pro grow news
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pro grow news Spring 2021
PRESIDENT
Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414
VICE PRESIDENT
Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. (617) 522-3843
PAST PRESIDENT
Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143
DIRECTORS
Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden
Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family
David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape, Inc
Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Centers
David Anderson Mayer Tree Service
board committees pro grow news
EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Deborah Trickett, MCH — Board Liaison The Captured Gardens (781) 329-9698
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM)
Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc.
Tel: (413) 536-7555
Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269
HISTORY COMMITTEE
Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630
Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208
MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH)
Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair John R. Elicone Consulting Tel: (617) 527-5706
Corinne Jean, MCH — Vice Chair Wisteria & Rose (617) 522-3843
PRODUCTS COMMITTEE
Peter Mezitt, MCH — Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR
Jason Wentworth Tel: (617) 417-4050
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731
ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731. Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA. Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org www.mnla.com
AsHelping Our People and Businesses
ByPeter Mezitt, MCH
I write this article, spring has sprung, the COVID situation seems to be improving, and winter is in our rear view mirror. Despite the inability to meet with each other in person for at least the first half of the year, we have some great things going on throughout the winter and early spring months with our MNLA Dreams & Solutions Virtual Forum. This online forum is designed to offer you and your business opportunities to educate, employ, and make connections not just during the early months, but throughout the year.
We wanted to make it easy for you to earn your MCH credits this year. With many of us struggling to find the time to earn credits last year, the MCH board made the decision to keep you certified even if you came up short on your credits as long as you turned in your MCH credit reporting form and fees. We do ask that you make up the difference in 2021, and we are offering more opportunities than ever before to do this.
We hope that you will take advantage of the Virtual Forum webinar series that will be showcased throughout the year. It is a great way to earn MCH credits and don’t forget; if you missed the LIVE webinar you can still take advantage of the webinar program with the ON DEMAND recordings. . Each 1.5-hour session costs only $25 for MNLA members and awards one MCH credit. We encourage you to visit the MNLA website frequently to see all the MCH educational opportunities available from MNLA-sponsored events and other green industry affiliates. There is a lot more to come, and the learning opportunities are plentiful in 2021.
We wanted to make it easy to match people up with available jobs within our industry. Visit the Job Fair page to advertise your open positions throughout 2021. This is the perfect interface for employees looking for jobs and employers looking for talented individuals to fill open positions. Participating companies can list up to six positions and can manage their listings as needed for the whole year. MNLA is promoting the job fair on social media, email blasts, and other forms of advertising to drive people to the job fair listings. This is a great value as many of the current participating companies can attest. For those looking for jobs or career changes, one click leads you to a form where you can fill out information on yourself and upload resumes or cover letters directly to the employer. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
We also wanted to help our member businesses gain exposure to their customers. Whether you sell to consumers or other businesses, the Vendor Marketplace is the place to position your business to get seen. Participating vendors will be advertised on the MNLA website, the Virtual Forum website, social media, Facebook, and in our digital publication. Your company name will pop up over and over in all these locations for an entire year. One click communications will allow customers to reach you efficiently.
Please visit https://www.virtualforum.mnla.com/ for all the details on the MNLA Dreams & Solutions Virtual Forum
Please note we will not hold our Down to Earth Summer Conference in 2021. However, we hope to get back to live, in-person events in the fall and will keep you posted as the year progresses.
Lastly, the MNLA board would like to thank all of you for the confidence you have placed in this organization and for sticking with us over the last 12 months of challenging times. We are a diversified group comprised of the best companies, suppliers, and educators within the green industry. Thanks to you, our finances and our membership levels remain very healthy.
Have a great spring!
Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc.
MNLA President
Committee Reports
Government Relations Update
Changes In Legislative Leadership
by Jason Wentworth
Amidstthe chaos brought by COVID-19, we have had significant changes in leadership in the legislative branch.
Robert DeLeo, recipient of the 2020 Henry S. Gillet Environmental Leadership Award who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives since 2009, resigned at the end of 2020 to take a position in academia and was succeeded by the new Speaker, Representative Ron Mariano of Quincy. As a legislator from a very urban district, DeLeo’s policies on agriculture and horticulture were largely influenced by the
more rural members of his leadership team and by his firm understanding of the modern challenges businesses face. Those on our board who had the opportunity to meet with him during Ag Days over the years were witness to his jovial, reasonable nature, openmindedness, and sharp policy chops, and we wish him the best in his new endeavor.
