The Buckeye, May/June 2021

MAY/JUNE 2021 Vol. 32, Issue 3

The Signature Publication of Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

Inside: Five Ways to Win at Sales Landscape Lighting Technologies An Intro to H-2B

2021 Diagnostic Walkabouts

Walk, Talk, & Learn Learn about the art and science of scouting, diagnosing and controlling of landscape pests.

These interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Ask questions, take pictures and help guide the discussion. It’s an informal and comfortable learning experience.

Discussions are tailored to the audience, weather and time of year, and characteristics of the location—no two walkabouts are ever the same.

Social distancing guidelines will be observed. Details will be shared prior to each event.

2021 Line Up Schedule subject to change, check onla.org/walkabouts for updates

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday, July 15 7:30 to 9:30 am

Inniswood Metro Gardens

To Attend: $45 for ONLA members $65 for non-members Pre-registration is required.

onla.org/walkabouts Presented in Partnership with:

Credits Available: OCNT - 1 ISA - 2 (Certified Arborist, BCMA and Municipal Specialist) LA CES - 2 HSW ODA - 1 hour CORE, ½ hour of 8 and ½ hour of 6A Credits are pending approval.

Visit onla.org/walkabouts for credit updates.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Sunset Memorial Park Thursday, September 30 7:30 to 9:30 am

May/June 2021 Vol. 32, Issue 3

The Buckeye is published six times per year by Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, OH 43081 614.899.1195 | www.onla.org

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year alana@onla.org OFFICERS Devon Stanley, President Benchmark Landscape Construction, Inc. Emily Showalter, Immediate Past President Willoway Nurseries, Inc. Molly John, President-Elect M.J. Design Associates, Inc. DIRECTORS Jason Cromley Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc. Patrick Greeson W. A. Natorp Corp.

Michael Hall Harrell's LLC Fred Higginbotham Millcreek Gardens LLC Scott Knowles Wolf Creek Company Genevieve Reiner Mills Oakland Nursery, Inc. Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College

STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification

THE FINE PRINT The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

CONTENTS 3

Executive Director's Message

5

President's Perspective

FEATURE STORIES

7

Five Ways to Win at Sales by Marty Grunder

9

H-2B and the Landscape Industry by Steven Paciorek

10

Landscape Lighting Technologies by Ingrid Wood

12

Making an Entrance ... Through the Garden Gate

by Bobbie Schwartz

20

A Pear with a Pair of Problems by George Brenn

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

16

OCNT Test Dates and Order Form

17

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics Sponsorships

22

In Memoriam

24

Service Providers

25

Classifieds, Calendar of Events, Advertising Index

ON THE COVER:

Daylilies, Stock Photo, Pixabay

onla.org

May/June 2021

1

More Color. More Blooms.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director, ken@onla.org

Is this the “new normal”? We were all pleasantly surprised when 2020—the year of the pandemic—turned out to be a strong year for nursery, greenhouse, and landscape companies as consumers were stranded at home and had money to spend.

Going into the 2021 season, there was reason for continued market optimism, even though vaccines were rolled out and more parts of our economy opened back up. True to form, consumers keep spending on our industry’s products and services and we’re putting another strong economic year in the books.

But has this continued success revealed new potential issues to manage? Dr. Charlie Hall, AmericanHort chief economist and Professor at Texas A&M University, tracks the costs of key inputs our growers are experiencing. In summary, the overall cost of producing nursery and greenhouse crops is almost 32% higher in 2020 than it was in 2007, with labor experiencing the largest increase (46.3% higher in 2020). The good news is most growers and landscapers have been able to raise prices to offset these rising input costs. But some inflationary prices are transitory—reflecting a temporary increase that may fall in the coming economic cycle. Others become “built in” and a permanent cost of doing business. We need to monitor the situation to ensure our price increases can hold ground with our cost increases.

The green industry is currently in the mature stage of the industry life cycle and there are numerous pressures that result in a price-cost squeeze (or margin compression). Labor, energy, fertilizer, propagative materials, plastics, and freight are among the most inflationary inputs. In the broader economy, U.S. consumer prices rose sharply in March as the economic recovery gained momentum, marking the start of an expected months long pickup in inflation pressures. The Labor Department reported that its consumer-price index—which measures what consumers pay for everyday items including groceries, clothing, recreational activities, and vehicles— jumped 2.6% in the year ended March, the biggest 12-month increase since August 2018, and rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in March from February. One of the key issues we’re seeing that marks a big change from recent years is that for the first time in a decade a wide range of businesses—including most in our industry segments—have pricing power right now. After a year of closures, people are eager to get out and spend, and they have the means to do it. We see an awakening of the consumer economy.

Economists widely expect consumer prices to keep climbing in the months ahead after nearly a year of muted overall inflation onla.org

as the Covid-19 pandemic damped consumer spending. Dr. Hall anticipates a similar pattern in our industry and projects a 5.24% increase in the input costs of nursery and greenhouse growers. This will transfer in some manner to landscapers.

Our challenge will be understanding those cost increases, managing industry supply, and holding the necessary pricing power to avoid the dreaded “margin squeeze”. This will require a close watch on inflationary trends and careful analysis for SKU rationalization, customer profitability analyses, and determining the need for price increases. Armed with such information, growers and landscapers will be in a much better position to understand the pressures on their relative costs of production and use these data in making more informed pricing decisions.

Your ONLA team will continue to monitor the changing business environment, fight for our industry, and keep you informed of changes you need to be aware of. We will provide periodic updates on key costs of inputs and share with you best practices across the industry. We are developing programming to help you navigate these business challenges, develop your team, and grow your business. Watch your email and our website (ONLA.org) for upcoming details.

What we do together matters—now more than ever!—when it comes to growing and protecting the future of our industry in Ohio and beyond. Your membership in ONLA will encourage others to join. I appreciate your continued support of ONLA. Help us get the word out: the industry benefits from a growing ONLA membership.B

Ken can be contacted at ken@onla.org

May/June 2021

3

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55, 110, 200, 300, or 400 gal

THREE POINT MISTER

40, 60, or 100 gal

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NURSE TRAILERS

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937-848-2501 | 614-396-7247 | 937-247-9144 | GreenVelvet.com 4 The Buckeye

onla.org

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Devon Stanley, Benchmark Landscape Construction Inc. “Stereotype” as defined by Mr. Webster as a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgement. Where do we get stereotypes, how do they emerge, why do they exist? Those questions can be answered simply from one of two categories: Either those created by members of the group being stereotyped by some particular action or a generalized perception by those stereotyping stemming from an opinion that maybe lacks true education or understanding about the group being stereotyped.

