The Leaflet Summer 2023

3 MNLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 NEW EXPLORATION CENTER AND GARDENS 5 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE JULY 1 6 OPEN-GRADED AGGREGATE BASE, NEWEST INTERLOCKING CONCRETE PAVER INSTALLATION METHOD

MITIGATING WINTER VOLE DAMAGE

17 MEMBER’S CORNER

18 SAFETY TAILGATE: FIRST AID KITS

20 BEST OF LANDSCAPE COMPETITION

22 SCHOLARSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS

23 JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!

24 GREENIUS LAUNCHES CUSTOM COURSES FOR MNLA MEMBERS 26 WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME A CERTIFIED PLANT PROFESSIONAL

inside

MNLA MAILING ADDRESS

P.O. Box 20353 • Billings, MT 59104 406.755.3079 • www.plantingmontana.com

DISCLAIMER: The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements, or their identification as members of the MNLA does not constitute an endorsement of their products or featured services.

REPRINT PERMISSION: Reprints of original articles may be granted upon request. Contact info@plantingmontana.com with requests.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hello MNLA members! The season has started off strong here in Missoula, with a little more rain than I would like, but I’m thankful my years of living in New England taught me how to finish up landscapes when it just won’t stop raining. We have some exciting new for you: The MNLA Board has been working with the Northern Rockies Tree School, and plans are finalized to bring the NRTS back to Montana! The NRTS will now be operating underneath the MNLA umbrella, with the first Tree School planned for January of 2024, at the Montana Green Expo. We’re really excited to help put this fantastic school on, and look forward to seeing many of you there.

Our next event coming up is our Fall Tour. James Hoiland, our 2nd Vice President, is taking the lead on this year’s tour around Great Falls, MT. We have some great site visits planned; you don’t want to miss it!

Here’s to a great summer, Matt Watts

2023 MNLA BOARD

PRESIDENT

Matt Watts

MFW Landscape

Missoula, MT

1st VICE PRESIDENT

Peter Hiel Gardenwerks

Helena, MT

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

James Hoiland

Greenup Lawn Landscape & Sprinklers

Great Falls, MT

3rd VICE PRESIDENT

John Spray

John Spray Landscapes Billings, MT

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Joe Sansone Oldcastle Polson, MT

PAST PRESIDENT

Matt Watts

MFW Landscape

Missoula, MT

SECRETARY

Pat Appleby

Compost Happens Gardening Florence, MT

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR

Kristi Browning, CPP

Cashman Nursery

Bozeman, MT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gina Albaugh

MNLA

Billings, MT

New Exploration Center and Gardens Coming to Missoula

The Gerald W. Marks Exploration Center and Rocky Mountain Gardens will be a premier destination for scientific and community centered education and a place to find connection with nature and our rural heritage in the Rocky Mountain West. The Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension, the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium, and the Missoula County Conservation District have partnered to open a facility

prairie, sensory, forest, vegetable, ornamental, and waterwise garden beds as well as a fruit and berry orchard.

in fall 2023 that features a 2,000 square foot tropical butterfly house, a plant clinic, a wet lab for classes, a conference room, a demonstration kitchen and 2.5 acre gardens.

The Rocky Mountain Gardens, opening spring 2024, will showcase the range of plants that can be grown in our region as well as the best practices for growing in a changing world. The garden is split up into 18 distinct growing areas including a rose, pollinator, herb, native

The various working spaces emphasize experiential learning and support and expand our organizations current programming as well as provide a space for our partners to engage the community. There will be an outdoor patio to expand the indoor classroom activities and conferences in addition to an adjacent flowering pollinator lawn and a drought tolerant lawn area that will serve as a gathering space. The gardens will also feature a four-season greenhouse, hoop house for season extension crops and gazebo to have small group classes in the garden. We are thrilled to have many sponsors and partners in creating the gardens – this project would not be possible without the generosity of our community. There will be many opportunities throughout the development of the gardens to engage in our programming, donor and volunteer opportunities. Please visit our website for more information, missoulaeduplace.org.

Molly Anton, Rocky Mountain Gardens Coordinator

Open-Graded Aggregate Base, Newest Interlocking Concrete Paver Installation Method

Joe Sansone, Oldcastle a CPM Company

Paver installation has not changed much in a thousand years. The ancient Roman roads were built much like the paver roads today, good, compacted base, some type of interlocking stone/paver and an edge restraint. This is still the best practice today. However, there is a new installation method that is becoming popular among installers – open graded aggregate base method.

