November/December 2025

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News Volume 85 • Issue 6

November | December 2025

Don't Miss Your Chance!

ANNUAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE PLUS!

Indiana Green Expo 2026 NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025 The Official Publication of the IndianaINDIANA Nursery & Landscape Association

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Inside This Issue: 2

Upcoming Events

2025 EXECUTIVE TEAM Gabriel Gluesenkamp, Past President Designscape Horticultural Services 2877 S. TC Steele Road Nashville, IN 47448-9584 812-988-8900; Fax 812-988-2639 gabrielg@designhort.com

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New IAHs

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Executive Director's Letter

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President's Message

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Financial Focus Informational Article

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The Truth About Online Payments

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Indiana Green Expo 2026 Information

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Purdue Students Tour Green Industry Operations

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Awards of Excellence 2025 Information, 2024 Winners

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Purdue Students Gain Hands-On Experience

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DNR: Giant Hornets

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INLA Member Resource: Indiana DNR

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INLA IAH Update

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George Brenn's IAH Study Guide

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George Brenn's IAH Study Guide

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Directory of Advertisers

Shaun Yeary, President Greendell Landscape Solutions 749 West State Road 42 Mooresville, IN 46158 317-996-2826; Fax 317-996-2032 syeary@greendelllandscape.com Kevin VanSessen, President-Elect Blade Cutters, LLC. PO Box 738 Crown Point, IN 46308 219-661-8206 Fax 219-226-3127 kevinvs@bladecutters.net Kent Wilhelmus, Vice President Second Nature Landscape Management Inc. PO Box 651 Newburgh, IN 47629 812-483-7187 secondnature2004@yahoo.com Rick Haggard, Executive Director & Publisher 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Office: 317-889-2382 Cell: 765-366-4994 info@inla.org • rhaggard@inla.org • haggard.rick@att.net

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Erick Brehob (2026) Brehob Consulting and Distribution, LLC 317-258-0544 • brehoberick@outlook.com

Indiana Nursery & Landscape News

Volume 85 • Issue 6 - November | December 2025 Indiana Nursery and Landscape News is the official publication of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. (INLA) and is published bimonthly.

Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Phone: 317-889-2382 Toll Free: 800-443-7336 www.inla.org

Copy Deadline: First of the month preceding the month of the issue. Reprint permission granted if source is indicated.

Views expressed in articles or editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its directors, but are those of the writer.

Trade names used in articles are for identification only.

No discrimination is intended toward similar products and the INLA does not endorse the use of the products mentioned.

Kyle Daniel — Purdue University 765-494-7621 • daniel38@purdue.edu Jill Glover (2026) Schneider Nursery • 812-522-4068 jill@schneidernursery.com Jason Fritz (2025) Stantec Native Plant Nursery (574) 586-2412 Jason.fritz@cardno.com Carlos Reichman (2025) A.J. Gallagher (317) 639-5679 carlos_reichman@ajg.com

PUBLISHER Rick Haggard, Executive Director, INLA 765-366-4994 • rhaggard@inla.org

Subscriptions: Included with membership to the INLA. Nonmembers: $36.00 per year (six issues per year).

Bob Wasson (2027) Wasson Nursery and Garden Center 765-759-9000 • bob@wassonnursery.com

Advertising Rates: Media Kit available online at www.inla.org

For questions regarding subscriptions, please call INLA at 317-889-2382.

Matt Colias (2027) Matt's Lawn Care and Landscaping 219-838-8900 • matt@mattslawn.com

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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UPCOMING EVENTS November 11 or 12 TBD Contractors on TAP, Fort Wayne, IN area Please keep a lookout for event details as they are being finalized 12 Lunch and Learn Series (Free), Barringer's Tavern, 2535 S Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46225 bit.ly/iaalunchandlearn 19-20 MRTF Landscape & Turf Seminar, W. H. Daniel Turfgrass and Research Center, 1340 Cherry Lane,

West Lafayette, IN 47907 www.mrtf.org December 9-10 INCFC Symposium, Switchyard Pavilion, Bloomington, IN 47403 events.humanitix.com/indiana-community-and-urban-forestry-symposium 12 ILA Holiday Celebration Annual Meeting, Action and Atomic Duckpin Bowling, Indianapolis, IN 46203 www.indylandscape.com 17 Winter Tree ID, Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN 46203 events.humanitix.com/winter-tree-id-workshop-at-crown-hill-cemetery

February 2026 9-11 Indiana Green Expo, Indianapolis Convention Center, 100 S Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46225

Large Exhibitor Move-In (ONLY) www.indianagreenexpo.com July 2026 18

IOMA Golf Fundraiser, Twin Lakes Golf Club, 3200 West 96th St., Caramel, IN 46032

21 Summer Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day, Daniel Turf Center, 1340 Cherry Ln., West Lafayette, IN 47097

Visit http://inla.org/events-calendar/ for updates and new event listings.

