Free State Winter 2015

Free State

Winter 2015 Vol. XLII No. 3

NURSERY, LANDSCAPE AND GREENHOUSE NEWS

Spectacular Bark: Color, Texture, Character

Fall Digging for Spring Shipping A Customer Service

Update on the Insects: Those You Love to Hate and What is New for Control 2015 Volunteer Service Project Interiorscape Conference

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President’s Message Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association Officers 2015 President Brent Rutley Capitol City Contractors, LLC 301-854-5620 1st Vice President Steve Black Raemelton Farm 240-416-0714 2nd Vice President Jessica Todd Clear Ridge Nursery, Inc. 410-775-7700 Secretary Greg Stacho Akehurst Landscape Service, Inc. 410-583-4018 Treasurer John Marshall Marshalls’ Riverbank Nurseries 410-677-0900 Director-at-Large Garet Bunting Bunting’s Landscaping & Nursery, Inc. 410-352-3371 Executive Director Vanessa Akehurst Finney

Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association P.O. Box 726 Brooklandville, Maryland 21022 Phone: 410-823-8684 Fax: 410-296-8288 e-mail: office@mnlga.org Website: mnlga.org Free State E-mail: freestate@mnlga.org

As I write this, my final installment of president’s messages, I am here with my family watching Sunday Night Football and eating popcorn with my 6 year old. My first thought is, “ain’t it great” that now I can just set back and let someone else take over the reins of our association.

Then reality sets in… how can an association grow effectively if the outgoing leadership doesn’t continue their involvement?

Brent Rutley I know that in the past our presidents stay on for a year as “at large” board members, but how are we using that vital knowledge?

When board members move out of the rotation, where are they going and how is their experience being captured for use moving forward as a board? Folks, many of our “missing members” have gained great notoriety and fortune only to ignore calls and emails from the MNLGA when needed. That my brothers and sisters is just a waste!

I am personally challenging our larger corporate members, our business owners and past board members to STEP up your game! We have the BEST job in the world, we are stewards of the environment and as such we MUST support the MNLGA and the efforts of educating our members and the next generation coming up behind us.

We have just proposed a “past president’s annual meeting” to be planned in the timeframe that we celebrate the MANTS show in January and got an overwhelmingly positive response. This shows me the desire is there, we just need to articulate the opportunities better. The end result of this meeting is to provide the upcoming president and board with observations, recommendations and action items.

Over the past two years, we have visited the MNLGA mission statement in great detail and what each part of it means. Like the Nike logo says now it is time to “JUST DO IT”!

For those of you reading this message, if you are looking for something YOU can do to help your association, here you go: Chesapeake Green: organizational help, speakers, donations for auction.

Year round educational opportunities: organizational help, speakers.

Community service projects: provide labor, leadership, materials or project recommendations.

Board of Directors: your expertise, leadership, task force positions.

Let me, incoming president, Steve Black, or Vanessa, know how you’d like to serve.

We have a place for you!

With warmest regards and gratitude in serving our association. ❦ Brent Rutley MNLGA, President brentrutley1@gmail.com

Get MANTS off to a great start with your peers.

MARYLAND N URSERY, L ANDSCAPE AND G REENHOUSE A S S O C I A T I O N , I N C.

2 • Winter 2015

Please join us for the MNLGA’s annual meeting, to be held right before the opening of MANTS 2016. Breakfast is complimentary, but you must be registered. The meeting will cover association news, legislative updates, elections, and more.

Contents 11

23 5

40 Features

Departments

5 This Business of Ours – Mike Hemming

2 From the President

11 Growing with Education – Ginny Rosenkranz

4 Director's Message

14 Volunteer Service Project

22 Scholarship

20 Interiorscape Conference

2 Association Officers

4 MNLA Board of Directors

14

30 Press Releases 34 Calendar of Events

23 Featured Member Classic Lawn & Landscape Ltd.

36 CPH

26 Total Plant Management – Stanton Gill

42 New Members

29 A Night at the Yard

47 Directory of Advertisers

38 Affinity Programs

47 MNLA Mission Statement

40 It’s Time for Sharing – Jerry Faulring

48 MNLA Chairmen and Committees

Executive Director: Vanessa A. Finney Quercus Management Staff: E. Kelly Finney, Chelsea Bailey, and Mia Sakai Phone: 410-823-8684, Fax: 410-296-8288

E-mail: office@mnlga.org Web: mnlga.org Free State e-mail: freestate@mnlga.org

Design: Gregory J. Cannizzaro (contact information page 33)­ © 2015 Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhoue Association, Inc.

29 Free State • 3

Director’s Message Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association Board of Directors Terms Expiring 2017 Mary Claire Walker Patuxent Nursery 301-218-4769 Andrew Thompson Foxborough Nursery, Inc. 410-836-7023 John Murphy Murphy John's, Inc. 410-928-3029 Ted Carter Pinehurst Landscape Company 410-592-6766

Terms Expiring 2016 Larry Hemming Eastern Shore Nurseries 410-822-1320 Carrie Engel Valley View Farms 410-527-0700 Peter Driscoll Dogwood Hill Farm 301-428-8175 Wm. Oliver Hardy Classic Lawn & Landscape Ltd. 410-335-6868

The Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News is a news magazine published for the membership of the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA).

For more information, e-mail: freestate@mnlga.org

Here we go, again. Time is flying; MANTS is right around the corner, as is the MNLGA’s annual meeting. I hope you all have registered.

In my last column, Free State summer 2015 issue, I wrote about my participation in the Leadership Maryland program. That one-year program has now ended, with the only formal, somewhat mandatory requirement left is attendance at December’s graduation. I truly look forward to that event, as our class of fellows have really made Vanessa Finney a connection with one another, and for most of us, I believe that connection will be a long-lasting one.

The program has really challenged me to figure out what motivates and is important to me. It makes me question what I do, professionally and personally, and why. Is there relevance and significance in my life, in the activities and vocation that I have chosen?

This is sometimes sort of a hard question to answer. When you work with associations, you know, inherently, that you are helping business members carry out their business, via the advocacy and educational benefits you directly provide. It can be unrewarding at times when feedback to what you think you’ve worked hard on, is not well received or recognized. That’s true in pretty much any profession, isn’t it? What I’ve come to realize is that no one single task or communication can judge the value of what we association execs do. I have learned that when an issue is important, members do respond, and that does make the job worthwhile and significant to me. It’s figuring out what is important to the members that gives both them and me value in the association.

In my personal life, volunteering plays a significant role. Unfortunately, at this point in my life, with two children in college, the need to earn income takes time away from soul-fulfilling volunteer work. I am confident, though, that I’ll get back to a “satisfactory level” of volunteering and mission work when these college years have passed. I’ve met a lot of young women over the years that are determined to “have it all.” I’ve learned “having it all” is simply a matter of definition. One can have it all, but not in equal proportions. You take and realize what you can, when you can, and how this charts out wavers as one travels through life.

My husband, Kelly, and I recently participated in the Garden Writer’s Association (GWA) annual meeting, which was held this year in Pasadena. I’d like to give the GWA a little plug. This is a group of garden communicators – writers, bloggers, photographers – so passionate about what they do that they just ooze enthusiasm for horticulture. The GWA annual meeting included a ton of education, including writing, social media, and plant topics, as well as a small vendor show.

If your business could benefit from some positive press (continued on page 7)

4 • Winter 2015

This Business

Mike Hemming

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Spectacular: Field Day and a New England Crusie

all color is upon us. Flo and I just got back from a cruise to Canada and New England. We expected to see a lot more color up there than here. As we rode the train back down to Baltimore from Brooklyn the color in the leaves got better. Several of the places we were, Saint John and Boston had not had a frost yet. It wasn’t disappointing but it wasn’t spectacular either.

Speaking of spectacular - at the MNLGA field day at Clear Ridge Nursery we were given Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) plants in 1 gallon pots. After sometime I got around to planting it by the kitchen door.

It is now over 6 feet tall and almost that wide, well it would be that tall if a heavy rain hadn’t leaned it over. But it has produced and is still producing hundreds of 2 1/2 inch orange flowers. I’ve collected some seed and will see if we can grow some next spring.

