pro grow news SPRING 2016
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Growing Food in the Landscape Revisionist Garden History
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pro grow news SPRING 2016
contents Features
10 Revisionist Garden History 12 Growing Food in the Landscape 26 Using Philosophy to Succeed
Departments
5 President’s Message
6 Committee Reports 24 Business Focus 29 Marketplace/Ad Index 30 My Favorite Plant On the cover — Fruit of Cornus kousa
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pro grow news SPRING 2016
committees
board PRESIDENT Jim Stucchi, MCH Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844
EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE
VICE PRESIDENT Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM) Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc. Tel: (413) 536-7555
SECRETARY/TREASURER Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 PAST PRESIDENT Tim Lomasney One Source Horticulture Tel: (978) 470-1934 DIRECTORS Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc.
Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family
David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape, Inc. Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney Garden Centers
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR Henry Gillet Tel: (508) 567-6288 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731
Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414
Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189
MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH) Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair J.A. Crowdle Corporation Tel: (617) 527-5706 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Mark Ahronian, MCH — Chair Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844 Peter Mezitt, MCH — Vice Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269 HISTORY COMMITTEE Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630 Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208 MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Gaele McCully, MCLP — Chair Mahoney’s Garden Center Tel: (781) 729-5900 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Tim Hay, MCH — Chair Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508)845-2143 David Ahronian, MCH — Vice Chair Ahronian Landscape & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844
PRESIDENT Michelle Harvey, MCH Lakeview Nurseries Tel: (978) 342-3770 EDUCATION COMMITTEE Kathy Bergmann, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143 The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. is proud to be a founding partner of New England Grows.
pro grow news Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org
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ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731. Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.
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President’s Message
Embracing Change By Jim Stucchi
H
appy spring, late winter, early summer – however this time of year is currently trending — it certainly has been a strange couple of months weather-wise. In my first official President’s message, I want to give a huge thankyou to our sponsors, the attendees, and the volunteers who helped make our first Dreams and Solutions Green Industry Career Fair and Annual Meeting such a huge success. Your support allows us to offer the programs you have enjoyed for well over 100 years, and we are deeply grateful for your help. At this point, with the political scene as it is, it’s entirely passé to run with a message that starts with the word “change” — but it is also the reality of our world, and we should be changing. As an association, we constantly strive to remain relevant to our members. Back in the early 1990s, our association executives made a hopeful investment of $11,000 to help fund New England Grows. It was an enormous change and a lot of capital to scrape together, but it worked out to be very positive for many consecutive years, and our industry grew by leaps and bounds with the professionalism that ensued. To put that in dollars and cents, by 2004 our related environmental horticulture industry in Massachusetts alone was bringing in roughly 2.6 billion dollars annually in revenues. Today, we are positively embracing the changes all around us again. As a Founding Partner Organization (FPO) of New England Grows, we have always been, and are now more than ever, committed to the Grows board to make our trade show a success. The show this past December has proven to be a huge success and more, and as an FPO, we have been awarded an equal portion of the allotted educational grant: $14,000 for MNLA. I can tell you first-hand that the leaders in that board room are incredibly honorable and highly capable, and the management team that surrounds them is equally impressive. I sat with the Grows Board for their annual meeting when MNLA Past President Michelle Harvey was voted into her new role as President of the Grows Board. I look forward to working with Michelle in her new role and to all the new and exciting changes for the show. I hope to see you all at your Grows Show this coming November 30 – December 2, 2016, at the BCEC. Collaboration: It’s something we hear about all the time, and something your association believes in strongly. About five years ago, our members asked for a new approach to consumer marketing. You wanted a mechanism to allow direct outreach to new customers. You wanted to sell more
Spring|2016
plants and products and install more projects, and your board approved the funds to create the joint effort of Plant Something Mass with our friends at the MFGA. Together with our marketing director from Good Egg Marketing and our IT and web experts from Sirius Design, we have assembled a website that directs new customers right to our members’ front doors. All you have to do is use the materials that have been created for you. This year, we are primarily focused on Planting for Pollinators. I am especially excited about this program because it is something that landscapers can bite into, as well as retailers, growers, and wholesalers. Simple marketing kits will be made up so you can successfully design, sell, and install a pollinator garden that is as plain or creative as you want it to be, but simple enough for you to make that upsell to your customers on the spot. If you are already installing pollinator gardens, please let us know so we can highlight your installation and design on the website. Retailers and wholesalers can also jump on board with the simple kits for pots or displays. The pollinator problem is real and this is an effective way to help combat the problem with a solution to your sales bottom line as well. There are many great programs slated for this year and plenty of opportunities to get your MCH and pesticide credits. Be sure to sign up early, as spaces sell out, and don’t forget to place your spring order for MNLA seed and fertilizer. Jim Stucchi, MCH, Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. MNLA President
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MNLA Committees Virtual History Daydreams
Join the Tradition
R
I
eading and sorting archive boxes in the dim winter light often presents an opportunity for the mind to drift into a light stupor that relaxes into intense daydreaming. With few exceptions, each box contains information resulting in an outline or story in my head. I think of daydreams as simply subconscious staring. Staring reminds me of viewing art: If you stare long enough, it becomes clearer. You may not like it, but you perhaps grasp an appreciation for it, and it opens up possibilities. One recurring muse is what our archival collection will look like and how it be displayed. There are things to iron out first, and the committee has not even finished examining all the boxes, yet I look forward to what we can accomplish. One conflict is which history is being uncovered. Early on, the natural assumption was the history of the nursery industry in Massachusetts. This would be an enormous project better suited for professionals. The other is the history of the MNLA/MNA: the people, association, work, and events. Our association history lies flatter and is easier to define except when it comes to its final form: What will the historical presentation look like? The association’s successes have always raised my benchmark of aspirations for the future, but at no time will we have a brick-and-mortar museum. Picture