Interlocking concrete pavers (ICP) have traditionally used dense-graded aggregate base in conjunction with a sand setting bed to provide structural support for the paver wearing course. However, as permeable paver use has increased using opengraded aggregate base, we have translated our years of permeable paver experience into design and construction guidelines using open-graded aggregates with interlocking concrete pavers. This article provides guidance in determining when open-graded aggregate base can be used, and how to design and construct an interlocking concrete paver system utilizing open-graded aggregates.

APPLICATIONS

Open-graded aggregate base projects can be divided into two major categories:

1) Residential;

2) Commercial. Open-graded aggregate base can be used for most single-family residential applications including driveways, patios, plazas, and pool decks. For multi-family residential, opengraded base can be used for most pedestrian applications but should limit vehicular applications to low-traffic areas with traffic loading similar to a single-family residential driveway. In commercial applications, open-graded aggregate base should be limited to pedestrian and commercial plaza applications.

Open-graded aggregate solutions can provide benefits where subgrade drainage is difficult to achieve and/or in freeze/thaw climates. Opengraded aggregate retains structural integrity when saturated and is not sensitive to moisture content like dense-graded aggregate. Since the opengraded aggregate base materials discussed below are typically between 30% to 40% voids, any water

in the system that freezes only fills the voids. Water trapped in a dense-graded aggregate can freeze which can cause heaving at the surface.

SYSTEM COMPOSITION Subgrade

Subgrade preparation is no different for opengraded aggregate base installations than dense-graded aggregate base. The soil must be compacted as required by the construction documents in order to provide a stable base for the paver system. In most cases, a highly permeable geotextile (Mirafi 140N or equal) is recommended along the bottom and sides of the system to separate fine-grained soils (clay or silt) from the open-graded aggregate base material. If the subgrade is weak or yielding, then a geogrid or undercuts may be required in addition to the geotextile.

Drainage

With most open-graded aggregate base installations, underdrains are not necessary because very little water will enter the system and will most likely be absorbed by the aggregate before reaching the subgrade. If the project has fine-grained soils (silts and clays) and contributing water sources other than the area of the pavers (areas draining to the pavers, downspouts, groundwater, etc.), consider installing a perforated pipe underdrain which will drain the system to prevent saturation of the subgrade. The underdrain should either be daylighted to the surface or connected to a storm structure.

Open-graded Aggregate Base

Install the open-graded aggregate base on top of the prepared subgrade and geotextile (if required). The open-graded aggregate should be clean and free from foreign matter and manufactured from crushed rock. Do not use recycled aggregates or rounded river gravel. The open-graded base should conform to ASTM C33 size No. 57 as shown below or similar gradation:

ASTM C33 size No. 57

Sieve Size Percent Passing

1-½ in. (37.5 mm) 100

1 in. (25 mm) 95 to 100

1/2 in. (12.5 mm) 25 to 60

3/8 in. (9.5 mm) 0 to 10

No. 4 (4.75 mm) 0 to 5

If you cannot locate ASTM No. 57 stone locally, send the above gradation to your local supplier to see if they have a similar gradation. Material names vary geographically, so the local supplier may not call the above gradation ASTM No. 57 stone.

Typically, open-graded aggregate layers are thicker when compared to dense-graded aggregate. The following chart provides equivalent open-graded aggregate thicknesses:

Equivalent Open-graded Aggregate Depths

Dense-graded Open-graded Aggregate Aggregate

As a rule of thumb, opengraded aggregate will require 33% thicker layers than densegraded, so multiply the thickness of the layer of dense-graded aggregate by 1.33 to calculate the equivalent open-graded aggregate thickness.

Place the open-graded base in 6” lifts and compact using a minimum 5,000 lbf plate compactor. Surface tolerance should be ± 1/2” over a 10-foot straight edge laid in any direction.