On our cruise the best place for photography was Peggy’s Cove. A small fishing village we went to in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not much there in the way of plants and landscaping, but it has a beautiful small harbor and light house. It was the coldest and windiest day of the week, but Flo and I were dressed for it. Some Florida and Californians were not; none froze, but it was a close thing for a couple of them. The interesting area plant wise was a nature preserve we drove through getting to the village.

No trees really, but a lot of low growing plants in fall color and rocks; I could have spent a day wandering around and photographing that. However, that is the disadvantage of cruise tours. The tour guide always feels 5 minutes for photos is plenty of time.

The best history part was, of course, a tour of Lexington and Concord; the guide was an ex-history teacher and she really knew her stuff and told it well. I had always assumed that while it was some 20 miles for the British soldiers to march from Boston that it was not a hard a march. Well the land in the area is often boggy and wet and it was not an easy march. After the “massacre” at

“

... at the MNLGA field day at Clear Ridge Nursery we were given Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) ...

It is now over 6 feet tall and almost that wide, it has produced and is still producing hundreds of 2½ inch orange flowers.

”

Free State • 5

Bar Harbor

customs agent would not be worth the effort.

After all the time I’ve spent on the Invasive Species Harvard Square Council I’m not about to cheat even a little on the subject. Speaking of that, there are some more plants Lexington, the British having won what they thought being run through the Weed Risk assessments. The first was a victory, sat around, rested, and ate before moving ones have been sent to the Governor’s office, but no word on to Concord. This gave the colonists plenty of time to on his approval yet. Then there will be a 60 day comment bring in fighters from the surrounding farms to gather at period. You can read the Weed risk assessments done so Concord. There the Americans were ready and had the far on this link http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/ advantage of numbers. After the “shot heard around the Pages/maryland_invasive_plants_prevention_and_control. world” the Redcoats started the march back to Boston, aspx. And the link for the plants that are to be the first with the colonists sniping at them behind stone fences and to be assessed: http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/ trees, the revolution was well and truly started. One point Documents/initial_target_spp_list_for_assessment.pdf the guide brought up - Paul Revere would not have yelled Read them. There will be more coming out at our “The British are coming;” after all, he was, and the rest of December meeting, one of which will be Nandina. I did the colonists, were British at the time. She didn’t say what win a victory on this one. The way the assessors were words he used. I Googled the phrase and got that most thinking, there would be no allowance for sterile clones historic accounts said “The regulars are coming.” Another in a species. This would have put ‘Firepower’ and several possibility mentioned, used the term Redcoats. others on the tier 2 list. I had to point out this was Part of that tour stopped at Harvard. I learned that unscientific and would stifle innovation in future plant the university was named after the man that donated his breeding and research. Gene manipulation in plants is still library to it and not the founder. I didn’t learn much after in its beginning stages and removing whole species from that because a worker started up a lawn mower with a leaf the possibility of research is wrong. Without the financial vacuum attached and I never understood another word rewards of creating a sterile noninvasive Euonymus alatus she said. So I looked around identifying plants around me. or Berberis thunbergi, it just won’t happen. Already there The thing that interested me the most was the venerable are Buddleia davidi clones claiming to be sterile on the oak trees in the yard. They looked to be a variety of White market and there will be and should be more of them.

Oak. There were big acorns all over, I wished I could That brings up another problem, proving that a have gathered some up to bring home. However that is a plant is sterile and non-invasive. We only seem to have poor idea to land such items from a cruise ship because anecdotal evidence on our side. Saying we have never seen of the possibility of introducing pests. I would have had ‘Firepower’ Nandina flower is not science in their eyes. I to lie on my customs form about bringing them ashore. am not sure how to get this sort of information into peerEven though I would only be moving American acorns reviewed scientific literature. Maybe old catalogues going from Boston to Brooklyn via the ship. Explaining that to a 6 • Winter 2015

Statue of Liberty

back years mentioning that a long cultivated plant was non flowering will carry enough weight. It Peggy’s Cove Harbor, Nova Scotia would seem like plant patent holders will have a stake in this and do their own research on the All members agreed that our answer would be a polite sterility of their product. That brings up the problem with but very firm NO! It has always been a source of irritation new plants in the future. One member was strongly in to me when a government entity uses my tax dollars to favor of not accepting them for long periods of time to compete against me. As one board member said if this law prove it noninvasive. When pressed, she would not say no change hurts just one member of our association then it is to times of 25 or more years. That is totally unacceptable, wrong. no limit was set and that will remain a discussion for the I cannot find the budget of the tree farm but a member future. said it is a money loser like most government give away In any case we have some work to be done, when a programs are. There is nothing going on here except clone or variety of a species comes up on the wrong side empire building. It is time to work on tearing this of a weed risk assessment, we will need information as particular “empire” down and do away with this costly scientific as possible to counteract it. program. Contact your board members to start working It has come to the attention of the MNLGA that the state on that. ❦ tree nursery run by MDNR wants our agreement to bring Mike Hemming up in the legislature a change in the law to sell seedlings Eastern Shore Nurseries retail. I was at the board meeting when it was brought up.

410-822-1320 (continued from page 4)

and publicity, I encourage you to reach out to a garden writer. The GWA website includes a member directory that can be searched by geographic region, writer specialty, and more. www.gardenwriters.org.

The photos on page 4 are of some of the garden tours we took. We visited the Los Angeles Arboretum, The Huntington, Getty Ranch, and a handful of private gardens.

I mention this side trip, as it fits with the theme of one finding his/her significance and purpose in this life. Passion can be contagious; find someone who loves what they do – be it a vocation or habit – and get to know them. Their excitement for what they do and how they live their life can’t help but have a positive influence on you. ❦ Vanessa A. Finney Executive Director I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it.

Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be.”

Roald Dahl, My Uncle Oswald (British children’s author, WWII Royal Air Force Pilot) Free State • 7

Over 1,500 choices delivered to you. perennials, natives, ferns, grasses, vines, herbs, ground covers, pansies, dahlias, cannas, green roof and environmental planning material.

www.cavanos.com • 410-592-8077 8 • Winter 2015

Get your Ag Tag today!

www.agtagmd.com Educating Youth about Agriculture Free State • 9

Growing

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Education

Spectacular Bark: Ginny Rosenkranz

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Color, Texture, Character

ome trees have it all, beautiful silhouette, lovely leaves, fragrant flowers, and then there are the winter favorites, the trees with beautiful bark! Many of our own native trees have spectacular bark - bark with color, texture, and character.

Betula nigra, or River Birch, has salmon pink to orange brown to reddish brown to cinnamon brown bark that exfoliates (peels off) to show off the light tan to off white inner bark. The older the tree, the darker the exfoliating bark, ranging from dark reddish brown to grey brown and it peels off into irregular plate-like scales. River Birch looks best if grown as a multi stemmed trunk and can grow up to 40 to 70 feet tall in medium to wet acidic fertile soils in a full sun location.

As it likes to have ‘wet feet’, the River Birch makes a great Rain Garden tree. It has diamond shaped medium green to dark green leaves that mellow into butter yellow foliage in the fall.

Betula nigra has resistance to the bronze birch borer,

tolerates deer browsing and air pollution.

There are some excellent cultivars that are available with different attributes, some smaller, some more heat tolerant but all excellent in ® their own rights. Heritage is a fast growing tree that tops at 40-70 feet, with dark green foliage, good resistance to leaf spot diseases and cold hardy from USDA zone 4-9.

DURA-HEAT™, growing only 30-40 feet tall with creamy white interior bark and tolerant of high summer heat while still as cold hardy as Heritage has glossy olive green leaves and excellent fall color. And then there is ‘Little King’ Fox Valley™, growing only 8-10 feet tall, it has a dense compact form with medium green (continued on page 12 Free State • 11

(continued from page 11)

foliage that has good resistance to leaf spot diseases and it extremely resistant to the bronze birch borer. As a native tree, many birds feed on the seeds and use the tree as nesting sites while the leaves provide food for the larva of the Mourning cloaks, Canadian tiger swallowtails and dreamy duskywing butterflies. swallowtails and dreamy duskywing butterflies.