with me a virtual tour similar to a real estate house tour. The backdrop of wallpaper in the rooms would depict the history of the Massachusetts nursery industry, showing nurseries, nursery production operations, and retail operations large and small at work through the years. There will be pictures of past presidents and notables of the association, and a narrative explaining the events and accomplishments of various periods. At the top, a timeline would display the events that influenced our association. For an in-depth look, we may always fall short. There are no presidential inaugural speeches, no copies of proclamations or legislation that was significant. Recovering these elements will require viewing a different set of boxes and scouring meeting minutes, as well as shift in understanding that makes the MNA/MNLA a more important part of the wider historical perspective. This display will not be easily developed. There is incomplete data and a need to interest a multi-generational audience. Defining an experience for time-separated individuals with differing levels of interest, shifts in taste, and rapidly changing technology presents a huge task. There is much work to do before this stage can exist. It will take more staring, more committee caffeine — and this was just a daydream. Philip Boucher, MCH, Elysian Garden Design History Committee Chair
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t’s an annual thing: Mass Ag Day. MNLA members join up with folks from other agricultural groups around the Commonwealth to meet with legislators and agency heads at the State House. It is an occasion to show what we produce and how economically significant the agricultural sector is for the state. Mass Ag Day is set for Tuesday, April 5, in the Great Hall at the Statehouse beginning at 9:00 a.m. There will be awards, speeches, and schmoozing, as well as time for individuals to introduce themselves to their hometown legislators and to explain their concerns. Around noon, the ag industry puts out samples of what it produces including dishes prepared by students training for the culinary trades. MNLA distributes conifer seedlings that have become favorites for collectors. April 5th is an enjoyable day and an opportunity to do your business and the horticulture industry some good. It’s good food, too. Join the tradition. Chris O’Brien, MCH, Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Government Relations Committee Chair
Try MNLA’s Own Turf-O-Ganic MNLA Products Chair, and MNLA past President, Mark Ahronian (MCH) says, “Ahronian Landscaping & Design uses MNLA Plant O’ Ganic with every plant we put in the ground. We also use a complement of MNLA grass seed and fertilizer in our professional lawn care program and when putting in new lawns. I recommend you try some MNLA products this year.”
Doug Dondero (left), MNLA’s Valley Green sales representative, with Rob Stucchi, Ahronian Landscaping’s senior foreman.
www.mnla.com
pro|grow|news
Welcome Spring
W
elcome spring: the season that can never show up at my door too soon. This was a strange winter, starting so late that we worried about trees that blossomed in December and birds that didn’t quite manage to get away in time. I’ve been fretting over red-winged blackbirds and flickers, while spending somewhere close to the national debt on dried meal worms for the bluebirds that showed up last spring and have called me Mommy ever since. I admit I’ve gotten used to sleeping past sunrise, taking Milo the Wonder Dog on long walks to nowhere, and wearing shirts that aren’t dark green. But now I’m ready to roll, as I’m sure all of you are. So hit the ground running, but don’t forget to take a break to spend time with your friends from MNLA. Good things from the Education Committee this year include a fun Tour de Fleurs meandering a little farther west in the state on June 23rd, starting in Ludlow. If you haven’t joined us for this ride on the magic bus, you really should give it a try. The ideas you pick up are valuable, and the company is even better. And of course, be sure to join us at the Norfolk County Aggie on July 28th for lots of fun stuff and super speakers at the Summer Conference. Thanks to all of you who participated in our first Green Industry Job Fair and the Annual Meeting this last February. I enjoyed the booths, the speakers, and seeing all the kids from local Aggies checking out the people with whom they might be working in their future lives. But most of all I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends. I don’t think I’ve gotten so many hugs since my last family reunion. This was our first stab at a job fair, and we put it together in a surprisingly short time. Feedback has been excellent, but we know there are things we have to smooth out, tweak, add, and subtract. We would appreciate your thoughts and comments. Please send them along, or let us know when we run into each other — which we will — because now we get to be busy again: Now it’s spring.
Dogs at Work
Recognize the unsung member of your team — the “person” who approaches every day and every job with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to stay by your side to the end of the day, no matter what.
Bemis says his chair at the succulent workshop at Bemis Farms Nursery was juuuuust right. Just submit a photo of your favorite canine friend in a work-related activity. All entries will be posted online, and one lucky dog will be featured in each Pro Grow News issue in 2016. The quarterly winner will receive a bag of their favorite treats. At the end of the year, an esteemed panel of judges will select the MNLA Dog of The Year. Top dog will receive a cookie jar, and a donation made in their name to their local animal shelter. Please submit your photo and a brief introduction to your faithful companion to www.mnla.com.
Kathy Bergmann, MCH, Weston Nurseries, Inc. Education Committee Chair
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MNLA Committees
We Hold the Key to a Successful Future
Certifiable: MCH News Corner
A
W
t the December meeting of the MNLA Foundation of Educational Excellence, President Jim Stucchi, MCH, stepped down to prepare for his term as MNLA President. Phil Boucher, MCH, replaces him, while Jeff Willman, MCH, continues as Treasurer. Michelle Harvey, MCH, and Christopher Johnston, MCH, join the Foundation Board, serving along with Ed Bemis, MCH. Michelle brings a great deal of experience as an educator, business owner, and industry leader. Chris, our youngest member, was a recipient of our scholarship and now works in our industry. Together, the board members bring a fantastic mix of backgrounds, talents, and educational experience. In early April, the Board will begin reviewing scholarship applications. Our process has been streamlined to become efficient and thorough, but one challenge is to get information about the Foundation and its scholarships in front of as many applicants as possible. The recent Career Fair was a step in the right direction. The mission of this board remains unchanged, but the work ahead will be a tough test. We read, interface with young employees and young adults, and realize what many college-bound hopefuls face. Knowing these challenges — and our limited resources — makes some decisions difficult. Statistically, 2.5 million qualified high school students will not go on to a college program due to cost. For many, encouragement from the guidance officer, a mentor, a special teacher, or coach is helpful in tangible and intangible ways, but a scholarship can make the biggest difference, acting as a springboard to a more successful future. Our ability to support higher education through scholarships is part of the promise this association offers to future green industry workers and potential leaders. We dwell on the protection and growth of our endowed fund, but not because we are afraid — our funds are fine. The root of it is that we want to do more to assist qualified students attain their educational and professional goals within our industry, and our monetary assistance can tip the balance to make higher education a reality. These recipients will continue to grow, seizing further opportunities and meeting the challenges of their generation. Our goal is to build a larger endowment and affect more than just a few students at a time. To accomplish our goals, we may reach out to you for help in advancing what can be transformative and meaningful changes to help our mission and our members. Every member is part of this equation for a successful future.