Congratulations New IAHs! New Initial IAH

James Bauer, NCCF, New Castle, IN

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER

Rick Haggard Hello, all Indiana sports fans. I have just a few words to say whether you are an over-the-top fanatic or not of sports, it appears that the state of Indiana has plenty to be proud of. From the football Indianapolis Colts to the football Indiana Hoosiers, currently undefeated as of this writing (October 9, 2025), in preparation for the upcoming November/December 2025 of the INLN magazine. The Pacers made a great run in the NBA Finals, and the Indiana Fever almost made it to the WNBA Finals, even without several of their key players. But then again Indiana has always been known for its basketball prowess, whether it be a wide variety of high schools, colleges (Purdue, Indiana, Notre Dame, Vincennes (Junior College) etc. Well, I guess it is better to reach out to more within the confines of the green industry.

I personally am grateful to have had a passion (hobby), that grew into a rewarding career in this profession! I am going to briefly mention some of the upcoming events that the INLA is going to be a part of, or hosting.

In this edition of the INLN, some of these events such as the Indiana Green Expo will be a totally separate article with limited information that will be forthcoming in emails, website updates, and other pertinent 4

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information directly. The www.indianagreenexpo.com website currently has the 2026-exhibitor contract for vendors, with booth pricing, sponsorships, advertising which will be held in February at Indiana Convention Center. The dates are February 8-11, 2026. The exhibitors with larger displays of 20’X20’ or larger will have the option, much like last year of a Sunday movein, with others coming in for final setup on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The Monday date could be a little cumbersome with others wanting to move in smaller booths. However, we will have forklifts available on both days for a limited time, and these are complimentary of the India Green Expo. So, if any of INLA Members have a particular vendor that feel could be an asset to the IGE, please share this information. I know many companies offer incentives to the referring company in the way of discounts or other opportunities regarding the products they sell.

Our host hotel is The Westin which our block of rooms completely sold out early! You can simply park your vehicle at either the hotel or one of the other local parking garages and use the Skywalk from the hotel straight to the convention center.

Also, I cannot stress enough to all companies, having their vested staff in the field that can register for updated Indiana Department of Natural Resources, on the page titled INLA Member Resources.

Especially those working with the public sector, whether it be landscaping sector, either residential or commercial, garden centers and private clients raise awareness to them beforehand, regarding a certain pest or disease that found its

way into Indiana. Sounds to me like an easy way to make an enhanced sell to those that want to keep their home improvement projects safe by increasing the longevity of their purchases.

In this edition, and on the INLA Website register for the 2025 INLA Green Excellence Award details for registering projects with a registration date to be submitted by December 15, 2025. I have heard from many companies that are planning to submit for different categories this year, so never hesitate to get an early start planning for your submission of projects. Please remember also the before, during and after pictures will help the judges hear the story behind the project’s pictures.

Upon closing this edition of my Executive Director letter, I wish to extend a personal note of gratitude and a heartfelt Thank you to all the volunteers and board members that have assisted in the success of our association. It just goes to prove it takes a small army of volunteers that is required to make these events as successful as they have been. I also included a new tagline, I saw at a recent conference before ending this scintillating document.

It is better to have done something, than being somebody, Rick Haggard – Executive Director

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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See what the INLA is all about!

Follow us on social media to be the first to learn about upcoming events, see your colleagues' businesses, and get featured yourself.

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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PRESIDENT SHAUN YEARY'S MESSAGE To our INLA Members, I think I speak for everyone here, Thank God it’s Fall. Holy guacamole that was one heck of a hot sticky Summer. In my new role, my work is never not busy.

Double negative, I know. Who would have thought that the most wildest, craziest seed and fertilizer selling time would be in October?

I guess I do now. I’ve been in this Industry 26 years now, but never very strong on the maintenance side of things. However, I did have my 3b applicators license at one point even though I somehow managed to burn up and TigerStripe Frank’s fairly new lawn up in Noblesville several years ago.

He loves to tell that story. In my defense, it had been a minute, and I was a little rusty. It was pretty sunny though. Maybe the glare did it? Either way, it seems that a lot of us vendors are having some sort of agronomy Bonanza.

Whats going on in the INLA? Last month we had the great privilege of attending the annual Great Lakes Leadership Conference. It’s a conference that consists of 9 different Landscape Associations whose Executive Teams get together once a year to compare notes and share ideas.