Carpinus caroliniana, or the American Hornbeam, has very smooth bark, dark bluish gray in color and heavily

River Birch Betula nigra

American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana

26 • Summer 2015

Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata

fluted giving the tree a muscular appearance. Some of the common names include ironwood, musclewood, muscle beech and blue beech. Growing 20-30 feet tall, the American Hornbeam prefers to grow in deep, fertile, moist acidic soils in partial to full shade, often found along stream banks in the wild. The foliage is a dark green that changes to yellow, orange, red and reddish purple in the fall. Cold tolerant from USDA zones 3-10, the main silhouette is multi-stem with a wide spreading rounded top. Some cultivars of interest include Fire Spire™ which has a much more narrow upright growth habit and bright orange red fall color and Palisade®, which is densely branched with an upright growth and bright yellow orange fall foliage.

Carya ovata, or the Shagbark Hickory, has a smooth grey bark that exfoliates in long strips as the tree matures. The thin strips are attached in the middle of leaving the upper and lower ends hanging, creating a shaggy appearance.

Growing 60-80 feet tall, the Shagbark Hickory also produces edible sweet nuts in the fall. The yellow green compound leaves are composed of 5 leaflets and change in the autumn to a rich yellow to golden brown. The tree grows in moist to dry soils and the fruit provides food for many species of wildlife.

Cladrastis kentukea, or the American Yellowwood, is a tall tree, growing 50-70 feet tall with very smooth light gray to light brown bark very similar to the American Beech. Yellowwood leaves are odd pinnately compound with 5-9 leaflets that start out bright yellowish green in spring then change to a bright green in summer, maturing in the autumn into a soft golden yellow. The inside of the wood of the Yellowwood is also a bright yellow.

Cornus florida, or our native Flowering Dogwood, also has interesting bark along with a graceful artistic silhouette with the branches held horizontal, then cupping the fall berries like glowing embers on a candelabra. The bark is broken into small blocks in grays, browns and black, very subtle but beautiful. Some of the cultivars that are showing good resistance to Powdery Mildew include ‘Jean’s Appalachian Snow’ with bright white overlapping bracts, ‘Karen’s Appalachian Blush’ with white bracts that have a pink blush around the margin and ‘Kay’s Appalachian Mist’ that has creamy white bracts.

Fagus grandifolia, or the American Beech, has beautiful thin smooth silvery grey bark that stays smooth even as the tree ages. The beech was the tree chosen most often for carving or engraving dates or initials into the bark that will last as long as the tree is alive. Growing 50-70 feet tall,

the American Beech prefers to grow in moist, well drained, acidic soils in a full sun location. Give this beauty room to grow as it has a spread equal to its height. When young, the soft tan colored leaves persist on the trees in winter.

In summer the new leaves emerge as a silvery green that darken to a deep green. In fall the colors change to golden bronze. Beechnuts provide food for many native wildlife species.

Nyssa sylvatica, or Black Gum or Sour Gum, is another tree that can thrive in medium to wet acidic soils. Growing 30-50 feet tall, it has a pyramidal shape when young, spreading out more with maturity. The lustrous dark green foliage often shows off its scarlet, yellow to orange to purple colors early in the late summer, blazing with color in the fall. The bark is a dark gray brown or brown black, broken into irregular ridges creating a very scaly looking bark.

Platanus occidentalis, or the American Sycamore, is a massive tree that reaches 70-100 feet tall and can live for a very long time. The bark is mostly smooth in a camouflage pattern of gray brown near the base then exfoliating on the upper sections of the trunk to show off the creamy white inner layers. The bark flakes off in large irregular patches which gives a mottled appearance. Sometimes called a ‘Ghost tree’ due to its pale puzzle piece bark, in nature it prefers to live alongside streams or rivers.

Anthracnose disease will destroy the early spring leaves while the temperatures are cool and the weather is damp, but as soon as the temperatures rise in late spring to early summer, the disease dies off and the huge Sycamore leaves begin to emerge and expand.

Taxodium distichum, or the Bald Cypress, has unusual reddish brown fibrous bark that shreds in long thin vertical strips. The sage green leaves are bipinnately compound, soft and feathery and turn a copper red in the autumn, then are shed in autumn giving the tree its name of Bald Cypress. The tree trunk becomes fluted at the base, more slender at the top. Taxodium distichum grows into a very tall tree, reaching 50-100 feet at a moderate to fast rate. It is native to acidic wetland along ponds, steams and swamps, but can also grow in moist well drained soils and will not form ‘knees’ if grown on dry land. A very tolerant tree even in urban settings, it will resist deer pressure, air pollution, compacted soils, dry soils and wet soils with good cheer.

Some cultivars include ‘Falling Waters’ which is a weeping form that can be staked or espaliered against a wall, ‘Green Whisper® which is a very vigorous grower, Shawnee Brave™ which forms a strong narrow pyramidal column and Autumn Gold™, with a compact pyramidal habit.

Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum

American sycamore Platanus occidentalis

American beech Fagus grandifolia

When winter takes the flower and the foliage off the trees, take some time to admire the silhouette of the trees from afar and the beauty of the bark up close. ❦ Ginny Rosenkranz Extension Educator, Commercial Horticulture University of Maryland Extension Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester County 410-749-6141 ext. 106 Free State • 13

MNLGA Volunteer Service Project – 2015

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Maryland Department of Agriculture Annapolis On November 16 and 17 more than 35 members volunteered at the 2nd annual MNLGA Service Project at MDA headquarters in Annapolis. The scope of the project included removal of Bradford Pear trees along the main entry corridor and replacement of these trees with Dogwood. Additional work included clean-up of the wooded area in front of MDA, addition of Winterberry and focus on preservation of wildlife habitat. Pruning, clearing, and sprucing up of many gardens around the property, including along Harry S. Truman Parkway and the employee parking lot environs rounded out the rest of the service project.

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B We were blessed with two absolutely beautiful weather days and an abundance of enthusiastic, energetic volunteers. Hats off to the following: A & A Tree Experts: Rich Anacker, Hank Runser, Anthony Richie, Brandon Stach Akehurst Landscape Service: Greg Stacho, Matt Smith, Tom Beishl, James Greene, Ed Delaha, Brian Lewis Capitol LLC: Brent Rutley, Dale Carter, Alex Diaz, Jesus Rivas, Wilfredo Rivas, Manuel Tica Clear Ridge Nursery: Jessica Todd, Kelli Magaw Homestead Gardens: Sean Meagher Leyland Landscaping: Brent Cassell, Hector Aguirre, Heberto Aguirre, Manuel Lopez, Jose Mendez, Enrique Hernandez, Andres Echegoyan MidAtlantic Farm Credit: Bill Schrodel Maxalea, Inc.: Jim McWilliams, Tim Savage, Ousmane Soumare, Chip Walther Quercus Management: Vanessa Finney, Chelsea Bailey Valley View Farms: Carrie Engel Waverly Farm: Tiffany Senseman, Jessica Ahrweiler Your Personal Gardener: Valerie Pawlewicz

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In addition to labor, the following donated supplies, trees, and shrubs for the project: Capitol LLC, Clear Ridge Nursery, Just This Side of Paradise Farm, and Maxalea

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Photos, clockwise: A. Dogwoods ready for planting!; B. A & A Tree – clearing out the Bradford Pears; C. Part of the Capitol crew; D. Removal of Bradford Pears along MDA’s main drive; E. Vanessa Finney and Bill Schrodel, MAFC; F. Brent Rutley, Betty Marose and Shelley Hicks, MDA; G. Maxalea crew at work; H. Uprooting of the Bradford Pears; I. Day 2 Crew

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H Photos, clockwise: A. Jessica Ahrweiler demonstrating new skills; B. Carrie Engel and Brent Rutley; C. Tiffany Senseman; D. Sean Meagher; E. Leyland Crew; F. Akehurst Crew; G and H – Brush trimming and tree pruning; I. Valerie Pawlewicz toting her tools; J. Akehurst Crew; K. Jessica Todd, Clear Ridge; L. The Leyland crew assuring maintenance on wildlife habitat Free State • 17

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Hanover Farms Fine Ground Covers Liriope, Vinca, Pachysandra, Ferns and Natives Our 32nd Year!

