The Landscape Contractor magazine DEC.24 TLC DIGITAL EDITION
Photo Credits
ILCA Awards Committee 8-9
Midwest Groundcovers 1, 10-13
Vivant Gardening Services 14-16-18
Rick Reuland 24-27, 31-33
Marissa Stubler 28-29, 34-39
Goebbert’s Garden Center 5 6-57
The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www.ilca.net
Volume 65, Number 12. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632
ILCA Staff
Executive Director
Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net
Statewide Director of Development
Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@ilca.net
Director of Events
AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net
Education Manager
Melissa Custic mcustic@ilca.net
Office Manager
Alycia Nagy anagy@ilca.net
Membership & Marketing Manager
Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net
2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150 www.ilca.net
Magazine Staff
Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net
Turf Workshop: Improving Turf and Controlling Weeds
Northern Illinois University Naperville, IL
JANUARY
January 28-29, 2025
InVigorateU
DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington, IL
FEBRUARY
February 26-28, 2025
iLandscape — Gardens of the World Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL
It is extremely rare that ILCA puts a photo of a person on the cover of this magazine. Our covers are reserved for awardwinning landscapes or wide shots of events. With the passing of Peter Orum, we had to make an exception.
Peter Orum passed away on October 17th at the age of 82. He was an industry icon, leader, crusader, and friend. Peter had undergone a four-month battle with a rare form of lymphoma. He decided to end treatment, entered hospice care, and died surrounded by his family and friends.
Peter founded and built the Midwest Companies, including Midwest Groundcovers and Midwest Trading, along with his wife Irma. Midwest Groundcovers was ILCA’s Distinguished Supplier award winner in 1991. Peter was named ILCA’s Person of the Year in 2014.
I cannot possibly tell the story of Peter Orum in this column. Thankfully, we have included an article written by Midwest Groundcovers to perform that necessary function. If that is not enough, Peter published a memoir called “People, Plants, and Politics” a few years ago. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand Peter and the unique culture of the Midwest companies. I have an autographed copy of his book on the shelf in my office. Normally, I will lend anyone a copy of one my books, but I will not lend this one. That copy means too much to me.
From Where I Stand — A Shared Legacy
storyteller and was never shy about grabbing the mic. He spoke from the podium at one end of the tent. As usual, he captivated the crowd with a perfect balance of sentimentality, wisdom, and humor. At the end of his remarks, he said he was now going to pass the microphone around the tent so everyone could tell a personal story about Midwest. He handed the mic to the first table. There was silence. Was he serious?
There were over 300 people in this tent scattered across 30 tables. Public speaking is a fear worse than death for most people. The first person took the mic, cleared his throat, and said a few words. When he was done, he passed it to the next person who did the same. One by one, every single person underneath that tent spoke, impromptu, over the course of the next 90 minutes. There were congratulations, thank-yous, personal anecdotes, a little Danish, and plenty of Peter Stories. Only Peter would feel confident turning over Midwest’s 50year legacy to the wisdom of the crowd.
When a man like Peter passes, that word “legacy” gets tossed around. As we age, and start counting down from 100, versus up from 0, we contemplate that word more and more. Legacy is a big word. Maybe the biggest. We all wonder how we will be remembered and by whom.
Those formal resources have their place. Peter lived a life that deserved to be chronicled and shared. Yet, those tomes can only capture part of who he was. The real power of Peter Orum is in the thousands of stories that people in this industry have about him. I attended his recent wake and the line stretched out the door. Every time I turned around, I saw someone else I knew. Leave it to Peter to host one last networking event in his honor.
Kellie Schmidt, Alycia Nagy, and I remarked we felt strange shaking hands, laughing, hugging, and sharing stories in the middle of a funeral parlor like it was the buffet line at Awards Night. Then we remembered who we were honoring. Peter wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Even in passing, he brought this industry together one more time.
What I noticed about the impact that Peter had on people was how each of us treasured our own personal “Peter Stories.” Peter Stories were ours to keep. I noticed a pattern develop with Peter Stories. People didn’t tell stories where Peter seemed larger than life. Sure, we all have those stories, but those aren’t the ones we tell. Those aren’t the stories that heal.
Instead, we tell the ones where Peter felt life-sized. The ones where he made us feel respected and that we had value. The ones where we made him laugh or vice versa. We told the stories about how approachable he was. How he would delight in introducing two strangers he knew would hit it off. How he would beg me to turn down the music at iLandscape. When we told our Peter Stories, some of us were daring enough to try the Danish accent (Ryan Doty of Doty Nurseries does it best). Others just told them straight and let our imaginations recreate his voice and mannerisms.
Midwest Groundcovers celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2019. The event was held in a massive white tent at the St. Charles nursery. Underneath that tent were over 300 employees, customers, suppliers, contractors, families, and their guests. Peter was a fantastic
The word legacy may be big, but how we remember those close to us is rarely about the big stuff. As hundreds gathered in a funeral home to pay their last respects to Peter, no one told stories about Peter’s industry awards. We did not bring up the gross sales of the Midwest family of companies. We did not talk about market share or growth. We didn’t discuss civic accolades, Board service, or cultural endeavors. Yes, those are part of Peter’s legacy, but that is not the legacy that brought smiles to our faces and healing to our hearts. The part of Peter’s legacy we cherish is what made him human, not superhuman.
One month prior to Peter’s passing, on the northwest side of Chicago, ILCA lost another friend - George Weyland. If Peter represented one of the largest, most established companies within the ILCA, George was one of the smallest. His shop was in the rear of his home and he ran one crew. He mostly did maintenance, a little installation, shoveled snow, and did some holiday container work for nearby businesses.
George was a friend and mentor to many in the landscape industry. He was never the biggest company, but his love and passion for education, training, professionalism, and kinship were unmatched. He served as the ILCA Historian. He also volunteered on numerous committees that helped raise the professional standards and esteem of his colleagues and competitors.
In his spare time, George organized the “Old Timers Gathering” which was a gathering for friends with landscape backgrounds who had long since retired. At those meetings, George would encourage conversation and provide updates on members who had retired or passed on.
At George’s wake, another group of ILCA members told “George Stories.” At his funeral, the George Stories bouncing around my head made me cry.
I talked to George Weyland more than any other member during my time at ILCA. I spoke to him on a weekly basis and more than any president, committee chair, or my own wife. He would call the ILCA office 2-3 days per week. He occasionally had a reason for his call, but more often he just wanted to hear a friendly voice.
“Hey George, what’s up?” We’d ask.
“Heaven if you look straight,” was his reply.
“Hi George, how’s it going?” We’d ask.
“I got one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel,” he’d say.
George would engage with any ILCA staff member who picked up the phone. Anyone who has ever worked at ILCA knows George. George would send emails and write multipage letters. He would pop into Board meetings. He attended hundreds of ILCA events over the years and was a lifelong learner. Paying those dues and pushing his mower was all he needed to feel like he belonged. There was never a member he felt intimidated to talk to, including Peter Orum.
One meeting between the two men happened in the basement of Midwest Groundcovers on January 21, 2014. This was during the first attempt at a merger between ILCA and IGIA. Midwest hosted an ILCA member town hall for members to air concerns. Peter spoke first, welcomed everyone to his nursery, and made his case in support of unification. After a few minutes, George rose from his seat and addressed Peter. George provided his opposition. He felt the two organizations should remain separate. The desperation that followed the end of MidAm was not the proper time to consider a rushed unification. It was a tense exchange. Yet, in moments like this, legacies are formed.
Peter could have shouted George down. After all, George was a tiny contractor who barely bought from Midwest Groundcovers. Peter was an industry icon with national notoriety standing in his own basement. George, on the other hand, could have never risen from his seat. He could have felt small and shrank from this moment. He was one of the smallest members ILCA had. He could have felt intimidated and that his voice did not matter. Instead, these two men, with different sized businesses, but the same sized heart, treated each other with respect. They never raised their voices or asserted dominance. They treated each other as equals. Still the merger failed to pass.
A few months later, standing in the Midwest Groundcovers booth at the first iLandscape, George approached Peter. Peter extended his hand to George.
“George, how are you?” Peter asked warmly.
“Well, I’ve got one foot in the grave and another on a banana peel.” George replied.
They shook hands.
For me, these are the legacies of these two men. Peter who treated even the smallest ILCA member we had with deep respect and grace. George who found the person behind the company brand and national reputation. These legacies are not found in books. They are found in Peter Stories and George Stories passed around when we miss them most.
It is not hard for any of us to feel small some days. As we age, it becomes natural to consider the legacy we will leave. I hated to see Peter and George go, but it taught me something about how we are remembered. All of us will leave legacies. There are no big legacies or small legacies. There are no consequential or inconsequential legacies. All of us will leave behind moments that change the lives of others.
Peter Orum and George Weyland changed my life. The legacies of both of these men are not found in buildings, brands, or bank accounts. They are in the lessons they taught me as a professional and as a person. Sadly, when people pass, we run out of new stories to add to these legacies. That is when we must lean on one another and share stories to keep their memories alive. I will miss my two friends, but legacies never die unless we let them.
