The Landscape Contractor magazine January 2020 Digital Edition by Association Publishing Partners

Person of the Year Joe Hobson

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January 2020

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: ILCA Awards & Honors Person of the Year 10 Joe Hobson, Midwest Trading Distinguished Supplier Award 12 Kaknes Landscape Supply

2019 Scholarship Winners 14 An investment in the future of the industry

Know Your ILCA Board of Directors 16 Capsule introductions to all 12 members Making Connections 32 Preview the 2020 iLandscape program

EN ESPAÑOL

iLandscape 2020 Show Highlights Something for everyone

Building Sustainable Landscapes Build a beautiful Birdscape

Member Profile 60 Accent Landscape Design Revisiting Your Plant Palette 66 Chelone

On the cover... C.B. Conlin Landscapes, Inc. and Night Light, Inc. won a Gold award in Residential Landscape Construction for this 2018 project — Elevated Sanctuary. The Landscape Contractor January 2020

66 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message New Members Classified Ads Advertisers Index Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee Joe Hobson Accent Landscape Design Kathy Freeland

Calendar 4 5 7 58 62 65

JANUARY

January 29-30-31, 2020 iLandscape Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg

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FEBRUARY

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 13, 2020 Young Professionals Event Aquascape St. Charles

Volume 61, 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

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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

ILCA Staff

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March 24, 2020 Hardscape Illinois NIU Naperville

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From Where I Stand — Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ Into the future - Fly like an Eagle, The Steve Miller Band

If you were born before 1985, the year 2020 sounded like the future. That wasn’t the first year that sounded like the future. In 2000, we embraced tomorrow. We all partied like it was 1999, bought silly glasses in the shape of 2000, and hoped the world’s nuclear arsenals wouldn’t launch the moment the clock struck midnight. Next came 2010. That year was more subdued as the country had just been plunged into a recession. That funk caused us all to forget about flying cars and consuming food pellets. Well, now 2020 is here, the future is nigh. ILCA recently held its annual Board and Committee Chair Summit this past December. Each year, we gather the entire Board of Directors, staff, and the Chairs and Associate Chairs from our 19 standing committees. In the end, we usually have a room full of 50 of ILCA’s most dedicated and forward thinking members. The Summit this year used the theme of external challenges facing the landscape industry. We asked committee members to come prepared outside of the typical complaints of “labor and weather.” We wanted a deeper dive into what keeps our members up at night and what concerns they have as we round the bend towards the next landscape season. We let all Summit attendees know they are not there to solve any problems that day. That is ultimately the Board of Director’s job based on feedback from the Summit. Instead, we want Summit attendees to have the types of dialog that we all love to have; we talk about problems without any interest in solving them. Basically, every social media and barroom argument since the beginning of time. The attendees were broken into six tables that mixed contractors of similar size with a healthy dose of Board members, staff, and suppliers sprinkled-in for nuance. We all asked-and-answered the same questions and then shared the results with the larger group. The final question of the day asked all the attendees to look into the future. At first, we were given 15 minutes to think about what the landscape industry would look like in three years and then 15 more minutes to discuss what it would look like in ten years. The three-year prognostications had less ambiguity and a lot less creativity. They revolved around the question of whether we anticipated a recession or not and how a recession would either eliminate or amplify a brutal labor market. We talked about contractors learning to say “no” to certain size jobs or clients as rising operating expenses will dictate stronger scrutiny. We dabbled a bit talking about the H2B program and robotic mowers and pesticide bans, but for the most part, 2022 felt remarkably like 2019. 2029 was a different story. Whenever we talk about “the future” we have a tendency to get a bit whimsical and farfetched. We talked about self-driving cars, robots and AI, growth regulators, and the magical discovery of the “fourth season” that would make seasonality obsolete. I mean, will we even have landscapes when we are living on the moons of Jupiter?

We even consulted a website called willrobotstakemyjob.com. It is a portal into the 2013 research by Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne that examined the likelihood of 702 occupations being replaced by robots. The authors estimated that 47% of American professions are at risk for complete automation. The bad news for landscaping and grounds keeping workers is that those employees have a 95% chance of being automated. The good news for landscape employers is that those employees have a 95% chance of being automated. Landscape architects have a 5% chance. First line supervisors have a 57% chance. Tree trimmers have a 77% chance. Pesticide sprayers have a 97% chance. If Frey and Osborne are proven right, iLandscape 2040 may just be droids bumping into each other and sucking back pints of oil at vendor keg parties. After spending a few minutes conjuring up a scifi utopia somewhere between the Jetsons and Blade Runner, a heavy dose of reality set in. Brandon Losey, the Chair of the Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee asked a poignant question, “Looking back, what happened over the past ten years that was the game changer?” Immediately, we felt our tether tighten and we began to get pulled back towards earth. When you look back ten years versus forward, a decade doesn’t seem so long. Flying cars come back to earth in the form of battery-gas hybrids. Robot foremen running robot crews get replaced by human crews running a robotic mower. Clients strapping on virtual reality helmets to do a digital walkthrough gets replaced by 3D visualization software run from a laptop. Progress is made, the industry changes, but squint and 2009 looks a lot like 2019. We never feel like we are living in “the future” even though we are literally and perpetually always one second behind it. Our group at the Summit considered the top five changes to the landscape industry over the past ten years. First, mobile phones have completely changed how we communicate with our clients, colleagues, and coworkers. In 2009, I had a clamshell Motorola Razr with a 1.3 megapixel camera. The iPhone 11 has a duallens camera with a 12MP camera with both a wide angle and ultra wide angle lens. My Razr had 1GB of storage, there is an iPhone 11 version with 256GB of storage Phones can be a distraction, but they have made all of us better and more efficient professionals. Phones have become swiss army knives whether it’s GPS, vehicle tracking, digital timesheets, Google Earth, or the ability to snap a photo of any plant or problem at anytime, anywhere. Second, client demands have changed. Part of this is the popularity of HGTV and the misunderstanding that landscape and construction projects can fall neatly into 60-minute blocks minus commercials. Clients are more demanding and expect service professionals to be available 24 hours per day because those clients are usually accessible to their own employers 24 hours a day. Clients want to see landscapers less (or not at all) and demand more. If landscape contractors are expecting that to change, it’s not going to. In fact, it’s going to keep heading in the other direction. We are probably a few years away from landscape installation jobs being completed without ever speaking to a client in person. Contractors can bemoan the loss of customer service,

Back to the Future

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

From Where I Stand —

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but this is how future landscape customers want to be serviced. Third, weather extremes, especially warmer temperatures and excess moisture. Your Mom on Facebook may think climate change is a myth because she had to wear a shawl in May, but climate change is much more than bizarre weather fluctuations. The hallmark of climate change is increased precipitation and warmer winter temperatures turning would-be snowfalls into rain and ice events. Illinois’ heartiness zones were changed in the past decade and we’ve had one sustained drought in ten years. The increased precipitation has led to an explosion in onsite water mitigation strategies and created true “landscape emergencies” as piping excess storm water into sewers is no longer an option in many established communities. Fourth, battery-operated equipment is still coming into its own in the landscape market. The next decade will see major advancements and potential state and local ordinance that see the phase-out of 2-cycle engines on blowers, trimmers, and chainsaws. Although it debuted in 2000, and was majorly improved in 2005, the Dingo and other similar compact utility loaders created a major shift in the marketplace. A compact loader was a fraction of the cost of a skid, allowed for greater crew efficiencies as the labor market tightened, and decentralized the marketplace where the cost of specialized equipment prevented smaller companies from hardscape and grading jobs. Fifth, social media has become a go-to for how clients find, evaluate, and refer landscape professionals. Ten years ago, it was all about having a slick website packed with information. Now, websites are just art galleries with minimal text as social media has been asked to do most of our heavy lifting. Community and moms’ networks have become referral machines hidden from view of most professional landscape companies. From April to July landscape companies are deified or demonized by social media users. An entire subset of the population has replaced Consumer Reports with unverified reports from consumers and washing a stained online reputation can take years. If the past 10 years are our guide, the most vital tools of the next 10 years are already here. Their ubiquity and power are hidden in plain sight. It may be robotics that allow maintenance crews to shrink or disappear. It may be alternative fuel sources. It may be technology that allows crews to never come to the shop and be met onsite by a preloaded self-driving truck and trailer loaded with everything they need for the day. It could be changes to the supply chain that take a page from Amazon in regards to speed, efficiency, and depersonalization. It could be pesticide bans or water and salt regulations. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I would wager the next major industry-shifting change will exhibit the following characteristics: 1. It’s going to be less exciting than you think. 2. It’s going to be more impactful than you think. 3. It’s already here. So, we just have to wait and see. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, “The best (and worst) thing about the future is that it happens one day at a time.”

Scott Grams December 19, 2019

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

President’s Message — January…a time for planning, reflection, and little but of culture.

Today, I would like to share some Mexican culture with you all. It deals with our concept called “Maraton Guadalupe- Reyes” which refers to the time period from December 12th to January 6th. During this period, we celebrate one occasion after the other creating this concept of a “marathon of festivities.” The list is as follows: December 12th, we celebrate la Virgen de Guadalupe; December 16th through the 24th, we celebrate the nine Posadas (Parties) and then Christmas Eve Dinner; December 25th is Christmas; December 28th is Holy Innocent’s Day; December 31st is New Year’s Eve then to New Year’s Day; culminating to January 6th, which is the arrival of the three Wise Kings which we celebrate with la Rosca de Reyes (Kings Cake). The goal during this period and challenge is to attend these lively festivities, enjoy the delicious food and drink in the company of loved ones, and dance as much as possible. On another note, at our association, strategic planning is underway. Our capable directors are ready with ideas that will determine the next three years’ direction. In regards of our businesses, its also the time to use our passion, patience, and perseverance that characterizes us so as to introduce the magical thinking that entrepreneurs have that maintain viable companies year after year for this great industry we make up. Lastly, I hope to see everyone at the 2020 iLandscape Show this January 29th. There is still time to register and this year it will be full of new and better experiences, as well as a few surprises.

President

Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.com

Vice-President

Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com

Secretary-Treasurer

Scott McAdam, Jr. McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com

Immediate Past President Tom Lupfer Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com

Directors

Eric Adams Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com

Sincerely,

Jennifer Fick Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com

José M. Garcia, President of ILCA

Allan Jeziorski Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allanj@hartmanlandscape.net

Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com

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 Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-8160 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

www.ilca.net

Enero…tiempo de planeación, reflexión y un poco de cultura.....

Hoy. quiero compartir con ustedes un poco sobre la cultura de México. Se trata de un concepto llamado “Maratón Guadalupe-Reyes” que se refiere de modo informal al perìodo que comienza el 12 de diciembre y termina el 6 de enero. Durante ese lapso se celebran varias festividades que si se únen todas juntas se crea un verdadero maratón de festividades. He aquí la lista: 12 de Diciembre, celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe; del 16 al 24, se celebran nueve posadas; el 24 de diciembre es también la Cena de Nochebuena, el 25 de diciembre, Navidad; el 28 de diciembre. Los Santos Inocentes; diciembre 31, la Cena de Fin de Año; el 1 de Enero, Año Nuevo y finalmente el 6 de enero, la llegada de los Tres Reyes Magos, celebrado con la Rosca de Reyes..! Durante este maratón de fiestas el reto es de asistir y degustar los riquísimos platillos, bebidas típicas en compañía de familia, amigos y una buena música para bailar..!! Porotra parte, en nuestra Asociación ILCA, la planeación estratégica está a la puerta con el grupo de directores listos y dispuestos con ideas, para determinar el rumbo de los próximos tres años. En relación a nuestros negocios, es también momento de aplicar la pasión, paciencia y perseverancia que nos caracteriza para implementar el pensamiento mágico empresarial que mantiene a nuestras compañías viables año tras año en esta gran industria de la que formamos parte. Por último espero verlos a todos en el espectacular 2020 iLandscape Show el próximo 29 de enero, todavía hay tiempo para inscribirse, este año estará lleno de nuevas y mejores experiencias, así como muchas sorpresas. Saludos cordiales,

José M. Garcia Presidente de ILCA The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Scott Byron & Company, Inc. â&#x20AC;˘ Lake Bluff Lincoln Park Elegance

Located in Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lincoln Park, the property of this

yard. A series of bluestone steps flanked by a brick retaining wall lead up to another garden gate, which opens up to a grand lawn newly designed residence has been completely transformed into an space lined with an arborvitae hedge, hydrangea, and a luxurious outdoor environment that makes the owners feel right at home. multi-level terrace designed for entertaining and family enjoyment. The main entry of the home is raised several feet above grade A meticulous level of detail went into the stone selection, paving which provided an opportunity for the Landscape Architect and pattern, and spatial arrangement of the terrace. A large lawn space Architect to coordinate the elevations and detailing the front stoop, ideal for leisure activities leads guests through the property to a basraised planter, window wells, and banding around portions of the ketball court and small seating area surrounded by hydrangea. A sechome. Because the property is in a highly populated area, designond garden path lined with espaliers and specimen ornamental trees ing for increased privacy and security were also important and leads to a secret garden in the corner of the property. The garden is incorporated into the master plan. Other site challenges included lush with arborvitae, whitespire birch, a Belgian fence, and a beautiful access, site grading for adequate drainage, and organizing to fit stone wellhead filled with seasonal annuals. The space is both a garmany site amenities in a city sized lot. den room leading to an exit point and serves a prominent view from A sophisticated, formal design aesthetic unifies the landscape the home office. The nearby garage roof has a live roof system to to the architecture of both the home and neighborhood through mitigate stormwater runoff and to counter the urban heat island effect. plant selections and design. As visitors enter the property, they Through hard work of the design and construction teams, the cross through a custom metal gate which leads to a grand front completed landscape addressed and exceeded all goals of the client. entry with groupings of seasonal annuals in built-in planters to In addition to the functional requirements, unifying the built enviwelcome guests. Alternately, a bluestone stepper garden path ronment and creating outdoor spaces with rhythm, harmony, and nestled between shade perennials, boxwood, ornamental trees, and elegance created spaces just waiting for memories to be made. stunning garden containers guides one along the transition to rear The Landscape Contractor 9 January 2020

