Colorado Green Jan/Feb 2020

JAN/FEB 2020 | VOL 36, NO 1 WWW.ALCC.COM

Fort Collins residence gets major landscape makeover Bookcliff Gardens sells its success to recent buyers

Douglas County incentives inspire certification

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WE GO THE DISTANCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. That means providing more than just top-quality irrigation and landscape materials. We proudly offer same and next-day product delivery, as well as industry expertise and personalized assistance.

In this issue

Jan/Feb 2020 | Vol 36 | No 1

Feature

40

Fort Collins residence gets major landscape makeover ZGL blends rustic and formal

BY LYN DEAN

40 26

Profile

25

Bookcliff Gardens sells its success to recent buyers How owners refocused to create a salable business

BY LYN DEAN

28

Goodspeed Lawn redefines family business

BY LYN DEAN

How to nurture a business and a family learning lab

Business Sense

32

Are you selling for retirement?

BY MICHAEL WATKINS

34

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Dig your well before you need it

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In this issue

Departments 010 13

Jan/Feb 2020 | Vol 36 | No 1

13

Perspective Green News & Notes

21

Sustainable Landscape Management

49

Ad Index

Workforce

37

Douglas County incentives inspire employee certification

Top Plant Picks

44

37

More tough perennials for Colorado gardens

47

Welby Plant Trials — Top 6 varieties

Spotlight on Plant Select®

Early blooming Golden Candles is drought tolerant

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47

CSU Research

3 Questions

50

Finding inspiration in parks management

JAN/FEB 2020 | VOL 36, NO 1 WWW.ALCC.COM

Fort Collins residence gets major landscape makeover Bookcliff Gardens sells its success to recent buyers

Douglas County incentives inspire certification

8

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Cover photo: Zak George Landscaping

publication ALCC servingindustry the green in industry in the Rocky Mountain region Official publication Official of ALCC servingofthe green the Rocky Mountain region

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Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region

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Colorado Green Production Team EDITORIAL

Collaboration makes us stronger

John McMahon

C

olorado has long been at the forefront of the landscape industry. If you browse the Green News & Notes section of this issue—or any issue of Colorado Green—you’ll see that Colorado green industry professionals are being recognized on a national level for their outstanding work and for contributions to the worlds of design, horticulture, and water conservation.

For 2020, I see a continuation of that forward-thinking, groundbreaking spirit that has captured the attention of our peers across the country. Business leaders from Colorado will continue to lead our industry in advocacy on Capitol Hill. The SLM Colorado program will begin to educate Coloradans on maintaining landscapes that can thrive in our unique conditions and that will help conserve our most precious resource, water. Our landscape professionals will continue to create beautiful built environments that make us healthier and happier. To help demonstrate our industry’s skills, ALCC will move forward in partnership with NALP to develop a hands-on training to complement the Landscape Industry Certified Technician exam.

I look forward to seeing the Rocky Mountain green industry come together at ProGreen EXPO in Denver in February. The ProGreen partners are always looking for ways to improve the program and deliver a more valuable experience. This year, we’ve restructured the schedule to offer three full days of events: Wednesday through Friday, February 5-7. Instead of a VIP breakfast, attendees can enjoy a VIP luncheon followed by our keynote session and wrap up the day with an opening reception in the EXPO hall. I believe you’ll find the trade show more interactive than ever before, with equipment demos, an expanded arborist corner, and the return of the highly anticipated potting challenge.

Additionally, I hope that the spirit of collaboration that we see at ProGreen will continue throughout the new year. I invite you to get involved with your industry, whether it be through legislative advocacy, earning an SLM Colorado certificate, or donating your time and expertise to educate the next generation through the Pathways program. Stop by the ALCC booth at the trade show and talk with peers about how you can give back to your industry. Members will be on hand to tell you about the personal and professional rewards they find in industry service, and they can help you find something that fits your interests and returns the greatest benefit for your time.

Together, we can move the green industry into the next decade with the power of our collective talents. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of it.

John McMahon, CEO, ALCC

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ALCC CEO John McMahon Editor Lyn Dean Official publication of ALCC serving the green industry in the Rocky Mountain region Communications Director Cherie Courtade Circulation and Adminstration Paige Kelly DESIGN

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President Michael Moore Diggable Designs LLC, Lakewood Vice President Phil Steinhauer Designscapes Colorado, Centennial Past President Matt Hiner Hiner Outdoor Living, Colorado Springs Secretary/Treasurer Craig Nesbit Timberline Landscaping, Inc.

Colorado Green (ISSN0195-0045) is published bimonthly by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, Inc., 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222, phone: 303-757-5611, fax: 303-7575636. Colorado Green is distributed to contributing members and professionals throughout Colorado, and educational and governmental institutions across the state. Postage paid at Denver, Colorado. Publisher assumes no responsibility for safekeeping or return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts, and reserves all rights to edit material submitted for publication.

Approval for publication of copyrighted material submitted to Colorado Green is the sole responsibility of the advertiser/contributing authors. ©2020 by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado. All rights reserved. Reproduction of materials contained herein allowed only with permission of the publisher. Post master: Please send Form 3579 to ALCC, 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 831, Denver, Colorado 80222. For advertising inquiries, please call Amy McCraken at 303-4787895, or email amym@evergreencustommedia.com.

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Green News & Notes

Photo courtesy ASLA Colorado and Unfound Door Photography

Green News& Notes

Kim Naughtin, Ross Shrigley and Megan Jones Shiotani

Shrigley receives 2019 JSR Award

R

oss Shrigley, Plant Select® executive director, received the ASLA Colorado Chapter’s 2019 Jane Silverstein Ries (JSR) Foundation award in October. The JSR Foundation Award is an annual tradition that recognizes a person, group or organization that demonstrates a pioneering sense of awareness and stewardship of land-use values in the Rocky Mountain region.

Plant Select’s goal is to create smart plant choices for a new American landscape inspired by the Rocky Mountain region. Shrigley was recognized for his work in research and development of plant materials and also for educating designers and the general public on which plants flourish in our Rocky Mountain region.

Kim Naughtin, AEC Consultant Group, and Megan Jones Shiotani, Wenk Associates and president of the JSR Foundation board of directors, presented the award to Plant Select. The JSR Foundation is named in honor of Jane Silverstein Ries, who was the first woman licensed in Colorado as a professional landscape architect.

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Green News & Notes

Photo courtesy Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association

Women in Horticulture Luncheon celebrates 25 years

Gabriela Chavarria, Ph.D.

O

n Oct. 10, CNGA celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its Women In Horticulture Luncheon at the Lakewood Country Club. Each year the event attracts upward of 150 professional women from CNGA member companies and other guests in the horticulture industry. The luncheon includes numerous giveaways, raffle prizes, wine and sa-

Event participants

vory cuisine to create the perfect environment for networking and reconnecting.

This year’s luncheon speaker was Dr. Gabriela Chavarria, VP of Research and Collections at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. She talked about her lifelong passion for bees, which began as a young girl growing up in Mexico. She has devoted her

career to the conservation of native pollinators, especially bumble bees. Some of her recent work as a wood anatomist has focused on fighting the illegal trafficking of tropical hardwoods. Her presentation was filled with fascinating facts about bees as well as many delightful and entertaining stories about her life’s journey.