Sincerely,
Scott Grams, Executive Director November 20, 2024
President Ashley Marrin
Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com
Vice-President
Kim Hartmann Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net
Secretary-Treasurer
Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com
Immediate Past President
Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com
Directors
Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com
Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com
Ryan Heitman
The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com
Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com
Michael Massat
The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com
Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com
Mark Utendorf
Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com www.ilca.net
President’s Message —
WhenI started my volunteer journey over 10 years ago with ILCA, I never dreamt I’d be president of the association one day. I looked up to the industry’s successful business owners and managers, but never quite saw myself as one. When I joined our family business in 2011, part of my job description was to become involved in ILCA. My parents always valued their ILCA membership as their professional organization, and they knew the opportunities it held for a young college graduate with little experience. I quickly made friends, built confidence, and grew professionally all while volunteering for ILCA.
I’m honored to have served as ILCA’s youngest female president and was fortunate to have an 18-month term instead of the typical 12 months. Serving as president while transitioning our family business was demanding, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel blessed with all the wonderful opportunities that took place simultaneously. ILCA accomplishments were many this year—unification with IGIA, working on becoming a stronger organization, participating in a press conference with ABIC alongside Governor Pritzker, Senator Durbin and others, the launch of Bloom, gaining Kellie Schmidt & Melissa Custic as new staff members, adding new, and successful programs, reaching 1,000 members, and — some more exciting things to come, that we can’t share just yet.
I’ve grown professionally and personally these past 18 months. I’m thankful for my parents who encouraged me to participate in ILCA, who held down the fort while I was away, and who continue to support all my aspirations. Thank you to those who provided mentorship—I will loyally pass that forward. I’m grateful to fellow board members who dedicate their time and are truly passionate about making us the strongest, most dedicated professional association. Finally, I want to thank Scott Grams for being an incredible leader. ILCA would not be what it is today without him at the helm. I look forward to continuing my ILCA involvement, wherever that takes me. Happy Holidays!
Stay Positive!
Ashley Marrin
Cuandoinicié mi viaje voluntario con ILCA hace 10 años, nunca soñé que un día sería presidente de la asociación. Admiraba a los dueños y gerentes de negocios exitosos en la industria, pero nunca me vi como uno de ellos. Cuando me incorporé al negocio de la familia en 2011, parte de la descripción de mi puesto era involucrarme en ILCA. Mis padres siempre valoraron su membresía en ILCA como su organización profesional y sabían las oportunidades que ofrecía para una joven recién graduada de un colegio universitario con poca experiencia. Rápidamente hice amigos, adquirí confianza en mí misma y crecí profesionalmente, todo mientras trabajaba voluntariamente para ILCA.
Es un honor para mí haber servido como uno de los presidentes más jóvenes de ILCA y tener la suerte de servir durante 18 meses en lugar de los 12 meses usuales. Servir como presidente durante la transición del negocio familiar fue algo difícil, pero no lo aceptaría de ninguna otra forma. Fue una bendición experimentar las maravillosas oportunidades que ocurrieron simultáneamente. Los logros de ILCA fueron muchos este año—unificación con IGIA, trabajar para ser una organización más sólida, participar en una conferencia de prensa con ABIC junto con el Gobernador Pritzker, el Senador Durbin y otros, lanzar Bloom, adquirir a Kellie Schmidt y Melissa Custic como nuevos miembros del personal, tener algunos nuevos programas increíblemente exitosos, alcanzar el número de 1,000 miembros y otras cosas emocionantes por venir que no podemos compartir con ustedes en este momento. He crecido personal y profesionalmente estos 18 meses. Agradezco a mis padres por haberme animado a participar en ILCA y mantener el fuerte durante mi ausencia y seguir apoyándome en todas mis aspiraciones. Gracias a los que proporcionaron mentoría—con lealtad pasaré esto adelante. Agradezco a los compañeros miembros de la junta su entusiasmo y el tiempo dedicado a ser la asociación profesional más sólida y dedicada a sus objetivos. Por último, deseo agradecer a Scott Grams por ser un líder increíble. ILCA no sería lo que es hoy sin él al timón. Espero con entusiasmo continuar mi participación en ILCA, dondequiera que me lleve. ¡Felices fiestas!
¡Mantenga una actitud positiva!
Ashley Marrin
Ashley Marrin
Reflections Water Gardens • West Dundee
Natural Connections
Thenatural world is all about making connections that help people learn and grow. Our project, “Natural Connections,” has our client, their adult children and their grandchildren enjoying outdoor water experiences that create memorable family moments and inspire a sense of wonder. To address the client’s requests for a legacy water feature, we drained and removed old field tiles, installed a filter and added a liner to the 5,000 square foot pond at the rear of the property. In front, a
footbridge between the driveway and home’s entryway crossed a dry creek bed, an old drainage swale. Our plan was to renovate and connect the two features. Accommodating a 5 to 6 foot grade change, we sculpted a meandering, 419-linear-foot stream with mini-waterfalls. Running parallel along the side of the house, the stream is a “seam” that complements the neighboring natural prairie and connects the dry creek bed and pond.
One of a Kind
by Midwest Staff
It’s been said that Peter Orum was one of a kind. And that’s certainly true.
He was a young man when he left his native Denmark and sailed to the U.S., alone, to further his on-the-job education in growing plants. He decided to remain here to build a nursery, in partnership with his wife, Irma, and then with a few friends who worked for “beer and hamburgers.”
From sticking cuttings in a friend’s back yard, to the first five acres, to what ultimately became the nationally renowned growing business Midwest Groundcovers is today — it’s a one-of-a-kind story.
He would have told you, however, that he was one of many who worked to build the business. He understood, and greatly appreciated, the value of connections, of bringing people together, of working with many toward a common goal. He had a unique ability to find the strength and talents of others, to encourage and nurture their development, and to accomplish a goal by uniting and drawing upon the assets of many.
Peter’s business was growing plants, but one of his greatest accomplishments was growing the horticulture industry. He understood early that the several segments of the horticulture business — growing, landscape contracting, retailing — combine to create a strong trade. As he often said, one person alone cannot do what many people can.
A review of his work with and for associations, locally and around the world, could fill volumes. His patient and
tireless efforts to unite green industry professionals in Illinois is a sterling example. Peter believed strongly in the value that associations provide to the industry; according to ILCA Executive Director Scott Grams, “Since the onset of the ILCA, Midwest Groundcovers has been known as one of the foundational supplier members of the organization [the company joined back in 1971]. In fact, they were the fourth company to receive the Distinguished Supplier Award, back in 1991.”
From the beginning, Peter worked to unite contractors and suppliers. When the long-running Mid-Am trade show in Chicago was shuttered in 2013, members of the related associations began to talk about using the opportunity to bring the Illinois Green Industry Association (IGIA) and ILCA together. So Peter hosted a meeting at the company headquarters in St. Charles.
True to his way, Scott says, “Peter was calm, he was articulate, he was sensitive to the strong opinions that both the growers in the room had, contractors in the room had.
And I will say that this was one of Peter’s gifts: That he didn’t speak from what was; he always spoke about what could be.”
“He did a really amazing job of talking to both sides,” Scott adds. No matter the size of your business, no matter which “side” you were on, “he was so generous with his time, and with his respect.”
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“Life is Not Always Easy,
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ILCA members will recall that the IGIA and ILCA didn’t come together until 10 years later, after frustrating roadblocks and stalled negotiations. (That’s nine years after Peter was named ILCA Man of the Year.) During that time, he quietly but diligently continued to talk about the potential of coming together, looking ahead to what could be accomplished by a united association.
Kellie Schmidt, ILCA’s Statewide Director of Development, was quick to learn about Peter’s influence.
“I first became familiar with Peter Orum and Midwest Groundcovers when I got involved with the Illinois Green Industry Association in 2014,” she recalls. “I was new to the industry and had a lot to learn about the dynamics between supplier and contractor, wholesaler and retailer, what drives trends, and the impact of legislation on our livelihoods.”
He strongly encouraged contractors and growers alike to make their voices, and their needs, known to legislators statewide and on the national level.
“In my early days of working for IGIA,” Kellie says, “I learned quickly that when Peter called, it was usually a matter of high-priority legislative or advocacy work. He always pushed hard to keep the association involved in critical matters at the state and federal level, even when the PAC funds were running on empty. His generosity knew no bounds because he was that invested in supporting our industry. I remember many GIPAC (Green Industry Political Action Committee) events where Peter was incredibly generous with his auction item donations to support the cause. Many people know that Peter was a passionate advocate for keeping the landscape industry on the minds of policymakers, but not many know just how much of his personal time, energy, and resources were invested to support this work.”
He worked hard and he worked smart, and he expected others to do so. But he did not demand; he encouraged. He asked the right questions, he stimulated discussion. And he listened.
“When I became Executive Director of the IGIA,” Kellie recalls, “I knew that if Peter was present for a meeting, hard questions would be asked and I needed to be on point. He had a special gift for asking the kinds of questions that led to a richer discussion, more creative ideas, and more people in the room participating. Certainly there were times when I didn’t have an answer
for him, but they always left me thinking about how we might do more in the future even if the solution wasn’t apparent.
