MAY/JUNE 2018 Vol. 29, Issue 3
The Official Publication of Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association
INSIDE: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens' Plants for Pollinators Top Ten Considerations for Selling Online
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May/June 2018 Vol. 29, 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
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.
onla.org
3
Executive Director's Message
5
President's Perspective
7
Legislative Update
10
Safety Update: One Decision at a Time
23
Introducing the new MGIX Series
FEATURE STORIES 9
Marty Grunder's Leadership Advice
11
Retail Roundtable: Online Sales
13
Top Ten Considerations for Selling Online
16
Plants for Pollinators
25
Why Trees Matter
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2
New Members
31
In Memoriam
33 Calendar of Events, Classifieds, Advertising Index
On the cover: Allium 'Millenium', Photo by Steve Foltz
May/June 2018
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2  The Buckeye
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director
What we do together matters when it comes to
tracks focusing on best practices and emerging trends surrounding landscape design and maintenance, business management, pest and disease control, and growing, selling and working with plants. The event will also include our Annual Meeting and Landscape Awards program.
Providing professional development, industry networking, and facilitating industry trade are all important aspects of the mission of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association. You’ve probably heard by now that we are changing the format for our Midwest Green Industry Experience event. This was not without deep deliberation by the ONLA staff and Board of Directors.
In addition, ONLA will host one-day events in Cleveland and Dayton on March 5 and 7, 2019, with employee development programming that complements the MGIX Member Summit.
Warren Buffet is quoted as saying,
These events promise to provide even more value to attendees and sponsors in the form of development, commerce, and professional networking. I hope you will plan to join us for these programs and we welcome your participation as sponsors.
growing and protecting the future of our industry in Ohio and beyond. Although Spring 2018 got off to a slow start in April, I’m optimistic that this will be a strong season for our industry across the Midwest.
“In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” ONLA has been fortunate to have a successful, regional tradeshow, education, and networking event (MGIX and CENTS before that) for many years. Our MGIX event this January was well supported and we appreciate the broad participation from our members. But the model is starting to show a few "leaks in the boat" and the winter tradeshow circuit beginning with MANTS and going through early March is experiencing a level of vendor fatigue. The feedback we received from our members is that the return on your investment in attending or exhibiting at a large tradeshow is declining. After working with the ONLA Board of Directors to set a direction for the future, we are adopting a new event model designed to provide a greater return on your sponsorship and professional development investment.
Several levels of event sponsorship are available for all three events, some of which include marketing display space, hosted discussions with attendees, and brand awareness benefits.
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
ONLA will be “pivoting” away from one large convention center-based tradeshow to a series of three, focused events designed around employee and management development, industry trade and commerce, and professional networking. We believe we can better serve our membership and the regional horticulture industry with more focused programming spread throughout the year and offered in different locations across the state. The first event, MGIX Member Summit, will be held in Columbus on December 12–13, 2018. Terri McEnaney, President of Bailey Nurseries will kick off the event as our Keynote Speaker. The program will include four education onla.org
Ken can be contacted at ken@onla.org
May/June 2018
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2018 MAY 17
OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH
JUNE 21 28
UPCOMING EVENTS Learn more & register: onla.org
OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Diagnostic Walkabout, Inniswood Metro Garden
JULY 12 19 26
Diagnostic Walkabout, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Diagnostic Walkabout, BGSU Firelands
AUGUST 9 16
Landscape Industry Certified, Full Test, Wooster, OH OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH
SEPTEMBER 6 14 20 20 21 28
Diagnostic Walkabout - Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens OHLO Sponsorship Deadline Diagnostic Walkabout - Sunset Memorial Park OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Landscape Awards Submission Deadline Golf Outing - Sunbury, OH
OCTOBER 18 19
OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Scholarship Application Deadline
NOVEMBER 1, 2 15
Ohio High School Landscape Olympics OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH
DECEMBER 12-13 MGIX Member Summit 31 Membership Renewal Deadline
2019 JANUARY 17
OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH
FEBRUARY 21 27
OCNT Testing, Westerville, OH Advocacy Day, Columbus, OH
MARCH 5, 7 4  The Buckeye
MGIX Training Days, Dayton & Cleveland, OH onla.org
PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Andy Doesburg, Ward+Thornton Landscape
As I mentioned in the March/April issue of The Buckeye, ONLA is taking a hard look at the value of its membership offerings. While many of the important services and benefits our members enjoy will stay the same, ONLA needs to be flexible and responsive to our members’ changing needs. As you’ve read in Ken’s article on page 3, ONLA has announced a new format for our annual conference. The decision to move away from a large, convention-center based tradeshow was not easy to make, but it was necessary. For the past several years, event surveys confirmed that most attendees and exhibitors no longer found MGIX to be a valuable experience. And the efforts involved in producing one large MGIX event left limited resources for ONLA to provide any additional programs for its members throughout the year. By offering a series of three professional development and education programs–one in December and two in March– ONLA will be able to provide you with more accessible and rewarding educational and networking experiences for you and your team. Whether you choose to attend the two-day MGIX Member Summit in Columbus or our one-day MGIX Training Days in either Cleveland or Dayton, you’ll receive top-notch education and plenty of opportunities to connect with the best in the industry.
trust that ONLA is not straying from its mission to facilitate the growth and success of Ohio’s green industry. Your membership offers tremendous value and we will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of your diverse businesses. If you have questions about ONLA’s programs and initiatives, I’d like to hear from you. Thank you for your continued support as a member of ONLA.B
Andy can be contacted at adoesburg@wtland.com
Excitement around the MGIX Member Summit is already building, and we’ll continue to keep you informed as the new program takes shape. But ONLA also has a promising line up of events between now and December. If you’re looking for an easy way to offer education to your team, or keep up your CEUs, make plans to attend one or more of ONLA’s Diagnostic Walkabouts this spring and summer. These early morning tours are hosted in parks, zoos and public green spaces located throughout northern and central Ohio. Walkabouts are casual and laid back and a nice change from classroom learning. (More details can be found on page 14) Check out ONLA’s event calendar for more ways to get involved in your industry. If you’re hosting open houses or education programs, contact ONLA to be added to the calendar. While the delivery of our programming may be changing,
onla.org
May/June 2018
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3/28/18 3:34 PM
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
Learn more at onla.org/committees
6 The Buckeye
onla.org
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Belinda Jones, Capitol Consulting Group
SPEAKER ROSENBERGER ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION; ALLEGED FBI INQUIRY In a stunning announcement, at deadline for this article, we have learned that Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R; Clarksville) has announced that he will be resigning from the Ohio House effective May 1. The number two in the House, Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring (R; Canton) will step in as leader until the House elects a new Speaker. Speaker Rosenberger maintains that all of his actions have been legal and ethical, but news reports have indicated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is making inquiries about at least one overseas trip that Rosenberger took last summer to England. In fact, the Speaker has taken several trips out of the country with costs being picked up by campaign funds and/ or outside groups such as the National Conference for State Legislators. Reportedly, there are questions about the payday lending industry as having helped fund some trips. Other reports have questioned the luxury condo the Speaker rents in Columbus from a top GOP contributor. Again, Speaker Rosenberger maintains that he has done nothing wrong nor has he been directly approached by the FBI but he has hired an attorney to represent him. Rosenberger stated that his resignation is based on his respect for the institution "that the Ohio House of Representatives is more than one person." 2018: WHAT DOES THIS YEAR MEAN FOR POLICY AND POLITICS? The quote above is a great segue to a mini-update on election year politics, starting with the House and the Senate. As you know, republicans have a super majority in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate. This election year from the point of the General Assembly should be easy, right? Well, even before the Rosenberger announcement, there has been a vicious fight for the term-limited Rosenberger's successor as Speaker of the Ohio House. Majority House members will be electing a new Speaker in January of 2019. But the teams are lining up now. Team one is Rosenberger's pick, Rep. Ryan Smith (R; Bidwell). Rep. Smith is the current chairman of the powerful House Finance Committee. Lauded as measured, fair, smart and strategic, Rep. Smith is the choice of most House republican incumbents. Meanwhile, team two is lead by FORMER House Speaker Larry Householder (R; Glenford). You may remember Householder's onla.org