Fort Collins Utilities receives SWAT Award

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Photo courtesy Fort Collins Utilities

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ort Collins Utilities (FCU) received the 2019 Outstanding Industry Partnership Award given by Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT). The award recognizes water providers with programs focused on building partnerships with landscape professionals, irrigation contractors and other professionals with irrigation responsibilities to promote outdoor water conservation.

The utility’s residential sprinkler audit program educates customers on efficient landscape watering through one-on-one engagement with residents. FCU performs irrigation assessments and develops personalized audit reports with recommendations to help customers reduce inefficiencies in their sprinkler systems that lead to water waste. Since the program began in 1999, Fort Collins Utilities has provided over 6,000 free residential sprinkler audits and saved the community over 68 million gallons of water. The program has evolved as staff stays up-to-date on irrigation technology advancements, incorporating new products into the rebate and education components of the program.

Smart Water Application Technologies is a coalition of water purveyors, equipment manufacturers and irrigation professionals.

Debra Hamlin, CEO, Irrigation Association, presents the award to Eric Olson CID, CLIA and Irrigation Specialist, Water Conservation at Fort Collins Utilities.

Founded in 2002, SWAT is committed to identifying, testing and promoting innova-

tive irrigation technologies and related best practices that improve water-use efficiency.

Green News & Notes

Wagner opens new rental facility

Photo courtesy Wagner Equipment Company

W

New Wagner Rents location in Aurora.

agner Equipment Co. opened a new Wagner Rents - Cat Rental Store facility in Aurora in November 2019. Adam Schafer is branch manager at the new location. He and other employees relocated to the new facility from the former downtown Denver location on 39th Ave., which closed Nov. 8, 2019.

General manager Ray Nibbe said, “The move will support future growth, efficiencies, and improve the customer experience both in Denver Metro and across the Front Range of Colorado.”

Adam Schafer, Wagner Rents Aurora branch manager stated, “We’re excited to deliver the same great rental, parts, service and sales solutions from our new and expanded facility in Aurora.”

The new facility is located at 17800 E 22nd Ave., Aurora, CO 80011, just east of Airport Boulevard near Denver.

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Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Green News & Notes

GreenCO Association Leadership 2020 ASLA Colorado

Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado President, Mike Moore, Diggable Designs Landscape Construction Vice President, Phil Steinhauer, RLA, Designscapes Colorado Past President, Matt Hiner, Hiner Outdoor Living Secretary/Treasurer, Craig Nesbit, Timberline Landscaping, Inc At-Large Directors: Brian Carlson, Green Landscape Solutions LLC Luis Estrada, CoCal Landscape Ben Fisk, Fisk Lawnscapes Zak George, Zak George Landscaping Services Daniel Grange, BrightView Landscape Development Eric Haugen, LandCare Management Brian Levins, Arrowhead Landscape Maintenance

President, Jon Romero, NES Inc. President-Elect, David Sprunt, Sprunt Design Treasurer, Rania Sawyer. Rania Sawyer Design Secretary, Daniel Morgan, Felsburg, Holt and Ullevig VP Public Relations, Carl Runge, Norris Design VP Programs, Sara Bonacquist, Design Workshop VP Government Affairs, Susan Suddjian, Colorado Department of Transportation Past President, Tom Ellenwood, Norris Design Trustee, Robb Berg, Design Workshop Executive Director, Greg Williams, Redpoint Resources

Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals

International Society of Arboriculture Rocky Mountain Chapter President, Dana Coelho, Dangerously Collaborative President-Elect, Patrick O’Meara, High Country Landscape Vice President, Jeff Meyer, City and County of Denver Secretary/Treasurer, Natalie McNeill, The Davey Tree Expert Company Past President, Teddy Hildebrandt, T4 Tree Services Directors: Mark James, Arbor Solutions Robert Rizzuto, T4 Tree Services Vince Urbina, Colorado State Forest Joran Viers, City of Albuquerque Natalie Wehrwein, City of Longmont State Directors: Colorado, Craig Marchinkoski, The Davey Tree Expert Company Montana, Patrick Plantenberg, Plants, Etc. New Mexico, Eric Bishop, Eric’s Tree Care Wyoming, Mark Lyon, City of Rock Springs

American Society of Landscape Architects Colorado Chapter

President, Chris Walton, SavATree Vice President, Will LaPoint, Terracare Associates Treasurer, Dan Defibaugh, Plants of Distinction Directors: Terry Dwyer, Denver Brass & Copper Irrigation Supply; Luis Estrada, CoCal Landscape Services; Wade Grove, Green Mountain; Dayna MacBeth, Fit Turf; Chris Martin, Davey Tree Expert Co.; Mark Pickrel, Wilbur-Ellis Company; Hector Rodriguez, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf; Rick Roehm, Helena Agri-Enterprises; Thia Walker, Bio AG Sciences CSU

Garden Centers of Colorado

President, Michael Morris, The Flower Bin Vice President, Julie McIntyre, Summerland Gardens Past-President, Trela Phelps, City Floral Garden Center Directors:

Rocky Mountain Sod Growers President Marc Ruhl, Bittersweet Turf Farms Vice President Shane Markham, Green Hills Sod Farm

CNGA board will be announced in the March/April issue of Colorado Green.

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Jeff Echter, Echter’s Nursery & Garden Center Diana Mundinger, Eagle Crest Nursery Jason Shimmel, Sturtz & Copeland Associate Representatives: Cindy Hertz, The Plant Ranch; Jim Wilson, Organix Supply; Education Representative: Jim Klett, CSU/Department of Horticulture

Green News & Notes

Spruce and Colorado College receive Award of Excellence

Photo courtesy Historic Preservation Alliance

C

olorado College (CC) and arborist Michael Spruce received an Award of Excellence for Stewardship of a Historic Landscape from the Historic Preservation Alliance (HPA) of Colorado Springs.

The college, with an arboretum and landscape featuring more than 2,400 trees, was the site of the state’s first forestry program. It has also earned Tree Campus USA status from the Arbor Day Foundation for the past four years.

“Preservation and stewardship of CC’s trees has always been and continues to be the top priority in my day to day work,” Spruce says. “Our trees are witnesses to CC’s history, change and evolution over the last nearly 150 years and each of them has a story to tell. I feel privileged to be able to work among them each day and am thankful for the trust that the CC community has given to me.”

HPA’s stewardship award “recognizes best practices in preservation maintenance for properties, sites or spaces which have maintained their historic integrity over time, including the historic, distinctive and character-defining features of the property through careful and consistent stewardship.” | CG

C O L O R A D O

Wade Broadhead and Roxanne Eflin of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs pose with Mike Spruce and George Eckhardt of Colorado College.

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Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Get valuable education and training From the latest in technical training to improving your business acumen, ALCC offers educational opportunities that have been designed by landscape contractors for landscape contractors.

ALCC HELPS COLORADO LANDSCAPE COMPANIES RUN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES WHILE INCREASING PROFESSIONALISM IN THE INDUSTRY.

Shape the course of the industry The more members ALCC has, the stronger our voice is when speaking with legislators and regulatory bodies about our industry – and the easier it is to protect and advance your business and direct the future of our industry.