“Many weeks out of the year,” Kellie continues, “the blocking and tackling of legislative and advocacy for the industry happens behind-thescenes, which is why you have the association working on your behalf. But when people don’t take notice, it can sometimes feel that the effort lacks value. Peter’s commitment and engagement in this area kept me on my toes and gave me confidence that the work was one of the greatest benefits of belonging to IGIA / ILCA.
“I’m not the only person who has expressed the sentiment that Peter made them feel seen and valued no matter what role they played in the industry. That is a legacy people will remember.”
Indeed, Peter’s legacy of dedication to association work is evident in the fact that many Midwest Groundcovers employees are active in ILCA leadership roles. Christa-Orum Keller has worked with the association for many years, serving on the Board of Directors between July 2009 to June 2013. Nikki Melin currently serves as a board member; at present, there are nine Midwest employees on various committees, and many others have participated throughout the years.
Nikki says, “Peter always encouraged us to get involved beyond the Midwest Companies. I appreciated that we were encouraged and given the time to give back to our industry. It gives me a lot of fulfillment being able to carry on a small part of Peter’s legacy through my involvement with ILCA.”
Peter Orum knew that success — in business, in family, in life — does not come without the work of others. He was adept at finding and recognizing talent, strengths and potential, and at bringing together people with complementary skills and knowledge. Never judging, but always reaching out to understand an “opposing” view, he managed to build coalitions of those who see many sides of an issue, and helping them to come to an agreement.
He laid that foundation at Midwest Groundcovers, and Midwest employees are firmly grounded in that foundation. Encouraged by the leadership of Christa Orum-Keller and Craig Keller, they continue to carry forward the critical association work that builds and strengthens the horticulture industry, for all.
He was, indeed, one of a kind.
Ecological Gardening: Cultivating Passion into Practice
by Heather Prince
What does it mean to be an ecological gardener or landscaper? Is it just another buzzword in an already crowded field of jargon and trendy phrases? Perhaps, but an increasing portion of the green industry has laid claim to the description, planting a green flag in our in-demand craft. As client tastes (and municipal ordinances) shift and change towards more sustainable goals, we spoke with Kasey Eaves, founder of Vivant Gardening Services, about how she started and has grown her ecological gardening business.
“We’re focused on mixed and hardy perennial plants, as well as backyard edible gardens for clients that are interested in something that is ecologically sustainable for themselves and for this planet,” reported Eaves. “Our goal is to make a sanctuary for people, pollinators and plants to just enjoy. That’s lovely, and it’s fun.” Vivant Gardening Services offers gardening services, consultations, design/build of organic food gardens, and hands-on garden management. “I remember when I started saying, ‘I’m a gardening business,’ because I wasn’t interested in lawn or installing hardscape,” commented Eaves. “I’m a plant person. I do stewardship. I’ll come in after a landscape designer installs a design to help a client care for it.”
In the beginning
Eaves got started on the family farm in southern Illinois. “I grew up living a life surrounded by plants,” she smiled. “In my childhood, you were either taking a little backpack full of snacks into the woods for the day, or you were working in the garden with your grandmother.” She went off to Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago to pursue a journalism degree and after getting sick again and again, was sent home to recuperate. She found that growing her own food
worked best for her body. “When I moved back to Chicago, I got an apartment with as many roommates as possible so that I could have a garden in the backyard. I started gardening for myself as an adult, just from the basis of health.” The neighbors watched Eaves’ garden unfold and the buckets of fresh produce coming into the kitchen. They started asking questions and so that backyard garden rapidly became a community garden. As Eaves started getting pulled into helping in the neighborhood, a business began to take root. She quit her cubicle job and started working for a farm-to-table deli to supplement her small gardeningfor-hire work. She was introduced to the Chicago Botanic Garden and began presenting and teaching edible gardening classes. In the meantime, chefs came calling asking for help in their restaurant gardens. Finally, the demand was so high, and Eaves had the opportunity to hire help, so she formed her LLC.
Eaves has a small team of 4 full-time and 8 part-time seasonal staff. They do not use any gas-powered equipment and use electric string trimmers and augers sparingly, preferring hand powered, quiet equipment. Vivant also offers workshops and classes for their clients. “I often consider it a blessing that I started this from scratch from a desire to work with plants, without first having background experiences with other landscapers, botanic gardens, etc.,” said Eaves. “It allowed me to create something that worked for me, in my own harebrained way, and according to my values of what I wanted and needed for it to feel like a good workplace. I fell in love with the community of what happens when you take garden minds that are passionate and put them together and started building the business further and further,” recalled Eaves.
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The team at Vivant is focused on working with plants to understand targeted ways to edit, control weeds, and manage complex designs while still allowing Nature to lead the way.
In the eye of the beholder
Eaves takes a fresh approach to Vivant’s services. “We’re weird in a lot of ways,” she confessed. “We don’t own trucks, which is very unusual in our industry, but I didn’t want to have to worry about traffic, parking, and everything that comes with maintaining a fleet.” Eaves also chose to set crew schedules differently. “I wanted to grow my people first. We max our workdays for crew members in the field, especially the new people coming in, at five hours total per day. We keep a lot of them part time, because we know that that’s humanly sustainable. I don’t want to burn them out. Only our managers and higher-level staff will work longer hours as needed, but it’s mostly administrative work to help balance things out with their bodies. We live in this beautiful
universe of people who are multi-passionate and multitalented. I’ve found that a lot of the labor pool coming into horticulture at this time, they want the time and the space to pursue those passions. And it works for us.”
A few years ago, on a staff field trip to Northwind Perennials, she met Roy Diblik, had a long conversation, and “he took me under his wing.” Now Vivant works with Austin Eischeid, Division 32 Landscape Architecture, Site Design, and the occasional Diblik project. These experiences have allowed the Vivant team to grow their skills at managing complex landscape installations and constantly learning techniques to practically deal with seed banks of weeds, stubborn invasives, and the evolution of plants in naturalistic gardens.
Being a business owner is challenging. “In my early days of running Vivant, I felt so overwhelmed by it. I remember meeting with Roy and he’s such a sweet mentor and cheerleader to people in this industry. I would say, Roy, ‘I feel like I’m getting doctorates in economics, horticulture, and psychology simultaneously,’ and he’d agree that that sounds accurate. Running a business in this industry is the psychological equivalent of (continued on page 18)
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playing Twister, Risk, and Monopoly while predicting the weather by how your hair is performing that day.”
Communication has become a key aspect of proving to clients the worth of their investment in Vivant’s services. Eaves strives to involve her clients in their spaces so that they understand not only the value of the services,but also to value their little piece of the planet. “I find that some of the best times of communicating value to a client ends up happening at the consultations,” commented Eaves. “If I can stand there for 30 minutes in front of someone and give them two to three pieces of advice and demonstrate how a technique or a planting will save on say, their water bill, we’ve proved our worth.” Eaves has found requiring paid consultations at the beginning sets the expectations that the client is getting experienced, knowledgeable help. Then when the team arrives, they are more highly valued. Eaves and her staff are also developing more ways to engage clients from sending them questions in advance of a workday to sharing seasonal happenings in the garden to building mutual goals.
Setting and raising prices is a continual struggle. Horticulture is constantly changing, from new tools to new pests and diseases. “It’s an act of the bravery to determine your skills and experience are worth being compensated for and compensated well,” observed Eaves. “In our era of climate change and extraordinary weather, it’s a big leap to choose and install plants. We make tough choices and sometimes a plant might fail. But we can’t devalue ourselves. Our experience says this plant will do well here and we have to trust ourselves.”
Through all of it, Eaves and her staff find instants of joy. From small discoveries in a garden to clients that share photos of their favorite flowers, there are myriad moments of connection. “We love the thank yous we receive,” said Eaves. “Especially when we’re in public gardens, like in Millennium Park, the crew is stopped and thanked repeatedly through the day. And if that’s not value, I don’t know what is.”
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Special Feature — iLandscape Preview
Education Preview
by Meta Levin
iLandscape 2025’s “Gardens of the World” theme will be reflected in its educational offerings, as well as throughout the annual three day event.
ILCA Education Committee chair Mike Blackwell points to Cassian Schmidt, one of the “Marquee speakers,” as a highlight. “He is a renowned landscape designer,” says Blackwell.
Schmidt, Director of Hermannshof Garden, Germany and an adjunct professor at Hoschule Geisenheim University in Geisenheim, Germany, will lead a virtual tour of some of the most inspiring gardens across the world, providing ideas for incorporating techniques into landscapes here.
The idea for the international theme came from feedback garnered from attendees at previous conferences. Many said they wanted to learn about gardens from around the world, as well as to expand their plant pallets, says Blackwell. “They want to be able to stay up to date on designing, hardscapes and contemporary designs.”
Speakers spanning the globe
A variety of speakers range from those from the Netherlands to ones who bring influences from Britain, Europe, Japan and South America, not to mention other parts
of the United States. There are, in all, nearly 60 education offerings at iLandscape 2025.
Blackwell, lead landscape designer for Chalet Landscape and Nursery, also is excited about hearing from Virginia Burt of Virginia Burt Designs, Inc. “She has done some pretty amazing work in Japanese designs,” he says.