ILCA Awards & Honors —

ILCA’s 2019 Person of the Year Joe Hobson by Nina Koziol

Joe Hobson is a quiet,

An outdoorsman who loved thoughtful guy. If you don’t know him, hunting and fishing, he debated you should. He’s president and chief pursuing a career in forestry or operating officer of Midwest Trading wildlife management, but ultiin Maple Park, Illinois. And, he was mately decided on landscaping. recently chosen as ILCA’s Person of “If I went into one of the other the Year. When ILCA President José two, I might well end up in the Garcia called to give him the good boonies, which would be fine, but news, Hobson said, “I was speechless. I had a close, tight family and a lot It’s quite humbling and quite an honor.” of friends. I decided landscaping Hobson’s 23 years of professional would give me more versatility leadership experience in the horticulture and would allow me to balance my industry followed more than 30 years work and family.” in landscape management, design and maintenance. He’s served on ILCA’s Career Choices board and is a past-president. A friend who was studying “Joe has worked for some of the landscape architecture gave him largest member companies within advice. “I concluded that I wanted ILCA, but he always tried to walk in to do landscaping, so I switched the work boots of the small, indepento the University of Missourident contractor,” said Scott Grams, Columbia.” He graduated in 1986 ILCA’s executive director. “Joe realized there was a silent with a degree in horticulture with an emphasis on landscape majority of members who needed more from the ILCA than design. golf outings and glass plaques. He committed himself to After graduation, Hobson had an internship at Powell understanding what the average member needed and challenged Farms, an 800-acre site near Kansas City. “The owners joined the Board and staff to address those needs above all others.” with the University of Missouri to figure out what to do with the farm.” He worked there for two years becoming the interEarly On im director and performing master planning. “Working with Raised on a farm in southwestern Missouri, Hobson the master planners was interesting, but it’s a one-time shot appreciates the importance of hard work. “I did everything and done, even though it takes many years to implement the from mending fences and working cattle to hauling a lot of plan.” And, the planning involved a great deal of paperwork hay and cutting a lot of firewood. I had a never-ending appeand approvals that made projects cumbersome and drawn out. tite,” he said. “I like the system where we go get things done—I decided to At 17, he worked after school and on weekends for do something different.” Gladys and Brown Thomas, an elderly couple with a greenOne of the master planners gave Hobson job leads. “I house and big garden. “I’d cut the grass, water the greeninterviewed with the Brickman Group who took a chance house, dig potatoes, attend to customers or deliver plants— and hired me. That’s what really got me into the landscape whatever needed to be done. They were super good people to world.” That was in 1988 and he stayed at the Long Grove, be around and I was fortunate.” Illinois, location for five years before transferring to Atlanta Hobson knew he wanted to go to college. “Out of the 15 for three years where he handled the firm’s commercial landgrandkids on my mom’s side, very few headed in that direcscape maintenance. “In the design-build world, each project tion and I was the first to graduate.” He started at Southwest is a “wow” factor. In maintenance, it’s much more repetitive. Missouri State University where he took an Introduction to I found my passion improving properties and developing Horticulture class as a freshman. “I didn’t have a game plan, but people.” during that class a landscape segment caught my attention.” 10 The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Seeking Perfection In 1995, Hobson went to work with Frank Mariani, another mentor. “I ran the maintenance division and learned so much from so many people. Larry Weil took me under his wing and taught me how to do the best quality work you could find in the country. Frank and Larry mentored me through that transition. That’s where I explored a whole new level of landscaping and how to get to perfection.” It was at Mariani that Hobson recognized the account manager and crew leader are the two most important people in the client’s eyes and that employee career paths were critical. “We developed support systems to satisfy customers and train employees on required skills. Recruiting nationally helped build a bench for growth.” He’d have new hires rotate on crews. “You need to literally do the work for some period and then you understand what it’s like to work in varying weather conditions and to develop the detail-oriented skills and mindset necessary. Working with different crew leaders in the field accelerated education.” Back then, there was a shortage of people joining the industry. “I wanted the top one percent of graduates and became involved in recruiting.” He visited schools in several states and developed relationships with professors. “These relationships were important because I could explain what we did and if students wanted to move to Chicago and do this kind of work, they’d refer them.” Hobson was also involved with ALCA the former National Association of Professional Landscapers. “They held a student competition each year which moved around the country. I was heavily involved with that for seven years in a collaborative, relationship-building manner. I learned a lot and it forced me to get involved in a broader scale with the school system.” Training goes a long way with willing participants. “It’s learning to deal with difficult people. I have a pretty high level of patience and tolerance. If someone is talented, but can’t get along with people, I can’t change you, you can only change yourself.”

program which was a lot of fun and hard work to implement. Fortunately, Joliet Junior College said yes to participating. It took over 50 judges on one day to test participants, which is a testament to ILCA voluntarism. Proudly, at Mariani we had 32 candidates achieve certification.” Hobson was also part of ILCA’s professional oversight committee. “I asked ‘how do we know the resources are aligned and are right for our members?’ We formed a group and our job was to analyze each event and give it a thumbs up or down.” He has a tremendous amount of respect for ILCA. “I’ve taken the time to get to know about the original founders and old-timers. I view it as we stand on their shoulders. It’s important that we respect our history and align for our future to the mission.” In 2003, Hobson returned to Brickman where he spent the next decade overseeing residential services in Chicago. “There’s a culture of giving back at Brickman and I’m thankful to Neil Carter and Rick Corby for allowing me to continue with ILCA when I was on the board.” Hobson has been with Midwest Trading since 2013, where he says ownership, leadership and overall company values are of highest integrity. “We work closely with our sister company, Midwest Groundcovers and I sit on the board of both companies.” The best part of his job? “It falls into a few buckets. I really enjoy strategic planning—where are we going and how do we get there—watching others grow and be successful, and the alignment of our products and services to customer solutions. The company cares about people and is extremely involved in the industry. A great example to others.” Success is based on teamwork. “I value our team’s opinions and input—they know best what is happening. Listening to others and acting on their input creates a positive and collaborative environment when they are part of the decision-making process. My job is to pull it all together in an effective manner and then we can agree there’s a path.”

Down the Road A lot of Hobson’s time is spent looking to the future and where the company is going. “We focus a lot on our company culture and values. Some of it is just how we get along with one another as well as making critical business decisions.” ILCA Connection Hobson and his wife Sue live in Woodstock and they have two Hobson joined ILCA in 1996 at Frank Mariani’s sugadult daughters, Hannah and Olivia. They also have a young godgestion. “Not too long after that I became involved with the son, Daniel, who they spend a great deal of time with and they’re Joliet Junior College Horticulture Advisory Committee.” involved with their church. “I could have golfed a lot more or been He also joined ILCA’s education committee and spent 120 outdoors more, but it’s not a sacrifice, it’s a choice. I’ve learned hours developing an advanced pruning course. to be happy and satisfied when I decide what I want to do.” “ILCA adopted the Certified Landscape Technician The Landscape Contractor 11 January 2020

ILCA Awards & Honors —

ILCA Selects—

Kaknes Landscape Supply Distinguished Supplier Award

by Nina Koziol Dave Kaknes is one happy guy. Not only is his company celebrating its 30th anniversary, Kaknes Landscape Supply in Naperville received ILCA’s Distinguished Supplier Award, which recognizes members who have made enduring contributions to ILCA and the green industry over the years. “I’m happy the timing worked out that way,” Kaknes said. “I moved to Illinois in 1983 from Connecticut and one of the first things I did was join ILCA. I wanted to network with members and it was always a strong organization.” He was working for Shemin’s (now SiteOne Landscape Supply) on the East Coast and moved to Addison, where Shemin’s was constructing a new facility. In 1989, Kaknes started his own business.

get done and done now. The challenge is that you build a staff to service the spring season and then you have to find a way to keep everybody productive the rest of the year.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced? In our industry, particularly the supply side, one of the most challenging things is the seasonality. It’s all hands on deck in spring and then things tend to get more controllable in summer before they pick up again in fall.

How has the business changed? The perennial side of landscaping is huge now. When I started the business 30 years ago we had daylilies and hostas and we thought we were in the perennial business. Now, perennials are a major part of our inventory. To service your customers you need a really high degree of product knowledge. When you start adding perennials, it’s a whole new skill set and you need someone on board who understands that.

What’s one of the best things about your business? Some of the best things about the industry are the worst things about the industry. The seasonality kills me. I’m basically starting my business all over again in spring. Even after 40 years, I feel like I’m starting from zero. The plus side is that I have a lot of family time and travel time. I can do a lot of things in winter that many people in other industries cannot do. I’ve built my social life and my family time around that. My kids were hockey players so I could be involved with them in winter and skiing became a big deal for my family. The seasonality of the job is as big a plus as it is negative. What do you enjoy most about the industry? I love the fact that the landscape industry is a relatively small industry. The connections you make—they’re life-long relationships. It’s nice to be involved in an industry that is really driven by small to mid-size companies. And, it’s nice working to beautify and landscape America. How do you deal with downtime in the winter? There’s a lot of prep work and marketing that can be done, but the pace is different. In spring, everything has to 12

How does Illinois compare to Connecticut? The winters of ’83, ’84, and ’85 were horrendous here! It was minus 20 degrees for weeks at a time. Those first couple of winters I wondered what the heck I got myself into. There was a 10-day period where the temperature never got above zero, but Illinois was a good move for me. We’ve been here for 36 years and I’ve got three kids all born here. It was a good place to raise a family.

What advice do you give people entering the industry? You need to be flexible in a lot of ways. It goes back to the seasonality—be prepared for long hours and weekends in the spring. Understand that you’re not going to be working 80 hours every week, but in the heat of the season—that’s something you need to wrap your head around. You’ll be much more valuable to an employer if you can do a lot of things. You have to find a way to be productive all year. What worries you at night? What is the next bug that’s out there, the next virus that’s going to render what we consider a staple plant to not be viable? Boxwood, for example—we don’t know what’s going to happen with that. I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know what’s going to be the next hot item or what’s going to be a dog. But, I’ve been blessed. To be honest, in my wildest dreams I never thought I’d be in Illinois with a solid business that’s provided for myself and family for 30-some years. The landscape industry has been good to me and whatever I can do to give back to the community, I want to do that.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

TOUGH AS NAILS

2020

GEM BOX

ILEX

This dense, dwarf, broadleaf

AVAILABLE FROM THESE SUPPLIERS:

evergreen is a perfect boxwood

Alsip Home & Nursery St. John • 219-365-0882

alternative, with small, dainty, dark green leaves and compact branching

Cedar Path Nurseries Lockport • 847-768-9800

that continues tight to the ground.

CJ Fiore Prairie View • 847-913-1417 Foundation Nursery Momence • 815-954-6455

• Native to North America

Kaknes Landscaping Supply Naperville • 630-416-1002

• Deer resistant • Shade tolerant

Lurvey Landscape Supply Des Plaines | Park City | Volo www.lurveys.com

• Salt tolerant • Evergreen

GEM BOX® Ilex glabra ‘SMNIGAB17’ USPP 27,554, CBR 5629 FULL TO PART SUN • USDA Zone 5-9 2-3' tall and wide

Midwest Groundcovers St. Charles • 847-742-1790 Siteone Landscape Supply siteone.com

www.provenwinners-shrubs.com

Stoneleaf Nursery Eureka • 309-261-7008

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

ILCA Awards & Honors —

Congratulations Scholarship Winners! Katherine Bulin Oak Brook, IL

Matthew Callo Chicago, IL

$10,000 Scholarship University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

$2,500 Scholarship Illinois Institute of Technology

James Martin Scholarship James Martin Associates, Inc.

Ronald R. Damgaard Memorial Scholarship Otto Damgaard Sons, Inc.

Polyhronis (Paul) Kouros Winthrop Harbor, IL

Angel Martin Indian Head Park, IL

$5,000 Scholarship Purdue University

$2,500 Scholarship College of DuPage

The Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship The Church Family and organized by Bruce Church of Balanced Environments

The William E. “Bill” Dahlgren Memorial Scholarship Fiore Nursery and Landscape Supply

Andrew Kielion Batavia, IL

Dheya Sylvia Pio Wheeling, IL

$5,000 Scholarship College of DuPage

$2,500 Scholarship University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Schwantz Family Charitable Foundation American Endowment Foundation

Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship R.A. Schroeder Family of Balanced Environments 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.

2020 Scholarship Applications Available Now www.ilca.net 14

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

International 60 x 18, LS 9095 with custom floral design for EDAW at Barnes Jewish Hospital, Saint Louis, Missouri.

Planting Design: Focal Pointe Outdoor Solutions, Inc., Caseyville, Illinois.

Planters and garden ornaments for fine gardens . . .

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Special Feature

Know Your Board of Directors President

Vice President

Secretary/Treasurer

Jose Garcia

Donna Vignocchi Zych

Scott McAdam, Jr.

jgarcia@naturalcreationslandscaping.com

ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com

McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com

Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com

Years on the Board of Directors:

Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991

What I’d like ILCA members to know: You have made a wise decision by lining yourselves with ILCA. My years on the Board have culminated as the President of this fine association. My agenda and desire to improve the ILCA is fueled by my passion for this industry; a passion I know you all share. Próspero Año!

What I’d like ILCA members to know: ILCA is a very special organization and serving on the Board is a great honor. Keeping our members and our industry’s well-being at the forefront of our minds is our responsibility. It is a responsibility I try to do with integrity, persistence and heart.

What I’d like ILCA members to know: As a second generation board member, following in the shadow of my father, ILCA is where I was able to establish my own identity in this industry. The ILCA is a very tight-knit family and it is an honor to be able to assist our members with continued opportunities for education, advocacy, and support in their business endeavors.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Immediate Past President

Tom Lupfer

What I’d like ILCA members to know: While running my company is my job; being involved with ILCA is my career. It is where I go to learn about the latest innovations and what’s going on in the industry. The shared knowledge of the members is the greatest benefit of being a member. Please attend as many events as you can and introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. You will learn as much from them as the presenter.

Special Feature

Know Your ILCA Board of Directors Director

Director

Eric Adams

Jennifer Fick

Allan Jeziorski

Jeff Kramer

Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com

Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com

Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allan@hartmanlandscape.net

Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 403-8433 jwkramer@kramertree.com

Years on the Board of Directors:

What I’d like ILCA members to know: We’re fortunate to be associated with an industry that creates a positive impact on our environment. As changes are inevitable, it’s our responsibility to be at the forefront of what we contribute to on a daily basis all while, working alongside some fascinating individuals. Enjoy what you do!

