p.o. box 748 • st. charles, il 60174 847.742.1790 • fax 847.742.2655 www.midwestgroundcovers.com
January 2017
CONTENTS
Excellence In Landscape Awards Project FOCUS: ILCA Awards and Honors ILCA Person of the Year Honoring Bill Davids
8 10
ILCA Distinguished Service Award Honoring Vermeer Midwest ILCA Scholarship Winners 2016 ILCA Scholarships
12
2016 — The Year in Review Three major happenings for ILCA members
16
Garden Speak — Coreopsis Don’t get tickled pink... yet.
22
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iLandscape — 2017 27 EQUIPMENT The complete program for ENVIRONMENTAL your preview Member Profile 58 T Sustainable Landscape Calendar December 12 Months of sustainable landscape tips
57
Native Intelligence 66 Acorus americanus — Sweet Flag
EN ESPAÑOL
10
iLandscape 2017 — Branching Out RECYCLING PRODUCTS se está ramificando para 2017 46
YOUR PARTNER FOR SUCCESS.
12
Vermeer Midwest is your trusted partner in the landscape industry. When you buy from us, you’re buying more than just safe and reliable equipment. You’re buying the support of a full-service dealership committed to keeping you productive and profitable. With factory-trained parts and service professionals, we have the experience to keep your equipment and your business up and running.
LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT. Brush Chippers Stump Cutters Mini Skid Steers Tub Grinders Horizontal Grinders Compost Turners Trommel Screens Compact Excavators Forestry Mowers
On the cover... COMPLEMENTARY BRANDS This project designed and built by Premier Landscape Contractors, Inc. received a Gold award for Residential Landscape Construction in 2016. The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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66 3
CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message Classified Ads Advertisers Index
Calendar
4 5 7 62 65
FEBRUARY
February 1-3, 2017
Photo Credits ILCA Awards Program 1, 8-9 Clarence Davids & Co. 10 Ricard Hawke 22-24 ILCA Experience Committee 27-45 Rick Reuland 47-55 Scott Mehaffey 66
SAVE THESE DATES
The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. WWW.ilca.net
February 23, 2017 Hardscape Illinois
MARCH
Volume 58, Number 1. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630)637-8632 PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication.
ILCA Staff
Magazine Staff
Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net
Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net
Education Manager Julie Nicoll jnicoll@ilca.net
Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com
Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net Office Manager Alycia O’Connor aoconnor@ilca.net Membership & Marketing Coordinator Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net
ILCA 2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150 www.ilca.net
March 2-3, 2017 Foremanship Seminar March 16-17, 2017 Field Staff Skills Training
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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From Where I Stand — To stave off a food coma, my fam-
on lions, tigers, and bears. He watches cartoons starring mice, ducks, dogs, cats, and whatever Goofy is supposed to be. ily and extended family decided to play Family Feud on So what is going on here? Why does society collectively Thanksgiving night. We played the traditional method and not ignore plants when plants are everywhere, central to our survivwhere everyone drinks wine for three hours and then brings up al, and, above all else, pretty? Those cranky horticulturists who politics. We played the “Top 5 answers on the Board” version claim nobody cares about plants can’t be right, can they? Well, with my Mom (Grammy) serving as Richard Dawson. As with it turns out, they are. most family games, we played for pride and the ability to lord In 1998, American botanists James Wandersee and over our siblings, cousins, and in-laws. Elizabeth Schussler were the first to define plant blindness as We powered through some questions like “the inability to see or notice the plants in one’s “Name a word people yell at their dog” or own environment.” They concluded this led “Name a place you’d find a drinking foun“to the inability to recognize the importance of tain.” Of course, children were present so the plants in the biosphere and in human affairs.” game remained relatively clean. We came to This was further reified by a study published a question that read, “Name seven flowers in the journal Conservation Biology by bioloknown for their distinct shape.” The room gists Kathryn Williams and Mung Balding of grew quieter. Some of the more senior memAustralia’s University of Melbourne. They bers of the family began to yell out “rose!” concluded that plant blindness is common, but “daisy!” “sunflower!” “tulip!” The younger not inevitable. Further, they determined it was generation fell silent and began to check their reversible. They wrote their paper as a guide for phones and tablets. We got five out of the conservationists fighting to save wetlands and way quickly, but struggled to finally name rain forests. In fact, 57% of US endangered spe“iris” and “daffodil.” We really stopped yellcies are plants, but they receive only four percent ing out flowers with distinct shapes and just of the funding. started yelling out any flowers we knew. There have been many plant blindness studies Collectively, our plant list maybe reached over time. Some show a series of flash cards with about 30 varieties. plants and animals interspersed and people must Now, if the question were changed to remember what they saw. The animals could be “Name seven animals known for their distinct ticked off one by one, the plants just became a shapes” we could have probably listed 100 green blob. Other studies actually took participants species of animals. If it was name six animals out to observe plants in nature to try to determine with spots or name five animals with antlers why we just ignore them. Surprisingly, even the or name six animals that lay eggs or name nature of plants moving in the wind was enough to bore most peofour animals used for NFL team names we’d have easily gotple. Plant shapes and their movement are predictable. They move ten those too. I bet my four-year-old son could name 50 animals. I as a fixed unit versus independently. You can stare at plants for 30 would wager he can name two plants. This would probably include minutes, but the second that squirrel comes hopping along… “cactus” and “Christmas tree.” It is likely this is a learned rather than innate response. Most landscape professionals bemoan that most of the Biologists assumed that since animals were both a food source general public, including their customer base, ignores plants. and threat to humans, we would naturally be more keenly aware These customers are aware that there are objects known as of them. Yet, this wasn’t what the research found. It looked at “plants” and those plants are in their yards, parks, and commany Native American cultures who viewed plants and animunities, but it pretty much stops there. Most people know mals on the same plain. Plants were essential to these cultures’ a few basic species of plants, but have trouble distinguishhealth, survival, and rituals. These cultures recognize florae as ing them from one another. I know about 15 species of trees much as fauna. In fact, plants were more revered. because of my job at ILCA. Friends think I’m Henry David I agree that recognizing plant blindness is important for conThoreau when I walk down the street and can tell the differservationists on an ecological level. Yet, I argue it’s far more ence between a maple, oak, and service berry. This is stuff that important for landscape professionals and suppliers to identify I should’ve learned in second grade and not because I head a and correct plant blindness on a commercial level. Since plant landscape trade association. blindness is learned, not innate, can it be unlearned? It seems like a cop-out to claim that the general public doesn’t The answer to that is complicated. It would likely take care about plants. After all, plants are everywhere. We spend decades to change how a modern, consumerist society views billions of dollars on cut flowers every year. We landscape our plants. The more pressing question is, “Can landscape profesyards. We put plants on our window sills and desks. We drive sionals correct plant blindness on a micro scale?” I argue that down streets and plants, flowers, and trees are omnipresent. We simply knowing a landscape client does not see a landscape or encounter billions more plants in our lifetime than we will lions or landscape plan like a professional is the first step. In fact, many rhinos. Yet, every four-year-old knows what a lion and rhino is. clients will view landscaping like they view utilities, rain gutters, In fact, many are enamored by them. My son has countless books The Landscape Contractor 5 January 2017
In the Land
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From Where I Stand —
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and hot water heaters. Yes, they are prettier, but will quickly be ignored or overlooked if everything is functioning correctly. They are not going to view their plants as the family dog. Get over it. So, how does the landscape professional place her hands over a client’s eyes like a revival tent preacher and say, “I command you to SEE!”? Ok, this is where I’m going to get weird. You or the client, or both of you, name the plants. Yes, you give them names. No, not stiff, latin names like Phlox paniculata or even “Phlox” (Phloxy Brown is acceptable). You give them names like “Jimmy” and “Michelle” and “Clarabelle.” You name them after their kids. If there are seven shrubs, name them after the seven dwarves. Personify the plants. Open their eyes that plants are not hot water heaters. Now, before you call the ILCA President and say the Executive Director has finally lost his nut, hear me out. One of the conclusions of the plant blindness studies pointed out that plants are rarely anthropomorphized in popular culture. Meaning, they rarely are given human form, characteristics, or personalities. This happens to animals all the time. Turn on Disney Junior for 10 minutes and my guess is that you will see a dozen anthropomorphic animals acting like humans. The natural response to this indoctrination at a young age is that children respond better to animals. They view them as part of their lives and stories, not part of the scenery. This naturally continues through adulthood. We don’t have a great lineage of anthropomorphic plants. Outside of Cabbage Patch Kids, Groot, the carnivorous Venus fly trap from Little Shop of Horrors, and the Singing Bush from Three Amigos, the pickings are slim. You can’t blame kids for blindness and ambivalence towards plants when they don’t even have any plant role models. Plant blindness is a real phenomenon backed by scientific research. When the green industry sees plants they see color, beauty, structure, and possibility. When clients see plants, they see hot water heaters. Yet, this can be acknowledged and conquered. Don’t take the ramblings of this madman to convince you. I dare any installer to plant two shrubs next year for a client, heck, even plant one for free. Tell the client, that they have to name one of the plants, but only one. They can name it after their Grandpa, childhood dog, favorite athlete, heck, name it Phloxy Brown. I will wager dollars to donuts they will do everything they can to keep that named shrub alive. They will care for it, water it, watch it, and prune it. Above all, they will finally open their eyes and see it, probably for the first time.
Scott Grams December 12, 2016
It will be your best investment in 2017! 6
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
President’s Message — The holiday season,
President
Mike Schmechtig Schmechtig Landscape Company (847) 566-1233 mschmechtig@schmechtiglandscapes.com
Vice-President
Lisa Fiore Don Fiore Company, Inc. (847) 234-0020 lfiore@donfiore.com
Secretary-Treasurer
Tom Lupfer Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com
Immediate Past President Rusty Maulding Nature’s View (815) 592-7582 rusty@naturesview.info
Directors
Mark Breier National Seed Co. (630) 963-8787 mark.breier@natseed.com Lisa Fiore Fiore Nursery and Landscape Supply (847) 913-1414 lisa@cjfiore.com Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.com Allan Jeziorski Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allan@hartmanlandscape.net Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Maureen Scheitz Acres Group (847) 526-4554 maureen.scheitz@acresgroup.com Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com
www.ilca.net
Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, is now behind us. Each January, I sit with my thoughts to reflect on the past year and write down what I am thankful for. Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday. It’s about family and food. It is the start of the holiday season when we spend time with family and friends reflecting on the season as the year winds down. It’s about sharing stories, reconnecting, looking towards the New Year and giving thanks. Our companies are a family. I am thankful for my management team. My staff makes it possible for me to get away and spend time with my family. They facilitate and manage the dayto-day operations which, in turn, gives me the gift of time to spend with the ILCA and allows me to manage and work on the other aspects of my business. In my younger days while in high school, I worked during the summers with my father in his business. As I was getting close to high school graduation, my mother sat me down and encouraged me to consider a business degree in computers so I could secure a “real” job working in a large corporation. I took her advice to heart, graduated from college and entered the corporate world. I am thankful to my mother and for her advice because once employed in the corporate world, I realized how much I missed working in the landscape industry and was able to apply what I learned into my family’s business. My grandfather and father introduced me to landscaping and I am proud to say we now have four generations of landscape contractors in the Schmechtig family. I am thankful to my father who welcomed me into his company and encouraged me to find my own way without criticism and being micro-managed. I am thankful for this wonderful industry. We have a wide variety of components that contribute to what we do. I appreciate and love how we get to incorporate art, science, business principles, nature and much more. For those of us who love toys, we get to work with the big toys — all types of vehicles, equipment and tools. There is truly something for everyone in our industry. Each of us is given the ability to make a difference, to put forth a positive impact on the environment, to assist our clients and increase their property values, and to afford our clients time to spend with their family and friends. Thank you to the staff, board and committees of the ILCA. Last month we held our annual meeting where we reflected on the past year, discussed what is working and shared ideas on how to improve the organization. We will incorporate these ideas into our strategic plan. The board will meet again in February to review and update the three-year strategic plan. Our industry show— iLandscape is next month. I hope you are registered. I am thankful for the committees who carefully planned the education sessions, entertainment and the opportunities for everyone in our ILCA landscape family to come together for three days. My final thought — don’t forget to take care of you. Winter is a great time to make a commitment to your health. Take time and care for yourself. You know, what they say is true…after 40, the eyes go, the hair goes and changes color, plus when you gain weight it is harder to lose! Arrange an appointment for your yearly physical. ACA provides a yearly physical for all. It’s necessary to create a baseline for yearly comparisons of results like, blood pressure, cholesterol and different screenings for cancer. Lastly, I look forward to seeing you at iLandscape 2017: The Illinois + Wisconsin Landscape Show February 1-3, 2017 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Respectfully, Michael Schmechtig The Landscape Contractor January 2017
7
Christy Webber Landscapes • Natural Gas Safety Garden Chicago
The Exhibit
was installed at Navy Pier for the 2015 Chicago Flower and Garden Show. The clients’ objective was to draw attention to the utilities that often exist under our gardens, how they connect to the landscape (fire features, grill, gas heaters, etc.) and what steps homeowners and landscapers should take to safely work around them. The largest challenges facing the project were threefold: only seven days allotted for install, the trade floor itself which had weight load maximums, as well as, being a surface nothing could be anchored too, and lastly the tough timing of the show in early March which required forcing all the perennials and shrubs back into vegetation and flowering over the winter inside greenhouses. In order to translate the information to visitors in an efficient and understandable manner a mock residence was designed and built. The residence - 811 N. Greenline Parkway - was complete with natural stone veneer & cedar façade, parkway, sidewalk, low voltage lighting, shade perennial garden, xeriscape garden, two
contemporary patios, composite deck with 2x2 paver inlay, outdoor living room, gas fireplace, grill and bar. The garden was built to comply with ADA standards with ramps to all sections of the garden. The utility lines that would normally be unseen were exposed by the use of 2” thick plexi glass creating views of the buried lines both in the parkway and under the deck; giving visitors an understanding of how natural gas flows from the parkway pipes to fire feature flames (It also had the unintended effect of creating mystery for those unsure whether the glass was safe to stand on – many visitors chose to jump over the trench rather than step on the glass). Digger and JULIE instructional signage was included to inform visitors what numbers to call and safe distances to dig. An excavator, Vermeer horizontal drill, and Digger and JULIE markings in the parkway give the appearance of an active construction zone that many in the Chicago area are accustomed to seeing as part of the massive multi-year infrastructure repair and modernization the Utilities have been conducting throughout Cook County.