Closer to home
Education Committee Associate Chair Mandy KomesLeifheit, sales manager at Pizzo Native Plant Nursery, looks forward to the native plant related presentations, including “Managing the Message of Native Plants” by Claudio Vasquez, co-founder of Izel Plants, an e-commerce marketplace for plants native to the United States (lower 48). “I think it’s an important topic,” she says. “Understanding the message and what native plants mean. I am curious about what will be discussed and what kinds of questions there will be.”
She also points to Sam Hoadley, manager of horticultural research at the Mt. Cuba Center’s trial garden, and who will speak about “Knockout Natives.” The center is located in New Castle County, Delaware.
(continued on page 22)
Special Feature — iLandscape Preview
(continued from page 20)
Dr. Jared Barnes, Associate Professor of Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, will take attendees through southern flora that are adaptable to northern climes, which are becoming warmer with climate change.
Others in the native plant arena include Shannon Currey, a horticulture educator at Izel Plants, whose topic is “Native Plant Solutions to Familiar Landscape Challenges.”
Closer to home, Richard Hawke, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Director of Ornamental Plant Research at the Chicago Botanic Garden, whose research focuses on determining the best garden plants for the Upper Midwest, will speak about perennials that have proven to be beautiful, reliable and hardy.
En Espanol
To support our growing Spanish-speaking membership, the committee is offering real time Spanish-English and English-Spanish-language sessions. Titled, “Next Level Training,” the presentations will run from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm on Wednesday and from 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Thursday and will be presented in Spanish with English translations.
Two afternoon sessions in the same rooms will feature English speakers, translated into Spanish. “This program came from both the Education and Latino Relations Committees working together,” says Blackwell.
Neal Glatt will teach “Strength Based Performance.” He is a John Maxwell Certified coach, speaker and trainer, who has been a popular presenter at several previous iLandscapes.
The Tuesday workshops will be followed by the annual Awards Banquet. The awards reception will start at 5:00 pm, followed by dinner and the Awards program.
To do this, iLandscape is employing the services of Wordly AI Translation, an online app, allowing attendees to listen to translated audio (bring your own headphones or earbuds), read translated subtitles or access text transcripts, said ILCA Education Manager Melissa Custic.
This offering is a continuation of Field Staff Skills Training. We decided to bring that popular content to iLandcape. The later dates allow companies to bring their entire teams.
Pop-Ups / Floor Education / Workshops
There also will be five 30-minute pop up sessions, between 9:30 am and 1:15 pm Wednesday and Thursday and at 10 am on Friday, covering a variety of subjects, by a number of different presenters.
For those who want to get a head start and dive deeper into some topics, there will be three longer pre-show workshops on Tuesday, before the formal conference begins. The design workshops, will be led by Pat Cullina, an award winning horticulturist, landscape designer, photographer, lecturer and landscape consultant.
The software workshop leader has yet to be determined.
Two principal writers from The Landscape Contractor magazine will bring some of their stories to life with special presentations. These will be similar in concept to the ones presented at last year’s iLandscape, but will be drawn from new stories published in 2024.
Nina Koziol’s presentations include, “The Next Big Thing” a feature highlighting plants you will soon see offered for sale. “Mastering that First Meeting,” offers pro tips on successful first client meetings.
Heather Prince will lead with project case study “Building Beauty in the Heart of Chicago.” Her second presentation is an inspirational piece titled “Winter Scaping.”
Series
Each presentation will have key participants on stage to provide first hand accounts to attendees.
Focus — Fall Events 2024
Women’s Networking Group Fall Event
All-Male Panel Expanding Our Perspective
by Nina A. Koziol
Do men and women in the green industry have different challenges on the job? Different views about their work? How about different pay scales? All of those questions and more were explored at the October Women’s Networking Group (WNG) event, Expanding Our Perspective. More than 125 men and women attended the event at Chandler’s Chophouse in Schaumburg and it did not disappoint.
A first-time all-male panel shared their perspectives as WNG committee chair Brenda Ward, vice president of business operations and administration at Beary Landscaping, moderated a thought-provoking discussion, sometimes grilling the panelists about diversity and culture at work. Panelists included Justin Cooke, Landscape Concepts Management, Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading, and Aaron Zych, ILT Vignocchi.
“I want to make sure everyone here gets something valuable to take home today,” Ward told the crowd. She kicked
things off asking panelists about their leadership style. “I don’t focus on my leadership style—I focus on our company culture—that we have a shared vision,” Joe Hobson said. “There’s a difference between management and leadership,” shared Aaron Zych, who thinks more along the lines of a leader than a day-to-day manager.
Trying to be both manager and leader can be exhausting and non-productive, especially when you try to do everything. “I realized I was killing myself [trying to do both],” said Justin Cooke. “I wasn’t doing the people around me a service by trying to do everything better and faster. Give them the tools, let them make mistakes, and coach them.”
As tempting as it is to correct something you see an employee doing “wrong” because you can do it quickly, take a pause. “It’s the ‘doer thing’ instead of allowing people to do their job,” Hobson said. “We need increased patience and tolerance.”
Joe Hobson
Aaron Zych
Justin Cooke
Perspective
Juggling work and family life was another topic of interest. “This business is not for the faint of heart,” Ward said. “It’s hard work and I’ve seen marriages end. It can be intimidating—the hours, the work—for many women.” For Cooke, the key is organization. “Be where you need to be, whether it’s family or work and communicating that to the team is important. Life happens and it’s not just an 8 to 6 job. You have to be good at scheduling and always honor your commitments even if that means answering emails after the kids are in bed.”
Time management is critical for Zych, who said, “I work with my wife and the business comes home with us sometimes. We try to have downtime and we have so many graphs and white boards, but ‘family first’ is the motto at work.”
Ania Rossi, owner of Aniascape in Naperville, has attended many ILCA events, and she found this one especially beneficial after feeling a little burnout from work. “I love it and look forward to it. I’m so ready to burst out from the long season, so this was timely.”
“What can the industry do to attract more women?” Ward asked panelists. “I don’t intentionally sway things towards men or women,” Hobson said. “The law says you can’t be biased. I look at who is the best candidate for the job. If we (continued on page 26)
Women’s Networking Committee
Focus — Fall Events 2024
(continued from page 25)
can promote from within we will. We try to hire the best candidate rather than the correct gender, if you will.”
“We have wonderfully powerful women in key roles,” Cooke said. “Our greatest ability to influence is with those around us — they can see your actions and behaviors. Every leader participates in interviewing. We want to see [staff] excel and move up — develop from within. As leaders we continue to create more environments that are inviting. Every action with your organization — is it positive?—because that attitude spreads. It’s about creating a safe culture that’s inviting.”
Midwest Trading’s Human Resources Department helps interviewees understand the company culture. “It’s not about men or women — it’s about people,” Hobson said. “There are tons of opportunities in our industry.”
Frame of Reference
Another topic that arose was “mansplaining” and Ward gave an example of a YouTube video where a man gives unsolicited advice to a professional female golfer. The video has been interpreted by many as patronizing or condescending. It’s a gender stereotype that unfortunately continues even though women can also act in that manner.
“I don’t think it’s about gender as much as it’s the filter
we receive it through,” said Kim Hartmann, team development director/purchasing manager for Rosborough Partners, and ILCA’s vice president. “If we’re on the defensive, felt belittled or disrespected in the past, we have to understand our filters — what we perceive may not have been their intent. We can inflate or exaggerate the meaning behind actions or words.”
Be Intentional
“I know that there are companies out there that are little frat houses,” Zych said. “Look for companies that want to grow and get better.” For young women starting out in the industry, he suggested that rather than being confrontational in a situation with a boss, “Speak up for yourself in a professional way. Look for a boss who is open to that. Speaking up for what you want — ‘this is where I want to go’ — lets them know you are serious.”
“It really resonated with the panelists’ answers about the talents people bring and the vision for the future rather than focusing on gender,” Hartmann said. The event was on par with last year’s said, ILCA’s office manager Alycia Nagy. “It was good — a different conversation to have because these can be difficult topics.”
“I enjoy the networking opportunities and was intrigued to hear the mens’ perspective,” said Jolyn Miller, sales rep-
resentative for Willoway Nurseries. Emily O’Reilly, account manager for Landscape Concepts, enjoys the WNG’s informal coffee talks as well as the annual fall event. “I liked hearing what the panelists had to say and it sounds like the industry is open to change and moving forward.”
Don’t miss out…
The ILCA Women’s Networking Group promotes camaraderie, and strives to share industry experiences and leadership skills with ILCA members. For more ILCA events check out https://ilca. net/ilca-events/
Let the Celebration Begin
Membership Milestone: A Thousand
Thousand Reasons to Celebrate
Nina A. Koziol
ILCA’s membership drive has been in the works for some time and the work of volunteers and staff has really paid off. Membership recently hit the 1,000 mark and to celebrate the company that reached the magic number, ILCA’s Executive Director Scott Grams, Membership and Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler, and four members of the ILCA membership committee presented Ryan Baker of R & M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC, in Plainfield, IL, with a bevy of balloons, champagne, a golden ticket to attend ILCA events for free, lunch gift cards for the crew, new member box, and of course, a special 1,000th member plaque.
A somewhat surprised, and a bit overwhelmed, Baker said, “I didn’t know what to expect.” The group recently met at his facility, which Grams touted as absolutely immaculate. In business since 2018, Baker touts a great team that loves what they do. “We specialize in landscape maintenance, softscaping, and snow removal. Over the last two years we have really started to dive into the hardscaping market and have loved every part of that.”