What I’d like ILCA members to know: I’m excited about the public awareness campaign that was launched at the iLandscape Show. Our industry is filled with talented, dedicated and professional people. This campaign is an excellent way to inform the public of who we are, what we can do and why we’re an important trade.

What I’d like ILCA members to know: ILCA has accomplished many great things in 2019. We will continue to increase the professional awareness of our Association as ILCA members are talented, professional, hardworking and passionate. I am proud to be in the landscape industry. We will keep fighting the good fight!

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

What I’d like ILCA members to know: I have met a lot of great leaders in our industry that have a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am looking forward to working together with our team to help tackle challenges in the green industry. The ILCA has a lot of members and I am looking forward to meeting more and more at upcoming ILCA events to talk about success and keeping up to date on trends and issues that affect us all. Hope to see you soon at the next ILCA event!

Special Feature

Know Your ILCA Board of Directors Director

Director

Kevin Manning

Ashley Marrin

Dean MacMorris

Mark Utendorf

K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com

Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-8160 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net

Years on the Board of Directors:

What I’d like ILCA members to know: As board members, we are here to serve the greater good of both our membership and the landscape industry. Give us a call or drop us a line with your thoughts. While the Board of Directors may seem distant, we care about each and every member and how we can best support them.

I am proud to be a member of such an amazing network of landscape professionals in ILCA. This industry has always been a part of my life and I strive each day to grow. I work in our small family landscape business and understand the daily challenges and struggles we all face. I want you all to know that I am here for you. Please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to listen, share ideas, and help solve challenges you might be facing.

Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

What I’d like ILCA members to know: In my 40+ years in the landscape industry from crew laborer, to degrees in hort and LA., I have focused on my passions on helping others meet their potential. I learned the value of strategic planning and facilitate the planning process wherever I worked to help grow the people and companies. I have facilitated strategic planning for ILCA for the last four years. As a member of ILCA’s Board of Directors and president of Night Light, Inc. my goal is to improve the association in whatever little way I can.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Years on the Board of Directors:

What I’d like ILCA members to know: As a board member the last three years and an active committee member, I have really come to appreciate the importance of ILCA in protecting the interests of our industry. I have been surprised to see the many issues that continue to arise and how we are able to apply the combined expertise and voice of our membership to address them. ILCA makes a difference by doing what no individual company or person could ever do alone. By promoting education, legislative advocacy, and professionalism, we help everyone in the green industry thrive.

welcome iLandscape: The Illinois and Wisconsin Landscape Show

making connections January 29–31, 2020

iLandscape 2019 had over 5,000 attendees! See for yourself what all the excitement is about. Don’t miss the 7th annual iLandscape Show. The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) and Wisconsin Nursery & Landscape Association (WNLA) are proud to present iLandscape 2020. The show will be hosted at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel, located in Schaumburg, IL. Attending the iLandscape Show will help you make new connections, gain new knowledge, learn new ideas, see new products, and more! The show will feature over 275 exhibitors, the hottest products, amazing educational speakers, ILCA’s Excellence in Landscape Awards Night, entertainment, prizes, a Career Fair, and much more. Visit over 500 booths to see the latest trends in plants, green industry products, hardscapes, equipment, and more. Enjoy the Wednesday night party featuring The Cash Box Kings! Have fun and win prizes at the new Thursday night party: Bingo, Beer, and Buddies! iLandscape gathers the best minds in the green industry as part of its educational program. The event features over 50 unique education sessions. Spanishlanguage education sessions are available at no additional cost and students can attend the show for free and receive discounted rates on education! Join thousands of landscape professionals for three days and two nights of industry fun and excitement.

Table of Contents What’s New at iLandscape 2020.....................................23 Exhibitors .............................................................................24-26 Wednesday Education................................................... 27-29 Irrigation Workshops .............................................................29 iPix Photo Competition ........................................................30 Artists and Musicians .............................................................30 Wednesday Night Party and Prizes .................................31 Thursday Education ........................................................32-35 Clases en Español ...................................................................35 ILCA Membership....................................................................35 Awards Night.............................................................................36 Friday Education .............................................................. 37-39 Student Activities .................................................................. 40 Career Fair ................................................................................. 40 The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel................................................................................41 Parking .........................................................................................42 About Schaumburg................................................................42 Registration ...............................................................................43

Making Connections at iLandscape 2020!

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

EXHIBIT HALL HOURS 9:00am–4:30pm

EXHIBIT HALL HOURS 9:00am–2:00pm

EDUCATION SESSIONS 8:00am–9:15am 9:45am–11:00am 1:30pm–2:45pm

EDUCATION SESSIONS AND SPANISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION 8:00am–9:15am 9:45am–11:00am 1:00pm–2:15pm 2:45pm–3:45pm

EDUCATION SESSIONS 8:00am–9:15am 9:45am–11:00am 11:30am–12:45pm

IRRIGATION WORKSHOPS 8:00am–12:00pm 1:00pm–5:00pm

RAFFLES AND GIVEAWAYS 4:15pm

BINGO, BEER, AND BUDDIES 4:30pm–6:30pm

STUDENT ROUNDTABLES 10:00am–11:30am

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PARTY— CASH BOX KINGS 4:30pm–7:00pm

ILCA EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE AWARDS NIGHT 5:00pm–9:00pm

RAFFLES AND GIVEAWAYS 1:45pm

The Landscape 2Contractor January 2020

CAREER FAIR 9:00am–1:00pm

what’s new for 2020

What’s New at iLandscape 2020 Our Premier Sponsor Belgard®—part of Oldcastle APG—offers a complete collection of paver and wall products for outdoor living spaces, walkways, driveways, parking areas and retaining walls. Available in a range of styles, premium Belgard products have been found in America’s finest homes and award-winning commercial and retail properties since 1995. For more information, visit them in booth #1636.

MicroGreen Talks Breakout sessions in the Formal Garden meant for active discussion and networking. A moderator will present on a topic for 10 minutes followed by informal discussion afterward. Check the website for more information!

Thursday, January 30, 2020 4:30pm-6:30pm • Innovation Hall Join us after the show on Thursday for beer, games, and cash prizes! Bingo, Rubik’s Cube Madness, Tiki Ring Toss, and more. There will be cash prizes for all games and free beer!

iLandscape Show Mobile App We are pleased to announce we’re launching an iLandscape Show mobile app for 2020! View daily schedules, explore exhibitor information and the floorplan, make a personalized education schedule and view materials, network with other attendees, and more!

Check the website for more information on downloading the app. The Landscape Contractor 3 2020 January

exhibitors iLandscape 2020 will feature 284 exhibitors (33 new exhibitors) showcasing the hottest products and services for the lawn and landscape industry. EXHIBIT HOURS Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

9:00am–4:30pm

9:00am–2:00pm

1st Choice Equipment............................ 1734 A A Stone Impex, India..................... 1046 A beep, LLC ........................................... 918 A. Block Marketing ............................ 1305 A.D.R. Bulbs, Inc ................................... 1113 Advanced Turf Solutions ................. 1642 Alert Distributing Inc. ........................ 1304 Alexander Equipment Co., Inc. ..... 1714 Alliance Designer Products ............ 1806 Alta Falls and Pond Supplies ......... 1206 Alta Equipment Company .............. 1341 Altorfer Cat ............................................ 1031 Aquascape Inc. ...................................... 1822 Ariens & Gravely .................................. 1316 Arlington Power Equipment .......... 1136 Armintrout’s West Michigan Farms, Inc................................................ 946 Arrowhead Ornamentals ................. 1807 Arthur Weiler, Inc................................. 1244 Atlantic/OASE....................................... 205 Atlas Bobcat LLC .................................. 1917 Avant Tecno USA ................................ 1246 B and B Bedding Inc.......................... 1809 Badger Evergreen Nursery LLC ... 1143 Bailey Nurseries ................................... 1118 Ball Seed .................................................. 930 Banner Sales and Consulting Inc. 1033 Bartlett Tree Experts ......................... 208 BCA Products ....................................... 816 Belden Brick Company..................... 419 Belgard ..................................................... 1636 Better Bilt Products Inc..................... 815 Blu Petroleum ........................................ 835 Blue Grass Farms of Indiana ........... 1342 BoBBex, Inc. ........................................... 206 Braun Tree Nursery ............................. 321 Braun Wire Basket .............................. 319 Breezy Hill Nursery, Inc..................... 302 Bronze Memorial Foundry .............. 506 Brown Precast ....................................... 605 Capital Stoneworks ............................. 909 Cardno Native Plant Nursery.......... 1135 Carlin Sales/ProGreen Plus............. 1026 Casey Equipment Co., Inc. .............. 1510 Cassidy Tire ............................................ 1230 CAST Lighting LLC ............................. 1507 Cedar Path Nurseries ......................... 906 Central Sod Farms, Inc. .................... 1319 Central Turf & Irrigation Supply ... 905

Cherokee MFG ....................................... 1010 Cherry Springs Nursery .................. 521 Chicago Gas Lines .............................. 1936 Chicagoland Grows, Inc. .................. 1119 Chicago Region Trees Initiative/ The Morton Arboretum .................... 203 Chi Turf ..................................................... 1842 Christiansen Farms ............................. 516 Classic Groundcovers Inc ................ 1043 Clean Cut Tree Service ...................... 942 Clesens ..................................................... 1413 Clesen Brothers, Inc. .......................... 1045 Clesen Wholesale ............................... 1139 CNIA Sales (Crop Insurance Solutions) .............. 317 Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs .......................................... 1509 Compeer Financial.............................. 1311 Connor & Gallagher One Source ..................................................... 520 Conserv FS ............................................ 1804 Contree Sprayer and Equipment . 920 County Materials Corp. ..................... 404 Crum-Halsted Insurance ................. 118 Cub Cadet............................................... 304 Curv-Rite Aluminum Edgings ....... 1407 Dauer Manufacturing......................... 406 Decker’s Nursery ................................ 204 DeKalb County Lifts ........................ 622 DeVroomen Garden Products ...... 1704 DeWitt Company ................................ 1035 Diamond Blade Warehouse ........... 1039 Ditch Witch Midwest ......................... 1834 Docuprint Forms & Signs ................ 102 Doty Nurseries ...................................... 1021 DPM Inc/Dutchman Industries ..... 1240 Dutchman Tree Farms, LLC............ 1920 Dvorak Landscape Supply, LLC .. 402 DynaSCAPE Software....................... 1111 EasyPro Pond Products ................... 1208 Eby’s Evergreen Plantation Inc. ..... 947 ECHO, Inc. ............................................... 1844 Ecoturf Midwest Inc. .......................... 1405 Ecoverse ................................................... 1905 Eden Valders Stone ............................ 904 Edgelock ................................................. 320 Emergent Safety Supply ................. 1708 Encore Landscape Lighting ........... 934 Ero-Tex/Hanes ...................................... 1410 Evergreen Nursery Co Inc. .............. 301

The Landscape Contractor 4 January 2020

Ewing Irrigation..................................... 421 EZ Kut Products .................................. 945 Fabriscape, Inc. .................................... 910 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries, Inc. ........................................ 1913 Feece Oil Co. ......................................... 1406 Fertilizer Dealer Supply ................. 517 Fiore Nursery and Landscape Supply ............................... 1238 First Place Oils ...................................... 1145 Fond du Lac Stone, Inc. & Natural Stone Veneers ...................... 1306 Forrest Keeling Nursery ................... 1019 Four Star Greenhouse, Inc. ........... 422 Fox Ridge Nursery .............................. 1216 Gempler’s ............................................... 503 Goodmark Nurseries........................... 1204 Graf Tree Care, Inc. ............................ 401 Grasshopper Company .................... 1848 Great Lakes Landscape Supply..... 322 Green Glen Nursery Inc. .................... 1121 Green Soils Management ................ 201 Grow It! Garden Socially ................... 932 Halloran Mowerworks........................ 820 Halquist Stone ....................................... 1313 Harrell’s, LLC .......................................... 116 Hayward Distributing Co. ................ 1546 Herman Losely & Son, Inc. .............. 1811 Hicksgas/Liberty Propane .............. 819 High PSI Ltd. ............................................ 216 Hillside Lifts ............................................. 812 Hinsdale Nurseries Inc. ...................... 1339 Home Nursery, Inc. .............................. 1317 Homer Industries, LLC ...................... 1505 Hometowne Insurance Services, Inc. ........................................... 818 Hortech, Inc. ........................................... 1604 Hortica, a brand of the Sentry Insurance Group .................... 1036 Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire ... 1409 Husqvarna ................................................ 1646 HydroBlox Midwest ........................... 202 ILCA/WNLA............................................ 1112 Illinois Arborist Association .......... 305 Illinois Brick Company ...................... 1810 Illinois Green Industry Association ............................................. 1310 Intrinsic Perennial Gardens ............. 1915 Ivanhoe Nursery................................... 1439 J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. ............. 1312

John Deere .............................................. 1536 John Holmlund Nursery ................... 1037 Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. ..................... 1308 JULIE, Inc. ............................................... 1340 Kaknes Landscape Supply .............. 912 Kaneville Tree Farms........................... 1020 Kankakee Nursery Co. ........................ 1333 Kasota Stone Fabricators................ 1907 Keystone Hatcheries LLC ................. 1210 King Nursery ......................................... 505 Klyn Nurseries, Inc. ............................. 501 Knapheide Manufacturing Company (The) ..................................... 1030 KO Supply Company, Inc.................. 804 Kramer Tree Specialists .................... 1220 Krukowski Stone Co., Inc. ................ 1012 Kuenzi Turf & Nursery ....................... 1706 Lafarge Fox River Stone ................... 810 LandscapeHub ...................................... 808 Landscape Materials & Firewood Sales .................................... 1022 Leaves Inspired Tree Nursery ......... 1924 Lemke Stone, Inc. ................................. 1337 LF George, Inc. ..................................... 1934 Lincoln Nurseries .................................. 1018 Listerman & Associates ..................... 1048 Loma Vista Nursery, Inc. .................. 846 Longshadow Classic Garden Ornaments .............................................. 811 Lurvey Supplying Landscapes...... 1818 Mariani Plants ........................................ 1017 Martin Implement Sales ................... 1412 Master Mark ........................................... 944 McGinty Bros., Inc. .............................. 1107 McKay Nursery Company ................ 913 Metal Pless ............................................... 218 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Chicago .................................. 1841 Midwest Arborist Supplies............... 821 Midwest Compost LLC ...................... 1805 Midwest Groundcovers..................... 1514 Midwest Material Management .. 624 Midwest STIHL ...................................... 1838 Midwest Trading................................... 1614 Modeco Systems, LLC....................... 1918 Monroe Truck Equipment................. 937 Morris Trailer Sales, Inc. ..................... 840 MTI .............................................................. 1346 National Seed ........................................ 1608 Natural Repellents .............................. 1816 New Moon Nursery ............................. 120 Northern Family Farms ..................... 1212 Northland Farms LLC ........................ 814 Nursery Supplies, Inc. ........................ 1705

