MARCH/APRIL 2018 Vol. 29, Issue 2
The Official Publication of Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
INSIDE: 45TH ANNUAL LANDSCAPE AWARDS ONLA PROFESSIONAL AWARDS INVASIVE PLANTS UPDATE
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March/April 2018 Vol. 29, Issue 2
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
CONTENTS OFFICERS Andy Doesburg, President Ward + Thornton Landscape Josh Posey, Immediate Past President Buckeye Resources, Inc. Tim Clark, President-Elect H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc. DIRECTORS James Beardslee Beardslee Nursery Lenny Garrard Bobcat Enterprises Columbus Tom Hilgeman Bower & Branch Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College Ellen Gallucci Purcell Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd. STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Keith Manbeck, Sales Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Mary Ann Shrum, Education Tracie Zody, MGIX 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.
3
Executive Director's Message
5
President's Perspective
9
Legislative Update
34 Safety Update: Employee Responsibilities
FEATURE STORIES 7
New ODA Invasive Plant Regulations
13
Retail Roundtable: Return Policies
15
Marty Grunder's Tips for a Successful Spring
16
Safety Check-Up
18
MGIX 2018 Recap
20
MGIX Booth Awards
21
ONLA Professional Awards
22 ONLA Scholarships 23
45th Annual Landscape Awards
31
Don't Fence Me In—As Usual
34
The Karner Blues
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2
New Members
37 Calendar of Events, Classifieds, Advertising Index
On the cover and above: ONLA Landscape Awards Project
of the Year by Greenleaf Landscapes Inc. onla.org
March/April 2018
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! The following companies are applying for Active Membership: Allscape Property Services LLC Kevin Jablonski 4629 Bunnell Hill Road Lebanon, Ohio 45036 Avon Landscaping, Inc. Thomas Brunner 3910 Long Road Avon, Ohio 44011 Country Club Landscaping Kristopher McKee 137 Westpark Rd Centerville, Ohio 45459 Ebright Landscapes, Inc. Jim Ebright 11390 Milnor Road Pickerington, Ohio 43147 Endless Summer Landscaping Steven Simms 721 Tricolor Dr Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Evergreen Landscaping of Cincinnati Ryan Thompson 5438 Kyles Station Rd Liberty Township, Ohio 45011 Grahams Greenhouse and Landscaping Bill Graham 1111 East Main St Bradford, PA 16701 Horizon Plants LLC Melvyn Corner 3931 Reamer Road Lapeer, MI 48446 Hortica Laurie Coffey 1 Horticultural Lane Edwardsville, IL 62025 J. Hensley Services, LLC Jeremy Hensley 4025 Redbank Rd Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 Kevin Reiner Design Kevin Reiner PO Box 450 Granville, Ohio 43023 Landscape Management & Design Inc. Luca Manocchio 12790 Kenyon Drive Chesterland, Ohio 44026
2  The Buckeye
Nature's Own, LLC William Hamilton 1744 Pembrook Rd Springfield, Ohio 45504 Rich Lawn & Landscape LLC Robin Phillips PO Box 340977 Columbus, Ohio 43234 Shovelful Landscape Jay Evans 608 Kenridge Dr. Middletown, Ohio 45042 Stratton Greenhouses, Inc. Susie Stratton 9915 Lincoln Hwy Bluffton, Ohio 45817 The Grounds Guys of Mason Ben Charneski 4457 Bethany Rd Mason, Ohio 45040 Tripoint Logistics LLC Harleen Dhillon 1735 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Yard Helpers Cavin Carmell 5689 Crossing Ct Columbus, Ohio 43231 The following students are applying for Student Membership: Kathryn Slaughter, Cincinnati State Technical Community College Hannah Carter, Cincinnati State Technical Community College Katherine Meza, Cincinnati State Technical Community College Lauren Queen, Clark State Community College Ryan Myerholtz, Columbus State Community College Matthew Hill, Gates Mills Environmental Edu Madison Morra, Gates Mills Environmental Edu Michael Pauley, Ohio State University Jessica Bell, Ohio University Keaton Topp, The Ohio State University Andrew White, The University of Akron Robert Hammond, University of Cincinnati Bradford Kerrigan, University of Cincinnati Maggie Rigney, University of Cincinnati
Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus Ryan Bailey-Perschka Spencer Campbell Adrena Cook Michael Daley Rhane Davis Rachel Degan Kyle Mason Aerick McCullough Madisen Miller Tanner Sackett Eva Sweeney Shawn Trembly Auburn Career Center Aaron Blaney Jeremyiah Cochran Chaeli Hobson Alivia Long Maxwell Lyttle Alec Miller James Miller Hunter Myers Shane Pepp Deziree Toth Nathan Urban Logan Van Cleef Christopher Willoughby Jackson High School Austin Artimez Chase Brechtel Raelynn Burnside Benjamin Chapman Cara Crews Autumn Davis Courtney Espenschied Ian Hawkins Alex Haymaker River Howard Madison Johnson Tara Klingenberger Matthew Morrow Lexi Nichols Ian Poling Trace Thomas Isaac Turner Kaviante Walker Hannah Wisniewski Knox County Career Center Preston Arnold Nicolas Bolen Brookanna Brentlinger Lane Browne Garrett Carroll Austin Elliott Carter Gallagher Carissa Morgan Stephen Ocheltree Ronnie Payne Katie Priest Tommy Russell Tyler Severance Gage Smith Brandy Thompson
Penta Career Center Fred Cole Lucas Crunkilton Andrew Goris Caren Gran Gage Huston Christopher Jordan Rhyannon Mattison Ryliegh Myosky AJ Pearce Austen Robinson Juan Spencer Christopher Valent Erik Wadsworth Daniel Waiter Ahstin Weber Garrett Zisk Portage Lakes Career Center Ryan Bader Alexandra Berns-Prewett Joseph Cole Brittney Conley Sean Fitzgerald Harrison Gifford Melanie Hefling Michael Long Evan McCary Kody O'Brien Haley Simmons Washington Co Career Center Justin Anderson Jamie Evans Aaron Joshua Hebert Aleiya Jorvig Joey Mankins Curtis Morgenstern Tyler Prunty Camron Rummer Gavin Shirley Kaylee Thrasher Wayne County Career Center Andy Barnett Shane Gorman Miles Kimbrough Dustin Koval Jonathan Lenz Jimmy Sollurs III Garet Speelmah Ally Vinson Joseph Waitkunas Tyler White Timothy Yates These companies and individuals have been approved for membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants. Please submit comments within three weeks of receiving this issue to info@onla.org, or call 614.899.1195.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director
What we do together matters when it comes to growing and protecting the future of our industry, in Ohio and beyond. 2018 is starting out to be a strong consumer spending year—hopefully on plants and landscaping.
