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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 66, Number 1. 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
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
iLandscape — Gardens of the World Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL
February 13, 2025
Young Professionals Event
Mickey Finn’s Brewery Libertyville, IL
February 18, 2025
Spring Training for Landscape Professionals
Stoneleaf Nursery Eureka, IL
January will be the final month this organization is known as the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. ILCA will debut our new name and brand on the first day of the iLandscape tradeshow on February 26, 2025. We hope you will be there to see it, be part of it, and celebrate this historic change.
I will spare everyone the speculation. I am not going to reveal the new name in this column. I did not surreptitiously bury the new name in the first letter of each paragraph. There is no Zodiac cypher hidden in this text that can be cracked in order to reveal our new identity. We all just have to patiently wait a few more weeks for the name to be revealed.
Many people may not know this, but this is not the first time the ILCA has changed its name. The organization was originally founded as the Chicago Metropolitan Landscape Contractors Association all the way back in 1959. In the early 1960s, because of a growing membership base outside of the Chicago Metropolitan area, the name was changed by the Board of Directors and the ILCA moniker was born.
It is fair to question, why, after 6 decades, is the ILCA considering this massive change to our brand? There is both a long answer and a short answer to that question. Let’s start with the long answer.
From Where I Stand — Brand.
On top of the voting members, Statewide Director of Development Kellie Schmidt, Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler, Editor-in-Chief of The Landscape Contractor magazine Rick Reuland, and I were added to provide additional support. Over the course of the next six months, the task force met to determine if a name change was necessary and vet new names if appropriate.
New.
With the unification between ILCA and the Illinois Green Industry Association in 2023, the two Boards signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU was a good faith agreement to make sure that both sides were accountable to combining two groups with over 150 years of history. Over the course of a year, item after item was crossed off the MOU as the two organizations aligned resources under the name of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.
IGIA committees, staff, and assets were brought over to buoy the growing organization. The state was carved into regions to better service our growing statewide network of professionals. Existing IGIA programs were augmented by ILCA’s marketing reach and Spring Training and InVigorateU experienced record attendance in 2024. New programs were launched including Women’s Networking chapters, a statewide pruning class, irrigation training, and many more programs on the way.
One item still remained on the MOU that read: Name Change: A taskforce of five members will evaluate costs, benefits, and options for a name change and make recommendations to the board of directors. This effort will begin no later than July 1, 2024.
As we are an organization of our word, we got to work. Now, the MOU did not say a name change had to happen. It simply said that a small, nimble task force would discuss the concept and determine the costs, benefits, and potential options. If a name change and rebrand was more trouble than it was worth, we’d call the whole thing off.
In November 2023, a task force was assembled that consisted of longtime ILCA and IGIA members, ILCA Board members, and ILCA Past Presidents. As the task force was put together, it became clear that having more than five members was essential to accurately capture the diversity of this organization. Jennifer Fick of Wilson Nurseries was asked to lead the Task Force. Jennifer is a past ILCA Board member, has a marketing background, and just helped Wilson Nurseries through a rebrand of their own.
After a few brainstorming meetings, and an analysis of dozens of concepts, the Task Force unanimously (and miraculously) arrived at a name. In April, the Task Force wrote a letter to the Board of Directors with their recommendation. The Board discussed the change over the course of two meetings and in June the Board of Directors formally voted to pursue the name change.
That is the long answer.
The short answer is that this organization has outgrown our current name. This outgrowth ended with the unification between the IGIA and ILCA, but it started almost a decade earlier when we welcomed lawn care professionals, freelance landscape designers, sustainable and ecological landscape professionals, and irrigation specialists into the fold. Our arms have only opened wider with the IGIA as we embraced growers, retail garden centers, and statewide landscape professionals.
Our legislative agenda has swelled to defend and advance lawn care, snow and ice management, water conservation, ornamental growing, mosquito abatement, retail garden centers, pesticides and fertilizers, and dozens of other issues that are sacred to the list of industry segments represented by ILCA outside of landscape contractors.
Our educational programs and committee structures have grown too. In the past 10 years, we have added a Turf Committee, Irrigation Committee, Spring Training Committee for the Bloomington-Normal area, two chapters of the Women’s Networking Group, and our Committee of the Year - the InVigorateU Committee. We have added Board members from Bloomington and Mazon. We have widened our bylaws to allow for supplier members to become officers.
We are still the largest statewide trade association for landscape contractors. It is just that we have become the largest statewide trade association for every other landscape industry segment, as well. That is as exciting as it is daunting.
I left a little part of the long story out. Before we organized a task force and gave them authority, the ILCA Board felt it would be wise to run a name change past an extremely important and influential group within our membership - the ILCA Past Presidents.
Weeks before the Task Force decided on a new name, we held our annual Past Presidents dinner at The Capital Grille in Oak Brook. 20 Past Presidents and the Executive Committee of the ILCA attended the private dinner. After a round of drinks, President Ashley Marrin rose from her chair and addressed the Past Presidents. She told them our desire and plan to consider a name, brand, logo, and identity change.
The men and women in that room represented five decades of service in the name of the ILCA. The Executive Committee braced for pushback. As we went around the table, one by one, the leaders of this organization spoke to who we had been, who we are, and where we want to go. The longer the Past Presidents talked, the more they agreed that a name change was not only obvious, but necessary. Past President Joe Hobson said, “Don’t change the name just to change it, but if we must change it, we shouldn’t look back.” Once we had the
buy-in from our Past Presidents, a marketing firm was hired and we got to work.
Some companies change their name because they want to grow into something. Those same organizations find out that actions, not names grow organizations. Twitter famously rebranded as X in July of 2023. New owner Elon Musk wanted Twitter to be dark and edgy, when in reality, it was the same hellscape of hot takes and amateur comedians trying to be clever about current events. In 2009, Pizza Hut rebranded as “The Hut” in an attempt to show consumers they were about more than pizza. They quickly re-re-branded back to Pizza Hut because no one thinks of salads and continental Italian cuisine when they think of Pizza Hut, they think of pizza. Also, Jabba is the one, true Hutt.
Other brands burst out of their original names. Goodfellow’s Dry Goods became Target. BackRub became Google. Brad’s Drink became PepsiCo which then became Yum as it took on fast food. Sound of Music became Best Buy. Blue Ribbon Sports became Nike. There was nothing wrong with the small, quaint, original names, it is just that these brands had outgrown them. The new brands had momentum and vision and the current name was punching below its weight. The same thing happened when the Chicago Metropolitan Landscape Contractors Association became the ILCA.
This dynamic organization keeps growing like a balloon in a box. The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association name was the right size box for many years. As we continue to expand, we either squeeze into our current name and brand identity or we find a new box. A new box that will make it easier to explain to our diverse industry segments why they should be part of this amazing organization once named exclusively for landscape contractors. We have accepted the awesome responsibility to become the statewide organization in Illinois that supports the landscape profession. We need a name that reflects that purpose, mission, and courage.
It’s ok if you still say ILCA for a few more years. Heck, I’ll still accept “ILK-a” even if it makes staff squirm a little. It is going to take a long time for the brain to rewire itself to the new brand. It took about ten years for people to stop saying “MidAm.” I, myself, will probably still say ILCA in the heat of the moment. I love this organization and the professionals who make it hum. The ILCA is the only brand I have known for the past 15 years.
The Board of Directors are excited. The staff is excited. Rick Reuland, the Editor-in-Chief of this magazine is excited. The Name Change Task Force is excited. The Past Presidents are excited. The Membership Committee — who will spearhead the brand launch at iLandscape are excited. The only group left to get hyped is the profession we wish to serve.
So many people have worked so hard to get the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association to this moment. Seeing this fearless organization evolve allows me to take comfort in the words of Confucius, “The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name.”
Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com
Mark Utendorf
Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com
Aaron Zych
ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com
President’s Message —
It’s the time of year when we bring those closest to us together. We share laughter, stories, memories and aspirations for the new year. We find our people because they help us reflect and appreciate all we have accomplished, while looking ahead optimistically to what’s next. We seek a sense of community, sharing, and gratitude. As members of the ILCA, we have found our people, our community. A sense of belonging, being seen and heard, is so powerful. Sometimes we feel that sense of belonging in big ways, like the boisterous, exuberant layers of conversations with colleagues at the recent ILCA Annual Party or the excitement of the first day of iLandscape. Other times, we find that sense of belonging in quiet, supportive ways like the recent Women’s Networking Group LIFT two-day summit or our Mentorship Program.
I continue to be struck by our ILCA community’s willingness to share. At InVigorateU’s and the Impact Conference’s roundtable discussions, competitors share insights and experience. We have a cadre of industry experts willing to teach classes and workshops. Our member companies are willing to send their team members to industry events for professional development, networking, and product knowledge. Our community is also generous with their time. We have more committees with more volunteers than any other landscape association I know. Our committees have a significant influence on, and a voice in, the future of our association.
Even as we continue to grow in number of members, (now more than 1,000 members strong!), we grow in diversity of members as well. We welcome companies and individuals responsible for all aspects of the landscape industry’s success. We are vital. We are versatile. I couldn’t be prouder to lead the ILCA into its next chapter with all of you. Anytime you get a group of us ILCA members together, the energy is infectious. I cannot wait for our next events! See you there!
Warmly, Kim Hartmann
Es la época del año en la que reunimos a las personas más cercanas a nosotros. Compartimos risas, historias, recuerdos y aspiraciones para el nuevo año. Encontramos a nuestra gente porque nos ayudan a reflexionar y apreciar todo lo que hemos logrado, mientras miramos con optimismo lo que viene. Buscamos un sentido de comunidad, de compartir y de gratitud.
Como miembros de ILCA, hemos encontrado a nuestra gente, nuestra comunidad. El sentido de pertenencia, de ser visto y oído, es muy poderoso. A veces sentimos ese sentido de pertenencia en grandes formas, como las bulliciosas y exuberantes conversaciones con colegas en la reciente fiesta anual de ILCA o la emoción del primer día de iLandscape. Otras veces, encontramos ese sentido de pertenencia de maneras tranquilas y solidarias, como la reciente Conferencia de dos días Lift del Women’s Networking Group Lift o nuestro Programa de Mentoría.
Sigo sorprendiéndome por la voluntad de compartir de nuestra comunidad ILCA. En las mesas redondas de InVigorateU y de la Impact Conference, los competidores comparten conocimientos y experiencias. Contamos con un grupo de expertos de la industria dispuestos a instruir clases y talleres. Los miembros de nuestras empresas están dispuestos a enviar a los miembros de su equipo a eventos de la industria para desarrollarse profesionalmente, establecer contactos y conocer los productos. Nuestra comunidad también es generosa con su tiempo. Tenemos más comités con más voluntarios que cualquier otra asociación paisajística que conozco. Nuestros comités tienen una influencia significativa y una voz en el futuro de nuestra asociación. Incluso a medida que continuamos creciendo en número de miembros (¡ahora somos más de 1000 miembros!), también crecemos en diversidad de miembros. Damos la bienvenida a empresas e individuos responsables de todos los aspectos del éxito de la industria del paisaje. Somos vitales. Somos versátiles. No podría estar más orgullosa de liderar ILCA hacia su próximo capítulo con todos ustedes. Cada vez que reúnes a un grupo de miembros de ILCA, la energía es contagiosa. ¡No puedo esperar para nuestros próximos eventos! ¡Nos vemos allí!
www.ilca.net
Saludos Cordiales, Kim Hartmann
Kim Hartmann
Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc. • Naperville
Elegant Oasis
Setting foot on this Elegant Oasis leaves you wishing it was your own. Mature trees and elegant planting beds filled with Japanese Maple trees, hydrangeas, roses, boxwoods, and gorgeous perennials linger playfully as you make your way through the property.