Bedding Course and Joint Fill Material

When using open-graded aggregate base material, the bedding course can be either sand or open-graded aggregate. Depending on the bedding course chosen, the system components will differ slightly including the joint fill material. When installing a sand bedding course over open-graded aggregate base, a highly permeable geotextile (Mirafi 140N or equal) is required to keep the sand from eroding

into the base material. Once the base material has been placed and compacted to grade, the geotextile is then placed on top with minimum 12” overlapping joints constructed to ‘shingle’ moisture from the upstream panel to the downstream panel. Next, the sand bedding course is placed loose and screeded to a thickness of 1-inch. Then the pavers are placed, compacted, and joints filled like any interlocking concrete paver system. The joint fill material can be either sand or polymeric sand.

Sand Set on Open-graded Aggregate Base

When installing open-grade aggregate bedding course, the bedding material should conform to ASTM C33 size No. 8 as shown below or similar gradation:

ASTM C33 size No. 8

Sieve Size Percent Passing

1/2 in. (12.5 mm) 100

3/8 in. (9.5 mm) 85 to 100

No. 4 (4.75 mm) 10 to 30

No. 8 (2.36 mm) 0 to 10

No. 16 (1.18 mm) 0 to 5

(Note: No. 89, or 9 gradation can also be used)

Once the open-graded aggregate base course has been placed and compacted to the required grade, the open-graded aggregate bedding course is placed loose and screeded to a thickness of 2 inches. Then the pavers are placed, compacted, and the joints filled like any interlocking concrete paver system. The joint fill material should be polymeric sand for this application. Some polymeric sand will filter into the permeable bedding course requiring approximately 5% additional polymeric sand than a standard installation.

Open-graded Bedding Course on Open-graded Aggregate Base

Edge Restraints

Rigid (cast-in-place, precast, stone, concrete walls and sidewalks) – provides the best resistance to movement and should be considered in vehicular applications

Plastic or Aluminum Edging – Plastic or aluminum edging can be used but is modified for opengraded aggregate base installations to include a geogrid attached to the edging. The pavers sit on top of the geogrid using the weight of the pavers to

hold the edge in place instead of spikes. Finally, this installation method has not been fully approved by ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) to date. It can be used in the right scenario, please check with your manufacturer or give me a call with any questions.

Joe Sansone can be reached at: 406-260-7450, or joe.sansone@oldcastle.com

Mitigating Winter Vole Damage

By: Abi Saeed (Montana State University Extension Horticulture Associate Specialist) and Dr. Eva Grimme (Montana State University Associate Extension Specialist II)

With heavy snow levels throughout much of Montana this past winter, we have seen and heard many reports of considerable vole damage in yard and garden landscapes.

Voles can feed on and cause damage to a variety of plants including turfgrass, trees, and shrubs. Winter damage is often inconspicuous or non-noticeable in lawns and on roots and bark of woody plants under the cover of snow. Damage becomes apparent after the snow melts in the spring and can vary in severity depending on the extent of damage and the type of plant affected.

In lawns:

Voles can create burrows and runways within lawns that result in bare pathways. Dead grass and accumulated excrement from these vole runs should be raked out immediately in the spring to allow the new crowns to begin growing and filling in the area. A light application of fertilizer can also be used to promote growth. Depressed regions or areas of extensive damage can be filled with topsoil and overseeded with a suitable grass mix to encourage a quicker recovery.

In trees and shrubs:

Voles and other wildlife (e.g., rabbits) feed on the bark of trees and shrubs, girdling branches and trunks by damaging or completely removing the bark around the entire circumference of the woody plant. Depending on the extent and severity of feeding on woody plants, recovery may be possible. The first step is to examine the trees and shrubs and assess the severity of damage.

Shrubs with healthy root systems and some girdled branches should be pruned in spring below the area of feeding damage to encourage the growth of new shoots. In trees, the severity of girdling in addition to the age of the tree can indicate whether it would be

possible for the tree to recover. In older trees with incomplete girdling, proper care should be taken to make sure that the tree is free from external stressors (ensuring sufficient water and nutrients) to encourage the likelihood of survival. The tree should be monitored during the growing season, and protected with a tree wrap or screen wire for the following winter to prevent further feeding damage. Make sure the wire wrap protects the tree trunk below the soil line and extends high enough above the possible snow line to prevent voles, rabbits etc. from reaching the trunk.

Young trees (1-2 years old) with complete (100%) girdling damage will most likely decline and die over time since the water and nutrient flow is disrupted. In most cases, replacing the compromised tree is the best course of action.

