were less able to communicate the location of food sources through the waggle dance. In addition, the researchers believe these effects may be compounded over time as nutritionally-stressed foragers that do not collect sufficient food to avoid nutritional stress in the developing larvae they care for may result in those larvae also becoming poor foragers with concomitant effects on the performance of the colony as a whole. In short, they found that pollen stress during larval development had far-reaching negative effects on the foraging and recruitment abilities of adult bees. Since foraging for food and recruitment are ultimately “the most important tasks that honey bees perform as provisioners for their colonies and as pollinators” of cultivated crops, the researchers believe these findings “warrant concern.” It was also suggested that the effects of poor nutrition may be compounded by other stressors that have the potential to october 15
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➾ PAT H O GEN IMMUN IT Y
Concerns about declines in pollinator populations continue to be in the news and pollinator health continues to be an important focus of agricultural and entomological research…Green industry professionals continue to be engaged and have an important role to play in educating the public about pollinators, supporting pollinator research, creating quality pollinator habitat, and promoting and protecting pollinator health. impact bee performance and colony survival including factors like weather, pathogens, and pesticides. Helping to be Part of the Solution
Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) members may also be interested in viewing a webinar entitled “The Bees’ Plight and Prospects: Helping to be Part of the Solution” by Dr. Marla Spivak (MacArthur Fellow and McKnight Distinguished Professor of Entomology at the University of Minnesota) that was presented earlier this year (June 9, 2015) and is available for free through the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (www.maswcd.org) and the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center (www.wrc.umn.edu) websites. The presentation is just over an hour long and summarizes the findings of recent honey bee research at the University of Minnesota and specifically the critical role proper nutrition plays in promoting honey bee health and preventing colony losses. The importance of providing pollinator habitat, including the availability of high quality floral resources that provide nectar and pollen, the respective sources of energy-rich carbohydrates and proteins and lipids (fats) required by bees, and maintaining a low immune system activation level in promoting bee health and survival is highlighted. Concerns about declines in pollinator populations continue to be in the news and pollinator health continues to be an important focus of agricultural and entomological research. A variety of biotic and abiotic factors have been suggested as both real and potential threats to bees and other pollinators and have been reported as being responsible for honey bee colony losses. Varroa mites (Varroa destructor), viruses, and habitat losses remain the primary suspects, but a variety of other factors, acting alone or in combination, continue to be investigated including nutritional deficiencies, weather, beekeeping practices, genetic weaknesses, and pesticides and the ultimate cause is likely to be multifactorial. Green industry professionals continue to be engaged and have an important role to play in educating the public about pollinators, supporting pollinator research, creating quality pollinator habitat, and promoting and protecting pollinator health. For those interested, additional information and detail can be obtained by accessing these articles online using the links provided with the citations for these articles below. 52
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Citations: Salmela, H., G.V. Amdam, and D. Freitak. 2015. Transfer of Immunity from Mother to Offspring Is Mediated via Egg-Yolk Protein Vitellogenin. PLOS Pathogens 11(7): e1005015. Published July 31, 2015. DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005015. http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005015 Baby bees are vaccinated before they are born http://www.aol. com/article/2015/08/02/baby-bees-are-vaccinated-before-they-areborn/21217160/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl31%7Csec1_ lnk2%26pLid%3D1538583413 http://news.discovery.com/animals/insects/queen-bees-vaccinate-all-oftheir-babies-150731.htm Budge, G.E, S. Pietravalle, M. Brown, L. Laurenson, B. Jones, V. Tomkies, and K.S. Delaplane. 2015. Pathogens as Predictors of Honey Bee Colony Strength in England and Wales. PLOS ONE 10(7): e0133228. Published July 17, 2015. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0133228. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0133228 Exley C, E. Rotheray, and D. Goulson. 2015. Bumblebee Pupae Contain High Levels of Aluminium. PLOS ONE 10(6): e0127665. Published June 4, 2015. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127665. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0127665 Kielmanowicz, M.G., A. Inberg, I.M. Lerner, Y. Golani, N. Brown, C.L. Turner, G.J.R. Hayes, and J.M. Ballam. 2015. Prospective Large-Scale Field Study Generates Predictive Model Identifying Major Contributors to Colony Losses. PLOS Pathogens 11(4): e1004816. Published April 13, 2015. DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1004816. http://journals.plos.org/ plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1004816 Scofield, H.N. and H.R. Mattila. 2015. Honey Bee Workers That Are Pollen Stressed as Larvae Become Poor Foragers and Waggle Dancers as Adults. PLOS ONE 10(4): e0121731. Published April 8, 2015. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0121731. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/ article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0121731
RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD ARTICLES ARE WRITTEN BY Dr. James Calkins, MNLA Foundation Research Information Director. To comment on this research update, 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.