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
9
Awards & Honors
ILCA’s 2016 Person of the Year Bill Davids by Barbara Dutton
“Like father,
like son,” is a phrase that in many ways could be applied to this year’s ILCA Man of the Year. The honor that is being accorded, however, recognizes an individual that, while continuing in the family landscaping business that his dad launched back in 1951 and serving – as his father had – as a president of the ILCA, 2016-17 Person of the Year recipient Bill Davids has made his own mark on the company he now leads – and on the industry it serves. Though Bill followed to a large degree in the footsteps of his father, company founder Clarence, each man had a distinct vision for the company, which they applied in steering the business – an enterprise which has won more than 200 awards on state and national levels for achievement in landscape design and maintenance. Recently, in 2015, the company was recognized with four awards in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile Association’s Curb Appeal competition. “We worked together many years,” relates the son, in recalling the familial collaboration. For his part, Bill Davids would pursue the design-build process, introducing a service offering that he believed was “necessary to go along with maintenance.” Today, the company is a full-service contractor offering a wide array of services from maintenance, design-build, installation, lawn care, snow removal and tree pruning to creating seasonal flower displays and providing holiday décor. “Design always interested me,” says the younger Davids, who studied horticulture at Michigan State University. He conveys that in a business such as the one in which he grew up – and grew into, “There’s a lot to learn.” He also acknowledges the senior Davids’ appreciation of this requisite to success. “My father thought education was important,” he relates. The current company president, in turn, carries the 10
same outlook when it comes to developing employees. “We support further education,” he says. “As we’ve been blessed as the company grows, we bless other people with key positions.”
A great example
The company also maintains a focus on environmental consciousness and sustainability, as well as expresses a commitment to providing a safe work place for employees, its customers and the general public. Impressive, too, is the fact that Bill Davids can name some big-time commercial clients that the company has maintained from the contractor’s early ventures into this market – an accomplishment that can be credited to company
leadership. Bill’s business leadership style has not gone unnoticed. Industry colleague Jim Melka, who, as founder of Melka Landscaping & Garden Center in Mokena, Ill., is another south suburban contractor, observes, “The one word that comes to mind when thinking of Bill is ‘professionalism.’ It radiates throughout the entire company.” Clarence Davids & Company has also maintained a longtime relationship with the ILCA, a relationship that Bill values strongly. “ILCA has meant a lot to us over the years,” he says, citing learning opportunities the affiliation has afforded. He also expresses an appreciation of the affiliation with what he sees as some of the “most knowledgeable and largest landscaping firms in the United States.” It appears that fellow ILCA members have a mutual appreciation for Bill’s service to the association. Preceding Bill as president of ILCA was Kenny Gallt, founder of Foliage Design Systems, Lombard, Ill. Gallt: “Bill is one of those quiet supporters of ILCA and the landscape industry. Through Bill’s leadership, he has grown Clarence
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Davids landscaping business into one of the most distinguished companies in the country. While doing this, Bill has found time to give to others in the community, and to ILCA as a past board member, officer and president. “But more important, the association has always been able to call on Bill and his company for his support for talent for ILCA committees and participation in the ILCA programs,” Gallt continues. “Bill through his leadership sets a great example for anyone in this industry.”
A steady hand on the rudder
Frank Mariani, who leads Mariani Landscape in Lake Bluff, Ill., served on the ILCA board with Bill, and shares some observations of Bill’s manner. “What I enjoyed most is his steady and consistent hand on the rudder. He always took the time to think before he spoke and for that reason his words carried a lot of weight,” relates Mariani. “I also admire Bill as he took over for his father Clarence, who was a well-respected legend in our industry and one of the founding members of ILCA. Those were big shoes to fill and Bill was and still is up to the job!” Also serving on the board with Bill was Scott McAdam, president of McAdam Landscaping, Forest Park, Ill. “What I always remembered was that he was the quiet leader,” recalls McAdam. “He had a calm demeanor about him and was very thorough in his thought process. He always had the best interest of the industry, even before his company, no matter what issue was before the board. He was also very humble and well grounded. He was quite passionate about the industry and what the association could do to help move us to be a more professional organization.” Perhaps Melka sums up why Davids is being recognized with the Person of the Year honor for 2016-17. “Bill has set the bar to provide the highest quality of service and integrity in the landscape maintenance industry,” declares Melka. “I am proud to be involved in a profession that has such a dedicated and reputable individual like Bill Davids.”
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
11
ILCA Awards & Honors
ILCA Selects—
Vermeer Midwest for 2016 Distinguished Service Award
by Barbara Dutton
The team
at Vermeer that establish a connection with ILCA for the way the ILCA “stepped in” Midwest has been named by the members. to fill a need and promote the green ILCA Board of Directors as the 2016 An example of an outreach effort industry. Distinguished Service Award. This that was informative, but also creative, The company has taken advantage award was originated in 1988. Vermeer was the company’s sponsorship of the of the opportunity presented by the Midwest will be the 28th consecutive equipment rodeo presented at the 2016 iLandscape Conference to connect with recipient. It is the highest honor that a Summer Field Day. Behind this equipassociation members, and expresses supplier member firm can receive from ment rodeo was a goal to showcase that opportunities such as this trade ILCA. Vermeer Midwest products that are show and Summer Field Day are mutu“Our focus as a company is to partgeared toward the landscape industry. ally beneficial – allowing Vermeer ner with a landscape contractor, and litThe event was seen as an opportunity Midwest to showcase equipment and erally work with that customer to make to, according to Senska, “work hand providing a venue for professionals in them more profitable,” says Vermeer in hand with ILCA contractors.” By the field to learn about tools to help Midwest Sales Manager, Stu Senska. reaching contractors new to the equipthem in their work. “We show them Whether selling or renting a wide variment vendor, the hope was to gain different ways to get their work done ety of equipment to do the job, Vermeer “some exposure and hopefully some more economically, and have larger Midwest has become a key player in the interest in how we can help them be profits,” explains Senska. “Not only area’s green industry. Senska says they more productive.” that, but we offer demonstrations to believe in “helping its anyone who is interested and customers to help their wanting to see a piece of customers.” To that end, equipment.” Vermeer offers a comParticipating in association plete line of brush chipactivities seems for Senska pers, mini skid steers, to work symbiotically with plows, rockwheels, advancing the profession, as stump cutters, trailers, involvement affords an opportrencher/plow combo, tunity for “helping the assotrenchers, to landscape ciation bring new members industry professionals. in,” while also enabling his The company has grown from having The Distinguished Service Award company in “introducing new equipan initial location some 45 years ago, to recognizes a member of the association ment.” As to being a recipient of the its current nine locations. From its base that is a supplier that has made endurDistinguished Service Award, Senska operation in Aurora, the company proing contributions to the ILCA and the is quite convincing about Vermeer Vermeer Midwest is your trusted partner in the vides a regional network of operations, green industry over the years. Vermeer landscape industry. When you buy from us, Midwest’s satisfaction with being recoffering parts, equipment and technical Midwest’s organization, ognized with the accolade. “We’re you’re buying morehistory thanwith justthe safe and reliable service skills, augmented by a equipment. fleet of indeed, goes back some years. Senska, You’re buying the support of a very happy to receive it,” he says. 30 mobile service vehicles to serve its who relates the company’s participafull-service dealership committed to keeping“Trust you me.” customers quickly. tion in the old Mid-Am show, recalls productive and profitable. With factory-trained Part of this focus is to make comthe transition from that event to the parts and service professionals, we have the pany information available to ILCA iLandscape Conference — a changeover experienceabout to keep your equipment and your members and to participate in events which he expresses appreciation
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12
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
L O N G S H A D OW
®
. COM
ILCA Honors Scholarship Winners
Congratulations Scholarship Winners! Bernard Kondenar Antioch, IL
Eric Groh Glen Ellyn, IL
$5,000 Scholarship College of Lake County
$2,500 Scholarship College of DuPage
Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship Denny R. Church Family
The Hinsdale Nurseries Scholarship Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc.
Ronalyn Irle Glen Ellyn, IL
Natalie Hein-Ferris Champaign, IL
$5,000 Scholarship College of DuPage
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign $5,000 Scholarship
Moore Landscapes, Inc. Scholarship Moore Landscapes Inc.
Rocco Fiore & Sons, Inc. Scholarship Rocco Fiore & Sons, Inc.
The Illinois Landscape Contractors Education and Charitable Organization (ILCECO) was established to create a perpetual fund for ILCA’s annual scholarships. The ILCECO mission statement is “To promote higher education in horticulture and green industry-related courses by funding an endowment.” Each year, the ILCECO Board of directors determines the number of scholarships and amounts awarded out of the fund that was established.
2017 Scholarship Applications Available Now www.ilca.net 14
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
FALL COLOR
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
15
2016 The Year in Review —
2016 — The Year in Review Marketing—Mentoring—Making History
by Barbara Dutton
As 2016 fades
into the past, the ILCA can take a look back at some notable accomplishments from the year. The past year was marked by some remarkable achievements – or one might say, victories – for the Association. An overview of three outstanding “triumphs” in 2016 follows.
Marketing
Marketing involves, among other things, branding to build recognition and help spread an organization’s message. A centerpiece of an association or other enterprise’s brand is its logo — a graphic that can appear on a range of items from letterhead to office buildings, as well as in informational or promotional vehicles designed to “get the word out” — such as websites and advertisements. A logo, ideally, is recognizable – and remembered – by an audience of members, customers or the general public. After displaying the same logo for a quarter of a century, the ILCA introduced a new, updated version in 2016. The new logo – the fifth one in the association’s history – features colors associated with the industry: green for green space and brown for soil.
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The graphic elements of the new logo include a leaf and a stylized lower case letter “I” to correspond with “iLandscape.” In Addition, the leaf symbolizes installation while the green stripe symbolizes maintenance. ILCA Executive Director, Scott Grams explains, “The Association sees itself as an industry leader, and wanted a logo that matched its stature.”
A clean, clear website
Used for both promoting and informing, a website provides an organization with a venue for presenting text, graphics, links and more. An effort to replace what ILCA Membership & MArketing Coordinator Marissa Stubler describes as “an extremely outdated, very text heavy, and not user friendly” association website culminated in the debut of the current ILCA website, which presents, among other new features, tools and information to better connect the industry with the consumer audience – all set within a visual “landscape” of graphic elements. (continued on page 18)
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
2016 in Review
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(contiued from page 16) “When designing the new website, we wanted a clean, clear website that was loaded with appealing images and quick bursts of text,” relates Stubler. “With the new website, we also wanted to promote ILCA to consumers,” she adds. One device for reaching potential customers is the redesigned website’s “Find a Contractor” tool that supports searches by location or service. Consumers can also find useful information on dealing with a sub-par landscape professional or obtain guidance on hiring a reputable one. ILCA members can use website functions to renew their membership, or register for an event. And what is a website in a “visual” industry without pictures of handsome projects? A photo gallery section of the ILCA’s new site displays photos of award-winning landscapes. By clicking on a particular image, a viewer is directed to the website of the landscape company that executed the project depicted. Another highlight of the new site is to enable ILCA members to manage their online profile. According to Stubler, “They now have the ability to update their company description, add photos of their work and social media links, create discounts, select the search categories that they want to show up for, and much more!”
New generations
Part of an association’s charge is engendering an environment that will build and maintain prosperity for the profession. Maintaining a robust “landscape” in which green professionals can find success also involves working to ensure that future professionals have a solid chance at success. Toward this end, the ILCA recently launched the Future Landscape Industry Professionals (FLIP) Committee, to identify challenges and opportunities in the drive to attract young people to the industry. This of course is not nearly as easy as it may sound. The FLIP Committee is currently studying the challenge and determing a path for future actions. (continued on page 20) 18
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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2016 The Year in Review — (continued from page 18)
Piling up achievements
Late summer of last year brought news of a legislative victory in which the ILCA had been engaged to help snow removal contractors deal with what had been a contentious aspect of work in that sector of the industry. Contract language that constituted an indemnification clause had been causing considerable grief for contractors who were seeing ramifications to the cost of obtaining insurance. Passage of The Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation Act in the Illinois legislature was the result of a joint effort of the ILCA and the Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA), a national organization based in Cincinnati, and which ILCA Executive Director Scott Grams saw as a partner with which to join forces to battle what had been a headache for a many ILCA members – and that the time was ripe for mounting a campaign.
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“For the most part, ILCA has been playing a lot of defense,” reflects Grams, who led the state association’s effort to get the bill passed, and who explains that the group typically reviews some 200 bills annually without taking such dramatic action. “We don’t push a lot of our own legislation,” he continues. “We decided this was an issue we needed to take action on.” The bill, which earned bi-partisan support, was a focus of both the ASCA and the ILCA, working in concert with the latter’s lobbyist down in Springfield, Ill. And the outcome of numerous strategy meetings, letters, visits and testimonies was a bill signed into law by Illinois’ governor – an outcome that in Grams’ view represents a truly successful partnership approach to get an important piece of legislation passed. “There’s a big difference between politics and lawmaking,” concludes
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Grams. “This is lawmaking,” he says, adding with a tone of both satisfaction and gratification, “You can get a law passed that helps our members and helps the public.” According to an ASCA legislative alert, “This law now makes indemnification agreements and hold-harmless language passing liability from the property owner or property managers to the contractor, null and void in Illinois.” Helping the industry, the association members who work in it, and the consumers who patronize these professionals, is evident in all of these “highlights” from the past year of ILCA efforts to advance the green industry in Illinois. Through leadership and collaboration to achieve new goals, a year from now, readers of The Landscape Contractor will hopefully have other, new association achievements on which to reflect!
Coreopsis—
Garden Speak — Practical Plant Evaluations
Don’t get tickled pink…yet. By Patrice Peltier
Coreopsis
‘Limerock Ruby’ turned our heads when it was introduced in 2001 and made us all hopeful that tickseed, that mainstay of the summer perennial garden, might soon come in shades other than yellow and gold. ‘Limerock Ruby’ turned out not to be reliably cold hardy, but plant breeders were soon raising our hopes with new cultivars flowering in pink, red, orange and even bicolors. Which of these might prove to be the next, great garden plant? Richard Hawke, plant evaluation manager and associate scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG), wanted to sort them out.