elcome to our quarterly news corner devoted to informing MNLA members and the MCH community on updates in the MCH Program. As the first order of business, I thank previous MCH Chair Cheryl Salatino for her dedication and commitment to our board. Cheryl has been a strong voice to promote the MCH credential to new heights and encourage all MCHs to get the word out to the consumer. She has been a credit to our industry and our association, and a friend and mentor to me. Please welcome the new members of the MCH Board: Deborah Trickett from The Captured Garden, Darryl Sullivan from Mount Auburn Cemetery, and Joann McColgan from Wagon Wheel Nursery. We continue to push the Let’s Get Noticed Challenge for all MCHs to participate in the branding process. Use the MCH logo on your business cards, proposal forms, websites, and promotional material. Order and use the new Ask an MCH brochure in your proposals, at your checkout counters, and any other vehicle that targets the consumer. In your daily interaction with clients, educate them on the benefits of having an MCH on staff. Be ready to answer when asked, “What is an MCH?” The Plant I.D. Challenges of 2015 at the Summer Meeting, Plant Geek Day, and New England Grows were a rousing success. Congratulations to all those who participated and interacted with our board members. We look forward to increasing the numbers of participants at this year’s meetings and challenge them with some theme-related selections. Re-Certification Tip: Stay ahead of MCH credits by attending the Twilight Meeting on March 23rd and checking the MNLA website for MCH approved programs. Save These Dates • June 22 – Tour de Fleur, Western Mass • July 28 – Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show Norfolk Agricultural High School (Walpole) • August 3 – MCH Exam, Holiday Inn (Boxborough) • August 24 – Plant Geek Day, Mount Auburn Cemetery (Cambridge) Jack Elicone, MCH, John R. Elicone Landscape Consulting Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) Board Chair
Philip Boucher, MCH, Elysian Garden Design MNLA Foundation Chair
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Revisionist Garden History By Kathy Bergmann, MCH
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enjoys central heat and flush toilets along with his eight fire’ve lived for the last 34 years in a farmplaces and wide pine floors. A person who restores a house house built in 1730. If you’re thinking is living in Sturbridge Village. In the garden, we should allow huge copper beeches or a sugar maple ourselves a certain willing suspension of disbelief. for the record books, think again. Apart A major example: Lilacs have bloomed by kitchen doors from some majestic shagbark hickories for so many centuries here in New England that a lilac found on the edges of the property and a maggrowing in woods or empty fields means that a cellar hole nificent Norway spruce by the foundaoften may be found close by. It’s a native shrub, right? Nope. tion of a long-gone outbuilding, there was no landscaping but Brought here by European settlers hundreds of years ago, and the wrong landscaping when we moved in. So when I wasn’t they found them in Asia. That’s why lilacs prefer a shot of raising three kids or running a gift shop out of our barn, I’ve lime when living in our acid eastern Massachusetts soil, but spent a few decades creating a landscape that I hope reflects that’s a story for another day. Let’s the history and the beauty of the just say that, because of its long hishouse and the land. tory with us, we’re willing to let the And this, of course, creates a lilac share space with our winterberry problem. For example, a lovely little and witch hazel. variegated Japanese maple that had Another example of our European me swooning at work would look — with help from Asian — roots is the anachronistic in front of a farmhouse holly, not the native Ilex opaca that I built when JS Bach was in his glory use whenever I can find it and have and Beethoven wouldn’t even be the proper space for its ultimate size born for forty years. The same would and shape, but the meserve that is the be true of a dwarf Alberta spruce, closest you can easily get to anything Hinoki cypress, or anything pruned European. It’s interesting to note that to look like a theme-park animal. the Druids, who were very much still That doesn’t mean that you can’t around in what is now Great Britain find a spot somewhere else on your and Germany less than a thousand property for any of the above (that Historically accurate…sort of years ago, believed that planting Japanese maple is mine, all mine!) if holly by your door would bring you really like them. But the owners of you the ultimate in ancient houses often consider themselves caretakers of hisgood luck. I use my tory, and many of us try to plant accordingly around these hollies to make the buildings, within reason. wreaths I put up on Some historians believe, for example, that nothing should my doors, hoping ever be planted to obscure the foundation of a house built up that I don’t upset the to and including the Federal Period since, for the most part, original owners with people didn’t do that back then. I can’t say that I’m quite such Pagan rituals. that militaristic, but I also like to use I do understand the the natural evoluconcept. Nevertheless, tion of my own witness my Clethra, native shrubs and winterberry, Cornus trees. Let them grow mas, and sambucus, but where they will, just disregard the hosta. The ultimate good luck but prune and thin Nobody’s perfect. judiciously, and be Now we get into careful not to allow the difference between any invasives in to play. The result is my path to nowhere. renovation and restoTheme park, anyone? You’d never believe that at the bottom of that little slope is ration. A person who McMansion city. Ugh. At least they get the deer and I don’t. renovates an old house
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The path to nowhere
Sometimes, however, even the most stalwart of caretakers gives in to sentiment. Once I was in love with the sweetest, silliest, little black-and-white tuxedo cat nicknamed Little Guy. At night, he would lie down beside me, wrap his paws around my wrist, rest his cheek on the back of my hand, and fall asleep purring. In the warm months, he was fascinated by moths and butterflies. He’d raise his paws above his head and jump straight up, levitating to try to catch one. I can’t remember his actually succeeding, but he certainly enjoyed the hunt. Little Guy died six winters ago. It was a particularly mild February, so we were able to wrap him in his favorite blanket and bury him in the perennial garden outside the kitchen without any trouble. In late April, I planted a butterfly bush near his head. I knew how much he would love watching all those butterflies come and go through the summer. Now, I know Buddleia isn’t native. It came from China only a little over a century ago, and I saw it in native plantings along with lilac while climbing down the Great Wall last year. But I also know that if the first owner Little Guy of my house, Ebenezer Hill, were suddenly to materialize on my front steps to demand an explanation for the purple-flowered interloper that can now be seen clearly from what had been his bedroom window, I would politely ask him to leave. The only thing that matters to me is that my Little Guy has finally caught himself a butterfly. Kathy Bergmann, MCH, Weston Nurseries, Inc. Education Committee Chair
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93676
An Introduction to
Growing Food in the Landscape Sean Michael Halloran, MCH
T
he idea of growing your own food is once again rising in popularity, but this is sobered by the fact that we all know healthy, local food can never be a fad. The purpose of this article is to discuss topics applicable at every level in the green industry, and explain the initial steps involved in growing sustainable backyard food. We will cover the basic ideas behind Integrated Pest Management (IPM), talk about the impor tance of proper plant material selection, soil testing, proper planting, and how to layout a backyard orchard.