SKIN CANCER:
OUR INDUSTRY’S NOT-SO-HIDDEN DISEASE This isn’t my normal SCOOP article, because it hasn’t been a normal few years. But I’m using my 700 or so words here to share an important message — one that I wish I would have paid attention to sooner. John O’Reilly | Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping
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A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins
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Native Minnesota Woody & Herbaceous (651) 438-2771 • Fax (651) 438-3816
www.outbacknursery.com
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➾ S KIN CAN CER
A
few years ago, one of our longtime customers approached me with a small bandage on her face … talking about a skin cancer she had removed. She was very proactive, encouraging me to have our team’s awareness raised about how easy it is to get skin cancer since “we work outside all the time.” (Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., affecting 1 in 5 adults.*) She wanted to make the point that as an industry we need to be better about awareness. She was right, she IS right. (And while I heard her at the time, I didn’t really LISTEN.) I waited a year longer than I should have. Finally, one of our crew guys teased me about “having my ear pierced” — a mole on my earlobe that had gotten large enough to be (really) noticeable. About that same time, I had the annual burn on the tops of my ears, one side developing a “crispy blister” with an early burn that became larger and more irritating than normal. Finally, between my crew guy’s teasing and my wife’s encouragement, I went to a dermatologist. It wasn’t the crispy burn side that was the problem … it was the mole. Skin cancer (particularly Malignant Melanoma) is sometimes casually referred to as the “landscaper’s disease” — with good reason. We spend a disproportionate amount of our work days in the sun, and likely don’t take enough precautions. Melanoma — once it has spread regionally — has only a 63% survival rate (but a 98% survival rate if caught and treated early.) And so, during April 2013 (not a convenient season for a major surgery), I underwent surgery to remove a lymph node and most of my left earlobe (now reconstructed.) They were able to get clear margins on everything. My dermatologist, in our now-quarterly visits, continues to remind me just how lucky I got … melanomas of my size have almost always metastasized. I got lucky. And now I’m trying to “pay it forward” so you might be lucky, too. 1 in 50 Americans will develop Melanoma (the most fatal of skin cancers), and by age 60, rates are twice as high in men vs. women. (Not accounting for any industry-specific “skew” factor.) Simply
put, guys, we don’t get checked early enough or often enough. Just in the past two years, I have heard so many stories about others who have had similar experiences … but guys aren’t as good about talking about these things. We’re good at avoiding. What I love about my job is that I get to work outside, wear shorts, enjoying plants and fresh air. I feel really fortunate that I’m not “stuck in a cube” somewhere — I’m active and healthy and enjoying nature almost every day. One of the (very) few downsides of that is that it puts me more at risk for skin cancer, a fact which I should have known and taken steps to prevent. I’m writing this because I didn’t listen to the first three people who told me to have myself checked out. Our industry should do a better job warning people about the possible effects of sun exposure and we should incorporate preventative remedies into our company culture: sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and shady sites for breaks. It’s our “slow season.” If you have ever wondered about a blotch on your skin, NOW is the right time to go see a dermatologist to get it checked out. If you’ve avoided having something looked at because you just don’t know who to call, you don’t have an excuse anymore — I see Dr. Larisa Speetzen at Park Nicollet in St. Louis Park**. Even two years later, I see her every three months. While that sometimes feels like an annoyance in my schedule, it’s far preferable to the alternative. * https://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/ skin-cancer ** 952.993.3260. If Park Nicollet isn’t your preferred healthcare provider or St. Louis Park isn’t convenient, find someone closer to you. But find someone.
JOHN P. O’REILLY is Vice President of Operations at Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping in Long Lake, MN and can be reached at j.oreilly@ottenbros.com.
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➾ MNLA FOUN DATION
A Worthwhile Partnership As a college instructor, I get many calls each year from local landscape companies asking if I have any students who would be potential employees.
