Pro Grow News Summer 2021 issue

pro grow news SUMMER 2021

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Earthworm Invasion Looking Back: Plant Geek History

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pro grow news Summer 2021

contents Features 8

Earthworm Invasion!

14 How to Find Good People Part 2

20 Plant Geek Day Remembered

30

Plant for Success — Presica affinis ‘Superba’

Departments

5 President’s Message

6 Government Relations Director 30

Ad Index

On the cover — All-America Selections winner: Zinnia ‘Profusion Red Yellow Bicolor’ produces consistant blooms all summer long.

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pro grow news Summer 2021

committees

board PRESIDENT Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 VICE PRESIDENT Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269 SECRETARY/TREASURER

Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. (617) 522-3843 PAST PRESIDENT Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143 DIRECTORS Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE Deborah Trickett, MCH — Board Liaison The Captured Gardens (781) 329-9698

FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM)

Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc. Tel: (413) 536-7555 Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269 HISTORY COMMITTEE Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630

Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. David Vetelino, MCH Tel: (508) 994-9208 Vetelino Landscape, Inc

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH) Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair John R. Elicone Consulting Tel: (617) 527-5706 Corinne Jean, MCH — Vice Chair Wisteria & Rose (617) 522-3843 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Peter Mezitt, MCH — ­­ Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR Jason Wentworth Tel: (617) 417-4050 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731

Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Centers David Anderson Mayer Tree Service

pro grow news Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org

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ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731.

Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.

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President’s Message

Lessons Learned from COVID ByPeter Mezitt, MCH

W

here did the past 16 months go? We rode the COVID storm, and here we are in the summer of 2021 feeling relieved that life resembles 2019 again.

It’s kind of nice to have most of our normal, every-day routines back again, and not wearing a mask in the 90 degree heat really is refreshing.

The flood gates were open again for us this spring as customer demand for our products surged and we all tried desperately to answer all the calls with fewer people available to do the work. It was not an easy spring.

What did we learn from all of this?

The work we do is not for the faint of heart.

To make it through the spring in this business, you have to be the type of person who values (and likes) hard work. I admit I am addicted to the annual ritual of breaking out into a full-on sprint to make our places of business as attractive as they can be. Many of you are most likely addicts to that adrenaline rush you get when the temperatures warm up and the equipment starts to roll. People I spoke with in recent months were all happier to have been too busy rather than the alternative of sitting at home waiting this thing out.

What we do is really important.

Millions of people tried their hand at gardening for the first time last year while spending time at their homes. Many were successful and kept playing in the garden throughout the year, while others decided to hire out the hard work and called their landscaper. This spring, many of you told me you could not keep up with the amount of business being offered. The idea of making someone wait until July to get their mulching done was real this year and, for the most part, people were willing to wait. I think there is a new-found respect for the hard work we do day in, day out.

We have to be organized.

We were fortunate to have a high level of consumer demand during a time where so many businesses struggled. Yet if we did not take the time to step back and define a strategy to handle this type of environment, this period of high demand could have really taken a toll on you. The fact is that we can’t be all things to all people or be in two places at once. We have to make decisions on what we do and what we don’t do. Then we have to be good at communicating expectations to our customers. Hopefully, you were able to define the framework of your business and were successful at navigating through the myriad of opportunities over these past months.

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There are some clear winners among us.

These past two seasons have taught me to communicate on a more personal level with my employees. I have found that the passion is within many of us, but we need to do a better job defining it. There are careers paths for everyone in this industry, and many of our folks now have a path thanks to a lot more time spent communicating and asking the right questions. We are all individuals, and we need that individual attention in the workplace in order to clarify opportunities to make better decisions on what we want to do.

What we do is healthy.

I think our industry is one of the best for many reasons. Being outside is right at the top of the list. Who wouldn’t agree that it is clearly a healthier life style to be moving around outside for a large part of the day? Your Apple watch knows this, and mine is constantly congratulating me for achieving my exercise goals — many times before noon! How many people with inside desk jobs can say they walked eight miles on an average work day? I feel my healthiest during the spring and suspect many of you do, too.

Now that you have made it through the most challenging spring I can remember, I hope you can take some well-deserved time off. It’s time to bring your life back into balance by enjoying your family and friends and spending some quality time with them.