Demonstrate your professionalism Show the public that you are a professional and strive to do business ethically and responsibly.

Join ALCC and take advantage of everything that membership in your trade association can offer. When we work together, we are better by nature.

Build relationships that build your business Success can depend as much on whom you know as what you know.

ALCC can help you make the right connections to grow your business.

Visit ALCC.com/membership or call (303) 757-5611 to learn more.

Join today!

Invaluable Connections “ALCC has been an incredible resource for industry knowledge, relationships, and as a lead source for potential customers. We get inquiries throughout the year from ALCC’s find a pro listing. The relationships and connections I have made through my involvement are immeasurable. ALCC works on so many industry issues and initiatives behind the scenes. I can’t imagine what our local industry would be without it.”

- Cindy McCord, Owner/President Bloom Floralscapes, LLC / ALCC member since 2006

Join ALCC today and see what makes our members better by nature

Advocacy Update

Colorado shows up in support of H-2B reform

Photos courtesy ALCC

I

n November 2019, ALCC led a delegation of Colorado businesses to Washington, D.C., for an H-2B advocacy day. The H-2B Workforce Coalition welcomed participants from multiple industries to Capitol Hill to advocate for both short-term and long-term solutions to shortcomings in the H-2B guest worker visa program.

The fly-in, organized by AmericanHort, NALP and the Seasonal Employment Alliance, began with a briefing for all participants, which set the stage with relevant talking points and a discussion of strategy.

More than 100 business professionals from across the nation attended.

The group of 12 Colorado business representatives was one of the largest delegations.

Considering the state’s population, it had a greater turnout percentagewise than most other states. Professionals from the landscape, construction, and hospitality industry met directly with Senator Gardner, Representative Tipton and Representative Lamborn. They also met with staff in the offices of each of Colorado’s senators and representatives.

“People might see our successes and think, ‘Colorado’s got this,’” says ALCC CEO John McMahon. “While we are one of the strongest, most active states when it comes to H-2B advocacy, it’s important that our fellow landscape professionals continue to show support. I know it’s difficult to make time to do it, but it is important.”

Of particular importance was a joint meeting with the offices of Senators Bennet and Gardner. Just as Colorado advocates helped advance a bipartisan letter of support from Senator Gardner and Representative Crow, they are working to continue to solidify relationships and encourage bipartisan solutions.

The November fly-in focused on a verbiage change (from “may release” to “shall release”) regarding the release of additional visas. “It is far from what we would prefer, but it empowers DOL to release additional visas more quickly and expedites the process,” McMahon explains. Moving forward, efforts will widen to create greater reform of the visa program in order to support the success of seasonal businesses. | CG Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Sustainable Landscape Management

SLM Colorado Photos courtesy JBK Landscape

Photos courtesy Landtech Contractors

extends implementation in 2020

Photo courtesy Neils Lunceford Landscaping

A

LCC’s Sustainable Landscape Management Colorado (SLM Colorado) has launched into full swing for 2020.

Sustainable Landscape Management Colorado: A Guide to More Sustainable Landscapes in Colorado by Janet Waibel, RLA, the manual serving as the foundation for the initiative, was published in December 2019 and is available for purchase at alcc.com/slm.

The first SLM Colorado course took place in December, and attendees were able to earn certificates in sustainable landscape management practices. The manual and program were developed to work within Colorado’s unique growing conditions using input from horticulture and landscape professionals across the state.

The four-hour certificate course will be offered in spring, fall, and winter this year. The first class of the year will be held at ProGreen EXPO on Wednesday, February 5 from 8:00 AM to noon. A second class will be held February 27 at CPS Distributors. Details and registration will be available at www.alcc.com/slm.

To earn a certificate, attendees must take an online exam after the class and earn a score of at least 70. Attendees will receive an email with a link to the exam, which features 50 questions and is an open-book test.

SLM certificate holders and their companies will be featured on the ALCC website for verification purposes. | CG

SLM Colorado sponsors

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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FEBRUARY 5-7, 2020

ProGreen EXPO returns in 2020 with a new level of conference value: è Enjoy three full days of education sessions on a wide range of topics related to the green industry and successful business management. è Experience two full days of the EXPO hall, plus an opening reception Wednesday evening and access to 275+ vendors. è Participate in equipment and skills demonstrations, including an enhanced Arborist Corner with technical demos. è Show your skills in the popular Potting Challenge at the EXPO. è Go paperless with electronic validation of Pesticide Applicator CEUs. 22

www.alcc.com

THURSDAY Re-Energize Workshop Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

“Our industry is facing a new set of challenges. Companies that retool their leaders with the capabilities to navigate these challenges will experience increased engagement, better customers, less risk, and higher profits.” –Steve Coughran, Coltivar Group

New format for 2020!

ProGreen EXPO runs for three full days—Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Though there are no Tuesday sessions, the conference and EXPO Hall activities will continue all day Friday.

WEDNESDAY VIP lunch Wednesday, February 5 12:30 – 2:30 PM Host Steve Coughran will identify forces that impact the future of business.

Sharing his dynamic approach to strategy design and implementation, he’ll identify key industry drivers and discuss how to integrate this information into actionable strategies.

Keynote Session Wednesday, February 5 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Peter van Stralen presents “Attract/ retain/engage employees who C.A.R.E (Create A Remarkable Experience)”.

Learn how this successful entrepreneur created a winning culture for his landscape business franchise.

EXPO hall opening reception Wednesday, February 5 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM Following the keynote address, join us as we open the 2020 ProGreen EXPO with networking, beer, wine and snacks!

Bars and food will be located throughout the EXPO.

Close out your ProGreen experience with an afternoon in the EXPO Hall— open until 3PM!

Steve Coughran, MBA, CPA presents a full day of learning with peers in a team setting. Engage with real-world case studies, peer-to-peer learning, and team activities that will help you realize opportunities and solve specific issues facing your company.

Pre-registration and additional fee required. Deadline to register is January 21.

Women in the green industry lunch Thursday, February 6 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Network with and learn from some of the industry’s leading women.

ALCC Member Reception Thursday, February 6 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Earl’s Kitchen and Bar, 1600 Glenarm Pl #140 Join fellow ALCC members for a drink, light bites, and some networking after spending the day at ProGreen. This event is free to attend — just show your ProGreen badge at the door!

FRIDAY EXPO Potting Challenge finals Friday, February 7 | 10:30 AM The top two contestants from each of the three Thursday rounds will show off their design skills in the creation of beautiful and practical container gardens. See who takes home the top prize!

Green industry best practices for working with the media Friday, February 7 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Learn the basics of marketing your business by becoming a resource to local media. Get tips on developing relationships with media outlets and how to get your story told.

Check out the session schedule for a Friday that is jam-packed with classes.

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Profiles

Bookcliff Gardens sells its success to recent buyers How owners refocused to create a salable business

By Lyn Dean

B

ookcliff Gardens Landscape and Maintenance has been adaptable since the 1960s when a restaurant owner, Ed Settle, decided to grow his own tomatoes to ensure fresh, high quality produce. Soon he was growing carnations as cut flowers, bedding plants and nursery stock in greenhouses, and running a gardening business—aided by his son. The garden center was thriving— so much so that in the early 1980s, Dennis Hill was hired to further develop the greenhouse and retail parts of the business, and Dan Komlo was hired to build and develop landscape services.