name and you may affiliate it with an ultimate exit that was under scrutiny for strong-armed fundraising tactics. Rep. Householder is back and is showing his competitive tendencies by tapping and recruiting republican candidates to run for the House who will back him and not Smith. Usually an incumbent is free of a primary opponent but due to the Speaker race, many republican incumbents have primary opponents. This means that money not normally spent during the primary is being spent at the risk of less campaign funds for the general election. Democrats see the in-House fighting as a window of opportunity. The General Assembly will recess at the end of May and will not return until after the General Election. Lame Duck will be a busy time as term-limited legislators will be angling to put their thumbprint on their final days at the state house and two term Gov Kasich will be pushing his legacy agenda (as yet unknown). OEPA OMNIBUS BILL One of the Kasich legacy issues could be water quality. Although it has not been introduced yet, the OEPA (and to a lesser extent ODNR and ODA) have been working on an "omnibus" bill. Dubbed by the agency the "Common Sense Environmental Legislation", the bill continues the Kasich Administration's efforts to promote water quality in Ohio; however, many of the provisions as drafted are objectionable at this juncture. For example, the bill would add "fertilizer" to the definition of "agricultural pollution". The Administration has asked State Rep. Steve Arndt (R; Port Clinton) to introduce the bill; however, he has yet to do so. Recently, Rep. Arndt along with Senator Randy Gardner (R; Bowling Green) and Ohio House Ag Committee Chairman Brian Hill (R; Zanesville) hosted an interested party meeting on the draft bill. Representatives from agriculture raised several objections to the bill including the change that would add fertilizer to the definition of ag pollution. Further, the commodity groups indicated that this effort is premature given the House and the Senate are required to report back to the full General Assembly by July 1 on the successes and outcomes of the implementation of SB 1. CLEAN LAKE 2020 Meanwhile, Senator Randy Gardner (R; Bowling Green) and State Rep. Steve Arndt (R; Port Clinton) have teamed up on a new proposal for making some funds available for clean water. Gardner and Arndt represent more shoreline of Lake Erie than anyone else in the General Assembly. May/June 2018 
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Recently, Arndt and Gardner proposed a series of clean water and conservation initiatives that they believe will get Ohio on track to reduce nutrient loading into Lake Erie by 40% by 2025. The 40% reduction was pledged in the Western Basin of Lake Erie Collaborative Agreement signed two years ago between Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, with a 20% reduction by 2020 termed an “aspirational” goal. The Clean Lake 2020 Plan would include the following: "A significant new Clean Lake Capital Fund that may appropriate up to $100 million per year for five years for both Lake Erie algae reduction, and agricultural best practices. Funding may include establishing facilities to improve manure application processes, projects to reduce open lake disposal of dredged materials, funds to local governments for water quality-based green infrastructure, water management projects to help reduce nutrient and sediment runoff impacting the lake and other strategies.
and agreed to conservation methods that may include riparian buffers, filter strips, and cover crops." SB 255 SB 255 was introduced by Senator McColley. The intent of the bill is, on its face, laudable—an effort to reduce regulatory burdens. The title of the bill indicates that it makes changes to occupational licensing boards (a movement that has been afoot); however, we have learned that when you read the bill in greater detail, the bill also applies to licenses issued by STATE AGENCIES (i.e. pesticide applicator licenses). This bill is of concern and we look forward to sharing info in the coming weeks.B Belinda Jones Capitol Consulting Group bjones@capitol-consulting.net 614.224.3855
A new Soil and Water Support Fund, with some of the funding provided directly to soil and water conservation districts to assist farmers in soil testing, nutrient management plans, installing edge of field drainage devices, encouraging inserting of nutrients (subsurface placement),
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onla.org
LEADING YOUR TEAM
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co. What a spring—or, more accurately, what spring? The weather in Ohio has not been kind to our industry this year, with snow continuing to fall even in April. It’s safe to say we are all behind on our schedules, leaving us scrambling to make up for the time we’ve lost and hoping for understanding from our clients. It’s a tough spot to be in. But there are actions all good leaders take to meet challenges head on. 1. They maintain a positive attitude, no matter what. As the late, great Zig Ziglar famously said, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” If you think you can’t overcome adversity, you very likely won’t. Good leaders know they are always being watched. They set the tone for everybody around them. In times of difficulty, your team needs you to be a calming voice and a motivating force. Assure and reassure them that you will all get through this, and that you’ll be the better for it from what you learn.
telling your team you will get there, and if you focus and work hard you will. I guarantee you that come July, when the thermometer reaches toward 100 and the sun is beating down on you, you’ll have forgotten all about the trouble this cold spring has brought. B
Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com
2. They pull their weight. Take a good look around and talk to your team about how you can be most helpful. Sure, it’s your responsibility as CEO to set the vision and strategy for your company and to focus on the big picture. But that doesn’t also mean that you can’t roll up your sleeves and make yourself useful in the day-today when times are tough. Are there small acts or tasks you can undertake to demonstrate to your team you care? Maybe it’s driving a delivery truck for a couple hours, or straightening up a work area, or taking on Saturday sales calls so your sales designer can spend the day with her family. As the saying goes, if serving is below you, then leadership is beyond you. 3. They find solutions. Clients don’t want excuses; they want results. But most of them also know we’re not superhuman and we can’t control the weather. I have personally called a number of our clients at Grunder Landscaping Co. to explain what we’re up against and to ask if they can wait a few more weeks for us to do their jobs. Most have been very understanding, and the calls have actually been a nice opportunity for me to reconnect with clients and see how they’re doing. 4. They take the long view. Good leaders know there will always be ups and downs in business, times when your company is firing on all cylinders and times when nothing seems to go your way. Stay focused and true to your vision and strategy—to the company you want to be and to the plan you developed to getting there— and don’t let bumps in the road steer you off course. Keep onla.org
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May/June 2018
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SAFETY, ONE DECISION AT A TIME Gary Hanson, American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc.
Many companies believe that safety is simply common sense. It is a matter of each person simply making intelligent decisions to protect themselves. We make hundreds of decisions a day that impact our safety. Each time we make a decision we have the option to do it the safe way or do it the quick, easy, most convenient way. Unfortunately, we don’t always make the decision to do it the safe way. One of the major problems is that most of us aren’t naturally safe. In fact, most of us are risk takers to some extent. We think that accidents happen to other people or somehow we are exempt from them. We make a risk analysis with each decision. Many times, this is unconscious because we have made this same type of decision numerous times in the past. We determine the amount of risk and what we need to do to either eliminate the risk or reduce the risk. If we conclude that the effort to eliminate or reduce the risk is too much of a bother, or the risk isn’t that serious, we often decide that it is easier or more convenient to perform the task in the quickest manner.
"Safety is a behavioral science that relies on identifying and eliminating the reasons we make decisions that put ourselves at risk." If employees learn that they can make quick, easy, and convenient decisions, they will repeat those decisions. This will become a habit and then become an automatic part of their behavior. 10 The Buckeye
They will continue to make these decisions all through their career. This behavior then becomes extremely hard to change. There are outside factors that effect our ability to make safe decisions. In order to really have an effective safety program it is critical to recognize those factors that interfere with our ability to work in the safest possible manner. Safety is a behavioral science that relies on identifying and eliminating the reasons we make decisions that put ourselves at risk. This is what makes implementing a safety program hard. It is not just complying with the numerous OSHA standards, which in itself can be a daunting task. A company needs to establish a culture that elevates the importance of safety to a level that it is mandatory for employees to work in the safest possible manner at all times. There can be no excuses for an employee to work in an unsafe manner or commit an unsafe act. Make safety a top priority within your company and communicate this to all employees on a continuous basis. Develop safe work policies. Regularly observe employee work tasks. Hold effective safety training for new employees and annual refresher classes. Enforce your safety policies in the same way as other policies. Safe work behavior needs to become mandatory but it is something that requires constant attention. If you have any safety related questions or need help with program development or employee safety training, please call me at 330.854.4577- Office or 330.495.3437- Cell Phone.