On February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow indicating six more weeks of winter, but last December, Congress passed a tax reform bill that could result in an early spring by allowing consumers to keep more money in their pockets this year. Americans have been pouring record sums into home improvements as many are electing to stay put rather than trade up because the inventory of affordable homes is so small. While much of this spending is on home remodeling and additions, greater spending on gardening and landscaping is part of that mix as well. If reduced tax rates can keep consumer spending strong, we can anticipate a strong 2018 for our industry. In 2017, Americans spent a record $316 billion on home remodeling, up from $296 billion a year earlier, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. The trend is expected to continue in 2018. The burst of investment has been a boon for landscape contractors as well as big homeimprovement companies, which have enjoyed strong revenue growth. It reflects rising home prices and growing consumer confidence which is buoyed by record low unemployment, growing wage rates, a rising stock market, and now lower individual tax rates. People are willing to invest in their homes with both aesthetic and financial payback. It also helps that our industry, on the local, state, and national levels, is getting better at promoting the health and economic benefits of residential and commercial landscaping.
a new grill is fine, and touching up the trim paint on your house might be necessary, we want consumer discretionary spending on plants and landscaping to increase in 2018! Thanks to our members and the regional nursery and landscape industry, we hosted another successful Midwest Green Industry Experience (MGIX) in January. Even two inches of snow didn’t keep the MGIX faithful away from the industry-leading education and certification, dynamic tradeshow, and robust professional networking opportunities. Thank you to all who attended. Planning is underway for MGIX19 and several other feature events in 2018, with details being announced in the coming weeks. Delivering important education and certification, facilitating commerce, and providing venues for professional networking are just some of the priorities we are developing for ONLA members. We will be adapting our “formula” to include some smaller focused events, perhaps doing more in the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas, and building on both our successful Ohio High School Landscape Olympics this fall and our Advocacy Day in February 2019. Our team at ONLA is working hard to bring you events to improve your business. Your membership and participation in ONLA events 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. Because “what we do together matters”. B
In terms of dollar amount, most real estate experts say the guideline suggested is to invest ten percent of the value of your home in landscaping. There is generally a high return at that level. If you don’t have that kind of money to invest, experts recommend adding color with annuals, perennials, or seasonal flowering shrubs, mulching, edging and weeding beds, and getting the grass as green and full as possible. Those are the quick and inexpensive fixes and easy to accomplish with the help of a local landscape contractor. As we anticipate spring, I would encourage each of you to find an audience to promote the benefits of plants and landscaping. Your customers, civic group, or the person standing in line at the store might need a “nudge” to invest in plants. While onla.org
Ken can be contacted at ken@onla.org
March/April 2018
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PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Andy Doesburg, Ward+Thornton Landscape It is a pleasure to be returning to the role of president in 2018. For those of you who don't know me, I have been in the industry for nearly 20 years, all at what was then Thornton Landscape. I am a nationally certified landscape professional as well as an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician. This is my second stint on the board as I had previously held this position in 2009. I begin my term as President surrounded by a team of dedicated board members, staff, and committee volunteers who are passionate about furthering ONLA's mission and providing a valuable membership experience. Our member-centric focus will guide us as we develop programs and services that will help you grow your business, advance in your profession, and shape the future of our industry.
current committee members and the enthusiasm they have expressed in furthering ONLA’s mission. You can find out more about joining this team on page 8.
ONLA is taking a hard look at the value of its membership offerings. Many of the important services and benefits you enjoy as members will stay the same. Others will evolve to meet the changing needs of your diverse businesses. Our first priority is to offer you an annual conference that will provide an unparalleled educational and networking experience for you and your team. We hope to share details about a reimagined MGIX 2019 soon.
Legislative advocacy is one of the most important benefits of ONLA membership. Choose to be involved as little or as much as you’d like, but know that ONLA is representing your needs in Columbus.
ONLA strives to provide opportunities for you to connect and learn, but your membership benefits will increase ten-fold if you choose to play an active role in ONLA. Read our emails and letters, ask questions, provide feedback, and encourage your staff to do the same. I’d like you to consider serving on an ONLA committee in 2018. ONLA uses its committee membership as a sounding board for new ideas and calls upon its committees to volunteer at events such as the Ohio High School Landscape Olympics and MGIX. I am thankful for the commitment shown by our
While I encourage you to take advantage of the programs offered by ONLA, remember that ONLA is also working hard behind the scenes to help your business succeed.
You may be aware that ONLA was involved in the development of the new invasive plant regulations released by the Ohio Department of Agriculture at the beginning of this year. (More details can be found on page 7). I’d like to thank everyone who submitted comments on the draft rules released this summer. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to Kyle Natorp, who serves as the ONLA representative on ODA’s invasive plant advisory council, and Steve Foltz, who will serve on the Reviewer Committee for the Ohio Invasive Plant Council. You can trust that Steve and Kyle will make our industry’s voice heard during important discussions about the sale and distribution of invasive plants. If you have questions about ONLA’s advocacy efforts, or other ONLA programs and initiatives, please know that I’d like to hear from you. I look forward to working with you in 2018 and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your president. Thank you for your continued support as a member of ONLA. B Andy can be contacted at ADoesburg@thorntonlandscape.com Left: 2018 Board of Directors Top Row, left to right: Ken Fisher, Steve O'Neal, Tom Hilgeman, James Beardslee, Ryan Kolb, Lenny Garrard Bottom Row, left to right: Ellen Gallucci Purcell, Josh Posey, Andy Doesburg, Tim Clark, Mindy Moore
onla.org
March/April 2018
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What Outdoor Living Should Be® PAVERS / RETAINING WALLS / ACCESSORIES 800.845.7644 / oberfields.com
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
INVASIVE PLANT REGULATIONS After nearly two years of stakeholder outreach, Ohio Department of Agriculture has established new rules prohibiting the sale and distribution of 28 invasive plants, effective January 7, 2018. Under the law, invasive plants are defined as plant species that are not native to Ohio whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health as determined by scientific studies. These rules prohibit the sale and distribution of invasive plants in the state of Ohio. ONLA has been working for a number of years to bring clarity to the state governance of invasive plant species. In 2014, ONLA worked with legislators to grant authority for the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to govern invasive plant species. Since that time, ODA has held countless interested party meetings and conversed with their peers in other states, and ONLA members provided comments on the draft rules throughout the rule making process. Further, this final rule establishes a committee which will advise ODA on matters regarding invasive plants. ONLA has elected Kyle Natorp, W.A. Natorp, Inc., to serve on this committee as an ONLA representative. More information and a link to the rule can be found on onla.org/news or by calling ODA's Plant Pest Control Program at 614.728.6400.