Build a culture of education for employees and the public

Photos courtesy Bookcliff Gardens

Settle, the founder, recognized the need for knowledgeable and educated people when he hired Komlo, a landscape horticulture grad from Colorado State University, and Hill, who brought a degree in ornamental horticulture from California Polytechnic State University.

Komlo and Hill became co-owners within a couple of years, and they continued to promote a culture that educates consumers, educates employees and provides the highest level of products and services to their customers.

Komlo and Hill modeled pursuit of learning.

“We both received CCNP [Colorado Certified Nursery Professionals] designation the first year it was offered,” says Komlo, who also joined ALCC and earned CLT designation.

During the next 35+ years, employees were encouraged to pursue certifications with support from the company. Costs were reimbursed and bonuses given to employees who Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

25

Profiles earned certification. Employees interested in pursuing longer term employment and a career in the industry were supported with promotions and added responsibility.

Educating the employees paid off in multiple ways. Around town, Bookcliff was a wellknown local business. Komlo shared that when he or other employees entered stores in their company shirts, it was not unusual for people to comment that they knew and liked the business, thanks not only to the retail garden center and its free classes for the public, but to the successful landscape projects in the area.

Over the last decade in particular, the company has garnered great success, but also it took a lot of careful reevaluation.

Get another opinion

“The business was growing, and we thought we had a pretty good thing going,” says Komlo. “We decided to find out what it was worth.

So, about 12 years ago, we talked to a business broker to find out. We were quite surprised to find out that in its current state, our business was not really salable!” One of the key reasons was that the company had too much debt.

When Komlo and Hill bought out the third partner—the original owner—the company took on the debt. Komlo said it was further humbling when a bank turned them down when they wanted to refinance. The partners knew they had to make changes.

Decrease debt and expand business

“We did a lot of self-evaluation. We treated the debt challenge with laser focus and looked for more diversification,” Komlo says. “We also realized our books were not up to par.

They lacked detail and a good structure.” The partners hired a new accounting/CPA firm, invested in a new accounting program and made changes based on the CPA’s recommendations.

“The changes in our accounting practices were very beneficial. Now each year, we could see more clearly where we were and how to make improvements. We reinvested in the business to grow and increase its value while decreasing debt,” he adds.

With the updated accounting system, the partners were able to analyze the debt load each month after receivables were tallied and bills paid. Then they would apply what they could to the principle of the loan, while weighing the need compared to, say, investing in a new truck. “This ‘recipe’ has worked will for us,” says Komlo.

It took three years to pay off the property, which had become part of the now-deceased former-owner’s estate. Then they paid off their back loan. Free and clear ownership of the business was a great asset.

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"Our intention was to make sure our customers were happy, and this intention transcended all parts of the business—maintenance, landscape installation and the garden center."

Every customer experience matters

Additionally, during the last decade, the partners and employees worked very hard to maintain the company’s reputation. “We made sure all our employees knew the little things mattered—which means every customer experience. Our intention was to make sure our customers were happy, and this intention transcended all parts of the business—maintenance, landscape installation and the garden center.” By empowering and rewarding employees, the partners could rely on them to do their jobs well and keep the business going without depending on the owners.

The business also stuck to its core strengths and capacities. Employees would help customers find contractors for projects which did not play to the company’s strengths.

The customer experience also applies to upkeep of the Bookcliff’s facilities. For example, at the garden center, new walkways were installed for customers and the parking was revamped to include more shade. Company trucks are kept clean and maintained, and trucks are painted, when needed, to be sure the logos are tidy and visible.

The long partnership

The business partnership between Hill and Komlo “is longer than my marriage,” quips Komlo. “Dennis and I have total trust for each other. Not that there were never frustrations, but we worked for the betterment of the company. Transparency has to be there for it to work.”

The business sold in October 2019. Komlo and Hill treated the employees with transparency as well. Before the deal was closed and before too many rumors could circulate, the exiting owners and prospective owners met with several smaller groups of employees—as opposed to one all-company meeting—to allow employees to ask question of the new owners. New owners met with managers initially, then with greenhouse, maintenance and landscape crews. “The meetings with the new owners put a lot of fears to rest,” says Komlo. “The employees realized the new owners were good people.”

As it turns out, the same business broker who, 12 years ago, told Komlo and Hill the business not salable then, brokered the recent sale. The former owners will stay on for a time during the transition period. Welcome to the new owners, Rick and Stephanie Griggs! | CG

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Profiles

Goodspeed Lawn redefines family business How to nurture a business and a family learning lab

By Lyn Dean

C

ory and Alyssa Hayes started Goodspeed Lawn & Design in Colorado Springs in 2017 and have adapted their business to embody their values of being with family as well as cultivating relationships with customers.

For the two Colorado Springs natives who graduated from University of Colorado—Colorado Springs, starting a family business enables them to do things their way. Choosing the landscape industry for that business came about from Cory’s teenage work experience.

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At the age of 14, Cory was mowing lawns for a homebuilder and shoveling driveways in the neighborhood. “I had to submit invoices for mowing and to do that, I had to learn Excel,” he says. “It was my introduction to doing business professionally.” Before co-founding Goodspeed with Alyssa nearly 20 years later, Cory worked for other landscape companies and on some government contracts, earning additional skills including irrigation maintenance and plant identification. Though the partners are motivated

self-learners, they joined ALCC for more educational opportunities.

A unique blend of family and business

Alyssa provides context for the couple’s unique situation and her practical reasons for having their own business. “We have 10 children and they are home-schooled,” she says. “We wanted our own company so we could set our own hours and provide an environment where the children could learn and be shown how their parents do business.”

Profiles She adds, “We value time with family— our time with our family, and our employees’ time with their families. Using our business as part of our kids’ education, having them work in the company and mentoring them, means we can be together more. They get their book learning too, but by integrating the business with the family, they are involved and learn practical skills. It makes us stronger as a family unit.”

The Goodspeed website clearly states the company’s priorities of family and relationship and states that the children work in the business and why. Alyssa also shares that in an industry that is male dominated, she demonstrates to her children that she gets her “hands dirty” and that women don’t have to be relegated to administration positions.

Growing and running the business

Now in its third year, the company has shifted to more commercial clients compared to its first year. “Commercial clients give us the opportunity to expand our services. We talk with our clients about other needs we see on the property. We are already providing full-service ground maintenance for an HOA. We’ve installed enhancements such as trees, shrubs, rock beds and flower beds,” says Cory.

By including the word ‘design’ in the company name, the owners were projecting a future in which their company could provide landscape design services in house rather than outsourcing. “We want to provide for the customers’ needs,” says Cory. “If they want a new design, we want to give it them.”

“We are already self-learning design,” says Alyssa. “And we work with people who have design experience.”

"We wanted our own company so we could set our own hours and provide an environment where the children could learn and be shown how their parents do business."

—Alyssa Defining roles can be tricky

The Hayes are creating a new model for business and family and have to learn as they go. There is no ‘recipe’ to follow. As such, one of the big challenges for them is balancing the business with their home life, given that the owners/parents and their children are involved in the business and their homelife includes home schooling.