Jay Siedschlaw
Landscape Design and Construction Instructor at Hennepin Technical College
the need for employees in the green industry is huge. Unfortunately, as the need for employees has increased, the enrollment of students in this industry has declined. I believe in education not only because I am an instructor, but also because I think the best employees are educated ones. I have a potential solution to the employment problem. Local green industry businesses need to take an interest in the community of young people. Business owners need a good selection of employees to choose from, who can do the work and grow within the company over time. Connecting with high schools and colleges is a great place to start. Partnering with a high school or college and providing opportunities to students will provide your business with educated and experienced employees, as well as providing students with opportunities to be successful in a landscape career. Recently at Hennepin Technical College, we have partnered with two high schools in the Twin Cities area to encourage students to consider careers in landscape, horticulture, and urban forestry. We have opened our doors at the college for high school students to tour and experience what a career in the landscape industry might be like. A resource that has been overlooked in the past is that of the local FFA chapters. The FFA Chapters at local high schools have landscape design focused curriculums. Two curriculums that many high school students choose from are Animal Science and Horticulture. Animal Science has been a popular choice for the past few years, but a shift is starting to happen. High school teachers are reporting that they feel that students are starting to inquire more recently about “green” careers. Greenhouse growing, landscape construction, and design tend to be areas of interest. The Minnesota FFA (www.mnffa.org) sponsors a Landscape Design and Construction competition each
Partnering with a high school or college and providing opportunities to students will provide your business with educated and experienced employees, as well as providing students with opportunities to be successful in a landscape career. year at the Minnesota State Fair. Each school is given a 15' × 18' space to use for the creation of a landscape. Schools such as Forest Lake, Stillwater, Buffalo and Plainview-Elgin-Millville participated last year. The next time you are at the Fair, check out the gardens just outside the Miracle of Birth Center. Hennepin Technical College and Natural Creations Inc. partnered with the landscape program at Buffalo High School this past summer to create a garden. It was exciting to see the pride and the excitement the students had in creating a water feature and garden. The students were very concerned with the movement of water and the overall construction process. Many students were interested in the choice of plants and the color combinations that could best represent their “school colors.” This interest in landscape design and construction by these students gave me great hope for the future of our industry! So how are we going to take this small glimmer of hope that I witnessed and multiply it? We need to connect. We need to connect students/business/educators. Trying to recruit employees on your own is difficult, if not impossible. Recruiting skilled employees is even more difficult. Finding employees that stick around more than two years is rare. But if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, there is a solution. Here are some of the best ways you can partner with a school and connect with students: october 15
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➾ MNLA FOUN DATION
An FFA group of students from Buffalo High School, members of Natural Creations, Inc. and Jay Siedschlaw with Hennepin Technical College installing a garden at the Minnesota State Fair grounds for an FFA Landscape Design Competition.
First, offer to be a guest speaker. Don’t just show up; make a connection with a teacher first. I have numerous business owners each year. I’m excited to see them so anxious to connect with my students, but many times I’m in the middle of a lecture. So, make sure you schedule a time to sit down with a high school or college instructor. Next, invite them to your business and give them a tour of your site, or take a select group to an exciting project that would give them a good idea of what they might expect in the real world. Another great idea is to offer students a summer job or become a
I require that employers have a detailed list of job duties. A written description of the job is what my students at the college level expect. Gone are the days of, “just show up and I’ll show you what we do.” Students are very discerning, and react to first impressions much quicker than I remember as a student. mentor for a young person. I require that employers have a detailed list of job duties. A written description of the job is what my students at the college level expect. Gone are the days of, “just show up and I’ll show you what we do.” Students are very discerning, and react to first impressions much quicker than I remember as a student. 58
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Another great way that I’ve found works very well is to invite students to become a shadow to you or your employees for a day or even an afternoon. Another creative idea that a local company has offered to students is that of a tuition reimbursement. Employers that have found a great employee that needs an education have found it worthwhile to help pay for their tuition. Many times this includes an agreement of employment for a certain amount of time to ensure that the investment pays off for the employer. The main goal is to get involved with the students. It might not happen in the first visit. It may take several visits, but the key is to support high school and college programs. The companies that take a sincere interest in the education of students are the ones that make connections. Just showing up to tell the students how many jobs you have available is boring. Students need to see what you do. They need to hear why you do it. They can sense if you’re sincere or not immediately. Many times after a business owner leaves my classroom, students discuss the company. They make quick decisions. The companies that have invested their time into meeting me and my students have found it worthwhile. A recent article that I read that speaks to this connection is from EdWeek.org. It shares lessons on how to create better partnerships with businesses. The web address is: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/ global_learning/2013/01/how_schools_can_successfully_partner_with_ local_businesses.html Some of the highlights that I gained from the article are: 1. The fact that many students drop out due to a lack of relevance is key issue. This is a driving force for me when
designing curriculum. Business partners are the resource that I go to for what is relevant. 2. Having employers stress the need for soft skills is always important. Employees need to be able to communicate with each other and clients. Things like teamwork, communication and presentation skills are a must. 3. The article also stresses some of the benefits that employers might gain by hiring a 16 or 17 yearold student. Students are learning relevant 21st century skills and global knowledge. They have a lot of energy and excitement, plus a desire to succeed. Who wouldn’t want someone like that working for them? And these students return from college as highly skilled laborers. With two thirds of America’s economy driven by consumer spending, a well-educated worker is preferred to a drop-out. The Alliance for Excellent Education’s Bob Wise points out, “Ask any retailer whether their future depends on consumers earning a high school dropout’s $9 per hour or the $20 per hour of postsecondary achievement.”
