Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Issue

December 2015/January2016 Volume 33 • Number 6

Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association • Serving Colorado & New Mexico

ProGreen EXPO 2016

11 Gleanings from the

O&M Leadership Retreat 14 Managing Spring Displays

& Staffing 15 Plant Protection Tips

for Customers 17 Timely, Well-Planned

Classes Attract Customers

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LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Our Mission To create opportunities for horticultural and associated industry professionals to collaboratively grow their businesses through fellowship, education, advocacy and certification.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Perennial Solutions Consulting

In This Issue 4 Message from the Board:

One Year Ends, Another Begins 5 CNGA – Here for the Members:

Successes in 2015, Opportunities in 2016 6 Member Profiles: Neils Lunceford, Inc., Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply

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Protecting Your Investments: Managing Spring Displays & Staffing

17 Marketing Techniques:

Classes Attract Customers 18 CSU Research Update:

Sugar Maples for Colorado

ProGreen EXPO 2016: CNGA Recommended Seminars

20 Funding Research & Education:

Our Largest Resource – Employees 21 Safety Corner: Simple Steps for Safe Lifting

11 Gleanings from the

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O&M Leadership Retreat Company Culture, EAB & JB Updates, Industry Challenges & Solutions

22 Calendar & New Members 23 Classified Ads & Advertisers List

Board Of Directors Bill Kluth CNGA Board President Tagawa Greenhouse Enterprises, LLC 303.659.1260 x205 bkluth@tagawas.com Jesse Eastman, CCNP CNGA Board Vice President Fort Collins Nursery 970.482.1984 j.eastman@fortcollinsnursery.com Dan Wise, CCNP CNGA Board Secretary/Treasurer Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery 970.484.1289 dan@ftcollinswholesalenursery.com

Sarada Krishnan, Ph.D. Denver Botanic Gardens 720.865.3601 krishnas@botanicgardens.org

Dan Gerace, CGG Welby Gardens Company, Inc. 303.288.3398 dangerace@hardyboyplant.com

Kirby Thompson, CCNP Britton Nursery, Inc. 719.495.3749 info@brittonflowers.com

Levi Heidrich Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery, LLC 710.598.8733 levi@coloradotreefarmnursery.com

Kerri Dantino Little Valley Wholesale Nursery 303.659.6708 kerri@lvwn.com

Publisher

Editorial

Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 959 S. Kipling Pkwy., Ste. 200 Lakewood, Colo. 80226 303.758.6672 Fax: 303.758.6805 info@coloradonga.org coloradonga.org

Allison Gault, MBA Executive Director Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 303.758.6672 agault@coloradonga.org

Printer

Ex-Officio Members

Stan Brown, CCNP Alameda Wholesale Nursery, Inc. 303.761.6131 stan@alamedawholesale.com

Jim Klett, Ph.D. CSU Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture 970.491.7179 jim.klett@colostate.edu Allison Gault, MBA Executive Director Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 303.758.6672 agault@coloradonga.org

Contributing Writers

Staff

Mindy Carrothers Tanya Ishikawa Patrick Merz

Matt Edmundson Allison Gault Dr. Jim Klett Bill Kluth Jennifer Timms Hobson

The LooseLeaf feature writer and editor is Tanya Ishikawa of Buffalo Trails Multimedia Communications at 303.819.7784 and office@tanyaishikawa.com.

The LooseLeaf is published six times a year with issues scheduled for February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November, and December/January.

Visit coloradonga.org for classified advertisements, plant publications, upcoming events, a member directory, and much more!

Colorado Community Media 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Ste. 210 Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80129 coloradocommunitymedia.com

Display Advertising Michelle Muñoz, CNGA 303.758.6672 mmunoz@coloradonga.org

coloradonga.org

Allison Gault, MBA

Michelle Muňoz

Ben Northcutt

Executive Director

Administrative Coordinator

Membership Manager

agault@ coloradonga.org

mmunoz@ coloradonga.org

bnorthcutt@ coloradonga.org

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MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

One Year Ends, Another Begins Wow! 2015 seems to have gone by faster than other years. Weren’t we just starting spring and here it is Christmas season already. 2016 is upon us.

By Bill Kluth CNGA Board President

“CNGA is your partner in adapting and thriving in this constant state of change.”

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It is a good time to reflect on this past year, to make sure we are leaving 2015 in good shape and to prepare for the upcoming (and undoubtedly fast-paced) next year.

As you reflect on 2015, don’t just think about the successes and the occasional misses. Think about the blessings that made your successes possible – hard-working and dedicated staff, supportive family and friends, loyal customers, honest vendors, and (sometimes) luck. Have you taken time to thank these individuals?

The end of the year is a great opportunity to organize and clean your office, facility and mind so that you are ready for 2016. Don’t carry the baggage and problems of 2015 into 2016, and let them weigh down your efforts in the coming year. Not that we didn’t learn a lot, both good and bad over the past year, but we need to make sure we move on and concentrate on the future, rather than being dragged down by the past.

We are a positive industry. We start every year knowing the weather will be great, sales will be better than ever, and we will have a banner year. We make our plans and do our preparations remembering what we learned from last year, but always expecting forward movement in all areas of sales, quality and service.

CNGA is your partner in adapting and thriving in this constant state of change. As a truly “member-driven” organization, we depend on you to develop the direction and goals for CNGA through your feedback, which is always welcomed.

By providing educational and networking opportunities at ProGreen, the Industry Celebration, the Owners & Managers Leadership Retreat, member BBQs, plant walks and other events, we keep members updated on the latest and greatest and create enjoyable experiences when we can interact and share. CNGA offers member services and benefits like credit card and payroll processing through Heartland, office supply savings through Office Depot, and other ways to boost your bottomline through our business partners. Advocacy and monitoring potential legislation at the State Capitol is one of the association’s key responsibilities, to ensure lawmakers’ decisions have more positive than negative impact on your business, employees and profits.

We are blessed to be in an industry that provides so much satisfaction and enjoyment – beautiful landscapes, shaded lawns, bright flowers, green grass and property improvement.