NYP Corp ................................................ 215 Oakville Stone....................................... 616 Occidental Chemical Corporation ........................................... 602 Oly-Ola Edgings, Inc. .......................... 1105 Omega II Fence Systems .................. 207 Onarga Nursery Company............... 842 Oregon Pride Nurseries, Inc. ....... 221 Oregon Products ................................ 603 Ornamental Growers Association .............................................. 1117 Pace, Inc. ................................................. 1144 Pace, Inc. ................................................. 1444 Paradise Robotics ............................... 519 Pave Tool Innovators ............................1941 PBI-Gordon ............................................ 621 Peerless Fence & Supply .................. 1909 Perfect Turf ..............................................1744 Permaloc Corporation .........................1013 Phoenix Irrigation Supply................. 1443 Pine Hall Brick Company .................. 1044 Pizzo Native Plant Nursery .............. 1218 PlantRight ................................................ 604 Premium Travertine ............................ 841 PRO Landscape by Drafix Software .................................... 619 ProLine Equipment Div...................... 806 R.A. Adams Enterprises, Inc........... 1214 Rain Bird ................................................... 1005 Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements .................................... 848 Reading Rock, Inc. ............................... 219 Redflint Rock & Stone ........................1008 Reinders, Inc. .......................................... 1329 RentalMax LLC ...................................... 1710 Riverfarm Nursery................................ 1147 Riverside Plastics Inc ........................ 1242 Rochester Concrete Products....... 834 Rosetta ..................................................... 1610 Rotochopper, Inc. ................................ 418 RR Landscape Supply....................... 1141 Russo Power Equipment ................. 1330 RWC Insurance Group ...................... 911 Sable Marco Inc. .................................... 839 SafetyFirst............................................... 518 SavATree .................................................. 1814 Scotts ProVista Turf ........................... 420 SCP Distibutors ................................... 843 Screen Machine/SMI Compact .... 504 SEK-Surebond ....................................... 938 Sester Farms........................................... 318 Shade-Solutions, Inc. ........................ 600 Sheridan Nurseries ............................ 916

THANK YOU TO OUR PREMIER SPONSOR!

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Sika Decorative Concrete ................. 1041 SiteOne Landscape Supply ............. 924 Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. .............. 1115 Spring Meadow Nursery ................... 915 SRW Products ....................................... 522 St. Aubin Nursery ................................. 1404 Stone Age Manufacturing ................ 1914 StoneWall ................................................ 1047 Studebaker Nurseries, Inc ............... 1009 Stuifbergen Flower Bulb Export....................................................... 303 Stumper Industries ............................ 845 SureFoot Hardscape Products ..... 1742 Sure-Loc Aluminum Edging/ Wolverine Tools ..................................... 1042 TailgateMates & The Simple Search Plant Book .............................. 502 Techniseal .............................................. 615 Techo-Bloc Midwest Corp................ 1746 The Davey Tree Expert Company... 1038 The Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. ........ 1234 The Espoma Company ..................... 607 The Mulch Center ................................. 1109 The Rock Stone & Landscape Supply .............................. 1843 The Tree Connection ..........................1004 Tillmann Wholesale Growers .......... 122 Timothy J. Hawley, Inc. ...................... 106 TransChicago Truck Group ............. 844 Triple Crown Products ...................... 1441 TurfMaker Corporation ......................1006 Turtle Creek Nursery........................... 940 Twixwood Nursery ............................... 1224 U.S. Arbor Products, Inc. ................. 948 Unilock ...................................................... 1320 United Greenhouse Systems, Inc. ........................................... 1016 United Label & SATO .......................... 1015 Valley View Industries ........................ 606 Vermeer Midwest ................................ 1436 W. & E. Radtke, Inc. ............................ 104 Walters Gardens, Inc........................... 817 Wandell’s Nursery, Inc. ....................... 1014 Warming Trends.................................... 108 Weather Command .......................... 1911 WI-Department of Agriculture ..... 508 Willoway Nurseries .............................. 1741 Wilson Nurseries & Landscape Supply .............................. 1504 Windy City Cleaning Equipment .............................................. 601 Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc. .. 217 World of Stones USA ......................... 838 Xylem Ltd / Rocks Etc ....................... 1718

New exhibitors Discovery Hall exhibitors

WWW.BELGARD.COM

Innovation Hall (ballroom) exhibitors The Landscape Contractor 5 January 2020

floorplan DISCOVERY HALL

INNOVATION HALL

The Landscape Contractor 6 January 2020

wednesday education The iLandscape Show has a new mobile app for 2020! Download the app to navigate the

program, view handouts, and complete evaluations. Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Education One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions for Wednesday, January 29, 2020

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM EUPHORIA

Dealing with Deer and Other Mammal Pests in your Client Garden Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine

Bambi may be cute, but he and his mother, cousins, and rest of the herd are very hungry and they would love to make a feast of your client’s gardens. This talk will cover proven and humane tactics for gardening with deer, rabbits, rats, groundhogs, and other creatures that are attracted to both edible and ornamental gardens.

NIRVANA

The Art and Science of Making Meadows John Greenlee, Greenlee & Associates

The presentation will review some of the incredible grass ecologies that exist naturally in the United States. Participants will learn how to put nature’s great ideas to use in their own gardens. We can no longer afford to design purely decorative landscapes. All of our gardens need to participate in the true greening of our country. Grasses and constructed-meadows play a huge role in this new direction of American horticulture. Some are calling it the meadow revolution. Come find out what it’s all about.

SCHAUMBURG AB

UTOPIA AB

Designing for Constructability

Kris Sorich, City of Chicago Department of Transportation; Conan Chan, City of Chicago Department of Transportation Designers and contractors who effectively communicate during the design phase can ensure that landscapes, hardscapes, and structures are installed economically and safely. Collaboration between the two disciplines, as well as with fabricators and suppliers, ensures plans are comprehensive and easily translated to the user of the contract documents. The session will cover how design intent becomes reality, how contractor means and methods can inform design, and how the end result achieves the design vision while supplying quality workmanship.

UTOPIA CD

New Landscaping Ideas That Work Julie Moir Messervy, Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio

Award-winning landscape designer and author Julie Moir Messervy walks you through the process of thinking ‘big picture’ about your property. In this inspiring lecture, you’ll see a host of visual ideas as well as design tips, before and after images, case studies, and essential information. From luxurious spaces to those that were built with sweat equity on a shoestring, you’ll come away with more knowledge about how to create comfortable living spaces outdoors.

Landscape Design for Robotic Lawn Mowers Kathy Moseler, Paradise Robotics

The landscape industry must prepare for the rise of the machines. Landscape professionals are already designing for the coming robotic revolution.This presentation gives the necessary background information about how robotic lawn mowers work, their benefits and limitations and how to determine what model is appropriate for a property. Technical issues pertaining to slope angles, proximity to objects, area computation, maximum wire length computation, zone navigation and more will be discussed.

The entire education program was approved by LA CES for Landscape Architect CEUs. Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists PLEASE NOTE: The program is subject to change.

The Landscape Contractor 7 January 2020

wednesday education UTOPIA AB

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM

All-America Selections—Proven Trial Performers for the Landscape

EUPHORIA

New Approaches to Integrated Project Delivery: Pros and Cons for Landscape Architects and Contractors Ron Gorz, Christy Webber Landscapes; Brandon Heidinger, F.H. Paschen; Brad McCauley, site design group, ltd.

Integrated project delivery methods can have substantial benefits for contractors, designers, and owners. Early and collaborative involvement between disciplines can result in more buildable construction documents, realistic pricing early in the process, fewer surprises during construction, a less risky process for the owner, and ultimately a better product. This panel will introduce the latest methods and technologies for successful project delivery approaches.

Diane Blazek, National Garden Bureau

They say that “the proof is in the plant”, but what does that mean? In this session, attendees will learn about the AAS Trialing process. Find out who chooses these historic winners, who the recent winners are and what trends they are seeing in breeding.

UTOPIA CD

Properly Incorporating Tree Care into Your Landscaping Business Mark Chisholm, Aspen Tree Expert Company

Proper tree care can be intimidating and costly. Come learn where to start when adding tree care to your current line of services. 3-Time World Champion Tree Climber and 3rd generation certified Arborist Mark Chisholm will share tips on what techniques work best in the real world of tree climbing and tree removal rigging techniques. He’ll also review what you need to know in order to meet safety regulations and avoid fines.

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM EUPHORIA NIRVANA

Economic State of the Industry Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University

The green industry doesn’t have a crystal ball, it has a crystal “Hall”. Join researcher and sage Charlie Hall for this lively, data-driven session. Attendees will learn which economic indicators are most pertinent to green industry businesses and when the next economic downturn is likely to occur. Find out what you can be doing right now to prepare for the downturn and what to include in your contingency plans.

Solve Your Labor Issues by Growing Leaders Don Evans, LandOpt

Trending labor issues in the green industry are pervasive, and they’re not going away anytime soon. Join LandOpt President Don Evans as he discusses the “qualitative” concept of growing leaders and optimizing talent within existing crews to mitigate labor issues. This session is for landscape professionals not satisfied with the norms of the industry and who want to identify the leaders essential to growing a successful organization in an unforgiving labor market.

NIRVANA

SCHAUMBURG AB

What’s New in the World of Designing for Storm Water Deciduous Tree Cultivars Management in Residential Landscapes Keith Warren, Author, Nurseryman, Tree Breeder Vallari Talapatra, Eco Scapes

Water flows downhill and so do stormwater management issues. Water issues seem to flow from a next door neighbor to the client to the landscape professional brought in to clean up the mess. This session will look at surface features that work when designed and installed correctly. This session will cover how to design rain gardens, dry creek beds, and bio swales that help mitigate water issues so common in today’s back yards. Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists

Learn what’s new, what’s best, and where the industry is in the development of deciduous tree cultivars. The speaker, having recently co-authored The Tree Book: Superior Selections for Landscapes, Streetscapes, and Gardens, will bring us up to date on the best choices among the deciduous tree species and cultivars. The emphasis will be on trees adapted to Illinois. He will discuss the most recent introductions, including his own breeding work, some old favorites, tree trends, and hint at potential future developments.

The Landscape Contractor 8 January 2020

wednesday education • irrigation workshops SCHAUMBURG AB

Online Reputation Management: How to Manage & Benefit from Online Reviews Matthew Olson, Signalfire

Like it or not, online reviews matter. How many landscapers and nurseries are plagued by either no online reviews or poor reviews? Matthew Olson will present an interactive startup guide for businesses starting or struggling to manage their online reputation. From dispelling online review myths to tips to make even negative reviews work in your business’ favor— Matthew’s talk will equip and empower attendees to embrace the new frontier of online referrals.

UTOPIA AB

Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces Jan Johnsen, Johnsen Landscape & Pools

Garden lovers revel being in an outdoor space that is both beautiful and serene. But how can you shape your yard so that it uplifts you? In Gardentopia: Design Basics for Beautiful Outdoor Spaces, Jan Johnsen offers ‘real world’ design techniques for transforming your property. Her fun and hands-on approach is based on her 45 years in the landscape design/build profession. It is a master class in landscape design.

UTOPIA CD

How Selections of Native Plant Species Can Be Used in Landscaping Jane Beggs-Joles, Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.; Anna Brooks, Arcadia Gardens, LLC; Josh Roggenbuck, Walters Gardens

While it’s common to talk about native plants’ environmental value, don’t forget their aesthetic qualities. People want to support the environment, but they also want to enjoy looking out their window. In a more conventional landscape, cultivars may work better than nonnative alternatives. They can be easily swapped out without affecting the design. Hand selected cultivars may convince a more conventional client to use a native species in place of barberry or burning bush.

Two Irrigation Workshop Options! Basic and Intermediate Course Options Sign up for the basic workshop and you can stay for the intermediate workshop at no additional charge. WORKSHOP 1 Irrigation Contractor Essentials: 4-hour Refresher Course Wednesday, January 29, 2020 8:00AM–12:00PM Room: Member Rate: Non-Member Rate: Instructor:

Schaumburg CD $100 $150 Alex Mayfield

This course is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health for 4 hours of continuing education that is legally required for all registered irrigation contractors in the State of Illinois. Course Approval #: 750-221-C3 This four part class covers the essentials for professional irrigation contractors. It will review proper maintenance, positioning, fittings, and connections. Next, it will cover electrical trouble shooting before moving onto drip irrigation design and components. Finally, it will conclude with controller programming and troubleshooting.

WORKSHOP 2 Water Management—One Picture, NOT Three: 4-hour Intermediate Course Wednesday, January 29, 2020 1:00PM–5:00PM Room: Member Rate: Non-Member Rate: Instructor:

Schaumburg CD $100* $150* Larry Cammarata

*This class is free if you attend Workshop 1 This course has been submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health for 4 hours of continuing education that is legally required for all registered irrigation contractors in the State of Illinois. Course Approval #: 750-221-C2 This intermediate class for irrigation professionals will teach the connection between plant needs, soil capabilities and irrigation delivery options. No component stands alone and all function as one unit within the landscape. This workshop will bring all this into one picture. It will show how irrigation brings soil to life, help plantings thrive, and utilizes water as a tool and not a miracle cure.

The Landscape Contractor 9 January 2020

ipix 2020 • artists & musicians

iPix 2020

Submit your best photos to win! $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.