Speaking of balance, it’s time to get social again! We have planned an awesome event to get us all together. Please take the afternoon on September 29th and come to Start Line Brewing in Hopkinton for MNLA LIVE. This is the event we’ve all been waiting for where we can once again meet and mingle with the great folks in our industry.

Without hosting our winter and summer forums this year, MNLA needs your support, and this is a fabulous environment to support the association and have a great time while doing so. Keep an eye out for more information in the upcoming weeks.

Happy summer!

Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. MNLA President

Save the date, September 29th for

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5

Committee Reports

Government Relations Update Finding the New Normal

by Jason Wentworth

W

ith the summer solstice in our rearview mirror, many of our association’s members are already assessing how they have fared this year. Using 2019 as a more representative benchmark, it anecdotally seems that most of our members are heading for another banner year. When we take a moment to consider what we were up against in the spring of 2020, it is amazing.

Faced with a “non-essential” designation that would have led to a potential wholesale closing of our operations at a time when so much capital was tied up in perishable plant materials (materials that installation and maintenance services relied upon as well), our members maintained the highest safety standards for their employees and clients, and we mobilized.

Thanks to our advocacy, we turned what would have been a colossal bust into a boom.

2021, from a policy perspective, has been about finding the “new normal.” It has been challenging.

While we enjoy a generally good relationship with policy makers, Zoom calls and texts to legislators do not have the same impact as meeting face-to-face at the state house. Like all of you have had to make changes to your processes to keep up with the times, I have had to modify my approach to “retail politics.”

With policy makers working from home, it is always good form to respect their work/life balance while at the same time maintaining the lines of communication. All in all, we have done a good job of that, and hopefully, the lifting of restrictions will allow us back into the state house in autumn.

Make no mistake; we are going to need those lines of communication and that access for future challenges. There are bills that have been stopped in the past (like the bill that would allow cities and towns authority over the regulation of pesticides) that may have more legs than in the past. It is up to us to make sure legislators understand how bad an idea that is and how unsafe it could make our communities.

These challenges present opportunities — opportunities to build relationships with our own senators and representatives and become a resource to them.

I have often said that they need you (to provide them with a context they cannot hope to gain on their own on how policy affects real people and real businesses) almost as much as you need them. With greater opportunities for access in autumn, we will continue to work together to use that leverage — and apply pressure when necessary — for the benefit of our members, employees, and clients.

Jason Wentworth, Peacefield Strategies MNLA Government Relations Director

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Earthworm Invasion!

Benefits and Risks

By Olga Kostromytska, Ph.D.

E

arthworms are typically considered beneficial organisms — “best friends for the gardener” — and their benefits for soil quality and health are well documented and undeniable. Earthworms are important and efficient decomposers. They feed on organic matter, such as leaf litter, woods, and dead plants; facilitate organic matter decomposition; and incorporate it into the soil profile.

Earthworms convert essential soil macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into forms more available to plants and promote microbial activity at the root system. Their tunneling and burrowing contributes to soil turnover, porosity, aeration, and drainage. Ecologist and farmers often agree earthworms are the best indicators of soil health and quality.

Invasions

The majority of the earthworm species found in the backyards and forests of the Northeast are invasive, and like all invasive species, they can disrupt the native ecosystem. Most native species were eliminated by glaciers that covered a large part of the continent north of the 45th parallel during the last Ice Age about 10, 000 years ago. The native species that survived moved south and are slowly moving back north, but very few have been recorded in New England (Reynolds 2010).

The first wave of earthworm invasion occurred in the 1600s. Earthworms were brought by settlers from Europe in soil used as ballast in ships and with plants. Soil earthworms were beneficial for farmland, but introducing new species can be detrimental to Northeastern forest that had existed without earthworms for about 10,000 years.

Earthworms feeding on organic matter strips the layer of undecomposed leaf litter (duff) and changes forest soils. As a result, soil conditions are not suitable for native species; they favor establishment of non-native plant species, subsequently benefiting non-native animal species establishment.

Earthworms overcompete with native decomposers and disrupt tree roots and the microbiome within the system.

European earthworms have been in our region for a long time, are beneficial in urban environments, and often are not perceived as invasive. In recent years, established populations of earthworms originating from Asia have been reported throughout the United States, including our region. These worms are commonly called worms, jumping worms, or Asian crazy worms. Scientifically, they are known as Pheretimoid earthworms, and their biology, morphology, life cycle, and ecology is different from European earthworms. They are often referred to as Amynthas spp. even though some populations include worms from other genera. The first infestation of Amynthas spp. (pheretimoid earthworms) was recorded in 1866 (Chang 2016) in California.