He began the business in Woodridge. “My mom was my first customer,” Baker jokes. At age 16 he worked for a lawn service as an aeration coordinator. “I was doing it full time right out of high school.” He turned 30 this year and has six full-time employees and eight to 10 in the summer. What was the scariest part of going out on his own? “The thought of not having a regular paycheck. But the last two years we did pretty good.”
at ILCA’s members-only page on Facebook. “You can get feedback about questions—pests and disease—other issues—and, if you run into any jams, or you can call Marissa or me.”
What about someone who’s hesitant about joining ILCA?
“The membership fee might seem high to some, but you’ll look back and see all the good things that came of it,” Baker said. Zych agreed, saying, “I can’t express enough, the more you attend ILCA events and the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.”
Membership committee member Jeff Greeves of Sunbelt Rentals, added, “Some people join, but don’t become part of it, and then don’t rejoin. You have to take advantage of everything that’s offered. I’m a strong supporter and the networking is unbelievable.” Stubler agreed, saying “Go to events, network and take advantage of it.”
In 2020, Baker got married to KC and they are expecting baby Olivia in January. “Every where you look, there’s a new housing complex,” he said. “In five years I’d love to double or triple the company size, but slow growth is the best growth.” What would he be doing if he didn’t go out on his own? “I’d be working for someone else and not enjoying it.”
The 1,0 00th member is a vote of confidence for ILCA. Only 640 companieswere members when Scott Grams took the reins as director.
“We’re all here to help each other,” said Aaron Zych, of ILT Vignocchi and chair of the ILCA Membership Committee. Baker agreed, saying, “I joined ILCA because I want to take in that helping hand—you might think it’s a competition, but [through networking] it could land a big job.” The majority of Baker’s business is in DuPage County. “And, I still have my first paying customer in Downers Grove.”
Membership committee member Debbie McGuire of Aleckson Insurance Agency told Baker, “ILCA is a friendly group and we’re so happy you’re here.” Grams also encouraged him to look
“We were around 800 recently and it’s been a long kind of climb — you gain some, you lose some. It’s been exciting for all of us, especially staff. Growing the membership has been simmering for a long time.” And participating members know the benefits. “We get member calls all the time asking about wage rates, contracts, and more, and we can direct them to resources that can help. We’re information brokers. I love representing ILCA.”
“I’ve just started to touch the tip of the [industry] iceberg,” Baker said. “It’s like looking through the window into all the possibilities out there. We look forward to attending ILCA events to help us network and meet new people.”
Know someone in the industry who’s not a member? “It’s all about getting a member to talk to another potential member,” Grams said. Send them to https://ilca.net/membershipbenefits/ to discover all the benefits that await.
Executive Director Scott Grams and Ryan Baker of R & M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC
Focus — More Fall Events 2024
This year’s conference explored native plants, forward-thinking designs and sustainable equipment
by Nina A. Koziol
When ILCA kicked off the Impact Conference in 2017, some wondered if it was “sustainable”— would it continue to attract landscapers, designers, horticulturists and others in following years? Absolutely! The annual program has blossomed big time, becoming a magnet for everyone from designers, growers and installers to native plant aficionados, public park staff and restorationists. This year’s program, Building Sustainable Landscapes, drew scores of new and seasoned professionals. “There was a lot of fresh energy,” said Brandon Losey of Alluvium Landscapes and chair of ILCA’s Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee. “This is a group that’s passionate and engaged. Impact is an opportunity for us to get together and talk about plants.”
With the interest in “meadow” gardening growing each year, the conference featured exhibitors offering restoration services, plants, tools and much more. The program kicked off with Neil Diboll, consulting ecologist at Prairie Nursery in Westfield, WI. He spoke about prairie garden design principles and how plants and designs have evolved. He’s been growing native plants since the 1980s when, he admits, “We didn’t know how to market them.”
His new book, “The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants,” written with Hillary Cox, is the one-stop compendium for all those aspiring to use native prairie plants in their projects. “Native plants do the work for you. You don’t have to water them all the time.” But, just because a plant is native doesn’t
mean it’s good, Diboll said. “Stay away from cup plant—we sell it but it doesn’t play well with others.”
Kevin Philip Williams, manager of horticulture at Denver Botanical Gardens, presented a fascinating look at evolving designs, here and abroad, in “A Sense of No Place—Intentional Naturalistic Garden-Making.” Much of his presentation focused on designs featured in his new book, co-authored with Michael Guidi, “Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands.”
“Shrublands exist all around us,” Williams says, “thriving in almost any environmental condition, from the desiccating sunshine of the endless sagebrush steppe to the deep, shaded tranquility of moist forests. These diverse and inspiring ecosystems serve as perfect models for our gardens. Beyond their inherent beauty, they provide nurturing habitats and demonstrate resilience in the face of a changing climate.”
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Break-out sessions included, “Show Me the Numbers: The How and How Much of Sustainable Landscapes” with Gerardo Trujillo and Sarah Surroz of Openlands. Attendees participated in 15-minute roundtable discussions about everything from using natives versus native cultivars to maintenance issues.
Discussing the move from gas to electric-powered equipment was a valuable session by Brandon Haley of SSC Services and Board of Directors for the Professional Grounds
Management Society. He discussed real-life experiences in the field as well as the cost, changing regulations, battery management and strategies for transitioning.
A panel of luminaries—Diboll and Williams, along with Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennial Farm and Dr. Gerry Wilhelm, botanist and author of several books—with more than 150 years of combined experience—topped off the day, with each one sharing his thoughts on the future of sustainable landscapes. “I’ve seen a huge change since 1977,” Diboll said. “Native plants weren’t even on the radar. People are more conscious about natives. All species have value and everything is connected. We have to respect all forms of life.”
Maintenance was a hot topic, too. A lot of discussion focused on the “weedy scenario” when landscapes are left to their own devices. “A lot of [designers and landscape architects] pass on their work and don’t do the maintenance,” Williams said. “We need to make [maintenance crews] valued.” And while many firms continue to rely on mulch for weed and moisture control, Diblik offered (continued on page 32)
Neil Diboll
Roy Diblik
Kevin Williams
Dr. Gerry Wilhelm
Focus — Fall Events 2024
(continued from page 31)
this amusing perspective: “Every plant that’s ever appeared on earth is selfmulching. No Native Americans were mowing the meadows or blowing the Native American meadow debris into a Native American landfill.”
For Wilhelm, it’s not the plants alone that we should care about, but the insect biome that relies on them. “Almost all of our insects thrive in native remnants.” But it’s not always that simple, even when the site has been restored or renovated. “At Schulenberg Prairie [at The Morton Arboretum], even after 50 years, the native bees are not finding their way there,” he said. Time will tell. “We have to relearn how to love the landscape — to know and love the plants.”
“Roy was one of my instructors at the College of DuPage,” said Jessica Meyers, horticulture supervisor at the Streamwood Park District. It was her first time attending Impact. “When I saw the program description, I thought I’ve got to go to this. Neil Diboll talked about compatible root systems and I’d not thought about that.”
“I’ve been to a lot of these programs and I like to see how they’re evolving,” said Jan Sorensen, inventory coordinator for Pizzo Native Plant Nursery. “I’m glad to see how natives are working their way into the culture. And, I’m glad to see young people show up — newer, younger faces. It’s a good mix.”
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Actualización sobre membresía de
ILCA Mil razones para celebrar
Por Nina A. Koziol
La campaña de afiliación de miembros de ILCA se ha venido desarrollando desde hace algún tiempo y el trabajo de los voluntarios y del personal ha dado buenos resultados. El número de miembros llegó a 1,000 y para celebrar a la compañía que alcanzó ese número mágico, Scott Grams, Director Ejecutivo de ILCA, Marissa Stubler, Gerente de Membresía y Mercadotecnia, y cuatro miembros del Comité de Membresía de ILCA, presentaron a Ryan Baker de R & M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC, en Plainfield, IL, un conjunto de globos, champagne, un billete dorado para asistir a los eventos de ILCA gratis, tarjetas de regalo de almuerzos para los miembros del equipo, una caja de regalo como nuevo miembro y, por supuesto, un placa especial como miembro número 1,000.
Algo sorprendido y un poco asombrado, Baker dijo, “No sabía qué esperar”. El grupo se reunió recientemente en sus instalaciones, las cuales Grams calificó de absolutamente inmaculadas. Activo en el negocio desde 2018, Baker promociona un equipo fabuloso que disfruta de lo que hace. “Nos especializamos en mantenimiento de áreas verdes, elementos vegetales de paisajismo y remoción de nieve. En los últimos dos años, comenzamos realmente a introducirnos en el mercado de elementos sólidos de paisajismo y hemos disfrutado de todos los aspectos de este mercado”.
Inició el negocio en Woodridge. “Mi madre fue mi primer cliente”, bromeó Baker. A la edad de 16 años trabajó para un servicio de cuidado de césped como coordinador de aireación. “Lo hice a tiempo completo desde que me gradué de
la escuela secundaria”. Este año cumplió 30 años y tiene seis empleados de tiempo complete y de ocho a diez en el verano. ¿Qué fue lo más inquietante de lanzarte a trabajar por tu cuenta? “La idea de que no iba a recibir un cheque de paga con regularidad. Pero en los últimos dos años nos fue muy bien”.