In older and established trees with complete tree damage, the tree will not survive without intervention. If this is a tree that you want to save, a process called ‘Bridge Grafting’ is a possibility, though this is not a viable option for all trees. This is a ‘tree surgery’ that requires the collection of scion wood from the tree in the early spring, and grafting it above and below the area of vole damage all around the base of the tree to reconnect the root system to the tree. Detailed instructions on this procedure are included in the resources below.

Preventing vole damage:

Prevention of vole damage includes a variety of approaches including habitat modification, sanitation practices, physical barriers, repellants, traps, and toxicants. (More information on these can be found in the resources below).

For more information, take a look at these resources: file:///C:/Users/d74m944/Downloads/VolesinMontana.pdf • https://ag.umass.edu/turf/fact-sheets/vole-damage-to-lawns https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/bridge_grafting_as_a_life_saving_procedure_for_trees https://www.purdue.edu/fnr/extension/winter-damage-of-the-furry-kind/ https://extension.wvu.edu/agriculture/horticulture/bridge-grafting

Notes from the Executive Director

Greetings, MNLA Members! I hope this newsletter finds you in the middle of a very productive season. We are switching gears over in the MNLA office; with the legislative session now closed, we have turned our attention to planning a summer full of fun networking events. We have quite a few exciting things in store for you this year! We will be holding our 10th annual (that’s right – 10 years!) golf tournament on August 10th, proving that green thumbs CAN indeed golf. This event is an important fundraiser for both our Chapter activities and Scholarship Program. If you’ll be in the Billings area in August, please join us! Even though we are just entering the summer, plans are already well underway for the Fall Tour. We’re headed to Great Falls this year! Mark your calendars for September 14-15th for a behind-the-scenes tour of the area’s finest nurseries and landscapes, with a few surprises thrown in along the way. The Fall Tour is the perfect way to cap off the season and revive your team with inspiration from the sites we visit. The Fall Tour also offers the opportunity to take

the Certified Plant Professional exam. Insiders tell us that the Plant Identification is a wee bit easier than during the middle of winter when live plants are hard to come by. Look for registration information for both the Fall Tour and CPP exam in this Leaflet.

Special thanks to James Hoiland and Erin Borland with Greenup Lawn Landscape & Sprinklers for helping plan the Fall Tour!

Don’t forget to take pictures as you work on projects this year –the Best of Montana Landscape Competition and Container Planting Contest entry deadlines will be here before we know it. Mark your calendars for October 15th; the intent-to-enter deadline. We can’t wait to celebrate the work you do!

I hope to see many of you at our events throughout the Summer. As always, I’m just a call or email away; contact me any time: 406-755-3079, or gina@ plantingmontana.com. Have a wonderful Summer!

Gina Albaugh MNLA Executive Director

Gina Albaugh Executive Director

In the Boardroom

March 2023 President Matt Watts called the video meeting to order with all board members attending. MDA reported the potential sod bill previously mentioned is dead at this time. Nursery inspections will start in April and May as plants are arriving. They may send out a questionnaire and not personally visit every nursery. Gina presented end of the fiscal year financials and a proposed working budget for fiscal year 2023. The Board discussed expected cost increases for the coming year and planned budget accordingly. Joe gave an update for the Belgard hardscape event being planned for May 5 in Billings. The Board agreed to offer a sponsorship for the event, with a discount negotiated for MNLA members. This class will offer 8 hours of CE, manual and detailed hardscape training. Plans for the Northern Rockies Tree School to merge with MNLA are moving ahead. Kristi noted spring scholarship deadline of March 31. Gina reported the new digital edition of the Spring Leaflet is ready to email out. Peter is continuing to work on Expo speakers, course descriptions, amount of vendor time and suggests that the CPP exam be moved to pre-Expo. Registration prices were finalized, and the Board is excited about the changes lined up for Expo 2024. John reported the Billings Chapter committee is looking for meeting topic suggestions and hopes to focus on maintenance topics and employer/ employee issues. He also reported connecting with The Native Plant Society’s revived Billings chapter that could be a future MNLA partnership.