There are 10 Best Photo categories: Black & White Night Water Sunrise/Sunset Trees

• Each category winner wins $100. • Each category runner-up wins $75.

Seasonal Color Flower/Perennial Wildlife in the Garden Wild Card Pet

• The iPix Grand Prize for Best Photo wins $1,000! • The iPix Reserve Grand Prize for Best Photo wins $500! • You may enter one photo per category—in theory you could win up to $2,500! • Contest is open to any iLandscape attendee/exhibitor/ sponsor. You do not have to be an ILCA member to enter. • All winners are notified prior to the show. However, the Grand Prize and Reserve Grand Prize winners will be announced at iLandscape on Thursday, January 30th at 4:00pm. • All winners and runners-up will be displayed on canvases at iLandscape in a gallery setting.

Submission Deadline: January 8, 2020 For more information and to submit your photos, visit www.ilandscapeshow.com/ipix

• All winners and runners-up may keep their canvases. • Only $10 per photo to enter.

ARTISTS & MUSICIANS Foosball

Eric Quigley

Shady Play

FourininaaRow Row Four

HennaTattoo Tattoo Henna Artist Artist

iLandscape is more than a tradeshow! Sid and Hala

Steve Haberichter and Pat Otto

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. NEW this year—games throughout the show—Extreme Foosball, Giant Jenga, Giant 4-in-a-Row, Nostalgic Arcade Games, and more!

The Hopfielders Trio

The Landscape Contractor 10 January 2020

wednesday night party • prizes

FREE iLANDSCAPE SHOW PARTY Wednesday, January 29, 2020 • 4:30pm – 7:00pm Gather with your friends, colleagues or customers for hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and great music.

“The Cash Box Kings rule the roost!” —Dan Aykroyd

The Cash Box Kings are bona fide blues royalty. With their top shelf musicianship and trademark good humor, The Cash Box Kings are a one-of-a-kind blues band. In the words of MOJO magazine, the band is “flawless.” Mixing tough Chicago and Delta blues, jumping proto-rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, soul and steamrolling “bluesabilly” (their original mix of Chicago blues and Memphis rockabilly), they attack every song they play with contemporary authority and old school authenticity.

YOU CAN WIN! $20,000 in cash prizes and more! All attendees at iLandscape can enter to win prizes on the day(s) they attend. Wednesday – Thursday – Friday prize giveaways will include:

Cash Prizes, Chicago Cubs Tickets, Gift Cards to Binny’s Beverage Depot, Cooper’s Hawk, Lettuce Entertain You, and Sam & Harry’s Steakhouse, Wood Carvings, Art, and more! The Landscape Contractor 11 January 2020

thursday education Thursday, January 30, 2020 Education One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions for Thursday, January 30, 2020

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

UTOPIA AB

Landscape Makeovers on Small Sites: Three Case Studies

Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor Magazine; Ashley Marrin, Bret Mar Landscape; Pamela Self, Pamela Self Landscape Architecture; Jeff True, Hursthouse The bread-and-butter projects for many landscapers are makeovers in urban and suburban sites. The design and installation challenges are many: permits, access, clients’ needs, desires, budget, scheduling and subcontractors and suppliers. This program looks at three case study projects—two in Chicago and one in the suburbs—and the ups and downs, twists and turns of the design and installation process.

EUPHORIA

Spirit of Stone—Creative Stonescaping Ideas for Your Garden Jan Johnsen, Johnsen Landscape & Pools

Isamu Noguchi, the artist, said, “Any gardener will tell you that it is the rocks that make a garden. They call them the ‘bones’ of the garden.” In this beautiful, image-heavy talk, award-winning landscape designer Jan Johnsen, shares creative and practical ways you can use natural stone in the garden. We will examine rock gardens dry streams, art, paths, and more. Stone’s durability, coupled with its sustainable uses, make it especially appealing to homeowners and designers.

NIRVANA A

UTOPIA CD

Steve Cesare, The Harvest Group

Resources, Urban and Community Forestry

Top 10 Most Serious Human Resources Why do Trees Die? Gary Johnson, MN Department of Forest Mistakes Landscapers Make The volume, pace, and complexity of employment-related issues distract landscapers from their business goals. From illegal selection procedures, improper workers’ compensation procedures, wage and hour concerns, to potential wrongful termination claims, landscapers walk a fine line between being practical business owners and violating local, state, and/or federal laws. This presentation will cover the most potentially-damaging human resources mistakes landscapers make and how to avoid HR disasters.

It’s an existential question with practical answers. Gain an understanding of “normal” tree metabolism and how abiotic and biotic agents interrupt that metabolism. We’ll also explore the most common abiotic and biotic agents that force trees over the threshold from stress to strain and death in urban landscapes. We’ll also discuss the decline spiral and where we as tree health managers can most effectively interrupt that spiral and preserve trees.

NIRVANA BC

Wild with Intention

Laura Ekasetya, The Lurie Garden Join the Director of Lurie Garden, as she shares how to achieve a layered planting for a public space that is beautiful rather than messy looking. These intricate spaces also support diverse ecology and provide a feeling of wildness. Attendees will learn the basic trajectory of how Piet Oudolf’s design principles changed after working on the Lurie project and how that is relevant today. Laura will also discuss hard-working perennial plants for texture, structure, and multi-season interest.

Be sure to check out the iLandscape bookstore! The ROI of Healthy Urban Trees NIRVANA BC

Purchase popular titles from our authored Shane Carpani, GreenBlue Urban speakers. Many speakers will also be

Mature trees provide a range of benefits to our holding book signings after their lecture! landscapes and communities. At the end of the day, it’s

The Landscape Contractor 12 January 2020

Applied for for CEUs CEUs for for Certified Certified Arborists Arborists Applied

thursday education 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM EUPHORIA

Segmental Retaining Wall Best Practices Ryan Miller, Reading Rock

The presentation will communicate the best practices for the design and installation of a segmental retaining wall based on 25 years of research, design, and field experience. Installers know that an inspecting engineer will use his or her best judgement so it’s essential to bring your best to the table. This presentation will cover design principles, identify considerations for water management, detail geogrid types and installation techniques, cover compaction, and address stability concerns.

NIRVANA A

Root Zone Management: From Plug to Planting

Kevin Donnelly, Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies, Inc. Understand current materials and principals in growing and installing annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees as it relates to the soil environment. Time will be spent on production concepts as it relates to growing media; common blends, components and reasons behind them. When the physical properties start to fail, it can be near impossible to fix without ripping out the plant material and starting over.

NIRVANA BC

Dirt

David Montgomery, Dig2Grow For the past 10,000 years the iconic act of plowing the Earth has exacted a heavy toll that few realize. David explores the compelling idea that we are using up Earth’s soil and how soil has shaped us and we have shaped soil. Society after society has risen, prospered, and plowed through a natural endowment of fertile dirt. While we can’t change history, we can choose to break the ageold pattern that brought down past civilizations.

UTOPIA AB

The Science Behind Carbon & Biological Products in Today’s T&O Market Joseph Marchinchin, Turf Care Supply Corporation

Have you been looking to add carbon-based or biologically-based elements to your turf and ornamental maintenance program? This presentation will examine the science, benefits,

and practical economics of carbon-based and biologically-based products on the market. Joseph will address the role of carbon in plant-soil systems and the science & efficacy of carbon-based products. He’ll also explain the science behind seaweed/kelp extract products, metabolite-based products, and the symbiotic relationship between plants and microbes. You will learn the ‘right’ questions to ask to determine which carbon-based and biologically-based products fit best.

UTOPIA CD

Social Media for Horticultural Professionals

Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine So you are tuned into social media and are having fun pinning, posting, sharing pics, and tweeting away, but how can you expand your brand, presence, and audience as a landscape professional and take it to the next level? This talk is for current social media users looking to increase their reach. Understand audience engagement, what makes one post “viral” while another sits there, and how your online voice can rise above the virtual crowd.

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM EUPHORIA

Hardscaping by the Hour

Paddy Conway, Cotswold Gardens In 45 years, Paddy has learned a thing or two about selling hardscapes. Listen in, as Paddy shares why we should abolish square foot and face foot pricing techniques. You’ll learn how to accurately bid by the hour to stop losing valuable profits from these unique projects. NIRVANA A

It’s Not Time Management

Parke Kallenburg, Advance Consulting Group There has always been 24 hours in a day. Time management is not the issue. Decision management and priority management are the culprits. This session understands the world and pace of landscape professionals and works through the actions and decisions that waste time. Participants will work through a typical day and a typical week, then compare it to their own to discover some simple ways to save wasted time immediately.

Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists

The Landscape Contractor 13 January 2020

thursday education 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

NIRVANA BC

The ROI of Healthy Urban Trees Shane Carpani, GreenBlue Urban

Mature trees provide a range of benefits to our landscapes and communities. At the end of the day, it’s putting a dollar value on those benefits that counts. If we can prove that an investment in healthy urban trees pays off, we can change what is so often the uphill battle of trees on urban landscape projects. This presentation examines the cost of best-practice urban tree planting and the return provided by healthy urban trees.

UTOPIA AB

The Hidden Half of Nature Anne Biklé, Dig2Grow

The Hidden Half of Nature reveals why good health— for people and plants—depends on microbiomes. Anne uncovers the biological similarities between the root of a plant and the human gut. The parallels in her research shed new light on how agronomic and gardening practices, as well as the human diet can be tailored to these microbiomes and transform the practice of agriculture and medicine.

UTOPIA CD

I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me About Landscape Illumination Before I Put In All My Landscaping Dean MacMorris, Night Light Inc.

Make the lightbulb come on! This engaging session will identify the hardship and significant costs to the end-user for waiting until late in the development process to consider landscape illumination. Learn how to properly place landscape illumination fixtures to achieve desired results for the many landscape and key site elements. The session will even discuss the granular topics of site preparation, access to power, controls, permits, scheduling prior to installation, and maintenance considerations.

Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists

EUPHORIA

Misconceptions of Brick Pavers Doug Rose, Pine Hall Brick

In this wide-ranging, comprehensive presentation, various aspects of clay brick will be explored including the rich history, the technical aspects, and current social topics surrounding this age-old material. This presentation will provide a brief but solid background on all things clay brick. We will discuss tips on proper techniques for improving installation to routine maintenance of and care of existing clay brick pavements.

NIRVANA A

Body Language—Are You Fluent? Parke Kallenburg, Advance Consulting Group

This interactive session will have participants recognizing, interpreting, and engaging in language that facial expression, posture, and positioning provide. Part of the session will also help individuals identify the signals each of us gives as a default and how to become more agile in our communication styles. Led by a 36 year green industry veteran with a degree in psychology, the examples and interactions should hit home with each participant and their roles in their companies.

NIRVANA BC

Plant Breeding From a Gardener’s Perspective Hans Hansen, Walters Gardens

With over 150 plant patents, Hans is a well-known plant breeder. This presentation will highlight his gardening style, and the steps plants go through before entering the market. Hans will take you on a pictorial account – from start to finish – on plant hybridizing, evaluation, selection comparison trials, and the process plants go through before entering the market. He will also introduce plants of major significance and the people behind them, and explain what made them such valuable contributions to our gardens.

The Landscape Contractor 14 January 2020

thursday education • clases en español UTOPIA AB

Advantages of Design Technology in Implementing Sustainable Landscapes Eric Gilbey, Vectorworks, Inc.

Many landscape architects and landscape designers reserve computer aided design (CAD) to the design and construction document stages of a project. However, with the ability to analyze and conceptualize a proposed site, utilization of CAD can occur much earlier. This presentation will highlight specific CAD program tools and how design/build professionals can use CAD for erosion control, runoff calculations, cut and fill calculations, existing/proposed plant tracking, native plant selections, sun/shade analysis, among others.

UTOPIA CD

Climate, Weather, and Plants: How Past and Future Changes Impact Landscapes Christy Rollinson, The Morton Arboretum

Weather has whipsawed the industry the past two seasons and cast a dark cloud over margins and profitability. How will warming temperatures, shifting precipitation, and other facets climate change impact our existing plants and what can we do to create more future-ready landscapes? Using historical and modern data, we can better understand what characteristics of ‘natural’ and humandominated landscapes help plants deal with weatherand climate-based stress now and in the future.

Now is the time to join ILCA! Add an ILCA membership to your iLandscape registration and receive: 4 $100 off your first year of membership*

Spanish language classes are free on Thursday, January 30, 2020 La Asociación de Contratistas de Paisaje de Illinois (ILCA) se complace en invitarlo al espectáculo iLandscape del 29 al 31 de enero. El espectáculo se llevará a cabo en el fabuloso Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center & Hotel, ubicado en Schaumburg, Illinois. El estacionamiento es GRATUITO y solo cuesta $25 de admisión por los tres días! ($25 cuando compre el boleto antes del 6 de enero de 2020, $40 después del 6 de enero). Check the website for more information.

MEMBER BENEFITS: • Discounted member rates for educational programs • Networking events

4 Member discounts to iLandscape and other educational programs

*For Contractor (Class A members) only.

CLASES EN ESPAÑOL

• Company profile on ILCA’s website

• Access to manuals/training materials • Political representation in Springfield and Washington D.C. • Access to ILCA’s free legal hotline

• Subscription to The • Landscape Contractor magazine—print and digital • • Exclusive use of the ILCA logo • Listing in ILCA’s Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide

Volunteer opportunities Showcase your work— Submit your best projects for an ILCA Excellence in Landscape Award

• And more!

The Landscape Contractor 15 January 2020

awards night

ILCA EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPE AWARDS PROGRAM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 • Reception begins at 5:00 pm • Dinner begins at 6:00 pm • Program starts at 7:00 pm

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.

Awards Night includes snacks, dinner and the program; cash bar.

Join friends for an evening of mingling, honoring & celebrating: • Excellence in Landscape Award Winners • Person of the Year • Distinguished Service Award Winner • 2019-20 Scholarship Winners • 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.

The Excellence in Landscape Awards Night is 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.