We are very fortunate to have the continued advocacy of Senate President and 2021 Henry S. Gillet Environmental Leadership Award winner Karen Spilka and look forward to working with her new chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture (ENRA), Senator Rebecca Rausch, on educating her and her counterparts on the value and importance of our industry and our members. Indeed, our greatest mission in the next year will be education. In that spirit, MNLA would like to thank outgoing chairs Senator Anne Gobi and Representative Smitty Pignatelli, who not only performed their duties as chair well, but also served to provide other legislators with guidance in a better understanding from within. Their contributions to agriculture in general were great and will undoubtedly continue in their new roles.
As some of you may know, longtime friend and ally Representative Carolyn Dykema was named House Chair of ENRA, and we could not be more thrilled. She has long been an advocate for Massachusetts agriculture, and someone with whom I and my predecessor, Henry Gillet, have worked very closely. From my time as a House staffer, I’ve been impressed with her humility, depth of knowledge, and willingness to hear and understand multifaceted issues, and I’m excited to work with her in her new role. As many of you know, Representative Dykema
has been working for many years with MNLA and other stakeholder groups on legislation that would designate neonicotinoids as a restricted-use pesticide, and thanks to the pressure she brought to bear, the primary components of her proposed policy have now been accepted as part of the Pesticide Board’s regulation. Neonics will remain available to professional, credentialed applicators and agriculturalists and for use in structural pest control and flea and tick applications while keeping it out of the untrained hands of the general public. Retail to the general public would be phased out by July 2022, giving our members ample time to help customers identify the right alternative products for their needs. More detailed information will be forthcoming, and we will provide it to our members when available, but this balance achieves the objectives of both the MNLA and Rep. Dykema pollinator advocates: It keeps a valuable tool in the tool box of our responsible, well-trained membership, and it keeps it out of the hands of people who may unintentionally misuse it and cause harm to a beleaguered pollinator population. We are proud to have been a part of this effort, and are poised to continue working with Chairwoman Dykema and others on steps to ensure the continued viability of our important industry.
Jason Wentworth, Peacefield Strategies
MNLA Government Relations Director
Coloring the World with Plants
by Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD
During the middle of July, my husband and I left Cleveland to venture to the heartland for a week: Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago. It was scorching hot, but what always caught our eye was the displays featuring hot color combinations.
The most outstanding display was at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The place is huge with many themed gardens, but the one we will remember the longest was a vast hillside of orange, yellow, and blue annuals with tidbits of red and magenta. Whenever I interview clients, I always ask about their color preferences, and the majority of them make a point of their dislike of orange. I suspect that if they could see the Chicago display, they might change their minds. It was so vibrant — definitely a wow garden. On the other hand, if you want serenity, this is not the color scheme for you.
As a landscape designer, I often pick a color scheme that
relates to the color of my client’s house. If the house is brick, a hot color scheme of yellow, orange, and red would create unity between the house and the landscape. So too could the use of yellow and purple. The first scheme is analogous while the second is complementary.
I also try to relate the color scheme to the emotional atmosphere the client wants and needs. How is that person going to spend time in the garden: entertaining, playing with children, relaxing? Most colors have emotional connotations, so ask your clients what their favorite colors are and which emotions they evoke. Armed with that knowledge, you can then discuss the virtues of monochromatic, analogous, and complementary color schemes.
MONOCHROMATIC
Monochromatic schemes are based on shades, tints, and tones of one hue. Contrary to common belief, monochromatic color schemes are not, and should not, be boring. Flower color is
Colorful hillside of yellow, orange, and blue annuals at Chicago Botanic Garden
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usually short-lived; therefore, it behooves us to include colored foliage as well. Working within this type of color scheme, be aware of the undertones. Nothing will destroy the scene more quickly than clashing undertones. Just look at the photograph of purply red petunias and Salvia splendens, which is an orangey red — very hard on the eyes!
Using yellow as a monochromatic example, we could create a golden landscape. Starting with the largest material — trees — there are many with yellow fall foliage such as Cercis canadensis (Redbud) and Ginkgo biloba. Few actually are yellow from the time they foliate, although Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ (Frisia Black Locust) is. Unfortunately, it is probably not hardy in Massachusetts.
One color with clashing undertones, like these two different reds, is very hard on the eyes.