“Estamos aquí para ayudarnos mutuamente”, dijo Aaron Zych, de ILT Vignocchi y presidente del Comité de Membresía de ILCA. Baker estuvo de acuerdo y dijo, “Me incorporé a ILCA porque quería estrechar esa mano amiga—podrás pensar que es una competición, pero [mediante el establecimiento de contactos] puede representar la obtención de un trabajo grande.” La mayoría de los negocios de Baker se realizan en el Condado de DuPage. “Y todavía tengo a mi primer cliente en Downers Grove.”
La miembro del Comité de Membresía, Debbie McGuire, de Aleckson Insurance Agency dijo a Baker, “ILCA es un grupo amistoso y nos encanta que estés aquí con nosotros”. Grams también lo animó a revisar la página exclusiva para miembros en Facebook. “Puedes encontrar comentarios y sugerencias sobre preguntas—plagas y enfermedades—otros asuntos—y, si te encuentras con alguna dificultad, puedes llamar a Marissa o llamarme”.
¿Y si alguien tiene dudas sobre incorporarse a ILCA? “La cuota de membresía podrá parecer alta a algunas personas, pero cuando reflexiones más adelante verás todos los beneficios que te produjo”, dijo Baker. Zych estuvo de acuerdo, diciendo, “No me canso de decirlo, pero cuanto más asistas a los eventos de ILCA y más participes, más beneficios
obtendrás”. El miembro del Comité de Membresía Jeff Greeves de Sunbelt Rentals, agregó, “Algunas personas se hacen miembros, pero no participan activamente y por eso no renuevan su membresía. Es necesario aprovechar todos los beneficios que ILCA ofrece. Soy un firme partidario y las oportunidades de establecer contactos son increíbles”. Stubler estuvo de acuerdo: “Ve a eventos, establece contactos y aprovecha todas las ventajas”.
En 2020, Baker contrajo matrimonio con Casey y esperan a la bebita Olivia en enero. “Dondequiera que mires, hay un nuevo complejo residencial”, dijo. “En cinco años espero doblar o triplicar el tamaño de la compañía, pero el crecimiento lento es el mejor crecimiento”. ¿Qué estaría haciendo si no hubiese decidido trabajar por su cuenta? “Estaría trabajando para otra persona y no lo estaría disfrutando”.
El miembro número 1000 es un voto de confianza para ILCA. Había solo 640 compañías miembros cuando Scott Grams tomó las riendas como director. “Éramos alrededor de 800 recientemente y ha sido un
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ascenso lento—ganas algunas, pierdes otras. Ha sido emocionante para todos nosotros, especialmente para el personal. Por mucho tiempo, aumentar la membresía fue como cocer a fuego lento”. Y los miembros participantes conocen los beneficios. “Recibimos llamadas de miembros constantemente preguntando sobre tasas salariales, contratos y más y podemos dirigirlos a recursos que los pueden ayudar. Somos corredores de información. Me encanta representar a ILCA.”
“Estoy empezando a tocar la punta del iceberg [de la industria]”, dijo Baker. “Es como mirar desde la ventana todas las posibilidades que están ahí. Esperamos con entusiasmo asistir a los eventos de ILCA para ayudarnos a establecer contactos y conocer gente”.
¿Conoces a alguien de la industria que no es miembro? “Es cuestión de que un miembro hable con otro miembro potencial”, dijo Grams. Dirígelos a https://ilca.net/membership-benefits/ para que descubran todos los beneficios que los esperan.
The Importance of Burning for Our Ecosystems
By Cameron McCauley
As we transition to the fall and the cooler season, there’s a chance you might see an occasional prescribed being conducted in your local forest preserve, on private properties or around the suburbs. Nothing to be afraid of! Ecological restoration companies use the fall and winter to conduct prescribed burns as a form of land management, and it’s one of the best things you can do to revitalize grassland prairies!
As a one-time aspiring sportswriter, I’d like to use a sports analogy for the importance of burning native prairies. The 2022 Bears went 3-14 and had the worst record in the NFL. It gave them an opportunity to start refreshing their team the next year with the number one draft pick. In the same way that a rebuilding phase gives the Bears a foundation for future success, burning will help rejuvenate prairies and promote a thriving and diverse native ecosystem. The jury is still out on the Bears, but burning prairies have a much better hit record. Native grassland prairies in Illinois have been dwindling for a long time in Illinois as land has been converted to agricultural use. Before conventional farming practices, America was basically one enormous grassland from Ohio to Arizona and Canada to Texas.
Over time we would soon see the arrival of invasive species as well.
Indigenous peoples would use fire to their advantage. Although lightning was known to cause fires on the prairie, Native Americans would also use prescribed burns for many of the same reasons that we do today. What was initially perceived by colonists as untouched, pristine land in North America was actually the result of indigenous peoples helping to shape our land into the forests and prairies that they would witness after their arrival to the continent. Native Americans would burn for their benefit and knew that it was beneficial to ecosystems as well.
While we now see prescribed burns conducted this time of year, there’s a strategic plan for burning in the fall compared to the spring.
Fall burns help target cool season grasses and invasive plants that have already seen some growth. They are also less likely to disturb native fauna that have completed their reproductive cycles. Spring burns tend to favor native grasses by clearing the area and disadvantaging early-sprouting invasive species. But they need to be timed early enough to not disrupt
Burning Native Prairies
early ground-nesting bird species. Restoration contractors will often alternate between spring and fall burns depending on site specifications.
We also burn to protect our pollinators. Research suggests that ground-nesting bees prefer to nest in burned patches of prairies than unburned patches. Many native prairie wildflowers also thrive after prescribed burns. A recent study showed that some echinacea species can sync their bloom times on prairie patch that was burned, which makes it easier for flow-
ers to reproduce and multiply seed production.
I attended the ILCA Impact Conference in October which had some really great, thought-provoking speakers. The roundtable discussion with Jerry Wilhelm, Roy Diblik and Neil Diboll was great to listen to. One of the questions presented was how we as an industry can be better stewards of our environment for future generations; the answer was that prescribed burns are a way that can help lead us ecologically into a better future.
Overwintering Container Plants
by Krystal Flogel
If I had to choose one word to describe the approach taken by most growers over the past few seasons, it would be “conservative”. Faced with rising labor costs, economic uncertainty, and a return to pre-pandemic levels of demand, we’ve become more focused than ever on avoiding overproduction, reducing shrink, and minimizing risk. And when it comes to nursery production, one of the riskiest actions we can take is overwintering plants. In general, the more time we introduce into the life cycle of a crop, from the time of planting to the time of sales, the greater the probability of loss due to disease, weather, shelf life, or other factors both within and out of our control. So, turning crops as quickly as possible is typically in our best interest.
For most of us, though, overwintering crops for spring sales is crucial if we want to be ready to hit the ground running in time for our most important season of the year. At Mariani Plants, all our finished production takes place outside in cold frames, so our inventory for spring sales must be potted by the end of the previous summer (if not earlier). This allows our crops to root in and put on growth prior to winter, so they can be ready to ship in March, April, and May.
The Root of the Matter
The major factor differentiating containerized plants from those in the landscape or field is that their roots aren’t (continued on page 42)
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buffered from cold and fluctuating temperatures. This matters because the roots of a plant are significantly less cold-tolerant than the shoots. In fact, roots don’t go dormant in the winter; they simply stop growing when exposed to the cold. While they can acclimate to cold temperatures and acquire a level of cold hardiness, studies have shown that they can also de-acclimate and lose all cold tolerance in as little as 24 hours over the course of a warm day. For growers, this means that we must do everything possible to insulate the root systems of our crops. This includes consolidating plants pot to pot, positioning plants away from the edges of the overwintering structures, winterizing hoophouses to minimize cold air gaps, and covering hoophouses with an overwintering poly. For marginal plants, like warm season grasses, extra protection from frost blankets may be needed during cold spells.
Timing is Everything
We also need to consider timing as it relates to covering crops for winter. As a general rule, it’s best that we wait to cover until the plants have stopped actively growing but before subfreezing temperatures arrive. Of course, our ability to be flexible when it comes to timing has its limits. Many of us rely on a seasonal labor force, for example. So, as is the case with most aspects of our industry, we do the best we can when we can, with the resources we have, when the weather allows us to.
When it comes to dormancy and hardiness, timing plays a ubiquitous role. First and foremost, it’s essential that crops are planted in time to establish healthy root systems before winter. This is especially true for perennials. Plants that are wellrooted, but not rootbound, have a greater chance of surviving winter right out of the gate. It’s also important to avoid fertilizing and pruning too late in the season, since this promotes flushes of tender new growth just before the cold weather hits.