April 2023 The meeting was called to order with all Board members present. MDA reported on current nursery licenses in the program with an increase in licenses for landscapers. They do not foresee any fee changes at this time and no new legislation on the horizon for this session. Kristi reported on applications for college scholarships and short course scholarships. Applications were reviewed with award guidelines, and recommendations made for awards. Discussion about the scope of short course scholarship awards circled back to the description of courses or material as noted in the application forms. In an effort to allow as many members as possible to participate, course fees and materials may be covered but not travel or lodging. James and Gina report that the first digital edition of the Leaflet had

a very strong open rate. They have a great line up of articles for the June edition so stay tuned. James reports that the Fall Tour in Great Falls, September 14-15 is coming together. Site and hotel details are being finalized. The CPP exam will be on Thursday afternoon. Fall is a good time to take the ID portion of the test since you get to look at live plants instead of dry sticks! A mini tradeshow of equipment vendors is planned. John reported that plans for the 10th anniversary golf tournament are coming together and they have filled the sponsor spots. Family Fun Night at the baseball park is June 20 and Field Day is planned for September 21st. Event details are on our website. Joe reported on plans for the hardscape training class in Billings. Belgard is hoping to expand this event beyond Billings. Matt reports that the legal work for the Northern Rockies Tree School is complete. We are looking forward to the collaboration.

May 2023 Spring recess – no meeting.

Member’s Corner

The Member’s Corner is where we share stories and member profiles from our community. We’re proud of the work you do! This month we applaud Lynda Wightman, MNLA member and former Hunter employee, on receiving the prestigious Ivy Munion Langendorff Women in Irrigation award. The American Society of Irrigation Consultants, Huntington Woods, Michigan, awarded Lynda Wightman the Ivy Munion Langendorff Women in Irrigation award.

Wightman says the award was a very special acknowledgment of her industry contributions and that Munion Langendorff was a truly inspirational figure in the industry. “To me, it was just a very humble recognition. For 35 years, I dealt with all of these consultants while working for Hunter,” she says. “I really appreciated the profession itself – whether it’s landscape and turf, agriculture – it’s all about water and irrigation and being a professional within that industry.”

Wightman says that Munion Langendorff embodied the true spirit of professionalism and was the paragon example of women in irrigation. “With Ivy, she was recognized because she was an artist and also a scientist,” Wightman says. “She was a very passionate woman and one of her passions was being a professional and an independent irrigation consultant. She worked with a lot of engineers who were also members of ASIC because they all have one goal, and that’s to be a professional within the industry.”

Wightman highlighted four of Munion Langendorff’s professional passions and their importance to the industry in her acceptance speech. Among them was emphasizing the importance of investing time and energy in inspiring and educating the next generation of professionals in irrigation to sustain the industry long term.

“We’re all going to die, and we’re going to retire and we aren’t going be involved in the industry,” she says. “For years, I was involved with the Irrigation Association and was very instrumental in helping the foundation get started and grow because I really felt the need to invest in the next generation.”

When it comes to the future, Wightman says that the industry needs to keep making resources available to educate the upcoming generation of professionals, an area where the industry can still improve. She thinks that as technology continues to develop, the need is paramount to educate contractors and those in the field, including showing them how to turn around and educate end users on more advanced and efficient products.

“I hope that we see our industry changing to a more educational perspective,” Wightman says. “The contractor is educating the homeowner on the benefits of healthy plant material that will ultimately save water because a homeowner who cares about healthy plant material, doesn’t care about saving water.”

All in all, Wightman says she is grateful to have received the award but there is still work to be done.

“I’m very humbled to receive that award,” she says. “It was amazing because I’m not an irrigation consultant, and I was in the manufacturing perspective if you will. So to receive it, it means a lot because I was a woman involved, and I do think we need to get more women involved.”

Reynolds, Luke. “Former Hunter employee earns ASIC award.” Irrigation & Lighting, 19 May 2023, https://irrigationandlighting.org/news/formerhunter-executive-earns-asic-award/

Safety Tailgate: First Aid Kits

James Hoiland, MNLA 2nd Vice President

Summer may finally be here for most of us, and our crews are working like crazy to play catch up from all the moisture that has blessed us this season. The extra rain and snow gave me the opportunity to take some time to evaluate what my trucks had and didn’t have for my crews. A very important piece that many of us overlook is the upkeep of safety gear, in the form of first-aid kits, that we keep in our equipment and trucks, as well as around the nursery.

