Impact Conference Preview

by Meta Levin

This year’s Impact Conference is designed to have something for everybody. “We’re targeting as broad an audience as possible,” says Impact Conference chair Brandon Losey.

The event, titled, “Resilient Landscapes: Redefining the Design/Build/Maintain Paradigm,” is scheduled for October 22, 2019 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It’s a high-profile destination, which draws people to come experience that space,” says Losey. “Anyone interested in the industry would find it appealing.”

While organizers want to look at the entire spectrum, the program will, says Losey, “hit hard on maintenance. We see a lot of projects for which no one thought about what happens after it is in the ground. We’re bringing a level of practicality – more nuts and bolts.”

Keynote Speaker, Claudia West of Phyto Studio LLC, will talk with attendees about “Planting in a Post Wild World,” a subject taken from the title of the book she cowrote with last year’s Impact Conference keynote speaker, Thomas Rainer. “She will concentrate more on the science behind sustainable landscapes,” says Losey. Her presentation will dig into design principles using wild plant communities, as well as introduce attendees to forms of design that work with natural philosophies, marrying horticulture with ecology.

(continued on page 12)

We've got you covered this season

MAKE FAST WORK OF YOUR LANDSCAPE PROJECTS – Alta

Equipment Company has you covered this season with our wide variety of Compact Equipment. Carrying equipment from Takeuchi, Toro, Avant, Finn, Gehl, Volvo and more, Alta is here to provide you with your rental, sales, parts, and service needs.

LANDSCAPING

Made Easy

• Compact wheel loaders • Skid steer loaders • Mini excavators • Bark blowers • Trenchers • Thousands of attachments

Call us at 844.Go2.ALTA or visit us online at ALTAEQUIPMENT.COM

(continued from page 10)

Losey is particularly pleased that West’s presentation will bookend the conference, with Julie Snell of TEND Landscapes, Inc., the final speaker, who will be talking about, “Design with Maintenance in Mind.” She will focus on challenging the idea that a no maintenance landscape exists. “You have to plan for maintenance,” says Losey. Snell will present ways to shift attitudes and actions to drive change.

In between, will be a day chock full of practical information for landscape contractors, designers and horticulture specialists. The first breakout session will feature three different presentations. Nadia Malarkey, of Nadia Malarkey Garden Design, will speak on “Regenerating Suburbia, One Garden at a Time.” Lesley and Bruce Smith of Arborsmith, Ltd., will let attendees in on, “Dirty Little Secrets, What Every Tree Wishes Every Designer and Installer Knew.” And Dan Nielson of Biogreen Organics, will talk about “Fixing the Soil.”

The breakout sessions before lunch will feature Julia Bunn from The Spirited Gardener, talking about “Deluge & Drought: Using Sustainable SITES Criteria for Home Landscapes in a New Area.” Also, on the bill is Ken Williams, horticulturist, and AnnaMaria Leon of the Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute, introducing attendees to “A New Vision for Permascaping.” After lunch, Alyssa Schmitt of Stormwater Solutions Engineering, LLC, will talk about (continued on page 14)

Labor and time saving jobsite solutions

Contact us for a demo or rental

LOCATIONS Central Office

18405 115th Avenue Orland Park, IL 60467 Phone: 708-349-8430 Fax: 708-349-4230

West Branch

420 Nolen Drive South Elgin, IL 60177 Phone: 630-883-3320 Fax: 847-695-9105

North Branch

26354 N US Highway 12 Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: 847-469-0120 Fax: 847-526-8054

HOURS Orland Park & South Elgin

Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mar - Nov) 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Dec - Feb) 7:30 AM - NOON Sat (Mar - Nov)

Wauconda

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Mon - Fri CLOSED Sat

CONTACT US! www.martinimplement.com rentals@martinimplement.com

(continued from page 12) “Green Infrastructure Maintenance: Standards and Lessons Learned,” and Pam Karlson of Waxwing Studio, Inc., will describe “Birds in the Garden: Creating an Eco-Friendly Bird Oasis.”

Losey is pleased with the quality of the speakers. “We got a huge amount of high-quality submissions,” he says. “We got some of the leading people from throughout the country.”

He’s also happy with his committee, who, he says, has worked hard to put this event together. Committee members include: • Cris Poggi, The Aspire Software Company • Carol Becker, Sage Advice • Chris Beiser, Nels Johnson Tree Experts • Lynn Bement, The Compost Queen • Jesse Felix, Graf Tree Care • Grace Koehler, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery • Tom Marrero, Wakefield Biochar • Christine Nye, The Shedd Aquarium • Alexia Paul, Semiramis, LLC • Lindy Westerfeld, Green Gardens Landscape & Installations, Inc. • Tom Lupfer, Lupfer Lanscaping, ILCA board liaison • AnneMarie Drufke, Education Manager, ILCA staff liaison • Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director.

The speakers, and, by extension, the committee, are, he says, “Going to show what people are doing and how to do it.”

dotynurseries.com

sign up at dotynurseries.com to receive our email newsletter

Shade TreeS • OrnamenTalS • evergreenS • ShrubS

Ryan Doty sales@dotynurseries.com P 630 365 9063 F 630 365 9081 45W121 Beith Road Maple Park, IL 60151

You’ll be proud to have us on your clients’ properties.

From canopy to roots, caring for your trees isn’t something we just do, it’s our specialization, our area of expertise, our passion.

847.440.5344

• Tree and Shrub Pruning • Deep-Root Fertilization • Certified Arborists • Insect and Disease Management 14 The Landscape Contractor October 2019