Our client loves entertaining family and friends, but also needs time for relaxation as well. Close attention to detail is
expected from our weekly visits to their home. Our knowledgeable team of maintenance professionals weed, deadhead, edge and trim each week to ensure that this property is a site to behold for all who visit or pass by.
The stately lawn benefits from weekly mowing by our experienced crew. With a trained eye they work to detect any problems before they get started.
ILCA’s 2024 Person of the Year Steve Worth ILCA Awards & Honors —
A Salute to Steve Worth’s Career and Service to the Industry
by Nina A. Koziol
When Steve Worth received a call informing him that he was chosen for ILCA’s Person of the Year Award, he felt humbled. “It came at a very nice time for me and I’m very flattered.” The award is the icing on the cake for decades of work and volunteerism in the green industry. He retired as the Vice President of Sales at Kankakee Nursery in 2022, and the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. “The first year of retirement is unsettling. You never stop worrying, especially when your sons and your family are involved in the business.”
Beginnings
His family roots run long and deep. A century ago, when Steve’s grandfather Clyde Worth began running a nursery with a friend on 20 acres in Kankakee County, he could not possibly have imagined that his great grandsons would be operating Kankakee Nursery—a 2,700 acre business offering hundreds of varieties of woodies and more.
Steve’s father, Bob Worth, and his uncle Phil, greatly expanded the nursery in the 1950’s and 1960’s with poly-houses, irrigation and refrigerated storage. The business is so family-oriented that it was no surprise to anyone that Steve and his brother Dick would eventually join the team. “My brother and I got our heads together. We loved our dad and our uncle, and we appreciated the idea of being part of a family legacy.” They determined what skillsets and college degrees would work best for both of them. Dick’s degree was in ornamental horticulture and Steve’s degree was in business administration.
logistics. But there was also an emphasis on company culture. “There’s a mutual respect and a culture of decentralized control — we allow people to take on responsibility, treating them like you would want to be treated. And that came from past generations — giving “R and R” respect and responsibility that they’ve earned and deserved.”
Challenges
As any grower will tell you, the weather can be a huge obstacle, impacting the bottom line. “Spring can be too cold, too wet, too warm, and you have to adjust every year,” Steve explained. “You also have to look five years ahead. You stay with your plan and adjust it.” It’s all about consistency. “Most growers do not want to be reactive. You don’t want to create big swings in what you grow and how you grow it.”
It also helps to envision the future. “You want to be able to mitigate potential problems— look ahead by being involved in the industry. Paying attention— discovering the trends—and that’s where industry involvement is critical.”
All in the Family
Steve and his wife have five children and four grandchildren. He chose to retire, explaining,
Over the past four decades, Steve oversaw the transition of many nursery processes, including inventory management and
“It became clear that members of my generation needed to get out of the way. We are extremely fortunate to have members of the fourth generation in place and more than ready to take control.” He said he hopes he has been a mentor not only to his sons, but to the other three members of the next generation. When he ponders his own mentors, they include not only his father and uncle, but some long-time employees as well. His “wing man” was Luis Solis.
“He was a father figure to me. And, there were many
Hispanic members of our team who shared their knowledge, and demonstrated what it means to have a strong work ethic.”
Industry Connections
Along with their father, Dick and Steve served as past presidents of the Illinois Nurseryman Association/Illinois Green Industry Association. They’ve belonged to seven state-run green industry associations, the American Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.
“Steve was the IGIA President in my first year as Executive Director for the Illinois Green Industry Association and that was a huge blessing because he was the mentor I needed,” said Kellie Schmidt, ILCA’s Statewide Director of Development. “He’s a great listener who approaches difficult situations with an open mind, and values a diversity of perspectives. He listens carefully before offering counsel, typically with a touch of humor.”
Although having five children in seven years while expanding the family business didn’t leave a lot of time for outside activities, he made sure to attend Summer Field Day, trade shows and seminars. By the time he was 50, he became much more involved in industry association activities. He currently serves on the board of his county forest preserve district and works with a local community theater.
Although his degree from Bradley University honed his business skills, we wondered if he has a favorite tree from the nursery’s huge inventory. “My dad would say it’s the one that’s paid for and on the truck. And then you realize that that’s what is helping feed the 80-plus families you’re responsible for.” But when he takes off his business hat, some of his favorites include bald cypress, red oaks, and sugar maples. “You can have an appreciation for all of them, but look at them as a product. You can’t get too emotional.”
Kankakee Nursery hosted the Horticultural Occupational and Professional Experience (HOPE) program in 2018. “Thanks to Steve’s relationships and years of outreach, we had many participants from the local high school,” Schmidt said. “For many years, Steve led an effort where Northern Illinois nurseries donated trees for planting at the Illinois State Fair. Kankakee Nursery provided the transportation for the material to Springfield to help replace the dead ash
trees.” Countless families and fair-goers will enjoy the shade cast by those trees for many decades to come.
When the Illinois Invasive Species Council was relaunched in 2021, Steve didn’t hesitate to represent the landscape industry on the council. “Steve agreed because he knew the importance of industry having a voice in the work,” Schmidt said. “When the council was looking to nominate leadership, one of the committee members suggested him for President. He served at a time when the council was in its infancy, didn’t have a framework, and took a lot of heavy lifting from its executive members. Steve brought patience and his ability to bring people from different backgrounds and experiences together, keeping them engaged and energized in the work. That takes a special style of leadership.”
Tom Kadolph, vice president and general manager at Cedar Path Nurseries in Lockport, has known Worth for about 40 years. “I was the buyer at Amlings and I was young. Steve is extremely smart, but he doesn’t let you know that. Early on, I’d talk with him and walk away with a ton of plant knowledge. I was buying for a garden center, which was fun, but we didn’t buy a massive quantity and he was super patient. He made me feel important and later I learned what the trends were from him.”
Nowadays, when Tom and Steve talk, it’s more about family and baseball. “We’re both ticket holders for the Cubs. For the first five minutes we talk about the game the night before,” Tom said with a chuckle. “Steve is a good listener and his biggest legacy are his sons. You look at his sons, John and Pete, and these two kids are exemplary.”
Future
What would Steve Worth be doing if he hadn’t pursued the family business? “I don’t know. I liked the outdoor aspect and working with my family, two of my sons and the other family members. I liked the seasonality and the downtime.” Now he spends at least once a week watching grandchildren who may become yet another generation to run the nursery in years to come. “I have many friends and many friendly competitors. I hope that never goes away and it’s pretty unique for our industry — it attracts decent, hard-working people.” Just like Steve.
ILCA Awards & Honors —
Distinguished Supplier of the Year Award
The Honor goes to:
Xylem Ltd./Rocks, Inc.
by Nina A. Koziol
Xylem, Ltd. has come a long way since Chuck Dornfeld and his father acquired the business in 1984. In the past 40 years, the company has grown from offering one product—bulk and bagged hardwood mulch — to an additional two businesses (Rocks, Etc. and Golden Valley Landscapes) that offer a vast array of rocks and boulders, mulch, soil, manure and ice melt products, livestock bedding, biofilter chips, grass seed and more.
It’s no surprise that Xylem, Ltd./Rocks, Etc. was chosen this year for ILCA’s Distinguished Supplier of the Year Award. Dornfeld is quick to note that the company’s success is due to his customers. “We’re humbled by our customers and they’ve helped us to grow to where we are today.”
Mike Phelps, owner of Phelps Landscaping in Plainfield, Ill., has been a customer for more than 15 years, typically ordering double-ground hardwood mulch every week. “I called them one day and they have kept me supplied ever since. They have a great product and good consistency. And, Debbie Olszewski in the Channahon office is great — she checks in regularly, which is good because I’m so busy and it’s easy to forget things.”
Beginnings
cial construction in 1991 and I bought the assets from him,” Dornfeld said. The following year, his sales group suggested adding topsoil and rock to the product line. That’s when things really began to click.
“In 1994, I saw a need to understand the bagged rock business and we bought the assets of a rock company and started Rocks, Etc. We had our own sales group within and sold to True Value stores, Ace Hardware and garden centers.” When he discovered that the margins were so slim with big box stores, the company instead focused on landscape contractors and garden center businesses.
Lisa Kull of Kull Scape in East Peoria, Ill., has been with Xylem for 24 years. “We were doing landscaping and in 2001 we opened a retail garden center. I called them and they were super good to work with. They’ve always been helpful, very loyal, treated me right, and they take care of any problems right away. I trust them when we’re not here. A lot of times they’ve already unloaded at the garden center before 6:30 a.m.”
Challenges
Growing the company, adding locations and more staff, is time and labor intensive and comes with its own problems. “Sales drives everything and you have to have the balance — time to support it — and the people, they are the number one thing,” Dornfeld said. “Things are held back without having the right people to do the right job.”
Forty years ago, the company had two locations — one in Cordova, Illinois, and one in Winona, Minnesota. Although Dornfeld and his father closed the Minnesota site, the company added several locations that ship throughout the state and into the midwest. “My dad decided to go into commer-
There’s also the matter of financing. “The balance between having enough money to fund everything — the banking — is an important part of it,” Dornfeld explained. “We view the bank as no different than having mulch or rock — the bank is a product. You have to make sure your sales don’t outstrip the
money you have to buy everything you need.”
When Dornfeld launched Rocks, Etc., 30 years ago there were two competitors that focused on selling to big box stores. “Our gravitation was to the garden center side. As those stone products continued to grow, we added a bagged line. The other two firms are no longer here so that leaves us in the front with the biggest product line in the Chicago area.”
Rocks, Etc., offers about 60 different items at its Romeoville location. “All the rock products come in finished,” Dornfeld explained. “The mulch, whether it comes on a barge or from a saw mill, must be ground and graded. Our grades of mulches are different from our competitors— it’s the way we grind it and the way we age it.”
Mulch is carefully screened at the Channahon location. “Others don’t normally get mulch to the size we do. When we color it and put 3 1/2 pounds of color on per yard, we feel we have the best colored mulch in Chicagoland.”
Good Vibes
ily company and I think everyone here cares about each other and works hard. They know they’re not a number and they’re part of what happens in a positive way. I have a sports background and this really fits with how I’d coach my team and staff and that’s the best part about it. We strive for customer service and quality from the truck drivers and sales staff to the gentlemen loading the truck. Our customer service is top touch.”
Many of the 50 or so employees have been with the company for more than a decade. Katrina House started as a summer temp doing accounts payable in 2001. “I was asked to stay and then I worked here through grad school while coaching college basketball. I later became the office manager, and in 2008 I became the general manager.”
She knows the secret to career longevity. “It’s a fam-
With 40 years of business experience under his belt, Dornfeld knows what he likes best.
“I enjoy going to start something new, getting the right people in place, and then handing it off to people in each location— and people who fit our needs, like Katrina who has been here 24 years and is general manager of all the companies.”
The company culture has had a positive impact on customers. Kull said she is not about to change suppliers. “I love them— Nikki, Cheryl, Katrina and the others. I’ve had competitors say, ‘Switch and I can beat their prices’, but I’m not interested because they’ve provided such great service.”
That great service and sought-after products are not about to change. “We have three companies that are all separate but are run together as one,” House said. “Every employee and every customer has value and is so important to making the companies successful. I love how we all work together for the same goal.” Here’s to another four decades of success.
A bustling hub of landscape building materials
ILCA Awards & Honors —
College Scholarship Winners!
Tony Escamilla Elgin, IL
$10,000 Scholarship College Of DuPage
The Hinsdale Nurseries Scholarship
Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc.