13262 Spring Road, Rockville, VA 23146 (804) 749-4304 • FAX (804) 749-4350 www.hanoverfarms.com

Free State • 19

Interiorscape sponsored MNLGA/UME

Graciously hosted by Kate Blom and her staff at the H.P. Rawlings Conservatory, Thursday, October 1 saw the gathering of more than 70 participants in the MNLGA/UME-sponsored Interiorscape Conference.

Hot topics on the program agenda included renowned Interiorscape guru McRae Anderson of Designs / Greenwalls, VPS. McRae traveled from Minnesota to speak on topics of design and quality in interiorscapes, as well as use of greenwalls in the interior environment.

Additional topics on the agenda included pest control in interior plantscapes, water monitoring and efficiency in use, hot new plants, pesticide recertification, and a hands-on lab, conducted by our UME experts and friends, on major diseases and insects.

The Desert House 20 • Winter 2015

Rawlings Tour Guide – Sandy Reagan

Conference Entrance to the Tropical House

Keynote McRae Anderson

Kate Blom, Executive Director, Rawlings Conservatory

Desert House Free State • 21

Scholarships

MNLGA 2015 Scholarship Recipients In keeping with its mission to promote and provide for the future success of Maryland’s ornamental horticulture industry, the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association shall sponsor academic scholarships to students pursuing an education in the field of landscape/ornamental horticulture. The 2015 applicant pool all shared their passion for horticulture, either in design/ architecture, plant science, or greenhouse specialization, and their excitement to enter a career in the horticulture industry was abundantly expressed in their applications. We congratulate our 2015 scholarship recipients: Nathan Allen, Shantel Wilkerson, and Meg Smolinksi.

Nathan Allen Nathan is currently a graduate student as well as a Graduate Assistant, pursuing a Master’s Degree in landscape architecture at the University of Maryland, College Park. For Nathan, growing up in rural Pennsylvania instilled a life-long affinity for outdoor space. As an undergraduate at Penn State University he studied Turfgrass Science and had a successful career as a golf course superintendent, where he obtained the skills to run the daily agronomic operations of one of the top rated golf courses in the nation.

Working with a diverse culture of employees further instilled a work ethic; Nathan firmly believes “nothing of value comes without hard work”. He is a stellar student with excellent grades in the areas of his interest: plant materials, storm water/hydrology systems, and sustainable golf course maintenance practices.

Nathan is developing a concept of urban farming as part of his research. He states, “If successful this concept could be extremely beneficial in providing a source of clean, healthy food; it could work to bring communities together and improve relationships among neighbors…”

As one of his teachers noted, “He is someone you can count on to bring a fresh, holistic look at landscape design, incorporating ideas through fine art, architecture, engineering, and urban planning.”

Shantel Wilkerson Shantel, who resides in Clinton, MD, is a student completing her first year in the Master of Landscape Architecture program at the University of California, Berkeley. She is an able volunteer at the University’s learning laboratory (known as Blake Gardens).

Despite her busy schedule she works frequently with the three staff gardeners in propagation, seed collection, replanting and pruning.

Aptly put by one of her teachers, “Often there is a divide between landscape architects, the designers, and horticulturist, 22 • Winter 2015

the plant people. In Shantel, I see someone who has a strong design sense, a deep and abiding interest in plant material, as well as fine written and oral communications skills—a rare combination indeed.”

Shantel would like to become a Registered Landscape Architect and eventually a Professional Engineer that is responsible for implementing green solutions both inside and out. These goals include using environmentally safe solutions for designing sustainable living in our valuable green spaces.

Meg Smolinski Following a rewarding and decorated career at the Smithsonian Institution in the field of safety and emergency procedures, Meg took a decisive career change to pursue what has turned out to be a distinct calling for all things growing and the more technical aspects of greenhouse organization.

A constant volunteer, whether it is the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture, American History Museum or the Smithsonian Gardens (Victory and Heirloom Gardens around the National Museum of American History), she invests her knowledge and hard work (weeding, storm clean-up) with vigor.

Her goal is to support the work of a public garden, a place that has both the grounds management element, as well as the public education element, by working in a greenhouse that supports it.

In her own words, “I think what finally convinced me is the fact that there is an inherent joy in seeing new shoots come out of the ground, seeing the plants grow, and finally harvesting your own food”.

The MNGLA is pleased to endorse our 2015 scholarship recipients’ goals and we applaud them for their hard work and dedication. We extend our best wishes to Nathan, Meg, and Shantel on their future academic and career success/ You may find more information on the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association Ornamental Horticulture Scholarship, as well as additional horticulture education scholarships at: http://www.mnlga.org. ❦

Featured Member

Classic Lawn & Landscape Ltd.

M

any lawn companies started with one guy and a pickup truck. Classic Lawn & Landscape Ltd. got its start in 1971, recall founders Oliver and Elizabeth Hardy, with a Volkswagen Beetle equipped with a Sears & Roebuck rack to carry a Toro Fiesta lawn mower on top of the car.

“We put a shovel, brooms, hand shears and plastic bags in the back seat. I did the mowing and my wife, Elizabeth, did the pruning and weeding by hand.”

Sharing strong character, work ethics and principles, the couple had been married a year earlier. Hardy’s English ancestors had been among early settlers of the Virginia Colony, passing down from generation to generation the faith, determination and integrity that became a family hallmark. William Oliver Hardy, Sr. instilled these in his son, frequently saying, “Always remember who you are.”

This was intended as a reminder to conduct yourself properly 24/7.

Likewise, his bride’s ancestors had immigrated — from Austria and Italy — with little more than determination to build a better life in this land of opportunity.

Together, Oliver and Elizabeth did the same, building a life and a business.

Not meaning to boast, the Hardys did agree to share the story of their success with fellow members of MNLGA, where Oliver currently serves on the board of directors.

Early in their history, a dear friend helped immensely by passing out business cards at her bridge club in Dulaney Valley. “Within a week, all of a sudden we had well-to-do clientele,” they recalled.

Observing that a fast food chain restaurant was under construction three blocks from their home, they offered to bid on the landscape installation. The bid was accepted.

Thus Classic Lawn & Landscape entered into landscape design and installation. They installed and maintained all the landscapes for that first company for the next 25-plus years.

In the years that followed, it seemed that Classic landscaped the majority of these type restaurants as they moved into the area or decided to upgrade their existing locations.

Shell’s premiere service station on Shady Grove Road above Washington, D.C., served as a “prototype” for Shell when full service stations became pump-yourown with credit card payments. “They kept that station pristine,” Oliver said. “We were given ‘carte blance’ to renovate the existing landscape to complement the new business approach. It was very enjoyable to design a native Maryland planting to enhance a little bridge walk over a dry stream of Delaware Valley pebbles and natural stone wall that we created. Shell’s headquarters representatives seemed pleased and soon we were assigned to redesign their landscapes in the four surrounding states. Thus, we began more vigorously introducing our own designs.”

Water Features Become Popular “As water features became popular, our daughter, Bethany, became certified with Aquascapes. Bethany holds an Arts Degree in design, painting, sculpting, and multimedia (continued on page 24) Free State • 23

(continued from page 21) which lends itself nicely in the design of all manner of water features. Together, with daughter-in-law Shaina (who took courses at Penn State), they began installing natural free form waterfalls, Koi ponds, and rock bubblers.”

The Hardys’ son, James, first was certified in North Carolina for grounds irrigation and quickly went on to obtain national irrigation certification. Retaining walls, storm water management ponds, erosion control and such all became part of Classic’s roster of services.

Many Mentors Guided Us “We took a correspondence course from the University of Wyoming and regularly attended local horticulturist educational conferences,” Oliver continued. “We are especially thankful to mentors who guided us along the way, including — to mention just a few — Carville Akehurst, William Akehurst, Tom Cason of Cason’s Nursery, Earl Walter at Homestead Flower Gardens in Kingsville, and Ralph Hemphill of Crown Central Petroleum. We also planted around our home and nursery a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials so as to daily and seasonally become acquainted with their characteristics.”

Winter Storm Management

Family picture back row: Shaina Hardy, James Hardy, Elizabeth Hardy, Wm. Oliver Hardy, Bethany Hardy; Front row: Amelia, Logan and Lillian Hardy.