The following plants are considered invasive in the State of Ohio effective January 7, 2018 except as otherwise noted. Ailanthus altissima, tree-of-heaven Alliaria petiolata, garlic mustard Berberis vulgaris, common barberry Butomus umbellatus, flowering rush Celastrus orbiculatus, Oriental bittersweet Centaurea stoebe ssp. Micranthos, spotted knapweed Dipsacus fullonum, common teasel Dipsacus laciniatus, cutleaf teasel Egeria densa, Brazilian elodea Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian olive Elaeagnus umbellata, autumn olive Epilobium hirsutum, hairy willow herb Frangula alnus, glossy buckthorn Heracleum mantegazzianum, giant hogweed Hesperis matronlis, dame's rocket Hydrilla verticillata, hydrilla Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, European frog-bit Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera maackii, amur honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii, Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera tatarica, tatarian honeysuckle Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrife Microstegium vimineum, Japanese stiltgrass Myriophyllum aquaticum, parrotfeather Myriophyllum spicatum, Eurasian water-milfoil Nymphoides peltata, yellow floating heart Phragmites australis, common reed Potamogeton crispus, curly-leaved pondweed Pueraria montana var. lobate, kudzu Ranunculus ficaria, fig buttercup, lesser celandine Rhamnus cathartica, European buckthorn Rosa multiflora; multiflora rose Trapa natans, water chestnut Typha angustifolia, narrow-leaved cattail Typha x glauca, hybrid cattail Vincetoxicum nigrum, black dog-strangling vine, black swallowwort Lythrum virgatum, European wand loosestrife (effective January 7, 2019) Pyrus calleryana, callery pear (effective January 7, 2023)
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onla.org
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March/April 2018 
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JOIN AN ONLA COMMITTEE Committee Members volunteer their time and talents to an array of activities and help guide the direction of the association so it may best serve its members' evolving needs. Committee work provides excellent opportunities for professional development and networking.
2018 Committees: Certification • Education • Exhibits Future Professionals • Legislative Green Industry Growers • Retail Landscape Contractors • Membership Landscape Awards
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Belinda Jones, Capitol Consulting Group
BILL WILL ATTEMPT TO MAKE SNOW REMOVAL CONTRACTS MORE EQUITABLE If you are in the snow removal contracting business, no doubt you know how "one sided" contracts can be in favor of the property owners and managers. With help from the Ohio Landscape Association and the Accredited Snow Contractors Association, ONLA has been working with Sen. Gayle Manning's office to draft legislation that will address the indemnification and hold harmless provisions of such contracts. If you are not familiar with the problem, the general liability expense for a snow contractor averages three times the expense for similar policies. Why? Because certain indemnification and hold harmless provisions in contracts have allowed property owners/managers to pass liability on to the snow and ice removal companies. Often, acceptance of these "one-sided" contracts is a contingency for being awarded the contract. Making the matter worse, often the contracts prescript additional terms such as "contractor may not commence work until two inches of snow has fallen". Such restrictions favor the property owners and managers because if an injury is sustained before the two inches of snow have fallen, the snow and ice management companies are still liable for injuries sustained during that window. At deadline for this article, the bill has not yet been introduced. We will keep you posted, but in the meantime, please develop your personal stories of how "one-sided contracts" have harmed you so that we can use in letters and testimonies to affect change in the General Assembly. 2018 POLITICAL SHOW DOWN IN THE WORKS "If only everyone thought just like me..." We are all guilty of thinking how much easier it would be if everyone would just agree with us. Cable news has contributed to this anthem. With the plethora of news show options, we are able to watch a channel that most aligns with our beliefs. This confirmation helps us dig in our heels and emboldens us to claim not only our "rightness" but also the "wrongness" of those with whom we don't agree. So, how is it, with strong republican majorities in Congress, in all statewide office holders in Ohio and a in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate, that we still we find ourselves in disagreement? If one party controls everything, how could there be consternation? And so it is in this conundrum we find ourselves casting our nets in the 2018 election battlefield. onla.org
The Republican family currently controls all of the statewide offices and, as indicated above, super majorities in both chambers. This single party stronghold is a key prong in fundraising, thus, republican candidates can boast at a minimum, a quadruple fundraising advantage over democrats. Still, there is turmoil. At deadline for this article, the candidate filing deadline came to a close. Oddly, many republican incumbents (even those in safe seats) find themselves being "primaried" by other republicans. How can this be? Why would so many republicans file against "safe seat" republicans? One answer is the race for the office of Speaker of the House. Current Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R; Clarksville) is term limited. Thus, after the 2018 elections, a majority of Ohio House members will have the chance to elect a new Speaker in January of 2019. Although that vote is a year away, the race is on now. Speaker Rosenberger and many in the 132nd General Assembly have publicly backed State Representative Ryan Smith (R; Gallipolis) for the next Speaker. Having served as the Chairman of the Ohio House Finance Committee, Rep. Smith has garnered a wide berth of knowledge not only on budget issues but also on the complex policy issues that are negotiated in budget bills. With a slight southern Ohio accent, a speed of calm and a careful and methodical approach to conflict, Chairman Smith is "cool in chaos" and has shown great leadership skills in his role as chairman and a leader in his caucus. His personality and approach has earned him the respect and support of many of his caucus peers. Even so, Rep. Smith is being strongly challenged by 132nd General Assembly "new comer" but former Speaker of the Ohio House, Rep. Larry Householder (R; Glenford). Householder is a prolific fundraiser and he "plays to win". Thus, Householder and team are pulling out all of the stops to ensure they have the right butts in the seats to elect him Speaker in January of 2019. In fact, it is widely assumed that Householder has actively recruited Republicans to run in the primary against Smith-backed republicans. Not sure you believe that? Check out the vast number of incumbent republicans in safe seats who have to spend money now before the primary to best their Republican family challengers. All this is occuring in an off-presidential election year where Democrats statistically have the power to pick up some seats. In fact, for the first election in years, Democrats are fielding candidates in nearly all Ohio Senate and Ohio House March/April 2018 