The next LooseLeaf “Message from the Board” will be written by new CNGA President Jesse Eastman, owner of Fort Collins Nursery. It has been my pleasure to serve the amazing members of CNGA during the past two years.

All the best in 2016!

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Successes in 2015, Opportunities in 2016 As the year comes to a close, it’s always good to look back at the opportunities and challenges from the past 12 months and plan for the upcoming year. At the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association, I’m doing just that.

First, I’d like to thank you for your membership and participation in the association. Without our volunteers, new ideas, open discussions and engaged members, CNGA would not be what it is today. The majority of this year’s events had the highest attendance, compared to previous years. Overall, our total member attendance at this year’s events exceeded last year by over 150 attendees!

The 2015 PlantSomething Colorado campaign was revamped, wildly successful and won an award. We saw a 700 percent increase in consumers visiting the website for retail locations. Due to CNGA’s participation in Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO), the industry was well represented on the legislative front, and we actively participated in lobbying efforts on 20 bills. In preparation for the new Colorado Water Plan, GreenCO also conducted a Water Quantification Study, which showed that landscape best management practices provide a significant reduction in the demand for water, without sacrificing healthy, attractive and functional landscapes.

As 2016 approaches, we’re looking forward to ProGreen, which will be held February 9-12 at the Colorado Convention Center. We have planned some additional networking opportunities, a keynote speaker and three distinct areas of content: pesticides/pollinators, water and the environment, and industry growth.

Plans for the revitalization of the Grown In Colorado® brand and continuation of the PlantSomething Colorado campaign are well underway. We’re also planning dates for the Colorado Certified Nursery Professional, New Mexico Certified Nursery Professional and Certified Greenhouse Grower classes. Certified employees help your business stand out and show your customers that you value their business and want to provide the best possible service to them. Be sure to check the CNGA website for dates.

As always, we’ll provide many opportunities for you to get together with your fellow members and discuss your challenges and solutions over the year. Be sure to check the website as well as the eLeaf for event dates and locations. If you have any suggestions on how CNGA can make your life easier and your business more profitable, don’t hesitate to contact me.

CNGA — HERE FOR THE MEMBERS

By Allison Gault, MBA CNGA Executive Director

“Without our volunteers, new ideas, open discussions and engaged members, CNGA would not be what it is today.”

For plants that feel perfectly at home, look for...

Grown In Colorado® is a consumer friendly, iconic way for consumers to quickly identify products grown or created in Colorado. Rolling out initially only to CNGA members, Grown In Colorado® uses the strict Colorado Nurseryman’s Act to qualify products for participation.

According to Colorado Proud, nearly 92% of Coloradans would buy more Colorado grown and produced products if they were available and identified as being from Colorado.

Join Grown In Colorado® Today! coloradonga.org/grown.php

coloradonga.org

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MEMBER PROFILE

Established Landscape Experts Maintain High Standards Interview with Jeff Lunceford, CEO

Please tell us a bit about your management.

Neils Lunceford, Inc. P.O. Box 2130 740 Blue River Parkway Silverthorne, Colo. 80498 tel 970.468.0340 fax 970.468.6865 neilslunceford.com office@neilslunceford.com

Larry Lunceford, company president, received his horticulture degree from Ohio State University in 1973, and co-founded Neils Lunceford, Inc. in 1980. His experience includes landscape maintenance, design and implementation, and wetland construction. He attends many seminars to keep up with cutting-edge technologies and techniques, and has served as president on the Mountain chapter of ALCC (Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado).

Tim Glasco, CCNP, vice president in charge of sales, received his horticulture degree from Texas A&M University in 1978. His experience includes groundskeeping, landscape maintenance, landscape design and implementation. He is a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional, and has continued his education through Colorado State University and Colorado Mountain College.

Jeff Lunceford, chief executive officer, is a Summit County native. He focused closely on emerging green building technologies and earned his LEED accreditation while at Colorado State University, and graduated with honors with a construction management degree. He worked for a custom homebuilder out of Vail before returning to work for Neils Lunceford. Jeff’s experiences range across the operations and management fields in estimating, scheduling, project management, supervision, carpentry, landscape implementation, and water feature construction.

Abe Hoffmann, operations manager for Summit County, has been in the county since 1999, and with Neils Lunceford since 2001. Abe comes from a customer service background, and has experience in implementing plans including tree planting, water features, irrigation, and rock wall construction. As operations manager, he is responsible for overseeing projects from start to finish, and will ensure projects meet customers’ high standards.

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How did your company come to be?

The company grew organically as most landscape companies do, with a pickup truck and several hand tools. Larry, having lived in Summit County since 1972, knew that he wanted to spend his life here and recognized the opportunities available. He opened our garden center knowing that being centrally located in Silverthorne on river front property he could build a landscape nursery and construction business.

We pride ourselves on our quality of work and maintaining the highest standards of landscape.

We are proud of our ability to deliver quality and value in projects of all sizes and scopes of work.

We strive to understand our clients’ goals and exceed their expectations.

What has been the most challenging issue in your business this year?

This year as with any other, anticipating the demand for specific plants is always a balancing act. Certainly we prepare to stock new species that gain notoriety and we always bring the top sellers into inventory every year, but each season always seems to bring a high demand or trend for a specific species or two that we can not anticipate. This holds true for our retail nursery as well as construction.

We attempt to balance this supply and demand issue by utilizing our construction division and nursery retail divisions to support one another.

For example, if we overestimate our need for a plant in construction, we are typically able to sell that material from our retail nursery.

What have been the most valuable educational sessions at ProGreen?

It has varied based on the focus of each employee who has attended ProGreen. Our young technicians find that the classes focused on the technical aspects of irrigation and lighting are most valuable, whereas Jeff enjoys hearing from panels of executives and business professionals in the green industry.

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Specialists in High Quality Trees & Transplants Interview with William Howell, Nursery & Landscape Operations Manager

Please tell us a bit about your company.

the main artery from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, the location provides great exposure for the business and convenient access to its customers.

Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply (STLS) is a full-service, wholesale nursery specializing in large tree transplants and nursery supply. In addition to a full selection of high quality trees and shrubs, STLS provides a full line of bioorganic products, soil amendments, and mulches generated from locally sourced wood.