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Coreopsis species were part of the inaugural trials at CBG 27 years ago. Back then, star performers included C. verticillata cultivars ‘Zagreb,’ ‘Golden Shower’ and ‘Moonbeam.’ All three, incidentally, continued to be strong performers in the new trial that was started in 2007 to evaluate the many new tickseeds pouring into the market. The new trial, so far, has included 89 types of tickseeds. “I’m a bit discouraged that some of the new hybrids have not proven to be strong growers or long lived,” Hawke reports. Although some may be too tender for our climate, after evaluating so
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
many tickseeds over the years, Hawke suspects there’s more to it than that. “I think most tickseeds are short-lived perennials,” he says. Taking this view, Hawke says, “makes it easier to accept the inevitable loss.” Which are the enduring top performers? Eight plants received 4-star (Excellent) ratings after being evaluated for a minimum of four years. Six of them--‘Golden Shower,’ ‘Golden Gain,’ ‘Walter,’ ‘Sunshine Superman,’ C. tripteris and C. tripteris ‘Flower Tower’—have been part of the trial since 2007.
And the winners are… ‘Caradonna’
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Shower’ (also known as ‘Grandiflora’) was a consistent performer in BOTH Chicago Botanic Gardens’ trials. Its twoinch diameter golden-yellow flowers bloom from late June to mid-September. Hawke objects to the resulting black seedheads and recommends shearing the plants when the bulk of the flowers have passed. “Consider seeking therapy if you try to nip each deadhead one at a time,” he jokes. Spreading by rhizomes to about three feet, this bushy, upright plant grows about 24 inches tall. In fall, the foliage turns golden-orange to yellow with burgundy highlights, similar to Amsonia hubrichtii, Hawke says. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ is similar in appearance and performance to ‘Golden Shower,’ Hawke says. ‘Golden Gain’ is slightly less vigorous a spreader, growing to about two-feet wide. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonray’—a sport of ‘Moonbeam’ — has creamy yellow, 1½-inch flowers from late June to early October. It forms low, mounding plants 15 inches tall and 30 inches wide. “The mellow yellow flowers look great with deeper tones of blue and purple and blend beautifully with pastel pinks and lavenders or the silvery leaves of wormwoods and lamb’s ears,” Hawke says. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Sunbeam’ is another ‘Moonbeam’ sport. It has bright yellow flowers 1 ½ inches in diameter from early July to early October. (continued on page 24) The Landscape Contractor January 2017
23
Garden Speak — Practical Plant Evaluati
(continued from page 23) The foliage, deep green brushed with silvery grey, grows 14 inches tall with a spread of 30 inches. Coreopsis lanceolata ‘Walter’ is showier than its unassuming name might suggest. In fact, Hawke says it was one of the most reliable performers in the trial. Semi-double, golden-yellow flowers with red-blotched centers cover the plant early June to late August. ‘Walter’ grows 24 inches tall and 32 inches wide. “Typically, I recommend using both lanceleaf and large flower tickseeds like annuals,” Hawke admits. “But where ‘Walter’ is concerned, I liked that it did its thing year after year in the same place.” Coreopsis pubescens ‘Sunshine Superman’ is a nativar, a compact selec-
24
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
tion of the native star tickseed. “Although ‘Sunshine Superman’ was unlike any other tickseed in appearance, it stood toe-to-toe with the best for spectacular flower show,” Hawke says. He cautions that by the third year, the plant began generously reseeding with seedlings often standing a foot taller than the original plants. “I wouldn’t mind this behavior in a meadow garden, but it gave our display garden a raggedy look,” Hawke says. As an added benefit, Hawke says butterflies and goldfinches love ‘Sunshine Superman’ while deer leave it alone. Coreopsis tripteris and its cultivar ‘Flower Tower’ both received top marks. The species grows 93 inches tall and 63 inches wide while ‘Flower Tower’ grows (continued on page 26)
ions 4-Star (Excellent) Tickseeds Name
Height/Spread
Bloom Time
Golden-yellow, red blotch, semi-double/ 1¾” Golden-yellow/2”
24”/32”
Early June to late August
21”/34”
Lemon yellow/ 1¾ ”
93”/63”
C. tripteris ‘Flower Tower’
Yellow/ 2¼”
95”/50”
Mid-June to early September Late August to early October Late August to early October
C. verticillata ‘Golden Gain’ C. verticillata ‘Golden Shower’ C. verticillata ‘Moonray’
Golden-yellow/ 2”
24”/24”
Golden-yellow/2”
24”/36”
Pale yellow/1½”
15”/ 30”
C. verticillata ‘Sunbeam’
Bright yellow/ 1½”
14”/ 30”
C. lanceolata ‘Walter’ C. pubescens ‘Sunshine Superman’ C. tripteris
Flower color/Flower diameter
Mid-June to midSeptember Late June to midSeptember Late June to early October Early July to early October
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25
Garden Speak — Practical Plant Evaluations (continued from page 24) slightly taller, about 95 inches tall and 50 inches wide. Both have yellow flowers from late August to early October. “In a larger border or wild garden, ‘Flower Tower’ pairs dramatically with other big boys such as switch grass and iron weed,” Hawke suggests. The cultivar offers larger flowers, darker green leaves and thicker stems than the species. “I’d like to say the colossal stems of ‘Flower Tower’ stay up all summer, but without supportive neighbors, some of the outer stems will recline,” Hawke cautions.
Promising newcomers
The Li’l Bang™series is off to a great start with three offerings on Hawke’s list of star performers. Touted as mildew resistant and sterile, the series includes these compact tickseeds: • ‘Red Elf’—only 8-12 inches tall and 12-15 inches wide, this plant features deep burgundy red flowers in cooler weather that are tipped pale yellow
26
or white in the heat of summer. • ‘Daybreak’—2¼-inch wide goldfringed, rusty red flowers are reminiscent of Gallardia. The plant grows 6-10 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Watch out, rabbits love it. • ‘Enchanted Eve’ has butter-yellow, 2-inch wide flowers with a light red eye that expands as the season cools. The series has been part of the trial for only two years. “I’m impressed so far,” Hawke says. “Time will tell how long these compact tickseeds will stick around.”
Great as annuals
One summer, Hawke grew eight tender tickseeds as annuals. Six received 4-star ratings. Hawke especially liked ‘Pumpkin Pie,’ part of the Pie™ series from Terra Nova Nurseries. With a hardiness rating of Zones 8-9, Hawke knew the plant wouldn’t overwinter, but, as he says, “who can resist pie?” He loved
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
the deep coppery orange flowers dotted with red eyes. “I loved every minute of its free-flowering nature and tightly mounded habit,” Hawke says. ‘Limerock Ruby’, the plant that started the coreopsis-of-another-color craze, also earned an “Excellent” rating as an annual. Other four-star earners included ‘Little Penny,’ ‘Mango Punch,’ ‘Pineapple Pie’ and ‘Rum Punch.’ “I’m optimistic that truly hardy tickseeds are coming,” Hawke says. “Breeders continue to develop novel flower colors, long-blooming sterile forms, hardier types and mildew-resistant selections. “Tickseed is the new coneflower,” Hawke predicts, “and it’s not going back to simply yellow.”
BRANCHING OUT! FEBRUARY 1–3, 2017 • ILANDSCAPESHOW.COM Expanded Floorplan
Entertainment
Education
Networking
Renowned Keynote
WELCOME
iLandscape: The Illinois and Wisconsin Landscape Show Branching Out! February 1-3, 2017 iLandscape is one of the 50 fastest growing tradeshows in the country according to Tradeshow Executive Magazine. Come find out why at the 4th annual iLandscape show! The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF) are proud to present iLandscape 2017. The show will be hosted at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel, located in Schaumburg, IL. iLandscape is Branching Out in 2017 – creatively, educationally, and physically. The show has an expanded floor plan with 2 exhibit halls, Discovery Hall and Innovation Hall! The show will feature over 35 new exhibitors, the hottest products, a tiny home, amazing educational speakers, keynote speaker: Ed Begley Jr., ILCA’s Excellence in Landscape Awards Night, entertainment, prizes, and much more. Visit over 450 booths to see the latest trends in plants, green industry products, hardscapes, equipment, and more. Enjoy the high energy Howl at the Moon dueling piano show on Wednesday evening. iLandscape gathers the best minds in the green industry as part of its educational program. The event features over 30 unique education sessions. Spanish-language education sessions are available at no additional cost and students can attend the show for free and receive discounted rates on education!
TABLE OF CONTENTS Exhibitors...................................................................................................4 Wednesday Education...........................................................................7 Spanish Language Education.............................................................9 Wednesday Night Party .................................................................... 10 Thursday Education............................................................................. 11 Entertainment....................................................................................... 13 Awards Night......................................................................................... 14 Friday Education................................................................................... 15
Join thousands of landscape professionals for three days and two nights of industry fun and excitement. iLandscape 2017...Branching Out!
Student Activities ................................................................................ 16 The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel...... 17 Parking..................................................................................................... 18 About Schaumburg............................................................................. 18 Registration............................................................................................ 19
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
Exhibit hall hours: 9:00am-4:30pm
Exhibit hall hours: 9:00am-4:30pm
Exhibit hall hours: 9:00am-2:00pm
Education Sessions 8:30am-10:00am 12:30pm-2:00pm 2:30pm-4:00pm
Education Sessions 8:30am-10:00am 12:30pm-2:00pm 2:30pm-4:00pm
Education Sessions 8:30am-10:00am 11:30am-1:00pm
Spanish-language Education 10:00am-12:00pm
Spanish-language Education 10:00am-12:00pm
Student Roundtables 10:15am
Raffles and Giveaways: 4:15pm
Raffles and Giveaways: 4:15pm
Raffles and Giveaways: 1:45pm
Wednesday Night Party – Howl at the Moon 4:30pm-7:00pm
ILCA Excellence in Landscape Awards Night 5:00pm-9:00pm
Keynote: 10:15am
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
KEYNOTE
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 10:15am – 11:00am Live at the Garden Stage!
ED BEGLEY, JR. ACTOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE Living Green As environmental issues become more pressing, there are two possible responses: forget it and hope that government and corporations will figure it out, or Ed Begley Jr.’ s approach -- take action and make a difference. He has been considered an environmental leader in the Hollywood community for many years and serves on the boards of The Coalition for Clean Air, The Thoreau Institute, and the advisory board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, among many others. Begley shares his inspiration and insight into one of the world’s most important causes, environmental sustainability. Come understand how landscape contractors can play a part in this national movement now that sustainable landscaping has become mainstream.
About Ed Begley, Jr. Primarily known for his acting work in television and films, but has also been celebrated for his efforts in environmental causes since the early 1970s. Starting in 1970, when he could be seen tooling about town in a Taylor-Dunn, a golf cart like all electric vehicle, Begley branched out into recycling and became a vegan. Today, he drives a 2003 Toyota RAV4 EV electric-powered vehicle. He now promotes eco-friendly products, such as Toyota’s Prius hybrid electric car, a composting toilet and even his own brand of household cleaner. Begley practices what he preaches. By Hollywood standards he lives in a small house – 1,585 square feet – where he uses solar and wind power to generate energy and even an electricity-generating bicycle to run the toaster. In response to California’s drought conditions, he has converted his lawn to a drought tolerant garden of all native California plants.
YOUR EDUCATION EXPERIENCE STARTS ON PAGE 7!
THANKS TO OUR PREMIER SPONSOR!