Danielle Hewitt Mundelein, IL
$5,000 Scholarship
Purdue University - Lafayette
James Martin
Family Scholarship
James Martin Associates, Inc.
Lauren Carlson Byron, IL
$5,000 Scholarship University of WisconsinPlatteville
Denny R. Church
Memorial Scholarship
The Church Family and organized by Bruce Church of Balanced Environments
Thomas Skibbie Glendale Heights, IL
$5,000 Scholarship College of DuPage
The Pizzo Group Scholarship for Ecosystem Restoration in Honor of Grace Koehler
The Pizzo Group
Camille Bowman Oak Park, IL
$2,500 Scholarship College of DuPage
Moore Landscape, Inc. Scholarship Moore Landscapes, Inc.
Francisco Garcia Elgin, IL
$2,500 Scholarship College of DuPage, Valley City State University
Corey D’Ancona Scholarship Bertog Landscape Co.
Sarah Stevens Hanna City, IL
$2,500 Scholarship Illinois State University
Mariani Landscape Scholarship Mariani Landscape
The Illinois Landscape Contractors Education and Charitable Organization (ILCECO) was established to create a perpetual fund for ILCA’s annual scholarships. The ILCECO mission statement is “To promote higher education in horticulture and green industry-related courses by funding an endowment.”
Each year, the ILCECO Board of Directors determines the number of scholarships and amounts awarded out of the fund that was established.
High School Scholarship Winners!
Elizabeth Corrie Rushville, IL
Rushville-Industry High School
$1,000 Scholarship
Pedersen Company Scholarship Pedersen Company
Larinda Frushour Hawthorn Woods, IL
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
$1,000 Scholarship
Leo and Kimberly Kelly Scholarship Kellygreen Design, Inc.
Gwendolyn Happ Homer, IL
Heritage High School
$1,000 Scholarship
The Theodore Brickman, Jr. Scholarship Brightview Landscapes
Esteban Jesus Hernandez Wheaton, IL
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
$1,000 Scholarship
Landscape Concepts Management, Inc. Scholarship
Landscape Concepts Management, Inc.
Trenton Payne Olney, IL
Richland County High School
$1,000 Scholarship
Scott Byron & Co., Inc. Scholarship Scott Byron & Co., Inc.
Special Feature — iLandscape Preview
Food, Drink and Fun
by Meta Levin
Question: What do an Oompa band, a Japanese garden and native plants have in common?
Answer: iLandscape 2025, “Gardens of the World” It’s going to be a multinational, multicultural, educational and fun iLandscape. With a German beer garden, gardens and speakers from Japan, the United Kingdom, Mexico and the United States. Even the gnomes are back, hiding in plain sight throughout the show floors.
“This has been a banner year for the committees working together on a theme,” says Chris Walsh, Director of Michigan Operations for Topiarius and coordinator of the garden committee for iLandscape 2025.
Work Hard, Play Hard
After a day of networking, learning and looking at what’s new and different on the show floor, attendees can relax during Wednesday evening’s German Fest, where they will be serenaded by Jimmy’s Bavarians, drink some beer and snack on German themed food.
Of course, says iLandscape 2025 Experience Committee chair Rachelle Lurvey-Eifert, there will be giveaways and contests and everything will be easily accessible to attendees. “We’ll have something to offer for everyone,” she says.
“There will be a different experience each night.”
On Thursday, attendees are invited to party around the world in the French garden with a global theme, featuring music, beer, small bites and a trivia game with prizes.
The gnomes are back by popular demand. “We didn’t do them last year and people asked about them,” says Eifert. There will be $1,400 in cash prizes for finding them.
“We try to do something at a reasonable cost,” she says. The volunteers work to ensure those taking the educational offerings are comfortable and that there are enough places to park.
“The goal is to make as many people as happy as possible.”
(continued on page 18)
Special Feature — iLandscape Preview
(continued from page 16)
Food, Drinks and Fun
All Day
iLandscape is a popular show. So popular, that, once again, there are, as there have been for years, vendors on a wait list for space in the two expo areas.
Daytime entertainment will include a magician, a caricature artist and a henna artist. “There’s more,” says Eifert, “but I don’t want to ruin any surprises.”
As of this writing the committee was still working with the venue to provide a variety of food offerings in convenient places, because those at the conference usually have a limited amount of time. There will be cafes and pop-up food stands. Eifert and her committee want to make sure that cafés, bars and other places are appropriately staffed.
On Friday the Experience Committee is hoping to encourage high schools and colleges with horticulture programs to visit as a field trip. “Friday is about presenting the green industry as an option for them,” says Eifert. To that end, the student design awards will be presented on the main stage.
Raffles
Raffles, which have become the popular way to end each day of iLandscape, once again will return with a Vespa scooter as the grand prize. Other prizes include elements from the Gardens of the World, airline gift cards and cash.
Attendees must be present to win. To that end, volunteers will not start scanning badges until the afternoon.
The App
Once again everything will be on the Whova Event and Conference app. “We’ve tried to make it easy for people to find and install on their mobile phones,” says Eifert. The committee looked at what kinds of material should be posted, asking themselves if there is information that attendees want to see.
There was a lot in the app that grew up organically. Now, however, the committee is looking at how it is used, monitoring content and intentionally using it to promote the show. “Whova extends the life of the show,” says Eifert. “People look for exhibitors on it after iLandscape ends.”
In addition, ILCA membership and marketing manager Marissa Stubler, has worked with the committee to increase iLandscape’s social media presence, something that will make it more enticing to exhibitors, as well as attendees. “This provides a virtual presence for people who are unable to come, says Eifert.
Even after the show, technology will help extend it. Education sessions will be available online on Bloom, ILCA’s comprehensive video library, and attendees will have free access for a period of time after the show. “This adds value,” says Eifert.
Premier Show
Looking at the data from previous shows, Eifert says attendees report using iLandscape to catch up with customers, network, look at what is new in the industry and create new contacts, all of which warms the volunteers’ hearts.
“We believe we are the premier show in the Midwest,” says Eifert. “Looking at the quality of the exhibitors and the quality of the educational opportunities encapsulated all in one venue, all under one roof.”
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PreShow Workshops
BONUS! Register for any workshop and receive a complimentary, three day education pass!
Bold, Wild & In Between: Examining Strategic
Approaches to Dynamic Landscape Design
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 8:00am-11:30am
Instructed by: Pat Cullina, Patrick Cullina
Horticultural Design + Consulting
This extended workshop will examine competing approaches to designing, installing, and maintaining dynamic landscapes through a review of ecological inspirations, established design precedents, and plant library images — and includes a hands on design practicum component.
Strengths-Based Performance Workshop
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 12:00pm-3:30pm
Instructed by: Neal Glatt, GrowTheBench
Succeeding in business today is harder than ever, but the secret to high performance in any environment is discovering what we each do best and leveraging it everyday. In this workshop, you’ll learn your unique talents and how they can be applied for success in your role at work, on your team, and everywhere else. Neal Glatt will draw on his experiences as a commercial contractor and Gallup-certified Strengths Coach to guide you through interactive activities to discover what makes you unique. You’ll leave with an action plan that will result in more positive, creative, and innovative moments at work enabling higher levels of achievement and increased team dynamics. This workshop is essential for leaders, managers, salespeople, and high-potential employees at all levels. Attendees will learn and receive:
Workshop Pricing (Education Pass Included)
Member Rate: $250 Non-Member Rate: $375
Tuesday February 25
The Science of Strengths-Based Performance Management
• A Personalized Report of Your Unique Strengths
• An Action Plan for Success in Your Role at Work
• A Framework for Increased Team Dynamics and Collaboration
• A Higher Understanding of Yourself and Others
• A 45-minute online assessment (included in your registration cost) should be completed at least one week prior to the workshop to receive all the materials included. Upon registration, you will be sent a link with instructions to take the assessment.
Dipping Your Toes into 3D Design: Unlocking the Power of Visualization
Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm-3:30pm
Ready to take your designs to the next level without the steep learning curve of complex software? This hands-on workshop is your perfect introduction to the exciting world of 3D design- using a user-friendly, low-cost tool that’s easy to master. Building on last year’s design workshop, we’ll dive into the 3D side, helping you create stunning visualizations that will wow your clients. Whether you’re new to 3D or looking to expand your skills, you’ll discover how this intuitive design software makes turning your ideas into realistic 3D models faster and easier than you ever imagined. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add a whole new layer of value to your services and make client presentations more impactful than ever!
Instructed by:
Ashley Marrin
Bailey Hoines Bret-Mar Landscape
WEDNESDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
8:00 AM -9:15 AM
Euphoria
The Social Impact Workshop: Creating Content That Matters
Julie Joyce, GreenID Marketing
This presentation will cover the essential strategies for creating social media content that resonates and drives results. Learn how to craft impactful posts on Instagram and other platforms while repurposing your best content for maximum exposure. Discover practical techniques to amplify your reach, optimize your distribution strategy and build a social media presence that truly matters. Additionally, learn how social is a top of the funnel marketing tool and how you can create a funnel from social to owned media (collecting emails and leads).
Nirvana BC
Utopia CD Client-Centered Marketing: Using Your Ideal Client to Build Your Strategy
Mardi Dover, MardiDover.com
It’s All Relative: A Familial Approach to Plant Selection for Dynamic Landscapes
Pat Cullina, Patrick Cullina Horticultural Design + Consulting
With a vast world of plants to choose from, how does one narrow the field to make choices that will lead to successful outcomes? This session will examine one potential approach to plant selection — considering related plants within select plant families as a key to organizing choices for developing appealing landscapes that are diverse, durable, and resilient.
Utopia AB
Non-native Plant Heroes: An Ecological and Phenological Argument for Planting
Cultivars and Non-native Plants
David McKinney, Iowa Arboretum & Gardens
Are you in your element designing and installing beautiful landscapes, but the ins and outs of marketing your landscape company is a mystery? Effective marketing does not have to be hard - don’t waste time and money on efforts that attract the wrong clients and projects. In this presentation, learn how to confidently translate information about your ideal client into your marketing strategies, to build a more profitable and enjoyable business.
9:45 AM -11:00 AM
Euphoria Celebrating Cemeteries: How
These Prairie Remnants Serve as a Diverse Sanctuary
David McKinney, Iowa Arboretum & Gardens
Join David as he takes you on a journey of Midwestern prairie remnants located in cemeteries. Learn about the unique and amazing plants that call these spaces home from rare and endangered species to well-known favorites. Then explore the potential these spaces have for conservation, ornamental horticulture, and future plant development. You will get to see pretty neat plants up close and also get tips on how to seek out and appreciate the forgotten world of cemetery prairie remnants.
Nirvana BC Glimmer and Wild Places: Creating Meaning in Our Outdoor Spaces
Virginia Burt, Virginia Burt Designs Inc.
Have you ever gotten into a discussion about the “goodness” or “badness” of a non-native plant? How about a lecture on why native only landscapes are the only correct direction for horticulture to go? David will take you on a discussion of nonnative plants and their positive impact on the world around them from an ecological perspective. Learn about how non-native plants may help us save pollinators and how they help hold over populations of diverse wildlife. Finally, you will walk away with some talking points that may make it easier to communicate that non-native plants are here to stay and that they may have an important role in the future of ecology.
As people, as designers, we are all on a journey to find the secret to creating meaning for ourselves, for our clients, for our community. At Virginia Burt Designs, we strive to create a holistic experience of outdoor spaces that can change one from the inside – wilding and re-wilding, glimmer and yutori. The greatest successes of landscape begin at home, more than beauty or sustainability or accessibility alone. While so many expansive gardens and public spaces get all the glory, it’s a love of our own spaces, our own back garden or balcony, that is impetus to inspire and support spaces publicly. Be prepared to be surprised, to develop connection, and add small miraculous moments that enchant.
WEDNESDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
Utopia AB UK Inspired Gardens
Karl Gercens, Longwood Gardens
It’s many a gardener’s dream to explore the 2,000+ gardens available to visit in the British Isles. It seems that every plant known to man and every style of design has been incorporated into the landscapes there. It’s no wonder that heaps of inspiration can be taken from visits to England, Scotland and Wales. Europeans are fascinated with our North American native plants, so let’s see how they’re using them alongside all the “exotic” plants which make for a multilayered design. We’ll explore meadows to manicured borders and have a look at what hedges and edges can do to enhance what you already have. Color, texture and form are represented in every plant, no matter if it can grow in your garden or not. We explore the importance of these design aspects when making your landscape pop!
Utopia CD
Nirvana A Site Analysis Tools & Technologies: Build Efficiency with Technology
Joseph Hanauer, Landscape Architecture, LLC, with Wordly App translation available (in Spaninsh)
This session will show how to use multiple technologies to collect information and then how to use a CAD program such as Vectorworks to synthesize the data, communicate ideas to customers, and increase construction efficiency. Attendees will learn how the integration of complementary technologies (GPS Surveyor, GIS, LiDAR) can aid in the collection of site data. Save time site surveying, creating base information, and increasing the accuracy of design projects. Joe will share advantages of accurate information in the design process that will allow for more accurate estimates and improve crew efficiency.
Panel: Managing the Message with Native Plants
Panelists: Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba Center; Pat Cullina, Patrick Cullina Horticultural Design + Consulting; Scott Beuerlein, Cincinnati Zoo
Moderator: Claudio Vazquez, Izel Native Plants
This panel will tackle tricky topics related to native plants, including: Have we oversold natives in a way that has tarnished them? How a “Backlash” on native plants affects members of the landscape industry. How to define “right plant, right place.” This phrase has meaning at different scales and with different contexts and might not mean what you think it means. With native plants, we need to set our audience up for success. It’s not enough to sell them with a too-rosy picture of what native plants can do or how they’re different from non-natives. It’s in our interest to help them be successful
1:00 PM -1:50 PM
Euphoria
Inspirations from Germany - Enhancing the Horticultural Plant Palette in Naturalistic Planting Design
Cassian Schmidt, Hochschule GEISENHEIM University
Nirvana BC
Art of Setting Stone, Japanese Stone Placement
Virginia Burt, Virginia Burt Designs Inc.
The magic of a Japanese Garden is renowned for its beauty, mindfulness and symbolism. Imagine the challenge of creating one in a northern climate – with deeper winter temperatures and less humid summers. When the City of Burlington, Ontario decided to create a Japanese inspired garden in honor of Burlington‘s 30th anniversary of partnering with the City of Itabashi in Japan – a challenge was placed. How to take an existing small garden space behind a community center and transform it into a Japanese inspired garden that honors a centuries old tradition of garden making. To place rock and boulders as if ancient glaciers and Mother Nature placed them is an art form in Japan. The 11th-century guide to making Japanese gardens, the Sakuteiki, defined the way rocks and stones were to be placed. The Sakuteiki was written in a time when placing stones was the most important part of gardening in Japan. Stone literally defined the art of garden making, ishi wo tateru koto (build up with stone).
Utopia AB Knockout Natives
Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba Center
Cassian’s over 25 years of research at Hermannshof trial gardens includes plant ecology and performance and the coexistence of plants in designed plant communities. In his lecture, Cassian will identify and explore some of the most valuable natural reference plant communities that have great potential to be used as an ecological palette for resilient planting designs. New grasses and perennials have been tested to survive the harsh environment of traffic islands and low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plantings in public parks. In his formulaic mixed perennial plantings Cassian combines the values of a tested resilient plant palette, originating from European, Central Asian and North American grassland vegetation. What are the ecological, climatic and aesthetical factors that shape those natural plant communities and how they can be applied and modified to an urban context? What are the limitations regarding maintenance skills and what grade of dynamism should be allowed in those naturalistic planting types?
Join Sam Hoadley, the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center, as he highlights knockout native species and cultivars from our trials. Top performers and favorites of Monarda, Phlox, Echinacea, wild hydrangea, Carex, Amsonia, and Vernonia represent some of the best native plants for the mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Sam will discuss their horticultural and ecological performance and will share important information on standouts that will make beautiful additions to your garden.
WEDNESDAY EDUCATION
SESSIONS
Utopia CD How to Sell, Design, and Not be Onsite
Mark McGough, Riverstone Brick & Stone
This session will focus on how to effectively communicate project details without being onsite everyday. The presentation will include steps to help the sales and design team sell more and stay out of production. Attendees will also learn how to put virtual and physical job packets together and take the steps from 3d design to reality.
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM
Euphoria
Creating Gardens Inspired by Mediterranean Landscapes
James Bassan, Scape Design
Utopia AB Proven Perennials
Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanic Garden
*Streaming live from France* Description coming soon!
Nirvana A A Day in the Life of an ArboristIdentifying Preventable Tree Issues
Aaron Schulz, Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal LLC, with Wordly App translation available (in Spanish)
Trees are valuable assets designed to survive for decades to centuries, depending on species. However, not everything goes according to plan due to human error. This session will look at preventable tree issues observed by a Consulting Arborist and how to mitigate them, beginning in the nursery. Topics covered include: structural pruning, species & site selection, planting practices, and field identification of manageable tree issues.
Nirvana BC
Employee Appreciation
Neal Glatt, GrowTheBench
Everyone wants to feel appreciated for their efforts, yet managers are frequently finding themselves managing teams that are dealing with high stress, tight budgets, complaining, or general negativity. These issues lead to low morale, sub-par performance, and increased turnover that threatens organizational success and make work generally not a fun place to be. The solution to motivating employees is to help them feel authentically appreciated. In this session, attendees will: discuss how to overcome negative workplaces and build authentic connections; discover the tools and resources to authentically motivate their team; learn the five ways in which people prefer to be appreciated.
New is important—as gardeners, it is what excites us and makes us drool over nursery catalogs and gardening magazines every winter. Unfortunately, being new does not necessarily mean good. Richard Hawke has spent his career trialing plants—many new plants are tested every year at the Chicago Botanic Garden for their overall performance. Do they have good habits? Do they get diseases easily? Do they come back reliably after a harsh winter? Richard will share information on perennials that have proven to be beautiful, reliable, and hardy in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s evaluation trials.
Utopia CD
Bringing it Home: A World of Garden Travel Inspiration
Karl Gercens, Longwood Gardens
Have you ever wondered what it takes to create the world-renowned conservatory displays at Longwood Gardens? Karl Gercens has been involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of Longwood’s glasshouse wonders for half his life. With over 30 countries and 3,000+ gardens visited, he has seen some of the best components of what makes a great garden. Join Karl as he shares his most exciting floral finds and marvel at the end results at Longwood’s Grand Conservatory. Hear how Karl juggles his schedule, be inspired and pick up tips on maximizing your time and cash to get out and enjoy a few of these places yourself!
Program as of Dec. 20, 2024—
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
THURSDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
Euphoria Designing Gardens for Children
Karen Midden, Southern Illinois University
Gardens are where children’s imaginations engage nature and the result is joyful learning and fostering a mentally and physically healthy child. Gardening helps children develop an appreciation for the natural world and build the foundation for environmental stewardship. Gardens need not be large scale and high intensity to engage curious minds. This presentation will discuss gardening with children and garden design from the perspective of two early childhood educators and a landscape architect based on their experiences which led to two editions of “Gardening with Young Children”. Get an insight of how gardens are used as part of curriculum, play and exploration and how to facilitate a garden design that will serve the goals of your client while keeping maintenance in mind. The landscape industry has rewarding opportunities to help connect young people with plants. We are all big kids in gardens – share the joy!
Nirvana A Creating a Culture of Caring Through Safety
Scott
Jamieson, Bartlett Tree Experts
Safety is the most important aspect of how we care for teammates in our profession. Safety isn’t just about following rules and regulations, it is about how to recognize and reduce exposures. How leaders treat others has a direct impact on safety within an organization. Building a culture of safety helps build a culture of caring.
Nirvana BC
Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP): Engineering Solution for Stormwater Management
Jeff Taphouse, Techo-Bloc
As populations in cities grow, natural ground cover is being replaced with impervious surface cover and this in turn is causing an increase in stormwater runoff. The need to successfully manage and mitigate the harmful effects of stormwater runoff is becoming clear. This session discusses how permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) offers solutions for stormwater management including mitigating runoff volumes, decreasing peak flow, reducing flooding potential, and decreasing stream bank erosion. This presentation also examines pavement components, design considerations, and pavement maintenance.
Utopia AB On the Straight and Narrow: Choices for Tight Spaces
Jason Reeves, University of Tennessee Gardens - Jackson
Whether your garden is in a zero lot line neighborhood, or a sprawling country estate, the odds are you have a space where a straight and narrow plant is desirable. Your options are to either choose plants that are correct for the space, or force ones that are not into submission. Living walls have become popular options for these spaces in recent years, they can be costly and high-maintenance; there is a better option for long-term success. Many new cultivars of favorite species have come on the market in recent years that can fill that void in the garden. By using slender trees and shrubs, as well as vines, you can add excitement to an otherwise challenging space.
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Euphoria Cannabis: The New Tomato C.L. Fornari, TheGardenLady.com
It’s the plant that many customers want to grow, and every year more states are making home Cannabis cultivation legal. This session is for Landscapers and IGC’s who want to assist these growers, while staying within their state guidelines and respecting the emotional responses from others. C.L. Fornari has been teaching outdoor Cannabis growing at Hyannis Country Garden, a family-owned IGC, for seven years, and she shares what she’s learned about creating educational or consultation programs around this plant. Discover what your customers need to know for success with Cannabis. Hear about the common problems home growers face and the products or practices for helping them. Learn how to serve home Cannabis growers while not upsetting those who still equate this plant with opioids. And hear how to navigate the tricky waters of helping customers grow the plant, without giving medical or recreational drug advice.
Nirvana A Planting Savings: How to Cultivate Lower Workers’ Compensation Costs
Griff MacDonald and Brian MacDonald, Connor and Gallagher Onesource
Join Griff MacDonald and Brian MacDonald, two seasoned commercial insurance brokers specializing in the landscaping industry, for an insightful session. This presentation is designed to equip business owners and safety managers with practical knowledge and actionable strategies to manage workers’ compensation costs effectively. Workers’ compensation is often the most significant expense within a landscaping company’s insurance program. Griff and Brian will break down the complexities of workers’ compensation insurance, exploring how proactive engagement in safety, claims management, and risk mitigation can help reduce premiums.
THURSDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
Nirvana BC
TLC
Series: Winterscaping: Beauty in the Quiet Season
Heather Prince, The Landscape Contractor Magazine
Here in the Midwest, winter can feel almost never ending. Creating four-season landscapes is never easy, but perhaps it is most challenging in winter when the color palette shrinks and the emphasis shifts to form over flower. This is an opportunity to consider plants for their architecture, their resilience to snow cover, and the simple pleasures of bark and berries. Be inspired by the possibilities of a beautiful structural winter landscape where snow and ice only emphasize the subtle grace of a garden at rest.
Utopia AB
Creating Sustainable Landscapes: Reading the Land for Stormwater Management
Vallari Talapatra, Ecoscapes
Description coming soon!
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM
Euphoria
clear, achievable expectations. This session emphasizes the importance of building a culture of accountability, where team members take ownership of their responsibilities and are motivated to meet their goals.