Additional service offerings include vegetation management, tree and shrub installation, and most recently, low impact irrigation installation and renovation with a focus on large tree preservation and conservation.

STLS is situated on approximately five acres and houses mulch-making operations, a nursery, equipment maintenance facilities, and parking for a fleet of highly specialized equipment ranging from 94-inch tree spades and bucket trucks to various spray rigs and a slew of arboricultural equipment.

Who are some of the key staff members?

Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply is the brainchild of ISA Board Certified Master Arborists Jason Jones and David Deyarmond, and was launched by Owner Paul Mansolilli. STLS was initially designed as a support center to its sister company, Aspen Tree Service, while providing the local landscape trade with high quality plant material as well as cutting-edge landscape and tree care products.

In 2015, William Howell, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape horticulture from Colorado State University, was promoted from within to become the nursery and landscape operations manager for the company. His day-to-day duties include personnel and site management of the STLS facility as well as the supervision of all transplanting, landscape and irrigation operations.

Terri Terry was hired last spring as the office and accounts manager and is active in equipment operation and deliveries. Another addition to the team this year is Jason Ryan, who is successfully performing the role of nursery and yard manager.

The company also boasts numerous other certified arborists, horticulturists and landscape ecologists.

Please describe your location.

Nestled in the shadow of majestic Mount Sopris to the south, the Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply facility is located on Highway 82 between Carbondale and El Jebel. Situated on coloradonga.org

MEMBER PROFILE

Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply 15450 CO-Hwy. 82 Carbondale, Colo. 81623 tel 970.963.6464 fax 970.963.6214 office@sopristree.com sopristree.com

What has been the most challenging issue in the plant business this year?

We have been challenged by the lack of availability of high quality plants from local growers. Due to the high demand being placed on the industry by the recent increase in construction, following the economic downturn when growers planted very little, we are now seeing a growing number of shortages on several varieties of trees. We are working with local growers to get the numbers back up to where they need to be on the supply end by having certain items contract grown, and sometimes have to go out of state to supply these products.

What have been the most valuable educational sessions at ProGreen?

The certification programs hosted by both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association are most valuable to us. A key philosophy of the management and ownership of Sopris Tree and Landscape Supply and Aspen Tree Service is to provide all of our employees with opportunities in training and continuing education. This not only serves to foster our highly competent work force but serves to better the industry as a whole.

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ProGREEN EXP

The Premier Rocky Mountain Regional Green In

February 9-12, 2016 | Colorado Convention Center | Denver, Colo CNGA Recommends…

These seminars are specifically tailored to the members of the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association, based on feedback from previous educational offerings and suggestions about current professional training needs. The CNGA staff helped develop these timely seminar topics and schedule the most knowledgable, engaging presenters. We know your whole staff, from new hires to senior management, will find many valuable learning opportunities at this year’s ProGreen (as always)!

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CNGA Booth – Don’t forget to visit the CNGA booth located in the Professional Association Resource Center (PARC) in the back of the EXPO to learn about your member benefits, provide feedback to staff and see what’s happening in 2016.

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

PO2016

ndustry Conference

orado | progreenexpo.com Best Management Practices: Pruning Trees & Shrubs Presented by Eric Hammond from Colorado State University Extension, Brighton, Colo.

This session will cover the basics of tree pruning. Participants will learn how trees respond to pruning, the potential benefits and risks of pruning, the types and uses of different pruning cuts, as well as the basics of executing them, and principles of structural training.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Best Practices for Using Biocontrols in Greenhouse & Nursery Applications Presented by Bruce Galasso from Welby Gardens Co. Inc., Denver, Colo.

Chris Hartung from Desert Canyon Farm, Canon City, Colo.

Ron Valentin from Syngenta L & G – Bioline Division, Greensboro, N.C. Given the current wave of concern over the horticultural use of neonicotinoids and pesticides, interest is growing regarding the use of biological controls as an alternative. This session will look at how these systems perform and the various elements that are required for adequate pest control. The panel will present perspectives from their own operations and describe do’s and don’ts, supplies and sources, proven performers, effectiveness and limitations, and other important aspects of using biocontrols successfully.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 8 – 9 a.m.

Managing Greenhouse Diseases – What’s New & What’s Working Presented by Ann R. Chase, Ph.D., from Chase Agricultural Consulting, LLC, Cottonwood, Arizona Dr. Chase will review the most recent disease outbreaks such as TMV on petunia, downy mildew on basil and impatiens, and other diseases that are always a concern like Botrytis blight. She will also cover cultural, biological and chemical controls that lead to an effective IPM strategy.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. – 12 noon

coloradonga.org

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Industry Celebration – Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Denver The Industry Celebration is a great time to catch up with your colleagues, support the association and honor those in our industry, over a few drinks and appetizers. To register, visit www.coloradonga.org/events.

Plant Detective: Diagnosis & Treatment of Common Tree Diseases, Pests & Injuries Presented by Dr. Tamla Blunt from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.

Laura Pottorff from Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, Broomfield, Colo.

Mary Small from Colorado State University Jefferson County Extension, Golden, Colo.

Extremes in temperature, moisture, invasive pests and diseases all play a role in tree health. Hone your plant detective skills with three of Colorado’s top diagnosticians as they share the tricks of the trade, through diagnostic scenarios and live examples. The extremes of 2014-15 will be discussed, including injuries and abiotic damage, diseases, nematodes, and insects that appeared to lavish in last season’s excess moisture.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Optimize Your Shipping Process with Lean Flow Principles Presented by Gary Cortes from FlowVision, LLC, Boca Raton, Florida FlowVision has developed a complete Lean Flow Shipping system that increases efficiency, increases order accuracy, and optimizes payloads, credits and claims. This system is called Shipping Dock Supermarket. Learn the techniques adopted by and helping many growers in the green industry become more profitable.

Friday, Feb. 12, 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.

When Nature Goes Bad – How to Prepare for a Disaster Presented by Aaron Hoffman from Richards, Seeley & Schaefer, Inc., Westminster, Colo.

Mike Jeronimus from Boxelder Creek Properties, LLC, Golden, Colo.