24 • Winter 2015

Early on a “necessary evil” became winter snow removal and deicing services. The serious snow and ice events of the 1990s gave the company a lot of experience in dealing with Maryland’s winter weather. The President’s Day snow storm was challenging. Perhaps the winter season 2009/2010, which brought Maryland three blizzards, 84plus inches of snow (more than Anchorage, Alaska), was their greatest effort to date. The Hardys are very pleased that over these many years, there have been only a few minor slip and falls on properties they had full control of.

Our Current Operations Center in Middle River In 2002, Oliver and Liz and James and his family moved into new homes in the Bowleys Quarters section of Middle

River. Nearby, the remains of an old farm became available. Oliver recalled, “We were able to purchase this property in 2004. The original farmhouse dates from the 1920s-1930s and has a front wall of natural Maryland stone 16 to 18 inches thick. The rest of the building is covered in cedar planking. We renovated the building giving it the look of a country manor home.

We turned the bedrooms into offices, one living room into our office pool. From left to right: Lauren Franks, Valerie Goralski, Bridget Kastner, Bethany Hardy and Shaina Hardy.

Another one serves as a and Amelia, 21 months, are too young to be involved in conference room and a third area is our sales department. the business, although Baby Amelia likes to “clean” and One of the original kitchens is our lab for soil testing and is push a broom in the office. The older two are always equipped to support our IPM plant inspection.” collecting leaves, picking flowers, (even ones they The company currently operates 13 trucks and a number shouldn’t) and thus things continue on. One thing is of company vehicles for sales, inspections, and so forth. It certain, however, like their parents, grandparents and averages just over 40 employees. Oliver said, “We have never great-grandparents, this generation will often hear, “Always wanted to be the largest landscape company. While we are remember who you are.” not perfect, our goal has always been to pursue excellence.”

For more information on the Classic’s operation, visit “Everyone who works for us is part of the “family www.classiclandscape.com. ❦ team,” he added. “There are six Certified Professional Carol Kinsley Horticulturists. We are blessed with our fellow workers.

We take very seriously the importance of customer service, caring about people, making their home or business look good and making sure things are safe.”

“It is a pleasure to be part of the Chase/Middle River community,” Oliver said. Classic seeks to be an integral part of the fabric there. When Hurricane Isabel came up the Chesapeake Bay at high tide in 2003, there was record flooding and many homes suffered power outages. Classic was able to help pump out basements, clear debris, and loan generators to a number of families. The Adopt-a-Road program is another way the company is able to contribute to the community.

“When we started out we never thought we would have anything like this, but we are very gratified with the steady progression of our business over these past 45-plus years,” Classic staff attending to a wetland area.

Oliver concluded.

The Hardys’ grandchildren, Lillian, age 9, Logan, age 7, Free State • 25

Total Plant Management

Stanton Gill

Update on the Insects: Those You Love to Hate and What is New for Control

T

he Twin Cities area in Minnesota during midNovember is a delight, especially if you are attending the national entomological society meeting. Each year thousands of entomologists get together to talk about what new bugs are hitting the industry and what are we doing to fight back. In this article I will share some of the highlights that might help your business deal with pests.

First off, a pest that is present in central Pennsylvania, called the spotted lanternfly, has spread to two additional counties and is now quarantined in a total of 4 counties in PA. Researchers are finding that the females prefer to lay egg masses on the Tree of Heaven. They set up trials in which they harvested Tree of Heaven trees and put the trunks through standard tree chippers, chipping the wood to 1” by 1.” They sold the ground wood to labs to rear out the nymphs. They obtained 96 – 98% levels of control with this chipping method. Hopefully this pest does not make it down to Maryland, but if it does we now know that using ailanthus 26 • Winter 2015

Spotted Lantern Fly

Emerald Ash Borer

plants to trap trees around the perimeter of a nursery could attract the females to lay egg masses and these egg masses can be mechanically destroyed.

On the Emerald Ash Borer end of the research, a study was funded to see if any ash in a forest situation could withstand Emerald Ash Borer infestations.

They surveyed several forest sites and found groupings of white ash that had some damage to branches from Emerald Ash Borer, but the trees had been able to withstand the EAB attacks and still survive. This offers a glimmer of hope that we may be seeing some natural resistance in white ash to this pest.

Research conducted by Cranshaw, et al, in Colorado with ash trees treated with dinotefuran or imidacloprid were sampled for presence of the neonics being found in the pollen of the ash tree. Ash trees are wind-pollinated, but bees will randomly harvest pollen from several sources. In their trials they found the pollen present for about 10 days in spring, but they also found it was not necessarily a preferred (continued on page 28)

Camphor Shot Beetle

Camphor Shot Beetle damage to Red Maple

Camphor Shot Beetle damage to Red Maple

“

Ambrosia beetle called the camphor shot beetle (CSB) Cnestus mutilates ... native to Asia and the South Pacific ... finding are that this beetle attacks at least 11 species of nursery trees

”

Free State • 27

(continued from page 26) pollen source for bees and there was relatively small amounts being found in bee colonies.

On the new pest end-of-things, researchers at Tennessee University Extension report on an ambrosia beetle called the camphor shot beetle (CSB) Cnestus mutilates. This beetle is native to Asia and south Pacific. They are finding that this beetle attacks at least 11 species of nursery trees; container grown plants seem to be most susceptible. The beetle is reported to feed on over 20 different species of plants. In the south, Tennessee, they find adults flying in March and the insect has a 30-40 day life cycle in the heartwood of the infested tree. They are seeing a second generation in August. So far it has been detected in Tennessee and we have not seen it in Maryland nursery stock. The good news is that it is attracted to alcohol baited traps and we have some of these placed in nurseries for detecting Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles. These traps should pull in this beetle if it is near our traps. Meanwhile, thoroughly check plant material shipped in from our southern cousins.

If you find a suspicious beetle damaging nursery stock this coming spring send in a sample immediately to CMREC, 1197 Homewood Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042 or to MDFA Plant Protection in Annapolis, MD. � Stanton Gill, Extension Specialist in Nursery and Greenhouse IPM, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, University of Maryland Extension and Professor with the Landscape Technology Program, Montgomery College Emerald Ash Borer damage 28 • Winter 2015

A Night at the On Sunday, October 4 Green Industry members, families, and friends, joined in celebration at the Orioles’ closing home game at Camden Yards. Members of the Maryland Arborist Association, Maryland Forests Association, and Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association joined together for an afternoon of ballpark food, networking, and to watch the O’s beat the Yankees in the season-ending home game.

Yard O’s fans gathered to picnic before the game

The weather appeared to be promising earlier during game week, but a cold snap hit over the weekend. That did not deter more than 50 hardy souls from enjoying the afternoon.

We thank the following sponsors for helping to underwrite the cost of the event: MidAtlantic Farm Credit Gambrills Equipment Co. Maryland Tree Farm

The Bird visits with the A & A Tree Experts crew

Despite the chill, our green industry fans persevered Free State • 29

Press Release Maryland Public TV series Maryland Farm & Harvest Airs Tuesdays Series showcases the industry that feeds Maryland OWINGS MILLS, MD – Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) popular original series Maryland Farm & Harvest is now in its third season with new half-hour episodes airing Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The series puts a human face on Maryland agriculture by telling stories of the people, skills and technology required to sustain and grow the state’s number one industry.

In recent months the Maryland Farm & Harvest production team has filmed at more than two dozen farms and agriculture facilities across the state. Early episodes of the new season highlights some of the challenges local farms encounter – such applying different types of irrigation to meet crop needs and analyzing soil to ensure it’s as productive as possible – and explores industry advancements including use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to help farmers improve their harvests and save money.

Joanne Clendining, who earned an Emmy® from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter (NCCBC) of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her work as Maryland Farm & Harvest host, returns for season three. Joining Joanne is Contributing Editor Al Spoler, who serves up the Local Buy segment during each episode.

During its first two seasons Maryland Farm & Harvest has been nominated for five Emmy awards from the NCCBC of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The series airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and is rebroadcast on Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m.

Each show also airs on MPT2, on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit mpt.org/farm.