The Green Industry is riddled with stereotypes—some of them positive and, of course, many negative and like most of you I have heard them all.

I heard one of my favorite stereotypes when I was in my sophomore year at The Ohio State University. I had decided to satisfy a required elective with a Ballroom dancing class.

I had heard it was easy and the final was merely attending a formal ball at the end. As I was dancing with one particular young lady I was explaining to her what my degree was going to be and her response, in her exact words, was, “You can get a degree in that—being a lawn jockey?” After I swallowed my pride and thought about her words I realized the stereotype that she subscribed to made my chosen profession of lesser value and that it might be an uphill climb to gain the respect of professionalism by the rest of the world.

In writing this article and thinking about the stereotypes we face in this industry, I surveyed some colleagues in my office and wrote a list of some generalized stereotypes we encounter on a daily basis.

On the negative side: • There were names and characterizations like “lawn jockey” and “dirt dog” • The expectation to be cheap (e.g. free estimates).

• A lack of career growth opportunities for anyone other than owners • The sentiment that landscapers always seem to be blamed for negative exterior damage or that we will clean up someone else’s mess.

• You don’t need to be educated, e.g. "it’s just grass or mulch."

On the positive side: • We are a creative people • We generally have a hard work ethic and are perfectionists • Job security (as proven by the increased revenue many of us experienced this past year as residents invested in their homes during the pandemic) onla.org

The list isn’t exhaustive by any means but it is proof that stereotypes of our industry exist. If we want to change the outlook much of the world has about us, our profession, and our industry, then we each need to be positively educating those we engage as clients, existing and future employees, colleagues and vendors.

There are not very many barriers to entry in the Green Industry, especially in the landscape and maintenance arena.

The stereotype that you don't need to be educated, and "all you need is a truck, trailer, and a good strong back" may be accurate—as many of us once started out in a similar fashion.

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with starting out that way, but as a profession we don’t want those entering the market to stay in that place for too long. We should want to promote excellence and professionalism in all we do. That starts with adhering to industry professional standards for horticulture, arboriculture, and turf grass and it continues to progress into system standards developed by any good business such as continuing education, communication, technology incorporation, utilizing a professional CRM, appearance/ image/branding, employee uniforms, marketing and website/ social media. The image and performance standards we set will chip away at the negative perceptions cast upon us by the uninformed or prejudiced public.

Certification is a great way to start adhering to a known practice standard. Both ONLA (OCNT) and NALP (LIC) offer certifications that provide you with an easy way to showcase your professionalism. Seemingly small things can set us apart and improve our image to the outside world. I know that there will always be negative stereotypes regarding the Green Industry, but we can fight back with our practices exemplified and credentials earned. Please reach out to the ONLA and see how we can partner with you, wherever you are in your career or business, to change the stereotype conversation. B

Devon can be contacted at dstanley@benchmarkohio.com May/June 2021

5

Check us out on the web at www.davistreefarm.com sales@davistreefarm.com

6126 Neff Rd. Valley City, OH PH: 330-483-3324 Fax: 330-483-4483

Restoring the native landscape

ernstseed.com EvergreenSeedSupply.com EvergreenBowie.com 6 The Buckeye

sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321 onla.org

FIVE WAYS TO WIN IN SALES Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co. Sales drive everything; without them our endeavors are going nowhere. While we know demand is high this year landscape professionals still need to pay close attention to their sales: are you closing sales that your company can be profitable on? Are you building relationships that can lead to future sales?

I put together five tips for staying on your “A-Game” this spring and summer, so that you can keep sales coming and have a successful 2021: 1. Know who your ideal client is and spend time with prospects that fit that description.

One of the surest ways to waste time and not make sales is to waste time with prospects who aren’t your ideal client. You must define who your ideal client is and all the attributes about them so you know where and how to look for them. Hint: They tend to stick to together; where there are some, there are more!

2. Success is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sales take time; you have to have patience to get to know the prospect before you ask for the sale. Some of my best clients are ones that took me years to finally get an order from. Don't give up; keep steady and be persistent. Think about the people you enjoy buying from; what are their traits? Chances are, they take their time and are not someone you avoid when you see them coming. Hint: Slow and steady wins the race.

are Ohio State grads, writing “Go Buckeyes!” at the end will make them smile!

5. Use a selling system.

It's a process I developed and have used at Grunder Landscaping Co. for almost 30 years; it works. We can teach you this system, or you can develop your own by thinking through the steps you have found you need to take to be successful in sales. A process helps you find a groove and it forms good habits. Large companies like UPS and McDonald's found their success by developing and following systems and you can't argue with their success. Hint: Spend some money on sales training for you and your team; nothing grows sales like a well-trained and well-equipped salesforce. Our upcoming Virtual Sales Bootcamp may be the perfect fit, learn more: https://growgroupinc.com/virtual-sales-bootcamp Sales drive everything. Without sales your company is going nowhere. You can't assume the phone is going to ring; go out and make it ring by being a sales professional people talk about positively. Take some time with these ideas and think about what you can do to improve your selling efforts. You don't stand out in a crowded market place by being average; you stand out by going above and beyond in all that you do. Happy Selling! B

3. Watch where you park.

My sales professionals are taught to never park in a client's driveway. We don't want to block the spouse, children, or guests from coming or going. Everything about selling needs to be about the prospect or client, not about you. We strive to be as considerate as possible. When we call on commercial clients, we watch where we park too, making sure we're not taking up one of their customers' private spots or the CEO's spot! Again, this is simple stuff; however, it works. Hint: Carry door hangers and put them on the doors of neighboring properties; sales come from all sorts of places and we always need to be on the lookout for new business.

4. Send a thank you note after your sales call.

This is old fashioned and it works. People do business with people they know, like, and trust and a thank you note will start the relationship off on the right foot. Thirty years ago, a thank you note was a given; today it's not done by many and you'll stand out if you send one. Today, salespeople want to e-mail, text, or call; they don't want to take the time to hand write a note. Be the one that does it and you can and will make more sales. Hint: Mention something specific in your thank you note that demonstrates how well you listened or something you had in common with the prospect. If you both onla.org

Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com May/June 2021

7

Welcome New Members!

These companies and individuals have been approved for ONLA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within three weeks following receipt of this issue.