Sue & Mike Spencer from Spencer’s Lawn & Garden Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.

As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, nursery and greenhouse businesses are facing greater and more frequent risks of significant damage from hail, lightning, wind and floods. This panel session will examine the key insurance factors you need to evaluate before disaster strikes, as well as operational strategies that can minimize risks. Panelists include business owners who have been through a disaster, who will share the important lessons they learned.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 1 – 2 p.m.

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LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Gleanings from the Owners & Managers Leadership Retreat

By Allison Gault, CNGA Executive Director

The Owners & Managers Leadership Retreat held in Vail on November 6-7 was a huge success. We had more than 60 participants, an inspiring keynote session, an update on invasive pests in Colorado, and meaningful discussions during our roundtable sessions. coloradonga.org

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The Importance of Company Culture The keynote session with speaker Garth Jordan focused on culture and its importance in business success and achievement of strategy. The presentation provided several key takeaways, and made it very clear that the culture of your organization is of key importance, is intentional, requires monitoring and is essential to business success. In fact, companies with low employee engagement see operating income decline by 32 percent, and companies with an engaged workforce improve operating incomes by 19 percent. It’s important not only to the success of your business strategy, but also to your bottomline. Other key takeaways include: • Generational differences have an impact on why employees choose to work at an organization. For millennials, a key reason to work at an organization is the purpose of the work.

• Employees are loyal to culture, not strategy. Culture can be a competitive

differentiator for organizations and cannot be copied, but strategies can be.

• Culture is woven throughout the entire organization and can be observed and recognized in midlevel managers, frontline customer service workers and business owners. Whether you plan it or not, culture will happen, so create a culture you love.

• Improving the following critical elements can establish culture: the decision-making process, employee areas (what does the break room look like?), the hiring process (employing people that fit with your culture), your way of interacting and “living” the culture (are you a good example?), and your company’s organizational structure (does it fit with the culture and facilitate it?).

Updates on EAB & Japanese Beetle After the company culture presentation, Laura Pottorff of the Colorado Department of Agriculture provided an update on

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Japanese Beetle in Colorado. EAB was detected in Boulder in September 2013. The USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) suggested the pest was actually present between 2007-2009, based on dendrochronology, the tree ring-dating science that analyzes temporal and spatial patterns of physical and cultural processes. Although infected Ash trees can be treated with pesticides, all Ash trees in Colorado will be impacted over time so the recommendation is to remove Ash from nursery stock. For recommended replacements, visit the CNGA website and look for the Tree Recommendation list under the Resources section.

For Japanese Beetle, a quarantine has been proposed in areas in which the Japanese Beetle population is considered high. Nurseries, landscape contractors and garden centers in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo and Weld counties (the designated Internal

The Benefits of Certific CNGA’s certification programs are designed to promote high quality standards and professionalism for the nursery and greenhouse industry. Managing or working in a nursery or greenhouse requires an indepth knowledge of plant growth and development, propagation and pruning, media, disease and insect control, and other relevant areas of expertise.

Certification increases the value of employees, preparing them with the knowledge and tools to 12

help guarantee your company’s success.

The Certified Greenhouse Grower (CGG) training seminars and exam are offered once a year for those wanting to increase their knowledge of greenhouse growing. The Colorado Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) program is offered at least twice a year, rotating locations from north to south on the Front Range in the summer and in the Denver metro area in the fall. The New Mexico Certified Nursery LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Quarantine Area) must meet the specific criteria in order to move nursery stock to any other county in the state of Colorado.

Nursery stock that remains within these 11 counties is exempt from the criteria.

To review the specific criteria, visit the CNGA website and look for the criteria under the Pest and Disease section.

You can also contact Pottorff at laura. pottorff@state.co.us or 303.869.9070, or Allison Gault at CNGA.

Industry Challenges & Proposed Solutions The member roundtables provided an opportunity to discuss current challenges and brainstorm solutions. The roundtable topics and highlights from each are below.

• Preparing for an environmental disaster: Hail, tornados, lightening and flooding were the main focus. Solutions for reducing impacts included preparing with the proper insurance, financial reserves and specific plans for each potential issue. The safety of employees

and customers in the case of tornados and lightening was also discussed.

• Efficiencies in operations: Ask staff who are performing the tasks to submit ideas for efficiency. Create an “idea committee” to review ideas, choose one winner each month and reward the staff member who submitted the idea. Companies need to ensure changes in one area don’t impact other departments and end up causing a slowdown. It’s also necessary to let go of the attitude of “This is how we’ve always done it.”

• Planning for the future: Although long-term planning can be difficult, short-term objectives (including financial needs) should be identified to assist in achieving the long-term goal.

Also, companies should have the ability to be flexible and modify the long-term goal when appropriate.

(both wholesale and retail customers) asking about plants that are free of neonicotinoids. It is key for members to continue to educate customers on the use of neonicotinoids utilizing science-based studies, and inform them on how the pesticides are or are not applied to their plant material.

• Pest update: Specific questions about the proposed Japanese Beetle quarantine were addressed. Also, samples of Japanese Beetle and EAB damage were provided.

• Open topic: Of the numerous topics discussed, the issues brought up repeatedly were healthcare costs, employee benefits, the need for CNGA to promote the industry to consumers, updating policies around holding items for customers, and tracking lost sales.

• Neonicotinoids: The key takeaway is that perception is reality. Each company has had a varying degree of consumers

ation Professional (NMCNP) program is offered at least once a year, alternating locations from Santa Fe to Albuquerque.

employees through certification communicates to your customers that you value their business and allows them to buy with confidence.

Earning certification illustrates a higher level of professionalism that benefits individuals and their companies. Employers can be assured that a CCNP or NMCNP is dedicated to the industry and can provide exceptional customer service, knowledge and expertise. Investing in your business and

Make sure you and your employees take advantage of our upcoming certification seminars and exams at ProGreen. Check the CNGA website (coloradonga. org) for upcoming seminars and exams.

coloradonga.org

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Protecting Your Investments Managing Displays & Staffing during Unpredictable Spring Weather

“When creating displays, we keep it simple so we can spend our time on ensuring plants look their best and customers can find what they’re looking for.”