Why aren't we safe? Factors that influence our decisions to work safely: Attitude. Employees with a negative attitude about the company or job are more likely to be at risk.
Inexperience. Employee
performing unfamiliar tasks are more likely to have an accident.
Rushed. When employees are in
a hurry all they are thinking about is getting the job done. Safety isn’t their top concern.
Fatigue. This robs the employee of
energy and vitality putting them at risk.
Complacency. Employees get so used to doing the same task they lose their fear of the danger.
Automatic Pilot. The lights are
on but no one is at home. Employees that are bored often let their mind wonder to other more exciting ventures.
Lack of proper tools or using
unsafe equipment. Employees need to report these immediately.
Personal Problems. We all
have private issues to deal with but sometimes these are brought to work and can have a serious impact on an employee’s safety.
Incompetency.
Some employees simply aren’t able to perform the job task required and they struggle. This causes employees to become frustrated and these employees often make mistakes.
onla.org
ONLA's Retail Committee weighs in on a new topic each Buckeye. This month's topic? Online Sales. Have something you'd like to see the committee tackle in a future issue? Email alana@onla.org. Noelle Clark Akin, Petitti Garden Centers Petitti’s does not currently sell online, however we are launching internet nursery sales via Amazon in April. We are going to begin with three gallon, top selling shrubs. We will see how the whole program works, how they hold up for shipping, etc., and evaluate from there. The biggest advantage to selling online is capturing all of those shoppers who want the convenience and ease of shopping at home and getting it delivered to their door; it’s definitely a cultural shift in retailing. Conversely, less foot traffic comes into your stores, so the time, labor and training spent on your knowledgeable, friendly staff and creatively displayed merchandise becomes obsolete. Our saving grace is the perishable nature of plant material, and the inherent understanding that the freshest, highest quality plants come directly from the growing facilities to the stores.
RETAIL ROUNDTABLE
SELLING ONLINE
Stay relevant on social media, entice your customers every day. Garden centers are therapeutic places to unplug, unwind, and enjoy! Happy Spring! Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc. Because we are a retail florist, we have a website that has a full integrated shopping cart. We have been selling floral products online for many years. I would like to expand into the garden center in the near future, but our main obstacle is a running inventory. Currently, our POS system does not keep an active, running inventory so online sales in the garden center could be a potential problem with out of stocks or limited availability. The advantage of being able to sell online would be to increase your market share and to streamline the shopping experience for a new group of customers. The downside would be losing that emotional feeling people get when shopping inside the store. We have the space to do it, but the technology would be a problem for us at this time. Ron Wilson, Natorp's Nursery Outlet “No one will ever buy plants from us online. Just won’t happen. Folks want to see and feel and pick their own plants.” That’s what I used to say and boy was I wrong! Online shopping for anything and everything is here and it’s here to stay. And if you aren’t offering products online, or don’t have plans in the immediate future to offer online shopping, I think you may be missing the boat. Not only are you selling plants without a live salesperson and without being open, but you then get the second shot when the customer comes in to pick up the previously ordered plants, to show and sell them more plants, or tie-in products to make their planting endeavors successful. It’s not an easy process to get started…I wouldn’t know, but just ask Kyle Natorp who has been working on this for a few years. Natorp’s just went live this month with online plant purchasing and we’re off to a
flying start! Over the next several weeks, we’ll be working out the kinks and the fine details, but we’re there. Right now, we’re only offering plants that are in current inventory, and they must be picked up at the Outlet within a few days; delivery, installation and online hard-good purchases are just around the corner. Having said this, I invite you to visit our website (natorp.com) and take a look. For more questions about how it’s doing, give us a couple months to work through it. Or consult with Kyle…but you may want to wait until later this summer when he gets a little break! Gotta go…too busy with spring sales to write! Jeremy Newell, White Oak Garden Center We have just started scratching the surface with online sales. We have two products that are available online all the time: bulk hardwood mulch to be delivered and gift cards. From spring through fall, we add temporary products that might be available for a few weeks to a few months. This includes products such as Knockout roses, Sunpatiens, various Hydrangeas and our fall decorating package (a collection of straw bale, fodder, pumpkins, and mum) among others. These are pickup items, not shipped. Sales are usually low on these products but they rarely get any marketing either. We are probably like most garden centers, in the sense that we want to increase/ start this component of our sales but are intimidated by creating the logistics of the process. This is particularly true of the holding space of live goods between purchase time and pickup time considering our space. How do we offer online sales
while remaining top in service and quality? That is the ultimate question. We also partner with Bower & Branch which does allow us online sales options of trees, shrubs, and perennials for our customers. Karen Martin, Dayton Nurseries, Inc. We are trying to set up online ordering. We now have customers who will call and place an order for pickup. When you look at how often this service is offered, at your local grocery store and other retailers, it must be a service that is wanted. Some questions are: How much, if anything do you charge? If they want it tonight, when is the latest that they can order? Do you assign one person to collect the order or do you let each department gather what is needed from their department? I know our inventory is not always correct so what do you do if the plant is no longer available? I would like to see us start out by offering this service to a small number of customers so we can work out the bugs. Those customers would know it was a test and could help by giving us feedback. It is certainly not a new way of buying plants. I have bought plants from eBay and ordered them from catalogs. Sometimes the plant was good and sometimes it was not. To have the ability to order what you need and pick it up on the way home from your busy day is a great service. You would already be familiar with your local nursery and should trust them to have the best product waiting for you. It is in our best interest to try new ways to serve our customers.