Cory Hayes

Alyssa concedes that it is challenging to define the husband/wife team in the business versus at home. “We are trying to schedule structured time in several areas: time at work, time with the kids and times as a couple! It is challenging, but I want others to know that all of us can be original and creative by structuring a family the way you want. By getting the children involved in our business, they receive another level of empowerment.” | CG

The couple admits that, like most green industry firms, recruitment and retention are challenging. “We hire people who are kind and professional and we pay a competitive wage,” says Alyssa. “Since we want a culture that is kind and we don’t retain ‘toxic’ people.” The company hires for culture fit and will train for skills. The owners listen to their employees, and those who want more opportunities within the company are given them.

A system implemented last year that has worked for Goodspeed and reflects the owners’ core value of spending time with family.

Instead of scheduling employees over five days from 9:00 to 5:00, full-time employees work 10 hours Monday through Thursday and have a three-day weekend. Part-time employees work Thursday through Saturday. Overtime is optional, not mandated.

Photos courtesy Goodspeed Lawn & Design

Recruitment and retention challenge

The Hayes family: Cory, Alyssa, Julia, Arabella, Thaddeus, Caelynn, Aben, Aloiyse, Analilia, Asa, Gabriel and Sojourner Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

Are you selling for retirement?

Dig your well before you need it

D

ig Your Well Before You Are Thirsty is the title of a popular book written by Harvey Mackay. The premise of the book is that the time to start building a network is not when you need the network – you have to start building the network long before you actually need it for it to be effective.

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By Michael Watkins MBA, JD As the author of the book Scaling to Exit, I want you to know that the same “dig your well before you are thirsty” concept also applies to successfully exiting your business. If you intend to fund a significant portion of your retirement with the proceeds from the sale of your business, then you have to start “digging your well” now.

At Scaling to Exit, LLC, our brand promise is that we will help our clients make their business more attractive while doubling its valuation (sale price). But it is startling how often we are approached by business owners who are seeking to exit their companies immediately, without having done much to prepare the company for sale.

Business Sense Get a three-year head start

A three-year head start is a good rule of thumb for making your business more attractive while doubling its valuation. Why three years? Because, if/when a buyer becomes interested in your company, they will want to perform due diligence (research) on the past three years of your company’s operations. They are going to be looking for answers to a number of different questions, including:

• • • •

When these five plans are in place, the company will be the type that an investor is seeking to buy. Yet importantly, it takes the owner’s vision to provide the motivation and courage to dig in and do what it takes to make the business attractive to a buyer, in as little as three years. In our company’s experience, owners with a passion for who they want to be after they sell are extremely successful using our process and sell at a higher price.

Are revenues increasing or declining?

Are profits decreasing or declining?

What is the quality of the earnings?

How important is the owner to the day-to-day operations of the business?

• Is the company involved in a legal proceeding?

If the potential buyer doesn’t like what they find, the best-case scenario is they will offer you a very low price for your company. The most likely scenario is they will not make an offer at all.

Listen up boomers!

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are approximately 4 million baby-boomer-owned businesses in the U.S. that employ workers. Today, the oldest baby boomers are approximately 75, and the youngest baby boomers are approximately 55. For baby boomer business owners who are thinking about selling in the next couple of years, things may be particularly difficult.

We can safely assume, then, that there will be a large number of baby-boomer-owned businesses hitting the market at around the same time. It will quickly become a buyer’s market.

In a buyer’s market, investors will only be interested in looking at the best companies. The owners of poorly run companies will be forced to simply close their doors and to sell their residual assets—inventory, machines, vehicles, etc.—at or below salvage value. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the fate of your company. There is a readily accessible prescription for a better outcome.

Invest time now to prepare for sale

A proven approach for making your business more attractive while increasing its profitability and eventual sale price centers around two key concepts: 1. A post-sale vision for the owner.

2. Five well-developed and executed plans that include strategically placed, deeply experienced business experts. The five plans are financial, marketing, sales, operations and management.

... there will be a large number of baby-boomer-owned businesses hitting the market at around the same time. It will quickly become a buyer’s market.

Use fractional professionals to get the plans in place

Our program hooks up our clients up with “fractional” professionals who use their expertise to build and implement the plans in any or all of the areas that require a skilled and seasoned business professional. The most important fractional function in our program is the corporate development role. This is the game changer that makes Scaling to Exit’s program so radical. This role virtually guarantees a successful implementation of the program. This resource has a diverse, comprehensive background in many areas such as business development, mergers and acquisitions, financial analysis and business modeling.

Other fractional C-suite professionals may serve roles including chief financial officer (CFO), chief technology officer (CTO), chief operations officer (COO) and others.

Fractional roles are used on a regular, part-time basis, for example every Monday, based on needs identified during the initial business analysis.

Financial Plan: Makes certain proper accounting practices are generating timely and accurate financial statements on a monthly basis. Timely and accurate financial statements are the only way to have the company tell the proper story.

Marketing Plan: Identifies activities that will generate qualified leads for the sales

function to close. It is frightening to see how many small- to mid-size businesses operate without a marketing strategy. The result is unpredictable sales, a reliance on referrals and only a handful of customers. I have witnessed situations in which the loss of one customer results in the loss of 30-50% of a company’s revenues.

Sales Plan: Converts the qualified leads generated by the marketing activity into revenues. For many small- to mid-size businesses, particularly those in the trades, converting leads involves responding to requests for quotes. Imagine what it would look like if you doubled or tripled your quoting activity?

Operations Plan: Identifies the 20% of activities that generate 80% of the value— products and/or services—that your customers are willing to pay for. Once the 20% are identified, they are documented for continuous improvement, and your employees are repeatedly trained to do them extremely well.

When people refer to a company as a “welloiled machine,” it is a company that has employees who execute their value-producing activities well.

Management Plan: This may be the most important plan. A management plan involves making certain that there is a viable succession plan in place. If the owner is the focal point of the company, and therefore nothing of substance gets accomplished without the owner (i.e., A/P, A/R, sales, account management, purchasing and vendor management, etc.), then the business is of little value. An owner-centric company is typically the opposite of a well-oiled machine.

Now is the time to oil your machine

So, there you have it. A potential buyer is looking for company that is going to produce revenues and profits as reliably after they purchase it, as it did before. Obviously, if a company is not well-oiled prior to a sale, it is not a desirable investment. Dig the well now, before you are thirsty! Create a company that leverages the five plans to reliably produce three years of modest revenue growth and profitability. Then you will have a company that investors or entrepreneurs seek to buy. | CG —For 30 years, Michael Watkins MBA, JD served in a range of corporate, legal and entrepreneurial roles. He specializes in operations management, management and leadership development, and organizational design and development. After authoring Scaling to Exit in 2018, he and business partner Evelyn Logan founded a company by the same name as the book.

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Business Sense

OSHA requirements for injury and illness Stay current with data submission

By Ryan S. Hellman

Y

our company might need to do more than just post that Summary of Injuries and Illnesses Form 300A in the break room; many organizations are required to submit it electronically to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

If you are a company required to maintain records of workplace injuries and illnesses under OSHA regulation 1904, the final rule published in 2016 requires electronic submission of your OSHA Forms 300A, which will make your data accessible to your employees, customers and the general public. With this information, OSHA is creating the largest publicly available data set on workplace injuries and illnesses.