It’s a conference that is hosted by a different region each year. This year we were hosted by Landscape Ontario just north of Niagara and toured their amazing newly renovated facility. Now we’re back with a lot of ideas as to how we can improve our Association and our members experience. My absolutely favorite part of this process was the journey. Rick Haggard, our Executive Director, 6

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and I rode up to Ft. Wayne where we me up with our President-Elect, Kevin Van Sessen. From there we drove the rest of the way to Niagara where we hopped on a boat and got a super close-up experience of one of Mother Nature’s most amazing features. All of those hours of windshield time allowed us to share our thoughts on the Association and life in general. It was a great bonding experience and we’re all closer and more aligned than ever.

we’ve been able to create, in many cases, are destined to be lifelong friendships. Our Executive Team is as strong as it’s ever been and I’m excited to move forward with all of you.

We recently restructured some of our committees by combining a couple of them into a larger one in effort to improve communication processes and how we operate as a Board. Let me introduce myself as the new, Operations Committee Chair. I’ll be working together with Kevin Van Sessen in developing our Indiana Green Expo Trade Show and our annual Summer Meeting.

We just had our first meeting in this capacity, and I feel very positive about the direction we’re moving in. Looks like the IGE Trade Show will be remaining in Hall D this coming February and we’re ready for it. Our committee is a well-oiled machine and ready to take on the challenge. Our media team at JRL are also ready to come out in full force with goal of helping us better communicate the value of what our show has to offer.

The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

This Article's Book Recommendation The Obstacle is the Way

By Ryan Holiday Best wishes, Shaun

I want to give a special thanks to our whole team working behind the scenes to keep our Association moving. The people we contract with, our committee members, our Board, our Executive Board and our Executive Director. I’m grateful for all your contributions and the bonds

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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FINANCIAL FOCUS® A retiree’s guide for National Retirement Security Month If you’re retired, it’s easy to let your finances go on autopilot. Since October is National Retirement Security Month, it’s a good time to revisit some areas that can impact your long-term financial security and help your money last a lifetime.

Consider these suggestions: • Manage your withdrawal rate. You’ll likely need to tap into your retirement accounts — your IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. But think carefully about how much income you withdraw every year. If you take out too much, especially in the early years of your retirement, you risk outliving your resources. You have the option of withdrawing from these accounts at age 59½. Once you turn 73, you’ll be required to take out at least a certain amount each year based on your age and account balance.

• Estimate health care costs. When you turn 65, you will be eligible for Medicare, but you may still need a Medicare supplement plan, both of which will require premium payments. You’ll probably also incur a variety of other unreimbursed expenses for doctor visit copays or deductibles, prescription drugs and vision, hearing and dental care. Additionally, about 70% of adults ages 65 and older will need some form of long-term support, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. This may include a paid home health aide (average cost of $77,792 per year), an assisted living residence (average cost of $70,500 per year) or nursing home care (private room average cost of $127,750 per year). (Cost estimates are from Genworth 2024 Cost of Care Survey.) Over the course of your retirement, these can add up, so be realistic when budgeting for health care expenses in retirement.

• Consider when to take Social Security. You can start receiving monthly Social Security checks at age 62, but your payments will generally be larger if you wait until your “full” retirement age of 66 or 67. (The size of your payments will “max out” at age 70.) If you believe you have longevity working in your favor, and you can afford to wait, you may well be better off by delaying Social Security as long as possible.

• Avoid investing too conservatively. Once you’re retired, you might think you should take as few chances with your investments as possible — after all, you have less time for them to bounce back from a downturn than you did during your working years. Nonetheless, it’s important to consider keeping a reasonable percentage of growth-oriented investments in your portfolio to help you stay ahead of inflation. Even at a low rate, inflation can erode your purchasing power over time.

• Keep your generosity in check. If you have grown children who need financial help, or grandchildren heading to college someday, you’d no doubt like to do what you can to assist them.

However, the hard truth is that they have more time than you to find workable financial solutions, whereas if you deplete your funds through your generosity, you could put yourself in a precarious position. So, be as giving as you can afford — but try not to go beyond that. By preserving your financial independence, you’ll end up benefiting your family as well.

Retirement is ideally an enjoyable time in your life, especially if you feel financially stable. So, take time to check in periodically to keep that stability on track.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC `

Michael Mann Financial Advisor Edward Jones 2159 Glebe St. Suite 150 Carmel, IN 46032 317 571-0522

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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The Truth About Online Payments: What to Watch For and How to Make Them Work for You

By Ashley Marino, Service First Processing (SFP) This document discusses the importance of online payment gateways for businesses in the green industry, highlighting benefits, risks, and protective measures. ​ Benefits of Online Gateways ​ ·

Online payment gateways enhance efficiency by enabling quick, secure invoicing and payment processing. ​

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They offer flexibility with one-time or recurring billing options and provide real-time reporting, reducing manual errors and the need for check chasing. ​

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A knowledgeable payment processor can optimize these tools to minimize costs and complexity.