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
29
EXHIBITORS
iLandscape’s exhibit space has “branched out” into two halls to accommodate more exhibitors, some of whom have been on the wait list for all three years. The show is so popular that there is still a wait list. The 2017 show will feature 234 exhibitors (36 new exhibitors) showcasing the hottest products and services for the lawn and landscape industry. 1st Choice Equipment.................................. 940
Cedar Path Nurseries..................................... 706
Fleetmatics........................................................ 420
1st Farm Credit Services.............................1038
Central Sod Farms, Inc.................................. 616
Forrest Keeling Nursery..............................1239
A Beep (Diga-Talk).......................................... 508
Central Turf & Irrigation Supply...............1509
Fox Ridge Nursery.......................................... 918
A Block Marketing.........................1244 + 1337
Cherokee Manufacturing............................ 809
Garden Prairie Nursery & Organics.......... 939
A.D.R. Bulbs.....................................................1034
Chicago Gas Lines.......................................... 540
Goodmark Nurseries...................................1004
ABI Attachments............................................. 525
Chicagoland Grows.....................................1105
Grasshopper Company..............................1505
Aesthetic Metals, LLC.................................... 536
Chi Turf............................................................... 206
Gravely, an Ariens Co...................................1334
AFS Alternative Fuel Supply....................... 210
Classic Groundcovers, Inc............................ 843
Green Climber NA........................................1546
Agrecol Native Nursery................................ 709
Clesen Brothers, Inc....................................... 844
Green Glen Nursery, Inc.............................1017
Alert Distributing, Inc.................................... 628
Clesen Wholesale .......................................... 218
Greenius by LS Training System..............1338
Alexander Equipment Company, Inc....1504
Colorblends Wholesale Flower Bulbs....1113
GRO Horticultural Enterprises..................1237
Alliance Gator................................................1406
Conserv FS Inc...............................................1108
Halloran Mowerworks.................................. 522
Alta Falls & Pond Supplies.........................1006
Contree Sprayer & Equipment................... 618
Halquist Stone................................................. 932
Aquascape, Inc................................................ 406
Cornerstone Processing Solutions, Inc... 635
Harrell’s LLC...................................................... 403
Arlington Power Equipment....................1327
County Materials Corp.................................. 318
Hayward Dist. Co..........................................1444
Armintrout’s West Michigan Farms.......... 744
Cunningham Recreation.............................. 402
Herman Losely & Son, Inc............................ 215
Arrowhead Ornamentals............................. 610
Curv-Rite, Inc..................................................1308
Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc...............................1236
Arthur Clesen, Inc.........................................1412
Dauer Manufacturing................................... 317
Home Nursery, Inc.......................................... 723
Arthur Weiler, Inc............................................ 211
Dayton Bag & Burlap..................................... 928
Homer Industries, LLC.................................1235
Aspen Valley Landscape Supply, Inc........ 303
Deere & Company........................................1016
Hometowne Insurance Services, Inc....... 321
Avant Tecno USA............................................ 640
DeVroomen Garden Products.................... 704
Hortech, Inc./Liveroof.................................1304
B and B Bedding, Inc...................................1141
DeWitt Company............................................ 506
Houzz.................................................................. 307
Badger Evergreen Nursery LLC.................. 943
Diamond Blade Warehouse........................ 221
Hunter/FX........................................................1209
Bailey Nurseries............................................... 922
Ditch Witch Midwest...................................1044
Husqvarna ......................................................1344
Ball Horticultural Company........................ 829
Docuprint Forms & Signs............................. 201
Ball Seed Company........................................ 728
Doty Nurseries................................................. 607
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA)................................... 808
Banner Sales and Consulting, Inc............. 721
Dutchman Tree Farms, LLC.......................... 205
Illinois Brick Company.................................. 208
BC Adhesives.................................................... 405
Dutchman Tree Spade.................................. 936
Illinois Green Industry Association........1137
Beaver Creek Nursery..................................1104
DynaSCAPE Software..................................1207
IL-IN Sea Grant................................................. 108
Belgard.............................................................1132
Easy Pro Pond Products..............................1010
Intrinsic Perennial Gardens......................... 510
Better Bilt Products, Inc................................ 517
Eby’s Evergreen Plantation, Inc................. 639
Ivanhoe Nursery...........................................1311
Blue Grass Farms of Indiana........................ 833
ECHO Power Equipment.............................. 320
J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.........................1112
BP Pro.................................................................. 120
Eco-Roofs.........................................................1513
Jireh Stone Sales............................................. 204
Brave.................................................................1342
Ecoturf Midwest, Inc....................................1241
John Holmlund Nursery............................... 110
Butterfield Color, Inc...................................... 304
Eden Stone........................................................ 604
Johnson’s Nursery, Inc................................1014
Capital Stone Works....................................... 842
Emergent Safety Supply............................1541
JRCO..................................................................1441
Cardno Native Plant Nursery....................1407
Encore Landscape Lighting........................ 521
JWest LLC........................................................... 410
Carlin Sales/Pro Green Plus......................... 712
Erotex/Hanes..................................................1212
Kaknes Landscape Supply LLC.................. 841
Carlton Plants LLC.......................................... 609
Evergreen Nursery Co., Inc.......................... 220
Kaneville Tree Farms...................................... 831
Casey Equipment Co., Inc............................ 910
Fabriscape, Inc................................................. 512
Kankakee Nursery .......................................1027
Cassidy Tire & Service..................................1232
Feece Oil Co....................................................1005
Kasota Stone Fabricators............................. 418
CAST Lighting, LLC......................................... 734
Fiore Nursery & Landscape Supply........1036
Kenney Outdoor Solutions......................... 805 Keystone Hatcheries LLC...........................1012
30
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
NYP Corp........................................................... 112
Studebaker Nurseries..................................1031
Knapheide Mfg................................................ 832
Oldcastle Lawn & Garden..........................1136
Surefoot Hardscape Products, Inc............ 518
KO Supply Company, Inc...........................1404
Oly-Ola Edgings, Inc...................................... 835
Sure-loc Edging/Wolverine Tools............. 212
Kramer Tree Specialists...............................1414
Ornamental Growers Assn........................1107
Sure-Trac (Novae Corp)................................. 407
Krukowski Stone Co., Inc.............................. 116
Pace, Inc.................................................532 + 630
Techo-Bloc Midwest Corp........................... 914
Kuenzi Turf & Nursery.................................1205
Pave Tool Innovators LLC............................. 202
The Davey Tree Expert Company.............. 941
Kuert Concrete, Inc......................................1335
Perfect Turf, LLC............................................1040
The Mulch Center.........................................1109
Lafarge Fox River Stone..............................1140
Permaloc Corporation.................................. 705
The Rock Stone & Landscape Supply...... 400
Landscape Materials & Firewood Sales, Inc................................. 717
Phoenix Irrigation Supply............................ 746
The Tree Connection..................................... 904
Pine Hall Brick Company.............................. 306
Total Green Holland....................................... 404
Leaves Inspired Tree Nursery..................... 302
Pizzo Group Native Plant Nursery............ 839
Tri-County Stockdale...................................1437
Lemke Stone, Inc............................................ 736
PMA Outdoor Equipment, Inc.................... 528
Triple Crown Products.................................. 840
Liberty Propane/Hicksgas........................... 102
Porous Pave, Inc............................................1008
Tuohy Horticultural Enterprises..............1035
Lincoln Nurseries............................................ 710
Power Equipment Distributors, Inc........1438
TurfMaker Corporation...............................1210
LMN..................................................................... 216
Premium Travertine....................................... 424
Twixwood Nursery.......................................1514
Longshadow.................................................... 511
ProLine Equipment Div................................ 644
Unco Industries, Inc....................................... 209
Lurvey Landscape Supply .......................... 816
Proven Winners .............................................. 617
U.S. Arbor Products, Inc................................ 608
Mariani Plants.................................................. 711
R.A. Adams Enterprises, Inc......................... 920
Unilock.............................................................1322
Market Financial Group................................ 106
Red Flint Rock & Stone.................................. 624
United Greenhouse Systems, Inc............1106
Martin Implement Sales, Inc.....................1310
Reinders, Inc..................................................... 641
United Label & Sales Corp........................... 516
Maxim...............................................................1439
Rental Max LLC..............................................1133
Vermeer Midwest.........................................1536
McGinty Bros., Inc........................................... 807
Rich’s Foxwillow Pines Nursery.................. 615
Wandell’s Nursery, Inc................................... 707
McKay Nursery Company............................ 611
Rochester Concrete Products..................1508
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago....................................... 424
RockSteps.......................................................... 203
Wisconsin Green Industry Federation (WGIF)................................... 808
Rosebay Nursery...........................................1405
Wholesale Tree, Inc......................................1442
Michels Stone.................................................. 740
Rosetta.............................................................1144
WI Department of Agriculture................... 519
Midwest Arborist Supplies.......................... 537
RR Landscape Supply.................................... 732
Willoway Nurseries, Inc...............................1240
Midwest Compost LLC................................1309
Russo Power Equipment.............................. 716
Wilson Nurseries, Inc...................................1204
Midwest Groundcovers..............................1114
RWC Insurance Group.................................1238
Xylem Ltd/Rocks Etc....................................1028
Midwest Stihl................................................... 308
Sable Marco, Inc.............................................. 311
Zeiler Insurance Services, Inc...................1410
Midwest Trading...........................................1214
SavATree..........................................................1139
Midwestern Solutions................................... 539
Sheridan Nurseries......................................... 622
Modeco Systems............................................. 520
SiteOne Landscape Supply......................... 122
Monroe Truck Equipment............................ 419
Sod Solutions................................................... 535
Montale Gardens............................................ 217
Spectrum Net Designs.................................. 219
National Seed.................................................. 612
Spring Grove Nursery, Inc..........................1111
Natural Repellents LLC................................. 118
St. Aubin Nursery............................................ 504
Northern Family Farms ................................ 846
Star Roses & Plants ....................................... 730
Northland Farms LLC..................................... 606
Stockyards Brick Company......................... 743
Northwest Metalcraft.................................... 422
Stonewall Retaining Walls Trench N’edge Trencher....................................... 845
Nursery Supplies, Inc..................................... 906
EXHIBITORS
Klyn Nurseries, Inc.......................................... 401
EXHIBIT HOURS Wednesday, February 1, 2017 9:00am-4:30pm
Thursday, February 2, 2017 9:00am-4:30pm
Friday, February 3, 2017 9:00am-2:00pm
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
31
736
835
734
Blue833 Grass Farms Indiana
Michels Stone
PACE
ABI Attachments
525
CAST Lighting
PACE
728
628
Alert Distributing
624Red
521
Encore Landscape Lighting
WI519 Dept Ag
Modeco Systems
Proven
518
Russo Power Equipment
816
918
Fox Ridge Nursery
508
607
Intrinsic Carlton Perennial Gardens Plants Diga-Talk
EXIT
Doty Nurseries
10'
711
712
610 Arrowhead Ornamentals
709
710
809
706
807
Agrecol Native Nursery
707 U.S. Wandell's Arbor Nursery Products 705
606
506 DeWitt
Northland Permaloc Corp. Farms
Hort Textiles
604
Eden Stone
1014
Cedar Path Nurseries
704
10'
McGinty Bros. 805
ILCA & WGIF
910
1012
804
Kenney Outdoor Solutions
Entry Garden
DeVroomen Garden Products
906
1112
1109
1108
The Mulch Center
Falls &Pond Supplies
The Tree Connection
1111 Spring Grove Nursery
1107 Ornamental Growers Assn.
ALTA 1006
EXIT
EXIT
J.Frank Schmidt &Son
10'
1105 Chicagoland Grows
GAS
F.E.C. F.S.
Aisle 1600
Aisle 1500
Aisle 1300
Aisle 1200
Aisle 1400
F.E.C
Arlington Power Equipment
1327
30
GAS F.S.
Garden Stage
F.E.C
Unilock
Midwest Trading
1106 United Greenhouse Systems
Goodmark Nurseries
1209
1212
1311
1210
1309
EroTex Ivanhoe Hanes Nursery
Hunter/ FX
1412
1509
Arthur Clesen
10'
1308
Curv-Rite
Cardno 1407 Native Plant Nursery
1304
10'
Services
Alliance Grasshopper Gator Company
1405
Rosebay Nursery
1404 (Ceiling height approx. 15' below dotted line)
Hortech/ Liveroof
EXIT
1505
1406
KO Supply Company
EXIT
F.E.C
Twixwood Nursery 19.5'
Central Turf & Zeiler Irrigation Insurance Supply
Wilson Nurseries
Beaver Creek Nursery
1513
10'
Rochester Concrete Products
EXIT EXIT
1504
Alexander Equipment Company
T F.E.C.
FHV/FEC
F.E.C.
ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE
Copier
F.E.C.
F.E.C.
DN
F.E.C.
FHV/FEC
F.E.C.
F.E.
FHV / FEC
3M
FHV/FEC
70'
80'
202
Pave Tool Innovators
90'
Arthur Unco Industries 209
Weiler
211
Aspen Valley LandscapeSupply
216
Houzz
307
218
LMN
Sable Marco 311
Hometowne Dauer Insurance Services Manufacturing 321
317
306 Pine
Aisle 300 308
Hall Brick
318
Midwest STIHL
Innovation Stage
Truck Equipment 419
407
8' 404 Total
Green Holland
406
Aisle 400 410
Aquascape JWest
46
0 no 1380 booth space
418
420 422 424 Metropolitan Kasota Northwest Water Stone Fleetmatics Metalcraft Reclamation Fabricators District
Innovation Hall WEST
F.E.C.
32
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
SERVICE CORRIDOR
402
Rock Cunningham Stone& Recreation Landscape Supply
EXIT
405
ECHO Power
320
Equipment County Materials Monroe
100B
Klyn BC Harrell's Adhesives Sure-Trac Nurseries 403
9'
F.E.C.
304
Butterfield Color
222
Clesen Evergreen Premium Wholesale Nursery Travertine
8' Inspired Tree Nursery
401
400 The
220
FHV/FEC
Aisle 200 Sure-Loc 212 Illinois 210AFS Edging Alternative Brick Fuel Wolverine Company Supply Tools 208
EAST
EXIT EXIT
INNOVATION HALL.
Chi Turf
10'
SCHAUMBURG FOYER NORTH
AND
Stone Sales
206
303
Leaves 302
DISCOVERY
204 Jireh
122
SiteOne Landscape Supply
F.E.C.
60'
BP Pro
120
Herman Spectrum Diamond Montale Blade Net Losely Gardens Designs Warehouse 215 219 221 &Son 217
FHV/FEC
50'
118
Krukowski Natural Stone Repellents
EXIT
40'
EXIT
2 EXHIBIT HALLS: 30'
116
112 110 John NYP Holmlund Nursery Corp
8'
F.E.C.
5' 10' 15' 20'
Dutchman RockSteps Tree 203 205 Farms
F.E.C.
0'
106 Market 108IL-IN Sea Financial Grant Group
EXIT
EXIT
DRAWINGS AS OF
EXIT
EXIT
FHV/FEC
Docuprint Forms & 201Signs
NOW FEATURES 2/29/2016 CM
8'
Liberty Propane/ Hicksgas
AV
ELEC. ROOM
ELEC. ROOM
ILANDSCAPE
102
F.S.
1508
1410
1204
1205 Kuenzi Turf& Nursery
1414
Kramer Tree Eco-Roofs Specialists
TurfMaker Midwest Corp Compost
10'
1207 DynaSCAPE Software
GAS
1514
Martin Implement Sales
F.E.C.
FHV/FEC
Conserv FS
1104
1004
20'
Gravely an Ariens brand
1310
1008
Porous Pave
Vermeer Midwest
1322
1010 Easy Pro Pond Products
Feece
20
booth space 0 no 400
10'
1005
F.E.C GAS
Power Equipment Distributors
Stockdale Company
1334
1335
1113
Keystone Hatcheries
Nursery Oil Supplies Company
904
Maxim
Johnson's Colorblends Nursery
Casey Equipment Company 10'
1438
1439
F.S.
1536
1541 Emergent Safety Supply
1214
Midwest Groundcovers
Techo-Bloc
Brave JRCO 1338
Cassidy Tire
1114
T
EXIT
Lincoln Cherokee Nurseries Mfg.
10'
F.S. F.E.C.
F.S.
Deere & Company
Green Glen Nursery
914
808
Carlin Sales/ProGreen Plus
F.E.C.
St.Aubin Nursery
F.S.
504
612
608
F.H.V. F.E.C.
booth space 0 no 1500
1017
920
R.A. Adams Enterprises
Lurvey Landscape Supply
Central Sod Farms
1016
Bailey Nurseries
1442
Wholesale Tree
LS Training 1437 System Tri-County
Kuert Hinsdale Nurseries Concrete
Cross Roads Garden
1441
Green Climber
T
609
1232
1124
A. Block Marketing
1236
Belgard
Rocks, Etc.
Hayward Distributing
1238
1132
Xylem Ltd.
922
30
National Mariani Seed Plants
McKay Nursery
510
1237
RWC Insurance Group
1028
1027
Willoway Nurseries
1239 Forrest Keeling Nursery
1444
Husqvarna Group 1342
EXIT
1546
1344
1337
GRO Old Horticultural Castle Enterprises Lawn 1235 Homer & Garden Industries
F.E.C.
Fabriscape
Aisle 1100
Aisle 1000
Aisle 900
824
Rental Max
1240
1241
1136
1133
F.S.
611
512
EXIT
F.E.C.
A.D.R. Bulbs
10' 10'
Lafarge
A.Block Marketing Ice Rink
Ecoturf Midwest
Gathering Garden
F.S.
Longshadow
511
717
616
Rich's615 Fox Willow Pines Nursery
Label & Sales
F.E.C.
618
1139
IGIA
1034
Dayton Bag Kankakee Nursery & Burlap
0 no 600 space booth
Landscape Contree Materials Sprayer & & Firewood Equipment Sales
Surefoot Winners Hardscape Products United 516
721 Banner Sales & Consulting
1stFarm Credit Servcies
1036 Fiore Nursery& Landscape Supply
1031
928
829 Ball Horticultural Company
Ball Seed Company
1140
1137
1038
Halquist Studebaker Stone Nurseries
716
723
Home Nursery
622
Sheridan Nurseries
617
520
517 Better Bilt Products
F.S.