Working down to the next layer, there are innumerable choices of yellow-foliaged shrubs: large ones such as Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’ and Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’; medium-sized ones like Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera ‘Aurea’; and small ones like Spiraea ‘Gold Mound’. There is also the relatively new Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ that does best in morning sun and is only three feet in height and diameter.
Finally, it is time to choose perennials and grasses. Most of the yellow ornamental grasses do best in shade although I’ve had great luck with Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ in the sun. I’m also quite fond of Carex ‘Everillo’ and Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’. The list of yellow-flowering perennials is quite lengthy from Rudbeckia (some short and some quite tall) and Helianthus and Heliopsis to Coreopsis, Gaillardia, and Digitalis. Intense colors like yellow are best used as punctuation. An all-yellow color scheme would require strong sunglasses.
Analogous
A counterpoint would be a purple scheme. There are several
punctuation.
purple-foliaged trees, shrubs, and perennials as well as many purple-flowering shrubs and perennials. If purple were combined with pink, we would have an analogous color scheme which is basically an expansion of a monochromatic scheme. If it were combined with yellow, we would have a complementary color scheme.
It is very easy to forget that green is a color. Green flowers are subtle and blend well with every color. Shades of green foliage abound and will always intensify other colors. A green and yellow color scheme is joyful and exciting yet serene, while a green and orange color scheme would have a bit more punch.
are not directly across from each other on the color wheel. For
Yellow foliage in my back garden is used as
This pink/purple garden at Floriade could easily be augmented with trees and shrubs that have purple foliage to create a longer period of color.
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The strength of so much orange is tempered by the large amount of green. to test your ideas. Other powerful complementary schemes are red/ green, magenta/chartreuse, and blue/orange. These gardens have punch, also known as the WOW factor, and are definitely not for the timid gardener.
Ever since I started gardening and designing, I’ve heard the mantra that “magenta is so-o-o difficult to work with.” Well, I say, “Baloney!” It’s a bright, cheerful color that can’t help but make you feel good. One of my favorite magentas is Geranium psilostemon (Armenian Cranesbill) which has a large black center. The blossoms are held well above the large lobed foliage and the lax stems twine into my deciduous azaleas, a very effective but hands-off method of staking. The only downside is that it seeds prolifically so some editing is necessary. It would look great combined with Deutzia gracilis ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ which has yellow foliage in the sun and chartreuse foliage in partial shade. As a bonus, the white flowers of the Deutzia would appear in May and early June just before the Geranium psilostemon begins its long period of bloom. Another possible neighbor is Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ which does not become as outrageously large as ‘Limelight’. The large lime,
almost triangular heads which begin blooming in July and continue to have a presence in the garden even through the winter, could be planted behind the geranium. With a minimum of plant species, we now have a landscape that has great textural and color contrasts.
Don’t limit yourself to perennials and ornamental grasses. Use some shrubs and trees, so many of which now have very colorful foliage and are probably lower maintenance. After all, foliage lasts much longer than flowers.
How are you coloring your world?
Bobbie Schwartz, a certified landscape designer in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is the owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb, a full-time business focusing on landscape design, consultation, installation and maintenance, lecturing, and writing. Her book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was released by Timber Press in 2017.
Geranium psilostemon twines its way through Lilium ‘Dani Arifin’, Lupinus perennis, and Clematis ‘Reiman’. Long after the lilies and lupines are finished blooming, the geranium will provide oodles of color.
Blue Princess Holly
Magic Carpet Spirea
Redpointe Maple
Blue Arrow Juniper
Hortense Hydrangea
I Can’t Find Good People
By David M. Anderson
“I can’t find good help.” “Millennials aren’t coachable, and people don’t want to work hard anymore.” “No one wants to do blue collar work.”
People say these things all the time. Is it true? No, but recruiting and retaining good people takes a lot of effort. Let’s not debate these clichés. Let’s discuss some ideas. Most of the things I am going to share with you have either been borrowed or learned the hard way. The most important thing is to take action.
As Neo Anderson says at the end of “The Matrix,” “I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end; I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin.” How much time do you spend on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis on recruiting? How much money do you invest? Do you have a budget? Do you have one person in your company who has recruiting assigned as one of their deliverables? If you do, great! If you don’t, you should. You can only fix what you focus on. If you want to be great at recruiting hard-working, good-character people who want a career path and desire to be a meaningful part of your team, you must put in the effort.
My associate George Barth would say, “The first step in recruiting is retention. Keep your existing people happy.”