Snake Worm Adult: Note the grayish-brown dark coloration of the body with slight iridescence and contrasting white clitellum located relatively close to the head.

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Since then, 16 additional species have been documented throughout the US. In New England, some specimens date from the 1950s–1970s (Gates 1958, Reynolds 2010). Recently, these worms have been noticed by the public and received extensive media coverage, making them easier to detect. It is possible that changing weather conditions — warmer winters and hotter summers — favored the warmth-loving species.

HABITAT

dant in the middle of the summer; juveniles become big enough to notice as early as late May. Adult earthworms have a clitellum, which is involved in reproduction and cocoon formation.

Amynthas spp. worms have a pale, milky-white clitellum (band) that encircles the entire body relatively close to the head. The body of these species is usually uniformly colored and is dark gray or brown.

European earthworms are exposed to less sun, and usually only the front part of the body has a dark coloration.

No effective methods of suppression are known for Amynthas spp. infestation. The best thing to do is not panic, report the infestation, and prevent the spread of these invasive species. Because earthworms are typically beneficial organisms, no chemical or biocontrol agents are currently labeled for their control. Several research teams are working on cultural and other methods to stop the spread and to determine possible management strategies of existing infestations.

These worms are called “crazy,” “snake,” or “jumping” for their unusually active movements, which set them apart from any other earthworm species. European earthworms are much slower and tend to stretch out toward the head when they move. Snake worms move very actively and wiggle and thrash in an s-like pattern resembling snake movement. If disturbed, some shed their tail as a defense strategy. The worms stay close to the soil surface and are often found right under leaves and/or the upper soil layer. This behavior is not typical of other worm species and can be startling and visually unpleasant. They are voracious feeders and usually appear in high densities at any given location, where they consume large amounts of organic matter in a relatively short time. They significantly alter the soil structure — soil substrate in the infested area has a pelletlike appearance resembling coffee grounds or ground beef.

Because of their behavior, feeding habits, and surface dwelling, snake worms have less benefit to the soil, but higher risk of negative effects on the Northeast native ecosystem. Some studies suggest these species, like European earthworms, strip the forest floor of organic matter, but do it faster. Their presence is associated with root aeration and drying out and negatively affects seedlings of some native tree species (Bethke and Midgly 2019).

Amynthas spp. are active in summer, while many European earthworm species are in the resting state during hot weather and only active in spring and fall. Thus, these species have more potential to negatively affect growing plants, avoid direct competition with European earthworms, and often are found as the Night Crawler Adult: Note the dark color of the front part of the body and sole worm species in a given area. In Massachusetts, we still do pale coloration of the posterior body. The clitellum is located relatively far not know how damaging or disruptive this species may be for from the head. turfgrass and urban landscapes (lawns, golf courses), but they have been found in high densities at many locations throughout PREVENTING SPREAD the state. So far, few reports of noticeable negative effects on turfThe worms cannot travel far on their own — about 30 feet each grass and ornamental plants have been received. year. They seek areas with specific favorable conditions, such as Unlike European worms that can live up to eight years, usuhigh moisture level and plentiful leaf litter or other organic matally overwintering as adults deep in burrows below freezing point, ter. They are usually found at properties bordering wooded areas, Amynthas spp. have one generation per year in our area. Adults raised garden beds, compost piles, and mulched areas, and tend to are sensitive to cold temperatures and die by winter. Their cocoon stay in a localized area. Any organic matter associated with hor(a sac containing one or two eggs) can successfully overwinter, ticulture or landscaping, including soil, leaf litter, compost, and hatch in spring, and reach adulthood in summer. If you see adult mulch, can be a source of crazy-worm invasion or spread. worms in early spring, it is more likely the European worm. Snake It is crucial to inspect material before spreading it on the landworms are probably in the cocoon or early-hatchling stage, which scape or sharing with others. Unfortunately, most gardening is is hard to see. Unlike European earthworms, Asian worms prefer done in the spring when Asian worms are still in cocoons or the warmer temperatures, and the cocoon requires the soil temperaearly hatchling stage, which is impossible to notice. Buy bagged ture to stabilize above 45°F before they hatch. or certified compost and mulch. This ensures the compost goes through a specified heating procedure that kills adults, immature IDENTIFICATION worms, and cocoons. High temperature (at least 104°F) is lethal to Positive identification of any earthworm species is possible only if cocoons and worms. Where possible, cover infested compost with the adult worms are collected. Amynthas spp. adults are most abun- plastic for several weeks or bag it and put it in the sun. Worms

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can be picked by hand and destroyed. They do not cause known harm to people and pets.