Flint Rock &Stone
Halloran MowerWorks
932
Knapheide Mfg.
10' 522
1035
Dutchman Tuohy Horticultural Tree Spade Enterprises
832
831
730Star Roses & Plants
PMA Outdoor Equipment
1141
BandB Bedding
Perfect Turf
Rosetta
SavATree 936
732
Ditch Witch Midwest 1040
Garden 939 Prairie Nursery & Organics
Kaneville RR Landscape Tree Supply Farms
528
F.E.C.
F.E.
Triple Crown Products
Lemke Oly-Ola Stone Edgings
532
F.E.C.
GAS
840
1st Choice Equipment
The 941 Davey Tree Expert Company
1244
1144
1044
F.E.C.
536
Sod Solutions
F.S.
Capital Stoneworks
Pizzo839 Group Native Plant Nursery
940
10' 635 Cornerstone Aesthetic Processing Metals Solutions
535
GAS
Clesen Brothers
842
Kaknes Landscape Supply
Badger Evergreen Nursery
F.E.C.
630
841
Northern Family Farms
844
F.S.
AVANT Tecno USA
740
943
846
F.E.C.
537 Midwest Arborist Supplies
StoneWall 845 Retaining Walls/ TrenchNedge Trencher
843 744 Armintrout's West Classic Michigan Groundcovers Farms
FHV/FEC
639
Phoenix Irrigation Supply
Aisle 800
746
640
Eby's Evergreen Plantation
Solutions
Stockyards Brick Company
EXIT EXIT
F.S.
F.E.C. 539 GAS Midwestern
ProLine Equipment
Aisle 700
Reinders
Aisle 500
Chicago Gas Lines
743
644
Aisle 600
641
540
JAN.
Discovery Hall
27.5'
EXIT
F.S.
F.E.C. F.S.
F.H.V. F.E.C.
F.S. F.E.C.
FLOORPLAN
EXIT
EXIT
JAN.
F.S.
EXIT
JAN.
One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 8:30am-10:00am
The Integrative Digital Workflow: Bringing Digital Efficiencies to an Analog Process Angelo Zielinski, Kane Brothers, Inc.
Never before have there been so many powerful tools available to the design professional; nor has it been so easy to be overwhelmed by them. How does a firm decide which to implement? Moreover, are they even necessary? This presentation will provide a holistic look at maximizing efficiencies within existing workflows by proper implementation of digital design tools and practices. The speaker will provide a foundational look into the digital realm of design at varying levels, while, identifying the considerations that should be made to maximize existing strengths and resources.
The Culture of Craft: How Craft Beer Holds the Key to Understanding Modern Consumer Tastes Karen Hamilton, Lagunitas Brewing Company
For industries to change, they require a change in culture. Craft beer is no different and its meteoric rise provides lessons for how the landscape industry can revisit its own value proposition. Led by innovators like Lagunitas, the rise of craft beer owes itself to our changing culture. In the old days, TV dinners, instant coffee, jug wine, and watereddown beer were the standards. Then consumers changed and it opened the door for the $22 billion craft beer market that grew another 16% last year. Landscaping is so pricefocused that it’s missing an opportunity to respond to these cultural shifts. Craft beer thought small, chased the unique, focused on better ingredients, eschewed advertising, and changed the world. There is no reason landscaping can’t follow this lead, blow past boring, and understand how to respond to changing consumer tastes. Join us for this refreshing session with a “Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’” for everyone.
Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects
My Plants and Their Stories
Mike Yanny, JN Plant Selections, LLC The hilarious and unforgettable Mike Yanny will describe various superior plants that he has selected and/ or developed. Mike is a wonderful storyteller and will chronicle the thought process that went into the development, selection, and introduction of these unique plants. Some of the plants he will discuss include: Firebird® Crabapple, Firespire® Musclewood, Mystic Ruby™ Buckeye, Early Glow™ Ohio Buckeye, Pink- a-licious™ Spirea, Ping Pong™ Buttonbush, and Star Power™ Juniper. Expand your plant pallette and paradigm with this incredible session.
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 EDUCATION
Post Construction Stormwater BMPs
DuPage County, IL Stormwater Management Staff The landmark DuPage County stormwater ordinance is one of the most forward-thinking resources in the Midwest. DuPage County staff will share practical considerations to help landscape professionals understand when permits are required, how to best communicate with permit officials, how the water table may impact your plans, and design features for storage and water quality requirements. The highlights of a good native planting plan, management and monitoring plan, and cost estimates will also be covered. What is everyone else doing? The speakers will let you in on the most common design solutions for developments small and large. 12:30pm-2:00pm
Gardening on a Higher Level: Native Plant Research at Mt. Cuba Center George Coombs, Mt. Cuba Center, Hockessin, Delaware
Mt. Cuba Center is an internationally renowned public garden that specializes in plants native to the eastern United States. As part of its mission to inspire and conserve, Mt. Cuba Center conducts native plant research in various forms. Join Research Horticulturist, George Coombs as he details how they select and evaluate native plants for superior garden performance. This talk will pay special attention to their most recently completed trials on Heuchera, Coreopsis, Monarda, and Baptisia. Be the first to know!
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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WEDNESDAY
Drone-vertising! Using Drones for Landscape Design and Promotion
Peter Spero and Brendan Stewart, AeroVista Innovations The Age of the Drone has reached an exciting turning point. Recent changes to FAA regulations have expanded the opportunities for commercial drone operators. From agriculture to package delivery to wildlife observation, drones will become mainstream in many industries. For the landscaping industry, aerial perspectives of before, during and after views can provide clients with a bird’s eye view of their projects. AeroVista Innovations will demonstrate the simplicity of drones, how they are utilized in landscaping and similar industries, and how Dronevertising can be a reality for any sized company.
Creating & Maintaining Gravel Gardens
Jeff Epping, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison, Wisconsin Gravel garden mastery is just a stone’s throw away. Jeff Epping and his staff have created a number of gravel gardens that can easily be incorporated into home landscapes. Gravel gardens, based on concepts developed by German horticulturist Cassian Schmidt are as lush, green and colorful as any perennial border. Jeff will demonstrate how to replace lawns and traditional annual and perennial beds with these incredible sustainable gardens. He will highlight projects at both Olbrich Botanical Gardens and at corporate and municipal clients including the Epic Systems Corporate campus in Madison, WI.
Why Specify Certified Stone: How the Natural Dimension Stone Sustainability Standard is Reshaping Hardscape Projects Karen Olah, Cold Spring
There has been an explosion in the landscape industry’s use of natural stone. Deepen your understanding of these materials by exploring the dimension stone sustainability standard (ANSI/NSC 373). The third party verified standard examines numerous areas of stone production including: water, custody and transportation, site and plant management, land reclamation, energy, waste, chemicals, worker health and safety and innovation credits. It includes a companion Chain of Custody (COC) program, which ensures traceability of certified stone from the quarry to
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installation. Understand how this process helps contractors and clients choose the right materials for their natural stone projects. 2:30pm-4:00pm
The Cutting Room Floor: Understand How Plants Respond to Pruning George Brenn, Four Seasons Landscaping Nursery
Pruning is NOT a substitute for proper plant selection. Most professionals suffer from “Pruniphobia” because they fail to understand how a plant responds to being pruned. This session will delve into why and when pruning should be done. It will cover various pruning techniques and when to use them. Professionals will better understand the importance of Apical Dominance in plant growth. Learn how intelligent horticulturists and crews learn to make fewer cuts and how that restraint leads to healthier plants and satisfied customers.
Hardscape Equipment of Today vs. the Dinosaurs Yesterday Bill Gardocki, Interstate Landscape Co.
The saying “work smarter not harder” certainly applies to hardscaping. The tools and equipment of today are more efficient and productive than ever. Spend some time with Bill and review the cutting-edge tools, construction equipment and trucks that can help increase your field production and profits. Bill will explain how switch-ngo truck bodies are making the dump truck a dinosaur. He will show some of his favorite toys, help companies determine the right size piece of equipment for the job, and detail how heavier compaction equipment adds dollars to the bottom line.
BrightView Industry Insights: Lessons Learned from the World’s Largest Landscape Company BrightView – A National Panel
It was the merger heard ‘round the world. Brightview will discuss their new organization and their perceived place in the Midwestern landscape industry. They will then move on to cover a handful of incredible projects from across the country. Some
Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Biochar: Better Soil, Better World
Tom Marrero, Ph.D. and Aaron Schlines, PLA, Wakefield Agricultural Carbon Biochar is on fire! Biochar is a premium soil conditioner that
creates healthier soil and produce better plants, shrubs and trees. In actuality, it should be “biochars” as new production methods are diversifying the product like never before. Biochar’s use and effectiveness has exploded in the last decade within the landscape industry yet many companies still are not aware of its benefits. Using a small percentage in compost and soil mixes can decrease water and fertilizer requirements. Biochar provides an ideal environment for beneficial microbes to thrive, it’s lightweight, highly porous, and delivers a low bulk density.
WEDNESDAY
of Brightview’s top national talent will walk attendees through a handful of their most notable projects. The panel will focus on the entire construction and maintenance process including pre-construction, planning and design, operational considerations, personnel, maintenance practices, and budget management for these amazing spaces.
CLASES EN ESPAÑOL - Spanish language classes are free!
La Asociación de Contratistas de Paisajismo de Illinois (ILCA) le da el placer de invitarlo al show y exhibición de iLandscape el 1, 2 y 3 de Febrero de 2017. El espectáculo se celebrará en el fabuloso Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center & Hotel, ubicado en Schaumburg, Illinois. El estacionamiento es GRATIS y solamente cuesta $25 la entrada para los tres días!!!!! ($25 cuando compras la entranda antes del 9 de Enero de 2017, $35 después del 9 de Enero)
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
10:15am-11:05am How to Maximize Profit from Small Jobs
10:15am-11:05am 10 Basic Landscape Designs
As the recession fades, big jobs are few and far between. Companies are having more success and making more profit doing smaller $5,000 tear-outs and builds then waiting around for large opportunities. Given this reality and our present labor crisis, this can be a great opportunity for landscape companies. Learn the secrets behind these efficiencies and how to make the most amount of profit from these smaller but plentiful jobs.
A basic knowledge of landscape design is the stepping stone to a more profitable business. Learn ten basic designs that all contractors should learn and sell. These designs revolve around certain site conditions that landscape professionals encounter on common jobs in this region. There are easy and profitable designs to sell and install whether wet, dry, sunny, or shady.
11:15am-12:05pm Snow Operations
Adrian Medina and Oscar Castro, Christy Webber Landscapes The purpose of this session is to emphasize best practices for snow operations with a focus on safety. Snow removal is difficult, dangerous, high pressure work that places an incredible physical and mental demand on employees. This talk is meant to show steps leading up to the snow season to make sure employees are well prepared for the work they’re going to do so that it’s done safely, efficiently, and to the customer’s satisfaction.
11:15am-12:05pm Permeable Paver Installation with a Touch of Sales
Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock The residential permeable market is growing every year and so are the questions regarding installation methods. This brief but informative class will take attendees through the various base, joint fill and installation options available to landscape professionals. We will also touch on the consumer benefits of choosing this new but widely accepted installation practice.
Titan Tiny Homes Over the past decade, interest and demand for tiny homes has grown significantly. Titan Tiny Homes, the premier builder of tiny houses in the United States, will be featuring their latest and greatest model in the Crossroads Garden. Make sure to stop by for a tour and to learn more about tiny homes! The Landscape Contractor Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects January 2017
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WEDNESDAY
FREE ILANDSCAPE SHOW PARTY
Wednesday, February 1st • 4:30pm - 7:00pm
HOWL 2-GO: WORLD FAMOUS DUELING PIANOS An Unforgettable Night by Howl at the Moon
Get ready for a fun party featuring dueling pianos! Gather with your friends, colleagues or customers for hors d’oeuvres and drinks, along with some great music.
DUELING PIANOS 2 GO Get ready to rock…Howl2-Go provides the ultimate event entertainment, combining the customizability and variety of a DJ and the excitement and fun of a live band. Dueling pianos provide what other entertainers fail to bring: energetic and unique event entertainment for all ages. Howl 2-Go’s dueling piano players perform music that will fit every musical taste, rocking music of any and all genres. Whether you’re a country fan, a R&B lover, classic rocker, pop enthusiast, or if you just like to dance, this is the party for you! Come have a blast singing and dancing to your favorite songs.
Roaming Gnomes WANTED! Find a roamin’ gnome and collect your reward Gnomes will be hiding among the booths at iLandscape. Find one and collect your $200 reward. Gnomes will be hidden each day. In addition, one Golden Gnome will be hiding with a bounty of $500. *Exhibitors, committee members, staff, and other gnomes are not eligible to collect the reward
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions for Thursday, February 2, 2017. 8:30am-10:00am
Networks for Life: Your Role in Stitching the Natural World Together Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware
No one leaves a Doug Tallamy talk uninspired. Throughout the U.S., we have fragmented the habitats that support biodiversity by the way we have landscaped our cities, suburbs, and farmland. This is a problem because isolated habitats cannot support populations large enough to survive normal environmental stresses. We can reconnect viable habitats by expanding existing greenways, building riparian corridors, and by changing the landscaping paradigm that dominates our landscapes. Replacing half the area that is now in barren lawn with plants that are best at supporting food webs would create over 20 million acres of connectivity and ensure future biodiversity. How we landscape today will determine what life looks like tomorrow.
3D Reality Design Software. It’s here. Embrace it!
Padraig Conway, Cotswold Gardens & Unilock
Currently sharing his wealth of experience in estimating, sales and design, Paddy has reluctantly succumbed to the modern era of computerized reality. Yet experience has taught him that entering a home without 3D design software is a serious mistake. Paddy will demonstrate, in his unique style, how to master, present and sell with confidence. The future of design is here. Embrace it today, as the next generation will demand experienced professionals who understand reality design. Remember Kodak and Blockbuster? They were household names who resisted the future. Ensure your future. It’s already here.
YOU CAN WIN!
All attendees at iLandscape are eligible to win prizes on the day they attend. Wednesday-Thursday-Friday prize giveaways will include Visa gift cards, Chicago Botanic Garden and Morton Arboretum memberships, bicycles, $2,500 travel package, and much, much more!