Nirvana BC Developments in Green Urban Thinking in The Netherlands – An Overview
Gert Fortgens, Trompenburg Gardens and Arboretum in Rotterdam
Our Future With Water: The Why, What and How of Storm Water Management
Trevor Smith, Weston Nurseries
Water simultaneously manages to be the stuff of mystery in our daily routine. We use it to cook with, wash our dishes, and brush our teeth, but very few can stand on the beach and not lose themselves watching the breakers roll in. In the face of climate change, water is becoming much more of an issue, we either have too much or too little and never when we really need it. Water bans, flooding, and erosion are common now and it feels as if this lifegiving resource has turned against us. Get reacquainted with water and learn simple methods to capture and reuse storm water or slow stormwater runoff.
Nirvana A
In a small country such as The Netherlands (half the size of Illinois with 18,000,000 residents), changes in land use as well as changes in climate create opportunities for other ways of planning a green environment. For example, how to deal with an increase of urbanization and a rapid loss of biodiversity requires a different approach of building, choices of trees and other plants, and creating green spaces in the urban environment. Gert will take you along to some of the recent developments in The Netherlands in the process of Green Urban Thinking.
Utopia AB
TLC Series: Building Beauty in the Heart of Chicago
Heather Prince, The Landscape Contractor Magazine
The Power of Delegation and Accountability: Unlock Your Team’s True Potential
Jeff Joutras, Step Forward Into Growth
In this transformative session, landscape contractors will delve into the pivotal role of delegation and accountability in elevating their business operations. By mastering the art of effective delegation, attendees will learn how to identify tasks that can be delegated, select the right team members for each task, and set
Go behind the scenes of a sublime rooftop garden in the heart of downtown Chicago. Heather Prince will lead a panel discussion of the challenges and rewards of creating a serene outdoor space for the offices at 225 W. Wacker Drive with the team at Intrinsic Landscaping, featuring Brian Barry, Business Development Manager and Lead Designer. Discover how meticulous planning and attention to detail allowed for almost seamless installation of premium materials. There are always surprises when installing a rooftop garden and this session will review the particular challenges of working in this unique space.
Utopia CD
Color Me Happy: Plants that Brighten Winter’s Gloom
Jason Reeves, University of Tennessee Gardens - Jackson, with Wordly App translation available (ins Spanish)
Even in the South, winter can seem like an eternity. Plants with winter interest can make gray days more bearable by adding a spark of color and life to an otherwise dormant landscape. There are so many underutilized plants on the market today that not only flower, but have interesting bark, great winter leaf color, and tantalizing textures. Not only do many of these beauties look good in the winter, they look great in the spring and summer, too! With some new additions to your landscape, your enjoyment will extend through all the seasons.
The Landscape Contractor
January 2025
THURSDAY & FRIDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM
Euphoria
Using Plant Phenology to Predict Pest Treatment Timing: Some Things Never Change
Aaron Schulz, Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal LLC
When treating trees and shrubs for insects, mites, or diseases, applicators must be precise in their timing so that control can be established. We commonly use growing degree days to predict vulnerable stages of insects, mites, and diseases, but with our climate shifting, growing degree days are not always a reliable source. What if a more predictable way to time treatments, such as plant growth stages, existed? Plant phenology uses cyclical biological events based on climatic conditions (bud swell, leaf development, flowering, fall color, etc) to coincide with insect, mite, and disease vulnerability. This session will explore the benefits of adding plant phenology to your treatment program so that you can reduce pest resurgence from the use of broad spectrum pesticides and deliver a more predictable outcome for your clients.
Nirvana A Gardening for Wildlife in an Era of Climate Change
Trevor Smith, Weston Nurseries
The evidence is clear: Climate change is here. The effects that scientists have long predicted are occurring and will only intensify in coming years. What does this mean for our native flora and fauna? And what can one homeowner really do to mitigate a global crisis? Trevor Smith will take you past the bleak outlook and talk about what WE can do. How our plant choices and simply changing the way we maintain our properties can make a huge difference in our local ecology. Trevor makes it clear that the power to slow or stop climate change doesn’t rest solely in the hands of the government. We can all make a difference. His presentation will leave you inspired and empowered to take action.
Nirvana BC
back to 1820, showing of the largest collections of trees and hostas in the Netherlands attracts 100,000 visitors annually. Jack and Gert will explain what makes those 2 gardens so special and popular for visitors from all over the world and how both gardens use the flower bulbs, perennials, and woodies at their best!
Utopia AB
How Owners and Managers Can Build an Inclusive Company Culture
Pam Berrios, The Grounds Guys
Description coming soon!
Utopia CD
‘Keukenhof Gardens’ and ‘Trompenburg Gardens and Arboretum’ in the Netherlands – Inspiration and Learning Lecture for Chicagoland Professionals and Consumers
Jack de Vroomen, De Vroomen Garden Products and Gert Fortgens, Trompenburg Gardens and Arboretum in Rotterdam
Best Practices in Retaining Wall Design and Installation
Elliot Rudert, High Format, with Wordly App translation available (in Spanish)
This presentation covers the best practices in retaining wall design and installation in three sections: Base and Site Preparation, Wall Construction, and overall Wall Design. With tons of photos and practical advice, it will encourage attendees to “begin with the end in mind” from preconstruction preparation to finishing touches. Three separate case studies will walk attendees through unique site challenges from initial design concept to structural challenges that inevitably arise along the way. This presentation will provide everyone from newer landscape designers/installers to the most seasoned with practical tips and tricks.
FRIDAY
EDUCATION SESSIONS
‘Keukenhof Gardens’, also called “The # 1 Showplace for the horticultural industry in the world’, is planted with 7,000,000 flower bulbs annually and attracts 1,500,000 visitors in 7 weeks’ time. The ‘Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum’ historical garden dating 8:00 AM -9:15 AM
Euphoria
Building & Maintaining a Grand Garden
Susan Jacobson, Todd Jacobson, and Rachel White, The Morton Arboretum
Creating a garden to mark the 100th anniversary of an arboretum is a daunting task that takes planning, creativity, generous donors, and a construction team that can stay on a tight timeline. Attendees will receive an overview of planning, designing, building and maintaining the new Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden at The Morton Arboretum. This presentation will provide a behind the scene look into the design process, the artistic details, construction, sourcing of plants and the maintenance challenges of completing a new garden in the middle of an existing Arboretum. Meet with the Morton Arboretum staff responsible for leading this process through design, installation, and maintenance.
FRIDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Nirvana
A
Engineered Soils: Blends for the Urban Landscape
Kevin Donnelly, Midwest Trading
There are many landscape projects that using or amending native soil is not viable and material has to be brought from off site to manufacture the soil environment. The selection of engineered soils can be complicated and there are a lot of considerations that go into selecting, designing, and manufacturing these blends. In this presentation, we will look at different categories of engineered soils and how they are designed, tested, and manufactured in relation to specifications.
Nirvana BC
The Southwestern Garden Style: Will it Transplant to the Midwest?
Panayoti Kelaidis, Denver Botanic Garden
The Southwest boasts the Lion’s share of America’s national parks and the burgeoning Sunbelt has seen an explosion of urban and suburbanization, which has embraced the desert look. Midwesterners love to vacation here, but why not bring some of the sunny flavor -and even the plants!- back to gardens. A wide spectrum of Southwestern plants, and those from similar climates, will thrive in the right microclimate in the Great Lakes area. With climate change looming, it’s likely that the Southwestern style might become more and more practical in the Midwest. Let’s explore some of the great Southwestern gardens and some Midwestern gardens where gardeners have recreated the moods of sunset mesas and beautiful buttes!
Utopia AB
Perennial Success at Olbrich
Botanical Gardens
Erin Presley, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Panelists: Barry Conlin, CB Conlin Landscapes; Bob Bertog, Bertog Landscape Co.; Bob Hursthouse, Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors; Mitch Birky, Bellas Landscaping LLC
A landscape firm can be one of the best when it comes to design, build, plant, or maintain, but if your sales aren’t up to speed, you’ll always be chasing that next customer, trying to figure out what’s the best fit, looking for potential opportunities, learning how to weed out non-starters, and preventing headaches down the road. Discover insights from our panel of seasoned, successful professionals
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Euphoria Root Zone Management, From Plug to Planting
Kevin Donnelly, Midwest Trading
Growing and installing landscape plants comes with a level of complexity regarding what can go right and what can go wrong. We will be exploring substrate and amendment materials and concepts to help your perennials and shrubs thrive during growing and during installation. This session will also provide a deeper understanding of the substrate environment and how to ensure plants will thrive in the landscape.
Nirvana A Forest Health Update
Fredric Miller, The Morton Arboretum
At Olbrich Botanical Gardens, a free admission 16-acre public garden in Madison, WI, success is defined by not only creating gorgeous gardens, but also trialing and modeling sustainable techniques. Erin Presley, a horticulturist at Olbrich for 10 years, walks you through a variety of perennial garden styles and our best practices for attracting and supporting insect life, managing weeds, building soil, and saving water - all while saving time and resources. We’ll cover spring garden tidying, matrix plantings and green mulch, the roles of natives and nativars, and much more!
Utopia CD
TLC Series: Mastering that First Meeting
Moderator: Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor Magazine
Get the update on forest health concerns across Illinois, including 1) The Periodical Cicada in the Rearview Mirror, 2) Scale Insects: A Comprehensive Look at Armored and Soft Scales, 3) Woody Plant Pest and Disease Update and What to Expect in 2025, and 4) Post EAB, The Next Chapter.
Nirvana BC Plantastic Passport:
Lessons from Gardens Around the World
Jared Barnes, Stephen F Austin State University
Join Dr. Jared Barnes as you journey through some of the most inspiring gardens across the globe. In this session, we will draw from a rich tapestry of landscapes, design philosophies, and plant palettes. Whether you are a seasoned horticulturist or an enthusiastic beginner, this session will provide insights into how you can incorporate global gardening techniques into your own practices, fostering creativity and diversity in your garden.
FRIDAY EDUCATION SESSIONS
Utopia AB Panel: Technology and Construction Scheduling
Panelists: Matthew Schmechtig, Schmechtig Landscapes; Scott McAdam Jr, McAdam Landscaping, Inc.; Eduardo Tapia, RYCO Landscaping; Joseph Haubert, Rosborough Partners, Inc.; Andy Migacz, AM Woodland Outdoor Design; Kevin Engbrecht, Mariani Landscape
Moderator: Debbie Bartsch, Chalet Landscape and Nursery
Construction scheduling! Do you use Aspire, BOSS, LMN, or other software to schedule construction jobs and crews? There has been an explosion of scheduling software improvements in our industry. Please join us for lively conversation on best practices for construction job scheduling, crew scheduling, and engaging your people.
Utopia CD Native Plant Solutions to Familiar Landscape Challenges
Shannon Currey, Izel Native Plants
Nirvana A Oaks: Global Conservation and Local Management
Dr. Chad Rigsby, The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories; Dr. Silvia Alverez-Clare, The Morton Arboretum
In this presentation, Drs. Silvia Alverez-Clare and Chad Rigsby will discuss ongoing global oak conservation efforts, particularly those currently being spearheaded by The Morton Arboretum. We will also discuss threats to oaks, locally, and what arborists and the green industry can do to manage them.
Nirvana BC
Migrating North: Inspiration from a Southerly Plant Palette
Jared Barnes, Stephen F Austin State University
Native plants often get top billing for supporting pollinators. However, native plants also offer solutions for areas that can be difficult to manage, like underneath trees, on slopes, and in drainage fields. Installing the right plant in the right place for the right purpose is critical for success. By selecting native plants that function together as a community, you can create plantings that not only survive in these situations, but will also provide key benefits. This session will cover helpful strategies for choosing native plants for the variable shade underneath trees, erosion control on slopes, and managing stormwater in drainage areas. We’ll examine a handful of specific native perennials for each situation, focusing on characteristics and adaptations that make them particularly helpful. Join us for solutions that bring beauty, functionality, and resilience to your clients’ landscapes.