Growing High Quality Plants, People, and Relationships

Serving Garden Centers & Landscape Professionals Since 1978 Annuals Combo Planters Grasses Hardy Ferns Herbs Peonies

Perennials Proven Winners® Shrubs Succulents Vines

The following companies are applying for Active membership: Bryce Brennan Brennan Lawn & Landscape LLC PO Box 60 Avon, Ohio 44011 Lauren O'Neill Cool Pools 125 S. Park St. Traverse City, Michigan 49684 Marjorie Boehme GoodSeed Farm Landscapes 200 Storer Road Peebles, Ohio 45660

CUSTOM GROWING DELIVERY SERVICES POP MATERIALS

www.millcreekplants.com 800-948-1234 | SALES@MILLCREEKPLANTS.COM 15088 SMART-COLE ROAD | OSTRANDER, OH 43061

Zachary Gordon MGZ Lawn & Grounds Care 5250 Troy-Sidney Road Piqua, Ohio 45356 Michael Blakeman Woodhandle Landscape Design, LLC 15619 Stillwell Rd Huntsburg, Ohio 44046 The following individuals are applying for Professional Individual membership: Matthew Henricks, Columbus Regional Airport Authority Lindsey Long, Greenleaf Landscapes, Inc. Todd Schmelzenbach, Greenleaf Landscapes, Inc. The following individuals are applying for Student membership: Ursean Bingham, Ohio Virtual Academy Sharon McNew, Cincinnati State and Technical College Rachel Midea, Penn State University James Sasser, Kent State University

8 The Buckeye

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com

onla.org

H-2B AND THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY Steven J. Paciorek, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage, and Hour Division Since 2009, the United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has been conducting investigations of businesses that employ H-2B workers. H-2B violations can result in employers having to pay back wages and/or civil money penalties. Violations may also result in debarment, which means the employer is disqualified from participating in the H-2B program for a period of up to three years.

The landscape industry uses more H-2B workers than any other industry. WHD is interested in helping H-2B employers in the landscape industry understand their obligations under the H-2B program, as well as the other laws enforced by the Division, so that violations can be prevented.

In addition to H-2B, the WHD also enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA generally requires that workers be paid for all hours of work at not less than the minimum wage. In addition, overtime pay—time and one half of the regular rate of pay for hours over 40 in a workweek—is required.

In the landscape industry, some investigations have found that workers were not paid for all hours of work. This may occur when workers report to the place of business and are not paid for preliminary work activities, such as loading tools and equipment onto a truck or receiving instructions, or for traveling to and from work sites at the beginning or end of the day. The most common FLSA violation results from workers not receiving overtime pay for hours over 40 in each workweek.

FLSA violations generally result in employers having to pay back wages to workers. WHD may also seek liquidated damages , which, in effect, doubles the back wages. In addition, civil money penalties may be assessed.

Employers who have a temporary or seasonal need for nonagricultural workers that cannot be met by the U.S. workforce may apply for foreign workers through the H-2B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Businesses that use workers with H-2B visas are required to comply with requirements specific to the program.

In applying for H-2B workers, an employer must attest that it will offer terms and working conditions that are normal to U.S. workers similarly employed and will offer workers a bona fide full time job opportunity. The H-2B workers may not displace U.S. workers or replace workers involved in a labor dispute.

Prospective H-2B employers must actively recruit and hire qualified U.S. workers for the H-2B job opportunity. A recruitment log must be maintained with information on all job applicants and reasons why any applicants were not hired.

H-2B workers and U.S. workers hired in response to the recruitment efforts have to be paid not less than a prevailing rate, which will be noted on the approved application. There onla.org

are restrictions regarding deductions from workers’ pay. For example, workers cannot be made to pay for application, agent, or attorney fees, whether directly or through an agent. Nor can they be made to pay for an employer’s recruitment or other business costs.

H-2B workers cannot be relocated to work in another area unless the employer obtains a new certification. If an H-2B worker quits or is fired early, the employer is obligated to promptly notify both the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security that the H-2B visa holder is no longer employed. If a worker is dismissed prior to the end of the employment period, the employer is liable for the full cost of return transportation home.

Under the FLSA, an H-2B employer generally must pay for transportation costs incurred by H-2B workers traveling between their homes and the U.S. work locations to the extent that these costs would result in the workers earning less than the FLSA minimum wage in their first or last week of work.

An employer must accurately advertise and state on the application the actual rate (or range of rates) to be paid to the H-2B workers as well as any perks to the job, such as the possibility of earning bonuses. Investigations have found that it is not unusual for H-2B employers to pay some or all H-2B workers more than the rate shown on the application. This is a violation because the failure to disclose the higher rate of pay, bonuses, etc. means that potential U.S. workers were offered less favorable terms than the H-2B workers, which may result in U.S. workers not applying for the job.

Other matters which must be accurately specified on the application include the reasons for and the dates of temporary need and the number of workers needed.

Many employers use attorneys or agents to prepare H-2B applications. Even when an application is prepared by an attorney or agent, the employer is still responsible for the accuracy of all information contained in the application.

The above is a very brief overview which we hope will be helpful to landscape industry employers. More detailed information can be found on our website at www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

Although an enforcement agency, the Wage and Hour Division is committed to assisting employers in complying with the laws that we enforce. Please contact your local WHD office if you have any questions or if you would like us to provide a presentation for your business association meeting. B Steven J. Paciorek is the Community Outreach & Resource Planning Specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. He may be contacted at Paciorek.Steven@dol. gov or 614.643.2961 May/June 2021

9

Landscape Lighting Technologies Ingrid Wood, Wolf Creek Company

Technology makes our life easier and more fun! Home automation is trending, and technology plays an ever-bigger role in our green industry as well. There are so different landscape lighting options that it can get confusing. We want you to understand these options and be prepared when your clients ask for color enhancement or warmth settings with their lighting.

Chuck Watterson gave a wonderful training at the ONLA Virtual Education Sessions this past January that helps shed light on the matter.

Why should you learn about landscape lighting? It is the way of the future and you want to stay in-the-know. And of course, adding lighting to your business means added revenue stream.

You need to understand the differences between these lighting technology systems so that you can explain their benefits and sell these products to your clients.

LED and Colors Make Lighting Affordable and Fun!

Some homeowners may have seen Bluetooth or WIFI landscape lighting at a friend’s home and want to get their landscape lit. Other homeowners don’t even know they want this until they see it, and they may not even understand why they want it. But they know they want to be able to use their phone to control it. With the invention of LED, cost of leaving lights on has come down, so running lights at night does not cost the homeowner as much as it has in the past.

For the homeowner, effectively lit landscaping does not only provide security and safety, it also adds beauty and value to the property and expands their livable space. Lighting technology allows you to change the lighting color and mood. Homeowners can show off their sports team colors, add fun to a 4th of July party, or create a soft romantic setting for an intimate anniversary dinner.

10 The Buckeye

Sample Project: Lighting the Front of a Home

Let’s do a sample project of lighting the front of a home with an entry way offset. The typical setup will need: garage 3 fixtures, 1-2 between garage and entry, the entry 2 fixtures, dining room 2-3 fixtures, for a total of 8-10 fixtures.