Employee engagement has become a multi-million-dollar business because we all struggle with this. There is a great book called The Employee Experience, by Stacy Maylett and Matthew Wride. It goes into specific detail about how to create an ideal work environment for your people. This is a huge subject. If you want to improve your proficiency in this area, I recommend reading this book and researching this topic. For now, here are a few key points to consider. Note: I want to thank my former boss and mentor, Adam Cervin, for constantly challenging me to learn and get better at these concepts.
• Pay your people well. Research shows that salary is not the most important thing, but it is important. No matter what the research says, compensation is the ultimate measuring stick. “Jane at the widget factory is paying Paul X, and you are only paying me Y. I am going to work for Jane.”
So many people are looking to recruit someone new while taking the people they have for granted. We have all made this mistake. Do you take care of your existing people? Does your company have a great environment? Do your employees love coming to work? How do you know?
• Stay in touch. It is not uncommon for people to feel more like a number than a valued part of the team. People can easily get upset over simple things. It always bothers me when someone I thought was in a good place quits. A mutually respectful relationship with your employees is important to keep the lines of communication open, address problems promptly, and right the wrongs, preventing them from looking for employment elsewhere. Putting in the effort to avoid the “Oh-oh” moment is vital, because you can’t go back in time.
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• Make it a fun place to work. Every company is different and has its own culture. What can you do to make your company better? We all spend so much time at work, but how can we make it more enjoyable? Research shows that simple things go a long way. Surprising a crew with coffee and snacks on a cold day, providing candy and cookies at the holidays, and offering ice cream on hot days will boost morale and make employees feel appreciated. Hosting parties or outings helps to get everyone together socially. Use your imagination and be creative.
• Provide a safe environment with quality equipment and good people to work with. The work we do can be dangerous. Make sure you provide PPE and uniforms and supply tools that are in good working order. Hire well-qualified people who will work safely and set a positive example.
• Provide training and career pathing. Give employees opportunities to grow, improve, and earn more money. A great employee you develop will make you more money, be a role model, and recruit new people.
• Get rid of the malcontents. This one is hard to do, especially if they are talented. When you are desperate to find people, although it may seem counterintuitive, fire the people who poison your culture. The new hires are not going to listen to the teacher who preaches antismoking; they are going to be out with the cool kid behind the football stadium smoking Marlboros. Firing people is easier said than done. It always reminds me of the scene in the movie “Hoosiers” when Gene Hackman, the basketball coach, opts to play with four players instead of five because his only sub was not listening. It’s not easy to be that strong, but we should.
“Great companies don’t hire skilled people and motivate them. They hire motivated people and inspire the.”
— Simon Sinek
• Obey the Golden Rule. Treat others how you want to be treated. If you can’t be objective about how you treat your people, or if you struggle with empathy, hire someone who gets it. Make it their responsibility to make
everyone feel good about their work. Don’t we all want to feel important and appreciated?
That was easy?
Now that your company has a great culture and all of your existing people love you so much, they want to work with you forever and never ask for a raise. Unfortunately, even those people move, retire, their spouses get transferred, and we all eventually die. You always need fresh blood. In part two of this article, I will offer a few suggestions to help you recruit the best people.
David M. Anderson is an arborist at Mayer Tree Service in Essex, Massachusetts. He can be reached at danderson@mayertree.com.
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Meet the 2021 Board of Directors
The 111th MNLA Annual Meeting was held via ZOOM on March 4, 2021. Highlights included the award of the 2020 Henry Gillet Environmental Leadership Award to Senator Karen Spilka, the state of the association address by President Peter Mezitt, and the election of your 2021 MNLA board of
Peter Mezitt, MCH
MNLA President
Weston Nurseries
directors, officers, and the MCH board of directors for 2021. Breaking with the traditional group photo due to COVID-19, the MNLA board of directors and management team were asked to share a fun snapshot of themselves and their favorite plant for 2021 (or their not so favorite) with MNLA members.
Christopher O’Brien, MCH
As for my favorite plant, I could pick many, but let’s go with the Magnolia soulangiana. To me, this is the classic spring plant that signifies the arrival of spring. The abundance of mauve/ white colored petals are like no other plant in the landscape that develops into a large shrub-like tree with wide, gnarly branches as it matures. This tree brightens up the landscape in a big way with thousands of blooms that remind me of easter eggs when the buds start to open up. The tree is a great companion plant to the PJM rhododendron as these two plants are often in bloom at the same time. Together, the color is amazing to see, especially after a long winter like we had again this year.