Fraud Risks and Consequences ·

Increased convenience from online payments also raises fraud risks, particularly in the green industry with high-value transactions. ​

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Fraud can lead to chargebacks, frozen funds, reputational damage, higher processing fees, and compliance fines. ​

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Common fraud types include stolen card transactions, chargeback abuse, business email compromise, phishing scams, account takeovers, and refund scams. ​

Protection Strategies ·

Implementing a secure payment system involves using tools like Address Verification (AVS), Card Verification (CVV), IP monitoring, velocity filters, and tokenization to safeguard transactions and customer data. ​

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Hidden Costs and Fee Traps ​

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Businesses may encounter unexpected charges such as platform fees, non-qualified processing rates, and unlisted monthly fees, which can erode profit margins, especially during peak transaction periods. ​

Conclusion ·

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A reliable payment processor should act as a strategic partner, offering comprehensive fraud protection, transparent pricing, tailored solutions, and dedicated support to safeguard revenue and reputation. ​

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

10/18/25 12:12 AM

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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INDIANA GREEN EXPO 2026 UPDATE

By Rick Haggard – INLA Executive Director To all that have attended or considered attending the Indiana Green Expo (IGE), please do not make the mistake of possibly not attending the 2026 IGE. The dates are February 9-11, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Educational Days are February 9, 2026, for advanced course education as well as a review and testing for the Indiana Accredited Horticulturist (IAH) certification. Further details will be forthcoming, if not already listed upon on arrival of this edition of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Newsletter.

February 10-11, 2026 will serve as both educational as well as a trade-show event. The education classes will have several much-needed licensed applicators CCH Certification classes as well as IAH CEU Certification classes. The Tradeshow will host a varying number of products, including some new items that have either been released either in 2025 or coming out in 2026. These will primarily be in the “New Product Showcase” designated are or be identified in the exhibitors’ booths.

If anyone has a particular vendor or a vendor that has an exceptional product, please advise them to checkout the IGE Website; www.indianagreenexpo.com and look at the “2026 Exhibit Booth Information”. The 2025 Indiana Green Expo was pretty much a sell-out of exhibit booths, plus with over 1400 attendees, with roughly 200 Exhibit booth personnel.

The following companies have either committed verbally or made a downpayment on their booth for 2026.

Alphabetical order only: Abrams Nursery Acorn Farms Advanced Turf Solutions American BioChar Company Ameri-Turf Blue Grass Farms of Indiana Bowling Nursery Brickworks Supply Center Elevate Landscape & Architecture Design Estes Material Sales Forrest Keling Nursery Genesis Sod Farm Greenleaf Nursery Company Green Stone LLC Harrell’s LLC Home Nursery Heritage Landscape Supply Group Hortech, INC Hortica, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group Indiana DNR J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co Jackson’s Nursery INC John Platte Nursery Sales dba Perennials Plus Kankakee Nursery Co Kenney Machinery Links Aerification McGavic Outdoor Power Supply Mid-State Truck Equipment Millcreek Gardens Northland Farms ProGreen Synthetic Turf Proven Winners® Russo Power Equipment SiteOne Landscape Supply Stantec Native Plant Nursery Tenbarge Seed and Supply Co The Cisco Companies – Cisco Seeds Vermeer Midwest Walters Gardens Woody Warehouse See Everyone in February !!!!

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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PURDUE HORTICULTURE STUDENTS TOUR SOUTHERN INDIANA GREEN INDUSTRY OPERATIONS

By Kyle Daniel, Nursery and Landscape Specialist, Purdue University On September 20, 2025 students from Purdue University’s Field Production of Horticultural Crops and Landscape Contracting and Management classes participated in a day-long field trip exploring several key horticultural sites in central and southern Indiana. The courses, both part of Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, provide students with practical exposure to commercial horticultural operations.

The trip included visits to Bethany Community Gardens in Indianapolis, Southern View Nursery in Arlington, Schneider Nursery in Seymour, and The Rejoicing Vine in Indianapolis. At each stop, students gained insight into various aspects of horticultural production, management practices, and landscape applications.

At Bethany Community Gardens, students learned about community engagement through sustainable food production.

Southern View Nursery and Schneider’s Nursery offered a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the companies, their production methods, and the day-to-day operations of a large nursery. The day concluded at The Rejoicing Vine, where students explored vineyard operations and landscape integration using regenerative agriculture in agritourism.

This trip allowed students to see firsthand the diversity of horticultural careers and production systems across Indiana.

It was a great opportunity for them to connect classroom concepts with real-world applications.