First aid kits don’t need to be over the top expensive, but they are very important and must include certain items to be compliant with OSHA requirements. Let’s face it, things are going to happen out on the jobsite, and we need to be prepared for something like a bad cut or broken bone. Having a simple kit with the essentials onhand is super important for the health and safety of your crew when something happens. These kits can be basic to extensive, but they need to fit that business where they are being used. Firstaid kits may be purchased at hardware stores, large retailers, safety equipment suppliers, or online. I recently had the opportunity to talk to my father, a volunteer fire chief of 30 years. He was a great resource to talk with about additional items to have on hand. Besides the basics of a first-aid kit, he said a larger selection of band-aids, a tourniquet, and pain medication are a must. Other items like disinfectant sprays, ointments, eye drops, and burn creams are very important to have in the kit, as well. He also mentioned many companies are starting to have the new defibrillator boxes on hand. These tools have made huge advancements and have become more compact and affordable.

Hopefully we never have to use any of the major items in our kits, but it’s important that we have them for the one time we may need it. It may also benefit someone that is not part of your team that wasn’t as prepared.

Hope everyone has a safe and productive summer.

Scholarship Achievements

Gina Albaugh, MNLA Executive Director

We are thrilled to announce that three deserving individuals have recently been selected as recipients of the MNLA Scholarship Award! Let us introduce you:

True Gannon

“Hi, my name is True Gannon. I was born and raised in Bigfork, Montana. I grew up at my family’s greenhouse nursery business, Swan River Gardens, and have been passionate about plants since the very beginning. I am currently a junior at MSU in the school of agriculture, studying environmental horticulture with the concentration of landscape design. After graduating I want to gain intern experience working at landscape firms in and outside of the state. Eventually, I plan on returning to Bigfork and learning my family’s business while continuing landscape design in the Flathead Valley.”

Cole Thormahlen

Cole’s scholarship application came from Billings-area member, Tvetene Turf. When learning of his award, Cole shared this with us: “My name is Cole Thormahlen, I am the son of Dennis Thormahlen Jr and Lori LeBrun. I grew up on small ranch/ farm in Belfry Montana. In high school I was active in FFA and 4-H. I showed mostly steers and cows, but I have also shown sheep. I enjoy riding horses and motorcycles in my free time. I also enjoy building old Ford pickups with my dad.

I plan on attending Rocky Mountain College and completing an Aviation Science Degree. I want to eventually fly for either Fed-Ex or UPS flying cargo. I decided that I would like to be a pilot as I was starting my senior year. My mom took me to meet with a friend who is a pilot of Fed-Ex and we made a plan to get started. We took a tour at Rocky Mountain College and I was able to fly a plane for the first time and I knew I wanted to pursue this path.

I want to thank you for helping me fund my education. It is greatly appreciated.”

Levi Wagner

Levi is a son of Three Forks-based Wagner Nursery and Landscape. “I am a Montana native, growing up in Three Forks amongst close- knit family and friends. I love Montana for all it has to offer including all the great scenery, opportunities, and the people. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and hanging out with friends. I have decided to attend the University of Providence in the fall, to stay close to my roots. I am excited to pursue a degree in business, to further my knowledge in business. I plan to take over my family’s landscaping company in the future.

I am very eager to continue my family’s legacy. Additionally, at the

University of Providence I will be continuing my wrestling career and hope to become an All-American wrestler. I want to thank the Montana Nursery and Landscape Association for supporting my dreams and making them more possible.”

We wish all these well-deserving students success in their future endeavors! Do you know a student that could benefit from our scholarship program? As a member benefit, the scholarship is open to members and their immediate families, as well as to employees of members. Applicants must be enrolled in a higher education facility for the semester following their application. This program is funded throughout the year by fundraising auctions, donations, and event fundraisers; scholarships are awarded based on available funding. We were able to award $8,000 in scholarships in 2022, and have awarded $5,500 so far this year. Thank you to everyone who has supported this program throughout the years! To learn more, visit our website: www.plantingmontana.com/ scholarships. If you would like to donate to the scholarship program, contact our office at info@plantingmontana.com.

GANNON

THORMAHLEN

LEVI

WAGNER

Biringer Nursery

Melissa Biringer — Vernon, WA

Montana State University

Braden Denler — Bozeman, MT

Highridge Landscape

Rick Gunter — Bozeman, MT

Canyon Creek Nursery

Ann McKean — Billings, MT

Montana State University

Jessica McMurtry — Bozeman, MT

Yellowstone Environmental Contracting

Curtis McWilliams — Miles City, MT

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