– Patrick Merz, garden center manager, Highlands Garden Center 14

Photos courtesy of Highlands Garden Center

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Patrick Merz

March is Colorado’s snowiest month, May is the state’s rainiest month, and April is somewhere in between. All three spring months reach temperatures ready for bringing plants outdoors, yet late season snow storms and freezes are a real threat to plant health.

Facing these weather challenges, plant retailers need to balance protecting plant quality with offering attractive displays to ensure brisk sales during the spring rush of customers.

“Care of plant material is our number 1 priority. This is the time of year when it’s all hands-on-deck. Our staff understands what we’re up against with Mother Nature and assists in whatever needs to be done to keep the plants alive,” said Patrick Merz, garden center manager at Highlands Garden Center in Centennial. “It becomes less about managing labor hours and more about managing the flow of plant material coming into the garden center.”

Highlands tries to strike a balance between stocking plants that customers want and having so much stock that it’s difficult to protect from extreme weather events.

“Fortunately, many of our growers understand our particular circumstance and work with us to delay plant deliveries if needed,” Merz explained.

Neils Lunceford, Inc., a full-service landscaping business and garden center in Silverthorne, relies on staff to focus on preserving sensitive plant material by tipping, tenting, covering or removing snow to protect the company’s investment in plants.

“Everyone’s willingness to dive into even the coldest and wettest work allows us the ability to save our plant material when the weather turns,” said CEO Jeff Lunceford.

The business also adjusts employee numbers during times of decreased customer traffic due coloradonga.org

Plant Protection Tips for Customers

By Patrick Merz Highlands Garden Center

One of our greatest challenges in early spring is educating customers on when it’s safe to plant outside.

Though many plants can handle lower temperatures, many popular ones cannot. Making a sale is always great but it’s more important to us that customers trust our expertise and shop our store for years to come.

We try to educate customers and staff by posting informational signage around the garden center. The signs announce the average last frost day in our area and explain the need to delay planting tender plants until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

This past year, we saw a lot of hail come through the neighborhoods around our garden center. It’s difficult to do any preemptive protection, so we see a lot of our customers after the damage is done. We recommend a kelp and seaweed-based fertilizer to help regenerate growth on hail-damaged plants. So far, the feedback has been very positive.

Here’s some other tips we share with customers: • Be prepared to cover newly purchased plants if temperatures approach freezing. Frost blankets, plastic or old bed sheets work great. Don’t be too alarmed if snow is in the forecast, as it will act as insulation for plants and better protect them from freezing temperatures.

• If inclement weather is on the way, keep your new plants by a bright window inside your home. Ensure they stay well watered and are not allowed to dry out.

• Improve the mobility of color garden pots by placing them on heavy-duty castors. This will enable you to move them easily and quickly to a protected area if hail, snow or freezing temperatures are in the forecast.

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to the impact of spring weather. “With a retail business that is exposed to the elements, it is important to balance your staffing to your customer volume. Our nursery manager does an excellent job of finding this balance, managing and scheduling to the often changing weather,” Lunceford added.

Both Neils Lunceford and Highlands Garden Center set up some mobile displays, which get the plants in front of customers while providing a convenient way for employees to move plants out of harmful weather.

Merz said, “In early spring, though not aesthetically pleasing, we do have a fair amount of plants on carts so we can easily move them to more protected areas of the garden center.”

With very little in the way of large, protective structures to display plants, Highlands gives extra protection to plants constantly until the threat of freezing temperatures is over. The business is building a new greenhouse along with two other structures to protect plants more efficiently from cold, snow, hail and excessive rain in the future.

Merz advises staying simple when creating displays at this time of year. “In early spring, I would avoid creating displays that are overly cute or take a great deal of time. If you’re like us, you’ll be covering or dismantling them due to freezing temperatures or snow. Time could be better spent by simply ensuring plants are looking their best and customers are finding what they’re looking for. Simplicity is the name of the game,” he said.

“Always expect the best but anticipate the worst,” he summed up.

“We try to be prepared in spring for extreme drops in temperature or snow by having a lot of plastic standing by. We also have access to various trucks where we load plants for extra protection.”

CNGA MEMBER TIP: Share the website link below with your customers or print off pages from the website each month to make available throughout your garden center.

Gardening in Colorado is different from almost anywhere else in the country. The state has intense sunshine most days, very little rain, low humidity, drying winds, and temperatures that may fluctuate 50 degrees or more in 24 hours. Then there’s the soil: highly alkaline, and in most parts of the Denver metro area, heavy clay.

No wonder gardening is a challenge to newcomers and natives alike! Yet, having an amazingly beautiful and productive landscape is possible. It’s a matter of knowing how to work with the state’s special conditions. Giving you that know-how is the purpose of the online guide, “Down to Earth in Denver” – a calendar with monthly gardening information. Check it out at: http://tinyurl.com/COgardencalendar Source: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

NORTHERN GROWN ▪ QUALITY PLANTS ▪ DIRECT DELIVERY

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G R E E N™ B&B and Containers Bare Root Shade Trees Ornamental Trees Deciduous Shrubs Evergreens Liners

www.mckaynursery.com Tim Flood – 800-236-4242

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Cary Hall – 303-702-1063

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Timely, Well-Planned Classes Attract Customers One of a gardener’s best attributes is a desire to be educated – a characteristic that provides garden centers with valuable marketing opportunities by offering informative and timely workshops. Organizing a rose pruning seminar just as your customers are planning that activity is a great way to get them into your business when they are ready to take home and use what they learn, along with a few purchases as well.

Each of our class attendees is given a coupon to use that day on products specific to the workshop. Because customers feel empowered by what they learned in class, they tend to purchase higher priced items, like high-end pruning tools.

Having workshops on Saturdays works best for us, as most attendees are weekend warriors and would have little opportunity to attend the rest of the week. We charge a small fee for attending, and we provide snacks and beverages, usually something like donuts and coffee.

I have found it’s important to have classes about very specific topics that can be covered in an hour. Pruning and care of fruit trees is a popular one for us; it covers proper pruning of fruit trees for production, pest prevention and feeding.