Adam Cornish, Territory Manager at our Cincinnati branch, explained this using the following scenarios: • Existing Lighting Upgrade with WIFI • Install on a Budget with Bluetooth • High-end New Install with WIFI • Upgrade Existing Lighting with WIFI If there is existing lighting installed and the homeowner wants to add color enhancement and warmth settings, it is the easiest to retrofit the lamps. Each lamp connects independently to the internet router over WIFI. You will need: • • •

A modern router, made for the Internet of Things (IoT) MR16 bullet or PAR36 large lamps, for example Chameleon from Brilliance.

To install the Brilliance app on your phone, or you can use Alexa or Google Home. onla.org

Install on a Budget with Bluetooth

If no existing lighting is installed and the homeowner wants color enhancement on a budget, we recommend using Bluetooth technology. It is the simplest and most inexpensive way for the non-tech-savvy. Bluetooth does not use the internet; instead, the lights use built-in Bluetooth radio-waves to talk with your phone app. What you need: • • •

•

Integrated Bluetooth fixtures. There are many manufacturers—we use and like the Alliance lb400-bt fixture.

The manufacturer’s phone app. You can turn lights on and off, change color and lumens.

The Bluetooth Power Meters show the total watts used and available, and percentage of capacity used. If a homeowner wants to add lighting to dark spots, you can easily see what is possible.

The app is helpful with service calls. You can instantly see if all installed lights are operational.

the WIFI system. The controller is the only part that needs a network, and that can be achieved using a ethernet wire, directly connecting to a phone, or over the WIFI. Contractors can see this is similar to an irrigation decoder system.

A free added cloud service allows a homeowner to connect to their system from anywhere through the internet, from their phone. Here a sample of features: • • • • •

If you want a larger installation, then make sure the fixtures have Bluetooth mesh technology. That technology works as a relay system and allows fixtures to talk as a group with your phone app.

•

Bluetooth Timers

•

The default app does not provide ability for timing. If the homeowner wants timing, then you will need to either add Bluetooth timers to the transformer or install a transformer with built-in timer (Allliance IT timer). This timer comes with its own app for scheduling.

Dimming control: adjust intensity from 0-100% 40 custom lighting themes, using tunable whites and color scenes.

Select from 30,000 colors!

The Luxor app allows you to set up multiple sites. If the homeowner wants a change, you can do this from anywhere with WIFI. It is a huge timesaver.

Use 250 Groups for different zones around the home or for individual fixtures. For example, the homeowner wants only the entry path to the house lit during the night but not the rest of the landscape on the property. You can create a group for that, and set it to light at 50%, and job is done.

You can program Events for each day of the week that start certain themes to play at specific times, or select Sunrise or Sunset.

Tie multiple controllers together

“Lighting Up the Castle"

High-end New Install with WIFI:

Homeowners drive the requests for this technology when they want to control their lighting when away from home. They often want this for the added security that lighting provides to their home.

High-end WIFI lighting technology provides much more functionality and is fully customizable. For example the FX Luminair ZDC system provides Zoning (Z), Dimming (D) and Color (C ). This is a true system; the Luxor transformer (150 or 300) provides all features built in. It can handle low volt and high voltage lights, so that you can also incorporate the existing post light on the sidewalk or sconce light by door.

The images above show a demonstration installation of the Luxor system at Loveland Castle. This is not your average home, and as you can see, the tunable white at about 3000 Kelvin lights up the castle nicely. Also, typically when one uses colored lights, they lose intensity, but with Luxor’s lighting system there is no loss of intensity. B

This Luxor system is super reliable because all fixtures communicate over the standard 2-wire path, which does not burden

Ingrid Wood is the Director of Marketing & eCommerce at Wolf Creek Company. She may be contacted at Ingrid.Janse-Wood@wolfcreekcompany.com

onla.org

May/June 2021

11

Making an Entrance ...

Through the Garden Gate Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD

One definition of making an entrance is appearing in or entering into a place in a very dramatic, ostentatious, or conspicuous manner. I don’t particularly believe that entering a garden needs to be dramatic but there should be something that invites you in and, perhaps, tells a story.

Much to my surprise, two red gates at an estate in eastern Ohio, do not enclose a red garden. Instead, they enclose a blue garden although there are red flowers outside one of the gates. Further along, however, more red gates lead to a Cupid Garden.

How better to do that than with a garden gate? The variety of gates is infinite but I’d like to share some different ones with you.

Many gates, like fences, are white or black but why not a color that indicates the color scheme in the garden you are going to enter? For instance, at Rotary Botanical Gardens a few years ago, I saw a purple gate that echoed the colors of the gardens on either side. Mark Dwyer, formerly the Director of Horticulture, used to paint gates and obelisks different colors each year, depending on this color scheme for the year.

This is the perfect gate for a lovers’ garden.

Sometimes, gates tell us about the people who live within. For instance, at the home of a Newport, KY resident, the gate is a representation of a harpsichord.

This purple gate blends well with the pink and purple flowers on either side.

Colorful gates do not necessarily mean that the owner is an avid gardener. A large property in California had blue gates that beckoned one to enter. Later on, during the tour, we saw that he had a blue front door as well a blue gate to one of his garden rooms.

The owner of this property obviously loves blue. onla.org

As I passed by this gate, I was hoping to hear music but evidently no one was home.

May/June 2021

13

In California, I passed by a wrought iron gate that holds an artful display of gardening tools, There was no question in my mind that a gardener lived in the house although I never saw the garden.

If you were to walk up a driveway and see a gate painted with flowers, you would immediately suspect that you were walking into a gardener’s garden. I saw such a gate in Buffalo on their Garden Walk. The approach to the gate was colorful but quite a surprise waited on the other side of the gate. The garden was a riot of red, orange, yellow, and white, all displayed against a side fence that was painted barn red. Upon leaving the garden, only then did I notice that the inner side of the gate was also painted barn red.

This flower-filled gate is hiding a colorful, flower-filled garden.

The fact that this gate displays so many types of shovels and spades indicates that this homeowner is a very knowledgeable gardener.

Some gardens are reminders of happy travels. One garden I visited in California was a paean to the Orient where the homeowners had traveled extensively. All of the plants and the hardscaping had an Asian theme.

Why don’t we ever think of painting a gate different colors on the inside and outside?

This simple gate repeats the construction design of the fence.

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Another garden was a tribute to Renaissance Italy with sculpted plants and ornate design.

These days, many people are concerned about the environment.

Therefore, they want to find ways to recycle materials. Trees are dying due to both disease and insects. The Cleveland Botanical Garden Children’s Garden has used dead tree trunks and branches to create an arching entrance to the garden with a small deadwood gate that features a carrot, indicating that food is being grown within.