Establishments in Landscaping Services—North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561730—with 20 to 249 employees must submit injury and illness summary (Form 300A) data to OSHA electronically at the OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA-https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/ita/).

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Business Sense

OSHA expects that public disclosure of work injury data will encourage employers to increase their efforts to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses.

Just as public disclosure of a restaurant’s sanitary conditions encourages restaurant owners to improve food safety, OSHA expects that public disclosure of work injury data will encourage employers to increase their efforts to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. Put simply, would you eat at a restaurant with a D grade? No! Why would you want to work for or with a company with a D grade for injury and illness?

Breakdown of the requirement

The rule amends OSHA’s existing recordkeeping regulation, 1904.41, by adding three new electronic reporting requirements.

OSHA will require establishments that are required to keep injury and illness records under Part 1904, and had 250 or more employees in the previous calendar year, to electronically submit information from Form 300A to OSHA, on an annual basis, new paragraph 1904.41(a)(1).

OSHA will require establishments that are required to keep injury and illness records under Part 1904, and had 20 - 249 employees in the previous calendar year, and are in certain designated industries, to electronically submit the information from the OSHA annual summary form (Form 300A) to OSHA on an annual basis, new paragraph 1904.41(a)(2).

OSHA will require all employers who receive notification from OSHA to electronically submit specified information from their part 1904 injury and illness records to OSHA, new paragraph 1904.41(a)(3).

Under paragraph (a)(3), OSHA will notify the employer by mail if they have to submit information as part of an individual data collection.

The Final Rule was amended in January 2019 to only require the submission of the OSHA Form 300A and require establishments to submit their Employer Identification Number (EIN) with their information.

OSHA uses the Injury Tracking Application for the electronic submission of information. For individual data collections under

paragraph (a)(3) of this section, OSHA will include the website’s location in the mail notification for the data collection.

OSHA’s Perspective

According to OSHA’s news release, published May 11, 2016, the main purpose of this section of the final rule “is to prevent worker injuries and illnesses through the collection and use of timely, establishment-specific injury and illness data.” In addition, the availability of this data will enable prospective employees to identify workplaces where their risk of injury is lowest. As a result, employers competing to hire the best workers will make injury prevention a higher priority. Access to this data will also enable employers to benchmark their safety and health performance against industry leaders to improve their own safety programs.

Dr. David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, said in the release, “Since high injury rates are a sign of poor management, no employer wants to be seen publicly as operating a dangerous workplace. Our new reporting requirements will ‘nudge’ employers to prevent worker injuries and illnesses to demonstrate to investors, job seekers, customers and the public that they operate safe and well-managed facilities.

Access to injury data will also help OSHA better target our compliance assistance and enforcement resources at establishments where workers are at greatest risk, and enable ‘big data’ researchers to apply their skills to making workplaces safer.”

The presumed “bright side” of this data collection is that it allows OSHA to be able to identify those small and midsized businesses with higher-than-average injury and illness rates in order to refer them to the free OSHA on-site consultative programs. The unfortunate “dark side” of this data collection is that OSHA will also be able to target its enforcement resources to establishments with higher-than-average injury and illness rates, which could result in a compliance inspection to attempt hazard identification and mitigation

through compliance enforcement which most often results in significant business interruption and high potential for compliance violations resulting in monetary penalty.

Publication of the Data Submitted

OSHA’s intent is to make the injury and illness data it collects publicly available, similar to health inspection results. Access to this data via publication online is both allowed and restricted by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Establishment Specific Injury & Illness Data (OSHA Data Initiative) database is searchable on the OSHA (osha.gov/pls/odi/ establishment_search.html).

Compliance Dates

Establishments have until the deadline of March 2, 2020, for electronically reporting OSHA Form 300A data for calendar year 2019. Collection begins January 2, 2020. | CG —Ryan Hellman is president at Hellman & Associates, Inc. providing outsourced safety management services, consultation and training. The firm can help companies build/implement and manage an effective safety and health program. Learn more at rhellman@ehscompliance.com, www.ehscompliance.com

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Workforce

Douglas County incentives inspire employee certification

Photos courtesy ALCC

By Cherie Courtade

E

mployees of Douglas County Parks and Trails have been consistent participants in Landscape Industry Certification testing in recent years. When employee Morgan Morehart earned his fifth certification module in 2019, certification test organizers learned about incentives offered by the county for achieving all five certification modules.

The goal of the incentive, which was recommended in June 2018 and formally implemented in January 2019, was to encourage employees to demonstrate knowledge and skills in their profession and provide them opportunities for career advancement. Upon achieving all five certifications, an employee receives a pro-

motion in the form of a salary increase and title (Senior Park Maintenance Technician).

Landscape Industry Certification was chosen as the required designation because it “was the only program that we are aware of that provides the five areas of expertise: softscape installation, hardscape installation, turf maintenance, ornamental maintenance, and irrigation,” according to Wendy Holmes with Douglas County.

“Employees who complete these modules have a much better understanding and proficiency of the landscape construction industry and are competent to complete higher skilled tasks within our division,” Holmes explained.

There is no time limit in securing all five modules—an employee can complete it within their own timeline. The certification tests are particularly rigorous—few candidates pass on the first exam, and most only pursue one or two modules at a time. As a result, earning all five module certifications can be a multi-year process. Morehart began the exam process in 2016 and completed it in 2019.

The incentive program has been well received by the employees currently working on completing the modules. County officials will keep track of how employees respond to format changes in the Landscape Industry Certification exam this year. | CG Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Fort Collins residence gets major landscape

makeover ZGL BLENDS

a

RUSTIC AND FORMAL

By Lyn Dean

Flow and balance

The Fort Collins homeowners wanted a rustic, yet formal, outdoor living space suitable for both small and large gatherings. Villegas notes that many “good designs revolve around the kitchen.” Making it the focal point, multiple patios radiate from around the kitchen. The patios, including the main

Photos courtesy Zak George Landscaping

big design challenge for this project was to be sure the tall, confident house didn’t dwarf the landscape,” says Zach Villegas, designer at Zak George Landscaping (ZGL). “To give the landscape its own stature, we designed three timber pergolas and created patios on different levels so the landscape elements flowed from the bold height of the house down to grass level.” The completed landscape project, based on Villegas’s design, earned ZGL an ELITE Design/Build award in 2019.

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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patio, the fire pit patio, extra seating around the bar as well as the hot tub area allow for smaller more intimate gatherings.

Pathways throughout the landscape promote flow, creating easy access between patios and to other landscape features including the granite boulder water feature and beautiful plantings.

The water feature is positioned such that the sound of water can be heard from all surrounding patios.

Three timber pergolas added sufficient height to balance the scale of the house. The pergola over the hot tub area also provides a more secluded area in this otherwise open concept design.

The rustic and the formal

The timber pergolas, as well as corrugated metal used around the hot tub and for cabinet doors, contributed to the rustic design component the homeowners wanted. Another unique design aspect for the fire pit patio was a curved concrete bench poured in place at a constant radius around part of the fire pit. The concrete bench, designed to reflect the rustic feel, was textured using a stamp with woodgrain texture.