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As with most subjects in our greater umbrella of agriculture, the core of IPM is rooted in a relatively humble and simple philosophy: applying chemistry to plants or soil is a last ditch effort to control a serious problem. IPM in common practice is more application of chemistry than actual management, and this is not how it should be. We will discuss some very simple ways you can be part of the solution, rather than the problem, when it comes to growing food for yourself or your clients.
Proper Plant Material Selection
When selecting plant material for a backyard orchard, do your research. There are a lot of great plant scientists in our area, so take advantage of the wealth of information. Stick to websites ending in .edu for the most relevant, peer-reviewed information, such as UMass Cooperative Extension and UNH Cooperative Extension for area-specific information. Rutgers, Cornell, UConn, and Clemson University all have great resources; just find what can translated into growing in Northern New England. Stay away from websites where anyone can contribute, as the level of subjectivity is high. If you are looking to grow brambles in Massachusetts, for example, check out this fact sheet provided by UMass: http://ag.umass. edu/fruit/ne-small-fruit-management-guide/brambles. And for excellent small fruit cultivar information, check out this fact sheet by UNH Cooperative Extension: https://extension. unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000780_Rep801.pdf. You will also need to know what USDA hardiness zone your city or town falls into, and here is an easy to use web-based tool: http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/. When selecting cultivated varieties (cultivars) of plants, tried-and-true is the way to go. If you know your client likes a certain variety of apple, and it is available in the nursery trade, find out what the common pest/disease/cultural issues are with that apple. That way you can be ahead of the client’s questions when those pests and diseases show up.
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to all three of these potential growth limiters. If soil is constantly saturated with water, there is no air space, roots cannot explore the soil, and nutrition is no longer important. If soil is too dry, or even hydrophobic (which means aversion to water), only a small amount of the water (or fertilizer) applied can potentially reach plant roots.
For example: Peach leaf curl is a very common problem that makes homeowners nervous. When they see the twisted, contorted, often red/orange discolorations of leaves in the spring, they react as if an alien has landed on their peach tree. In fact, most infestations of this common fungus are relatively harmless to the long-term health of the plant, and generally do not result in reduced fruit production. The best chemical control for this fungus is what is called a Bordeaux mixture; however the best overall control is to select a peach variety that is resistant to the fungus. Plant breeders have, in some cases, spent their whole lives solving these problems, so take advantage of their great work.
Proper Planting Practices
Selecting the proper plant material is nothing without knowing how to plant it correctly. A lot of stress that plants undergo is the result of bad planting practices. Eliminate that stress, and you will have healthier plants that live longer. While there are a lot of misconceptions about proper planting of trees and shrubs, a lot of great research has also been conducted. Hopefully this UMass article will help clear up some of those misconceptions for you: https://ag.umass.edu/factsheets/guidelines-for-planting-trees-shrubs.