This Italianate gate and pillars allow a glimpse of an ornate fountain.

If you designing gates for a large estate, you could use old industrial gates on rollers that can probably be found in salvage yards. Depending on the client’s taste, they could be colorfully powder coated.

Instead of chipping and composting deadwood, large pieces have been used to create an entrance to The Cleveland Botanical Garden Children’s Garden.

Whether a gate be simple or ornate, make it something special so that entering the garden is the beginning of a journey or a story. B Bobbie may be contacted at bobbie@bgthumb.com. Photos courtesy of Bobbie Schwartz.

These salvaged metal gates were installed at the entrance to an artist’s compound in Texas. onla.org

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GET CERTIFIED IN 2021!

Become an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician WHY? • Improve your skills and increase your worth as an employee •

Gain recognition from the public, colleagues and competitors

•

Provide professional development for your employees

UPCOMING TEST DATES May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, December 16 SPECIALIZATIONS: GROWER The grower is the base of the green industry. In order to have healthy plants to sell, the nursery employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including plant identification, development and health; growing and harvesting techniques; plant nutrients; pest and disease elimination; plant maintenance and more.

scientific horticultural advice to customers, garden center employees must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including proper plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, landscape design, proper planting and maintenance of nursery stock and more.

LANDSCAPE The public, architects and contractors have come to rely on landscape contractors and installers for dependable landscape construction techniques and horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice and proper installation, the landscape installer must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas including plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and more.

CORE Core is important to all aspects of the Green Industry. Plant ID, Professionalism, Safety & First Aid are examples of the Core chapters of which all nursery and landscape professionals should have knowledge.

GARDEN CENTER The retail garden center is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable READY TO TAKE THE TEST? REGISTER AT ONLA.ORG. horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound

A program of:

TRAINING MANUAL ORDER FORM NAME: COMPANY: ADDRESS: CITY:

STATE:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

Check enclosed Check #:

Card Number: Exp. Date: Card Holder: Signature:

3-digit:

VISA

MasterCard

ZIP:

MEMBER RATES (Call for non-member pricing) * Landscape + Core ______ x $125.00 = $_______ Garden Center ______ x $75.00 = $_______ Grower ______ x $75.00 = $_______ All Manuals ______ x $250.00 = $_______ Replacement CD Rom ______ x $25.00 = $_______ Total = $_______ * Written Manual and Computer Based Training CD Rom for each

Return to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association • 72 Dorchester Square • Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Ph: 614.899.1195 • 800.825.5062 • F: 614.899.9489

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2021 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT THE EVENT

OHLO 2021

The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics tests students’ skills through hands-on, competitive events designed by industry professionals. OHLO broadens the high school education experience and introduces students to the many opportunities offered by a career in the green industry.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Retaining quality employees is a priority for any business, and the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association is dedicated to building a strong workforce for our industry.

Through the OHLO sponsorship program, businesses can have a direct impact when it matters—when young adults are exploring their career options. More so, your involvement guarantees that your business’ name and brand are top of mind with this future workforce.

ONLA is anticipating attendance at 200 students from 20 schools. Excitement is already building for the fourth annual event. Your support will make OHLO 2021 bigger and better.

Thursday, October 14 & Friday, October 15, 2021 OSU ATI Campus, Wooster, OH Thursday Night Kick-Off Party Students and sponsors enjoy pizza and games Competition briefings and introductions Career Exploration Fair Connecting companies and students Broadening perceptions of the industry and its careers Fun Zone Activities and education for students when they are not competing in Friday’s events Awards Ceremony Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for individuals Team trophies Competitive Events: Hardscape Installation • Compact Excavator Operation Landscape Maintenance • Landscape Plant Installation Turfgrass • Knot Tying • Low Voltage Lighting Sales Presentation • Skid Steer Operation Irrigation • Truck and Trailer Operation Plant Identification • Cost Estimation

Connect With Future Green Industry Professionals!

SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31, 2021 To secure a sponsorship, visit onla.org/ohlo onla.org

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2021 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Gold Sponsor • • • • • • • •

- $5,000

Remarks at Opening and Closing Ceremonies Logo recognition on all print and digital marketing materials, event program and event signage Logo recognition on event t-shirt Option to distribute giveaway with your company logo Verbal recognition at Opening and Closing ceremonies Complimentary booth at Career Exploration event (Max two booths) Space to display items at competition site (e.g. trailer or tent of equipment) Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and on ONLA’s social media networks

Silver Sponsor • • • • • • •

- $2,500

Logo recognition on all print and digital marketing materials, event program and event signage Logo recognition on event t-shirt Option to distribute giveaway with your company logo Verbal recognition at Opening and Closing ceremonies Complimentary booth at Career Exploration event Space to display items at competition site (e.g. trailer or tent of equipment) Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and on ONLA’s social media networks

Bronze Sponsor • • • • •

- $1,500

Logo recognition on all print and digital marketing materials, event program and event signage Logo recognition on event t-shirt Verbal recognition at Opening and Closing ceremonies Complimentary booth at Career Exploration event Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and on ONLA’s social media networks

Fun Zone Sponsor - $1,500 • • • • • •

Name and logo on signage at Fun Zone activity area Facetime with student attendees Recognition on all print and digital marketing materials, event program and signage Logo on event T-shirt Complimentary booth at Career Exploration event Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and ONLA’s social media

2021 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Breakfast, Lunch or Snack Station Sponsor - $1,000 • • • • •

Choose breakfast, lunch, or snack Logo on signage of sponsored area/function Recognition on all print and digital marketing materials, event program and party signage, and event t-shirt Verbal recognition at Opening and Closing ceremonies Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and on ONLA’s social media networks

Supporting Sponsor - $500 • • •

Recognition in event program and event signage Verbal and multimedia recognition at Opening and Closing ceremonies Recognition in The Buckeye magazine and ONLA’s social media

SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31, 2021 To secure a sponsorship, visit onla.org/ohlo

A Pear With a Pair of Problems

By George Brenn, MIAH, Four Seasons Landscape Nursery, Inc.

Callery pear spreads near a Martin County Indiana roadway.

Martin County was once home to one of the earliest Bradford Pear nurseries, located near the present day Crane Naval Base.

Ubiquitous. Merriam-Webster defines this as “constantly encountered” and “widespread.”

To my mind, ubiquitous is a good term to describe a number of plant varieties seen in both residential and commercial landscapes. Those ubiquitous varieties would include Emerald Arborvitae, Goldsturm Rudbeckia and others. But the supreme entity on the ubiquitous list would have to be Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) and its many offspring, the most notorious of which is the Bradford Pear.