The experience reinforced Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture’s commitment to providing experiential learning that prepares students for success in the Green Industry.

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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2024 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS

Special Projects - Vive Exterior Design

Residential Landscape Under 50K Calvin Landscape

Residential Hardscape Over 50K - Calvin Landscape

Residential Landscape Over 50K - Aching Acres

Residential Landscape Under 50K Vive Exterior Design

Commercial Landscape Under 50K Surridge Design + Eagleson Landscape

Commercial Landscape Over 50K -

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025 Calvin Landscape

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PURDUE HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE INSTALLING LIGHTING IN THE JULES JANICK HORTICULTURAL GARDEN

By Kyle Daniel, Nursery and Landscape Specialist, Purdue University On September 19, 2025 students in Purdue Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture’s Landscape Contracting and Maintenance class applied their classroom knowledge in a hands-on project at the Jules Janick Horticultural Garden. The students assisted in the installation of new landscape lighting designed to enhance the garden’s evening ambiance and functionality.

The class collaborated with Karen Sullivan, Head Gardener, Rick Hughes from Automatic Supply and Adam Goers from WAC Lighting, who provided expertise for the lighting system. Rick provided a lecture to the students earlier in the week covering different aspects of landscape lighting. Students learned practical aspects of lowvoltage lighting installation, including wiring, fixture placement, and transformer setup—skills directly applicable to professional landscape construction and maintenance.

Some students encountered a challenge in finding the sleeves under the walkways, but a real-world lesson was learned that unexpected issues can arise on any job site.

This project gave the students a valuable opportunity to connect what we discuss in class to a real-world landscape.

They not only learn the technical side of installation but also see how design and functionality come together to improve outdoor spaces.

The new lighting highlights key features of the Jules Janick Horticultural Garden, ensuring it remains an inviting and educational space for visitors even after sunset.

LOOKING TO PURCHASE EXISTING BUSINESS Landscape, Lawncare, Tree and Shrub Care, or Irrigation Business in Indianapolis or surrounding counties.

Call Jim Calvin, Calvin Landscape 317-247-6316

MEMBER BENEFIT! INLA Job Board at www.inla.org FREE JOB POSTING for INLA members!

Positions are open to any who wish to respond!

To post an open position at your company, please email info@inla.org and send the job description along with how to apply.

Questions? Contact Rick Haggard, 317-889-2382

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

10/18/25 12:12 AM

GIANT HORNETS

By Jared Spokowksy, Apiary Supervisor with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Giant hornets are not a single species but over a dozen species of true hornets that belong to the genus vespa. All these species are native to Southeast or Eastern Asia. Giant hornets do not overwinter as a whole colony. The only member of the colony to survive for extended periods of time is the queen.

In the spring the mated queen or foundress emerges from her overwintering location, which could be in leaf litter, under loose bark, in a hole in a log or some other sheltered location. She immediately sets about building a small wood pulp nest just like our native yellow jackets. She will lay a single egg in each cell and hunt for food, usually soft bodied insects to feed to her growing larvae. All the eggs she lays will be daughters just like in a honeybee colony. Once the first generation of workers has emerged, she will stay put in the nest and let her daughters take over foraging. Many hornet species feed on the larvae of other Hymenoptera (the order that includes bees, wasps and ants). With each subsequent generation, hornet nests will be enlarged by the workers and more cells will be added to accommodate more larvae.

This continues through the course of the summer and as fall approaches the queen starts to lay fertilized eggs which will develop into new queens along with unfertilized eggs which will develop into males.

This last generation is known as the mating cast. Once they emerge, they will mate and after mating the males will die.

The newly mated queens fly off to parts unknown to find an overwintering spot. There are two species, which I will talk about here, Vespa Mandarinia (The Northern Giant hornet

a.k.a. the murder hornet), and Vespa velutina (The Yellow Legged Hornet).

The Northern Giant Hornet (NGH) is the world’s largest hornet and is native to southeast Asia. It is a cavity nester and will build its nest in cavities underground or in tree hollows.

It feed’s on a wide variety of insects, starting with anything they can catch and subdue.

But as the season progresses and the population builds, the hornets start looking for more concentrated sources of nutrition. When a hornet scout finds a honeybee colony, it will press its abdomen against the colony marking it with a pheromone. At this point the Asian honeybee, typically the hornet’s prey, has a unique defense where several individual honeybees will try and lure the initial scout into the colony and ball around the hornet and vibrate their wing muscles to raise the temperature to 117 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is high enough to kill the hornet while most of the honeybees survive.

European honeybees which are typically used in beekeeping in the United States do not have this protective behavior trait.

If the colony is unsuccessful at luring the hornet into the hive the hornet will go back to recruit more of its sister hornets and then return to the bee colony. Once the hornet numbers at the beehive have grown to a couple dozen, they will begin to attack the colony.