® y m - nomi m E ti l nat u m e he

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Additional funding is provided by Maryland’s Best; the Maryland Soybean Board; MidAtlantic Farm Credit; the Maryland Agricultural and ResourceBased Industry Development Corporation; the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation; and the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts. Other support comes from the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation; the Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association; the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association; the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; Willard Agri-Service Company; the Maryland Farm Bureau Service Company; the Mar-Del Watermelon Association; and the Maryland Grape Growers Association

T

The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.

on

Maryland Public Television Showcasing the industry that feeds Maryland

MNLGA president, Brent Rutley, and Vanessa Finney recently attended the Season 3 premiere of Maryland Farm & Harvest, the MPT program that showcases Maryland agriculture. The MNLGA has been a financial supporter of the program since season one.

Pictured as well is Joanne Clendining, the show’s Emmy-award winning host.

30 • Winter 2015

Season 3 premieres November 10, 2015 Tune in: Emmy®Awardwinning host Joanne Clendining

Tuesdays at 7 P.M. Thursdays at 11:30 P.M. Sundays at 6 A.M.

Press Release H-2B Workforce Coalition Lauds Bill to Reform H-2B Visa Program

The legislation is designed to help seasonal employers better navigate the H-2B temporary non-agricultural visa program and increase certainty for small businesses by allowing seasonal employers to better prepare for fluctuations in demand The H-2B Workforce Coalition, an alliance of more than 40 various industry associations focused on protecting American workers by ensuring American small and seasonal employers have access to legal short-term temporary employees during peak business periods, today issued the following statement supporting S. 2525, the Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act, which was introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Mark Warner (D-VA). The legislation is designed to help seasonal employers better navigate the H-2B temporary nonagricultural visa program and increase certainty for small businesses by allowing seasonal employers to better prepare for fluctuations in demand.

“The hotel industry has seen five years of consecutive growth and the success of our industry can be attributed to, in large part, the hardworking employees and workforce that run and operate our lodging facilities, particularly during peak tourism seasons,” said Brian Crawford, Vice President of Government and Political Affairs at the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Co-Chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. “Lodging industry employers always look first to the U.S. workforce to fill critical job functions during peak seasons at hotels, but in many instances there are no workers available. The H-2B program provides valuable support for businesses looking to supplement their workforce with temporary seasonal employees. We commend Senators Tillis, Mikulski, Cassidy and Warner for introducing bipartisan legislation that provides clarity and much-needed reforms to the H-2B program in order to help American employers recruit workers for temporary employment in this country to run successful businesses.”

“The Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act is balanced and common sense legislation that will restore clarity and predictability for our industry and others relying on the H-2B program. Our national association, AmericanHort, my colleagues across Maryland, and I join in thanking our Senator Mikulski, and Senators Tillis, Warner, and Cassidy, for their leadership,” said Alan Jones of Manor View Farm, Maryland.

“It’s a great day when a system of governance designed specifically to represent the people does its job. Today is a prime example of what representative governance is all about, and what makes America great! We thank all those who Come celebrate Spring at the U.S. National Arbo dared to hear all sides of the H2B issue and acted accordingly,” said Michael Wood, Chairman of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA).

The Friends of the National Arboretum is seeking To learn more about the H-2B Workforce Coalition, please visit their website.

Do you have commentary, opinion, press release, or an educational contribution for Free State?

We love to hear from our members—whether it be news from your company, your ideas on industry happenings, or an educational piece that would be informative to your peers.

If you would like to share your news, please submit your contributions to Free State via freestate@mnlga.org.

Contributions are due April 1, July 1, and November 1.

Contribute as you like, or year round.

Questions about Free State, please give us a call at 410-823-8684.

For its annual plant sale on April 29-30, 2016 Sale proceeds support programs at the US National Arboretum For more information or to donate please contact: Chris Goulart at cgoulart@fona.org or 202-544-8733 (cell: 401-855-1553) All donations are fully tax-deductible as provided by law friends of the n at i o n a l a r b o r e t u m

Free State • 31

Press Release Registration Now Open for 2016 Green & Growin’ Registration is now open for Green & Growin’16. The annual Education Conference and Marketplace, which draws nearly 5,000 green industry professionals across the country, will be held January 11-15, 2016 in Greensboro, NC. More information about Green & Growin’ 16 can be found at the new www.greenandgrowin.com.

Over the course of the 5-day event, Green & Growin’ 16 provides attendees the opportunity to LEARN, BUY and CONNECT with peers and vendors: • This year’s diverse Education Program (January 11-13, 2016), provides more than 80 business sessions and 140 CEU credits toward 8 different accreditations at the national, regional, and state levels. A savvy mix of hands-on workshops, top speakers and specialty classes, blended with the invaluable takeaways from quality networking with industry leaders, Green & Growin’ 16 offers a powerful and dynamic forum for green industry professionals to GET GREAT. • With 150,000 square feet of the industry’s top businesses and professionals in a member-owned environment, the Green & Growin’ Marketplace has become known as the place “Where Plant Buyers Buy Plants.” The Green & Growin’ 16 Marketplace (January 14-15, 2016) offers attendees the prime opportunity to see and buy quality products from a broad array of industry producers and suppliers. With 450+ exhibiting companies and nearly 4,500 attendees each year, Green & Growin’ has been described as the place where “critical mass” meets “don’t get lost in the crowd.”

For more details and registration information, visit the new Green & Growin’ website.

The North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association (NCNLA) represents growers, landscapers, retail garden centers, suppliers, horticulture students and educators.

NCNLA’s ultimate goal is to benefit its members’ economic, professional and personal growth. More information about NCNLA can be found at www.ncnla.com.

MARK YOUR

Calendar Chesapeake Green 2016

AN ANNUAL HORTICULTURE SYMPOSIUM

February 18 & 19

Brochure and details coming soon, also on-line at mnlga.org

The Maritime Institute and Conference Center, Linthicum, MD

32 •ChesGreen_2016_STD_V2.indd Winter 2015

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11/12/15 8:02 PM

MAN O

VIEW

RM FA

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Delivering the Confidence You Desire and the Value You Deserve for over 35 years * Our Landscape Distribution Center has an Extensive Selection of Quality Plant Material Available for Pickup or Delivery

Bright Ideas

Logo Design Packaging Design Exhibit and Trade Show Graphics

Advertising

* Field Grown Material Available for Personal Selection

Brochures Direct Mail Catalogs

Fresh Soultions

Gregory J. Cannizzaro Graphic Design 410-444-5649 • gjc.graphicdesign@yahoo.com

* Potted Liners

Manor View Distribution Center Availability is now at your fingertips through our Mobile Web App

15601 Manor Rd, Monkton, MD 21111 410-771-4700 fax 410-771-8246 sales@manorview.com

www.manorview.com

Free State • 33 21

2016 Event Calendar JANUARY January 4 - 7 2016 Advanced Landscape Plant IPM PHC Location: University of MD, College Park Contact: Avis Koeiman, 301-405-3913 akoeiman@umd.edu

January 6 MNLGA Annual Meeting Location: The Baltimore Convention Center Contact: MNLGA, 410-823-8684 office@mnlga.org www.mnlga.org

January 6 - 8 The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show Location: The Baltimore Convention Center Contact: MANTS, 410-296-6959, info@mants.com www.mants.com

January 21 - 23 SCHI 2016 - Trade Show & Seminars Location: Myrtle Beach Convention Center Contact: SCNLA, 803-743-4284 scplant@bellsouth.net www.scnla.com

January 27 - 28 MAA Winter Seminar Location: Turf Valley Resort Contact: office at MDArborist.com 410-321-8082 34 • Winter 2015

For a full and updated calendar of events, and to find registration information and event links, please visit the MNLGA website at mnlga.org.

OCTOBER October 4 CPH – Basic Exam Location: MDA Dept of Agriculture Contact: MNLGA 410-823-8684 office@mnlga.org

FEBRUARY

APRIL

February 4

April 12

Eastern Shore Pest Management Conference

CPH – Basic Exam

Location: Fountains Conference Center, Salisbury Contact: Ginny Rosenkranz

Location: MD Department of Agriculture Contact: MNLGA 410-823-8684 office@mnlga.org

October 4 CPH – Specialist Exam – Advanced Plant ID Location: MD Dept of Agriculture Contact: MNLGA 410-823-8684 office@mnlga.org

410-749-6141 rosnkrnz@umd.edu

February 18 - 19 Chesapeake Green 2016 Location: The Maritime Institute - Linthicum, MD Contact: MNLGA, 410-823-8684 office@mnlga.org www.mnlga.org

Free State • 35

Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist Program

Update Congratulations to the following newly-minted Certified Professional Horticulturists.