The story behind Bradford Pear is an interesting tale of good intentions gone bad. What seemed to be a “nearly perfect” tree when first introduced to the nursery industry has become a nemesis in this 21st century. And the ultimate insult to any selfrespecting landscape plant will surely become the fate of the Callery Pear family: invasive species.

The story begins on the West Coast of America. In the early 1900s, the fertile soils of Northern California and Southern Oregon had become famous for the production of European Pears (Pyrus communis). As time passed, the consumer demand for these delicious fruits grew, as did production. One single county in Southern Oregon reported their 1916 Pear production to be worth about $10 Million dollars (about $2.3 Billion in 2020 dollars).

However, there was a very dark cloud on this horizon: fire blight. In that same year, 1916, a California nurseryman wrote that Pear production in the San Joaquin Valley, once known for excellent European Pears, had been wiped out entirely by fire blight.

A plant scientist in Oregon had been working on the fire blight problem and learned that the Callery Pear, which came from China to the U.S. around 1908, was highly resistant to 20 The Buckeye

fire blight and might serve as a rootstock for the European varieties. However, to further his research, he needed more seed from China—seed containing the genetic code that made it resistant to the fire blight that was a death sentence to the European Pear varieties.

Now we get to the really good part of this story, the part where the government gets involved. Contact was made with a man named Fairchild at the USDA’s Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. Fairchild had been involved with bringing Japanese Cherries to Washington, D.C. He arranged for a “plant-hunter” from the Netherlands to travel back to China in search of Callery Pear seeds. The native Chinese Callery Pears were found in many locations ranging from dry mountain slopes to stream banks. Fruit production was quite sparse, and seed collection was laborious and time-consuming.

The collected seeds eventually ended up in two locations: a test orchard in Oregon, and at the U.S Plant Introduction Station in Glen Dale, MD. Here, seeds were planted, seedlings harvested and replanted, and the element of time, so essential in understanding plant performance and adaptability, was given its due.

We now move forward in time to the early 1950s, and a young horticulturist at Glen Dale named John Creech began to observe the Callery Pear plants growing there and to evaluate them for ornamental qualities instead of simply rootstocks. One tree, grown from seed acquired near Nanjing, was about 30 years old when Creech first evaluated it. He was impressed by its striking ornamental qualities, AND the fact that it was thornless. This tree had outstanding flowers, glossy foliage, was not troubled with insect or disease issues, and seemed to hold up well in storms. Creech was infatuated with this tree and determined that it held significant value as a landscape ornamental. He decided it should be named after a former Director of the Glen onla.org

Dale Plant Introduction Station, F.C. Bradford. Hence, the christening of what came to be known as Bradford Pear.

Prior to releasing this new tree to the nursery industry in 1960, Creech selected the new and treeless subdivision of University Park, near Washington, D.C. This area had poor quality soils, and Creech thought it would be an ideal place to test the adaptability of Bradford Pears. He planted about 180 young trees in 1954 and benefitted their form by pruning lower branches. The trees thrived, were vigorous and the decision was made to release Bradford Pear to nurserymen by inviting growers to take shoots to be grafted onto Callery Pear rootstocks. The unseen issue involved the DNA of the scions and that of the rootstocks.

Bradford Pears were soon in production in many nursery fields and became wildly (no pun intended) popular. It is true that the nursery industry promoted the ubiquity of flowering pears.

Trees were in demand and growers delighted in the revenue source this new tree provided. However, the dark clouds of reality were looming. While those original University Park trees remained essentially fruitless, the rest of the population growing at the Glen Dale Station, the nearly 2,500 Callery Pear seedlings that were now good-sized trees, produced abundant fruit—small, but plentiful. Lesson learned: Bradford Pears planted in a mono-culture produce very minimal fruit, but when planted near other pears … fruit can be abundant!

Another relevant issue became apparent as Bradford Pear trees increased in age and size. While most of the University Park trees displayed reasonable sturdiness, many of the trees produced in nursery fields developed narrow crotch angles, and because of the inherent vigor of the species, branching was abundant, leading to a propensity for breakage along the branch bark ridge where tight branch angles often led to bark inclusions. The bigger the tree grew, the bigger the problem became.

Enterprising plantsmen recognized this “weak-wooded” issue and the original industry enthusiasm for ‘Bradford’ waned.

They began evaluating and selecting trees that developed narrower crowns, more upright growth, etc. In the 1960s and later, newer cultivars entered the marketplace including ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Autumn Blaze’, ’Chanticleer’ and ‘Cleveland Select’ (probably the same tree), ‘Earlyred’, ‘Gladiator’, ‘Rancho’, ‘Redspire’, ‘Trinity’, and more. Even the U.S National Arboretum introduced new columnar forms named ‘Whitehouse’ and ‘Capital’, although both of these varieties have severe disease problems and are “out of favor.”

So, isn’t it a good idea to have diversity in plantings? For sure, diversity is beneficial in many circumstances. When you visit an orchard to pick apples, you find row after row of trees, but each row contains a different variety: ‘Red Delicious’ next to ‘McIntosh’ next to ‘Jonathan’ next to ‘Gala’ and so on.

The reason they are planted in this manner is simple: crosspollination. Some plants are self-sterile, meaning they cannot pollinate themselves. Apples, pears, plums and sweet cherries are self-sterile and cannot produce fruit without the benefit of pollen from another tree of the same genus and species. onla.org

Callery pear invading a forest in Daviess County Indiana The problem with fruit production in the Callery Pear plantings actually was diversity. With good intentions of solving the weak-wooded issue of Bradford Pear, the influx of new Pear varieties from the nursery industry was prompting the more serious problem of fruit production due to cross-pollination.

The trees that started out being “essentially fruitless” were becoming anything but fruitless, much to the delight of birds.

Plucking the small but plump fruits and depositing them along with a glob of purely organic fertilizer would lead to the demise of flowering Pear trees and the impending threat of inclusion among the list of invasive species. Yes, it is true that the birds and the bees have promoted the ubiquity of flowering pears.

We have all seen the result of this problem, although it may have gone unnoticed. Roadsides, vacant land, fence-rows, unmanaged properties and even well-kept landscapes can become new homes for volunteer Callery Pears. As an industry of the 21st century, we need to recognize this problem and take action. Should we still be selling Flowering Pears?

Just like the original evaluation of all those Callery Pear seedlings from China and the element of time that was required to assess the factors that bring value to any ornamental plant, the element of time has shown us the shortcomings of this tree.

Without doubt, Bradford Pear is a tree with a pair (at least) of problems and we in the nursery industry today need to lessen the ubiquity of flowering pears.