Amynthas spp. infestations have been present for quite a long time, and it is impossible to eradicate these species. It is important to be aware of these invasive earthworms and limit their spread into new areas.

REFERENCES

Bellitürk, K., Görres, J.H., Kunkle, J., Melnichuk, R.D.S. 2015.

“Can commercial mulches be reservoirs of invasive earthworms?

Promotion of ligninolytic enzyme activity and survival of Amynthas agrestis” (Goto and Hatai, 1899), Applied Soil Ecology, 87: pp. 27-31.

Bethke, P.G. and Midgley, M.G. 2020. “Amynthas spp. impacts on seedlings and forest soils are tree species-dependent,” Biological Invasions, 22: pp. 3145–3162 Brown, G.G., Edwards, C.A., Brussaard, L. 2004. “How earthworms affect plant growth: burrowing into mechanisms,” In C.A. Edwards (Ed.) Earthworm Ecology, 2nd edition, CRC press Chang, C.-H., Snyder, B.A., Szlavecz, K. 2016. “Asian pheretimoid earthworms in North America north of Mexico: An illustrated key to the genera Amynthas, Metaphire, Pithemera, and Polypheretima (Clitellata: Megascolecidae),” Zootaxa, 4179: pp. 495–529 Chang, C.-H., Johnston, M. R., Gorres, J.H., Da´valos, A., McHugh, D., Szlavecz, K. 2018. “Co-invasion of three Asian earthworms, Metaphire hilgendorfi, Amynthas agrestis and Amynthas tokioensis in the US,” Biological Invasions, 20: pp. 843–848

Gates, G.E. 1958. “On some species of the Oriental earthworm genus Pheretima Kinberg, 1867, with key to species reported from the Americas,” Am Mus Novit 1888: pp.

1–33.

Reynolds, J. W. 2010. “The earthworms (Oligochaeta: Acanthodrilidae, Lumbricidae, Megascolecidae and Sparganophilidae) of Northeastern United States, revisited,” Megadrilogica 14: pp. 101–157.

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How to Find Good People: Part 2

By David M. Anderson

T

hat was easy! Now that your company has a great culture, all of your existing people love you so much they want to work with you forever and never ask for a raise. Unfortunately, even those people move, retire, their spouses get transferred, and we all eventually die. You always need fresh blood. A few suggestions to help you recruit the best people.

Advertise in multiple locations through trial and error to find out which sites work for you. Write different ads for the same job in multiple places. Monitor which works best and keep adjusting as needed.

Have a plan for an open position to replace someone who is retiring or not performing. Get these people on the bench and vetted before you need them. If you can’t find the right person for that specific role, make a plan to train someone before you need them. It is fine to hire entry-level people with character and train them. Most of the best employees are developed in-house, but you need a plan to fill key roles. It’s amazing how many companies say, “We have no bench.” Set goals right away for your new hires.

Have a referral bonus. Your super-happy, loyal employee can be your best advocates. Make the referral bonus

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significant. Would you want to put yourself out there asking a friend or family member to take a chance with their livelihood for $100.00? Just like clients who love to refer your company, you need to seek out this employee and make it worth their while.

Have an open house. Set a date and advertise well in advance. Have your key people there, set up demonstrations, provide refreshments, and make sure everyone who shows up feels important.

Use social media. The possibilities are endless with all the different mediums at our disposal. Choose the one you feel best about. Be sure to commit to updating it regularly. With the entire world at our fingertips in seconds, there is no reason to let your information become stale.

Student outreach

is a great way to hire young people who are not set in their ways. You can develop them into “your” people. Build relationships with teachers and professors and be a resource.

Post signs in areas where prospective recruits congregate. Provide your cellphone number and email on the sign and make it easy for people to reach you.