It’s important to remember that there is no way to avoid a “dud” class now and then. Sometimes what we think might be an awesome workshop might not appeal to customers. So be it. If we could read their minds, we’d all be richer.

Our workshop series starts in mid- to late January and runs every two weeks through

March. The January and early February classes cover pruning shade trees, many shrubs and the pruning and care of fruit trees, which is timely in central New Mexico. As we move into mid-February and early March, we teach the basics of cool season vegetable gardening and starting your warm-season veggie seeds indoors, as well as tending to your roses, which is our most popular workshop and often standing-room only. The rest of March and sometimes early April covers maintenance and care of grapes and berries as well as starting an herb garden.

We ask that customers hold questions until the end of each class so we can get through all the information first, which helps make the classes run smoothly. Holding questions really helps the class presenter as they don’t get side-tracked each time a question comes up.

As customers have become more aware of our classes and attendance has grown, we have really seen the outstanding benefits of bringing people into our store at notoriously slow times.

They get a sneak peek at all the new products coming in, they get fantastic customer service because we have time to spend with them, and when they see things they like, they bring their friends. You will find, however, that as class attendance grows, you’ll have new folks coming with ideas about plant care that are not perfectly aligned with your own. You’ll need to give them a little more assistance, but it’s a great way to shower them with your staff’s knowledge of local growing practices that are successful.

MARKETING TECHNIQUES

By Jennifer Timms Hobson Landscape Designer Jericho Nursery

“As customers became more aware of our classes and attendance grew, we saw outstanding benefits of bringing people into our store at notoriously slow times.”

Photo courtesy of Jericho Nursery

coloradonga.org

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CSU UPDATE

Sugar Maples for Colorado Colorado State University has been evaluating Acer saccharum (Sugar Maples) for their adaptability to the Rocky Mountain region for more than 35 years. This species is noted for its excellent fall foliage color and its sap, which is boiled down to make maple syrup.

By Jim Klett Professor & Landscape Horticulturalist, Colorado State University

Sugar Maple is not easy to taxonomically pigeonhole. Several varieties exist and some occur in the southwest United States. I would like to discuss some clones and subspecies of Acer saccharum that have performed well in our trials over the years.

Acer saccharum ‘Arrowhead’ – Arrowhead Maple Arrowhead Maple has an upright-pyramidal habit, a strong central leader, and dense branching. It consistently produces excellent bright red to orange fall color. It seems hardy to zone 5 and prefers full sun and some additional moisture.

Acer saccharum ‘John Pair’ – John Pair Caddo Sugar Maple John Pair Caddo Sugar Maple is a more compact form of Caddo with thick, glossy, dark green leaves with early orange-red fall color. It appears more resistant to leaf tatter with exceptional drought tolerance.

Some leaves may hold on later into the winter.

Acer saccharum ‘Caddo’ – Caddo Sugar Maple Caddo is a distinct population of Acer saccharum from Oklahoma. It seems to have better heat and drought tolerance than Acer saccharum. Leaves seem more resistant to leaf scorch. Fall color is generally a good yellow to orange color. It has been in our trials since 1996, and once established, we have not observed any cultural or pest problems with this clone.

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Acer saccharum ‘Wright Brothers’ – Wright Brothers Sugar Maple We have observed this clone since 2004. It develops more of a broad cone-shaped growth habit with excellent fall color that is mottled gold, pink and red. It grows a little more rapidly and is more resistant to leaf scorch. It seems to have very good cold hardiness and adaptable to zone 3.

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Acer saccharum ‘Fairview’ – Fairview Sugar Maple It has a broader, oval growth habit with emerald green leaves and good yellow to orange and rose fall color. We’ve had it in the evaluation since 1995.

It develops into a nice densely, branched growth habit.

This very upright clone has leaves that are leathery, thick and dark green with yellow-orange fall color. It is the most upright of all maples with a very tight, upright, narrow growth habit. It maintains a strong central leader with short ascending branches.

Further discussion can be found in the publication entitled, “Dependable Landscape Trees” from the CSU Arboretum, which is publication XCM-150 available from the CSU Resource Center for $19.95 at www.csuextstore.com.

Acer saccharum ‘Campfire’ – Campfire Sugar Maple We received this maple from James Holmund Nursery in Michigan and it seems more adaptable to our dry alkaline soils.

It has an excellent orange, yellow fall color and develops into more of an upright oval overall growth habit.

Acer saccharum – ‘Chippewa Fire’ – Chippewa Fire Sugar Maple We obtained this clone also in 1996 from James Holmund Nursery in Michigan. This clone like ‘Campfire’ appears more adaptable than other clones to our clay and alkaline soils. It yearly has excellent bright rose to red fall foliage consistently. It had developed into a more rounded to somewhat irregular growth habit. coloradonga.org

Acer saccharum ‘Monumentale’ – Temple’s Upright Sugar Maple

Cold-hardy specimen trees.

Shade, flowering and evergreen.

Baxter

WHOLESALE NURSERY

888-777-8199 Emmett, Idaho | baxternursery.com 19

FUNDING RESEARCH & EDUCATION

By Matt Edmundson CHREF Board Member

Our Largest Resource – Employees As I have travelled across the country talking with colleagues about the future of the industry and the opportunities that are within our grasp, a consistent theme keeps coming through. The largest resource we lack as an industry is in our human capital. Finding hard-working people with a passion for what we do is going to be the most limiting factor for growth in the future.

The competitive landscape will be dictated by those who have good, trained and dedicated staff. The Colorado Horticultural Research & Education Foundation is focused on such investments through scholarships for deserving individuals at Colorado State University and Front Range Community College.

Earlier this year, Britton Nursery in Colorado Springs hired a previous scholarship recipient, Matt Cunningham, CCNP. Read for yourself what Britton’s owner Kirby Thompson says about

Cultivating Love & Life

A family-owned wholesale perennial grower since 1979, Britton Nursery is Cultivating Love and Life in order to produce both healthy and beautiful plants as well as joyful and vibrant people. Our secret is that we are Rooted and Established in Love! (Ephesians 3:17) We invite you to come see what a difference love makes!