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seats. This means that between now and the primary, Republican incumbents are going to have to spend campaign money to fend off a primary challenger instead of being able to "squirrel away" money for the general election. Even with the statistical backing of off-election takeaways, it is unlikely that democrats could conquer enough seats to overtake a majority in the House or Senate. Still, the Smith/Householder family feud uses resources that could be used elsewhere and may ultimately hand seats to Democrats who are not splitting family resources. ONLA is staying out of this leadership battle but it is important for us to continue to support legislators who know and understand our industry. ONLA NAMES LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR Congratulations to State Representative Kyle Koehler and to the leadership of ONLA who understand the short and long-term value of recognizing members of the General Assembly so they may know, understand and support our industry today and in their future endeavors. I have gotten to know Rep. Koehler and have found him to be a true man of his word. He is hardworking, honest, fair and kind. The tradition of recognizing our legislators has built many friendships beyond the Ohio General Assembly. ONLA has a knack for identifying and recognizing "rising stars" and so it is true this year with our recognition of State Representative Kyle Koehler (pronoucned "Kay-ler") as the 2017 ONLA Legislator of the Year. Among others, take Secretary of State Jon Husted. Many years ago while serving as Ohio House Speaker, then Rep. Husted was named ONLA Legislator of the year. Since that time Husted has spoken at more than one ONLA PAC event, went on to become Ohio Senator, and most recently, Ohio Secretary of State. Does he remember us? You bet he does. And today, Secretary of State Husted has joined forces with Attorney General Mike DeWine as they run for the Republican nominees for Governor and Lt. Governor respectively. B Belinda Jones Capitol Consulting Group bjones@capitol-consulting. net 614.224.3855
onla.org
ONLA LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR State Representative Kyle Koehler is serving his second term in the Ohio House. He represents the 79th District, which includes portions of Clark County, of which he is a life-long resident. "It is an honor to receive the ONLA's Legislator of the Year Award," said Koehler. "My entry into the world of nurseries and landscaping began in my undergraduate years, when Berryhill Nursery in Springfield commissioned me to create database software for their inventory. " "Years later, as member of the Greater Springfield business community, and now as their representative in the Statehouse, I’ve come to know the value Clark County’s many nurseries and landscapers bring to our area and state. As Vice Chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, I am committed to supporting sound policy that allows all nurseries and landscapers—who contribute millions to Ohio’s economy—to grow and thrive. I look forward to continued dialogue with ONLA as we enter the second half of the 132nd General Assembly." Congratulations to Rep. Koehler!
March/April 2018
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RETAIL ROUNDTABLE FINDING EMPLOYEES ONLA's Retail Committee weighs in on a new topic each Buckeye. This month's topic? Labor. Have something you'd like to see the committee tackle in a future issue? Email alana@onla.org. Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc. Every year is a new struggle to find quality labor. I can’t tell you the number of times candidates don’t show up for their interview, refuse to take the pre-employment drug screen or worse yet, actually take the drug screen and fail it. We generally interview or attempt to interview five people to actually hire one. We find it difficult, but not impossible, to find quality candidates willing to work hard for a short period of time and then be willing to fade away again until we need them. We mainly use word of mouth, Indeed.com and our own social media to get the word out about our openings. Once we find an employee that is worth keeping around we do our best to give them hours throughout the summer. We also provide a bonus to returning seasonal workers to help limit turnover. We have really had good luck with college kids who return for the spring just before our busy season kicks off. If we do well, then we have those kids for four years before they enter their chosen field. Ron Wilson, Natorp's Nursery Outlet Speaking for the retail sector, “knock on wood” as we have been very fortunate with our staffing. Retail employee turnover has been minimal (material handlers / loaders turnover is most, which I think is normal), but do have the occasional position to re-fill, and as we grow, adding a few new employees here and there. Again, knock on wood; so far it has not been a major issue filling those positions. We onla.org
attract new employees through our website, online, and the biggest resource, word of mouth. We’ve also had customers who liked shopping here and eventually come on board as an employee! Most applications are online, which has been a blessing and is what’s trending today. But we will still get some walk-ins and paper applications. I understand next up will be phone apps! Chosen applicants are called in to our office, interviewed, and if they fit our culture and what we’re looking for, the hiring process is on. By the way, retired landscape designers, landscape crew leaders, retired horticulturalists, horticulture instructors, and hobby and Master Gardeners can be perfect part-time sales/plant specialists for your retail stores! Tony Sciambi, Buckeye Resources How do we find employees? As a manufacturer, we have several avenues we use to find good employees. If we are looking for just seasonal help, we go through several temp services. One of our primary ways is to go through Ohio Means Jobs, a governmental agency who works with the unemployed in our county. We also utilize word of mouth through our present employees. Lastly, we go through Facebook to attract millennials. Jeremy Newell, White Oak Garden Center At White Oak we have around 12 full-time, year-round employees and around 20 seasonal employees who work roughly April–June. These are mostly folks who return spring after spring and have been doing so for years. We hire around 10 part-time seasonal workers who are new each year (but may become recurring spring help). This second group include cashiers, greenhouse help, landscape March/April 2018
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team members, etc. Many of these seasonal employees come to us through referrals from other employees or might be customers that become team members. We sometimes advertise available positions on our marquee sign or through social media.