Share resources with other owners and hiring man-

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agers. If you have people you trust, it’s a win-win situation.

You may get a resume that is not a match for you, but you can share it with someone else. I’m a big believer in Karma. If you do right by others, it will come back to you.

It’s a numbers game. Just like being a good salesperson, the more recruiting you do, the more resumes you will get. The more resumes you call, the more interviews you will have. The more interviews you have, the better people you will hire. As I like to say, you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince or princess. Pucker up — you have a lot of kissing to do.

Have a sense of urgency especially when you have a really good candidate. You are running a business and thinking about 50 different things you must attend to. However, prospective employees are only thinking about getting this job. In our modern world, people are used to instant answers.

If you have a good candidate, stay in touch. Woo them by making them feel important. Think of all prospects as perishable food. Don’t let them rot or get eaten by a rival. Get the job offer out as quickly as you can.

When possible, avoid poaching other people’s employees. This is standard in all industries, especially at the executive level. I guess all is fair in a capitalist society. I can’t say that I haven’t, or that I wouldn’t, but I know how much it angers me when someone goes after one of my people. My advice is to pick your spots. Try not to take this tool out of the toolbox too often.

However, if someone is going to leave their job, that’s another

YOUR GOAL:

story. People are free to go somewhere else and be happy.

Don’t settle. If you suspect that someone is not a good fit when you interview them, chances are they won’t be a good employee after being hired. No matter how desperate you are, be disciplined. It’s unfair to your existing staff to bring on a new recruit you don’t feel confident about. This is especially true of the industry retreads. Just like a bad client who has cycled through several companies, you can’t and won’t fix them.

Leopards don’t change their spots. “He has so much talent, he will be different here. I will keep an eye on him…..” WRONG! It’s only a matter of time before he will become a problem.

OK, I realize many of you are thinking to yourselves, “I can’t afford that.’’ “I don’t have time for that.” “I don’t have the resources of a big company.”

I am not here to debate these clichés. Recruiting is hard, and it takes time and resources away from other things.

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PLANT GEEK DAY REMEMBERED

T

he MCH Board has collaborated to provide a small glimpse into our most personally memorable Plant Geek Day sites. Here, four MCH Board members share their own memorable visits. Take a read, and then be ready to participate in 2021 as we explore some “old and new” locations. LET’S GO!

Spend a glorious day with old — and make new — down-to-earth friends who share your geeky enthusiasm for all things horticultural.

Heritage Museum and Gardens

By Corrine Jean, MCH, Wisteria and Rose

Here’s where we’ve been in the last 10 years: 2019 Acton Arboretum 2018 Rose Kennedy Greenway 2017 Heritage Museum and Gardens 2016 Mt. Auburn Cemetery 2015 Wakefield Estate 2014 Berry’s Greenhouse at Lookout Farm 2013 Sylvan Nursery 2012 Swan Point Cemetery 2011 Weston Nursery 2010 Blythewold Estate 2009 Arnold Arboretum

For anyone who has ever attended a Plant Geek Day, you know how beneficial they are not only for learning, but for networking and morale. In late August, most of us look forward to getting out of the day-to-day routine and mingle with our colleagues. That change of pace gets us out of our personal jobs and gives us a look into someone else’s — and who doesn’t love that? We’ve seen so many places in the last decade ranging from nurseries, arboretums, farms, estate, and cemeteries.

The Heritage Museum and Gardens (2017) located in Sandwich, Massachusetts, stands out to me for many reasons, but especially because it was the first one while I was on the MCH Board. I had been to many before, but this one I felt really involved in, and I met so many more people than I usually did as I tried to expand my great network of coworkers.

Getting a chance to get out of Boston and get to the Cape was a welcome change of pace. Being used to small urban gardens, I was relieved to be out in a sprawling garden oasis.

The hydrangeas were just breathtaking, and our tour guides were so knowledgeable and excited to talk to other plank geeks. With so many different types of gardens, strange plants even the best of us were stumped on, and a labyrinth, there was so much to see in a day. The bonus non-plant part for me was the carousel. I really enjoyed my day at the Heritage, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the next one!

Plant Geek History

By Jill Costello, MCH, Straw Hat Gardens As a kid, were you always ready for that field trip? Plant Geek Day is for the older version of you. Once a year, MNLA hosts a special day where you will: • Change up your daily routine by going somewhere interesting in New England.