The Landscape Contractor 16 January 2020

friday education Friday, January 31, 2020 Education One fee, three days. Below are the educational sessions for Friday, January 31, 2020

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM EUPHORIA

Are My Oak Trees in Trouble or Not? Tricia Bethke, The Morton Arboretum

Oak trees are an important part of our natural heritage, but have been under attack lately. Learn more about the potential pests, pathogens, and diseases that threaten the health of oak trees in our landscapes. The presentation includes training on how to identify, monitor and manage threatening and non-threatening oak pests and diseases such as Sudden Oak Death (SOD), oak wilt, bur oak blight, oak anthracnose, galls, nutrient deficiencies and other potential threats.

NIRVANA A

Houseplants for a New Generation

Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, The Houseplant Guru Houseplants are more popular than ever. They are flying off the shelves and young people are thirsty for information on how to keep them thriving. “Plant parenthood” is where it’s at! Get the dirt on the newest and best houseplants as well as the tried and true that have been grown successfully in homes for years. Besides, plant selection and maintenance, we will cover houseplants that can be used outside in containers to make them pop!

The entire education program was approved by LA CES for Landscape Architect CEUs.

NIRVANA BC

Color, Texture and Form: A Guide to Compelling Plant Combinations for Sun, Shade and Pollinators Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor

“I’d like more color.” You’ve probably heard that request from homeowners who want to update their landscapes. You know plants and how they work, where to place them and how to care for them. When you understand how colors work together, you can create more effective combinations for beds, borders and containers. Discover how to use three basic design elements— color, texture, and form—to produce garden settings that are pollinator-friendly and visually engaging for your clients.

UTOPIA AB

Reimagining the Perennial Palette from the Prairie Perspective

Kelly Norris, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden The interest in New Naturalism and a market shift towards sustainable and resilient gardening, a new palette of plants has emerged at the intersection of form and function. Perennials used in this style thrive in social arrangements, translating their native ecologies into beautiful communities of plants that require less resources. Many old favorites continue to have a place in these contemporary designs, many underappreciated perennials, particularly natives, have a new context in which to be appreciated.

UTOPIA CD

Managing Your Landscape Business by the Numbers Jeffrey Scott, Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc.

You can work all season long and still not end up with enough profit to justify your blood, sweat and tears. What’s the difference between low profit and high (20%) net profit companies? It’s the standards they work by and the benchmarks they follow. You will learn how to develop benchmarks, strategies and key indicators for your business in order to steer your company towards high profit, while maximizing the engagement of your team in your efforts.

Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists The Landscape Contractor

January 2020 17

friday education 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM

UTOPIA AB

EUPHORIA

Products That You Need to Know About if You Care for Plants

Jennifer Brennan, Chalet Nursery & Garden Center Even plant professionals are not always aware of all the products available to prevent pest and diseases that harm landscapes. Whether it is lawns, trees, shrubs, flowering perennials and annuals or vegetables, there are excellent products to discover. Earth-friendly natural products and synthetic products will be included as well as the pros and cons of all of them. These are products that you need to know before the snow melts this spring.

Modern in the Middle: Restoring and Reinterpreting Midcentury Midwestern Landscapes

Scott Mehaffey, Farnsworth House; Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor A well-designed midcentury house is a thing of beauty. Open floor plans, large window walls, exposed beams and projecting eaves are just some of the defining architectural features. Well-defined outdoor space, floor-level patios, abstract geometric lawns, and restrained plantings are characteristic of mid-century landscapes. The overall intent is a flowing relationship between indoor and outdoor space. We’ll discuss hardscapes, feature elements, lighting, site furnishings and plant materials appropriate for midcentury modern-styled landscapes.

NIRVANA A

Generation “THEM”: Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce

Kristin Scroggin, genWHY Communication Strategies Generation “THEM” examines the “WHY” behind each American generation’s common perspectives so that we can better understand one another and build more cohesive teams. This presentation gives attendees solid understanding of generational norms and the importance of attracting and retaining top young talent to ensure sustainability while allowing them to laugh at how silly we are deep down.

UTOPIA CD

Healthy Hedges Program

Lydia Scott, The Morton Arboretum Invasive woody species comprise 28% of the total tree canopy in the seven county region and are a significant problem statewide. The Chicago Region Trees Initiative, a coalition of organizations working together to improve the health of the urban forest has launched a campaign against woody invasive species. Understand the new Healthy Hedges Campaign and how it provides an opportunity to recognize landscapes that succeed in removing and replacing these woody invasive species.

NIRVANA BC

Get Out & Grow Hemp for Fun and Profit William Moss, Get Out & Grow

Changing times present new opportunities. William Moss will discuss the emerging hemp industry in the Midwest region. There’s a brief overview of cannabis history, botany, agriculture, and products. An examination of Illinois’s inaugural 2019 hemp season will be experienced through the perspective of the Hemp Coach. The closing will assess the potential of hemp crops. Successes, failures, pitfalls, and proven procedures will be covered.

Networking at iLandscape 2018

Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists

The Landscape Contractor 18 January 2020

friday education 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

UTOPIA AB

EUPHORIA

How to Design Practical and Efficient Compensation System Steven Cesare, The Harvest Group

The area of employee compensation is often misunderstood, clouded by historical misconceptions and current complexities. Given that compensation is critical to employee recruitment and retention it is critical that landscapers gain sufficient clarity to position their human resources programs, annual budgeting, and organizational plan for optimal accuracy and success. This presentation will present applied information regarding the legal aspects of compensation systems, as well as common methods for developing bonus plans, salary scales, and administrative procedures.

HortEcology: Lessons from Wild Plant Communities Kelly Norris, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Kelly’s love for native plants and his experiences with wild plant communities have shaped his career in profound ways. Kelly strives to interpret native ecosystems into beautiful, functional landscapes in the urban context. Too often, professional horticulturists appropriate plants as if they were inanimate objects, instead of truly understanding how plants interact and function within the landscape environment. Join Kelly in an exploration of wild plant communities and their constituents from across North America that will inspire and inform your professional practice.

NIRVANA A

UTOPIA CD

Mark O’Brien, Cardno Native Plant Nursery

Jessica Walliser, Horticulturist, Writer & Radio Host

Practical Native Landscapes for the Corporate Campus Corporations are looking for ways to become more sustainable. The challenge comes with making these areas presentable and it all starts with the design. This presentation will fall back on 20 years of experience to answer the questions that dog commercial and sustainable landscape design. It will address why so many native projects get replaced, the most common problems associated with natives, and how the site should be managed to avoid a maintenance nightmare.

NIRVANA BC

Creative Screening: Beyond Arborvitae

Heather Prince, Fearless Gardening How do we hide the neighbors? Many of our clients desire screening from undesirable views in a part of the garden or yard. While arborvitae is a favorite traditional hedging evergreen, there are many more options to enliven and beautify spaces! Explore hardy evergreen and deciduous plant options that offer a creative buffer in a tight space, including care and siting requirements. Find out how using plants as screening can be beneficial for people as well as birds, bees, and butterflies.

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden

Understanding the cycle of predator and prey is an integral part of growing organically. Using information assembled for her award-winning book, Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control, Jessica shines some light on the methods needed to attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, to the garden – and keep them there. She presents groundbreaking university research regarding the intricate connection between plants and insects, and explains the need for maintaining the garden’s natural balance. Jessica describes over a dozen species of beneficial insects found across North America and accompanies the lecture with beautiful images of the predators themselves and their favorite host plants. You’ll never look at bugs the same way again!

Applied for CEUs for Certified Arborists

The Landscape Contractor 19 January 2020

student activities • career fair

STUDENT CAREER DAY AT iLANDSCAPE

High ol Scho

COLLEGE

Friday, January 31, 2020 iLandscape welcomes all studious students, prepared pupils, unbelievable undergrads, and serious scholars. Students may attend any day of iLandscape at no cost but Student Career Day will be Friday, January 31, 2020. The complete educational program is available to students at a reduced fee. Any student looking to make the jump to becoming a green industry professional cannot miss this incredible day at iLandscape. 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, student roundtables with mentors, Career Fair, a career board featuring jobs from the landscape industry’s top firms, prizes and giveaways, as well as access to the show floor.

10:00 AM – STUDENT ROUNDTABLES The highlight of student career 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.

Looking for work? Join us! Friday, January 31, 2020 9:00 AM–1:00 PM Entrance into the career fair is FREE! Are you looking for work? The career fair will feature top Illinois landscape companies looking to add you to their team. Bring your resume and a hearty handshake. Participating companies will be announced in December. Check the website for more information.

The Landscape Contractor 20 January 2020

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. 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.

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 6, 2020.

Booking your room is easy, below are options for your convenience: • Link directly to the Renaissance Schaumburg Center Hotel reservation page Direct Link: https://book.passkey.com/go/iLandscape2020 • Call 1-877-303-0104 and reference: iLandscape: The Illinois + Wisconsin Landscape Show

Book your stay at Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel and receive the following benefits: • 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.

The Landscape Contractor 21 January 2020

parking • about schaumburg 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 is limited. To rectify the situation we have added a spillover lot at IKEA Home Furnishings that will be running 5 concurrent shuttles on each morning of the show. There will be no waiting or lines for shuttles in 2020. 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

SPILLOVER PARKING Spillover parking may be in effect as early as 8am on each day of the show. Should it be required, offsite parking for this event will be located at IKEA, only 1.2 miles from the Renaissance. 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.

Spillover parking at IKEA.

IKEA 1800 East McConnor Pkwy Schaumburg, IL 60173

AIRPORT INFORMATION Chicago O’Hare International Airport—ORD www.flychicago.com/ohare

Midway International Airport Chicago—MDW www.flychicago.com/midway

Hotel is 13 miles NW of O’Hare Airport.

Hotel is 32 miles NW of Midway Airport.

The Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel does not provide shuttle service to/from airports. ABOUT SCHAUMBURG, IL

ENTERTAINING & 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 high-end 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 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 Landscape Contractor 22 January 2020

registration JANUARY 29â&#x20AC;&#x201C;31, 2020 SCHAUMBURG CONVENTION CENTER SCHAUMBURG, IL

Join the conversation! #iLandscape2020 BE PART OF THE iLANDSCAPE EXPERIENCE! 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.

PRICING

Early rate: On or before 1/6/2020 Late rate: After 1/6/2020 Tradeshow-only:

Early: $25

Late: $40

Education (Includes Tradeshow): Early: $99 ILCA/WNLA Member / $149 Non-Member Late: $129 ILCA/WNLA Member / $199 Non-Member Awards Night:

$95

Students: Students must be registered through a college or university. Tradeshow: Early: $0 Late: $0 Education: Early: $25 Late: $35

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. By participating in the 2020 iLandscape Show you

CANCELLATION POLICY Education Sessions/Awards/Irrigation Workshops: Please send cancellation notice in writing to iLandscape (information@ilca.net). Cancellations received by 1/6/2020 will be subject to a $25 processing fee per person. There will be no refunds after 1/6/2020. Trade Show: Registrations for Trade Show-Only are non-refundable.

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.

Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Questions? Call 630-472-2851

The Landscape Contractor 23 January 2020

Enfoque: Sección en Español

iLandscape

the illinois + wisconsin Landscape Show

estableciendo contactos

Por Meta Levin

Si desea codearse con algunos de los nombres

más destacados y brillantes en la industria verde, la Feria y Conferencia iLandscape 2020 es el lugar indicado para hacerlo. Patrocinada por la Illinois Landscape Contractors Association y la Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association, la Feria iLandscape 2020, con el tema de “Estableciendo contactos”, está programada para realizarse del 29 al 31 de enero de 2020 en el Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL. La serie de más de 50 eventos educativos (cinco por cada segmento temporal) está repleta de algunos de los nombre más conocidos en la industria, muchos no solo en el ámbito nacional, sino también internacionalmente: John Greenlee, William Moss y Kelly Norris, por nombrar solo algunos. “Kelly fue el conferencista más solicitado para la iLandscape de este año”, afirma Kim Hartmann, Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery and Garden Center, y Presidenta del Comité de Educación de iLandscape 2020. Es, afirma, un ejemplo de cómo el comité presta atención a las sugerencias de los asistentes. Norris, Director de Horticultura y Educación del Jardín Botánico de Greater Des Moines en Des Moines, IA, Kelly Norris es un escritor, fotógrafo y cultivador galardonado. Es autor de varios libros muy conocidos sobre horticultura, incluyendo el popular Plantas con Estilo y sus trabajos han aparecido en revistas de jardinería, publicaciones especializadas en temas paisajísticos y otros lugares.