The hornets will move into the colony decapitating every adult honeybee they encounter. This is known as the slaughter phase, and a few dozen hornets can depopulate a colony of tens of thousands of bees in a matter of

hours. The hornets are not after the honey or adult bees, which they leave mangled on the bottom board. They are looking to collect the bee brood which they can feed to their own young. The NGH’s will occupy the bee colony and protect it as if it were their own as they begin the process of harvesting the brood.

In the fall of 2019, the first Northern Giant Hornet nest was found in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. Shortly after that, there were multiple more sightings of individual hornets in northern Washington state near the Canadian border.

During the spring of 2020, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WDA) began trapping for the hornets to try and estimate the size of the infested area. The first hornets were trapped in July of 2020.

As the season progressed, WDA moved to live trapping in the hopes of trapping a live worker, which could be outfitted with a radio transmitter to lead them back to the colony. The first successful tagging and tracking of a hornet was done on October 22nd of 2020. That colony was then eradicated. There were no more finds in 2020. Three more nests were found late in 2021 using the same method, which were also eradicated.

Since 2021 there have been no more Northern Giant Hornets trapped or seen, and as of 2024 NGH has been declared eradicated by the USDA. In 2004 the Yellow Legged Hornet (YLH) was found in France.

Since then, it has spread to Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, and Holland.

The yellow legged hornet

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foundress queen starts a small nest and it is almost always built in a tree top or on a manmade structure. This species will sometimes abandon the first site if there is not room for expansion. The major difference with this species as compared to the NGH is that it exhibits a hawking behavior where it will pick off honeybee workers as they come and go from the colony. These hornets will then retreat to a perch where they tear off the head, abdomen, legs, and wings and then return to their colony with the thorax of the honeybee, which contains the flight muscles which is fed to their larvae. Once the Honeybee colony is sufficiently weakened, the hornets will mass attack the colony to remove the rest of the brood. Even if the hive is not killed outright, the colony can suffer from a temporary forage paralysis because the honeybees are being picked off at high enough numbers that they are getting insufficient supplies of pollen and nectar to raise new brood. The Asian honeybee has developed the strategy of flying fast and low to avoid the hunting YLH while our European honeybees don’t take any measures to avoid being ambushed. The YLH also feed on a wide variety of insects and can depress insect populations across their entire foraging area.

YLH are not as large as the NGH, which can reach almost two inches. Average size tends to be between 1-1.5 inches long. But the yellow legged hornet colony can exceed 5,000 individuals. For comparison an extremely large baldfaced hornet nest or NGH nest would number 400 to 500 individuals.

2024. Clemson university was also able to find and destroy an additional 16 nests in Beaufort county SC which is adjacent to but across the state line from the Georgia finds. At this point it is too early to tell if this pest will be eradicated but hopefully it is still possible.

If you think you have found any non-native hornet or other invasive species, please notify the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Entomology at 866-NO-EXOTIC [866-6639684] Or E-mail: depp@dnr.

IN.gov Jared Spokowsky is the Apiary Supervisor with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. When he’s not assisting the beekeepers in Indiana with their hives, he’s helping his own brood in Southeast Indiana keep bees and goats.

In August of 2023 a YLH specimen was identified near Savanah Georgia. In the fall of 2023 five nests were found and destroyed. The Georgia department of ag was able to find and destroy 47 nests in 18

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

10/18/25 12:12 AM

WINTER CAN’T HIDE forever!

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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TECHNOLOGY AT WORK

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

10/18/25 12:12 AM

INLA Member Resource - Indiana Department of Natural Resources Rick Haggard – INLA Executive Director Dear INLA Members and interested employees. I am attaching a summary below of a recent IDNR, email alert that I personally feel every company, site managers, applicators, etc., should start receiving updates from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Please feel free to read this excerpt from October 8, weekly update posted by Megan Abraham. I have used theses for many years and still receive them on a regular basis.

As many of you are aware, customers and the general public often get alarmed by different insects, disease, pests that may appear on a general platform. Please consider getting ahead of the game, utilizing this email resource provided by the IDNR in email updates. I would personally recommend you share this with others in the field of operations to make them more aware of this complimentary resource of information. The site for current and past articles to access is: https://www.in.gov/dnr/entomology/

Megan Abraham (Division Director & State Entomologist) - MAbraham@dnr.IN.gov

Once in a while a story hits the media that stirs some public concern. Kissing bugs and Chagas disease has made the news cycle lately and has stirred up some public concern. In short, per health experts, the risk to Hoosiers is extraordinarily low.

For more information, here is a brief from Lee Green, senior medical entomologist, Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Indiana Department of Health.