• Learn useful and maybe even provocative information from experts. Actually see firsthand how everything looks and works. You get the real dirt on the operation.

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•

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Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association presents…

Plant Geek Day Wednesday, August 25, 2021 • 8:00AM–1:30PM Long Hill, 572 Essex Street, Beverly, MA

Sponsored by the MCH Board!

—sharing a great educational opportunity with all nursery and landscape professionals within the green industry!

A parking area for 50 cars is on the grounds of Long Hill, up the driveway on left.

Knowledge, networking & fun!

Receive 3 MCH credits toward continuing education for attending.

Long Hill is a property of The Trustees of Reservations.

Our Day’s Agenda 8:00–8:30AM Registration

At the pavilion next to the main house—park and walk, following the signs

8:30–9:00AM Welcome!

In the main house The MCH Board will introduce our hosts, Dan Bouchard and Joann Vieira, who will provide an overview of Long Hill and its history.

9:15–10:15AM Garden Room Preview

All photography: thetrustees.org

Be the first to see the NEW garden room designed by Julie Moir Messervy.

M ain Vernal Pool

Vernal Pool

Main House

11:30AM–NOON Lunch and Plant ID Bring your own lunch. Water and a snack bag will be provided at registration.

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We will break into two groups for our self-guided tours and education.

The Woodlands trails are two miles of interconnecting walks through 80 acres of New England forest.

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12:30–1:30PM Woodlands trails tours & lectures

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Highlights: 100-year-old collection of natives and exotics in a woody plant paradise.

The Plant ID Challenge will be during our walk in Sedgwick Gardens.

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10:30–11:30AM Sedgwick Gardens tours & lectures

North Trail: Starting on the Tupelo Trail heading north to the Main Loop

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South Trail: Starting on the south Main Loop Enjoy the rest of the afternoon with a self-guided tour of Long Hill. Feel free to explore the apple orchard with meadows, the native plant border on the lower campus, along with the children’s garden and chickens(!) any time during the visit.

10% of your registration will be donated to The Trustees of Reservations! Thank you for participating in MNLA’s LIVE EVENT and for your support of The Trustees of Reservations.

What to wear: Green industry professionals are always prepared and today should not be an exception. We highly recommend bringing bug spray/suntan lotion and a lunch or snack. Be sure to wear your most comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared for all types of weather. This is a rain or shine event!!

ABOUT LONG HILL From 1916 to 1978, Long Hill was the summer home of noted author and editor of the Atlantic Monthly, Ellery Sedgwick, and his family. He summered here with his first wife, Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished horticulturist, gardener, and author of “The Garden Month

by Month,” and his second wife, Marjorie Russell Sedgwick, a rare plants specialist—both of whom created a delightful, enchanting landscape, surrounded by more than 100 acres of woodland.

Today, visitors delight in the beauty of Long Hill’s structured and naturalistic gardens as well as a network of woodland trails. A diverse collection of trees, shrubs, and distinctive perennial plants provide color during the growing season, peaking in May and June and providing structure and beauty throughout the year.

For more information visit thetrustees.org.

The Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) is a program of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. (MNLA) P.O. Box 387 • Conway MA 01341 • (413) 369-4731 • mnlaoffice@aol.com Summer|2021

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Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway

By Nick Steiman, MCH, Bigelow Nurseries Grabbing my rain jacket and boots, I was preparing for a long, wet, and cold day walking around the streets of Boston. As my first event as an MCH, I was excited to see the new faces and have the opportunity to meet so many like minds. Our destination was the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, a series of gardens and parks flowing through the streets and over the waterways of Boston. Behind the wheel of the truck was my coworker and impromptu tour guide for the day; Jeff Willman, MCH who played an integral role in growing and sourcing the original plant material for the project.

The Greenway was a final component of the “Big Dig.” During the ride into the city, Jeff educated me on the depth of this project and why the greenway was such an important part of it. With numerous delays and unaesthetic construction throughout Boston neighborhoods, the community needed a bright light at the end of the tunnel, and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway was just that.