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onla.org
Retail Roundtable: Part Two
TOP 10 CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELLING ONLINE By Steve Maddox, Director of Partnership Development, Bower & Branch
This article was originally published in Lawn & Garden Retailer in their April 2018 issue. Learn more at lgrmag.com Poking your head in the sand like an ostrich is not a worthy business strategy. While I was at MANTS in January, a garden center owner asked me, “Is this e-comm thing going to be big someday?” This left me completely speechless. Whether you believe it’s a t for your company or not, selling plants online is happening. It’s happening BIG, and it’s happening today. In my role with Bower & Branch, I spend my day talking to garden center retailers helping them understand e-commerce. More specifically, we discuss how they can increase their company revenues by having a strategic engagement position for online sales and new customer acquisitions, not simply settling for a minor sales shift by putting gift cards online. Here are some of the most asked questions or concerns. 1. People in my town won’t pay that much for plants. Green industry retailers are afraid to charge more. Whether it’s modesty, scar tissue from the last recession, or something else entirely, the green industry undervalues its products and services. I see sales transactions occur everyday where a current Bower & Branch member assumed the same thing, but the consumer acted different and paid a higher price. The key to increasing prices is to do it strategically with a focus on a specific consumer target group. For the foreseeable future, garden center retailers are going to have to market to new customers online who will pay more, while still serving in-store customers who want a different price. That’s OK. This is called a “business shift.” Retailers are not going to get everyone to buy plants online, but the ones who do will increase their average transaction size by 50 percent because the consumer will buy the related products and services that go along with the plant. The increase in revenue comes from the whole package, not just the plant. 2. I want to sell my own inventory. You should! Having an e-commerce strategy will help. A major thing to keep in mind is many of the people you will be selling to online do not come to your store. Worse yet, they have never onla.org
even heard of you. E-commerce introduces NEW customers to your store brand who will transition from “online-only” to “online and in-store” customers who will buy your inventory from both sales channels. Online sales do not replace your in-store sales. They add to them. 3. What’s my return on investment? That’s easy — without a go-to-market e-commerce strategy you are going out of business. Next! 4. What if the customer doesn’t like the plant? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it’s going to happen. A key part of your e-commerce strategy is to manage against the risk. Do not use pictures of plants online that are perfect or don’t represent what the consumer is going to receive. DO NOT set your customer up for disappointment. Keep it real. Literally. Use pictures of the average plant and not the perfect one. 5. Will you deliver just one? Yes, if that’s what the consumer ordered, but it’s my experience they order more than one plant. The garden retail e-commerce strategy has to include an investment in the customer experience that redefines the “journey of the last mile.” The customer experience our products will be judged against will be the Amazon Plant Store. The “last mile” could even include delivery and installation at the customer’s home. We are seeing an increase in that option as well. 6. How will the customer be successful if I don’t talk to them? Let the consumer determine how much or how little they want to talk to you. Today’s consumers are more educated than we give them credit. Basic information can support your e-commerce strategy by making sure USDA plant zones are taken into consideration when deciding your product mix and maintaining “the right plant in the right place” philosophy helps. For us, there are three BIG ONES. The consumer journey starts when they take the “Find Your Perfect Match” tree quiz, next we turn brown thumbs into green thumbs with a Three Year Guarantee on trees and shrubs, and finally a great network of growers. 7. People won’t buy plants online. Yes they will, and we see it happen everyday at garden centers May/June 2018
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across the country. Did you ever think you would buy food online? Meat, veggies and fruit arriving at your doorstep? Me either, but I do. Here’s the thing — when you are working with a customer in the nursery they always say, “You pick it out. You’re the expert.” The same thing happens online. They are counting on the expert to pick out their plants. 8. How do I get them to shop online? This is a foundational part of the strategy. Retailers must consider their e-commerce “site” as a separate location. Would you open a new store and not market it? People just assume they can put something on their website and Google will automatically find it and make it searchable. NOT TRUE!
When the weather is a mess outside, it’s always warm and comfortable in your customers’ offices or homes. Consumers never have to worry about a bad choice in footwear, stepping in puddles, walking over snow banks or facing cold winds when shopping your online store. I have been looking outside at 12+ inches of snow all winter while watching online sales add to the bottom-line of our members. If you are looking to do e-commerce with plants you are not alone; Amazon is too. It’s a scary place when you’re not familiar with the space but Amazon is. Make the investment, Amazon is. Just ask Alexa or just Google it. B
There is logic and a science behind making e-commerce successful. It takes a savvy web guru to understand all the algorithms needed to show up on the first page of a search. Additionally, companies still need the traditional media used for brick-and-mortar. Social media, emails, direct mail and signage are all necessary to let people know you are open for business and selling online. 9. Do I need to have a computer in my store for people to buy online? There are computers in every employee’s pocket, every consumer’s purse, and every office. The critical aspect of the computer question is, “Where is it located?” Having a stationary and ever-present location for people to shop your online store is the key. All companies offering e-commerce increase sales when they include a big screen for everyone to see.
Contact Steve at stevem@bowerandbranch.com
Restoring the native landscape
Make it be something. Make it the center of attention. You’ll create an audience. You’ll create sales. Remember to be mobile friendly since customers are searching your site while inside your store. 10. Do I really need to spend the time writing descriptions? Yes, yes, and yes! Amazon has reported that merchants who have longer than average descriptions, multiple hi-res photos and supporting bullet points consistently sell more products. Your strategy is to sell a consumer experience online that involves plants. For example, this is just a snippet of the description of a Slender Silhouette Sweetgum on the Bower & Branch site: “CAUTION: Slender Silhouette Sweetgum is a whiplashinducing tree. Plant at your own risk! You won’t find anything quite like this fun, quirky tree.” Finally, I want to introduce you to a new term TREE-surance. Look at an e-commerce strategy as “TREE-surance” against a wet, cold, freezing spring. 14 The Buckeye
ernstseed.com sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321
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2018 Diagnostic Walkabouts Walk, Talk, & Learn
2018 Line Up
Tim Malinich, Horticulture Educator with Ohio State University Extension, and other horticulturalists lead in-depth discussions of the art and science of scouting, diagnostics and control of landscape pests. These interactive, hands-on, in-the-moment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Attendees are invited to partake in in-depth discussions, 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.
7:30 to 9:30 am at:
Inniswood Metro Gardens Thursday, June 28
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
To Attend:
Thursday, July 12
$45.00 for ONLA members $65 for non-members Pre-registration is required.
BGSU Firelands
www.onla.org/walkabouts Presented in Partnership with:
Credits Available:
Thursday, July 26
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
1 CEU Additional credits for LA CES, ISA and ODA certifications are pending approval. Check onla.org for details
Sunset Memorial Park Thursday, September 20
PLANTS for POLLINATORS Creating Awareness at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture, stephen.foltz@cincinnatizoo.org
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The decline of bees, butterflies and other pollinators is capturing a lot of news these days, both good and bad. As with many good causes, the question we all ask is “what can I do to help with this problem”? How can we be a part of the solution? The decline in bee population is caused by many things—mites, stress, pesticides, global warming, lack of habitat, you name it. All are contributing to the problem! The Monarch butterfly is another flagship species in decline that we can all rally around and try to do whatever we can to help. Well, here is a very simple step we can all take that will help: Plant more Plants for Pollinators Here is how we are creating awareness about plants for pollinators at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Do we have the right plants? Several years ago, we were noticing a lot of buzz on pollinators (couldn’t resist the pun!). Meetings about pollinators were held during this early time with educators, bee keepers, and entomologists. Internally, our colleagues began asking if we had the “right” plants at the Zoo. Sure, we were beautiful with all of our color and flowering plants, but were we planting to help the pollinators or were we a pollination desert? We were asked if we had any plants planted specifically for Monarchs. Questions came up such as “are we planting all native plants for pollinators?”, “Are cultivars of Native plants acceptable?” and “What good are annuals to pollinators?” At first, I think we were offended by these questions. It seemed obvious to us in the Horticulture department. But then it became a challenge to educate employees and the visiting public about the plant diversity we have at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) and how that diversity fits into the health and wellbeing of our bees and butterflies. For instance, we have had a Pollinator Garden and a Butterfly Garden for over 25 years. We had just about any pollinator plant you can grow in these gardens. This is actually one of the best things we do here at the CZBG! Clearly our messaging was