“Nos gusta tener personas provenientes de jardines públicos porque se enfocan en la educación”, afirma Hartmann. Para atender la demanda abrumadora de información sobre el cultivo del cannabis (marihuana, hierba) el Comité de Educación ha llamado al chicagüense William Moss, fundador de Get Out & Grow. Educador de corazón, se enfocará en la tendencia más candente entre las nuevas tendencias: cultivar el cannabis para satisfacer la demanda que se espera, cuando su uso recreativo sea legal en Illinois. En este caso, el contenido es tan atractivo como la persona. “Ha estado ocupado William Moss consultando con cultivadores de cáñamo y cannabis”, dice Hartmann. “Tuvimos muchas solicitudes para este tema”. Cuando Moss hable, la marihuana recreativa habrá sido legalizada en Illinois, durante un mes. Coach de jardinería, que provee diseños, capacitación y coaching paisajísticos a clientes en sus propios jardines, Moss es también Maestro Jardinero, conferencista y educador, propagando su mensaje sobre la belleza y las maravillas de la naturaleza. Presentó una serie sobre paisajismo filmada para el Discovery Channel, TLC y HGTV, es autor, experto en ecologización que ha aparecido en programas de noticias nacionales y producido vídeos para canales y empresas de noticias. Hartmann bromea que la hierba es un tema candente “en muchos contextos y de maneras diferentes”, incluyendo, por supuesto, hierbas ornamentales, herbicidas controversiales para céspedes y, ahora, cannabis. (continúa en la página 36)

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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Enfoque: Sección en Español de Productos para J. Frank Schmidt and Son Co. Durante su carrera de 40 años se ha asociado con científicos, obtentores y vivericultores para guiar 87 nuevos cultivares hacia la producción comercial, incluyendo 37 árboles con marcas registradas o patentados de su propio trabajo de crianza y selección. Según Hartmann, Warren se concentrará en lo que da mejores resultados en el Medio Oeste. Hablará sobre muchas variedades nuevas, incluyendo algunas que proceden del Arboreto Morton. No obstante, no todo es horticultura. El Comité de Educación de 13 miembros trató de lograr un equilibrio entre horticultura, elementos sólidos y negocios. “Las personas asisten a las sesiones de negocio”, asegura Hartmann. “Hemos tenido muchas sesiones de negocio, administración y ventas – una buena mezcla de ellas”. Para ese fin, el comité identificó y está invitando a algunos conferencistas que además de ser expertos en varios aspectos del mundo de los negocios, tienen experiencia de primera mano en la industria verde. Kristin Scroggin, socia administrativa y capacitadora principal de GenWHY Communication Strategies, se concentrará en la comunicación entre generaciones, cómo dirigir una fuerza laboral multigeneracional y cómo desarrollar y mantener relaciones entre los jóvenes Kristin Scroggin que ingresan en la industria y los que han estado en ella mucho tiempo. “Hay muchas transiciones en nuestra industria”, afirma Hartmann. Durante sus dos presentaciones en iLandscape, Steve Cesare, de Harvest Group, se concentrará en su especialidad, recursos humanos. A los asistentes parece gustarles las presentaciones de Harvester Group, porque todos los conferencistas provienen del mundo del paisajismo y la horticultura, asegura Hartmann. Con un PhD en Psicología Industrial/ Organizacional, Cesare cuenta con más de 25 años de experiencia en recursos humanos, obtenida, en parte, trabajando como Director de Recursos Humanos de Bemus Landscape Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente. en el Sur de California. También ha trabajado Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en en otras industrias. nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Hartmann está segura de que en Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores iLandscape hay algo para casi todo el mundo. plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección. Su comité incluye a Pat Beuscher, Frank Balestri, Mike Blackwell, Andrew Guelter, Llámenos a Mariani Plants: Alison Hoffman, Andrew Keppel, Becky Kielstrup, Sydney Koonce, Mandy Leifheit, 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com Kevin McGowen, George Murphy, Steve Raczak y Lydia Scott. Dean MacMorris sirve TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR. como asesor de la junta del comité.

(Viene de la página 28) De hecho, John Greenlee, con base de operaciones en California, es conocido como “el Hombre Hierba”, por su trabajo en cultivos y diseño de hierbas ornamentales. Es considerado experto en ecología de vegetación herbácea y partidario del diseño sustentable. Sus clientes incluyen algunos de los nombres más importantes en Silicon Valley, el Apple campus y clientes adinerados en todo el país e internacionalmente. “Tiene muchos lazos con el Medio Oeste”, afirma Hartmann. Incluyendo trabajar con algunas hierbas ornamentales de pradera. Es reconocido por usar una paleta de plantas diversificada para resolver problemas específicos, incluyendo los tipos de condiciones climáticas extremas que estamos viendo. El Libro del Árbol de Michael Dirr y Keith Warren es considerado con frecuencia la Biblia de las industrias de la arboricultura y el paisajismo, afirma Hartmann. Los que lo consultan con frecuencia e incluso aquellos que no lo hacen, tendrán la oportunidad de escuchar a Warren en iLandscape. “Habrá algunas perspectivas nuevas de las que usted no ha oído hablar antes”, asegura Hartmann. Ella señala información sobre diversificación, dónde y cómo utilizar mejor los árboles y cómo muchos están reaccionando a la cantidad de humedad que hemos tenido últimamente. Además de ser coautor de El Libro del Árbol, Warren es arboricultor y vivericultor y fue Director de Desarrollo

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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Building Sustainable Landscapes —

Build a Beautiful Birdscape

by Heather Prince

We love the delightful songs and charming antics of

type. Due to a number of factors including heavier rains, the alley being paved now, neighbors adding on to their houses birds as they visit and thrive in gardens and natural areas. etc., we’ve developed a wet section in the back near the alley How do we invite and encourage them into clients’ landover the years. Instead of fighting that wet area, I look at it as scapes? Pam Karlson of Waxwing Studio gave an informaan opportunity to add differtive presentation at the 2019 ent types of plants that thrive Impact Conference on the Black-throated green warbler feeding among prairie smoke under those conditions. Such many ways to attract birds and as buttonbush (Cephalanthus create important habitat. You occidentalis), Carex, and may have seen recent reports more. There’s many native of the alarming declines in bird plants that will help absorb populations and the challenges water,” observed Karlson. they face with climate change. Karlson recommends As we look for ways to welchoosing native plants and come pollinators, so too, will cultivars of natives to attract birds call the landscape home. plentiful insect populations From the shimmering swiftto feed our feathered friends. ness of hummingbirds to the “A broad array of bloomjoyous songs of house wrens, ing perennials from early in bring on the birds! the season to late fall give “The most important ingrethe birds plenty of differdients are food, water, and ent kinds of insects to feed shelter,” instructed Karlson. on,” said Karlson. “Variety Insects are the primary food is really important so that as for many birds and what they many species as possible can feed their offspring. Water not utilize your garden. Adding only quenches thirst but also in native plants to an existing provides an important bathgarden with non-natives is an ing source for keeping birds approach that will still benefit healthy. Shelter creates places birds. Once clients’ budgets for nesting, roosting and safe allow, they can have nonforaging. “To start, I think of natives removed and replaced layering and plant selectionwith natives if they desire. By in tandem with implementdoing so, it will only increase ing garden design principles the foraging opportunities for (composition, color, texture, birds. Do remove any plants repetition, etc). Tall canopy listed on the invasive species list as soon as possible howtrees, mid-level trees and shrubs, perennials and groundcovever.” ers offer different types of shelter for different species of Karlson feels insects are especially important. “Insects birds. As far as how do you organize the space, it depends on are our friends! They are an ENORMOUS part of many how large the property is and what the growing conditions birds’ diets. A balanced eco-system will take care of itself. are, such as availability of light, wet areas, dry areas, terrain, Birds eat the insects, predatory insects eat other insects, etc. soil condition, etc. I try to work with existing conditions as In our garden, there’s insects yes, but they are not a ‘bother’ much as possible. In our garden, I am embracing our very (continued on page 50) clay soil and choosing plants that will grow well in that soil 48

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Building Sustainable Landscapes — (continued from page 48) because so many are being devoured by the birds, bats, dragonflies, etc.! It’s SO balanced… and a joy to see the symbiotic relationship! It all works together!” She also strongly advocates for removal of invasive plants such as buckthorn, that can easily overwhelm desired natives. Try to reduce as much lawn as possible. If turf is desired, use eco-friendly practices, such as reducing, if not eliminating, pesticides and treatments. More flowers such as clover in the lawn, mean more insect life and more food for the birds. “One of the best things you can do is embrace imperfection,” suggested Karlson. “Holes in leaves are not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing! Many native plants are host plants to caterpillars, which are a HUGE part of many birds’ diets. I hope people can change their thinking on what is a ‘perfect’ looking plant. A bird garden doesn’t just support birds, it also supports insects, pollinators, and more, many of which birds feed on. Expect other non-bird visitors to arrive as a healthy bird garden/habitat supports wildlife in general. Thus, visits from opossums, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, bats, dragonflies, butterflies etc., may increase. Consider that a success! Enjoy the variety! In our garden, we enjoy the visits from wildlife regularly. They don’t create a problem at all. There’s abundant natural food out there that they are foraging for and enjoying. We coexist

peacefully. I celebrate all the nature a bird garden brings.” Water is an essential element and one that is easy for everyone to enjoy. “Water is essential for bird survival and hygiene and they are attracted to the sound of moving water. Adding water attracts larger numbers and a wider variety of species. An added bonus, water features also attract dragonflies which act as natural mosquito control, one of their favorite foods,” observed Karlson. It can be easy to add a small water element to a design that may not require the maintenance of a pond or stream. Karlson suggests trying plants that have leaves that hold water, such as cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) or hostas with cup shaped leaves, such as ‘Drinking Gourd’. Other ways to include water include fountains, pondless waterfalls, bubblers, and birdbaths, especially heated ones in winter. Shelter is the third essential element to a birdscape and the more types of woody plants in your design, the broader array of bird species will call it home. For mid-sized trees, Karlson recommended, “Probably my favorite is serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) available in tree and shrub forms. Native to all US states, except Hawaii, they adapt well to Chicago area soil conditions. Their early spring bloom and June berries support birds on their migration, as well as local (continued on page 52)

Educational Program & Trade Show Education: February 11–13 / Trade Show: February 12 & 13

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

T S A A S EP I P H E T E F T O S G O O N I T H T

, r s OM e e v w .C ri o l-d ic m RNA e e ot A ® V wh b ER all- or ro USQ f H OW e M e. Th ark e at O T m hm o r AU a c m D w n b en ar n AW ne e e A y a ts th %. L N R s b se 70 VA goe rna to Q p US nce qva es u H s S T ma u l i n IR rfor m H inc F ro g S e D' e p 5X f erin L O R l o p 3 uv W e s ®r 4 ane E m e TH tre ow tly m x E tom den Au nfi co

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Building Sustainable Landscapes —

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(continued from page 50) residents. I also have greatly enjoyed the performance of our Winter King hawthorn (Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’) tree. It’s later spring bloom and fall/winter berries support migratory and residential birds.” Native shade trees including oak, hackberry, dogwood, willow, cherry, maple, birch, and hickory provide nesting habitat and food, while also being key host species for caterpillars. For shrubs, Karlson

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

suggested, “Chokeberry (Aronia sp.) and Viburnum. Both perform well, produce nutritious berries and have excellent fall color. There are several varieties to choose from that are readily available from local sources. We also have Diervilla, Clethra alnifolia, Fothergilla, Itea, Rhus, and Hydrangea arborescens. Berry producing dogwood shrubs are great choices, are such as grey dogwood (Cornus racemosa) and red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea). Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is also excellent, with

Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Salvia ‘Mystic Spires Blue’

its bright red berries in winter that birds love.” Let’s not forget evergreens! Their cones and berries are a key food source and they provide valuable shelter. “Evergreens are an important component

in a bird garden to provide cover, especially in winter. We are fortunate that our surrounding neighbors have some very old, large Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees that the birds benefit

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Building Sustainable Landscapes — (continued from page 53) juniper shrubs is Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ with its mounding habit and silvery needles. Native to our area, white pine, (Pinus strobus) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) trees are good choices to support birds. We also have a small row of Arborvitae ‘Holmstrup’ that provides cover,” instructed Karlson. The list of bird-welcoming perennials is long and varied. We asked Karlson to choose some of her favorites: •

Aquilegia canadensis, wild columbine (For spring hummingbirds!)

•

Asarum canadense, wild ginger (An easy groundcover)

•

Asclepias, milkweed family

•

Various asters

•

Carex pensylvanica, common oak sedge

•

Carex sprengelii, long-beaked sedge

•

Chelone sp., turtlehead (For fall hummingbirds)

•

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper (vine)

•

Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower (A finch favorite!)

•

Eutrochium, Joe Pye weed

Penstemon digitalis, foxglove beardtongue (For hummingbirds and a great performing plant!)

•

Impatiens capensis, jewelweed (For fall hummingbirds)

•

Rudbeckia, black-eyed Susan

•

Silphium perfoliatum, cup plant

•

Liatris spicata, blazing star. (The whole Liatris family is great. Birds love the seeds in our garden.)

•

Native grasses such as Panicum, Sporobolus, and Schizachyrium

•

Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower (For hummingbirds)

•

Lobelia siphilitica, great blue lobelia (For hummingbirds)

•

Matteuccia struthiopteris, ostrich fern

•

Mondarda, bee-balm

•

Mertensia virginica, Virginia bluebells

“I also include annuals in my garden as well to offer constant bloom and nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies and pollinators. Salvias are excellent! I find the hummingbirds favor salvia ‘Black & Blue’ and ‘Mystic Spires Blue’. Other hummingbird favorites that I offer is shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana), fuchia, and candy corn vine (Manettia luteorubra),” enthused Karlson. Annuals also offer a big splash of season-long color that can be easy to interweave into existing plantings.

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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When you are maintaining a bird-friendly yard, maintenance requirements change as your goal is to attract and feed our feathered friends. Many of our cherished songbirds feed in leaf litter and mulch, hunting for insects and spiders. Karlson’s recommends these best practices. “No pesticides, including herbicides, if possible. I avoid chemical fertilizers, choosing compost instead. I choose to minimize or eliminate gas powered blowers and mowers, to avoid noise and gas fumes.” One of the most important maintenance tips is to “Keep, don’t cut! I stress minimizing or eliminating fall clean-up of the perennial garden. Many insects, eggs, chrysa lises, and beneficial critters overwinter and/or hibernate in plant debris and fallen leaves, providing additional food (continued on page 56)

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Building Sustainab (continued from page 55) sources for birds. Dried flower heads provide seed and foraging opportunities as well as adding beauty to the winter garden. Leave the leaves! Fallen autumn leaves provide natural mulch and add nutrition to the garden. If a client wants a tidied-up garden, it’s best to try and convince them to wait until the spring.” Not only does birdscaping add muchneeded habitat to the landscape, it also holds great rewards for homeowners and clients. Karlson has found years of enjoyment observing and documenting the 115 bird species that visit her urban oasis in the heart of Chicago. Her years of experience have proved that even a small backyard can make a huge impact. She suggested, “Observe! Carve out time to enjoy observing the visitors and the diversity you are attracting. Birds mostly feed in the morning, and again in the evening before the sun goes

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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ble Landscapes — down. Those are the best viewing times. During migration, many birds migrate at night. They fly into bird gardens in the early morning to forage and will fuel up again in the late afternoon/evening, before taking off to continue their migration.” “There’s so many resources out there including great books, classes, and organizations to learn from! Attend seminars, conferences, and continued education, to build your knowledge. The Wild Ones is a great organization. They offer conferences and seminars with knowledgeable speakers. The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden offer classes, as well as local community colleges. Many bird organizations offer an abundance of information, too.” Karlson also recommends two favorite books, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy and Birdscaping

in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds by Mariette Nowak. As you review landscape plans this winter, why not add something for the birds?