With over a decade of construction ripping through the streets

and neighborhoods of Boston, essentially creating a system of tunnels and underground streets, curb appeal and landscape were top priorities. Throughout the day, dozens of Massachusetts certified horticulturists took to the streets and admired the man-made natural beauty that was once a dismal construction site. The most impressive component of the Greenway was maintenance — keeping multiple gardens in such an urban environment is no small task. You could walk through most completed construction sites in other cities and see trees that were in decline, roots protruding through sidewalks, branches crowding utility lines, and weeds taller than the plants, but that was not the case at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. All the gardens were maintained and kept immaculate as well as sustainable.

With the level of foot traffic, pollution, trash, and anything else that could be found in a busy city, keeping trees alive and healthy, as well as gardens manicured and beautiful, is no easy feat. The city has implemented several programs and services to ensure the gardens’ integrity. From composting plants with worms as a catalyst, to a team of highly educated and trained gardeners, seeing this firsthand was what made the trip for me. Seeing

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how these professionals combined their passion for sustainability with nature was something that really struck home.

When the weather warms up and birds and flowers have returned, I encourage you to check this out for yourself!

Blythewold Estate

By Kerry Preston, MCH, Wisteria and Rose It was August of 2010, and I was a year into my MCH when I received an invitation to attend MCH Day at Blythewold Estate in Bristol, Rhode Island.

I had no idea what to expect and honestly, I was a little apprehensive about the day.

I didn’t know anyone else attending, and I was actually terrified that I was going to have to take another Plant ID test in order to prove that I really belonged at the event.

When I arrived at the Estate and was directed to park in a grassy lot by someone who looked remarkably like a gardener and fellow Plant Geek, I had the distinct feeling I had finally found “my people.” After I grabbed coffee and a muffin, I headed into a tented area and asked the first person I saw if I could join him for breakfast. More people joined our table, and I truly relaxed

realizing that this was going to be a fantastic day with no Plant ID quiz (we added those to the day in later years).

The day went by in a bit of a blur and it was 10 years ago, so many of the details have slipped my mind. What I do remember specifically about this beautiful property was the vastness of the gardens, the huge variety of trees and shrubs, an incredible and mature bamboo forest (we walked through a bamboo tunnel!), and the view down the great lawn to Narragansett Bay. As we were led through the various gardens, we learned that the original owners were avid horticulturists and collectors of trees and shrubs, many of which are unique to this property.

One of the best parts of this day was being led through the estate by the actual caretakers of the property.

The arborists, horticulturists, and volunteers were able to give us the behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to manage and maintain this type of property. This has become one of the things I enjoy most about Plant Geek Day: the opportunity to ask questions, see the tool shed and compost pile, and learn about the different paths we can take in the horticulture industry.

I am so grateful I decided to attend this MCH Day in 2010. I was not only incredibly impressed with Blythewold, but I met colleagues who have become true friends and mentors over the years. Plant Geek Day is by far my favorite MCH/MNLA event. I look forward to it and to seeing all of you each year.

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In Memoriam Donald G. Post

D

onald G. Post, co-owner of Hillcrest Farm and The Farmer’s Daughter Garden Center, passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Sunday, June 20, surrounded by his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests help for Don and Sylvia to continue their goal to find a cure for diabetes.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Sylvia C. Post Research Fund, Joslin Diabetes Clinic, One Joslin Place, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02215.

Earl C. Willcott

E

arl C. Willcott, 81, of Norton, MA., passed away on January 30, 2021. Earl worked at Jackson Nursery in Norton, Massachusetts, as a skillful landscape designer and eventually became co-owner.

Under Earl’s leadership, Jackson Nursery employed over 50 people and grew nursery plants on more than 150 acres in and around Norton. Earl’s drive to constantly improve his business was also focused on the community of Norton he loved so much.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Fellowshiponline.org.

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Watch for the All-NEW 2021-20 Four Seasons Guide Or download your copy at www.mnla.com The fastest way to find an MNLA Member!

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The Importance of Electronic Payments:

Are Credit Card Payments For You?

DID YOU KNOW?

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MNLA members have access to a suite of electronic payment tools to help streamline electronic payments.

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Electronic payments are becoming an increasingly more prominent type of payment in today’s society. I bet you are wondering, “Why should I accept credit cards? I’ve had no issues in the past — why now?”

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shift in the consumer and B2B markets as people are depending more on online shopping and contactless payments. Selling products and services online is another way of increasing revenues, and adding a shopping cart to your website will allow customers to shop at their convenience as well as give them another channel to purchase your products or services.