not very effective. So how do we get this message across to our non-horticultural employees and to the public? Observational Research In 2015, we decided to observe, first hand, which plants in our garden were being visited by which pollinators. We asked: Did our native pollinators only visit native plants? Did they visit the cultivars of native plants or did they prefer straight species? How do annuals fit into the equation? Are they useless or do they help support pollinators? The CZBG is a great place for this type of observation. We have over 3,000 different types of plants in our collection. As part of our trials program, we plant many new cultivars of perennials along with straight species of perennials. We also plant more than 50,000 annuals of over 300 varieties throughout the grounds as a part of our annual trials program. Just growing, planting, labeling and caring for this many plants is a huge undertaking on our part and our first goal of the trials program is to find which plants perform best in our conditions. We have been planting our trials program for over 15 years. (Learn more here: http://cincinnatizoo.org/plants/) Enlisting Help One of the most unique programs to come out of this project was the formation of a teen volunteer program called the Buzz Troop. Finding enough time and patience to photographically document what was going on in our garden was a challenge and the Buzz troop was developed to observe and photograph pollination throughout the CZBG. They did not have any plant experience, but the horticulture team helped. They did not know the insects on the plants, but we worked with entomologists at The Ohio State University to help with identification. In the beginning, the photos that were taken were not very good, but with a little practice and guidance from the leader of the Buzz Troop, CZBG Horticulturist Deb Zureick, members of the Buzz Troop were taking outstanding photographs and capturing much of what was going on in the garden. By the end of the season they could identify many of the plants and
insects they were photographing so it was a great learning opportunity for them and great information for us! What have we observed? One of the first things we observed is that pollinators visit flowers. No flowers, no pollinators! This may seem obvious, but when we talk about pollinator activity, we are not just talking about the summer. From the first warm spells in the spring to the last days in the fall, we need to be concerned about what’s in bloom. Pollinators were visiting early blooming winter Aconite to the late blooming fall asters and everything in between. Another observation is that it didn’t seem to matter whether the plant was native. Pollinators come to the flowers for the nectar and pollen. Some question whether the pollen and nectar are equal in native vs. non-native plants. I cannot answer that question, I can only report on what we observed and I can say they looked very content with their rewards regardless of where the plants came from. Do cultivars provide the same quantity and quality of pollen and nectar as the native species? I think the answer here is yes and no. Some cultivars provide little to no reward, while some are better than the species. Some cultivars have more bloom or bloom for an extended period of time, which provides more rewards for the pollinator. More research needs to be done on this front. The few studies I have seen have only a tiny fraction of what is available in the nursery trade. I think we can help move the needle on selecting plants, and cultivars of plants, that will be more pollinator friendly in our gardens. Were annuals effective in bringing in the pollinators? Much like the cultivar issue, this was on a case by case basis. Some annuals were outstanding in bringing in pollinators. Mystic Spires Improved Salvia was covered by bees last season. From May to October, this plant was a bee magnet. Several of the
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other Salvias were good as well. Salvia Rockin’®, Playin’ the Blues®, and Salvia Wendy’s Wish were also covered with Bees. Other annuals that brought in the pollinators were Pentas Graffiti Lipstick and Red Velvet. Dahlia Mystic Illusion has been an outstanding annual for display and also does a great job helping support our native bees. Lantana in general really brought in the butterflies. We have used many great cultivars of Lantana throughout the years and they never disappoint. Two more annuals we love in the garden are Verbena bonairiensis and Zinnia Zahara Fire. For us, this rounds out our list of outstanding annual plants for pollinators and for performance in the garden. One of the main takeaways in all of this is the more flowering plants you have in your garden, the more pollinators you will bring in. Also, the more flowers you have, the more you will attract beneficial insects to your garden, which keeps a balanced environment that allows you to lessen the need for insecticides in your garden. More flowers, fewer chemicals! Bringing it Home! With all of this information we have gathered over the past few years, one of our partners Jordan Holtkamp from Eason Horticultural Resources came up with a way to share this information with the gardening public by selling the “Zoo’s Best” Plants for Pollinators. This is a local program with local growers selling to local garden centers. The annuals are grown by Diefenbacher Greenhouses while the perennials are grown locally by Greenfield Plant Farm. They are then distributed to participating garden centers such as Pipkin’s Market. A tag is placed in the container letting the public know that this is a “Zoo’s Best” Pollinator plant and that proceeds go to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden to help in plant research and public education of plants for pollinators. This program has been a great way to involve the public and make it easier to make good choices to help our local pollinators. We are now looking to develop a certification program for home landscapes, local businesses and schools. We want to encourage people to landscape with a purpose. We want people to help in a local conservation effort by planting a garden that is good for pollinators, good for wildlife, and good for our health and well being. Plants are amazing! Let’s get out there and plant Nature! B Photos (top to bottom): Page 16: Salvia 'Mystic Spires Improved' Page 18: Cercis canadensis, Fennel with larval Black Swallowtail, Aster oblongifolius 'Raydons Favorite' with Buckeye butterfly, Allium 'Millenium' Page 19: Echinacea 'Fragrant Angel', Dianthus 'Jolt Cherry' with Tiger Swallowtail Page 20: Liatris with Tiger Swallowtail, Zinnia 'Zahara Fire' with American Lady, Buddleia with Monarch All photos courtesy of Steve Foltz.
20 The Buckeye
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Reading Rock now distributing & stocking
County Materials’ pavers manufactured with
Face-Mix Technology Call 800-482-6466 for details and to receive a free pair of RR gloves. www.readingrock.com
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IF YOU THINK DEALING WITH THE ELEMENTS WITHOUT A GREENHOUSE IS HARD, IMAGINE BEING A FLOWER. Wind, hail, sleet, or snow may not stop the post office. But if you grow plants, flowers, or greenhouse crops, those elements can be a problem. Which is why you should turn to the only insurance company dedicated to protecting you, your business, and your future. #NoSubstitute
800-541-5082
hortica.com
Hortica ® property and casualty coverages are underwritten, and loss control services are provided, by Florists’ Mutual Insurance Company and Florists’ Insurance Company, members of the Sentry Insurance Group. For more information, visit hortica.com. Policies, coverages, benefits and discounts are not available in all states. See policy for complete coverage details. 77-62
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- Introducing a New -
MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE ONLA’S SIGNATURE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & NETWORKING SERIES MGIX Member Summit
MGIX Training Days
MGIX template.indd 1
December 12–13, 2018
New venue. New dates. New experiences. This premier, two-day event provides a focused, solutions-based learning and networking experience for business owners and team members in the landscape and nursery segments. Industry Connections ONLA's annual conference is the ideal place to foster relationships with fellow members. Collaborate with peers over round-table discussions, meet with event sponsors over lunch, and recognize—or aspire to be—the best in the industry during ONLA's annual awards celebration.
Gear Up for Spring! Preliminary Schedule Wednesday 7:00 am: Registration 8:00 am: Keynote Presentation 9:30–11:45 am: Breakout Sessions 12:00 pm: Networking Lunch 1:30–6:15 pm: Breakout Sessions and Roundtables
March 5, 2019 Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH
Thursday 7:00 am: ONLA Awards Celebration & Breakfast 8:30–11:45 am: Breakout Sessions 12:00 pm: Networking Lunch 1:15–4:15 pm: Breakout Sessions
Connect with colleagues, train your employees, and learn new skills to grow your business. These one-day programs will feature education sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities for growers, landscapers, and retail garden centers. More details will be announced soon!
Top-Notch Education Terri McEnaney, President of Bailey Nurseries, will kick off the Summit with a keynote presentation. Breakout tracks will dive deep into the best practices and emerging trends surrounding landscape design and maintenance, business management, pest and disease control, and growing, selling and working with plants.
Venue: Hilton Columbus at Easton Enjoy top quality service and accommodations in this newly renovated hotel located in the heart of Easton Town Center—one of Columbus’ best shopping, dining and entertainment complexes and a premier attraction during the holidays. You’ll have access to dozens of restaurants for after-hours experiences and team/client dinners.
Tickets: $295 per person, includes all education sessions, keynote, lunches, and awards breakfast. Enjoy complimentary morning coffee and afternoon snacks.
The ONLA hotel block rate is $162 plus tax per night, with free parking. Hotel reservations will be available soon.
Presenting Sponsors:
March 7, 2019 Cuyahoga Community College Corporate Career Center East Warrensville Hts., OH
Become a Sponsor Connect with like-minded professionals and grow your business through rewarding sponsorship opportunities. A limited number of sponsorships are available. Please contact Keith Manbeck at keith@onla.org or call 614.899.1195 to learn more.