Chagas disease is caused by a parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) that is transmitted by a group of insects called triatomine bugs or “kissing bugs” (fig. 1). There are many bugs that look like triatomines (fig. 2-5) and can bite but are not vectors for the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Unlike many other vectors, this parasite is not transmitted directly through the insect’s bite but through their feces. The parasite is found in the feces of an infected triatomine, and transmission occurs when triatomine feces contaminate a break in the skin (e.g., a bite) or mucous membrane.

One kissing bug species, Triatoma sanguisuga, has been found in Indiana, but it is not considered an important vector in transmission. This is because of their delayed defecation behavior, typically moving away from the host before they defecate, which reduces the chances of feces being rubbed into a bite wound. In addition, the standard of housing construction in Indiana acts as a barrier to this bug entering and infesting a home. Therefore, risk is considered extremely low in Indiana. There has not been a confirmed case of locally acquired Chagas disease in Indiana, and there have been low numbers documented in the United States. For questions or requests for arthropod identification, please contact your district medical entomologist. For questions regarding diagnostic considerations, healthcare providers can contact CDC’s Parasitic Diseases Inquiries line at 404-718-4745 or email questions to chagas@cdc.gov.

INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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INLA – Indiana Accredited Horticulturist (IAH) Update Rick Haggard

The INLA is proud and honored to give its members an update regarding the current status of the IAH Program. The manual has/is going under a major overhaul with much needed updated practices and information. Another caveat to the new manual is it will also become available in a “Spanish” version. While the exact timeline has not been yet set in stone with a full release date, the INLA cannot thank enough the various individual companies that have offered monetary assistance to get this project completed. The INLA has budgeted for this not only this fiscal year but also realized this will involve some training to educators of the program, much like George Brenn did with “Study Guides” for the original IAP as well the current IAH. The Indiana Nursery Endowment Fund (INLA Scholarship) has donated $4000.00 to keep the ball rolling with the progression and oversight by Dr. Cliff Sadof, who has personally accepted the challenge as a much-needed certification to keep our industry continue as a professional entity.

This optional Spanish version will only make individual companies and their employees a tool to be utilized with their own training to hopefully retain much needed production employees.

These hopefully will with the advanced opportunity to learn more about the professionalism in our industry and garner the same status as other IAH’ers of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association. Our current IAH Program is the only horticulture certification program approve by Indiana Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Workforce Development (DWD) other than a college degree.

I would like further update that since the inception of the original 9-chapter (3” or 4” ringed binder) named Indiana Accredited Plantsman (IAP), which evolved into the current Indiana Accredited Horticulturist (IAH). The binder itself was to be purchased separately (supposedly) as each manual was numbered individually for each person to take the IAP exam and that would be your certificate number. That was quickly altered as most companies that wanted employees to become IAP Certified, purchase one manual and either share by having employees meet one hour after work or let them sign it out for weekend/night! Look how far we have come with offering the study material at no charge and only paying before taking the exam.

As of October 11, 2025, there have been a total of 2,545 individuals, either current/retired Master Indiana Accredited Horticulturist or regular Indiana Accredited Horticulturist paid submissions from the inception of the program in 1974. As I am writing this, I know for years many companies paid for the employees to take the certification exam, in part to show how much value the employee was to the company. I have a personal feeling on why very few employees realized this was the employer’s way of value ranking a certain group of employees were or realized how prestigious this certification garnered respect of others in the green industry field.

I am in hopes that current INLA Member companies continue to utilize this program as a way of rewarding key employees to be recognized as a “valued employee”. I am sure if the employee truly understood the IAH Certificate” value more would definitely wish they had it!

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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GEORGE BRENN'S IAH STUDY GUIDE

George Brenn’s IAH Study Guide

George Brenn, MIAH, IAH Committee Chair and Editor, created this study guide to help teach the material covered in the IAH Manual. His intention was to assist those trying to master the subjects within the manual.

Text: © George Brenn

CHAPTER 2 Study Guide 1 The Indiana Nursery and

Landscape Association has developed the Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Program to provide a method of self-study and accreditation for individuals in the nursery industry. The goal of this certification and accreditation program is to 3 develop knowledgeable, motivated, professional employees for the landscape nursery industry.

There are over 700 Indiana Accredited Horticulturists and over 125 Master 4 Horticulturists. The success of the program and the upgrading of the personnel in the nursery industry are direct results of the emphasis the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association have placed on education programs. You are encouraged to take advantage of this valued educational service of your association.

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Chapter 2 – Plant Names and Recognition Plant Names – Is it a tree, a shrub, a vine, a bush, an evergreen, an annual, a perennial……?