5 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Successful David Fellman, David Fellman & Associates
Dave Fellman is the author of The Small Business Book: “10 Ways To Make Your Small Business More Successful.” In this fast-moving session, he’ll cover five of those strategies, which are especially appropriate to landscape businesses. You’ll learn: How To Be More Visible In The Marketplace, How To Build A Better, Stronger Team, How To Get All The Value From Your Customers, How To Plug Your Time Management Leaks and How To Be A More Effective Negotiator. You’ll leave with solid and relevant ideas on how to make your own business more successful!
THURSDAY
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 EDUCATION
The Secret to Crushing Your Sales Quota: Three Things That You Can Do Right Now Merit Gest, Merit–based Professional Development, Inc.
It takes more than a positive attitude and detailed call report to crush sales numbers. You need straight talk, creativity, innovative thinking and a few laughs to crush your sales quota year after year. Landscape sales are highly competitive and wrought with risks. Salespeople kill deals every day. Salespeople negotiate pricing before they even hear an objection. Sales tactics alone don’t cut it. It’s time you learned the secrets and shift your thinking about the myths that could sabotage your success. 12:30pm-2:00pm
Designing and Maintaining The Living Landscape
Rick Darke, Rick Darke, LLC
If Rick Darke isn’t a household name, he will be after you hear him speak. Darke is a landscape designer, ethicist, photographer, and author. Darke will illustrate how an understanding of living layers can be put to practical use in the design and maintenance of gardens that are biologically diverse, and joyfully livable. Strategies for employing “organic architecture” in creating beautiful, conserving, highly functional layers will be presented in detail. This is a presentation that will take you from the 35,000 foot level all the way back down to the ground with practical, industrybased solutions. Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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THURSDAY
Timeless Landscapes: Design, Practices and Character
Scott Mehaffey, Scott Mehaffey, Inc., Nina Koziol, Adjunct Faculty, the Chicago Botanic Garden and Feature Writer for The Landscape Contractor
Designers working with older homes are often unfamiliar with landscape styles that complement historic architecture. We will survey common old-house styles found in the Chicago suburbs; look at landscapes and gardens that were popular when these homes were built; and discuss plants, hardscape, furnishings and gardening techniques. Chicago’s suburbs contain a wide array of housing types, sizes and styles – and clients with a wide array of budgets. We will focus on middleto upper-income single-family housing. We will discuss context-sensitive landscape design, which preserves historic character, increases property values, and contributes to stronger, more desirable communities.
TALK Show: Improv and Active Listening with ComedySportz
Hybridizing Your Landscape Business
Ahmad Hassan, Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services and former host of the DIY Network’s Yardcrashers In chemistry, hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals with different energies, shapes, etc. In order to succeed in the ever expanding green industry we must become hybrids ourselves and build or modify our businesses to blend professional artistry, fiscal responsibility and a passion of service work. Landscape professional and television personality Ahmad Hassan takes pride in being a hybrid landscape professional and green industry expert. He will share his own 33-year long story that’s still being written. Join Ahmad for this intimate and interactive presentation where we’ll discuss pertinent topics and share ways in which we can each elevate our business and the industry as a whole.
Creating Landscapes & Gardens of Meaning
ComedySportz
Virginia Burt, Virginia Burt Designs
ComedySportz is a one-of-a-kind improv show with troupes in 23 cities. CSz quickly learned that the skills that made performers master improv artists on stage also worked for businesses. CSz Business Chicago has been helping organizations improve soft-skills through improv for over a decade. This unforgettable experience combines the fun of seeing a ComedySportz show with the learning of a workshop. Learn to own your own communication style, listen actively, adapt to your partner, and be precise in your communication. This will be a fun, shared experience for attendees to take forward into the rest of iLandscape. Everyone will be talking about this session!
With healing gardens being developed in healthcare facilities across North America, this session will examine what it takes to move from the “BIG idea” to detailed implementation. Learn how eye sparkling implementation techniques can encourage development of meaningful projects. Techniques, spaces and materials used in meaningful landscapes and gardens will be discussed discovering the ways and means of relating the whole to the smallest spaces. Designs affect the experiences of people as they move through spaces – ideally this experience is a positive one of magic and wonder. Come prepared to take a journey of the heart and be inspired.
Leadership for Landscapers
Marty Grunder, Marty Grunder, Inc., Sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts Hundreds of landscape businesses have been revitalized by the tried and tested methods of Marty Grunder. Marty will show you the five ways to command attention and get your team to want to follow you. A team is only as good as their leader. You will learn from Marty’s experiences how to get others to do what you want and need them to do and still have them love you. Yes, love you. 38
2:30pm-4:00pm
Green & Natural Spaces in Your Community
Jack Pizzo, The Pizzo Group
Green and natural spaces are now part of almost every project. Learn how to identify the opportunities available to enhance the “green” in the green industry from industry trailblazer and maverick Jack Pizzo. Whether you are looking to create or manage sustainable landscapes, learn about Best Management Practices, plant wildflower gardens, install a native buffer around a community pond, learn about prescribed fire or other management techniques, this presentation is for you. Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Stan Holat, SavATree, Bob Bertog, Bertog Landscape Co, Jim Turcan, Cornerstone Partner Are you constantly on the lookout for ways to build your business? The information age offers a dizzying array of new possibilities, but let’s take a fresh look at a tried and true method. One of the simplest, most cost effective ways to develop new business is to form professional alliances. This panel, consisting of leaders from two successful landscape companies and a professional tree care company will share insights into their own successful partnerships;
THURSDAY & ENTERTAINMENT
A Firm Handshake: Create Professional Alliances to Build Your Business
how they began, changed over time, their varied benefits and what makes them impactful. Participants will come away from the session motivated to establish their own winning alliances.
iLandscape is more than a tradeshow. The show informs, innovates, and inspires. To set the tone, it gathers artists and musicians from across disciplines. These artists and musicians will infuse each day of the show with energy and creativity.
Ellen Lustig Jim Bulanda
Bowtime
Kristopher John
Kent Arnsberger
Human Sculpture
Steve Haberichter and Pat Otto
Danny Dubin
Stilt Walker
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AWARDS NIGHT
ILCA Excellence in Landscape Awards Program Thursday, February 2, 2017 Reception begins at 5:00pm; Program starts at 7:00pm Don’t miss the ILCA’s annual showcase featuring the best landscapes in Illinois. Awards Night will be the crown jewel of iLandscape networking opportunities, as well as a great venue to see the industry’s best projects. Come join the celebration of these coveted awards. Please note: Awards will have a limited amount of tickets available. It is vital you register early if you plan to attend Awards Night. iLandscape cannot guarantee a ticket without pre-registration. Join friends for an evening of mingling, honoring & celebrating: • Excellence in Landscape Award Winners • Person of the Year • Distinguished Service Award Winner • 2016 Scholarship Winners • Landscape Industry Certified Technicians • Student Design Competition Winners In addition, the winners of two prestigious industry awards will be announced that night: • Judges’ Award - The best project among all entries as chosen by the judges. • Professionals’ Choice - The best project among all entries as chosen by other contractors and green industry professionals. Awards Night includes heavy appetizers, reception, food stations and the program; cash bar. The Excellence in Landscape Awards Night is now a separate ticketed event. Awards tickets do not include a tradeshow pass. If you wish to attend the tradeshow or educational sessions, please select the appropriate pass in addition to the Excellence in Landscape Awards ticket during registration.
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One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions for Friday, February 3, 2017. 8:30am-10:00am
Minimizing Salt Damage to Maximize your Profit Margin
Laurie & Mark Mann, Plant Growth Management Systems This presentation will address reducing your costs dramatically for remediation of salt and deicing damage. The presenters will demonstrate ways to economically and effectively remediate salt damage on turf & landscape, but more importantly - learn how to minimize the potential negative effects of winter salting and deicing using a fall application of an activated bio-char and humate blend. Specifics will include how & why salt damage occurs, basic understanding of the benefits of bio-char blend, the protocols and processes used, and several case studies of minimization and remediation of salt damage.
Grass Roots Sustainability – An Urban Forester’s Perspective Steve Ludwig, Ludwig Speaks, LLC
Steve Ludwig is a veteran manager of municipal environmental care-taking, and a past president of the Illinois Arborist Association. Steve will present his insight and perspectives on creating diverse landscapes that stand the test of time, and provide the stage upon which great people can live amazing lives. Steve’s passion and enthusiasm for his work have created out-of-the-box thinking which fuels this fun, and very real, presentation.
A Monarch’s View: How Landscapes Contribute to Pollinator Habitat
Kristen Voorhies, Ph.D., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Abigail Derby Lewis, Ph.D., The Field Museum , Louise Clemency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Monarch butterfly and other pollinators are in trouble. This session will describe the collaborative efforts the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is leading to help the monarch Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects
population stabilize and rebound. Preliminary research results indicate that we will need to restore milkweed host plants and nectar food sources across all land types. The Field Museum is studying ecological and social dimensions specific to Monarch conservation in urban and suburban landscapes. The session will describe efforts underway to develop a conservation design for monarchs, and what you can do to help monarchs.
FRIDAY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2017 EDUCATION
11:30am-1:00pm
Success With Difficult People
Byron Sabol, Sabol International LLC Frustrated from trying to communicate with that difficult co-worker, vendor, boss, or colleague? We all experience individuals whose communications and personalities can present roadblocks to effective face-to-face communications and productivity. This presentation draws from the speaker’s 30 years of communications experience with professionals in three continents and his published book, “Taming The Beast: Success With Difficult People”, to demonstrate how professionals can learn to effectively communicate and to deal with challenging and difficult personalities. The presentation will detail vital skills necessary for communicating effectively face-to-face while improving relations with the pressure sensitive and timestressed individuals so common in the landscape industry.
Principles of Therapeutic Garden Design: People, Program & Place Clare Johnson, Chicago Botanic Garden
The outdoor environment is an innately restorative resource. When one engages with nature - walking in a park, sitting on a porch or planting in a garden remarkable and measurable outcomes occur. In order to achieve desired health outcomes, it is essential that the outdoor environment respond to the needs of the users. In this session, we’ll discuss the three principles required when designing a restorative outdoor space: people, program and place. Baby boom landscape clients are ageing and GenXers and Millennials value a connection with the outdoors.
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FRIDAY
Tree Selection for a Changing Climate
Nancy Buley, J. Frank Schmidt Nursery and Dr. Bert Cregg, Michigan State University, Sponsored by the Ornamental Growers Association Current climate projections suggest that the climate of the Great Lakes Region could resemble that of present-day Oklahoma by the latter part of this century. Drought, severe heat waves, torrential rains and floods, long-lasting
winter snows and other severe weather events make it clear that our changing climate demands significant changes in urban forestry planting palettes and management practices. Learn about research that is helping to identify trees that can acclimate to climate change. Please join the OGA growers for this pertinent topic which affects our landscapes of both today & tomorrow.
Student Career Day Friday, February 3, 2017 iLandscape welcomes all studious students, prepared pupils, unbelievable undergrads, and serious scholars.
COLLEGE
iLandscape is the event for green industry students. The cost to attend the tradeshow at iLandscape for college and university students is FREE as long as the student is registered through their college or university. The educational program is deeply discounted for green industry students ($25 early/$35 late). Student activities include educational sessions, a career board featuring jobs from the landscape industry’s top firms, prizes and giveaways, as well as access to the show floor.
High Schoo l
Students may attend any day of iLandscape at no cost but Student Career Day will be Friday, February 3, 2017.
10:15am – Student Roundtables – The Garden Stage The highlight of the day is an incredible student session. Landscape industry professionals will lead table discussions about their area of expertise in the green industry. Professionals will be on hand representing: landscape designers, account reps, garden centers, young business owners, and more. They will explain how to get a job in the green industry, how to be successful, and how to climb the ladder. A job board will be on hand to match job seekers with prospective employers. Any student looking to make the jump to becoming a green industry professional cannot miss this incredible day at iLandscape.
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Applied for 1.5 CEUs for Landscape Architects The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Booking your room is easy, below are options for your convenience:
The venue will also overstaff GATHER bar, Sam & Harry’s steakhouse, concession stands, and coffee shop to ensure lines are short. The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel is committed to putting guests first and will make sure nothing stands in the way of a morning cup of joe or happy hour beer.
Book your stay at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel and receive the following benefits:
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel 1551 N. Thoreau Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60173 Tel.: 1 (847) 303-4100 Fax: 1 (847) 303-4199 A limited hotel block is available. It is VITAL that you book your rooms early. Discounted hotel rates at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel are available through January 9, 2017.
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Link directly to the Renaissance Schaumburg Center Hotel reservation page Direct Link: https://resweb. passkey.com/go/iLandscape2017 Call 1-877-303-0104 and reference: iLandscape: The Illinois + Wisconsin Landscape Show
THE RENAISSANCE
The Schaumburg Convention Center is attached to the Renaissance Hotel. Simply walk downstairs, across the lobby, and into the show. No shuttle busses or brisk walks outdoors.
Free parking Complimentary Access to Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel Fitness Center (featuring the first salt water hotel pool in Illinois) Experience refined style at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, IL where stunning design and architecture blend seamlessly with impeccable service for ultimate in refined sophistication.
Please note: Hotel rates are available exclusively for iLandscape exhibitors and attendees. This is the only hotel affiliated with the iLandscape Show. iLandscape and ILCA cannot guarantee room rates or availability by any other company, representative, or hotel. Hotel reservations made in any way other than through the online reservation or with direct contact with the hotel are at the risk of the individual. There are a limited number of hotel rooms available at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. Spillover hotels and rates will be available if necessary. Check the www. ilandscapeshow.com website for more information.
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PARKING
PARKING IS FREE! at the onsite and spillover lots! Get there early - it is best to park closest to the convention center as opposed to the hotel. Guests of the hotel are guaranteed onsite parking spaces.
Parking iLandscape recognizes that parking at the facility has its challenges. To rectify the situation we have added a spillover lot at Woodfield Mall that will be running five concurrent shuttles on each morning of the show. There will be no waiting or lines for shuttles in 2017. iLandscape and the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center are committed to making your iLandscape experience pleasant from the moment you park your car. Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel 1551 N. Thoreau Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60173 Valet parking is available for $17/day with in/out privileges Spillover Parking Spillover parking may be in effect as early as 10am on each day of the show. Should it be required, offsite parking for this event will be located at Woodfield Mall, Parking Lot B at Golf & Access Roads. Signage from the convention center to this
parking area will be in place should directional assistance be required. Shuttles will be available to transport attendees to and from the convention center.