In conclusion, this is something that takes a lot of hard work. It’s not easy. Everyone wants easy; this is not easy. It takes time. It takes stepping out and making connections.
A group of Buffalo High School students watching a tree climbing demonstration at a recent visit to Hennepin Technical College.
In conclusion, this is something that takes a lot of hard work. It’s not easy. Everyone wants easy; this is not easy. It takes time. It takes stepping out and making connections. You’ll have to stand in front of teenagers. Scary. They will be checking their phones, texting each other about everything you’re saying. Really scary. But when a student comes up to you after you have shared why you love doing what you do, it will be worth it. Period. You may have just ignited a spark that carries that student into a career; possibly a career with your company. A career they will love.
JAY, SIEDSCHLAW,
is a Landscape Design and Construction Instructor at Hennepin Technical College and can be reached at jay.siedschlaw@ hennepintech.edu.
The garden installed by the Buffalo High School FFA Chapter.
october 15
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➾ ME MBER N EWS
ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS Nominations for Todd Bachman Award due November 1 Nominations are now being accepted for the annual Todd Bachman Award for Innovation in Horticultural Business. Created by the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association and the MNLA Foundation, the award annually recognizes a young individual whose innovation in private enterprise has positively influenced horticulture and/or the green industry in the region. The award recipient will receive a plaque and will be recognized in trade publications. In addition, the MNLA Foundation will make a $1,000 cash award in the recipient’s name to his or her alma mater.
Qualifications for Todd Bachman Award Owner or employee of a horticultural business in the north central region (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD). Recipient of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree or greater in horticulture, business or related field from an accredited institution of higher learning. Demonstrated innovation in business, marketing, horticultural production, floral, or landscape practices. For all details and nomination instructions, visit MNLA.biz.
WELCOME NEW MNLA MEMBERS! Bridger Garage Door Charlie Ratgen Vermillion, MN, 612-210-6113
Enright Insurance Services Thomas Enright St. Paul, MN, 612-272-7400
Superb LawnCare Shawna Rothanburg Anoka, MN, 763-742-0430
DeBoer Landscape and Design Jerry DeBoer Faribault, MN, 507-319-8711
Stillwater Motors Marty Foote Stillwater, MN, 651-439-4333
Titan Heating and Cooling, Inc. Phil Christiansen Cottage Grove, MN, 651-248-1757
NOTICE TO MEMBERS Official Notice to Members The 2016 Board of Directors election will be conducted via an electronic ballot. The primary contact of record, which each member has provided to MNLA, will receive access to the ballot via a notice which will be e-mailed between December 1–4, 2015. If you have an e-mail address on record with MNLA, but do not receive the ballot electronically by December 4th, please contact MNLA Executive Director Cassie Larson at cassie@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. If your company does not have an e-mail address on record at MNLA and you wish to vote in the election, please mail or fax (651-633-4986) a request for an official ballot by December 4, 2015 to: MNLA Election, 1813 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113. Results of the election will be announced at the MNLA Annual Membership Meeting to be held at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
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CORRECTION On page 40 of the August 2015 issue of The Scoop, the photo on the opening page of the story “Hot Times for Birches” was not a birch tree, but an aspen tree. We regret the error, and are grateful to the reader that pointed out the mistake.
D W EL IV E ER !