Timing is also a major factor in ways that are beyond our control. The process by which plants acclimate to the cold is complex and dependent on a number of factors, including the genetic makeup of the plants and their physiological stage. In general, though, there are two possible scenarios that pose the greatest threat to our crops in terms of cold damage. One of these occurs when we have a warm fall followed by rapid freezing temperatures. When this happens, the crops aren’t fully acclimated when freezing temperatures arrive. In our second scenario, plants begin to de-acclimate with warm temperatures in early spring and are then susceptible to cold damage from late spring frosts and freezes. We typically have the least to worry about in terms of cold damage during the middle of winter when plants are at their hardiest. Unfortunately, extreme swings in temperature are becoming the norm and not the exception
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Frost blankets on warm season grasses
Insulation barrier at bottom edge
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(continued from page 42) as our climate continues to change, so our best bet is to do whatever we can to insulate our crops from temperature fluctuations as much as possible. It’s also a good idea to vent plants as soon as temperatures begin to rise in the spring in order to slow the de-acclimation process, since the shoots of most plants lose their cold tolerance very quickly at that stage.
Water Management
As with most other aspects of growing, proper water management is key when it comes to successfully overwintering container plants. Essentially, we want to water everything in well to avoid desiccation without over-watering. This is easier said than done, especially if your nursery doesn’t have easy access to water throughout the winter months, but it’s absolutely crucial. For one thing, water gives off heat when it freezes, so wet soil doesn’t freeze as quickly as dry
soil. Container plants are susceptible to desiccation injury in the winter when the tops are transpiring faster than they can take up water. This can happen when the soil freezes and water uptake is completely shut down. Plants that lose their foliage in fall are obviously less susceptible to desiccation than those that don’t, but covering with an overwintering film that protects crops from wind and diffuses light makes a big difference.
Preventive Fungicides
Overwatering increases the risk of root and crown rots, especially in winter, but some plants are also more prone to diseases like Phytopthora, Pythium, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia. At Mariani Plants, we typically treat healthy but susceptible crops with a preventive fungicide drench in fall, at least twice, when the soil is moist but not saturated. It’s also important to assess production areas that are prone to standing water
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and either take steps to improve drainage or to elevate plants off the ground. This is especially important in spring when temperatures begin to rise and we’re faced with melting snow and rain.
Fine-Tuning Your Product Mix
One of the simplest actions we can take when it comes to increasing the success of our spring inventory is to simply limit overwintering the varieties that are problematic for us. As growers, we naturally want to say yes to all our customers’ requests. But if we don’t feel confident in our ability to consistently overwinter certain crops, then we shouldn’t commit to supplying them in the spring. It may be that the plants are marginally hardy or disease-prone, or that we don’t have the infrastructure (like heated growing houses) needed to keep them alive through the winter. But, whatever the reason, we need to be honest with ourselves and our customers, stick to the varieties that we feel good about growing, and drop those that end up costing us more than they’re worth. If you ask five different growers to explain their overwintering techniques, I’m willing to bet you won’t hear five identical answers. We all have our own preferred practices and methods that have worked for us over the years. Maybe we adopted them from someone who came before us, or maybe we adapted old techniques to meet our current challenges and circumstances. (It’s most likely a mix of these two scenarios.) But I’m guessing that losing plants over the winter is something we’ve all experienced at some point in our careers. And when that happens, we’re compelled to understand why so we can prevent it from happening again. When it comes to our industry, summer and fall may be uncertain, but we better be ready for spring. So we need to do whatever it takes to protect what are, arguably, our most valuable crops of the entire season.
Venting in spring
Evergreen plants
10 Native Cultivars You
by Heather Prince
As the demand for naturalistic garden designs and native plants continues to build, plant breeders are exploring and developing cultivars. These plants are often chosen from seed crosses that build upon sport traits that occur naturally when populations intermingle. We spoke with Brent Horvath, founder and president of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, about some of his new native cultivars.
These are 10 of Horvath’s newest breeding that will charm you with fresh flower colors, intriguing foliage, and Midwestern hardiness. Don’t forget to check the sidebar for 6 sensational grass selections that easily weave into borders and beds.
Allium cernuum ‘Falling Stars’ and “Stars in Her Eyes’ Horvath has two white-flowering nodding onions in his collection – ‘Falling Stars’ and ‘Stars in Her Eyes’. They feature delicate nodding pure white petals and a green ovary. At 18 to 24 inches, the strappy foliage forms a nice solid clump. “I would say, compared to the species, they’re a little more substantial and wider with grey-green foliage,” commented Horvath. Allium cernuum is happy in full sun to part shade in average to organically rich soils. Blooming in July, it easily weaves through the front third of a bed, attracting bees and pollinators while offering a confetti scatter of delicate white blossoms. Pair it with echinacea, grasses, monarda, and other mesic prairie plants. Try it in a moon or evening gardens for an airy texture.
Should Know and Grow
Amsonia ‘Bases Loaded’
Amsonia or blue star is first and foremost a texture plant. While we love the blue flowers in spring, its billowy graceful foliage in summer and sun-drenched fall color are what melt our hearts. Horvath has developed several Amsonia, “I’ve done a lot of work in the genus, but my favorite is ‘Bases Loaded.’ It has intermediate foliage between the broadleaf A. tabernaemontana and the needle-like A. hubrichtii. It’s more compact in stature. I like the flowers, which are a little bluer than the species.” Bases Loaded will bloom at 24 inches before settling into 30 inches high by about 36 inches wide. In fall the foliage turns a deep rich gold. Try it with wild quinine, rudbeckia, asters, and grasses for a graceful combination that’s long-lasting, even in winter.
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Aster ‘Thunderdome’
By crossing New England and aromatic aster, Horvath discovered a big, rounded, heavy-flowering purple perennial that also has fragrant foliage. “It gets to be about 4 feet tall and around 6 feet wide,” observed Horvath. “Kelly Norris is using it as a hedge in a current design. It could be cut back in early June to keep it smaller, if desired.” Typically blooming in August into October, ‘Thunderdome’ is a solid mass of purple daises that pollinators adore. It does best in full sun with average to dry soils, becoming drought tolerant with establishment. Plant it where you want a blast of purple late in the season. Consider pairing it with viburnum, grasses, and evergreens for a rich textural autumn combination.
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Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Prairie Moon’
This charming cultivar is easy to weave through beds since its 3-foot stature is flexible enough for the mid to back layers. “It has bluer, thinner foliage,” reported Horvath. “It doesn’t seed around, either.” Happiest in full sun and in drier soils, this rattlesnake master’s cool blue foliage is crisp and fresh when planted with purple-leaved plants. Pollinators flock to it and the seeds will be devoured by birds. Try it with other architectural prairie plants or mix it in with showy perennials for cool notes in a cacophony of flowers.
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Eupatorium perfoliatum ‘Blind Date’
The species of this boneset often has seedlings with purple foliage. Horvath has capitalized on this tendency in ‘Blind Date’. “It’s a little larger, a little darker and bigger altogether, than ‘Milk and Cookies’ which was released earlier,” reported Horvath. “It will reach 4 feet plus high and wide, depending on site and soil. The initial spring foliage is a real dark chocolatey purple. When it starts to bloom in late June and July, the foliage turns deep green with purple highlights and flat milky white flowers.” Blind Date loves moisture and sun, making it a terrific option for rain gardens and swales. Try it with queen of the prairie and Culver’s root for a rich tapestry of pink and purple flowers atop broader foliage.
Geranium maculatum ‘Huggy Bear’
“This stood out for me because of its large, chocolateyred foliage that doesn’t go dormant in summer heat,” said Horvath. “It features a nice clear pink flower and is very sun tolerant for a woodland plant.” The soft foliage is dynamic with Japanese painted fern, silvery brunnera, or variegated hosta. Mix up shady combinations or try it in a container with annual ferns and ivy. Huggy Bear is subtle beauty on its own, but really shines in combinations. It does well in average to moist loamy soils.
Monarda bradburiana ‘Midnight Oil’
“At first, I selected ‘Midnight Oil’ for disease resistance,” commented Horvath. “Then I was taken with its chocolatey brown to purple foliage. Add light pink flowers with purple spots on a compact plant, and it’s really gorgeous.” At 18 inches, ‘Midnight Oil’ tucks easily into the middle of a border or bed, providing a dark foil for silvers, yellows, and pinks. It will have a deeper color in full sun, although tolerant of light shade. It’s happy in average to moist soils and will turn shades of burgundy in the fall. Pair it with silver and white for a cool, serene combination or add some sizzle with yellows and oranges. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bumblebees will seek out the tubular flowers while rabbits avoid the spicy foliage.
Penstemon digitalis ‘Pocahontas’
With upright habit, reddish-purple foliage, and a bevy of pinkish lavender flowers, ‘Pocahontas’ deserves a place in the garden. Our native P. digitalis thrives in clay soils and won’t melt in rich loam. Pocahontas is an outstanding selection. “It has that nice combination of the purple foliage and the pinky purple flower, plus bigger size compared to most in the trade,” observed Horvath. It will reach 3 to 4 feet, but can be shorter in heavier soils. Penstemon is a terrific bridge plant for perennial flower gardens due to its June bloom. Hummingbirds will seek it out and it’s lovely in a vase.