Know Your Soil
So you have found great disease resistant cultivars of your fruits or vegetables, and you know how to plant them. Now, ask yourself: What is the environment in which they will be planted? Did you know that the three most limiting factors for plants in any situation are water, gas exchange, and nutrition? As plants grow in soil and don’t move, soil holds the key
Winter|2015
Soil testing is the first step in determining what factors could be limiting: 1. Chemical a. High/low/neutral pH b. Low Nitrogen, high Phosphorus, low Potassium 2. Physical a. Availability of soil water b. Compaction c. Structure (silt, clay, sand percent) 3. Biological a. Microorganisms, microfauna, overall biological activity b. Organic matter content UMass offers soil testing here: http://soiltest.umass.edu/, and for a small fee you can get a comprehensive soil test. There are also many independent labs for green industry professionals who offer a la carte options for residential and commercial soil testing. Many of these labs offer basic testing, as well as testing for heavy metals, environmental contaminants, etc., and most labs will provide all the support you should need for interpretation of results. If you determine there are significantly different areas in a landscape, then take samples from each one. Here is a sample of a soil analysis from a residential property in Massachusetts, and what information can easily be gleaned from it: From this type of analysis we get a snapshot of soil pH, Cation Exchange Capacity or CEC (a quantifiable measure of a soil’s ability to be nutritive), texture of the soil (loamy aand), and levels of nutritive elements that are important to plant growth. What should jump right off the page at you is that Phosphorus is “Very High”. This is very common in our state (continued on page 16)
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and is part of the reason that the state of Massachusetts and many other states in the U.S. have made regulatory changes related to fertilizer applications. This should inform you that it is probably not necessary to ever apply Phosphoruscontaining fertilizers to this particular area of the client’s property, until a soil test indicates that Phosporus is limiting in some way. When analyzing nutrient levels, it is important to consider that plant essential nutrients are divided into two major groups: non-mineral and mineral. Plants need Oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H), and Carbon (C), which are all non-mineral, whereas Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sulfur (S), Boron (B), etc. are all mineral nutrients. We all know that applying N-P-K fertilizers to plants is one way we can start to supplement the mineral group, but where do plants get Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Carbon? Just like humans, plants breathe and drink water (using their leaves and roots instead of lungs and mouths), and this is where these three very important nonmineral nutrients come from. These processes are much more difficult for us to control in plants, other than ensuring plants are properly watered and soil is well drained. However, by providing a lot of high-quality organic matter and supplementing mineral nutrients as needed (based on soil testing), we can be in the driver’s seat a bit more when it comes to plant growth. There is a lot of information that is not relevant or even usable to a lay person in a report like this. However, for green industry professionals, soil testing is a very useful tool in our arsenal. With the proper explanation (in terms anyone can understand), soil testing can help to illuminate the unknowns and provide a scientific backbone for how we think about day-to-day practices like composting and mulching. If you have insight into the soil you are working with, you can choose the correct plants, eliminate future problems, and stay ahead of questions.
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Planning Your Space Appropriately
Now that you have picked out plants you would like to grow, it is important to consider how much space those plants will take up at maturity and allow plenty of room for changes over time. Plan out how you will irrigate everything in the heat of the summer based on where you have access to water and what will be easiest on you. When you are picking out your plants, keep in mind that if space is at a premium, it’s best to pick small plant material in order to space out fruiting, increase varieties, and not get bored with one cultivar of apple. A great starting point is to make yourself a landscape sketch with dimensions so you can better visualize the space and potential layouts. This doesn’t have to be pretty or complex; do a quick sketch and play around with it until you feel confident.
Getting Started
So now you’ve done your research, and you are ready to purchase your plants. How do you get started? Clonal varieties of many small fruiting plants are often available at your local nursery. Buying clones ensures that you will have fruit which is true to type, for most species, and if you shop locally, your selection may be more limited to your specific environment. Avoid buying plant material from big-box stores because the material is often neglected, and you aren’t supporting your local economy. When picking out your plant material, examine the entire plant (from roots to shoots) for visual evidence of pests and diseases. If you are purchasing fruit trees, you should find your desired cultivar with a desirable shape, healthy (disease resistant) rootstock and scion, and well-healed graft unions. If you’ve looked at enough plants, you will
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Conclusions
As fruit and vegetable crops are high maintenance, growing food in the landscape is no small endeavor. Encourage your clients to start small with very easy-to-maintain plants like brambles, and work your way up to long-term investments like apples, pears, peaches, etc. If you want to learn more, or have specific questions about this article, please feel free to reach out to me at halloran.sean.m@gmail.com. Sean M. Halloran, MCH, received his Master’s Degree in Plant and Environmental Science from Clemson University, where he focused on systems thinking as it relates to plant propagation. His primary passion is teaching, at any level, the art and science of horticulture. His current role at Parterre Garden Services, Inc. includes training, employee development, and perpetuating sustainable thinking as it relates to the green industry.
start to pick up on those common pests and diseases. Most plants you buy at a nursery should have healthy white roots all the way to the edge of the pot. When buying trees, always inspect for girdling roots, and avoid purchasing those plants if possible.
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The author assumes no liability for perceived advice, misdirection (albeit unintended), injury due to personal negligence, and as always: Any application of pesticides should be carried out by a state licensed pesticide applicator.