Learn More: onla.org/mgixseries
4/16/20
Aug. 8, 2018 written test Ohio State ATI, Wooster Application Deadline: June 8! Aug. 9, 2018 hands-on test Application Deadline: June 8! Oct. 2, 2018 written test Ohio State ATI, Wooster Oct. 9, 2018 written test OLA, Broadview Heights
Administered by:
Certification is an important tool for all landscape companies and individuals in the landscape field. A Landscape Industry Certified Technician is a proven landscape professional who has been certified through an internationally supported testing program that is administered by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and licensed to Ohio – a partnership of The Ohio State ATI, Ohio Landscape Association and Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association. By earning your Landscape Industry Certified Technician certification, you send a message to clients and employees that you meet or exceed the industry standard. Learn More and Register: LandscapeCertifiedOhio.org
Ohio Partners:
Arborjet provides cutting edge solutions to the green industry’s insect and disease problems. From high tech equipment to formulations that change the way we think about plant health care, Arborjet offers the tools you need to save America’s landscapes.
arborjet.com 24 The Buckeye
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WHY TREES MATTER
Moses, Maples, and More Jim Chatfield, Ohio State University Extension, chatfield.1@osu.edu & Jason Veil, Curator, OSU Secrest Arboretum
This past Valentine’s Day, Bartlett Tree Experts arborist Chadwick Clink suggested we take a look at seven of the Moses Cleaveland trees at the storied Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland (there are multiple theories of what happened to the extra “a” in Brigadier General Cleaveland’s name). When Moses came west in 1796, he commanded a group of surveyors from Canterbury Connecticut to the wilds of New Connecticut and then Western Reserve. Here he commissioned a settlement along the lake and the river in what is now Cleveland. He then left shortly after he arrived, leaving it to the settlers to carve out a new life. His loss, but our gain. There is a statue of Moses Cleaveland in Public Square, but the real monuments to him, which were honored in 1946 at the sesquicentennial of his visit of 1796, are a number of living trees that, through a rigorous process, were estimated to have been standing in 1796. Now, 222 years, among the monuments and monoliths at Lake View Cemetery, are seven monumental "Moses Cleaveland" trees, towering above the rest: Tuliptrees, oaks – both red and white, a massive sycamore and onla.org
its “bone structure of the landscape”, and a beech tree. Which is why Chad called me. Chad and Bartlett Tree work with Lake View horticulturist Robin Menges and others to take care of these trees, with organic soil amendments to help the all-important root systems and with specialized pruning necessary for these aging wonders. Chad had read a recent article featuring Richard Higgins book Thoreau and the Language of Trees and thought it was a good idea for us to listen to these historic trees. Lake View and its 285 acres is one of the most storied and beautiful cemeteries in the country, dating to 1869, with Italian stonemasonry there also in evidence of nearby Little Italy. Bartlett Tree Experts also has a fine history, founded by Francis A. Bartlett in 1907, and now has over 100 offices in the U.S. and internationally. It was a beautiful crisp winter day with blue skies. The geese were honking and mostly hanging out in the open water portion of the pond. The snow was crunchy, though about to melt. And we craned our necks like the geese looking
upward, upward, treeward. Here are a few profiles of these trees of Moses, and their command performance lo these eleven score and two years added to their original years of youth. White Oak (Quercus alba) Though Moses Cleveland did not sail here from the east, white oaks, in addition to their majesty and acorn food for wildlife, were prime wood for ships in Moses Cleaveland’s Revolutionary War day and many years after. As the eponymous member of the “white oak” group of interbreeding oak species (such as bur oak and English oak), these oaks are identifiable with their round-lobed leaves and acorns that mature in a single season. White oaks are now widely used for furniture, whiskey and wine barrels, and much more. They are wonderful woodland and parkland trees. White oaks are the state trees of Maryland, Illinois, and – Connecticut. Red Oak (Quercus rubra). As the eponymous leader of the “red oak” group, this species and its fellow travelers, including pin oak and black oak have pointed lobes or bristle tips on the leaf edges and take two years for May/June 2018
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acorns to mature. Trees in the red oak group are also quite magnificent and are a key provider of hard oak timber. Having large red oaks in northeast Ohio is a good reason to hire an arborist because oak wilt disease is a real and growing threat in many areas. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus Bretiziella fagacearum, which like the Dutch elm disease fungus, plugs up the vascular (conducting) system of these trees. One of the symptoms of this vascular wilt disease is brownish streaking inside the stem, which is termed vascular discoloration, or euphemistically, VD to a plant pathologist. No oak wilt is known on the oaks at Lake View Cemetery to date, but arborists often take precautions on valuable oaks. Here are a few considerations regarding oak wilt. First, oaks in the red oak group are much more susceptible to oak wilt than the white oak group. Second, the sap beetle insects that spread the fungus from tree to tree are attracted by oozing plant sap. So, pruning should not be done during the growing season if possible, since this is when sap flows more freely. If pruning must be done, then use non-gummy pruning paint
applied to the pruning cuts to deter the fungus-vectoring insects from arriving. This is really the only time we currently recommend pruning paint on trees as the threat from this fungus out- weighs our modern understanding of not applying pruning paint to maximize oxygen availability for the tree’s callusproducing machinery (the cambium. Also, on high profile trees, if done early enough, fungicide injections to trees may be helpful in limiting oak wilt disease. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) This is such a grand tree with its ghostly, shall we say cemeterial, bark and trunk aspects and soaring-into-thesky branching. Sycamore or American planetree is suited for large areas such as parks and cemeteries and stream banks and floodplains (they prefer wet sites). And, as I well remember from my days with the Lancaster Ohio Parks and as all horticulturists will attests to, sycamores can be a pain in areas that need to be regularly maintained, e.g., if mowing under sycamores is needed. They drop branches, they drop twigs, they drop leaves shriveled from anthracnose disease. But put them in a limited
maintenance area with plenty of room, and they are a delight. Their somewhat smaller cousin, London planetree, is an originally accidental hybrid of American planetree (sycamore) and Oriental planetree (Platanus orientalis), first discovered in Vauxhall Garden in London in the late 17th century. Now there are new hybrids deliberately developed. London planetrees are more suited as street trees (but certainly not where there are overhead power lines), are somewhat less “dirty”, and less susceptible to sycamore anthracnose disease. Tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipifera). As for tuliptrees, they rival oaks as kings of the forest for their height, ascending to be the tallest trees in the Smoky Mountains. They have straight trunks, attractive bark with white fissures, tulip shaped leaves, and astonishing green and yellow and orange tulip-like flowers. But let us wax poetic. Leeree-oh-den-dron too-lip-if-er-ahh, trippingly on the tongue Liltingly, nimbly a dance across Nature’s green stage, a dream to be
Sycamore canopy
An Asian cousin, others 70, 80 million years old Today we plant anew, a giant someday to accrue Leaves of tulips, blooming in the sun Flowers of tepals, petals yellow-green, daubed with orange Relatives magnolias blooming now in all their glory Tulipwood trunks growing up, above the maples above the oaks Canopy giants nurtured in forest soil of fauna and flora Microbial glue binding and flowing freely Leer-ee-oh den-dron too-lip-if-er-ahhhhh! As for American beech trees, we shall defer discussion until this Spring when we will cover some challenges for this graceful woodland tree that really puts the “sylvan” to the practices of silviculture. Now for Something Entirely Different. AcerMania. AcerPhilia. The crazy love
of one of our greatest group of trees— maples. From maple syrup to maple furniture. From musical instruments due to their tone-carrying trait to a wondrous range of landscape plants.
reproductive parts can be attractive, such as the chartreuse yellow flowers of sugar and Norway maples and the female pistils and male stamens of red maple.
So, where does the name “Ácer” come from, anyway? The origins are somewhat obscure, but one theory is that its roots mean “sharp”, which if true would relate to the pointed nature of the leaf lobes on many maples.
I asked Jason Veil, the new curator of OSU’s Secrest Arboretum at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, which maples are his favorites. He is a learned plantsman and will also be one of the co-teachers for the AcerMania talk at the OSU Extension Trees on Tap program at OSU-Mansfield on May 23 (check out this website: https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/ events/trees-tap).