Author’s note: An in-depth article on the history of Bradford Pear can be found in a 2018 article appearing in the Washington Post Magazine entitled Scientists thought they had created the perfect tree. But it became a nightmare.

Editor's note: The Ohio Department of Agriculture has established new rules for invasive species, in which it determines Pyrus calleryana as invasive and will prohibit its sale and distribution in Ohio beginning January 7, 2023. For more details, visit agri.ohio.gov and search Invasive Plants. B George may be contacted at george@fourseasonsvalpo.com.

Photos provided by the Daviess-Martin CISMA, taken by Midwest Drone Services LLC

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In Memoriam

Dr. Kenneth W. Reisch, "Ken", age 91, of Lewis Center, Ohio, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his life Janice "Jan", and their four children on March 10, 2021.

Ken was born in Southington, Connecticut to Bertha and William Reisch, 10-7-1929 and he attended the University Of Connecticut, graduating with a BS in 1947 in Landscape Architecture & Horticulture. He attended The Ohio State University for Graduate School, receiving his PHD in 1956. Ken taught between 1952-1972 in the Horticultural & Agricultural Research Departments and served as Associate Dean for the College of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Home Economics at The Ohio State University for 15 years until he retired 1989.

He held many leadership positions throughout his life, wrote or contributed to too many publications to list, and received a multitude of recognitions and awards. He was an active member of the Ohio Nursery Association. He loved teaching and he was a lifelong learner.

After retirement to present, he was an Associate Dean emeritus, served on many committees and boards and the one that he was the most instrumental for was the Chadwick Arboretum. He also served on the Worthington Arborist Committee for 30 years. Ken's legacy will be how he made people feel and his commitment to family, friends, community, education, and his faith. He loved gardening, singing in the choir, traveling with family and friends, coffee in the morning with something sweet, a glass of red wine with dinner, and attending Buckeye sporting events. Jan said that Ken said his proudest accomplishment was his family.

He is survived by his high-school sweetheart and soulmate, Janice "Jan" who was always by his side and one was not without the other.

Ken and Jan had the adventure of a lifetime. Ken will be missed and remembered by his four children and their spouses, Karen (Terry), Mark (Tricia), Laura (Tom), and Eric (Pam); and memories and stories will be told of Papa/PoPop by his 12 grandchildren, Michael, Michael Paul (Amy), Kara, Sean, Kailyn, Jordan, Lea, Crosby, Megan, Sam, Maren, and Matt.

And last but not least his love and loyalty to the Buckeyes was unfounded. He and Jan were fierce supporters of the OSU Buckeye football and men's and women's basketball teams. They bled scarlet and gray,"Go Bucks!" He was an amazing, humble man, with a generous spirit, along with a stubborn and persistent soul who always thought of others before himself. Plant a tree in his honor, bring flowers to your loved one for no reason, hold your special people close, and never take life for granted, cherish every moment.

A celebration of his life will take place sometime this summer or fall with hopes that the world will be a safer place and people vaccinated and in lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Ken's memory to the Chadwick Arboretum at The Ohio State University. Please reference fund #306837 on your check and mail to: The Ohio State University Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus, OH 43271-0811; or go online at osu.edu/giving/ and search for fund #306837. For questions, please call Jennifer Heller at 614.247.8754

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Your Go-To Reference Guide The 78-page, fullcolor Landscape Plants for Ohio features key terminology & planting info for popular evergreens, ferns, grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees.

A Professional’s Guide

LANDSCAPE PLANTS FOR OHIO

mounde d. of the gard Best if planted in camoufl en where folia an area ge age fade. Grea d or hidden onc will be e settings t for borders and blooms . naturaliz ed

Campanula persicifolia Peach-leaved Bellflower

Anemon e ‘Marga rete’ Grows to 2’ tall and flowers on multi-br has double pink anched stems.

Campanula carpatica ‘White Clips’ and ‘Blue Clips’ Bell Flower Have deep blue (‘Blue Clips’) or white (‘White Clips’), cup-shaped flowers in the summer and grow 8” tall in a compact mound. Makes a good groundcover or plant for the front of the garden border.

Campanula glomerata Clustered Bellflower This plant grows 12–18” tall and has deep purple flowers in early summer that are arranged in upward-facing clusters. Tolerates wet soil. Divide every two years to promote vigor.

Caryopteris ‘Dark Knight’ Blue Mist Shrub

Full Sun

2019 Landscape Plants for Ohio.indd 28

Aquileg ia Origami x caerulea ‘Ori gami Mix Columbi ne ’ Num

erous of red and pendant flowers in shad yellow cove spring. r the plan es Blue Mist Shrub is aptly named as its t in late gray-green foliage is shrouded in a cloud of blue from mid to late summer.

Arabis cau It is a well-behaved garden plant that Rockcre casica ss is very attractive to butterflies. Dark Knight has deep purple blue flowers Arisaem Tolerate Anenom a s heat and closely spaced on elong stems.

Jack-in- ‘Green Dragon ‘Honor poor, dry drought the-Pul ine Job ’ soil. Gra as well as pit ert’ y-gr in a mou Grows 3nd 10–12” een foliage grow Campanula punctata ‘Cherry Bells’ Large leav 4’ tall and flowers tall. Frag s es cover the has dark Bell Flower ge that rant whi Cassia folia marilandica 2’ tall. Flow with three part Good for plant in te for the grac makes a beautifu green s earl a border Wild Senna on a shor er is a fleshy gree grow to garden. plant or y spring. in Septem eful, white, silk- l backdrop t in a rock Long red bell-like flowers appear in appearing stalk beneath the n spike like flow ber. ers late spring to early summer. Blooms are flower is April through Juneleaves, This dramatic tropical-like plant grows enclosed . The about 18” above the ground-cover-like called a 4–5’ tall and makes a great accent plant spathe (thein a modified leaf Anemon plant and droop down like bells. Cut be red or e sylv or placed along the estr back of a border.

Snowdr reddish-v “pulpit”) that may ‘Maflowers back to the foliage after blooming. crantha op Ane 6” is bright red iolet. A The yellow, pea-like, monlong ’ cluster of e Vigorous spreader.

Good for berries appears appear in August and September, in the fall. woodlan Beautifu d areas. l, 2” accenting the yellowish-green foliage. wide, whi flowers te, fragrant with Very drought tolerant. yellow in early Caryopteris x clandonensis spring. The stamens appear Artemisia tall. Whi plant grow Blue Mist Shrub te s 1–2’ These pere summer wooly fruit pers . A low-gro ists Centaurea silvery-g nnials are best spreads macrocephala wing pere into the kno ray, soft quickly.