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2016 PERENNIAL PLANT of THE YEAR™ Anemone xhybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ Anemone xhybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ is an experienced world traveler. Anemone was found in China and other Asiatic countries as well as the Mediterranean region. The origins gave rise to the common name Japanese anemone. Windflower is another name popularly applied to the plant. This anemone has existed in the English garden at the Royal Horticultural Society in Chadwick at least since 1848. Before then, many of the fall flowering anemone were a very light pink. Ten years later a fantastic new hybrid occurred in Verdun, France, in the Jobert Gardens and was named ‘Honorine Jobert’. Soon this exciting discovery went back to England and eventually to American gardens. It was a sought-after cultivar by the time of the American Civil War and since has become a classic perennial in gardens of the world. It is found in borders, cottage gardens, or in formal borders and continues to grow in popularity. Plants are clump-forming and erect. The long wiry stems make the plant look airy and graceful. ‘Honorine Jobert’ attains heights of up to 4’, although most of the time it is a 3’ beauty. Flowers are intense bright white with a green center surrounded by a corolla of yellow stamens. In late summer, 2” to 3” flowers of ‘Honorine Jobert’ explode from dainty pink, silvery buds into petaloid-shaped flowers. The striking flowers are enhanced by the uniquely attractive trifoliate dark green textural foliage that stays attractive from spring to fall. The anemone is a very low maintenance plant. It can be grown in sun or in partial shade. In warm climates it should definitely be in partial shade with protection from wind. In warmer climates it should definitely be in partial shade with protection from wind. Be aware to plant only in early spring or fall. In any location, the plant thrives in humus-rich soil that is well–drained but moisture retentive. It does not tolerate wet, poorly-draining soils in winter. In colder climates, mulch establishing plants. Soils should not be allowed to become dry. The foliage will burn in hot, dry locations. Eventually the spreading rhizomes will be happy to colonize your garden. ‘Honorine Jobert’ grows in USDA zones 4 to 8. It seems to flourish without insect or disease problems and deer do not seem to browse this plant. The best time to propagate is winter or spring. In winter they are usually propagated by root cuttings and in spring by division. ‘Honorine Jobert’ goes well with many other annuals and perennials. Since ‘Honorine Jobert’ flowers into autumn the bright white plant stands out in the landscape and provides accents to the deeper gold, orange, and red colors of the fall garden. They can be charming companion plants with hostas and ferns and countless annuals. Classic plants stand the test of time. This plant more than fills that requirement. Photos Courtesy of Rotary Gardens Janesville, Wisconsin
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Your Handsaw is a Lethal Weapon By Brian Kane, Ph.D. and H. Dennis P. Ryan, Ed.D
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very climber has dug his or her handsaw into a knee or thigh after finishing a cut sooner than expected. Every climber has also nicked their lanyard or climbing line or lowering line with a handsaw, intentionally or not, without causing too much damage. Recently, however, a climber cut himself out of a tree using just his handsaw. He was not inexperienced, and the details of the accident are not fully clear, but the result is that the climber is now paralyzed from the neck down. This tragedy should be publicized far and wide to alert all climbers to the importance of knowing where your rope is at all times while working in a tree. The ANSI Z.133 Safety Standard states that arborists shall be tied in twice whenever they use a chainsaw, but there is no such requirement when using a handsaw. It is required, however, to use a lanyard as a second tie in point during work climb and also in the masters challenge events of the International Tree Climbing Competition. How easy is it to cut through your rope with a handsaw? We’ve been testing ropes and handsaws to answer this ques-
tion, and the answer is: VERY EASY. Four of us tried to cut through a new climbing line bearing 90 pounds of weight. Ninety pounds is about half a climber’s weight, which is how much weight each part of the climbing rope holds when your rope is tied to your saddle, goes over a branch, and is secured with a friction hitch. We used a new pole saw blade, and easily cut through the rope every time we tried, regardless of the type of rope. When we used different blades, we were also able to cut through ropes pretty easily. Two things made it harder to cut through ropes: 1) When we used old, dull blades 2) When we used new blades that didn’t have the razor teeth common on most handsaws today We don’t suggest using old, beat up handsaws to prune just because you’ll be less likely to cut yourself out of a tree, but we strongly encourage you to be aware of your rope at all times, regardless of whether you are using a 046 or a 10-inch folding handsaw. Razor teeth on many new handsaws are much, much sharper than some climbers may be used to. In
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the past, it would have taken some effort to cut your rope with just a handsaw, but that’s not true with today’s saws. There is a reason new saw blades are so sharp: They’re designed to cut more easily through wood. This is a great benefit to climbers who will have to make fewer strokes to complete each cut. In the long run, this will probably reduce the risk of tendonitis or other repetitive stress injuries, but it also means that everything else the saw touches is just as easy to cut through - including your rope or your hand.
Prevention
Remind all your employees how dangerous handsaws can be. Get in the habit of using a lanyard when you’re making a difficult cut with a handsaw, or when you’re in an awkward position trying to make the cut. All new hires, especially summer help, should be made aware of this danger, since many will have only limited experience working in trees. Lastly, always hang your pole saw with the blade facing away from you and
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your rope, and hang it in such a way that there is the least risk that it will dislodge and cut your rope, your lanyard, or you. Brian Kane, Ph.D., is the Associate Massachusetts Arborist and Associate Professor of Commercial Arboriculture at UMass Amherst’s Department of Natural Resources Conservation. H. Dennis P. Ryan, Ed.D., is an Arborist in UMass Amherst’s Department of Natural Resources Conservation. He previously was the Program Coordinator of the Arboriculture/Urban Forestry Program at UMass Amherst, and was the Executive Director of Forestry and Horticulture for the Parks Department of the City of New York. In addition to municipal experience, he worked as a commercial arborist for ten years and was chairperson of the ANSI Z-133 Arboricultural Safety Committee
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Business Focus
Put Your Best Out Front By Jeff Korhan
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usinesses used to proclaim they do not only meet — but rather exceed — customer expectations. As it turns out, that goal is now unattainable for most businesses. Smart companies now recognize they need to acknowledge this marketplace condition. Ironically, how that is communicated will indeed result in exceeding expectations. We need our absolute best talent on the front lines because buyers today have access to abundant information, and that naturally raises expectations. Buyers no longer need hand-holding. They need immediate answers to their questions. If they do not get what they want to further
their decision-making process, they may move on to your competitor. The solution is to train everyone on your process for making a positive first impression. This gives the buyer confidence that you understand their situation, and you can source the necessary solutions. If I were starting my landscape business today, I would charge my front-line salespeople and admins with discovering and curating the most common customer questions. As the owner, I would then train those teams on our process for addressing those problems to serve our customers well. Over time, I would streamline that nar-
rative across every channel our business uses to communicate with customers, including the telephone, email, our website, blog, and social media channels. Together, we would learn to tell the right stories for the common scenarios that come up again and again. And we would put our best-trained talent out front to tell them. Jeff Korhan, MBA is the bestselling author of “Built-In Social: Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business.” Korhan, who served as a board member for the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), is a certified arborist and registered landscape architect.
THE END OF AN ERA ... AFTER MORE THAN 80 YEARS, THE LAWN SPRINKLER’S REIGN OF WATER WASTE IS FINALLY COMING TO AN END.