The individuals below passed the Basic Exam on October 6, 2015.

Edgar Bonilla

Sun Nurseries

Milton Buchler

Creative Landscapes by Gregory

Drew J. Derrick

Ruppert Nurseries

Blake Dunlevy

D & A Dunlevy Landscapers

Bruce Earp

Creative Landscapes by Gregory

Mary Lewis

Sun Nurseries

Ashley Miles

Ruppert Nurseries

Adam Musser

Clear Ridge Nursery

Mark Phillips

Melwood

Daniel Womeldorf

Chapel Valley Landscape

Students The following youths received student recognition as CPHers. Full-fledged CPH status will be awarded after they have completed post-secondary education, practical work experience in the field, or a combination of both.

Robert Carter

Cecil County School of Technology

Hanna Holdford

Cecil County School of Technology

Patricia Milliner

Cecil County School of Technology

Basic Exam The Basic exam will be offered again on April 12, 2016 and October 4.

Advanced Plant Identification will also be offered on October 4.

Registration information will be sent to eligible candidates 6 to 8 weeks before each exam.

36 • Winter 2015

Free State • 37

Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association (MNLGA) Affinity Programs

Getting the Most of Your Membership Office Depot • High use office items

Commercial Friends and Family Program • Invoice pricing on all vehicles in stock. Pricing for locates

discounted up to 85% • Everday office essentials catalog items discounted up to 70% • Discounted copy, print and binding services • Full line promotional products catalog selection discounted up to 20%

are on a case by case basis.

• Brands include Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford and Ram. Expanding to other brands soon.

• All incentives that are being offered will be deducted from invoice pricing • Up-fits offered at employee cost • $500 off any negotiated price for used vehicles • Honor all Fleet accounts and if needed can be established with Ford or Chrysler • Discount delivery vehicle program or if qualified, courtesy delivery to local dealer

PartnerShip • Discount shipping program through AmericanHort partnership • Small Package Discounts using FedEx • FedEx Express Discounts including Overnight, 2Day, International Services, and Saver programs as much as 27% • Save on Truckload and Tradeshow Shipments • FedEx Ground and Home Delivery discounts starting at 5% • PartnerShip LTL freight discounts 38 • Winter 2015

Plant and Supply Locator • All MNLGA members receive 6 months of free unlimited online Plant Booth listings • Free subscription to Plant Locator magazine • After free 6 month period, members will receive: – Ability to keep 5 listings online free for an additional two years – MNLGA members already listing in print will receive equivalent online plant listings – Discounted packages for listings in print and online

TireBuyer.com • 5-10% discount on tire purchase • Free shipping on many products • Over 110 warehouses in the US, over 8,500 nationwide installation partners • All other purchases qualify for either free shipping or discounted shipping • Lower shipping rates than industry averages when shipping to a home or business

For full program description, discounts offered, and access to program contact information, log into the MNLGA membership portal on the MNLGA website. Portal access is located on the upper right hand corner of all pages of the website. If you do not recall your access credentials, simply select the link, “Forgot Your Password,” and you will be given instructions on how to proceed.

Shell – Fleet Plus Fuel Program • 15 cents off per gallon on fuel purchases from Shell for 12 months • After 12 months, tier structure rebate program • No minimum gallons required • Built in security and purchase controls • Online account management • Comprehensive reporting • No transaction fees, no card fees, and no report fees

Free State • 39

It’s Time

for

Sharing

Fall Digging for Spring Shipping A Customer Service Jerry Faulring

It has long been a tradition of field production growers to dig material ordered for spring in the fall. The root balls are ‘healed in’ with an appropriate material and held until it’s time to ship them the next spring.

This strategy has been implemented for a variety of reasons. Probably most importantly, it facilitates harvest during ideal conditions in the fall, avoiding harsh conditions we increasingly experience in the spring. Soils are generally moist and fields are firm. Fall is also a period of limited need for field maintenance and therefore keeps staff very productive while continuing to dig for current orders. Shutting down operations too early can reduce costs but works against ideal customer relations for their fall needs.

There are negative aspects for fall digging in advance.

There are additional labor costs that might better be deferred to the next year. Additional costs include baskets,

burlap, sisal, fuel and material for healing in the root balls.

During profitable years, these costs will help defer taxes into the future.

The list of plants we feel can be safely dug in the fall has limitations for our plant list. Although I do not have any idea when a fall digging hazard plant is no longer a fall hazard, we do not dig anything considered a fall hazard.

From experience we know certain plants that are not fall hazards will not be happy if dug; for example, Hibiscus will not flush in a timely fashion the following year; don’t know why. We do not dig any conifers or evergreen plants such as Ilex and Buxus.

Some growers stopped fall harvest during the nearly decade long economic disaster to reduce costs, justifiably.

Coupled with reduced demand for spring sales this was likely an excellent cost reduction plan.

However, the last three spring seasons of 2013 through 2015 proved to be very difficult spring harvest periods

Having plants above ground ready to ship avoids less than ideal harvest conditions such as this in March, 2015.

40 • Winter 2015

A miserable March, 2015 – did you forget?

Material dug in the fall waiting to be “healed-in”.

“

Removing plants from winter holding.

We have traditionally been aggressive with fall digging as a hedge against trying to make the organized chaos of spring a bit less chaotic.

”

due to unusual weather conditions. In 2013 some growers could not access their fields because of extremely wet conditions and in 2015 harvest was delayed due to frozen soils. I am told that some growers could not finish their deciduous orders in 2013 before it was too late to dig.

We have traditionally been aggressive with fall digging as a hedge against trying to make the organized chaos of spring a bit less chaotic. This past spring we had 20% of the total shipped material through May 30 dug before we started operations. I, along with our customers see this as a value added service. Our largest customer segment are wholesale distribution facilities.

Their primary concern in spring is to receive high volumes of material before their spring selling period gets under way. They have to spread out incoming material in an orderly way to accommodate staff availability that is both receiving and shipping.

We ‘heal in’ root balls with

what is commonly referred to as whole tree chips. The chip size ranges from fine to about silver dollar size. Each year we mix new chips with old at a ratio of 1:1. After a year in our yard, the old chips compost too far and will not be suitable due to excessive water retention and burlap staining. The primary function of ‘healing in’ is to prevent freeze thaw cycles for the root balls and to maintain high moisture levels; we never irrigate the plants after they are put to bed. It is rare when we see any frost in the root balls; light frost has occurred after the last two severe winters. I am not aware of any loss of vigor for these plants.

We set our start date for returning H2A VISA workers at about February 15. Although our fields drain well and rarely stop us due to saturated soils, in 2015 we could not dig until about March 1 due to frozen ground. With an abundance of fall dug material above ground our customers were very pleased to start receiving loads in late February and early March. And, for sure, early shipping gets our cash flow under way in a very timely fashion. ❦ Jerry Faulring Waverly Farm 1931 Greenfield Road Adamstown, MD 21710 301-874-8300 Free State • 41

New Members We welcome the following into MNLGA membership. Full contact information may be found within the member portal of the MNLGA website, mnlga.org. We encourage you to reach out to your peer members — they may be a valuable business connection for you. merican Farm Publications A Sean Clougherty Easton, MD Blue’s Greens Nursery, Inc. Nathan Ullrich Glen Burnie, MD Everiss Sharon Warschauer Henryville, PA Greensboro Shrub Nursery Jeff Creed Greensboro, NC LMN Abbey Gilhula Ontario, Canada LPC Services Inc Sandy Lawson Halethorpe, MD M.G. Fulton Services Alex Fulton Sykesville, MD Montgomery County Dept. of Parks Brian Dahl Gaithersburg, MD Mt. Cuba Center Maggie Nijander Brock Hockessin, DE Naughty Pine Nursery Jay McRoberts Frederick, MD On The Green, Inc. Adam Colgan Odenton, MD Sugarloaf Native Nursery & Supply Brittany Healey Dickerson, MD Tuomey Turfgrass Consulting Sean Tuomey Alexandria, VA

42 • Winter 2015

MANTS Pender ad half page_MANTS pender half page ad 2/6/14 10:53 AM Page

We have answers when you have questions …

mnlga.org

The MNLGA web site is designed for our members and is your single source for the answer to almost any question. The site is your: • Membership Directory with member search options • Up-to-date industry calendar • Classified ads which members can post and track resumes/ responses • CPH program information including basic and advanced test applications and registration • Business resources • CEU forms • Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News (electronic issues) • Root of the Matter issues and MaGIC updates

• Chesapeake Green - speaker resources - year round • Industry calendar includes: – Event postings from organizations and educational institutions around the Mid-Atlantic region; – Resources for finding CEUs for pesticide recertification, nutrient management recertification, and general education in horticulture topics; – MNLGA events including Field Day, MANTS, Chesapeake Green and much more

Visit mnlga.org today!