Carolus Linnaeus, in 1783, authored Species Plantarum in which he developed the Linnaean Binomial System of Nomenclature (Latin binomial = generic name + specific epithet) Epithet = a word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality. ​Latin binomial is established for each plant according to the ICBN (International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, as coordinated by the IAPT, International Association for Plant Taxonomy) ​​Genus species OR Genus species = worldwide recognition of a plant name ​Carpinus caroliniana = American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Ironwood, Musclewood ​A name often follows the Latin binomial and is the abbreviation for the person who first named the plant: ​ Acer saccharum Marsh. identifies Humphrey Marshall as the 1st namer; L. signifies Linnaeus Accepted Taxonomic Units: ​Kingdom ​Division​ Kingdom, Division, Class & Order have little significance in ​Class normal, everyday horticulture. ​ Order Family​

Genus ​ Species

Variety or subspecies ​ Forma

​Cultivar Family = a group of related genera (genera = plural of genus); name always ends in “aceae” (Rosaceae) Genus = group of plants containing 1 or more species Species = group of individual plants, potentially the same, but with distinct morphological differences

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GEORGE BRENN'S IAH STUDY GUIDE (CONT.)

​

People are all different, but we are all Homo sapiens; abbreviated sp. (plural = spp.) ​Variety = population within a species displaying marked differences in nature & will reproduce true-to-type ​Forma = sporadic variation occurring randomly throughout the population of a species ​Ilex opaca forma xanthocarpa ​Cultivar = cultivated variety: most important unit of horticultural classification: Cultivar name is not italicized or underlined and has single quotes on either side of cv. Name Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Viburnum xburkwoodii ‘Mohawk’ ​Interspecific Hybrids: genetic cross between 2 species: Abelia xgrandiflora = A. chinensis X A. uniflora ​ lant Patents = for 20 years after date of plant patent, only patent holder may raise or sell patented plant P ​Trademarks = Plant names can be trademarked & that name can’ be used as name for any similar plant

Plant Recognition What is that tree, what is that shrub, what is that vine, what is that evergreen……??? ​ Basic plant identification characteristics include: ​ eaf Arrangement – Alternate, Opposite​ L Leaf Form ​Simple: entire, lobed, toothed Compound: palmate, pinnate, bipinnate Awl like, Needle like, Scale like ​Leaf Shape – many options ​ Leaf Apices (tips) ​ Leaf Bases ​Leaf Margins Crenate ​ Dentate ​ Serrulate ​ Incised ​ etc.

Bud Arrangement ​ Terminal Bud ​Bud Scales ​Lateral Bud ​ Leaf Scar ​ Lenticels Flower Structure – ​Catkin ​Corymb ​Panicle ​Raceme ​Spike etc.

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

10/18/25 12:12 AM

GEORGE BRENN'S IAH QUIZ & NEW IAHs

IAH Quiz

Quiz Due December 31

1. In the name Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’, ___________ is the species name.

2. Leaves that possess multiple ____________ are said to be compound.

3. The ___________ nomenclature we use today was developed by Carolus Linneaus.

4. A Plant Key is a reference that would aid in the _________ of an unknown plant.

5. The needles of a Spruce tree are actually its ___________ 6. While common names for plants may be different from one region to another, the _________ and ________ names are universal.

Name:______________________________________________________________________________ IAH No.:_____________________________________________________________________________ Phone:______________________________________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________________________

Send answers to: info@inla.org -or- mail to INLA, 7915 S. Emerson Ave., #247, Indianapolis, IN 46237

Each quiz will be worth a .5 (one-half) CEU! The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee is pleased to provide you an opportunity to earn CEUs (continuing education units) in each issue of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape News.

The IAH quiz offered in each issue can be completed by anyone who is an “Active” (current) IAH (initial or masters).

Each quiz will be worth a .5 (one-half ) CEU (continuing education unit) for the completion of the bi-monthly quiz with a pass rate of 80%. Over a 2-year period, you could earn up to 6 CEUs if you take and pass every quiz!

The INLA office will grade the quiz.

Questions and answers have been provided by the IAH committee.

Thank you and good luck studying!

The Indiana Accredited Horticulturist Committee Co-Chairs - George Brenn, Retired - Gabriel Gluesenkamp, Designscape Hort Services Committee Members - Brian Bunge, Twixwood Nursery - Wayne Gruber, Niemeyer’s Landscape Supply - Jim Messmer - Melissa Mravec, Allen Landscape - Jodie Overmyer, Marshall County Soil and Water

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION • www.inla.org

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INDIANA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NEWS • NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025

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Visit our website for link to our current inventory and photo gallery. www.bowlingsnursery.com

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10/18/25 12:12 AM

Rick Haggard, INLA Executive Director Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 247 Indianapolis, IN 46237 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2025 Address Service Requested

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