With many states mandating water reductions of up to 25%, the sprinkler is now considered the prime culprit behind the majority of water waste in landscapes. Put an end to the era of water waste and let Netafim Techline® CV dripline irrigation keep lawns and plants healthy while using up to 70% less water. Having pioneered drip irrigation TECHLINE CV DRIPLINE IRRIGATION: 50 years ago, Netafim delivers the • Over 90% efficient at delivering water directly to the root zone industry's most comprehensive • Promotes deeper roots and healthy plants offering of innovative, drip irrigation • Eliminates water lost through evaporation, and water conservation products. wind, overspray and runoff • Reduces diseases and pest problems • Install below the surface to prevent damage and vandalism
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Meet the MNLA Board of Directors
The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) held its annual meeting on February 10, 2016 in conjunction with the first inaugural Career Fair at the Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA. Thank you to the more than 300 attendees who supported this first-time event. It is an honor to present the MNLA leadership for 2016: (front row) Jim Stucchi, MCH, President; Rena Sumner, Executive Director; Tim Lomasney, Past President; Jean Dooley, MCH, Director; (back row) Chris O’Brien, MCH, Director; Tim Hay, MCH, Vice President; Peter Mezitt, MCH, Secretary/Treasurer; Steve Charette, Director; Kerry Preston, MCH, Director; and David Vetelino, MCH, Director.
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MNLA News UMass Extension Adds Woody Ornamental Entomology Specialist Tawny (Virgilio) Simisky recently joined UMass Extension as the Woody Ornamental Entomology Specialist. Her work will consist of the development of resources and the implementation of educational programs for landscapers, arborists, and grounds managers. She will also provide entomological and diagnostic support to the UMass Plant Diagnostic Lab and the Green Industry in Massachusetts. Most recently, Simisky worked with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Forest Health Program, where she was involved with the eradication of the Asian long-horned beetle, as well as monitoring for the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and other forest pests throughout the state. She also worked with DCR’s trapping and biosurveillance programs. Simisky is a native of western Massachusetts and a graduate of Westfield State University’s Biology and Environmental Science Programs. She earned a master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Science with a focus in Entomology at the University of Maine, Orono. Contact: tsimisky@umass.edu (413) 545-1053
Farm Credit Awards $5,000 to Support Green Industry Survey MNLA recently received a $5,000 grant as part of the Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program to promote northeast agriculture, support young and beginning farmer initiatives, and encourage agricultural youth programs. The AgEnhancement program — which has awarded more than $1.79 million through 660 grants since its inception in 1996 — is a joint effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit, and CoBank. The grant has allowed MNLA to partner with the UMass Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research to develop a survey of Massachusetts green businesses to identify economic impact and opportunities, as well as to provide guidance on strategies to strengthen the industry. The goal of this survey is to gather information that can be used to develop an estimate of the value of the Massachusetts environmental horticulture in 2015 and to determine how the industry has changed since the previous 2008 report. Now, we need your help to provide the accurate and up-todate information about the value of the industry required to aid our efforts to seek adequate financial, political, and regulatory support. Information provided by individual business operations is confidential and will be grouped with other businesses from similar areas for reporting. No individual businesses will be identified, and the information will be reported on a regional and a statewide basis. Survey responses will be tabulated by an independent service provided by the UMass Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research. To complete and return this survey online, visit http://tinyurl. com/2016mnlasurvey. Responses must be received by April 15, 2016. We appreciate your time and effort. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at mnlaexecutivedirector@gmail.com or call (413) 369-4731.
Send funding proposals toAgEnhancement@ FarmCreditEast.com For more information: FarmCreditEast.com/Industry-Support.aspx Contact: Robert A. Smith, Farm Credit East, 240 South Road, Enfield, CT 06088 Tel: (860) 741-4380
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Using Philosophical Arguments to Succeed By Joe Curcillo
A
s the sales team takes their seats in the boardroom, CEO A.C. Tosser rises from his seat and addresses the staff. He introduces the new product line and explains that it will be marketed differently and will carry a new commission structure. The team grumbles at the changes, but Tosser explains how the people in the room will be positively affected by the commissions and bonuses. “Mary, you could finally get that new pool you have talked about,” he says, “and Fred, you will finally be able to start saving for little Fred’s college tuition. If sales continue to rise, we will implement a program to support the local dog rescue. Ed and Anna, will I be able to get your help on that?” “Oh, and, by the way,” he adds, “We are confidentially trying to arrange to hold this year’s holiday party in Las Vegas. It will depend on our mid-year totals, but I thought you’d like to know.” As he continues, the staff becomes excited and the room fills with energy. Tosser understands how to motivate his staff. As a student of Greek philosophy, he knows that Aristotle’s rhetoric is as relevant today as it was twenty-five hundred years ago. The theory advanced by Aristotle includes three categories of focus when presenting a convincing argument. They are Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. • Ethos is the essence of your character. It is your charismatic appeal. • Logos is the intellectual appeal. It is the logical factors or the truths that make up the foundation and structure of your presentation. • Pathos, the emotional appeal, is that which appeals to the wants and desires of the audience: what they want to believe and what makes them happy.
Effective persuasion is accomplished when the speaker is able to understand the importance and depth of his own character, reason logically, and understand the emotions that motivate and inspire the listener.
Character Appeal
Let us begin with Ethos — your character. You must have character to successfully lead and convince others to follow. There are no exceptions. It is far easier to believe the words
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of a good person than a bad person. Character is in many instances the most effective means of persuasion that you possess. Tosser has built credibility by working with his team, getting to know them, and keeping them on track. If you are not consistent, your personality becomes a distraction that disrupts the flow and confuses the ultimate message. If every time your team gets comfortable with you, you change your personality, demeanor, or attitude, they will have to reconsider whether they like you or not. The mental process will then be stuck in a rut, and they will be hard pressed to give thought to your message. How can you relate to your team? • Share how you deal with rejection and the anguish of a week without a sale • Speak their language; be a real person; talk to them, not down to them • Remind them of the team’s accomplishments • Remind them of your experiences as you learned and grew in the business • Know the products and benefits the company offers • Be there to assist with better ways of relating the needs to the customers While the ability to trust is an emotional decision, people want to trust. If you do not have a character people can embrace, your goal of acceptance will fail despite all the proof you can gather and all the emotion you can create.