Free State • 43

CLASSIFIED Full Time Customer Service/Inside Sales The Perennial Farm, Glen Arm, MD is a large wholesale grower of quality perennials, ornamental grasses, hardy ferns, flowering shrubs and vines. We’re looking for a key team member with excellent people skills to work in a fast-paced environment. Applicant must have a ‘can do’ attitude with good computer skills. Attention to detail is a must, with the ability to multitask and solve problems. Responsibilities include responding to customer sales order requests, order entry, interfacing by phone and email with customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England Regions. Previous “green industry” experience/knowledge preferred. An Equal Opportunity Employer. Please contact Mandy: MandyM@ perennialfarm.com or by fax 410-592-8338

PUBLICATION NOTICE: The deadline for submissions for the summer issue of Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News is April 1, 2016.

We welcome your company news and updates or columns with your professional insight.

E-mail any submissions you have for Free State to freestate@mnlga.org or mail to MNLGA, P.O. Box 726, Brooklandville, MD 21022

6 1

2 3 4

Interested in a subscription to

Free State News?

Contact us with your request and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Subscriptions are $35 annually; MNLGA will invoice you upon receipt of your subscription request. (members need not subscribe)

Name__________________________________________________ Business_______________________________________________ Address________________________________________________

5 6

Good Reasons Your Company Should Advertise in the MNLGA’s Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News is seen by members of Maryland’s Nursery, Landscaping and Garden Center Industries and is the leading publication for members of the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association (circulation to members and CPHers is about 600 unique individuals) Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News enhances your ad by providing important industry specific articles which are educational and informative, and with the new digital version, readers are sent directly to your website via links Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News helps promote your company and product while providing direct access to readers in Maryland’s Green Industries Articles appearing in Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News are contributed by highly regarded members of the industry, many of whom have a lifetime of knowledge and are frequently published Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News is a cost effective way to help keep your name out in front of and reach your customers Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News helps support the association in its endeavors on behalf of the green industry in the state of Maryland

City, State, Zip__________________________________________ E-Mail_________________________________________________ Mail/Fax or e-mail: Free State, MNLGA, P.O. Box 726, Brooklandville, MD 21022 or e-mail: freestate@mnlga.org

44 • Winter 2015

For more information on advertising in the Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News contact Kelly Finney at MNLGA at 410-823-8684 or e-mail freestate@mnlga.org

Free State • 41

You only grow the best.

Why not offer your customers the best in advice, too!

Certified Professional Horticulturists (CPH) provide either “do-it-yourself” or professional landscape installation and maintenance advice.

Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist Program

For more information contact the Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association at 410-823-8684 or visit www.mnlaonline.org

Cultivate your business with a Certified Professional Horticulturist 46 • Summer 2015

Directory of Advertisers

MARYLAND

N URSERY, L ANDSCAPE AND G REENHOUSE A S S O C I AT I O N , I N C .

Mission Statement The purpose of the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association is to promote the use of ornamental plants, products, and services.

The association supports all constituent groups of the horticulture industry including landscape, garden centers, interiorscape, grounds maintenance, nursery, greenhouse, and arboriculture. The association communicates the role of the horticulture industry in improving people’s quality of life.

Specific Goals Promote professionalism through education programs for members and the public and by encouraging enrollment in educational institutions.

Firm Name Angelica Nurseries, Inc. Babikow Greenhouses

Page Outside Back Cover Inside Front Cover

Braun Horticulture

33

Cam Too Camellia Nursery

9

Cavano’s Perennials

8

Chesapeake Green Horticulture Symposium

32

CPH 46 The Friends of the National Arboretum Foxborough Nursery

31

Inside Back Cover

Gregory J. Cannizzaro Design

33

Hanover Farms

19

Holly Hill Farms

18

Homestead Gardens Horticultural Supply

45

Manor View Farm

33

MANTS 19 Monitor state and local laws relating to horticulture industry.

Participate actively in legislative and regulatory processes.

Promote the use of environmentally sound practices in the horticulture industry.

Monitor and communicate to members developments in allied industries including agritechnology.

MD Ag Ed Foundation MNLGA Affinity Programs

9 38-39

MNLGA On-Line

43

OHP

1

Pender Nursery

42

Walnut Springs

37

Waverly Farm

10

Support donations of plant products and services to state and community programs.

Support research relevant to the horticulture industry.

To join the growing list of companies who advertise in the Free State Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse News or for more information, please call Vanessa or Kelly in the MNLGA office at 410-823-8684.

Participate in Maryland agricultural organizations.

Visit the redesigned association website at: mnlga.org.

E-mail Free State News at freestate@mnlga.org.

Free State • 47

Chairman and Committees Education Ted Carter – Chair Pete Gilmore Jessica Ahrweiler Andrew Ristvey Chuck Schuster Karen Rane Mike Leubecker Angela Burke Dave Clement Stanton Gill Hank Doong Brett Karp Mary Kay Malinoski Bayley Mullan John Murphy Ginny Rosenkranz Nominating Mark Dougherty – Chair Richard J. Watson Finance and Planning John Marshall – Chair Brent Rutley Steve Black Larry Hemming Link/Shanks Scholarship Mark Dougherty – Chair MANTS Jan S. Carter Bernard E Kohl, Jr. William A. M. Verbrugge Membership Committee Rich Poulin Greg Stacho Awards Professional Achievement, Carville M. Akehurst Michael Marshall– Co-Chair Kevin Clark - Co-Chair Historian George Mayo – Chair

48 • Winter 2015

Legislative/MaGIC James R. McWilliams– Chair Signe Hanson Alan Jones Bernard E. Kohl, Jr.

Advisors to the Board

CPH George Mayo – Chair Steve Black Shelley Hicks Cindy King Dr. Andrew Ristvey Martha Simon-Pindale Bob Trumbule Gaye Williams

Dr. John Lea-Cox University of Maryland

Scholarship Bernie Kohl, Jr. – Chair Hank Doong Jessica Todd Leslie Hunter-Cario George Mayo Greg Stacho Mary Claire Walker

Maryland Agriculture Commission Ray Greenstreet Marion Mullan

Economic Survey Steve Black Bernie Kohl George Mayo Brent Rutley Dr. John Lea Cox Strategic Planning Brent Rutley Steve Black George Mayo John Murphy Dr. John Lea Cox (UMD Rep.) Jerry Faulring Carrie Engel Carol Holko (UMD Rep.)

Carol Holko Kim Rice MD Department of Agriculture

Signe Hanson Independent Horticultural Consultant

Advisors to Others LEAD Maryland Vanessa Finney

Maryland Farm Bureau Larry Hemming Vanessa Finney MAEF Hank Doong Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) John Peter Thompson MDA Nutrient Management Advisory Committee Signe Hanson Young Farmers Advisory Council Jessica Todd Invasive Plants Advisory Council Mike Hemming

Every member of every committee listed above is an individual who volunteers their time in support for the MNLGA and it is with the utmost gratitude and appreciation that we thank you for your selfless endeavors.

If your name is not listed above, please considerfollowing the example of those who are. Contact Vanessa at 410-823-8684 with your interest.

Foxborough Nursery

3611 Miller Rd. / Street, MD 21154 / phone 410.836.7023 / fax 410.452.5131

View Photos & Plant Information on

www.FoxboroughNursery.com