Kerry Preston, MCH
When asked to shine a spotlight on my favorite plant for 2021, I was planning on going to my old standby of Brunnera “Jack Frost.” But when Rena pointed out that I already showcased that plant last year for a Plant Selfie Credit, I decided I would mix it up a bit. So here are my all-time least favorite plants (controversy will ensue, I am sure).
MNLA Treasurer/Secretary Wisteria and Rose
1. Fothergilla: I can’t say enough about why I dislike this plant but it is ugly — so there.
2. Itea; See Fothergilla.
3. Picea glauca ‘Conica’, which many of you will know as the dwarf Alberta spruce: I don’t think I need to say anything else.
4. Pachysandra: Just. NO.
MNLA Vice President Howard Garden Design
My favorite plant is Enkianthus campanulatus in its many varieties for its toughness, love of shade, and different colors. If you are looking for easy (and who isn’t after 2020?) and trouble-free, the Enkianthus is a real go-to shrub. They are a spring and fall plant with clusters of creamy-white flowers in late spring and striking fall color to give homeowners season-long beauty.
Deborah Trickett, MCH, MCLP
MNLA Director
The Captured Garden
Dave Vetelino, MCH
MNLA Director
Vetelino Landscape & Design
Inc.
Meet the 2021 Board of Directors
Choosing a favorite plant is like choosing a favorite child. Almost impossible. I like certain plants for certain situations, but if I had to choose one of my favorites it would be seven-son flower, Heptacodium miconioides. It is a small tree or large shrub that grows in sun to part shade. It has beautiful, creamywhite, jasmine-like blossoms in late summer when few things are blooming, which my bees and I appreciate. Bright-red calyces develop in the fall, and in the winter, the light brown bark exfoliates to reveal darker bark beneath. Heptacodium is truly a four-season stunner in my opinion
Steve Charette
MNLA Director
American National
Perhaps unoriginal but my honest-answer favorite plant is the hydrangea. Why my favorite, you ask? It’s a versatile perennial and always a home run in any container or as a luscious landscape border. It has a lifespan of 50 years and commonly grows 3–15 feet in height. For me, it is always a sign that summer is coming, and I can never see too many of them! No such thing as too much — professional landscaper designers may disagree but not in my world.
My favorite plant pick is the Sambucus. There are a few varieties of Sambucus that have caught my eye in the last few years, the first being Sambucus Nigra ‘Black Lace’. This plant has great dark-purple foliage and a flowing, wild growth habit that I have found quite alluring. Even though the plant grows quite vigorously during the growing season, it can be easily and quickly managed with a few quick cuts with the old Felcos. It also can be managed in some tighter spots where there isn’t much room by keeping up with light pruning twice a year. I have found a heavy winter prune works very well to keep them in scale.
Jean Dooley, MCH MNLA Director Mahoney’s Garden Centers
Meet the 2021 Board of Directors
One of my favorite plants is Rudbeckia laciniata ‘Autumn Sun’. The name says it all! Sunny yellow flowers bloom in early July and continue until fall, delighting butterflies and other pollinators. It’s easy to grow and makes a stunning 6– 7-foot-tall border in my yard. On most summer days, I can spot at least three or four monarchs visiting the plants. The border buzzes with pollinators until frost takes the last of the blossoms, leaving the seed heads for the birds to enjoy. Each season I can hardly wait for the show to begin!
MNLA Immediate Past President Bigelow Nurseries
Dave
Anderson
MNLA Director Mayer Tree
My mug shot is getting a little background color from an Arnold Promise witch hazel, but my favorite plant choice for 2021 would be Franklinia alatamaha. Commonly called the Franklin tree, it is a relatively small deciduous tree (30 ft) and has fragrant white flowers. The bark is gray with vertical white striations with a ridged texture — very showy in a landscape. Franklin can be a challenge to grow, but it is a beautiful American native tree well worth the investment in time and care.
Betula nigra Fox Valley (‘Little King’) dwarf river birch is my choice. The compact, oval-rounded growth habit with branches to the ground can be limbed up to form a multi-stem look. It’s a great choice for small spaces, but will grow to 16 ft after 20-plus years. It has been pest and disease free in my landscape for 20 years, and needs only limited pruning.
Tim Hay MCH