As a Latin genus name, Acer has over 120 species worldwide, with only one in the southern hemisphere. Which maples are native to the United States? Five are familiar to us here in the northeastern U.S., namely sugar maple, red maple, silver maple, striped maple and box elder. Add the Florida maple and the chalkbark maple in the southeast and from the western U.S. the vine maple, mountain maple, big-leaf maple, canyon maple, and you can see that most of those 120+ species of maples are nonnative. Maples are known for their leaves, but, though their little helicopter fruits are often irritating in garden beds and their flowers are often un-noticed, their
Jason began his answer by noting, in true “acer-maniacal” fashion, that “with over 100 species and thousands of cultivars”, coming up with a top five was punishingly difficult. Jason continued, “As with most plants, anything on my top five list today could be usurped by a new plant that tickles my fancy tomorrow.” Jason’s Final Five: Chalkbark Maple (Acer leucoderme). This close relative of sugar maple (some
Tuliptree canopy
Maple Norway flowers
that would scare the living bark off of more fastidious trees.” Drought and cold tolerance, adaptability to poor soils, this tree “should be on the radar of urban foresters from coast to coast.” It is another small maple (25–30' at maturity). It has: “Blazing orange to scarlet fall color”, and is yet another admirable attribute of this industrial-strength maple species. Check out selections such as ‘Main Street’ and ‘Fire Dragon’. Thanks, Jason: I learned a lot.
consider it a subspecies) grows somewhat leisurely and to a modest height of 25 feet, compared to sugar maple’s ultimate height of 60 feet or higher. Though its native range is the Carolinas west to the gulf Coast region, it is cold hardy to -20 F. With blazing golds and oranges in fall, Jason says, “Chalkbark Maple is a promising heat-adapted, compact version of Sugar Maple, much more suitable to smaller landscapes and for use under utility lines.” Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum). – The bark of striped maple gives it the common name, with younger stems “decorated with conspicuous white striations, resembling stripes.” This native maple is our lone “striped maple” with a large number of Asian “snakebark” maples possessing similar striations. We see this maple in woods in New England, the Appalachians, and northeast Ohio in protected locations. “Observing this tree along a rural New England roadway or high in the Blue Ridge should remind us of its preference for cool, shady locations,” said Jason. “Proper siting will help it endure hotter, more humid summers and extend its garden lifespan in our area.” He recommends ‘Erythrocladum’ (Red Branch), an old cultivar featuring young branches that transition from green to striking shades of orange and coral during the winter months.
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Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Murasaki kiyohime’). There is almost an infinitude of Japanese maples. He chose ‘Murasaki kiyohime’ as “perhaps the farthest of these from most gardener's idea of a typical maple.” It is low-growing, only 3–4' tall by 6–8' wide after several years, “filling a completely different landscape niche.” He notes that 'Murasaki kiyohime', with its new foliage emerging bright golden yellow edged in crimson is a “flamboyant conversation piece, proving that the term ‘groundcover maple’ is not a horticultural oxymoron.” Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Esk Sunset’). Sycamore maple is native to central Europe and western Asia and so-named for its sycamore-like palmate leaves. This tree has spread throughout the world and a mutated cultivar was discovered in New Zealand in the Esk Valley. Jason notes: “This provocative maple boasts leaves mottled with shades of cream, pink, and green variegation. As a bonus, the leaf undersides are the color of a delicious red velvet cake.” It is another example of a shorter version of a much larger tree, maturing in the range of 15–20’, a much better fit for most gardens.” It must be planted in shade to avoid burning of the foliage features.
End Note: In 2016, Andrea Wulf wrote a wonderful book: “The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt and the Discovery of the New World”. Read. It. Now. An interesting note she relates is on the hundred-year anniversary of his birth, on September 14, 1869 hundreds of thousands of people around the world held ceremonies in his honor, from Adelaide to Buenos Aires, from St. Petersburg to New York City. And, she notes, “8,000 people poured out into the streets of Cleveland, Ohio.” This fleeting fame fascinates because how many of us now know of Alexander von Humboldt? So, in the spirit of that sesquicentennial naming of Moses Cleaveland trees” in 1946 (now 222 and counting), let let us hereby proclaim: On September 2019, 250 years to the day from the birth of Alexander von Humboldt, without whom Andrea Wulf says Darwin never would have sailed The Beagle, we shall hold ceremonies and educational programs in von Humboldt’s name. On that date, we shall honor his prescient ecological perspectives on nature and pour out into the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. And is it not interesting, 1869, one hundred years ago, when those earlier crowds celebrated Alexander von Humboldt, it was the very year of the beginning of Lake View Cemetery, one of this state’s and country’s great tree places, an arboretum of life paired with a cemetery where we honor those who have passed. B
Shantung or Purpleblow Maple (Acer truncatum) – Jason loves this Chinese native maple for its toughness, noting that it will “thrive in environmental conditions
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PAVERS / RETAINING WALLS / ACCESSORIES 800.845.7644 / oberfields.com
New Columbus Location 4033 Alum Creek Drive, Obetz
IN MEMORIAM Patricia L. Boonstra, 88, passed away early Sunday morning, February 25, 2018 while at home. She was born July 1, 1929 to William and Ottilie (Matthes) Keast in Adrian, MI. She married Richard N. Boonstra in Detroit, MI during the summer of 1952. Patti’s was a life well lived, and a life well loved. Born and raised in Michigan, she married her college sweetheart (Go Blue!), and raised her family in northeast Ohio. She was an Early Education Teacher; and was involved in many civic organizations in both Mentor and Madison, including The Western Reserve Junior Service League (charter member), Lake County Historical Society, AAUW of Mentor, Madison Historical Society, Western Reserve Fine Arts Association, Creative Artist’s Association and Art Essence Gallery. She was Partner, Chief Morale Officer (and occasional referee) in the family business, Bluestone Perennials, with her husband and family. Summers were spent on the water in Michigan at the family cottage, and on their sailboat in the Georgian Bay. She was an award winning artist, accomplished pianist and lifelong lover of art, music, and dance. Her artwork can be seen at www. pattiboonstra.com. She had many deep friendships that she cherished. She will be remembered as a lovely, vivacious lady with an ever-present smile, who was warm and welcoming to everyone. Her sense of style, fashion, 30 The Buckeye
and fun made her a joy to be around. She cherished her family above all, and will be sorely missed. Patti loved fresh flowers, but the family would also like to acknowledge the incredible support and care received from Great Lakes Caring and Hospice, 5966 Heisley Rd. #100 Mentor, OH 44060, where donations may be made in Patti’s name. Patti is survived by her husband of 65 years, Richard; children, Jan (Albert) Boonstra Pavlinak, William (Sarah) Boonstra; grandchildren, Jay Pavlinak, Richard (Emily Clark) Boonstra II, and Jessica Boonstra. She is preceded in death by her parents. Patti’s final resting place will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian, MI with a celebration service there this summer. Friends may leave condolences online at www.behmfuneral.com Richard Spencer "Dick" Warren went to be with the Lord peacefully at his home in Circleville, Ohio, on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at the age of 89. Richard is survived by his children, Sue E. Warren (Bruce) Kuhn of Carroll and Scott R. (Beverly) Warren of Dublin; "adopted son," Ted (Pam) Moats of Kingston; grandchildren, Casey Kempton of Circleville, Miriah (Randy)
Hoagland of Hilliard, Brad Anderson of Hilliard; great grandsons, Carter and Jackson Hoagland; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida I. (Szuhay) Warren; parents, Spencer and Emily (Dunkle) Warren of Perry, Ohio; siblings Wayland Warren and Arthur Warren of Perry, Ohio. Richard was born on May 25, 1928, in Perry, Ohio. He graduated from Perry High School in 1946, Ohio University in 1951 with a BS degree in agriculture. He was in ROTC while at OU and joined the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict in 1951. He left the Air Force as a first lieutenant. He started working for Diamond Shamrock in 1953 where he met and married Ida in 1957. Dick began working as the VicePresident of Cole nursery in 1963, then moved to Circleville in 1966 to have a long career at Cole. He and Ida were the owners of Big City Garden Centers. Dick finished his career as a sales representative for various nursery operations. His children remember him as a dedicated and hard-working father who encouraged and loved them. Richard was accomplished at horticulture and landscaping, serving as past president of the Ohio Nurseryman's Association, receiving a lifetime achievement award. He was a faithful and loyal husband, father and friend who would help others in any way he could and onla.org