Accepting credit cards and electronic payments helps boost sales. Statistically, people spend more money when paying by credit cards and electronic payments than with just cash because it encourages impulse buying. The ease of use and seamlessness puts more money in your pocket.

Accepting only cash or checks makes the transaction timelier and more inefficient. By accepting credit cards, you not only have next-day funding to your bank account, you also practically eliminate any risk involving bad checks.

Accepting credit cards and electronic payments also benefits the business from an internal perspective.

Inventory and sales reconciliation have never been easier than with electronic payments. Accepting credit cards allows you to track the services or products being sold, and even provides you with a batch report at the end of each workday.

New Program MNLA’s priorities include being “a resource for your success.” This is why we have partnered with Service First Processing (SFP) to put together a special MNLA members-only program with exclusive benefits that open the door for you to take credit cards if you do not currently do so. These benefits are designed to reduce your cost of credit-card processing while improving your level of service and support.

More information on electronic payments can be found here: Yahoo Finance; Digital Payments Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021–2026): https://finance.yahoo.com/news/digitalpayments-market-growth-trends-112000469. html?guccounter=1

Call 866.372.5551 or go to SFProcessing.com/MNLA to learn more about this exclusive member benefit.

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Advertiser Index

MARKETPLACE

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For Advertising Information—

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Call Debbie Rauen

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Ballard Truck Center ......................................25 Bigelow Nursery ............................................24 Cavicchio Landscape Supplies, Inc. ............15 Connecticut Mulch Distributors, Inc.............28 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries .......................13 Farm Credit East ...........................................18 Ideal Concrete Block ........................................2 Mayer Tree Service .........................................19 Medford Nursery ...........................................22 Milton Cat .......................................................11

Watch for the All-NEW Four Seasons Guide Or download your copy at www.mnla.com The fastest way to find an MNLA Member

New England Wetland Plants .......................18 Northeast Nursery ........................................32 Northern Nurseries .......................................22 OESCO..............................................................27 Pierson Nurseries, Inc. ..................................12

The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association

Four Seasons Guide 2020-21

Prides Corner Farm ........................................16 Savage Farms ................................................26 Service First Processing..................................28 Sylvan Nursery ..................................................6 Valley Green ...................................................26

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Vermont Mulch ...............................................25

UMASS Green Industry Resource Guide

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29

Plant for Success

Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’ Why This Plant Shines Pa ‘Superba’ initially caught my eye 6 years ago and we’ve been fast friends ever since. I appreciate many aspects of this plant from the green 4” lance-shaped leaves with a prominent whitish mid-vein in spring and summer; the 8” erect spikes of soft pink bottle brush flowers before deepening to crimson that float a few inches above the foliage; the color progression of the foliage which emerges purple in early spring, morphs into glossy green before turning red, orange and bronze in fall and lasting through the winter. Although none of these aspects are worthy of making this plant stand out on their own, it’s the combination of all of these attributes in addition to being low maintenance, deer, rabbit and drought resistant that make it stand out.

I first came across this plant in early spring learning to tease out the dead foliage from the prior season, which is about all the maintenance this plant really needs. Left alone the new foliage will grow through last year’s growth albeit just leaving it a little shaggy looking. The flower stalks will also persist into winter, although for a tidier and brighter appearance you may deadhead as needed.

With all of these great attributes, I like to keep this plant where I can admire it throughout the year, for me, this is along my front walk. Although I don’t consider this to be a showstopper in spring or summer, yet when fall rolls around and throughout the winter it really puts a smile on my face.

Facts and Features Pa ‘Superba’ is a member of the Polygonaceae family, native to the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Nepal and Tibet. This is low growing, mat-forming, heavy-hitter is without any serious insect or disease problems. This plant is easily grown in full sun to part shade and will tolerate deer, rabbit, and drought once established. However, it prefers well-drained, moist soil.

Pa ‘Superba’ pairs well with ornamental grasses, dwarf conifers, and Anemone Japonica among many other perennials.

Botanical Name: Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’ Common Name: Smartweed, knotweed, and fleece flower Type: Perennial ground cover Hardiness: Zone 3 through Zone 8 Soil: Well-drained, most Size: 8 ins. tall x 1 ft wide

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