Intellectual Appeal
Logos is the ability to present information in a coherent fashion that leads everyone to the same factual conclusion. If you give people enough acceptable and understandable information, the logical choice will be easier for them to make. People will resist a position that is forced upon them. Education and learning are phenomenal co-pilots that allow you to guide people on the path you design; they are precursors to the logical choice. Skepticism, on the other hand, becomes a major defense mechanism that fights against the possibility of harm, loss or deceit. If people come to their own conclusions based on your presentations, they can freely and comfortably make an educated choice. When fear is eliminated, people are more likely to follow. www.mnla.com
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Emotional Appeal
Last, and never to be overlooked, is Pathos — the emotional state of the listener. People are more responsive when they are happy than when they are miserable. Work on their hearts and minds in a positive and healthy way to be the person they look to for direction. Most people are vulnerable when they feel that their goals are not in sync with the company goals, and when those weaknesses are lessened, people are more likely to follow. Take the time to find the weaknesses in those you lead and find the positive triggers that will make them emotionally ready to hear and believe that you know best. When that is done well, everyone wins. The goal of a leader is to lead, not direct or order people to act. The more people want to follow you, the more success you will achieve. So, how do you get people to follow you? Be a solution to their problems. Spend time listening to and observing those you lead. As you mingle, chat, and observe, pay attention to the needs of the team and lead discussions as you search for the group’s mindset. Look for common truths that shape their beliefs and thoughts. Frequently question their dreams and their beliefs to find a common thread. Then, speak with a focus on herding the hearts and minds of the team to bring them together as a cohesive unit.
Joe Curcillo, The Mindshark, is a speaker, entertainer, lawyer and communications expert. As an Adjunct Professor at Widener University School of Law, Mr. Curcillo developed a hands-on course, based on the use of storytelling as a persuasive weapon. For more information, please visit www.TheMindShark.com.
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Strike a Balance
A well-structured presentation — like a well-structured argument — must contain balanced proportions of character appeal, intellectual appeal, and emotional appeal. The measurements change from person to person and from task to task. For some, success is a matter of patience and practice. For others, it will flow. For the majority of people, the art of convincing others requires a balance of natural skills and learned techniques. The challenge will always be finding the balance that is right for you. When you walk into a meeting, have your facts, charts, and statistics ready, but pay attention to the room and your audience. Put your commitment to the team first. Be ready to go with the flow. Allow them to come to you and be inspired to follow.
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GROW MASSACHUSETTS and your business!
Plant Something is a consumer marketing campaign to promote the value of the green industry!
The Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association (MFGA) and Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) launched a partnership in 2012 to get Massachusetts consumers to Plant Something on May 15. Each year at the Boston Flower & Garden Show, over 16,000 people flock to our Plant Something Massachusetts booth to plant a free mystery seed in a cup, then visit plantsomethingma.org to learn what they got and how to care for it. Our 2016 theme is Plant Something for Pollinators. Nature lovers, local food enthusiasts, and environmentalists are all concerned about the decrease in the pollinator population, so we’re aiming to attract even non-gardeners to plant at least one pollinator-friendly plant. This spring, MFGA and MNLA members will receive a FREE Resource Guide with suggestions for how to attract new customers, especially millennials. We’ll give you a list of pollinator-friendly plants, display ideas, sample social media posts, and files for posters, event flyers, and signage that you can print at any copy store. Want to hold an event? Attract customers by holding a pollinator event between May 15 and National Pollinator Week, June 20–26, using our handy event checklist. Want to get involved? Contact jess@plantsomethingma.org. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with program events and activities.
To learn more, contact us today at info@massflowergrowers.com or mnlaoffice@aol.com. Plant Something Massachusetts is a partnership project of the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association (MFGA) and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA).
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Advertiser Index
MARKETPLACE
A&B Insurance Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Acorn Tree and Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Amherst Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Bigelow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Cavicchio Landscape Supplies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Fairview Evergreen Nuseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Farm Credit East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Farm Family Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ideal Concrete Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Motz & Son Nursery Wholesale Growers of ... Shade and Flowering TreeS FruiT TreeS dwarf, Semi-dwarf & Standard combinaTion FruiT TreeS (4 in 1)
Milton Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Motz & Son Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Netafim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 New England Wetland Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Northeast Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
eSpalier appleS
Prides Corners Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Semi-dwarf, combination & one Variety
Savage Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
walnuTS and FilberTS
Sylvan Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
deciduouS ShrubS Write for our stock and price: 11445 N.W. Skyline Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97231 Phone 503-645-1342 Fax 503-645-6856
Valley Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Weston Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Hortus Humorous
For Advertising Information—
Call Debbie Rauen (817) 501-2403
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My Favorite Plant
The Innate Grace of Stewartia pseudocamellia
F
or people in the nursery and landscape industry to be asked to name your favorite tree is a bit like being asked to name your favorite child. But since no child’s psyche is at stake in this case, I thought I would disclose my love for Stewartia pseudocamellia. To quote Joe Eck of North Hill in Vermont, this is a tree “born with an innate grace and an elegant tear drop form.” It is narrow and upright growing when young and develops that lovely tear drop form with age, although the less poetic among us might call it rounded and columnar. It branches relatively low down. The tree develops stunning bark that exfoliates in patches to reveal gray, orange, ivory, and reddish brown patches. This lovely textured bark is particularly noticeable once the trunk attains a diameter of 2-3 inches. Serrated foliage emerges bronzy purple in spring, develops into a dark green by summer, and turns red or orange in the fall. In midsummer, showy large buds appear, followed in July by glamorous 3-inch white, camellia-like flowers with wavy edges and yellow centers. Part of the Theaceae (tea) family, Stewartia pseudocamellia is native to Korea and Japan. It grows somewhat slowly to a height of 25 feet or so here in the Northeast. It thrives in sun or part shade. All in all, it is an excellent specimen tree with four seasons of interest. It was named the 1997 Cary Award winner for its many merits, Gaele McCully, MCLP, is part of the landscape design team at Mahoney’s Garden Centers.
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