who was passionate about his yard and reading. He was an active member of the Community United Methodist Church for over 50 years in Circleville. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Berger Hospice Foundation, 1170 North Court St., Suite B, Circleville, OH 43113. Condolences can be sent to www. wellmanfuneralhomes.com. The family would like to thank neighbors, friends, Chaplain Jim Ferrell (who visited and loved on Dick and Ida at least 2 times a week this entire year) and Berger Hospice for their care, love and support this past year as Dick and Ida were under hospice care. John W. Klyn (Jack), 84, died February 15, 2018 with his wife by his side at their home in Sarasota, Florida. He leaves his wife of 41 years, Judith A. (Krall) Klyn; his son, Robert W. Klyn (Mary Ann); his daughter, Deborah K. Tomazin (Barry); his daughter, Mary Katherine Mager; his daughter, Maureen A. Zika (Jeff); his son Matthew J. Klyn (Elizabeth); his step-daughters Cheryl A. Tattonetti, Angela M. Untisz, Christine A. Untisz (deceased), Catherine J. Iovine (Mike); sixteen grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his brother Gerard C. Klyn (Jerry) and his sister Carol Anne Klyn (Sister Mary Claudia). Born and raised in Mentor, Ohio, the son of Gerard K. and Alice (Johnson) Klyn, he was a longtime resident of Perry, Ohio before moving to Sarasota, Florida. From a young age, Jack was involved in the family's businesses, Gerard K. Klyn Nurseries, Inc. and Klyn's Garden Center, in Mentor Ohio. He graduated from Gilmour Academy High School in 1951, and attended The University of Notre Dame. After serving in the Army, Jack returned home to raise a family and work alongside his father and brother. In the mid 1960's Jack moved the Mentor based nursery to Perry, Ohio, where he continued the business as Owner and CEO of Klyn Nurseries, Inc. until his death. Those who knew him, knew he had beautiful baby-blue eyes, a wonderful sense of humor, a kind heart and could whip up a mean breakfast at the drop of a hat. He will be truly missed. onla.org
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his memory to the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, 2600 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124. Phone: (440) 449-1200. R. James "Jim" Schroeder, age 90, of Madison, formerly of Mentor. He died March 23, 2018 at his home in Madison. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Betty of 51 years in March of 2012. Jim was born January 12, 1928 in Kirtland Hills. He was the father of Donna Schroeder (deceased), Phillip (Mary Jo), Richard (Diane), Russell (Peggy), Lois (Carl) Girbino, and Laurie (Richard) Campitelli. Jim was also the stepfather of Elaine (Jim) Wetzel and Randy (Bonnie) Jost. He was a grandfather of thirteen and great grandfather of nine. Jim also leaves behind a brother Ralph (Jeanne) and sister Carol (Jim) Zofchak . Mr. Schroeder’s life was destined to be agriculturally oriented. From age 1 ½ to 17 ½ he grew up on the Wildwood Estate in Mentor. His father was the estate manager and Jim became the typical farm boy learning all the typical chores. He graduated from Mentor High School in 1945 and then immediately entered Case School of Applied Sciences (Case Western Reserve), completing one semester. In February of 1946, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (the air and airways communication branch); wherein he learned the skill of air and airways traffic controller with a secondary skill as airport traffic controller. After his discharge from the service in August of 1949, he went to work at the G. K. Klyn Rose Nursery in Mentor. It was in 1953, when he moved back to the Wildwood Estate as the then current owners, (Mr. and Mrs. Robert Collacott), provided him with the opportunity to manage the property and start a nursery on the estate grounds. It was thus in July of 1953 that Mentor Rose Growers, Inc. was born into existence. Within a few short years of growing roses, Jim made the decision to shift production into a broad line of ornamental plant materials, which would be produced above ground in containers. By so doing, the nursery became the second such operation in Ohio to use that method of production.
Besides being in the nursery business Mr. Schroeder was becoming fully involved within many other aspects of Horticultural (agricultural) endeavors. He served on the Lake County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and was active in the Lake County Nursery Assoc.; wherein he became president in 19661967. From the mid 1960’s thru the next 30 years, he became involved within the Ohio Nursery Assoc. while serving on various committees and by being a chairman of many. His first service on the Board of Directors of the O.N.A. was in 1967 and 1968; again in 1970 as Vice President, becoming President in 1971 and continuing on the board in 1972. In addition, during those years of being involved he was on the planning committee, which instituted the horticultural programs for Mentor High School and soon thereafter was appointed to the planning commission, which was to formulate a program that would establish the Agricultural Tech Institute (ATI) at Wooster, Ohio. After service as a Director in the Mentor Chamber of Commerce, He became President in 1973. It was also in 1973 that his nursery needing more land to expand, purchased 46 ½ acres in Madison, and by 1978 had closed out the Mentor location, with complete production now at the new location. In December of 1977, the nursery was reincorporated as Agora Gardens Inc. In 1993, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Nursery Industry and related activities, the Ohio Nursery association presented Jim with their “Distinguished Contribution Award”. By the mid 1990’s Jim was becoming less involved in those many activities of the nursery industry; however he was again elected to serve of the O.N.L.A. Board of Directors for the years 1996-1997, which gave him a total of seven years in that position. In January of 2001, he sold his nursery (he became sole owner in 1982), and then retired to just enjoy his remaining years with the great love for his wife Betty, their children and grandchildren, his passion for reading and above all-he no longer needed to –“follow an agenda”. May he now “Rest in Peace”. May/June 2018
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GET CERTIFIED IN 2018!
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
2018 TEST DATES June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15 SPECIALIZATIONS: 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.
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. Garden Center The retail garden center is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound 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. 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.
Grower A program of:
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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
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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
32 The Buckeye
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Garden Center Manager Oakland Nursery New Albany, Ohio
ADVERTISER INDEX Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 buckeyeresources.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
CLASSIFIEDS
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Business Opportunity: Manufacturer of landscape and nursery equipment selling due to health. Ideal buyer would be someone already marketing their corollary product line into this industry. This product line has strong bottom line contribution margins, excellent reputation in the marketplace, and is patent-protected. Contact: Contact businessoppor@yahoo.com. Ads listed here were current as of press time. For more information, visit onla.org/careers Post your open positions or classified listings 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 non-members
Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 evergreenseedsupply.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 greenvelvet.com Hortica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 hortica.com Medina Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 medinasodfarms.com Millcreek Gardens LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 millcreekplants.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oberfields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 View www.onla.org for more information. qualifying OCNT recertification events.
O designates
Inniswood Metro Gardens Diagnostic Walkabout O 6/28/2018 Westerville, Ohio Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Diagnostic Walkabout O 7/12/2018 Cleveland, Ohio BGSU Firelands Diagnostic Walkabout O 7/26/2018 Huron, Ohio Landscape Industry Certified Hand-on Test 8/9/2018 Wooster, Ohio NGLCO Summer Field Day 8/14/2018 Madison, Ohio
oberfields.com Reading Rock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 readingrock.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com
Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle, alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Plant Trials Day Symposium O 8/30/2018 Cincinnati, Ohio
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May/June 2018 
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Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Address Service Requested
DIAGNOSTIC WALKABOUTS Learn how to find, diagnose, and control landscape pests during early mornings walks in a variety of public parks and green spaces. These interactive, hands-on, in-themoment experiences provide a unique alternative to traditional classes or passive reading. Attendees are invited to partake in in-depth discussions, 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 page 14 or visit www.onla.org/walkabouts
Tour Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens on Thursday, September 6!