We use all the normal ways to find employees, none are the answer to finding good employees. The best has been current employees recommendations. They are more knowledgeable of the type of work expected of them and have a better understanding of how hard the work can be.
There are typically a couple of seasonal positions that need to be replaced in the thick of the season. A new employee may start and realize it is not what she/he was looking for or maybe schedule conflicts come up. These turnovers in the midst of the busy season are obviously stressful but, as most in our industry would agree, to be expected. We strive to clearly explain the requirements, expectations, and schedule of the positions during the hiring process.
Almost all of our employees that are considered full-time are long-term employees. We do have a lay off but some employees only take two weeks off. Some will have two or three months off. Some of our laborers come back for a number of years. Those are mostly high school and college students and as soon as they graduate they find employment in their field. I think finding and keeping employees in our industry is very difficult. It can be hard work in not always good conditions and the pay can be less than great, but the people that stick with it are doing it for the love of plants! Where else can you work where everyone has at least one thing in common? B
Mark Reiner, Oakland Nurseries We have been lucky lately finding the right people at the right time, but I get nervous every Feb/March when I realize we are missing multiple people from the previous year and the clock is ticking. We have a considerable amount of turnover in entry level positions like cashiers and loaders. That’s not really a new development because many of them are 20-somethings or college kids, but training a new crop of cashiers on our POS systems and sales policies every year is no fun. In general, finding new people to fill positions with horticultural knowledge has been extremely difficult for quite some time. The average age of people in our industry has been steadily climbing and the lack young people getting involved is a real problem. It seems like there are plenty of Landscape Architects out there, but no real pipeline of people coming through with more nursery-based qualifications. You are kidding yourself if you don’t think there is a direct correlation between knowledgeable and willing salespeople and results at the cash register. Having salespeople who actually know what they are talking about has never been more important. Our customers, especially in the 25–40 age group, are shocked when the person helping them actually provides added value and doesn’t just point and walk away. The only real solution for us is to take young people that are excited about the work, experienced or not, and let them learn on the job. It’s amazing how much an intelligent, hard-working employee can learn in one full Spring at Oakland Nursery! Karen Martin, Dayton Nurseries, Inc. We struggle to fill most of our labor positions as I am sure most garden centers do. The people that apply do not understand the physical work that is involved in day to day running of a normal garden center. We do hire from a local temp agency. Most of the people we hire don’t finish the week; sometimes they do not make it past lunch. This year we are using the H-2A program. I am sure I will have more to share in the future. We did use the program in another garden center where I worked and I found them to be good workers. 14 The Buckeye
Growing High Quality Plants, People, and Relationships
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LEADING YOUR TEAM
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SPRING Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co.
With spring afoot, everyone in our industry is about to get incredibly busy. The days will be packed from morning to night, and you will very likely feel as if you can't think or see straight. You will get stressed out, your team will get stressed out, and your clients may very well get stressed out, too. It’s practically unavoidable. The trick is all in how you handle it. Here are some tried and true tips for getting through the season. People don’t follow angry leaders. I am the first to admit I am a very intense guy. I have let things bother me that should not bother me. I’ve lost my temper at work and done things when I’m angry that I regret. I’ve had to really work on this issue, and what I’ve learned is that when you react to a problem with anger, all people see and hear is the anger, not the problem. Here’s proof: One day a few years ago, I went to check out one of our job sites, a beautiful property belonging to one of our best clients. Grunder Landscaping caters to a high-end market, and our clients expect perfection from us. It’s what they’re paying us for. So, I was alarmed to see wheel tracks all through the mulch rings on this property. I drove back to the office and, I’m not proud to admit, immediately laid into the job crew for running our lawn mowers through the mulch rings. After I was done with my tirade, the crew stood there shifting uncomfortably, no doubt thinking what a jerk I was. Then the crew leader calmly informed me that it wasn’t our guys at all who had made the mess—it was the lawncare applicator, who was carelessly taking the spreader through the mulch rings. I was wrong to assume it was my team’s failing and more wrong still to react in anger. I apologized, and we ended up having a productive conversation about how to address problems like this with our subcontractors. Now, when I spot an issue at a job site, I take care to ask my team questions first and gather all the facts before doing anything. Trust me, this approach is a lot better for your company culture, and for your blood pressure. Every role matters. When we’re busy and stressed, there’s a tendency to focus on what’s wrong and take for granted what’s right. We all (hopefully!) have stars on our team whom we count on to lead and deliver on big projects and to save the day when it needs saving. And we all (hopefully!) reward these stand-outs well, too. But the third guy or gal on a crew onla.org
who shows up on time every day and efficiently accomplishes the unexciting but necessary tasks like mowing and edging is crucial to your company’s success, too. Find ways to acknowledge their contributions, especially during the busy season— write them a personal thank-you note, bring them lunch on a job site, single them out at your next all-team meeting. The same goes for vendors who reliably do what they say they’re going to do. We’ve worked with Phillips Sand & Gravel for more than 20 years now and have never had a single complaint about them. That’s pretty remarkable when you think about it. When is the last time you sent a vendor a thank-you note? You can’t control the weather, but you can control your empathy. Come spring, everyone wants a beautiful yard—and all at the same time! It can be hard enough to fit it all in. Throw in an unlucky string of rainy days and you may suddenly have a lot of unhappy people on the line who haven’t gotten their work done when they wanted. Obviously, you can’t do anything about the weather, but you can train your people to respond to unhappy clients with empathy. Sometimes all it takes is letting them vent their frustration and telling them you completely understand where they’re coming from to turn the situation around. Stress, like spring, is inevitable. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t let it get the best of you. B
Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com March/April 2018
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TO DO: SAFETY CHECK-UP Gary Hanson, American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. As you get ready for the upcoming busy season, it is a good time to review your safety program to ensure you are prepared. I recommend that the following be considered during your program review. Safe Operating Procedures for operating all equipment should be reviewed and updated as needed. A regular safety inspection program should be implemented and the findings documented and when necessary corrective action taken. Emergency Procedures and Reporting Procedures should be reviewed to ensure they are up to date. Emergency evacuation maps should be updated and posted. Emergency telephone numbers should be posted and reviewed with all employees. All required personal protective equipment should be available and issued to employees and where required should be mandatory. Designate a capable management employee to ensure your safety program is implemented. Give this individual your full backing. Employees need to understand safety is important to you and you will enforce all safety policies.