Airport Information Chicago O’Hare International Airport – ORD Airport Phone: 1-800-832-6352 Hotel direction: 13 miles NW The Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel does not provide shuttle service. Courtesy phone available Alternate transportation: American Taxi Call 1-847-255-9614 or Go Airport Express 1-888-284-3826, fee: $35 (one way) Estimated taxi fare: $65 (one way) Midway International Airport - Chicago – MDW Airport Phone: 1-800-832-6352 Hotel direction: 32 miles NW The Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel does not provide shuttle service. Courtesy phone available Alternate transportation: American Taxi Call 1-847-255-9614; fee: $60 (one way) on request Estimated taxi fare: $75 (one way)
About Schaumburg, IL – Entertaining and Dining Schaumburg is known nationally as an outstanding attraction and shopping destination – synonymous with an almost unlimited choice of the finest retailers in America. Schaumburg’s 200 restaurants welcome you in style and with something for everyone’s taste. Ranging from highend steaks to Chicago-style pizza, the list of well-known eateries includes: Chicago Prime, Morton’s Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Wildfire, P.F. Chang’s and Lou Malnati’s Pizza, to name a few. Entertainment options abound from some of the best 44
in international performances at IMPROV or Prairie Center for the Arts to Rivers Casino a short drive away. Shopping is extreme at Woodfield Mall – one of the top 10 largest indoor shopping malls in the U.S. The largest Ikea store in North America is in Schaumburg!
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Join the conversation! #iLandscape2017 Be part of the iLandscape experience!
Pricing
iLandscape is about providing more benefits to attendees for less money. iLandscape was designed smarter and placed in a lower cost, more convenient venue. Savings are passed along to the attendees and exhibitors.
Tradeshow-only:
REGISTRATION
February 1-3, 2017 Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL
Early rate: On or before 1/9/2017 Late rate: After 1/9/2017 Early: $25
Education (Includes Tradeshow): Early: $89 ILCA/WGIF Member Late: $109 ILCA/WGIF Member Awards Night:
Late: $35
$119 Non-Member $149 Non-Member
$89
Students: Students must be registered through a college or university. Tradeshow: Early: $0 Late: $0 Education: Early: $25 Late: $35
Take advantage of our new registration system and register online at www.ilandscapeshow.com! By registering online, you will have the ability to manage your registration. You will be able to upgrade and change names if one of the previously registered attendees is no longer able to attend. The new system also has the ability to match attendees to certain exhibitors. During the registration process, you will be asked if you are interested in matching. If you are, a list will open up for you to choose from. Based on those answers, you will be matched to the appropriate exhibitors and given the opportunity to schedule an appointment with them. Exhibitors will also be able to manage appointment requests on their end.
Cancellation Policy Education Sessions/Awards: Please send cancellation notice in writing to iLandscape (information@ilca.net). Cancellations received by 1/9/2017 will be subject to a $25 processing fee per person. There will be no refunds after 1/9/2017. Trade Show: Registrations for Trade Show-Only are nonrefundable.
By participating in the 2017 iLandscape Show you acknowledge that you might be photographed in connection with activities. You agree that iLandscape is the sole owner of all rights to the resulting photographs for all purposes relating to iLandscape business. Your likeness may be used by iLandscape in advertising and promotional materials. Participants shall receive no compensation for appearance in any materials.
Can’t register online? Print the paper based registration form on the iLandscape website and fax or mail it to ILCA: 630-472-3150 or 2625 Butterfield Rd, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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Enfoque: Sección en Español —
Por Meta Levin
February 1-3, 2017
iLandscape se
está ramificando para 2017 – creativamente, educacionalmente y físicamente. “Esta es una oportunidad para que las personas se ramifiquen antes de que comience la temporada”, afirma Scott Grams, Director Ejecutivo de ILCA.
Orador de apertura
El evento se iniciará el miércoles, 1 de febrero de 2017, con un discurso de apertura por el actor y ambientalista, Ed Begley, Jr. “Él comprende, nos llega”, afirma Scott Grams, Director Ejecutivo de ILCA, refiriéndose a Begley, quien posiblemente sea más conocido por su trabajo como actor de cine y televisión, pero que también ha obtenido renombre por su promoción de las iniciativas ambientalistas desde comienzos de la década de 1970. Begley hablará desde un escenario colocado contra la pared sur del Discovery Hall, en lugar de la presentación en el “escenario al centro” empleado el año pasado. En su presentación se centrará en la sostenibilidad ambiental. A partir de 1970, cuando era 46
frecuente verlo deambulando en un Taylor-Dunn, un vehículo totalmente eléctrico parecido a un carrito de golf, Begley comenzó a reciclar y a convertirse al vegetarianismo. En la actualidad, conduce un vehículo eléctrico Toyota RAV4EV de 2003. También promueve productos ecológicos, como el automóvil híbrido gasolina-eléctrico Toyota Prius, una letrina abonera e incluso un producto de limpieza para uso doméstico con su propia marca. Begley pone en práctica lo que predica. De acuerdo con los estándares de Hollywood, vive en una casa pequeña – 1,585 pies cuadrados – donde utiliza energía solar y eólica para producir electricidad e incluso una bicicleta generadora de electricidad para activar la tostadora. En respuesta a las condiciones de sequía en California, ha convertido su patio en un jardín tolerante a la sequía con todas las plantas nativas de California.
Salones de exposiciones (sí, dos) El salón de exposiciones de iLandscape se ha “ramificado” en dos salones para alojar a los 237 expositores: denominados
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Discovery Hall e Innovation Hall, ofrecen espacio para más expositores, algunos de los cuales han estado en la lista de espera de iLandscape durante los tres años de vida del evento, afirma Grams. La feria es tan popular que todavía hay expositores en lista de espera. Muchos de los expositores que regresan han ampliado sus puestos de exhibición. Los dos salones de exposiciones estarán interconectados. En el Innovation Hall, el popular sitio web y las aplicaciones de Houzz ayudarán a los contratistas a establecer cuentas de Houzz, así como a sacar más provecho de sus cuentas a los que ya las tienen. En la estela del orador de apertura del año pasado, perteneciente a Houzz, los miembros de ILCA que ya tenían cuentas de Houzz alabaron el sistema por haberles proporcionado más clientes. Los expositores de este año también ofrecerán café, happy hours e incluso una fuente de chocolate en sus puestos de exhibición. Algunos ofrecerán también estacione de carga y habrá un artista conceptual en uno de los puestos. Regresará la pista de hielo. Estará ubicada cerca de los puestos de venta en el Discovery Hall. Incluso el puesto de ILCA será más prominente y divertido, asegura Grams. “Seremos lo primero que verá la gente”. Y en cuanto a la parte de “más divertido”, en eso estamos trabajando. Pero al momento de escribir esto, apuesto que habrá más actividades divertidas y muchas. Espere detalles een las próximas dos ediciones. Los puestos de ILCA y WGIF estarán adyacentes en el piso de exhibición. El comité de la experiencia de iLandscape está trabajando para encontrar maneras, incluyendo plantas, de crear una transición fluida entre los dos salones.
Jardines, jardines, jardines
Como corresponde a una feria de la industria verde, habrá jardines en cantidad por todas The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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Enfoque: Sección en Español — las instalaciones. Grams cuenta cinco, incluyendo un jardín a la entrada, dos jardines viñeta, un jardín-escenario y otro jardín en el Innovation Hall. Todos reflejan los principios del diseño de jardines. Para destacar el jardín viñeta habrá una “Casita” de Titan Tiny Homes. Diseñada para reducir la huella de carbono, combina perfectamente con el mensaje de Begley. “El objetivo final fue construir una casa”, explica Grams. Fue Dave Warning, co-Presidente del Comité de la Experiencia de iLandscape, quien sugirió incorporar la casita a la idea del jardín. “Serán incluidas en nuestro “Cross Roads Garden”, afirma Warning. Con base de operaciones en South Elgin, IL, Titan recientemente fue objeto de cobertura en “Tiny Home Nation.”
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Inscripciones simplificadas
Para hacerles la vida más fácil a los visitantes de la feria, habrá cambios en los procedimientos de inscripción, diseñados para eliminar las largas filas. Un nuevo proveedor de inscripciones, con base de operaciones en Downers Grove, y quioscos para nuevas inscripciones, facilitarán el proceso. También habrá procedimientos racionalizados que permitirán agilizar las inscripciones en las instalaciones. Será más fácil inscribirse con antelación y recoger materiales en el edificio. “Estamos haciendo todo lo posible por mejorar la experiencia”, asegura Grams. “Estamos convencidos de que todo será mucho más fácil”. Con respecto al estacionamiento, habrá cinco recorridos continuos para transportar a las personas que se estacionen en lotes remotos y desde sus automóviles. Si bien esta historia únicamente describe someramente lo más destacado del evento, las próximas dos ediciones describirán a grandes rasgos los eventos educacionales y otros puntos culminantes de la feria.
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Enfoque: Entretenimiento en iLandscape —
February 1-3, 2017 Por Meta Levin
Diviértase un poco
dúo de guitarristas españoles, un malabarista y un dúo acústico. Y para la fiesta de la noche del miércoles, se presentará un duelo de pianos. Los miembros de ILCA veteranos podrán estar familiarizados con el concepto de duelo de pianos. En realidad, es un entretenimiento distintivo en Howl at the Moon, un bar con música en vivo y duelo de pianos donde el grupo femenino de IILCA tuvo su noche de salida anual durante la Mid Am. El dúo de pianos tuvo tanto éxito que el Comité de Entretenimiento de iLandscape 2017 decidió importarlo para entretenimiento el miércoles por la noche. “Visitar el Howl at the Moon es una actividad nocturna muy popular”, asegura Katrina House, Co-Presidente de la noche del miércoles. La noche del miércoles tendrá otras atracciones nuevas. Después de leer y escuchar comentarios sobre las fiestas del miércoles por la noche en otros años, decidieron darle nuevos giros. House
en la feria anual iLandscape. Salte entre los jardines, tararee la música, relájese con un masaje en silla e impresiónese con las esculturas. Este año la feria anual de paisajismo tendrá la seriedad, la diversión y la frivolidad de eventos pasados. Está programada para los días 1-3 de febrero de 2017, en el Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Renaissance Schaumberg en Schaumberg, IL. “Estamos tratando de mantenerla divertida, “light” y fresca” dice Tina Turner, Co-Presidenta del Comité de Entretenimiento de iLandscape. Los asistentes disfrutarán de música que abarca la gama completa, desde un hombre orquesta hasta blues y baladas románticas tipo Frank Sinatra. Habrá un caminador sobre zancos. El escultor de hielo trabajará a plena vista de los asistentes el miércoles, fuera de las ventanas del vestíbulo. Habrá tambores metálicos, un mago, un caricaturista y masajes en silla. Además, un
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describe la comida como “aperitivos fuertes”. Y las bebidas serán de cortesía, gratis, sin cargo. El Comité está buscando más patrocinadores para cubrir los costos. “Escuchamos algunas quejas sobre el costo de las bebidas”, dice House. Por consiguiente, están tratando de remediarlo. “Estamos tratando de convertir la noche del miércoles en un gran evento para establecer contactos; para darle más dinamismo al día”, afirma House. “Será el lugar donde hay que estar”. Para el resto de iLandscape, Turner y los miembros de su Comité anticipan con entusiasmo aprovechar todas las ventajas que ofrece el lugar. “Tenemos el pasillo y dos escenarios”, informa. También tienen el vestíbulo. Y los usarán todos. El jueves se ofrecerán masajes en silla en el vestíbulo. De 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., los asistentes tendrán la oportunidad de que un masajista los libere de todas las tensiones después de un largo día en la feria. De 9 a.m. a 11 a.m., eso estará acompañado por los sonidos de una banda de tambores metálicos. “Amamos nuestra música y decidimos diversificarnos este año”, afirma Turner. Y se diversificaron. El miércoles durante el día, las diversiones incluirán “Música sin diapasón” y un hombre orquesta. Además de los tambores metálicos, el jueves durante el día habrá blues y un cantante melódico, cuyas
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Enfoque: Sección en Español — interpretaciones recuerdan a Frank Sinatra y su clan. El viernes tocará un trio de guitarristas españoles, un dúo acústico (mandolina y guitarra) y un dúo acústico con banjo/violín. Camine por el salón de baile el miércoles y podrá ver una escultura humana y un caminador sobre zancos. O presione su nariz contra las ventanas del vestíbulo para ver al escultor de hielo en acción. El jueves la caricaturista estará en el salón de baile. Aunque no pueda acercársele, podrá verla en una pantalla grande. Igual podrá ver a la pintora acrílica que extenderá lienzos de gran tamaño sobre el escenario. No tendrá que subir al escenario para verla trabajar porque sus obras también serán proyectadas en la pantalla “jumbo”. Una vez que la artista acrílica haya terminado su trabajo, éste será parte de la rifa diaria. Pero esto no es todo. Entre 11 a.m. y 4 p.m., un mago actuará entre el salón de baile y los escenarios al aire libre. Venga y asómbrese con su magia. De 11:30 a.m. a 1 p.m., un malabarista deambulará por el área. Habrá rifas diarias, programadas el miércoles y el jueves a las 4:15 p.m. y el Viernes a la 1:45 p.m. Las tres en el escenario al aire libre. Los premios incluirán una bicicleta, un vale de Southwest Airline por $1,500 y $1,000 en dinero suelto, además de otros premios.
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La educación en iLandscape —
Branching Out with
por Meta Levin
February 1-3, 2017
Apretones de mano y comedia y drones. ¡Santo cielo!