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Euphoria
TLC Series: The Next Big Thing
Moderator: Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor Magazine
Panelists: Tom Kadolph, Cedar Path Nurseries LLC; Mike Mennenoh, Mariani Plants
Plant breeders are constantly on the lookout for new varieties of woodies. While tried-and-trued trees will always have a place in designs, our panel will take you through new selections, what drives sales, and unusual replacements for overused varieties.
The South is a rising cultural hub known for its crafts, music, food, and exceptional native plants, y’all. In this presentation, Dr. Jared Barnes shares insights from his explorations of Southern flora while highlighting their adaptability and ecological benefits. With climate change pushing Southern conditions further north, these resilient plants will become increasingly relevant beyond their native range. Jared will also discuss his propagation and evaluation efforts at Stephen F. Austin State University and offer strategies for integrating these plants into gardens to enhance biodiversity, sustainability, and add a touch of Southern charm to any landscape.
Utopia AB
Leadership Blindspots: See What You’re Missing! Jeff Joutras, Step Forward Into Growth
This session will help landscape contracting leaders recognize and address common leadership blindspots that can hinder team performance and project success. Through real-world examples, practical strategies, and interactive exercises, you will learn how to enhance self-awareness, improve communication, and foster a culture of feedback. Gain valuable insights to become a more effective and insightful leader in the landscape contracting industry.
Utopia CD Lawn & Landscapes: Common Threats, Common Future
Brandon Sheppard, Weed Man
We will be discussing how the wave of political and regulatory changes present both opportunities and risks to our profession and how by working together we can build a stronger, more secure future for our environment and communities.
En Espanol
Entrenamiento al próximo nivel:
Usted sabe que es talentoso; pero quiere aprender a ser extraordinario?
¡Por primera vez, iLandscape ofrecerá un entrenamiento de Next Level en español: Únase a nosotros el 26 y 27 de febrero del 2025 en el Hotel Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center para sesiones que lo llevarán al siguiente nivel en su carrera.
La presentadora principal de la serie de Entrenamiento de Siguiente Nivel, Pamela Berrios, lo guiaré a través de temas esenciales como el avance profesional, la comunicación efectiva, la formación de equipos, y la resolución de conflictos. Con sus consejos y experiencia, usted estará equipado con las herramientas necesarias para tener éxito en nuestra industria. Además de sus sesiones, tendrá la oportunidad de sumergirse en entrenamientos prácticos sobre la actualización de programas de diseño, aprender sobre las últimas plantas, dominar la lectura de planos y muchos otros temas. El conocimiento que usted adquiera en estas sesiones lo diferenciará de la competencia y lo ayudará a alcanzar sus objetivos profesionales.
Su registración en el Entrenamiento de Siguiente Nivel, también incluye una entrada para la feria comercial de iLandscape, lo que le dará acceso a los últimos productos e innovaciones en la industria. Aproveche esta increíble oportunidad por solo $50 para miembros y $85 para no miembros, ¡pero actúe rápido, los precios aumentarán el 21 de enero!
Asegure su entrada para el Entrenamiento de Siguiente Nivel registrándose en ilandscapeshow.com hoy y prepárese para elevar su carrera a nuevas alturas. Los espero ahí!
$50 early member, $65 late member registration fee
$85 nonmember early, $115 nonmember late
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Nirvana A Training
Your
Field Staff for Safety
Armando Actis, College of Dupage
This Spanish-language Next Level Training Session will cover safety practices, troubleshooting equipment issues, and OSHA regulations, including how to train your field staff on how to recognize and respond to heat stroke and extreme cold.
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Nirvana A Popular Plant Introductions for 2025
Catalino Mendoza, Midwest Groundcovers
Discover the newest plant varieties for your 2025 designs and stay ahead of the curve!
Explore vibrant colors, unique textures, and innovative plant combinations that will elevate your landscape projects. Learn how to create stunning, sustainable designs that not only captivate but also thrive with durability and resilience. Get inspired by the latest trends and plant selections that will make your landscapes both beautiful and environmentally conscious.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Nirvana A Math Rules
José Magán, Accent Urban Design
This Spanish session will review the math rules needed in landscape to measure outdoor spaces accurately and the units and conversions needed to obtain material quantities precisely. We will do some exercises during the session to practice the application of these rules.
En Espanol
Clases de Español
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Nirvana A Plan Reading
José Magán, Accent Urban Design
This Spanish session will review the information contained in landscape plans and verify additional information needed to successfully complete the landscape installation. We will do some exercises during the session to practice the use of scales and to measure outdoor areas correctly.
Thursday, February 27 2025
8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
flict resolution strategies to support rising professionals navigate difficult conversations.
Utopia CD
Next Generation Contractors: Why to Upgrade Design Software
Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock
Technology is revolutionizing the way everyone in your company collaborates on landscape projects—it’s not just for designers anymore! In this session, learn how 3D design software is transforming traditional 2D plans into dynamic visuals that enhance every stage of your project. We’ll cover key techniques, explore top software options, and show you how to make 3D design an essential part of your workflow, from initial pitch to final installation.
Utopia CD
Leadership - Career Paths, Effective Communication, and Conflict Resolution
Pam Berrios, The Grounds Guys
This Spanish-language session will provide guidance on ways to enhance your professional skills and advance your career. Pam will cover how to plan your career path, including understanding role descriptions and expectations. She’ll work with attendees on effective communication strategies to make yourself heard and understood. She’ll also talk attendees through con-
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Utopia CD Alternate Bases and Concrete Overlays
Eduardo Tapia, RYCO Landscaping and Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock
With a shift in industry trends, it’s clear that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to installation bases. This session will focus on the right base materials for different types of installations—whether you’re working with natural stone, porcelain slabs, or concrete pavers. We’ll break down the importance of selecting the right foundation for each material, ensuring your installations stand the test of time and weather.
Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente. Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección.
Llámenos a Mariani Plants: 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com
TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.
Outsiders Are Welcome for FLIP
By Carrington Misener, Co-Chair of the FLIP Committee
Can I FLIP it? (Yes, you can!) Founded in 2015, the Future Landscape Industry Professionals (FLIP) Committee assembled with a goal to provide information that inspires students and individuals to pursue professional careers within the landscape industry. In previous years at iLandscape, FLIP offered roundtables where high school and college students had the opportunity to speak directly with landscape professionals in a casual environment. Over time, the committee observed an interesting roadblock at these events: the generally reserved nature of students was evident and eventually, there was a lack of student attendance. Enter the COVID years and heightened digital communication, students shifted into being most accessible online, thus FLIP aimed to adapt their outreach and support to these new “rules” of engagement.
One of FLIP’s biggest undertakings during the shift to digital outreach was creating the Outsiders Welcome campaign. With a tagline of “Discover your career in the landscape industry, where outsiders are always welcome”, the goal was to highlight the diverse career paths the green industry has to
offer. After identifying 14 career paths from account managers to lawn technicians, FLIP found representatives from ILCA membership and filmed under 90 second “day in the life” videos. Each one contains passionate and empowering messages to the next generation of green professionals, such as this quote from Wasco Nursery’s Matt Zerby: “There’s a ton of room for advancement in this industry and it is absolutely a career industry.” ILCA has been highlighting a different career path each month this year, and there’s potential to create additional videos with different roles highlighted in the future. Check out all the roles represented and feel free to use them in your recruiting efforts: ilca.net/landscape-careers. What’s next for FLIP and creating intentional student engagement? After identifying a need for more robust student resources, they’re hard at work creating digital “packets” for both high school and college students that capture everything ILCA can assist with in their student journey. This includes lists of Illinois colleges with horticulture programs, scholarship offerings, upcoming ILCA events, and more. The goal of these resources is to empower students to enter the work-
Committee Profile —
force confidently and share how to stay engaged with insight from fellow professionals that could ultimately be their future employers. Like Midwest Groundcovers’ Enrique Rodriguez mentions in his Outsiders Welcome video, the industry “has a bright future, but we do need these younger generations to keep that going.”
The committee also added a new student and educator “requests”-focused page on the ILCA website. Here, educators and students will be able to request assistance or information from ILCA on resources they may need (from classroom speakers to industry catalog samples), and from there the FLIP Committee can help point them in the right direction. Having access to these industry-specific resources early on not only will help students transition smoothly into the workforce after their courses are complete, but it also ensures that the industry continues to attract fresh, skilled talent.
Most exciting on the horizon: FLIP is working to reengage students in a new way at iLandscape this year by designating Friday as a dedicated Student Day. The committee is hoping to enhance the student experience by putting more intentional effort towards those that attend and demonstrate ILCA’s commitment as an organization to invest in their future. Check out the Student Design Competition Awards at
10am on the main stage and celebrate all who participated, or converse with a student directly afterwards at the Young Professionals meet up in the same location. Several local high schools have indicated to bringing a few hundred students to iLandscape 2025, which would be a massive increase in student foot traffic than previous years and FLIP hopes to capitalize on it.
As a member, you may be wondering: “How I can help with our student visitors at iLandscape and get them to feel comfortable?” Short answer: Engage with them and share your personal “why” for being in the green industry. As they traverse the show or attend education sessions, offer a welcoming environment (in your booth or in conversation) so students can see that our industry is all about bringing our passion daily. Only we can help attract and cultivate the next generation of leaders in the landscape industry!
Growing Elegance: A Glimpse into Grasses Production
by Heather Prince
Grasses, while a perennial staple in landscapes, have attracted more and more interest with the rising popularity of naturalistic garden design. These tough and easy plants add beautiful grace notes to mixed plantings, structure and color in winter, and habitat for wildlife. How do you grow great grasses? We talked to four Midwest growers, Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Midwest Groundcovers, the GET Group (sister company to Hoffie Nursery), and Stantec, to pull back the curtains on how these plants are produced.
Grasses are generally grouped into warm season and cool season, depending on when they begin to sprout and grow. Early cool season grasses will begin to sprout as soon as soils warm in the spring and tend to bloom in May and June. Many of our summer favorites are warm season grasses that begin growing when temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees and bloom from late August into September. For most grass producers, there are two main production cycles – fall into winter and late spring into June. “For cool season grasses,
we will typically propagate at the cool times of the year, so September through March,” reported Brent Horvath, founder and president of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens. “And then production would be potentially March through May or June. The warm season grasses emerge in May, making June an important time to propagate before it gets too hot and they want to begin flowering. That makes it hard for them to put leafy growth on and to root fully. So ideally, before June 22 or so is when we do divisions of the warm season grasses.”
“For the grass varieties grown from stock beds, we start making divisions in December and go through the end of April,” commented Shannon McEnerney, Product Manager at Midwest Groundcovers. “Jose Rosas, our St. Charles Nursery Manager, and Joaquin Castillo, our Michigan Nursery Manager report these are then potted up to a 21C or 30C plug and grown on for 8 to 10 weeks. Plugs are then potted up to a #1 or #2 container, with a #1 growing on for 6 to 8 weeks, and #2s for 10 to 12 weeks for a finished plant. Any plugs bought in
Specializing in plants & seed mixes for
• Solar panel arrays
• Pollinator habitat
• Wetland mitigations
• DOT & roadside corridors
• Pipeline & transmission corridors
• Stormwater BMPs & rain gardens
• Habitat & ecosystem restoration
Special Feature
will be planted directly into #1 or #2 sizes and between mid-April and mid-August.” Midwest finds that Panicum ‘Northwind’ and Helictotrichon are slower to root, while divisions of Sporobolus ‘Tara’ are only done in March or April to give them plenty of time to root in during the season.