The formal aspect of the design was realized through the clean lines of the hardscape patios and walkways. Late into the project, there was a last-minute materials change. The client swapped out concrete pavers for porcelain tiles on the main patio, adding a challenge to cutting for placement.

Porcelain, being a much harder material than concrete pavers, is more difficult to cut without chipping or cracking. Cutting of the 24x24-inch porcelain tiles presented an additional challenge because they had to be cut for curved lines. Fortunately, technology came to the rescue! The ZGL team accomplished the task by using a digital mapping device and water jet machine to cut the porcelain tiles with engineered precision. Once cut, they could easily be laid in in place.

The completed outdoor living space is a hit with the homeowners and their four children, who have been using it for entertaining friends and, importantly, hosting family celebrations as the children move through high school and college. | CG

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Pathways throughout the landscape promote flow, creating easy access between patios and to other landscape features including the granite boulder water feature and beautiful plantings.

Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

More tough perennials for Colorado gardens A s the Colorado State University (CSU) perennial research/demonstration garden at the University Center for the Arts continues its research on tough and reliable options for Colorado, the 10 plants presented below demonstrated excellent performance. Each has been in the test garden for several years and year after year has shown adaptability to the area. | CG

Achillea x ‘Moonshine’ — Moonshine Yarrow

Sedum Spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’ – Autumn Joy Stonecrop

This unique double-blooming echinacea is truly something special. It has survived in the garden without signs of reversion since 2014, demonstrating this variety has stronger genetics than its counterparts. Double Scoop Raspberry reaches 24 inches tall without lodging as other varieties commonly do, and it holds its vibrant coral-magenta color for almost six weeks.

Autumn Joy is an extremely dependable perennial for late summer interest. It’s one of the first perennials to emerge in the spring, and one of the last to remain in the fall. It’s extremely cold hardy and drought tolerant, and bees flock to its flowers for some of their last nectar of the season. It begins budding in late June and holds its unique structure for almost two months before finally blooming from late August through October.

Heuchera x ‘Bressingham Hybrids’ — Bressingham Hybrid Coral Bells

Tips & Tricks: Allow seed

Tips & Tricks: Spent flower

Tips & Tricks: Flower spikes

Bressingham Hybrid Coral Bells variety stands out for its bright coral-red bell flowers that arise from upright spikes in late June.

Flowering on and off all summer until late September, bright flowers contrast nicely against the rounded blue-green foliage.

In the garden since 1997, the plants are versatile and various exposures from sun to shade.

When planted in sun they tend to produce more flowers.

Photos courtesy Emma Smith

Moonshine Yarrow is a clump-forming compact hybrid noted for its deeply dissected aromatic silver-gray foliage, which can be evergreen depending on the winter. Flowers bloom from June to August and hold their yellow color as flowers fade. In the demo garden for over 30 years, this variety only grows only 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Butterflies and parasitic wasps favor the flowers. This plant provides excellent cut flowers, both died and fresh, and tolerates poor dry soils.

Echinacea purpurea ‘Double Scoop Raspberry’ — Double Scoop Raspberry Coneflower

Tips & Tricks: Deadhead

spent blooms to encourage a second set of blooms, which can be left to dry for winter texture.

The plant is a great addition to a xeric garden.

Zone 3

Zone 4

heads that remain on the plant in the winter make excellent cut flowers.

Zone 3

make great long-lasting cutflowers. Cut back spent blooms to encourage new flowers.

Zone 3

Liatris spicata — Gayfeather Gayfeather is an herbaceous perennial which forms bulb-like corms. Belonging to the Aster family, each upright flower head is covered in pink fluffy disk flowers, which unusually flower from top to bottom. Flowering in late summer, this perennial remains compact, spreading only two feet wide and reaching 2-3 feet tall when flowering. It is adaptable heat and drought

Photo courtesy Emma Smith

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heads to dry for added winter interest. Cut back in early spring once new growth appears at the base.

Tips & Tricks: Flowers attract butterflies. Remove completely spent flower heads in the fall.

Zone 3 www.alcc.com

Top Plant Picks: CSU Research

LEGEND Full sun

Useful for containers

Adapts to part shade

Xeric

Prefers shadier conditions

Requires moisture Requires more moisture Contributed by Emma Smith, undergraduate Environmental Horticulture student and James E. Klett, professor, Colorado State University, department of horticulture and landscape architecture, Fort Collins

Iris pallida ‘Variegata’ — Variegated Sweet Iris

Variegated irises are growing in popularity because they offer a longer season of interest thanks to their striking variegated foliage, which holds up well through summer heat, unlike other irises.

Flowering in May, they are one of the early welcome signs of spring. The sweet fragrance of this iris is unmatched. When given full sun and well-drained soil, it flowers profusely. It’s a great addition to the garden, requiring little moisture and creating unique interest among other perennials even when no longer in bloom.

Tips & Tricks: Prune back

spent flower heads for a tidier appearance. This perennial will eventually need to be divided if flowering decreases. This is usually done in the late summer or fall.

Zone 4

Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Cassian’ – Cassian Fountain Grass

Lilium lancifolium – Tiger Lily

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ — Rozanne Geranium

Tips & Tricks: Grass plumes

Tips & Tricks: Cut back

Tips & Tricks: Little dead-

This warm-season grass has been in the garden since 1997. It is planted in a rather shady location yet performed exceptionally well this year. This dwarf variety of fountain grass forms tight 2-foot clumps covered in narrow grass blades that begin to bloom in mid-August. The seed-heads emerge a magenta color that grow and fan out, fading to a lighter creamy-pink. The flower heads eventually fade as the seed develops. This particular cultivar is known for its excellent plumes which become a purple-bronze color in the fall.

persist into the winter, and eventually shatter and disperse.

Though it reseeds in optimal growing conditions, cultivars do not come true to seed.

Zone 5

This impressive bulb-forming perennial commands our attention in the garden. The bright orange flowers covered in deep crimson spots arise from tall flower spikes in late June.

Blooming before other lilies and reaching almost 6 feet in height, it has a noticeable presence in the early summer garden. Surviving in the garden since 1981, Tiger Lily has proved to be winter hardy. Many butterflies frequent the plant. The unique leaves are thick and waxy with a whorled arrangement giving it a very distinguished appearance.

spent flowers stalks to top of the foliage at the base of the plant.

It is best to plant tiger lilies in the spring or fall.

Zone 3

Rozanne Geranium is easily the longest blooming geranium variety in the demonstration garden.

Producing vibrant, violet-blue, saucer-shaped flowers with white eyes and distinct magenta-purple veins, this plant adds a blue shade that is difficult to achieve in summer gardens. Rozanne holds its flowers from early June to late September and produces a mounded spreading habit of deep green, deeply cut foliage.

Bees enjoy the open flowers. The extended bloom period makes this a favorite for pollinators throughout the season.

heading needed as new blooms cover the spent ones. Trim to prevent spreading, but the wild full appearance when left untamed is quite charming. Cut back to the ground in fall after first hard freeze.