Britton Nursery, Inc.

Matt and how he is impacting his nursery.

“Matt graduated from Colorado State University in 2013, with a Bachelor of Science in environmental horticulture with emphasis in landscape design and contracting. He twice received the Matt Cunningham, CCNP CNREF Scholarship and once the PLANET Academic Excellence Foundation CoCal Landscape Scholarship. In 2014, he was awarded certification by CNGA as a Colorado Certified Nursery Professional. He has worked various jobs since graduating, including Wild Gardens, Weisburg Landscape Maintenance, Garden Thyme, and currently he is known as the ‘Plantinator’ at Britton Nursery. Ask him what the Plantinator does and he’ll be happy to tell you!

“Matt displays phenomenal dedication and offers 100 percent of his effort even when called on to do difficult projects. His love of plants and people creates an infectious atmosphere of happiness, and he is often heard whistling in the greenhouses while he works. His character is impeccable and his work ethic is priceless. He works tirelessly to not only do what he is asked, but to innovate and create the most excellent outcomes possible in every area of Britton Nursery.”

Just as we cultivate plants and invest in improving the efficiencies of our businesses, so must we continue to invest in the acquisition and development of talent. CHREF offers valuable support to the industry and our up-and-coming professionals in reaching these goals.

7075 Wyoming Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Office: 719.495.3676 Fax: 719.495.3749 . info@BrittonFlowers.com www.BrittonFlowers.com Proud Member

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Licensed Propagator

Licensed Grower

LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

Simple Steps for Safe Lifting Manual material handling, which includes lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying materials without mechanical assistance, is one of the leading causes of injury in the workplace. In 2011, strains from lifting alone were the most common cause of injury for Pinnacol policyholders, accounting for 3,849 workers’ compensation claims.

Training Controls: Make employees aware of lower back pain early warning signs, the importance of early reporting, biomechanics of the spine, risk factors for injury, and proper body mechanics when manually handling materials.

The two most common injured areas of the body related to manual material handling are the lower back and shoulders. The average cost of a claim from a lifting back injury is more than $10,000.

• Get as close to the load as possible before lifting it, and keep the load close once you’ve lifted it. If possible, slide the load toward you before picking it up.

Most damage to the lower back and shoulders occurs when employees handle materials over a long period of time; injuries result from the cumulative effect of lifting on soft tissues.

Therefore, it’s important to remember safe work practices when handling any material, not just when lifting a very heavy item. The best approach to avoiding injury is a combination of methods that can reduce or eliminate employee exposure to manual materials handling.

SAFETY CORNER

Here are some useful tips when training employees on proper technique:

• Make sure your footing is secure. Do not lift objects that obscure vision and footing. Plan ahead, and make sure your travel path is clear of obstructions and there are no slip hazards, such as a wet floor.

• Do not twist while lifting! Move your feet so they point in the direction of the lift as you turn. Lift smoothly and slowly, and do not jerk the load.

From Pinnacol Assurance

For more information on safe lifting in the workplace, as well as a sample list of detailed lifting guidelines, visit the Safety By Hazard page at Pinnacol.com. Additional resources are available from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s ergonomics web page and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). You can also call Pinnacol’s Safety On Call hotline at 303.361.4700 to have your questions answered about safe lifting in the workplace.

Engineering Controls: Change or modify tools, equipment or machinery to reduce the physical demands of the job. Use assistive devices (e.g., crane, forklift, conveyor) to handle materials.

These and other engineering controls are the preferred method for addressing lifting hazards since they’re the only way to eliminate hazards completely.

Work Practice Controls: Change the way job tasks are performed to reduce the frequency and duration of risk exposure. For example, reorganize the order of job tasks to allow muscle recovery between tasks that require excessive force. Instead of picking up and dumping trash at a job site once at the end of the shift, walk through the site every few hours to pick up and dump trash; this practice allows recovery time for the back and shoulder muscles. This reduces muscle fatigue, as well as the weight of the trash that needs to be lifted.

Administrative Controls: These include job rotation, job enlargement and gradual introduction to work, such as a pre-shift warm-up and stretching program. Another administrative control is team lifting for certain heavy or awkward materials. Whenever team lifting an item, try to match up workers in size and strength, and use commands to synch movements (e.g., “lift on 3, ready…1-2-3”).

coloradonga.org

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CNGA calendar

SAVE THE DATES for these events, and mark your calendars now!

ProGreen EXPO 2016 Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo Tuesday – Friday, Feb. 9 – 12, 2016 If you’re looking to take the pulse of the business year ahead and strengthen your competitive edge, plan now to attend the Rocky Mountain region’s largest annual gathering of horticultural professionals.

There’s no other place where you can explore so much in such a short amount of time – specialized training and certification classes, labor-saving technology, and networking with people who can open doors to new business opportunities. Four days of education-packed sessions, combined with the region’s largest and most diverse trade show, offer unmatched value for your time and money.

Have you reserved your exhibit space yet? If not, don’t wait another minute as booth sales have been brisk and preferred locations are quickly disappearing. ProGreen provides you with a target, captive audience in one location that happens only once a year. For current booth availability, contact ProGreen EXPO at 303.798.3664 or casey@kinsleymeetings.com. You can also go online to map-dynamics.com/progreenexpo2016 to view an interactive ProGreen EXPO floor plan.

Colorado Certified Nursery Professional (CCNP) Exam Employers can be assured that a CCNP is dedicated to the industry and can provide exceptional customer service, knowledge and professionalism. Here are two opportunities to get certified: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., CNGA Office, 959 S. Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, Colo.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m, ProGreen EXPO, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colo.

Note: The CCNP exam can be taken on its own – enrolling in the seminars is not required.

CNGA Industry Celebration Crowne Plaza Denver, 1450 Glenarm Place, Denver, Colo.

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, 4:15 – 7 p.m.

The Industry Celebration is a great time to catch up with peers and friends, network, forecast for your business, support the association, and honor those in the industry! Once again our program will be showcased during our happy hour event with hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Registration for this event must be made with CNGA. For more information and the registration form, go to coloradonga.org and click on the Events tab, or contact us at 303.758.6672 or info@coloradonga.org.

correction In the CNGA Member Profile for Eaton Grove Nursery and Garden Center in the October-November 2015 issue of the LooseLeaf, the alma mater of business owners, Judy and Ken Olsen, was incorrectly identified. They in fact are proud alumni of Colorado State University. Go Rams!