A dense, mound-forming 3’ shrub that nnial that Armenian foliage and wn for growing.

Great for wooded Basketflower Smaller the edg areas. grows as a perennial or tender shrub. cultivars ease of in the land es of can be used Plant has gray-green, lance-shaped The blooms of this plant make great and larg scape as a bord e cultivars er plant leaves and blue or purple-blue flowers cut flowers. The 3” wide yellow flowers specime Aqu n plants are excellent for ileg in late summer and early fall. Great for Colu or as other pere grow onia34’ tall plants and bloom mbine nnials. Cut backdrops for attracting butterflies. cult in late spring to early summer. They ivars Armeria make grea branches of maritim some and wre are bright and beautiful but appear t dried arra Pride’ This a ‘Duesse aths. genus enco ngemen ldorf almost thistle-like. ts mpasses Sea Pink of somewhat plants withmessy, Drought tolerant. bloom coloa wide variety rang e and rs in the pastel Great on the cult various heights plants for dep the fron used for ivar selected. Flow ending or rock t of garden. cut arramontana ers can Centaurea ngemen Grows into the border mou be nd ts. Plants about 6” a cushiony Mountain Bluet are tall. pop up on 6” stem Rosy-pink flow ers s in earl y summer This aggressive plant has 2” wide .

2019 Lands cape Plants bluish-purple flowers on 2’ tall plants. for Ohio.i ndd Blooms May24through June. Also known Full Sun as the “perennial bachelor button.”

Full Shad e Tolerant of poor, dry soils. May require Partial Shad e 24 staking.

PERENNIALS

A low-growing vigorous habit makes this a great ground cover or candidate for the mixed border. Grows 8–10” tall with low mounds of light green foliage covered with dark blue bell-shaped flower in the summer.

Full Shade

Partial Shade

At Cascade Lighting, your success is our top priority and it’s been that way since we set up shop over 20 years ago.

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Campanula poscharskyana ‘Blue Waterfall’ Serbian Bellflower

After bloo ms stems back have faded, clip flow er attractive to the foliage for an accent plan the sum t for the mer. rest of

PERENNIA

This semi-evergreen plant grows 18– 24” tall. Flowers appear in summer and are 1–1 1/2” in diameter and saucershaped. Makes a good cut flower.

Best grown in cool sites and neutral to alkaline soils.

Your success brightens our day... and night.

We’ll partner with you to provide expert advice on the best lighting solution to fit your project and budget. Our team also offers design and technical support at no additional cost. And to ensure the job gets done on time, our warehouse stocks a huge inventory of products ready for same day shipment.

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Call us today at 800.758.6359 or visit cascadelighting.com

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FROM ONLA • • • •

Education and training for employees Leave-behind item for clients Garden Center Retail Item Landscape Design/Build Sales Tool

Providing over 40 lines of outdoor and landscape lighting products including:

Buy online at www.onla.org/store or call 614.899.1195

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11/16/18 9:32 AM

OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY ADVOCACY DAY Rescheduled! November 16, 2021

Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, OH Meet with state legislators and make your voice heard on issues critical to your business.

Your participation in this grassroots effort is more important than ever before!

The State of Ohio has stretched resources in a myriad of ways and there is a good chance that some agencies will resort to raising fees. And, since 2021 is a budget year, this even is the perfect time to influence discussions.

There will be a wave of new faces in the House and Senate due to term limits and the influence of the unprecedented turn out of voters this election. It is up to us to "show up", introduce ourselves, and reinforce our support.

Learn more at onla.org/advocacyday

PREFERRED SERVICE PROVIDERS An exclusive member benefit! ONLA members are entitled to the following services designed to reduce company expenses while addressing the specific needs of green industry businesses. The providers below were chosen by ONLA, and many offer discounts to ONLA members.

Energy Program: Growers Energy Solutions (GES) Safety Services: American Safety & Joe Perlaky, perlaky@bex.net Health Management Consultants, Inc. Gary Hanson, ashmci@aol.com Fuel/Fleet Program: SuperFleet Soil & Plant Tissue Testing/ Holden Moll, holden.moll@fleetcor Ag Hort. Consulting Services: Spectrum Analytic (formerly CLC LABS) Health/Life/Income Insurance: TAH Benefits Mike Hall, Mike@spectrumanalytic.com, Jay Hazelbaker, info@tahbenefits.com 800-321-1562, spectrumanalytic.com IT: Streamliner Solutions Group Wealth Coach Financial Services Lora Gray, lora.gray@ssghris.com Mike Sullivan, Mikes@wealthcoachfinancial.com Property/Casualty Insurance: SeibertKeck Workers' Compensation: CareWorksComp Marc McTeague, mmcteague@seibertkeck.com Cordell Walton cordell.walton@careworkscomp.com Questions? Call 614.899.1195 or email roni@onla.org 24 The Buckeye

onla.org

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Ads listed here were current as of press time. For details, or to place a classified ad, visit onla.org/ careers Assistant Parks Crew Leader City of Kettering Kettering, Ohio Landscape Installation/Maintenance Crew Leader & Crew Member Winnscapes, Inc. Gahanna, Ohio Landscape Maintenance Foreman Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Powell, Ohio Pool Installation Contractor CoolPools.com Traverse City, Michigan Seasonal Landscape Technician The Dawes Arboretum Newark, Ohio

ADVERTISER INDEX Cascade Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 cascadelighting.com Contree Sprayer and Equipment Company LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 contree.com Davis Tree Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 davistreefarm.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 ernstseed.com Evergreen Seed Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 evergreenseedsupply.com Fairview Evergreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 fairviewevergreen.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

Green Velvet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 greenvelvet.com

Subject to change. Visit onla.org/events for more information. O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

Millcreek Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

OCNT Testing May 20, June 17 onla.org/ocnt

Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

millcreekplants.com

colorchoiceplants.com ONLA Diagnostic Walkabouts O July 15, July 29, August 12, September 30 onla.org/walkabouts Ohio High School Landscape Olympics October 14 & 15, 2021 onla.org/ohlo

Ad Rates & Info Contact info@onla.org, 614.899.1195

Ohio Green Industry Advocacy Day November 16, 2021 Columbus, Ohio onla.org/advocacyday

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Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Address Service Requested

DIAGNOSTIC WALKABOUTS Discuss how to find, diagnose, and control landscape pests during early mornings walks in a variety of public parks and green spaces.

Led by OSU Educators, these interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Attendees are invited to ask questions and take pictures for future reference. It’s an informal and comfortable learning experience.

Discussions are tailored to the audience, weather and time of year, and characteristics of the location—no two walkabouts are ever the same.

Learn more on the inside front cover or visit onla.org/walkabouts

Tour Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on July 15!