CHECK THIS OFF YOUR TO-DO LIST Yes No Are you familiar with the key OSHA standards that will impact your business? Are all required written programs and policies up to date? Is there a detailed training program that covers company safety policies, job-specific safe operating procedures, and required OSHA training? Is all equipment inspected and guarded?
Are emergency procedures in place and clearly communicated to all employees? Is your shop area inspected and any safety concerns corrected? Personal protective equipment available and provided to employees as necessary Has an appropriate level management representative been designated to oversee the company safety program? Is there a plan in place in case of an unexpected OSHA inspection?
DO YOU HAVE NEW EMPLOYEES? Employee training for all new employees should be conducted and documented. In addition to safety concerns specific to individual job duties, make sure to cover these general areas: Company Safety Rules and Policies Reporting Injuries Emergency Procedures/ First Aid Hazard Communication 16  The Buckeye
Personal Protective Equipment Fire Extinguisher Operation Heat Stress/ Fatigue Safe Use of Tools and Equipment
onla.org
GET TO KNOW OSHA.GOV
PREPARE FOR AN OSHA VISIT
The OSHA website has a list of the most cited OSHA standards for both general industry and construction. They also break these down by NAIC Codes. The following is a brief list of some of the key standards you should be aware of:
•
Machine Guarding Hazard Communication Housekeeping Fall Prevention Lockout/ Tagout Electrical Safety Personal Protective Equipment Heat Stress
• • • •
•
Have a plan in place in case of an OSHA inspection. The following will help: Have all your written programs up to date and readily available Have your training records up to date and documented Conduct regular safety inspections and correct unsafe conditions Have a point person that has a basic knowledge of OSHA requirements and knows where all your written programs and training records are located Where necessary, call either your safety consultant or attorney for assistance
American Safety and Health is an ONLA Member Service Provider. To learn more about developing a safety program, call at 1.330.495.3437.
Vibrant ‘Miss Violet’ Buddleia ‘Miss Violet’, pp#28,448, cbraf
‘Miss Violet’ blooms with loads of sweetscented, rich purple-violet flowers on a neat, compact habit that is half the size of a typical buddleia. Also, like the all plants in the “Miss” series, this butterfly bush is non-invasive! ‘Miss Violet’ is just one of 280+ Proven Winners® shrub varieties available from Spring Meadow Nursery in 2¼”, 4”, and Quick Turn™ liners.
Contact Brad Preston 616-223-3376 www.springmeadownursery.com 800-633-8859 ext.1106
ONLA March_SMN Miss Violet.indd 1
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2/1/18 9:44 AM
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MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY
EXPERIENCE
onla.org
JANUARY 15–17, 2018
March/April 2018
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MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
EXHIBITOR BOOTH AWARDS Large Exhibits: Willoway Nurseries Inc.
Most Creative Use of Space: Tri State Foliage
Attention Grabbing Display: RI Lampus Company
Small Exhibits: Wilson's Country Creations
Best Demonstration: United Label & Sales Corp.
20  The Buckeye
onla.org
MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
ONLA PROFESSIONAL AWARDS ONLA seeks to honor and highlight green industry individuals who have made significant contributions to their fields. Over the years, these awards have evolved into long-lasting traditions of encouraging and identifying the best of the best. These annual awards were presented on January 14, 2018 at the ONLA Awards Celebration during Midwest Green Industry Experience.
Young Professional Award James Beardslee, Bearslee Nursery, LLC
Educator & Public Service Award Steve O'Neal, Columbus State Community College
onla.org
Distinguished Contribution Award Kyle Natorp, W. A. Natorp, Inc. Pictured with father and 1999 Distinguished Contribution Award recipient Ken Natorp (left).
Service Award Jay Daley, Herman Losely & Son, Inc.
Legislative Advocate of the Year Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association
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MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
ONLA SCHOLARSHIPS Through the Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program, ONLA provides one $3,000 President's Scholarship, several $2,000 scholarships to college students majoring in landscape, nursery production, or related horticulture subject areas, and $500 scholarships to high school FFA students who have shown an interest in pursuing a major in landscape, nursery production, or related horticulture subject areas at a two- or four-year institution upon graduation from high school. Not pictured, FFA students Zachary Gordon, Upper Valley Career Center and Sierra Ganley, Portage Lakes Career Center
President's Scholarship Lynn Lorio Cincinnati State Community College
Nall Moonilall, Ohio State University
Nathan Nordstedt, Ohio State University
Megan Bender, University of Cincinnati
Ryan Vogel, Ohio State University
Amy Day, University of Cincinnati
Cassie Rine, Ohio State University ATI, received the Artist in Landscape Design Scholarship from Kent Fullmer, Fullmer’s Landscaping
22  The Buckeye
onla.org
45TH ANNUAL LANDSCAPE AWARDS
PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Greenleaf Landscapes Inc. First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden
RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION Gary Hanson, American Safety &UNDER Health $15,000
Rine Landscape Group Curtin’s Curb Appeal
RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION $15,001 TO $50,000
John H. O’Neill, LLC Private Residence in Clintonville, OH
24 The Buckeye
John H. O’Neill, LLC Private Residence in Upper Arlington, OH
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RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION $50,001 AND OVER
J. Barker Landscaping Company A Private Residence in Lakewood, OH
J. Barker Landscaping Company A Private Residence in Brecksville, OH
Grunder Landscaping Co. Siebert Project
Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc. Elevated Living
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March/April 2018 
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RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION $50,001 AND OVER
Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc. Arlington Retreat
Peabody Landscape Group Worthington Project
Peabody Landscape Group Dublin Residence
Rine Landcape Group Gomez Fireside Retreat
26  The Buckeye
onla.org
RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION $50,001 AND OVER
GRAND AWARD
Hedge Landscape, LLC Edwardian Landscape
RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
Hidden Creek Landscaping, LLC Organized Nature
COMMERCIAL INSTALLATION $75,000 AND OVER GRAND AWARD
MJ Design Associates, Inc. Residential Landscape Maintenance
onla.org
Greenleaf Landscapes, Inc. First Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden
March/April 2018 
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THEME, SHOW OR EDUCATIONAL GARDENS
Oakland Nursery, Inc. A Fanciful Irish Garden
Auburn Career Center Wizard of Oz, Munchkinland
USE OF SEASONAL COLOR, CONTAINER GARDEN, OR PERENNIAL GARDEN
Buck and Sons Landscape Service Riverside Hospital
28  The Buckeye
Rine Landscape Group Harmonious Hudson 29
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THANK YOU, LANDSCAPE AWARDS SPONSORS!