Stantec’s native plant nursery specializes in Midwest native plants and seed mixes. “We have two rotations for our grasses in plug stock for spring and fall sales,” reported Jenn Mannix, assistant plant production manager. “We directly sow the grass seed into containers filled with soil and let them root out. The early spring rotation may take a little longer to get started as there is often less sunlight and cooler temperatures that are not ideal for warm season grasses. Germination should begin within 10 days.” For native warm season grasses, Jason Fritz, nursery business development manager, recommends clients not expect them to be ready before June, when temperatures are consistently warm.
GET Group, Inc. operates a little differently since they
are growing plants for wholesale markets. “We produce grasses year-round because we are supplying wholesale nurseries, grower retailers, and landscapers all across the country and into Canada,” commented Torben Hoffmeyer, sales manager.
“Our earliest crops will begin in February for spring sales and our last production cycle is October for fall sales.”
Grasses are produced from seed, divisions, and tissue culture, depending on the species of plant. Many native species are grown from seed or division, since often specific ecotype is important to the end consumer. Ornamental grasses can be produced from division or tissue culture to preserve patented genetics and crop consistency. “The bulk of our Intrinsic introductions are done from division or tissue culture, depending on what it is,” said Horvath. “We use our own stock unless demand is too high. It’s just too many to produce and we don’t have enough stock on hand. From seed, we grow a lot of native species like Koeleria, Schizachyrium, and Sporobolus. I col-
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lect from either my own plants or one or two specific spots so they’re pretty uniform. We do use tissue culture on the little bluestems and the big bluestems, mostly because we’re not always able to produce enough. It allows us to meet our production goal without dividing all the plants that we have out there for sale or growing extra plants and maintaining them.”
Stantec produces most of their grasses from seed, so that the genetic variations in the native species are preserved. Midwest Groundcovers, like Intrinsic, handles a mix of seed, divisions, and plugs for patented varieties. “The majority is done from divisions,” commented McEnerney. GET Group also tends to propagate from divisions. “Most of the grasses we produce are from divisions made from our own stock inventory. We rotate our stock every year to keep the plants the most fertile, clean, and with highest rooting percentages. Some newer varieties we can do from tissue culture,” reported Hoffmeyer.
Each grower produces grasses in a range of sizes, depending on their customer needs. From liner plugs up to #2s or #3s, you can find finished plants for your projects. The native grasses are done primarily in plugs for the ecological restoration markets,
while those growing cultivars and nonnatives will be primarily #1s and larger for garden centers and landscapers. Growing grasses is not without its challenges. According to Castillo, winter is a great time to work on divisions from a labor standpoint, but it’s not always most favorable to the plants’ life cycle.
“The warm season grasses divided in winter can get confused and take longer to wake up than plants divided in spring. We warm them up to make the divisions and then they go back outside and slowly cool down. It sets back their growth cycle. You also can’t propagate them when it’s really hot as they just won’t
For
Northbrook - Bolingbrook - Lake Barrington - Chicago
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out roots. Plus, each species can have very specific soil needs for best results. Festuca, for example, needs to be very dry.”
Horvath finds “the biggest challenge is getting the timing right. For the cool season grasses, if you have a hot, humid summer, they are going to suffer, regardless of how much shading or watering you do. If you overwater and have high humidity, they start to get floppy. For the big bluestems, you have a mid-May to mid-June or late June window. For them, as long as you’re watering enough with warm nights, then they’re growing fast and easily.”
Stantec finds challenges in germination rates. “Seed PLS % (pure live seed percentage) has been a challenge for us,” reported Mannix. “We try to sow everything evenly, however, if the PLS isn’t very high it can affect the consistency of germination in our flats. Overwatering is another common challenge. We want to water when we notice something looks dry but native grasses prefer drier soils. They can succumb to mold and fungus when there is too much moisture. We try to keep large blocks of our grasses trimmed to allow more air flow and better opportunity for even watering.”
GET Group finds “The biggest challenge for producing grasses is the labor involved in dividing, by far a more time-
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Growers & Distributors of Quality Nursery Stock
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries is conveniently located in Lockport to serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop -shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and ground covers. We are, not only your one-stop shop, but we are also sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Lockport, Illinois
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491 Office 815.838 Barrington, Illinois
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
Barrington, Illinois
consuming process than sticking cuttings,” said Hoffmeyer. “The other challenging piece to grasses is there is a list of states out West that require grasses to be produced and shipped outside of the Japanese beetle flight season (June 1st – October 31st). Lastly, making sure our stock plants are kept clean and healthy with proper watering to produce the highest grade of divisions is always at the forefront.”
Grasses are one of the production crops that can overwinter for stock plants or bulking up for the following year. Our profiled growers have a mix of tactics from foam under poly in open areas to covered cold hoop houses. “We assume a percentage of mortality on the plants we overwinter and just accept it,” commented Fritz at Stantec. “We tried covering the plants years ago, but
the act of covering the plants was a big effort, and you’d get warm spells in the winter and early spring that would cause issues with disease. We also had problems with rodents getting into the plants and they would literally eat through the plastic flats to get at the roots, which could wipe out most of a crop. Without the covering, the rodents don’t find the flats as hospitable.”
Although they have their challenges, grasses are a staple plant for these growers and in our landscapes. We asked our panel for their opinions on the outstanding characteristics of grasses. “The biggest reason to plant a grass is for their presence in the garden from their fine texture to their fall color and winter interest,” observed Horvath.
Mannix believes “Native grasses provide food and habitat for many species of insects and other animals. Often their roots are as deep as the plant is tall, which helps them tolerate droughts and other strenuous situations as well as helps prevent erosion. Twhus grass in the landscape with its broad size and arching foliage. The ‘Blue Paradise’ is a unique
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little bluestem grass that maintains its upright blooms through fall and into winter giving it a dogwood-like structure. Also, the color on this variety is an eye-catcher with silver blue foliage in summer fading to a deep wine in fall.”
Looking at it from a production standpoint, the team at Midwest finds a great grass designs and installations, consider the type of grass and its season. From the warm season staples to the cool season charmers, there’s a terrific palette of grasses available for Midwestern landscapes.
Top Produced Grasses
Grass trends come and go, so we asked our panel what are their most indemand varieties as well as some that have fallen in popularity or are lesser known.
Intrinsic: “Our best selling grasses are Seslaria autumnalis and Sporobolus heterolepis Miscanthus sales are less and less, I think, because of the invasive issue. And I think that big, bulky look, for whatever reason, is a little less popular these days. We sell mostly ‘Morning Light’ and “Graziella’ because they flower well in the Midwest. We also grow ‘Malepartus’, which is a favorite of many designers, including Pete Oudolf.”
Midwest: “Excluding Carex, our top three genus are Sporobolus, Calamagrostis and Panicum. The top individual species or varieties for us are Sporobolus heterolepis, Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, and Schizachyrium scoparium. The least produced natives are some of the lesser-known species. For ornamentals, it would be Molinia, but it’s more due to lack of clean source material than demand.”
Stantec: “Our most common grasses are our warm season grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterol-
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epis), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), and wild rye (Elymus spp.). Also very popular are our sedges like bristly sedge (Carex comosa), fringed sedge (Carex crinita), sallow sedge (Carex lurida), brown fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) and many others that prefer wetter soils. Little bluestem is by far our most popular species, but also side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula).”
GET Group: “The grasses we produce the most would be Calamagrostis (feather reed), Festuca (fescue), Helictotrichon (blue oat grass), Imperata (blood grasses), and Panicum (switch grasses). The grasses we produce the least of would be Molinia (Moor grass), Leymus (Lyme grass), and Sorghastrum (Indian grass). In recent years we have seen more native grasses such as prairie dropseed and bluestems being sold over the ever common ‘Karl Foerster’ grass, which is a good sign for more creativity in the landscape.”
Member Profile Snapshot
R & M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC
10143 S. Clow Creek Rd. Plainfield, IL 60585
(630) 392-5148
rmsnowandlawn.com
by Meta L. Levin
Ryan Baker’s mother supported his yen to have his own landscape contracting business, even after arriving home one day to see her teenage son wielding a chainsaw and cutting a hole in her fence so that he could move a truck into the backyard. “She wasn’t sure what was going to come of it, but knew I was a hard worker and wanted to let me follow my dreams,” he says.
A lot has happened since then. Ryan Baker has grown up, heads an expanding business, R&M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC in Plainfield, IL, and got married.
This year, after thinking about it for a few years, he joined ILCA, becoming, to his surprise, its 1,000th member. A contingent from ILCA arrived at his shop to celebrate. “Seven people showed up,” he says. “Before they left, they said please call if you need anything. I was thrilled to see the support I would be receiving from ILCA. I hope to be able to give back to the industry, as well.”
Like many landscape contractors, Baker started by mowing lawns when he was 16 years old using his parents’ lawn mower and transporting it via a Ford Explorer. “I cut my neighbor’s lawn,” he says. “One lawn led to two and two led to three. It just kept growing from there and in the winter, my customers asked me to shovel their driveways.”
His great uncle supplied his first snow blower, which Ryan remembers as being too heavy to lift into the bed of a pick-up truck, so he had to walk it house-to-house. By 2014, he bought his first plow to put on the front of his truck.
In those early days, he attended high school at Hinsdale Adventist Academy, worked for TruGreen after graduation and mowed lawns on the side, trying to start his own business. By 2015, he needed full time help. He hired a friend to come in after his full-time job and work until the sun went down, allowing Baker to take on a few more jobs. He started providing spring and fall clean ups. Customers also began asking him to do plant-
ing jobs, expanding his business.
“My wife, KC Baker, is my biggest supporter,” says Baker, who admits that in 2016 when they met, he was still delivering handwritten invoices. She helped take the business from those paper invoices to Excel spreadsheets, Quick Books and now landscape software. She also redesigned the logo. “I love seeing it on all our trucks.”
By 2018 Baker started bidding on larger contracts. “It was my aha moment,” says Baker. After talking with his wife, friends and family, he decided to leave TruGreen and go all in, incorporating R&M Snowplowing and Lawn Service as an LLC.
The business continued to grow. While in the early years his work was all residential, it’s now half and half: residential and commercial. “I couldn’t do it without my team,” he says. “A huge part of our growth is due to the commitment of our full-time employees.”
Baker is still learning. Many of his early landscape customers would ask him to do something, then give him the space and time to figure it out. Learning hardscapes has been a little more formal. “Last year I worked alongside Unilock professionals,” he says. “I really appreciate the partnership with Unilock. They have been a huge support.”
Baker and his wife share a love of trap shooting and hunting. “She’s a better shot than I am,” he says. The couple also enjoys country concerts, snowmobiling and traveling. “This winter will be the best yet,” says Baker. “My wife and I are expecting our first baby in January. I can’t wait to introduce Olivia Louise Baker to the wonderful world of R&M Snowplowing and Lawn Service, LLC.”
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Client Care Manager Position(s)
Milieu Landscaping has immediate openings for Client Care Managers. The Client Care Manager position at Milieu performs sales and production management for residential and commercial clients. This position sells Milieu’s services in an upscale territory by providing horticultural recommendations, creative designs, proposals, and presentations. This individual will be able to grow a territory with excellent marketing and advertising support.
The ideal candidate should have knowledge in landscape design, build, and maintenance of green spaces. This experience should include design, estimating, horticulture knowledge, turf care knowledge, procurement, scheduling, and installation capabilities. College students pursuing their degree/ certification in the landscape industry are encouraged to apply.