Zone 5 Jan/Feb 2020 Colorado Green

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Top Plant Picks: Webly

Welby Plant Trials — Top 6 varieties

By Mandy Gerace and Debi Borden-Miller

A

pproximately 450 people attended Welby Gardens 2019 trials event in Arvada. People from all areas of our industry— landscape installation, growers, garden center retailers—as well as brokers, breeders, Denver Botanic Gardens, Butterfly Pavilion, Colorado State University (CSU) and Welby employees attended.

The event, which presented about 950 trial varieties, followed CSU’s outdoor flower trial event held the day before. Together, the two events give industry people a firsthand look at how the plants perform in Colorado’s intense light and arid conditions, helping both

Petunia Midnight Gold — BallFlora

Photos courtesy Welby Gardens

This stunning double-flowered petunia took the top honor. The profusely flowering plant boasts large double flowers of beautiful dark—almost black—petals with a creamy-white rim. Its exceptionally full plant habit is slightly more vigorous than the Double Wave series. Midnight Gold does best in full sun, growing 8-10” tall by 20-26” wide. It’s great in hanging baskets and containers as well as beds.

growers and gardeners view and assess new varieties. The trials also provide customers, vendors and colleagues the chance to network and socialize with each other.

When selecting plants to trial, first and foremost, Welby looks for plant health and a habit that is full and tight with lots of blooms, as well as unique traits and colors. Trialing helps Welby decide what to carry next season and is a great marker for breeders too.

The top six plants by popular votes are below. | CG

Delphinium grandiflorum Diamonds Blue — AAS-PanAm This perennial, placing No. 4, showed off its elegant spires of rich blue with a splash of purple on each petal. The 18-23” spires rise above lacy foliage.

It grows best in sun to part sun with consistent moisture and is adaptable to different soil. Repeat blooming makes this plant a good choice for both beds or containers. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Delphinium F1 — AAS

Dahlia Electro Pink — Westhoff

This gorgeous perennial was an All-America Selections (AAS) entry and not yet awarded or named at the time of this writing. The true-blue flowers were prolific and the fine foliage adds a nice texture to this plant. It was a stunning favorite that received second place in the trials. Look for more information to come soon.

The electric, hot pink, cactus-type flowers are a show stopper. Against a glossy dark mahogany/black foliage, this fifth-place plant is great in beds or containers. The plant habit is tidy and full—no staking required— and grows to 30” tall and 24” wide in full sun.

Digitalis Pink Panther — Takii

Geranium Survivor Idols Rosalinda — Dümmen

This powerhouse performing foxglove, coming in at No. 3, has many great attributes. The deep pink flowers on multiple spikes are quick to bloom in spring and continue into mid-late summer. Flowers are sterile, making them longer lasting.

Pink Panther’s small foliage creates a balanced plant. It grows to 18-22” tall and 15-18” wide in full sun and attracts pollinators, is deer and rabbit resistant and makes for good cut flowers.

This double flowered geranium ranked No. 6, with its huge flower clusters of saturated, deep, rosepink stand out against green foliage. A season-long blooming time with semi-vigorous growth habit, make it an eye catcher in containers.

It grows 18-24” in height and spread and grows does well in full sun to part sun, attracts hummingbirds and is deer and rabbit resistant.

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Photo courtesy Ross Shrigley

Photo courtesy Jameson Coopman

Top Plant Picks: Plant Select®

Early blooming Golden Candles is drought tolerant

G

olden Candles (Thermopsis lupinoides) may become a new favorite for many with its floriferous upright, mounded habit. One of the first perennials to bloom in early spring, it heralds the new season with masses of brilliant yellow flower spikes catching the attention of hungry pollinators seeking nectar when most other plants lay dormant. Passersby are certain to take notice of the yellow spikes.

The plant grows quickly and is highly adaptable to all soil types. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant and can withstand winter temperatures as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit. Golden Candles performs best in full sun but tolerates part shade situations.

Plant it near the base of deciduous shrubs like Plant Select’s Alleghany viburnum, Mini Man™ dwarf Manchurian viburnum, or Silver Fountain butterfly bush. Or, place in full sun next to angular Colorado buff sandstone in a steppe garden mulched with

gravel. For a wildscape display, plant small species tulips at the base.

Although Golden Candles is almost identical to North American native Thermopsis species in appearance, T. lupinoides hails from northern Asia and is a superb performing plant. It will not seed around or spread via rhizomes in the garden like native North American Thermopsis species.

By early June, Golden Candles will be laden with slightly arching, skyward pointing seed pod capsules that will turn leathery brown and split open in July. The seeds are finicky, however, and will not readily germinate, making this plant one of the most maintenance-friendly plants in a garden.

Though the foliage is similar to false indigo or lupines, Golden Candles is unique unto itself. | CG — Contributed by Ross Shrigley and Emily Goldman for Plant Select®

Contact us at info@alcc.com

For more information, explore www.plantselect.org 48

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Size: 12-18” tall x 15-24” wide Form: Blooms summer through fall with a melon color on the outside and yellow on the inside Leaves: soft, evergreen, needle-like Form: perennial, herbaceous evergreen Light: full sun Culture: adaptable to most soils, prefers drier conditions Hardiness: USDA Zones 4-9 Habitat value: food for birds and beneficial insects Rabbit resistance: yes Design/maintenance tips • As a herbaceous evergreen, use to winter interest in the garden with green areas among boulders and larger shrubs.

• Weave through steppe gardens for the striking, glowing flower colors reminiscent of sunsets.

• Trim spent flower heads down a couple of inches in fall or spring.

• Plant en masse to define borders or to punctuate or accent in garden designs.

• Pair with other sun-loving perennials such as Turquoise Tails blue sedum, mat-forming veronicas, hyssops, salvias, Gold on Blue prairie zinnias and more.

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721 N. Powers Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 Colorado has a challenging climate for growing...

Our knowledgeable sales staff can help you with all of your plant and landscape questions.

We supply trees, perennials, shrubs & evergreens to Colorado and surrounding areas.

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3 Questions

Finding inspiration in parks management

Photo courtesy City of Commerce City.

We asked ALCC members three questions to get to know them a little better. In each issue of Colorado Green, we’ll give you a glimpse into the life and mind of a landscape professional.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Tony Jaramillo Parks Capital Projects Manager Commerce City Parks, Recreation and Golf

50

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1

How did you find your way into a landscape industry career?

Prior to my career in the landscape industry I was a journeyman Heavy Construction Equipment mechanic. I applied with the City of Commerce City with hopes to work in their fleet shop. They didn’t have any positions open at the time so I accepted a seasonal position in their Parks and Recreation Department. I enjoyed working outdoors and learning about turf, flowers, trees, shrubs and irrigation systems. I was hired on full time in 1990. I have now been with Commerce City for nearly 30 years. I have worked all maintenance worker level positions, Park Supervisor, Park Superintendent and for the past 14 years I have worked as the Parks Capital Projects Manager. I truly love all that I have learned, and the work I do to give back to our community.

2

What do you get from your ALCC membership?

ALCC provides me with a group of knowledgeable professionals to network with. I have met a lot of awesome professionals over the years and I have also met some enthusiastic young professionals that benefit from working with seasoned landscape and irrigation professionals. ALCC also provides excellent training opportunities.

3

What is your favorite Colorado landscape to visit?

There are too many to list. I just love driving around and seeing all the beautiful landscape projects. you can tell there was special care given to each one.

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