R E S O U R C E S
I N C .
MAKE 2018 A YEAR TO REMEMBER ALONGSIDE OUR TEAM OF TURF PROFESSIONALS
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WE ARE PROUD TO BE CELEBRATING OUR 59TH YEAR IN BUSINESS SERVING OHIO’S GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS! Our roots date back to 1959 when our founders began growing turfgrass on a farm in Bellbrook, OH. Today, Green Velvet is a grower of over 600 acres of Ohio’s finest Kentucky Bluegrass, Fine Fescue and Tall Fescue sod; and distributor of T&O products for Golf, Landscape, Lawn Care, Sports and Grounds Maintenance Pros. With 4 Ohio Branches, we are here to provide you with the best knowledge and solutions to meet to all of your product needs. Put the Green Velvet Team to work for you today!
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March/April 2018
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Mineral and Peat Grown Sod for Sun and/ or Shade, Blue Grass Blend, Improved Tall Fescue, Fine Leaf Fescue & Blue Grass Mix Contract Grown to Specifications. Shredded Topsoil, Peat, and Custom Blending (Delivered or On-Site) Bark Mulch, Ties Custom Hauling
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Restoring the native landscape
ernstseed.com sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321
30  The Buckeye
onla.org
DON’T FENCE ME IN— AS USUAL
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, bobbie@bgthumb.com
32  The Buckeye
onla.org
Fences are everywhere but most of them are ugly, boring, pedestrian. It doesn’t have to be that way. A little imagination and artistry go a long way to creating something special. Fence manufacturers provide the standard choices. For instance, I have a stockade fence that came with the house over thirty years ago. It has held up fairly well and serves as an innocuous background for that section of my garden. That section of fence is very long so when I changed the trim color of my house and garage from brown to aqua, I painted every other fence post the same color and topped the posts with copper caps. Long fences can be boring but creative design can mitigate their length. Try interspersing sections of lattice panels with standard fencing and then topping the boards with horizontal sections of lattice that are a narrower replica of the panels. Most fences are designed on the vertical but designing them on the horizontal creates a different perception, one of artistry rather than mere functionality. Most fences serve as dividers between properties or to keep children and pets from escaping but they can also be used as walls to provide privacy. When space is limited in the back yard, this privacy can be established in the front yard in the form of a courtyard seen only by the residents and invited guests. Using uncommon materials also changes the nature of a fence. It becomes a piece of art, not just a screen.
onla.org
Recycling is one of today’s watchwords. What better way to use old corrugated metal and wood than to create a unique fence? If you or a friend are very artistic, you could make a fence into a painting that is seen only by the homeowner. The side that faces the street could remain totally bland so as not to offend anyone. Fortunately, the architectural police will not come after you if your fence is other than white, gray, or black. Why not liven up a fence with a color that suits your personality? A pair of Buffalo gardeners have a “fireworks” garden in their backyard. The sparks are yellow, orange, red, and chartreuse flowers and foliage with a fence and gate that are painted rusty red on the inside but white facing the street and the neighbor. Using the same idea of one color for the owners and another for the passersby, a New Jersey garden fence is painted royal blue on the inside and gray on the outside. A small window in the fence, through which one can view a sculpture, is also trimmed in royal blue. I’ve barely touched on the plethora of fence ideas that could transform ordinary fences into amazing ones. I hope that you’ll invent several more. B
March/April 2018
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THE KARNER BLUES Jim Chatfield Ohio State University Extension chatfield.1@osu.edu Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest
Years ago, I wrote a Buckeye article about the Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis: here is a new version on this topic, a reminder of how arts and science and nature are far from simple. It is a tale that channels the words of John Muir:
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” The Karner blue: Let us consider this - What does the Karner blue have to do with Vladimir Nabokov, Charles C. Mann, my brother David Chatfield, and the Endangered Species Act? Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian novelist turned American émigré, was one of the most celebrated literary figures of the 20th century, being nominated for the National Book Award seven times. Two of his works, Pale Fire and Lolita, are listed by the Modern Library among the 100 best novels of all time. He was also an “amateur” entomologist, and his taxonomic studies, some of which are enshrined at the Museum of Natural History at Harvard, led to the classification of the Karner blue as a subspecies—a subspecies that made its way onto the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services list of Endangered Animals. Charles C. Mann is a science journalist, who wrote the book 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, the National Academies Communication best book of the year award in 2006. To sort of prove Muir right, when I first googled Charles Mann I came across the fact that he also was a four-time Pro Bowl tight end. But, oh, that was a Charles A. Mann. Charles C. Mann is our author of interest, also mist pointedly for his book “Noah’s Choice: The Future of Endangered Species”. David A. Chatfield, is a PhD metallurgical engineer who after years of research at National Steel, went into management and became the manager of the Midwest Steel plant near the In34 The Buckeye
diana Dunes National Lakeshore. Born in West Virginia and living there until engineering schools at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University (in the glory years of both UC and OSU basketball national championships), David is an avid hiker and nature lover. The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in 1973 and “provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend.” So, the connections? In 1992, Midwest Steel, as accounted in Charles Mann’s Noah’s Choice, wanted to avoid shipping problematical waste from steel production across the country to east coast landfills. How about an on-site landfill on National Steel land? It would save money and avoid environmental transportation hazards at the same time. As required and with the full detail-oriented focus of a large company with plenty of engineering skills, they planned and planned for innumerable eventualities. There were necessary inspections relative to the suitability of the proposed landfill site. These of course involved a number of environmental assessments. What would happen to the waste over the years, would there be impacts on groundwater, and what about impacts to surrounding plant and animal life. This kind of attention to details and regulations takes months and years of planning. As I say with food preservation: those who plan, can. As my brother recounts it, the last inspection of all finally arrived: by The Indiana Department of Natural Resources. My brother and many others walked the property, and contemplated the coming landfill, and the elimination of the costly, wasteful, and potentially hazardous transport of waste off to New Jersey from Indiana. A series of elegant solutions to a necessary waste management challenge.