Milieu Landscaping is hiring for this season, as well as the 2025 season. Applicants will have the option for an 8-12 month position. Milieu is an ascending organization dedicated to the growth of our staff and clients. This position will be based in our new, state-ofthe-art Lake Zurich facility.
How To Apply: Email jobs@milieuland.com
Capitalize on the Surge in Artificial Grass/ Pet Turf/Playground Turf/Putting Green Demand and Increase Your Profits! Are you a landscaper or hardscaper ready to elevate your business and boost your revenue? Partner with All Things Turf, the premier name in artificial turf with over 20 years of unparalleled installation experience. We Are Seeking a Distributor/Partner in Chicago and Central IL! Why Partner with All Things Turf?
Training - Every Dealer attends All Things Turf Boot Camp for training as well as hands on training on one of YOUR job sites! Ongoing support
Proven Expertise: Leverage our two decades of industry know-how and support to grow your business.
All Things Turf ______ website! We will build a turf-specific website for you to start generating turf leads in your area.
Leads - We will provide you with leads in your area
Exclusive Territory: Be the go-to provider of artificial grass in Chicago and IL.
Ideal Candidate: Owns an established landscape or hardscape business
Contact All Things Turf today to explore this lucrative opportunity and become a key player in the artificial grass revolution! How to apply: Email: info@allthingsturf. com - Phone - 866-749-2594
Landscape Architect/Designer
Position: Full-time, Year-Round
Location: Eureka, Illinois (Serving Central Illinois, including Peoria and Bloomington/ Normal metro areas)
At Brookside, our mission is ENHANCING LIVES—both for our team members and our clients. We specialize in high-end outdoor living and landscape projects, and we’re seeking a motivated individual to collaborate with our design, sales, and construction teams from concept to completion.
Why Join Brookside Landscapes?
Work on intriguing projects with a team dedicated to exceeding industry standards in
design and construction practices. Be part of a creative, collaborative team that values your growth and input.
Enjoy the opportunity to see your designs come to life!
Join us in redefining outdoor living in Central Illinois—apply today to be part of a team that’s transforming landscapes and enhancing lives, Brookside Landscapes is the place to grow!
How to apply: Contact Kurt: (309) 573-9837 careers@brooksidelandscapes.com https:// www.brooksidelandscapes.com/careers
Plant and Pesticide Specialist I - NR - EP/ NE and Nursery Operations- Will Co. Essential Functions:
· Screen plant commodity shipments for compliance with importing countries and state laws.
· Inspect plant materials and write phytosanitary certificates.
· Conducts quarantine programs in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Plant Protection (USDA-APHIS-PPQ), and United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service (USDA FS)
· Travels to conduct inspections of nursery and greenhouse stock for insect pests and plant disease.
· Plans and conducts training, testing, and licensing programs for pesticide applicators and operators.
· Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within
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HELP WANTED
· Requires the ability to obtain accreditation as an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) within twenty-four (24) months of hire.
· Must reside in Will, DuPage, Kankakee, Grundy, Kendall, Kane, or Cook County.
· Requires the ability to successfully pass a background check, self-disclosure of criminal history, and a pre-employment physical.
· Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime.
Work Hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm MondayFriday
Work Location: 801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, Illinois, 62702
Salary: Competitive, based on experience Job Description:
Breezy Hill Landscaping Inc. seeks an experienced and motivated Landscape Project Manager/Superintendent to oversee a diverse portfolio of commercial landscape projects in the Chicago metro market. This role will be responsible for managing projects from inception to completion, including schools, parks, streetscapes, and large-scale commercial projects.
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented professional with 3-5 years of experience in a landscape project management/superintendent role, a strong ability to work independently, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
• Manage all phases of landscape projects, including bidding, scheduling, budgeting, and installation.
• Coordinate with clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to ensure project success.
• Monitor project progress, quality control, and safety to ensure work meets company and client standards.
• Conduct site visits, track project milestones, and adjust schedules and resources as needed.
• Oversee and manage subcontractor performance and resolve any on-site issues effectively.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with clients, providing regular updates and addressing any concerns.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, company standards, and environmental guidelines.
Qualifications:
• 3-5 years of experience preferably in commercial work (schools, parks, streetscapes, etc.).
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Knowledge of landscape construction, horticulture, and materials is a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to project sites across the Chicago metro area.
Benefits:
• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the company
How to Apply: If you’re ready to bring your landscape project management expertise to a team that values quality, integrity, and client satisfaction, we’d love to hear from you! Breezy Hill Landscape, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Email your cover letter & resume to bepping@ breezyhillnursery.com
Landscape Designer & Estimator Position
Melka Landscaping is an award-winning design build company serving its surrounding community for over 40 years. Our team is searching for a motivated individual with horticultural knowledge and an ambition for design.
The Landscape Contractor January 2025 Responsibilities:
Our dedicated team specializes in residential planting and hardscape installations. At our Mokena office location, we operate a full-service retail garden center holding all our plant material. This provides a great opportunity to become creative in the plant selection process. Enjoy the chance to interact with our crews, design, and see your ideas become reality. We encourage individuals with experience in landscape design, maintenance, and estimating to apply. College students should also apply as we have internship opportunities. How to apply: For more information on the position please visit: https://www.jimmelkalandscaping.com/apply
Retail Green Goods Buyer
We seek an experienced Retail Green Goods Buyer to join us at our fourth-generation, family-owned company in Wilmette, IL. In this role, you’ll provide both internal and external customers with the highest quality annual plant material. This includes sourcing product, developing a network of potential vendors, and creating the yearly purchasing plan. Buying experience, strong analytical abilities, and elevated technical skills are a must. Ideally, this would be a full-time, yearround position that offers a robust benefits and compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, FSA, paid time off, holidays, and 401(k) with match. We’re also open to other schedule types.
If you’re a fast-on-your-feet problem solver consider joining our team!
How to apply: If interested, we encourage you to complete our online application at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/ jobs/Details/2870519/Chalet/Retail-GreenGoods-Buyer
Native Plant Nursery Production Manager Summary:
Pizzo Native Plant Nursery is seeking a Production Manager to oversee the Production Team in cultivating over two million plants annually. Pizzo Nursery is a fast-growing operation producing the highest quality native perennials. Join our passionate team to build ecologically balanced communities through education, promotion, cultivation, and trade of top-quality native plants. This is a full-time, year-round position with great benefits. Pizzo Nursery supports a strong and positive team culture. We are looking for someone with the experience, skills, and drive to manage a high-performing production team in a greenhouse setting.
Job Description:
Oversee and coordinate all production tasks
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HELP WANTED
at Pizzo Native Plant Nursery. Continually strive to increase productivity and efficiency while maintaining a high-quality product. To work together with the Pizzo Nursery team to achieve the highest standard of product quality, employee satisfaction, and workplace safety
Production Management:
· Manage all production crews under the leadership of the Nursery Manager
· Manage up to 15 employees performing up to 3 separate tasks with support from production assistants
· Responsible for flat filling, transplanting, weeding, and movement of nursery material
· Understand and generate work orders and effectively execute them
· Work closely with the Inventory Coordinator to achieve a timely and efficient flow of production numbers and information
· Monitor production rates by pieces per hour on an ongoing basis
· Analyze and increase production rates by improving and implementing new systems, strategies, and training
· Work with Growers to maximize plant vigor and decrease plant losses due to production procedures
· Operate appropriate equipment (skid steer or other) to keep crews supplied with material
· Work with other nursery teams to best allocate resources
· Lead other nursery projects as needed
· Responsible for the organization and maintenance of all production areas, tools, and supplies
· Prioritize safety in all operations
Other General Nursery Tasks (as needed)
· Seeding
· Seed harvesting and cleaning
· Bare root harvesting
HELP WANTED HELP WANTED
· Order pulling
· Communicate with the Grower in regards to pest and watering observations
· Communicate with the Inventory Coordinator in regards to plant losses, consolidations, and recounts
· Watering
· Laying and repairing ground cloth
· Over-wintering preparation
· General facility cleaning and upkeep
· Nursery expansions and improvements
Qualifications and Skills Required
· 2 years experience in managing a nursery team or similar crew in a production setting
· Ability to lead a team in meeting goals and fostering team culture
· Ability to work outside in inclement weather
· Strong commitment to safety, product quality, and meeting production goals
· Able to repeatedly lift 50 lbs
· Ability to operate machinery such as a skid steer, flat fillers, and other small equipment
· Ability to lead with enthusiasm and a positive outlook
· Desire to learn and grow the native plant industry to new levels
· Experience with Microsoft Outlook & Excel
How to apply:
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Turning the Page
By Nina A. Koziol
A New Year? New Ideas? New Clients? Where will your projects take you? Why not add a “bonus” surprise element? A little taste of something more the client hasn’t considered. An evening garden? A water feature? A kitchen garden for the cook? A teaser for future work... and income.
Before You Go —
Sorghastrum: A Savvy Grass Selection
By Mark Dwyer
It’s been exciting, particularly over the last 20 years, to observe many of our native grasses becoming more appreciated and integrated into our corporate and residential landscapes. Once relegated to prairie restorations, meadow gardens and other larger scale projects (where these grasses still have amazing value), selections like big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), switch grass (Panicum virgatum) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), to name a few, are becoming more mainstream in the home landscape. Varietal selections for these species continue to expand and offer additional or more pronounced features of interest. However, don’t lose track of the durable Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in your considerations as this native stalwart offers color and texture galore along with winter interest, wildlife value and unlimited compositional potential. There are some excellent varieties of this species on the market.
This warm season grass has an extremely broad native range, is tolerant of a wide range of soils (including clay) and is hardy in zones 3-9. While drought resistant, this grass thrives in average soils and can get floppy in overly rich soils and/or too much shade. Indian grass is also resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits and is tolerant of walnut toxicity. The broad, blue-green leaves on stiff, vertical stems make this an elegant, clumpforming option. The foliage can turn a respectable gold in fall and this grass does have decent winter stature in the landscape. Cut back grass remnants in spring before new growth emerges. I like to use this grass as a color echo in larger landscapes where solitary specimens or small groupings echo that powder-blue throughout a composition.
As one of the first warmseason grasses to showcase its cinnamon-colored, feathery flower plumes and form seeds, the flower stalks extend above the lower foliage to gain heights up to 8’ tall. Most selections fall into the 5-6’ range while in bloom so it is important to note the variability in blooming height between varieties. Do note that in “open soils”, reseeding will be a consideration although the seeds are eaten by a wide range of birds.
I remember the old “standby” varieties of Sorghastrum nutans of ‘Sioux Blue’, an excellent selection from Longwood Gardens (still my personal favorite!), and ‘Indian Steel’. Both of these prominently blue varieties are still available in commerce and bloom in that 5-6’ range. The variety ‘Llano’ is also quite blue and if you’re interested in a more narrow, upright form, look for either ‘Thin Man’ or ‘Slim Pickens’. The variety ‘St. Louis’ from Brent Horvath (Intrinsic Perennial Garden, Hebron, IL) is an excellent blue form with a more intense fall color on stems and foliage. ‘Skywalker’ is also a solid performer and Golden Sunset® from the University of Minnesota has more narrow, olive-green foliage and a distinctly rigid, upright form with voluminous flowering. The varieties ‘Tomahawk’ and ‘Cheyenne’ have long been common in bulk seed mixes for restoration projects. Consider the potential of this amazing native grass in your upcoming projects as Indian grass checks all the boxes for function, low-maintenance and beauty!
TRANSFORMATION EVERY PROJECT IS A
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