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La educación en iLandscape lo tiene cubierto. Las ofertas educativas de iLandscape para 2017 contendrán un poquito de esto, otro poco de aquello: conciencia ecológica, enseñanza práctica, negocios, nieve y diversión. Si los asistentes el año anterior lo pidieron, el
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
comité educativo tratará de ofrecerlo – algunas veces de forma exclusiva. ¡Mire al cielo! Es un ave, es un avión. Es un dron. Sonría. El dron le está tomando una foto. Suba para escuchar una explicación de cómo puede usar estos minivoladores en su negocio. Los drones no están solos en el
programa educativo de iLandscape. Habrá tecnología, negocios, sostenibilidad, ventas, diseño, liderazgo, polinizadores (más que solo abejas), poda y tantos temas más. A usted le encantarán. Aprenderá algo. Y, donde sea aplicable, usted obtendrá créditos de educación continua (CEU). ¿Qué más puede pedir? Enseñanza por expertos. Bueno, iLandscape tienen eso también. “Me complace la mezcla de conciencia ecológica, enseñanza práctica, negocios, nieve y otros temas que tenemos este año”, afirma Kim Hartmann, Presidente del Comité de Educación de iLandscape 2017. Y todo esto no surgió de la nada. El comité revisó más de 3,000 formularios de evaluación del año pasado, colaboró con el comité de experiencia y abordó a colegas en varios eventos de ILCA. Después trató de satisfacer las necesidades. “Nos dimos cuenta de que las personas desean obtener más información sobre alianzas y el trabajo conjunto”, dice Hartmann. Revise. Busque “Un firme apretón de manos: Cree alianzas profesionales para desarrollar su negocio,” con Stan Holat de SaVaTree, Bob Bertog de Bertog Landscape y Jim Turcan de Cornerstone Partners. Los miembros del panel compartirán experiencias sobre sus propias asociaciones exitosas, cómo comenzaron y han evolucionado, sus beneficios y qué los hace eficaces. El programa del jueves incluirá también, entre otras cosas, “Programa de debates: La improvisación y la atención activa con Comedy Sportz”. En una atmósfera de taller, los asistentes aprenderán a posesionarse de sus propios estilos de comunicación, escuchar activamente, adaptarse a los estilos de sus socios comerciales y ser precisos en sus comunicaciones – todo esto mientras se divierte. “Quisimos asegurarnos de tener más sesiones de negocios, ventas y administración”, dijo Hartmann. Y lo hacen realidad con sesiones sobre cómo desarrollar los negocios, estrategias, visión, cómo lidiar con gente problemática y situaciones incómodas. La sostenibilidad está creciendo en popularidad, pero el comité la ha llevado a nuevas dimensiones. “Abarca mucho más que solo sostenibilidad ambiental,” asegura Hartmann. “¿Qué estamos haciendo para proteger las aguas, mejorar el suelo y utilizar pesticidas, herbicidas y fungicidas de forma responsable?” También abordamos eso. Para no mencionar una miríada de otros temas.
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La educación en iLandscape —
Wednesday
• Ed Begley, Jr. — el actor y defensor ambiental, Ed Begley, Jr., conferencista inaugural, • • • • •
hablará desde el escenario en el jardín
Mike Yanny — “Mis plantas y sus historias” Clayton Helfer — “Soluciones de paisajismo para problemas de agua en pequeña escala” Angelo Zielinski — “El flujo de trabajo digital integrador” George Coombs — “Investigaciones de plantas nativas en Mt. Cuba Center” Karen Olah — “Por qué especificar piedras certificadas?”
Thursday • • • • • • • • •
Padraig Conway — “Software de diseño de realidad tridimensional. Está aquí. ¡Adóptelo!” David Fellman — “5 maneras de hacer más exitoso su pequeña empresa” Merit Gest — “El secreto para sobrepasar su cuota de ventas Scott Mehaffey & Nina Koziol — “Paisajes intemporales: Diseño, prácticas y carácter” CSz Business Chicago — “La improvisación y la atención activa con Comedy Sportz” Viginia Burt — “Cómo crear diseños paisajistas y jardines significativos” Jack Pizzo — “La Conciencia ecológica y los espacios naturales en su comunidad” Stan Holat, Bob Bertog, and Jim Turcan — “Un firme apretón de manos: Cree alianzas profesionales para desarrollar su negocio”
Friday • • • •
Nancey Buley and Dr. Bert Cregg — “Selección de árboles para un clima inestable” Laurie & Mark Mann — “Cómo minimizar el daño de la sal para maximizar su margen” Steve Ludwig — “Sostenibilidad radical – Desde la perspectiva de un silvicultor urbano” Krisyen Voorhies, Abigail Derby, Louise Clemency — “La Visión de un Monarca: Como ayudan los terrenos ajardinados al hábitat de los polinadores”
• Clare Johnson — “Principios del diseño paisajista terapéutico: Gente, programas y lugares”
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
June 1, 2016
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Annual Calendar
Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar For the next 15 months, ILCA will be releasing a monthly excerpt from the most current version (v3.0) of its Sustainable Maintenance Guide and Calendar in The Landscape Contractor magazine. The entire 12 month calendar is available to download at no cost to ILCA members, non-profits, public agencies, and units of government. Please email information@ilca.net to request a download of the entire guide and calendar. This guide is not available to private landscape companies who are not members of the ILCA. This guide is intended to equip Illinois Landscape Contractors Association members with all the tools necessary to implement a sustainable maintenance program. It takes into account the constraints of a landscape company in regards to costs, time, equipment, personnel, and horticultural knowledge. The guide is written so any landscape company can apply these maintenance principles to almost any commercial or residential landscape and improve the positive impact on the environment without sacrificing aesthetic quality.
SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE CALENDAR June 1, 2016
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) Sustainable Landscape Maintenance Annual Calendar
SUSTAINABLE MAINTENANCE CALENDAR
© ILLINOIS LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Classified Ads HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Landscape Designer/Salesperson
James Martin Associates Vernon Hills, Illinois Boulder, Colorado
Residential Maintenance Account Manager
GREAT companies only exist because of GREAT people. Bruss Landscaping of Wheaton is looking to add another GREAT person to our team. 2017 marks our 65th year of providing high quality residential landscape design and installation services to DuPage and eastern Kane counties. We are searching for a talented individual to join our team. If you are GREAT at residential design and sales, have a proven sales record, are self-motivated and focused on GREAT customer service we would like to meet you. Candidates must have earned a four-year degree in Landscape Design/Architecture/Horticulture and have at least 5 years professional experience. Bruss is a relaxed work environment, although seasonally hectic, with a strong benefit package including vehicle, insurance, 401k, generous vacation allowance and reduced winter hours. Eric Bruss, ebruss@brusslandscaping.com, (630) 665-1600. Garden Center - Tree and Shrub Sales Red’s Garden Center is seeking a friendly, hardworking individual to join our nursery staff. This is a unique opportunity to use your knowledge about plants or to increase your knowledge, while getting your hands dirty. Sales will be main focus with the added responsibilities of loading/unloading trucks, tagging and maintaining plant material. plus other nursery duties. This is a year round position. Must be able to be on your feet for 8 hours +, lift over 50 lbs, work most weekends in the season, have the willingness to learn, and the ability to communicate clearly. Spanish speaking a plus. Please email resume to: Jeff@redsgardencenter.com or call Jeff @ (847) 272-1209 with any questions
Do you strive to enrich lives by creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes? Are you enthused about managing and building client relationships? Are you looking for a team environment with a company that values work-life balance and promotes safety first? If you answered yes, then we want you to join our team! We have the following open positions: • Snow Operations Manager • Design Build Operations Manager • Commercial Maintenance Account Manager • Residential Maintenance Account Manager • Irrigation Technicians – Boulder location
Rosborough Partners, Inc. is accepting resumes for an experienced Residential Maintenance Account Manager to manage portfolio of residential maintenance clients. Responsibilities include preparing proposals, contract renewals, identifying and selling new sales leads and ensuring quality control is followed on client sites. Revenue and profitability goals will be set each year and accomplished by analyzing, planning, organizing, and adjusting schedules to achieve efficient use of resources and people. Establishing, building and maintaining client relationships are the keys to being successful in this position. Landscape industry experience and/or a horticultural degree are required. English & Spanish fluency is a plus. We offer competitive wages and benefits. Please email resume to: resumes@rosboroughpartners.com *Construction/Enhancement Supervisor*
James Martin Associates has given outstanding landscape services to residential and commercial clients in Design/Build, Maintenance and Snow Removal in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago area for almost 40 years. Visit www.jamesmartinassociates. com for more information about our company.
This position is responsible for assisting the residential Landscape Architect/Designers in supervising construction/enhancement crews and all the functions pertaining to the crews. Supervising job quality and performance are the primary responsibilities. Other responsibilities include scheduling of projects, management of crews and materials, and others.
At L.I.D. Landscapes, our Colorado branch, it is our passion to be a great provider of all Landscape services, including Irrigation! See more about our awardwinning company at www.LIDLandscapes.com
We are seeking an individual who works independently and has strong problem solving and organizational skills. 2-3 years of experience managing hardscape and landscape projects is highly recommended. This position calls for an individual who is eager to learn and looking to be a part of a growing team. Competitive salary with incentive package, paid vacation, insurance, 401k and vehicle are a few of the benefits available. Please email your resume to: lorena@sebert.com
If are interested in joining our team, please send your resume to Beth McElroy, at b.mcelroy@jamesmartinassociates.com, or call 847-876-8052.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES JAMES MARTIN ASSOCIATES, INC. Vernon Hills, IL & Boulder, CO
James Martin Associates, Inc. is a leader in the Landscape and Snow Management industry. We have been providing services to our customers for over 39 years. We are seeking candidates for the following positions:
Snow Operations Manager
Residential and Commercial Maintenance Account Managers
Design/Build Operations Manager
To be considered for any of these opportunities, please forward your resume and salary history to b.mcelroy@jamesmartinassociates.com or call Beth at 847-876-8052.
Landscape Architecture • Construction • Maintenance • Snow Management
www.jamesmartinassociates.com
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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Classified Ads HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Landscape Maintenance Estimator/ Account Manager
Yard Drainage Designer
Commercial Landscape Project Manager
Dig Right In specializes in a variety of yard drainage solutions primarily for residential customers. We are seeking a landscape designer with little to no experience who is eager to learn from the best in the business.
We are seeking an experienced commercial landscape project manager to join our growing company. Classic Landscape Ltd. has been a standard in the landscape industry since 1964 and continues to grow each and every year!
You have a basic understanding of water dynamics in the landscape and the challenges associated with small lots, clayey soil and climate change. You tend to geek-out to hydrogeology and you know a thing or two about rain gardens, infiltration systems, piping, stormwater management, green infrastructure, and sustainable landscaping techniques.
Responsibilities: • Review and Edit Contracts • Quoting and Buying of Material per Project • Preparing/Organizing Field Files for Field Manager • Process and Creating of POs and COs • Maintain Required Project Documentation
You must demonstrate proficiency in sales; customer service; contract writing, estimating, and negotiating; landscape design; project management; and a willingness to learn.
Qualifications: • Previous Experience in Related Fields • Strong Project Management Skills • Organized and Detail-Oriented • Basic Computer Skills Needed (Quickbooks, Excel, and Outlook) • General Landscape Knowledge • Basic Plant Identification
We are looking for an additional year-round Landscape Maintenance Estimator/Account Manager to be our primary contact in maintaining relationships with existing condominium & townhome clients. Familiarity with maintenance estimating and pricing skill is required, along with a thorough knowledge of landscape maintenance and maintenance enhancement procedures. Come join our growing team and be an integral part of a large and successful business in the South Suburbs. For 32 years we have been growing a friendly and comfortable work environment that values quality of work as much as quality time away from the office. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Minimum 3 years’ experience in related field Must possess a valid driver’s license Good insect/disease diagnosis skills Bi-lingual is helpful, Degree in Horticulture is helpful, but not required Please send your resume and salary requirements to: info@suburbanlandscaping.net
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT/DESIGNER Green Grass Landscape Architecture & Construction, an always growing and expanding design/build firm serving the Western suburbs since 1997, seeks add to our team. Green Grass, Inc. focuses on providing a full spectrum of landscape services while specializing in high-end residential design. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT/DESIGNER Applicant is to have working knowledge of planting and hardscape design, construction methods, design sales and client/project management. Proficiency in CAD (Dynascape) and 3D modeling (Sketchup) is required. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus. Applicant is to have a BLA or related degree. All experience levels are to be considered. Please email resume, portfolio and salary requirements to: contact@greengrasslandscape.com. All inquiries are kept confidential.
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Designers must demonstrate applicable experience or education such as an accredited landscape design program, certificate or equivalent. Computer (Excel & Word) and confident sales skills a plus. Compensation based upon prior experience and skill level as demonstrated by portfolio, plus incentives. Please send resume to: krista@digrightin.com
Account Managers Acres Group, one of the top 20 professional landscape contractors in the nation, is seeking qualified candidates for their open positions throughout the Chicagoland area: ACCOUNT MANAGERS (junior & senior levels) Opportunities in Wauconda, Roselle & Plainfield -Manage a portfolio of accounts in lawn and snow providing high levels of customer service; make horticultural recommendations & sell property enhancements in lawn and ice melt in snow; sell new contracted lawn & snow accounts. Entry level positions manage a small portfolio of accounts in addition to assisting and shadowing senior level account managers. * Join our industry leading team! To view full job descriptions and apply online, visit us at www. acresgroup.com or contact Maria@ 847-487-5071.
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
Please Email: hire1@classiclandscapeltd.com Inventory Manager – Plant Health Manager Goodmark and South Branch established in 1985 as a specialized nursery growing large specimen shad trees of four inch caliper and above along with ornamentals of eight foot height and above. Join our industry leading team! Inventory Manager: Maintain live, accurate inventories of Goodmark Nurseries and South Branch Nurseries; both in computer systems and on an Excel Spreadsheet. Update inventories on all platforms daily. Monitor additions of plant material harvested, purchased and depletions of plant material sold. Scout plant material for quality, disease and insect issues. Plant Health Manager: Maintain a high quality plant product maintaining insect, disease and weeds levels within acceptable thresholds. Train and supervise field workers applying chemicals at both Goodmark and South Branch Nurseries. To view full job descriptions and apply online, visit us at www.goodmarknurseries.com or contact Maria @ 847.487.5071
Classified Ads HELP WANTED Landscape Architect/Design Associate Thornapple Landscapes, Inc. is a full service residential and commercial landscape company with over 65 years serving the Fox Valley and Chicagoland areas. We have a career opening for a highly motivated individual with landscape architectural design experience/ interest to join our professional landscape design team. Working with our team of landscape professionals, the qualified applicant will provide daily support in many areas of planning, design and construction, preparing design sales packages while gaining sales and construction experience in the field of landscape design-build. Previous entry level or internship experience in the landscape industry is beneficial, with knowledge of plant materials, landscape design, construction skills, and general computer skills necessary to perform the required tasks.
Thornapple Landscapes is a well-regarded, high quality oriented firm which will give the right person a challenging and exciting career opportunity in the field of landscape design-build. If interested please send your resume with qualifications and work history to office@ thornapplelandscapes. com and you
HELP WANTED will be contacted for an interview. All inquiries will be completely confidential.
Estimator/Sales Assistant/Project Manager Green-Up has been creating enjoyable playground and outdoor park spaces for over 30 years and is seeking an Estimator/Sales Assistant/Project Manager: Obtains plans on projects generated by lead from Sales Representatives or publication and does plan take offs, coordinate material pricing with the purchasing department and entering bid information into computer systems. Join our growing team today!
CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES January 2017 issue ads: December 15, 2016 February 2017 issue ads: January 5, 2017 PLEASE NOTE:
“HELP
HELP WANTED
The Landscape Contractor January 2017
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The Landscape Contractor January 2017