onla.org
And as they neared completion of the walk-through, they saw a flash of blue. A single Karner blue butterfly flitted about the proposed landfill’s home-to-be. Full stop. The single butterfly, and eggs found on a dead lupine stem (lupine is a host plant for Karner butterflies), complicated matters and thus engendered a series of endangered species events over the next several years. As noted in Noah’s Choice, Midwest Steel dug up and transplanted more than 1,600 lupines to a new site, where they also planted more than 3,200 lupines and sowed 8,000 lupine seeds. They also installed a special lupine irrigation system. As David Chatfield relates it, once the new lupine luxury suites were established, there was also a realized need to cut down a woodland that was providing too much shade. At any rate, as Charles Mann reports, the move costs about $1.5 million, which Midwest Steel “was glad to spend, given the alternatives.” After the project’s completion, my brother asked the IDNR specialist, if, as a person dedicated to the conservationist ethic, he was provided $1.5 million to do whatever might be best for the dunes area, is this how he would spend it. According to David’s telling, the answer was something along the lines of “Of course not.” Which brings up the dilemma of all issues relative to the complications of good intentions, John Muir’s true sentiment of all things being connected, and the rollicking course of us trying to align economy and ecology, nature and nurture. As Charles Mann relates in his book, the goal of the Endangered Species Act is easier said than done. The Karner blue’s range is wide across the mid-northern area of the Eastern U.S, from New Hampshire to Minnesota. which includes northwest Ohio from the old prairie lands near the Oak Openings, through the dune areas in Indiana. This 1300 mile span includes Chicago, Toledo, and Albany, New York. Billions upon billions of dollars would be needed to truly return the Karner blue lands. The questions of what compromise is reasonable are neverending, as are all issues of the sciences and arts of nature. A recent example, the New York Times published a story about the dusky gopher frog and the Weyerhauser Co. v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, No. 17-71 case. From the landowners: ‘The frog does not live there [a site in Louisiana], cannot live there, and will not live there in the future…the land is not suited in all respects for immediate occupation by the frog”. The government’s response: “[this] overlooks the substantial practical challenges inherent in the identification of critical habitat for endangered species. Many species are endangered precisely because their ideal habitat has been severely diminished or eliminated altogether…Where optimal habitat is unavailable the service acts appropriately in prioritizing areas with those features that are rarest or most
onla.org
difficult to reproduce through human intervention – here, the unique ephemeral ponds necessary for the frog’s breeding…” By the way, I spoke with a conservation biologist in Michigan City, Indiana recently. He worked on the National Steel site two decades ago, and he anecdotally noted that no Karner blues have been detected there for many years. That will lead to future articles, rebuttals and perspectives. It shall be grand. So, complete conservation is not realistically possible. In fact, if we even had the resources and interest to do so, what about the other current ecologies and economies that would stand in the way, not to mention the other species, that would be, in fact, endangered? It is never as simple as we would like to think, though, it is also important to try to figure out to what extent we should try. As Joni Mitchell wrote: “Don’t it always seem to go, that we don’t know what we got till it’s gone. We paved Paradise, put up a parking lot.” B
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OLD COUNTRY STONE Foundation Stone H Old Sidewalk H Top Rock
Established 1984 At Old Country Stone, we take pride in our vast collection of stone from across the United States and beyond. Our restoration stone is all authentic. Much of the stone we buy and sell has been salvaged from old barns, houses, bridges, and spring houses in the Appalachian area of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
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www.OldCountryStone.com
36  The Buckeye
onla.org
OPEN POSITIONS Lawn Care Technician 9 Trees Landscape Construction Columbus, Ohio
ADVERTISER INDEX Bull Country Compost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 bullcountrycompost.com Briar Rose Nurseries, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Landscape Design/Project Manager J.R. Thomas Landscaping, Inc. Loveland, Ohio
briarrosenurseries.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 buckeyeresources.com
Sales, Business Development and Marketing Manager Millcreek Gardens LLC Ostrander, Ohio
Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Maintenance Crew Leader City of Reynoldsburg Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Container Manager Herman Losely and Son, Inc. Perry, Ohio Landscape Design Sales Support Rice's Landscape Redefined Canton, Ohio
ernstseed.com Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 evergreenseedsupply.com fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 greenvelvet.com Horizon Plants LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 horizonplants.com Medina Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 medinasodfarms.com Millcreek Gardens LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 millcreekplants.com
Ads listed here were current as of press time. For more information, visit onla.org/careers
Oberfields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
HIRING? Post your open positions on onla.org. Listings are posted for 60 days online, and included in The Buckeye, ONLA's email newsletter, and social media posts. ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. $50 ONLA members, $100 nonmembers
Old Country Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
oberfields.com oldcountrystone.com Premier Plant Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 premierplantsolutions.com Reading Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 readingrock.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
View www.onla.org for more information. O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.
Studebaker Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Millcreek Gardens Spring Seminar O March 15, 2018 Millcreek Gardens LLC Ostrander, Ohio Sustainable Urban Landscapes Symposium O March 22, 2018 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio
colorchoiceplants.com studebakernurseries.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com
Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle, alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195
OCNT Exam March 15, April 19, May 17, 2018 Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Westerville, Ohio
onla.org
March/April 2018 
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Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Address Service Requested
PLANT HEALTH CARE E-NEWSLETTER Receive the latest information on plant health care problems and suppression techniques. ONLA’s Plant Health Care Newsletter provides timely information on the identification and treatment options available for the pests, diseases, and abiotic disorders seen in landscapes and nurseries. RECEIVE 16 ISSUES MID-MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER
$40 ONLA Members, $50 Non-Members $2 for each additional subscription within the same company Subscribe today! Visit www.onla.org/PHC