Register for calendar events with CNGA unless otherwise noted.

Tel: 303.758.6672 • Fax: 303.758.6805 Email: info@coloradonga.org CNGA is the host of calendar events unless otherwise noted. For more information, registration forms, and directions to programs, go to coloradonga.org and click on the Events tab to view the Calendar.

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LooseLeaf December 2015/January 2016

classified ADS CNGA offers free posts of online classified ads to members, including items for sale or lease and job openings. For more details about the help wanted listings below and to see other current postings, visit coloradonga.org, click on the Resources tab and click on Classifieds.

Help Wanted Operations Manager, Assistant/Nursery Manager, & Facilities Maintenance/Small Deliveries Dreamscapes Landscape Center, 6100 E. 104th Ave., Northglenn, Colo. 80233, is a growing landscape supply and nursery company that is looking for motivated individuals interested in all aspects of the green industry. We have openings for careerminded candidates looking for manager-level positions. Other key positions are available for nursery operations and plant care, facilities maintenance, deliveries and sales. For information, please contact Rachael Shuler at rachael@dreamscapesdenver.com.

Full-Time Grower Paulino Gardens, Inc., 6300 N. Broadway, Denver, Colo.

80216, has a position open for an experienced grower. This is a year-round position. Applicant must know growing of bedding plants, hanging baskets, vegetables and poinsettias, as well as pesticide application. Apply in person with resume or email to john@paulinogardens.com.

Various Irrigation & Gardening Positions in Aspen Fitzgerald Landscaping and Design, Inc., P.O. Box 423, Aspen, Colo. 81612, has positions available for an experienced irrigation technician, a garden and irrigation installation/maintenance technician, and a foreman for maintenance and installations crews.

Contact Katherine Fitzgerald at info@fitzgeraldlandscaping.com or 970.920.3005.

Shrub & Tree Grower Silver Sage Garden Centers, 9010 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, Colo. 80125, is looking to hire a grower to head up an expanding production line of shrubs and trees. This is an exciting opportunity to help create a new line of business at an established garden center. Prior experience is required. Please email resume to teddy@silversageco.com.

Professional Gardeners & Farm Interns Gardening By Tess, 1669 Hoyt St., Lakewood, Colo. 80215, seeks qualified gardeners and farm interns to join the team. Duties include ordering seed, preparing beds, planting, weeding, harvesting, organic disease and pest management. For more information or to send your resume and references, please contact tess@gardeningbytess.com.

General Manager Organix Supply, LLC, 15121 Weld County Rd. 32, Platteville, Colo. 80651, is looking for a full-time general manager for a fertilizer and soil manufacturing and distribution company. Job includes administration, sales, production, regulatory issues, and distribution. Candidates should have a strong operations and business background, the ability to learn quickly, be a self-starter, and have exceptional organizational skills. Experience in the soil or fertilizer industry is a plus, but not necessary. Please contact or send resumes to Mike at mhoops@organixsupply.com only; no phone calls.

Tree Farm Position Steve Koon Landscape & Design, Inc., 2301 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood, Colo. 80110, seeks a qualified person for growing, maintaining and selling trees and other related duties such as pesticide application, irrigation, etc. The position is full-time with coloradonga.org

Saturday or Sunday work required along with a horticulture background and sales experience. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license with a clean MVR. Apply in person at Steve Koon Landscape & Design or send your resume to SteveKnLandscape@ aol.com or fax to 303.781.4525.

Assistant Nursery Manager & Sales Positions in Summit & Grand Counties Neils Lunceford, Inc., P.O. Box 2130, Silverthorne, Colo.

80498, is seeking an assistant nursery manager for Summit County, Colo. garden centers. We also have a nursery, landscape and maintenance sales position available for the right individual in Grand County. Please contact Rob Milstead at 970.509.0393 and complete an employment application at neilslunceford.com.

Retail Sales Manager, Shipping Manager, Inside Sales Associate, & Wholesale Delivery Driver Harmony Gardens, 4315 E. Harmony Rd., Fort Collins, Colo.

80525, is looking to hire qualified candidates for these positions: retail sales manager- responsible for day-to-day operations including ensuring promotions are accurate and merchandised to the company’s standards, managing staff training, and maintaining exceptional customer service standards; shipping managermanages the delivery and planting dept. including scheduling trucks, managing drivers, quality control and record keeping; inside sales associate- serves as a direct assistant to the branch manager and as a customer service team member; wholesale delivery driver- responsible for the safe and speedy transportation and unloading of plant material from our branches and field locations to our customers’ job sites and yards. Please send resumes to toby@harmonygardens.biz.

advertisers LIST American Clay Works & Supply Company . . . . . . 21 Baxter Wholesale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Britton Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Circle D Farm Sales, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Clayton Tree Farm LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Everris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Harding Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Willow Creek Wholesale Nursery LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 4 McKay Nursery Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association 959 S. Kipling Pky, #200 Lakewood, CO 80226

2016

The Region’s Premier

Marquee events include:

February 9-12, 2016 Denver, CO

• A keynote address by Chad Hymas, a man the Wall Street Journal calls “one of the ten most inspirational people in the world.”

Green Industry Conference When 4,500 green industry professionals and nearly 400 exhibitors get together, you can be sure the experience will be impactful, the content will be relevant, and the networking will be second to none!

Year after year, season after season, the ProGreen EXPO is the industry’s signature event for the training, information, and connections you need to help grow your business.

REGISTER TODAY February 9-12, 2016 Colorado Convention Center 700 14th St., Denver, Colorado 80202

• A breakfast session with wellknown 9News business reporter Gregg Moss.

• Expanded Learning Lounges for deeper dives into our educational themes.

• One-on-one business consulting, and a whole lot more!

www.ProGreenEXPO.com or call 571.322.5785

For exhibitor information, call 303.798.3664 or email progreen@kinsleymeetings.com.