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What will you learn at the show for green industry pros? JANUARY 13-15, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION CENTER
Rebecca Cole, Rebecca Cole GROW
Award-winning, internationally renowned, and GRP-accredited, landscape designer Rebecca Cole has developed her design business and lifestyle brand over the past 20 years, known as Rebecca Cole GROW. (rebeccacolegrows.com) Oprah refers to Rebecca as “one of the top designers in America” and New York Magazine calls her gardens “stylish and urban”. Rebecca has designed hundreds of outdoor “living rooms”, interiors, and events in New York City and beyond. In addition to a star-studded list of celebrities, her diverse array of projects includes premier, high-end NYC locales. Rebecca hosted all 200 episodes of Discovery Channel’s Surprise by Design and has appeared nearly as often as a garden expert on the Today Show. Other appearances include Oprah, The View, CNN, The Early Show, BBC World News, and more. Rebecca is the author of three popular books: Potted Gardens, which won the Quill and Trowel Award for best new gardening book, Paradise Found: Gardening in Unlikely Spaces, and Flower Power. She has also been profiled in over 300 national and international publications as diverse as Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Forbes, Garden Design, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, Us Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens, The New Yorker, and countless others. Between national speaking appearances and local rooftop “greening” in NYC, Rebecca is designing furniture and home accessories. She is keeping her fingers crossed that when the International Space Station is ready for a “re-do” she’ll be available.
EXPO SESSIONS:
Small Space Gardening Big ideas for small spaces! Tips on how to use large plants, containers, furniture, and architectural elements - even in the smallest spaces - to make a big impact. Vertical gardening - more than just walls. Learn how to go beyond just the floor to “green” your entire space Sustainable Urban Landscape Design Become inspired to bring nature to the city. An accredited Green Roof Professional discusses how to go beyond the traditional ideas of urban greening. As a greater percent of the worldwide population continues to move from rural areas to urban, our responsibilities to the environment are changing. Gain positive insight into the many ecological and sustainable ways we can incorporate green into our urban lifestyles and environments. Learn how to make urban spaces not only green and beautiful, but also livable, and the many benefits to doing so.
W W W. N O R T H E R N G R E E N E X P O .O R G 62
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may 15 september 15
Jeffrey Scott, Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc.
Jeffrey Scott, MBA, author, business coach, hall-of-fame consultant, is the expert in growth and profit maximization in the lawn & landscape industry. He grew his company into a successful $10 million enterprise, and he’s now devoted to helping others achieve profound success. Over 6,000 read his monthly newsletter, and he facilitates the Leader’s Edge peer group for landscape business owners.
EXPO SESSIONS:
Benchmarking and Profit Management: Reach your true potential Are you reaching your true potential? Most contractors think they are doing well (or bad) but don’t know for sure. It’s just a guess – and it gets them in trouble and keeps them stuck by not understanding the true potential of their business. Scott will share industry benchmarks he has accumulated on pricing, mark ups, gross profit, net to owner, pay, and many other areas of your business. You will be able to use his insights to strengthen and grow your business and maximize your profit potential.
You will achieve your true profit potential, by learning how to: • Make decisions with more confidence • Scale your business more profitably • Optimize your business model Up-selling and Cross-Selling Landscape Projects So you made the sale and you move on to your next project - but wait, are you leaving money on the table? In this talk, you will learn about all the different areas you can increase the sale, and techniques for captivating your client’s interest, attention and wallet. He will share stories and case studies, and give you tools you can bring back to your firm.
You will immediately increase sales, margins and profits, by learning how to: • Sell more maintenance to design-build clients • Expand your landscape sale • Sell high profit add-on products and services
Jeffrey Scott is also providing a presentation on Tuesday night at the CEO Symposium. Note: Separate registration required. See page 30 for more details. The evening includes a networking reception, dinner and a presentation by Scott called: The Transformative CEO. In today’s fast changing economy you will get run over or become irrelevant if you sit on your laurels. Leading a profitable and dynamic business requires specific leadership and growth traits that all successful CEOs exhibit, but many contractors do not. Scott will help you discover the common traps you need to avoid, and how to create consistent success by adopting these transformative behaviors. Build the company of your dreams, by fulfilling the leadership potential within you.
Register online today! Use the code MNLA2016 before Nov. 1 to receive a 10% discount on your Expo registration fees! i n f o @ N o r t h e r n G r e e n E x p o . o r g | 6 51. 6 3 3 . 4 9 8 7 Generously supported by:
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