Solidago ‘Sugar Kisses’
A cross between upland white goldenrod and grass-leaved goldenrod, ‘Sugar Kisses’ features slender green leaves on an upright plant of 18 to 24 inches. “It has tremendous adaptability to soil types, but it stays upright and pretty in drier sites,” said Horvath. “It does really well in gravel gardens.” Showy white flowers with creamy centers are held in clusters, and it makes a wonderful cut flower. As with any goldenrod, it is a pollinator magnet as well as a larval host for a huge list of moths. Try it with echinacea, garden mums, and little bluestem for a layered late summer combination.
Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Queen of Diamonds’
“I selected this first for disease resistance,” reported Horvath. “Then was rewarded with bronze new growth in the spring that turns to a deeper green than the species. It has soft pink flowers and grows to about 4 feet tall, with a real nice presence in the winter garden. The foliage dries chocolatey-brown and its seed heads stand up all winter.”
Veronicastrum thrives in sunny, moist to wet situations, making it a candidate for rain gardens. Pollinators adore it and it blooms for weeks and weeks. Try it with sedges, iris, and queen of the prairie for a sequential flowering display.
Six Sensational Grasses Special Feature
Andropogon ‘Blackhawks’ – At 5 feet high and about 2 feet wide, this upright clumping selection is all about the purple. Bronzy-green foliage in spring becomes deep dark purple in September before layering in shades of red fall color.
Bouteloua ‘Honeycomb’ – When you’re tired of ‘Blonde Ambition’ petering out in our Midwest clay soils, ‘Honeycomb’ thrives and provides that unique seedhead that dances on every breeze. Weave its delicate texture into the front of the border where you can be charmed by light shining through it.
Panicum ‘Dust in the Wind’ – Upright, but a bit more open in habit than other switch grasses, ‘Dust in the Wind’ features olive green foliage with chalky bronze highlights. In late summer, clouds of red flowers appear before fall color deepens to purples and reds.
Scirpus ‘Stars and Stripes’ – A wetland bullrush, ‘Stars and Stripes’ dazzles with brilliant green and yellow variegated foliage. It resembles a sedge until it flowers with star-like clusters at the tips. At 18 to 24 inches, it’s a dynamic addition to the edges of ponds and sunny wet areas.
Schizachryrium ‘Little Red Fox’ – A charming upright little bluestem with wiry silvery stems and touches of red and purple in July and August. At 24 to 30 inches, it makes an interesting substitute for Karl Foerster with rich fall color of magentas and bronze.
Sporobolus ‘Golden Needles’ – We love prairie dropseed for its fine foliage and fragrant flowers. Now, Horvath has developed a golden foliage cultivar that stays yellow until July where it slowly becomes more chartreuse, bringing elegant texture to full sun sites.
Member Profile Snapshot
Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center
40 W. Higgins Road
South Barrington, IL 60010 (847) 428-6727
www.goebbertspumpkinfarm.com
by Meta L. Levin
Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center technically began in 1948 as a roadside vegetable stand in Arlington Heights, but its present incarnation started with a pumpkin sale.
In 1972 Jim Goebbert, son of the vegetable stand’s founder, George Goebbert, bought a 40-acre farm in South Barrington and moved his family there. The next year, he was working in the Arlington Heights location when he got an SOS from his children, who were selling pumpkins from a roadside stand next to the farm and were overwhelmed with customers.
Goebbert closed up and ran home to help. Seeing the potential, in 1979 he turned the property into a destination farm, erected a huge (18 feet wide and 15 feet tall) fiberglass pumpkin, known as “Happy Jack,” which now sits atop the silo and started an annual fall festival. By the early 1980s they were growing plants for sale to the public.
In 1985 he bought a 200-acre farm in Pingree Grove, IL.
They were already growing vegetable plants in greenhouses for their fields but started selling vegetable plants and then also annuals to the public.
Jim and Esther Goebbert’s two children, Lee and Lloyd and their wives eventually took over the operation. Lee and his wife, Diane, now own and run the garden center with their children, Kelly and Ben, while Lloyd and his wife, Terry, operate the Pingree Grove farm, where their son, Jacob, also works. Another son, James, has his own farming operation.
The center provides its customers with more than vegetables these days. It offers perennials and annuals, trees and shrubs, vegetables and herbs, indoor and outdoor plants, and pre-planted “grab and go” planters, as well as classes and workshops.
During the summer they add baked goods. The general store is stocked with specialty food products and gifts.
The fall festival, which, of course, features pumpkins, now includes cows, pigs, baby chicks, birds, some exotic animals and
even a giraffe. There are wagon rides, a magic show, pony rides, camel rides and even a haunted house. “The pumpkins turned it into a festival,” says Kelly Conner, who is Lee Goebbert’s daughter and has worked at the farm and center for most of her life.
Spring is workshop time, with everything from how to grow roses and container gardening to tea tasting. There’s even a “Little Fresh Veggie Garden.” “The classes are both educational and social,” says Conner. They began primarily because of interest from customers.
In Goebbert’s early days, they operated the farm and business with family and a handful of employees. Now there are 250 employees in season, primarily working in the retail facility.
Dan Linnemann is the company’s grower and has worked for Goebbert’s for more than 40 years. In addition, he is responsible for the plant and color combinations in the hanging baskets sold in the garden center.
Lee and Lloyd Goebbert’s sister, Luanne Smith and her family work in the garden center during peak times, doing set up, planting annuals and going where needed.
Conner serves as the finance manager, also doing office and administrative work. Ben Goebbert is the nursey and operations manager, growing perennials, as well as sourcing trees and shrubs.
IGIA members for a number of years, they believe it is important to stay up to date on the industry. “We know we have things to learn from others,” says Conner.
The Goebbert family is focused on the community and is proud to support the charities and events that are important to their employees, as well as sponsoring local events and selling local products, says Conner.
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sible for assisting the Site Superintendent in all areas of administration of the preserve. This includes but is not limited to, daily operational and maintenance tasks, natural resource management, short-term and long-term planning of capital projects and equipment needs, and supervision of staff and volunteers. This position requires creativity, strong plant knowledge, and will have the opportunity to guide the future of the Botanical Garden and robust trail system!
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Inspiration Alley
Editor’s Note: Over time, we run across a mountain of fun, innovative, and generally creative ideas. They don’t always fit with the magazine content, but we do collect them for some future use. This brings us to Inspiration Alley, a place where we display pure creativity. It’s up to you to judge the
of each offering. So use it, lose it or be inspired to try something different.
Pint-size Wonders
By Nina A. Koziol
Shade gardens are in their glory come spring with their bodacious bulbs topped by bulky blossoms. But when the giant ‘King Alfred’ and ‘Ice Follies’ finish blooming, their leaves can look ratty until huge hostas hide them. Consider planting these petite beauties, all under about 8 inches tall. By the time they finish, the foliage is hidden by their shady partners.
Tete-a-tete
Jetfire
Hawera
Thalia
Before You Go —
Lacebark Pine — Pinus bungeana
By Mark Dwyer
How often does the term “ornamental bark” come up in discussions with your landscape clients? Are they requesting the feature or are you promoting it? Hopefully the answer is BOTH! Consider adding the lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) to your “design quiver” for unbelievable ornamental bark featuring a mottling of many colors in a camouflage pattern (“sycamore-like”!) that only gets better over time! Hardy in zones 4-8 and native to northern and central China, this “three-needled” pine, when well positioned, can offer significant interest 365 days of the year!
I’ve recommended and observed specimens of Pinus bungeana do well in Wisconsin and enjoy seeing older specimens at The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. This pine is relatively slow-growing and while it can reach heights in excess of 50’ in its native range, I’ve seen them commonly reach 35’-40’ in our climate with layered branches forming a pyramidal crown that gets more rounded and broad-spreading with age. Most commonly found and planted as multi-trunked specimens, the best bark coloration comes with time and patience. Multiple trunks equates to more showy ornamental bark contributions, of course! Trunks and branches of this pine over 2” in diameter start to show the picturesque patchwork of white, olive green, red-brown and purple with mature specimens becoming mostly grey, white and silver. The selection ‘Silver Ghost’, introduced from the Dawes Arboretum (Newark, OH), shows the silvering quite early and is noticeably more upright. Three other upright varieties, although not easy to source, include ‘Great Wall’, ‘Temple Gem’ and ‘Rowe Arboretum’. There are quite
a few other varietal selections of lacebark pine including more compact forms on the market like ‘Compacta’, ‘Diamant’ and ‘Dwarf Fairway’.
Lacebark pine, while not considered particularly urban tolerant, will thrive ideally in welldrained situations and is drought tolerant once established. This pine tolerates our cold winters and hot summers and has few insect or disease problems while also deer resistant. I’ve planted and watched a specimen do well for 20+ years now. With the multi-trunked form being common for this species, damaging winds, snow and ice can become a factor and damage from severe storms is not uncommon. Sheltered locations from winter winds becomes ideal as does limbing up maturing specimens to reveal more bark and intensify the color patterns. The crown of this species is fairly open when compared to other common pine species in the landscape but the impact of that ornamental bark is the reason to recommend and plant lacebark pine.
In 2017, I encountered a massive Pinus bungeana on the Iowa State University (Ames, IA) campus. I could see the mottled, silvery bark from a great distance on this 50’ tall (and wide!) specimen which drew me over like a magnet on a February day. The underutilized lacebark pine has the potential to really become a focal point in the garden with the increasingly impactful contribution of ornamental bark.
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