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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Aztech Landscaping, LTD Alex Quintanilla 885 Piper Way Sandwich, IL 60548 Email: alex@aztechlandscaping.com Phone: 815-786-7647 www.aztechlandscaping.com Aztech Landscaping is a family owned company that was founded in 1998. We boast an experienced team of installers and designers. At Aztech we strive to create unique, creative, and beautiful outdoor living spaces that will keep our clients happy for years to come. J&B Landscape Solutions, Inc Brian Edwards 1418 Lombardy Lane Naperville, IL 60540 Email: jblandscapesolutions@gmail.com Phone: 630-768-5330 www.jblandscapesolutions.com We are a landscape maintenance and plant installation company working out of Naperville, IL. Our mission is to be the most valued landscaping and snow removal service in the area. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE OR DESIGN FIRMS Austin Engineering Co, Inc. Sean Rennau 311 SW Water Street, Suite 215 Peoria, IL 61602 Email: srennau@austinengineeringcompany.com Phone: 309-691-0224 SUPPLIERS

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Hubbell Lenoir City Veronica Krenzel 129 E. Jackson St. Villa Park, IL 60181 Email: vkrenzel@hubbell.com Phone: 224-250-3291 www.hubbellpowersystems.com Hubbell Lenoir City manufactures enclosures for the landscape and irrigation industry under the brand names HotBox, Quazite and Pencell. Tameling Industries David Martinet 7500 South Madison St. Willowbrook, IL 60527 Email: dmartinet@tamelings.com Phone: 630-323-7171

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

New Member Profile Snapshot

Accent Landscape Design 33846 N. Wilson Road Ingleside, IL 60041 www.accentlm.com

by Meta Levin

For the last 34 years, Nago Cruz worked for

a large landscape contractor in Chicago’s northern suburbs. Spurred by neighbors and friends who saw what he did in his own yard, in 2014 he decided to go out on his own. “I love landscaping,” he says. “I thought that if I owned my own business, I can do better.” So, Accent Landscape Design was born. Initially, Cruz’s business consisted of two neighbors and himself. People started talking, however, and posting photographs with positive remarks on Facebook. “They started recommending the business,” he says. “They were driving by to see what I was doing.” That led to more business. By 2015, he had to hire four men, then a couple of more laborers. Pretty soon, Cruz had to move over to full time sales and less hands-on work doing the planting. Now, with 80 customers in his neighborhood alone and 200 maintenance customers, with about 300 total landscape clients, it’s no surprise that he is looking to hire a sales and account manager. His son, Sebastian Cruz, works for the company doing communications and computers. Two years ago Cruz added his brother, Berto Cruz, who is a supervisor. “He has 28 years’ experience doing hardscapes, which is one of the reasons that I brought him on board,” says Cruz, putting him in charge of hardscape work. Berto Cruz also has 10 years’ experience in maintenance. In just five years, Accent Landscape Design has grown to 22 employees. “The key is to bring good people on board,” says Cruz. “That is the only way to grow.” Now the company offers maintenance, hardscape, seasonal color and design/build services to commercial office and industrial clients, homeowners associations, retail and mixeduse property, condo and apartment complexes, government agencies, hotels, institutional and healthcare customers, senior living communities and single-family residential clients. Cruz’s goal is to grow more on the commercial side. In order to expand his customer base, Cruz has learned that customers are looking for a good relationship and care. “They 60

like it when we respond quickly when they call,” he says. “That is the number one reason that they say they are going with us.” Clients also point to Cruz’s knowledge, honed over the many years he has spent in the industry. They appreciate that he not only knows the names of the plants, but can make recommendations about what will grow best in what location. “They say that they are looking for someone who can give them recommendations, who is experienced and knowledgeable,” he says. Cruz was familiar with ILCA from his previous job. His employer had sent him to many seminars, which he found valuable. “I’m proud that I took those classes,” he says. “In the next couple of years, I will be sending my key guys to ILCA seminars.” This year he took the plunge and signed up Accent Landscape Design as an ILCA member. “People respect it when they find out that we are ILCA members,” he says. “Especially people on the North Shore.” What he learned from ILCA seminars, as well as the fact that he now is a member, gives him a sense of security when he talks with his customers. “I know a lot of stuff, because I learned it” at the ILCA seminars. Cruz is married, with three children, the two oldest finished college. His daughter is a sales coordinator, who was a marketing major in college and his son majored in communication. “I’m working hard to get him to stay in the business,” he says. “He is taking care of the computers and the phones.” Cruz’s youngest daughter is still in high school. His wife, Maria, works in Accent Landscape Design’s office, taking care of money matters and invoices. And when he isn’t working in the business, Cruz is occupied fixing up his own yard. “I make sure that everything looks nice.” A sports enthusiast, he likes to play volleyball, primarily after work on Fridays. Cruz looks forward to growing a family business, one in which he can give his brother more responsibility and where his children can join him if they choose.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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Landscape Architect/Designer

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Landscape Architect/Designer

Stuber Land Design, Inc., a progressive landscape design-build firm has an opening for a Landscape Architect/ Designer in our Tremont, Illinois office. The full time position will include developing design solutions and graphic presentations along with sales presentations to clients. A Landscape Architect/Designer or degreed Horticulturist with strong skills in design as well as technical computer skills would be best suited for this position. The individual will assist with client communication, as well as project installation oversight, and provide expertise to clients and production team.

We are hiring Landscape Construction Foreman to oversee all aspects of Residential or Commercial Construction. This position coordinates a crew, equipment and materials to assure that projects are completely efficiently. Requires skill in Midwest plant identification, grading, hardscape installation and reading work orders and landscape blueprints. Must have a valid ‘C’ license with a good driving record, minimum 3 years experience. English/ Spanish fluency is beneficial. Contact Rosborough Partners at 847.549-1361 or send resume to resumes@rosboroughpartners.com

Van Zelst, Inc. is recognized in the Chicagoland area as well as nationwide as a leader in a full range of landscape services. We perform all aspects of landscape development and management through a high level of quality experience and service. Our clients include high end private residences, commercial properties, foundations and multi-family developments. All require the uppermost level of customer service and project quality.

Stuber Land Design, Inc. was established in 1994 and specializes in design-build landscape construction and management. Our company is located in Tremont, IL and serves all of Central Illinois. More information can be found online at www.stuberlanddesign.com This is a key position and an exciting opportunity to work for an award winning design-build firm looking to the future. Desirable skills •Experience in Dynascape or similar CAD program, Uvision or similar 3D software and Microsoft Office •Good knowledge of annuals, perennials, and woody plants •Strong design creativity, including hardscape design and sales experience •Ability to work independently and be self-motivated. •Construction experience helpful Interested applicants should email a resume and design samples/portfolio to: info@stuberlanddesign.com

Lawn Maintenance Manager Wanted Bi-lingual Must have experience in field & office. Scheduling, Quality Control & Human Resources. Salary, Company Vehicle, Health Insurance, Vacation & Sick days. Advancement available. Call 708-799-6228 Ext. 22. Ask for Al.

Landscape Foreman Bloomington, IL Serenity Creek is looking for an experienced foreman to lead a landscape installation crew. At least 1 year experience as a landscape foreman and 4 years working on a landscape installation crew. Ability to lead and communicate with crew members and upper management. Proven hardscape experience on multiple types of projects. Top foreman pay with benefits included. Email resumes to: nate@serenitycreekdesign.com

Landscape Architect | Sales Van Zelst, Inc. is recognized in the Chicagoland area as well as nationwide as a leader in a full range of landscape services. We perform all aspects of landscape development and management through a high level of quality experience and service. Our clients include high end private residences, commercial properties, foundations and multi-family developments. All require the uppermost level of customer service and project quality. Position Responsibilities A landscape architect and landscape sales at Van Zelst, Inc. is a position encompassing several major components: Client Interaction and Relationship, Project Supervision, Conceptual Design and Site Analysis, and General Company/Office Activities. These responsibilities and tasks are vital to promote the success of Van Zelst, Inc. and assist Design staff, Project Managers, Operations Director and other Client Representatives. Position Requirements • Four years or more of on the job experience. • A solid understanding of landscape practices and the green industry with local knowledge. • Highly motivated with a strong work ethic and integrity. • Proficient with a wide range of computer software including AutoCad, Photoshop or equivalent, email, Microsoft Office, etc. • Skillful ability to prioritize job duties and multitask in a fast paced environment. Van Zelst, Inc. personnel enjoy paid vacation, health benefits, a 401(k) plan and year around employment. We are dedicated to appointing and retaining the most proficient individuals in the landscape development and management industry. For more information about our company please visit www.vanzelst.com. Please send your resume and multiple project examples to Van Zelst, Inc., Box 250, Wadsworth, IL 60083 or info@vanzelst.com to be considered for this opportunity.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Position Responsibilities A landscape Designer at Van Zelst, Inc. is a position encompassing several major components: Design and Site Analysis, Drafting, Graphic Information Development, Client Interactions and General Company/Office Activities. These responsibilities and tasks are vital to promote the success of Van Zelst, Inc. and assist Design staff, Operations Director and Client Representatives. Position Requirements • Four years or more of on the job experience. • A solid understanding of landscape practices and the green industry with local knowledge and solid graphic skills. • Highly motivated with a strong work ethic and integrity. • Proficient with a wide range of computer software including AutoCad, Photoshop or equivalent, email, Microsoft Office, etc. • Skillful ability to prioritize job duties and multitask in a fast paced environment. Van Zelst, Inc. personnel enjoy paid vacation, health benefits, a 401(k) plan and year around employment. We are dedicated to appointing and retaining the most proficient individuals in the landscape development and management industry. For more information about our company please visit www.vanzelst.com. Please send your resume and multiple project examples to Van Zelst, Inc., Box 250, Wadsworth, IL 60083 or info@vanzelst.com to be considered for this opportunity.

Landscape Construction Supervisor We are hiring Landscape Construction Supervisor. This position supervises/assists crews, orders plant material, coordinates landscape construction projects with staff and client. Must be able to ID Midwest plant material, understand grading, drainage, etc. associated with landscape construction. Requires minimum 4 years of industry experience and/or related degree. Must have a “C” license with a good driving record. Certified Landscape Technician and Pesticide License are beneficial. English/Spanish fluency is also beneficial. Contact Rosborough Partners at 847.549-1361 OR send resume to resumes@rosboroughpartners.com

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

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Residential Maintenance Account Manager (Full Time & Part Time) Responsible for a portfolio of residential maintenance clients, preparing proposals, contract renewals, ID and sell new leads, and ensure quality control is following on client sites. Establishing, building and maintaining clients relationships is key to being successful in this position. Minimum 3 years of Landscape industry experience and/or horticultural degree are required. English/Spanish fluency is a plus. Contact Rosborough Partners at 847.549-1361 OR send resume to resumes@rosboroughpartners.com Entry Level Landscape Design Assistant Poul’s Landscaping & Nursery, Inc., a full-service design/build firm, is seeking to fill an entry level Landscape Design Assistant position in Long Grove, Illinois. Poul’s has been “growing dreams into reality” for over 50 years. We take pride in providing our clients with both the highest quality workmanship in design and installation, and the most reliable and trustworthy customer service experience possible. This full-time position will assist design staff and clients with site analysis, job estimating, project layouts, selecting job materials and regularly use AutoCAD. Competitive salary and benefits package. Requirements: - Associate’s degree focusing on landscape design - Knowledge of AutoCAD is a plus

HELP WANTED

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES February 2019 issue ads: January 3, 2019 March 2019 issue ads: February 15, 2019 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

Please email a resume and cover letter telling us about yourself and why you would be a good candidate for this position to info@pouls.com.

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Successful suppliers know— industry leaders read this magazine.

is the Midwest’s premier monthly magazine for the landscape, nursery and green industry. Professionls’ Choice Award Goes to Chalet

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The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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Midwest Trading ....................................................61 North Shore Truck ..................................................25 Rocks Etc................................................................58 Spring Meadow Nursery .......................................13 The Care of Trees ..................................................14 The Landscape Contractor.......................................64 The Mulch Center .................................................45 Turtle Creek Nursery ..............................................57 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................68 Vermeer Midwest .................................................59

• Members & Advertisers who supply goods and services • Members who sponsor ILCA programs and events

Where will you find them? • ILCA Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide • The Landscape Contractor magazine advertising • The Landscape Contractor magazine reports of events with sponsor acknowledgments • www.ilca.net member lists – Finding a Landscape Contractor & Suppliers to the Trade

Xylem .....................................................................58

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

Revisiting Your Plant Palette — Chelone By Patrice Peltier

For late-summer color— especially in wet

areas — Kathy Freeland suggested readers take a look at Chelone, commonly called turtlehead. “Turtleheads are plants of wet areas such as ditches and wet meadows that bloom in late summer into early fall. They are quite adaptable to garden situations,” Freeland wrote. Situated in either sun or shade, these plants can thrive if given sufficient moisture. Their natural habitats have moist to wet soils with organic matter. If they have room to spread they may appear aggressive as their root systems are rhizomatous and they are known to develop colonies. Freeland further noted that when planted in sun, Chelone may need more moisture in the drier months of mid to late summer. The plant’s common name comes from its flowers which resemble a turtle with an open mouth. Freeland suggested three native species: Chelone glabra, commonly called white turtlehead; C. lyonii, commonly called pink turtlehead, and C. obliqua, called rose or red turtlehead. The flowers of both C. obliqua and C. lyonii are pink to deep rose-pink, whereas C. glabra flowers white. Chelone are upright, clump-forming perennials with stiff, square stems that rarely require staking. The snapdragon-like, two-lipped flowers that bloom from bottom to the top of the dense flower spike attract hummingbirds, butterflies and pollinators. C. glabra is a host plant for the caterpillars of the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly. Trish Beckjord, native plant consultant for Midwest Groundcovers, describes Turtlehead as one of the tall, willowy, statuesque plants of the native world. “I have it planted in my rain garden, and I love the way its slender stems grow upright among the sedges and stems of Riddell’s Goldenrod,” she says. “Chelone are fine plants for late summer or early fall gardens with other autumn-blooming species such as Eupatorium, Asters and Anemone hybrids,” Freeland advised. “Great drifts of Chelone are wonderful with Solidago, sunflowers and ornamental grasses.” Beckjord adds, “I particularly like them with Great Blue Lobelia, Blue-flag Iris and Showy Black-eyed Susan, too.”

Chelone glabra

Height: 2-3’ Spread: 2-3’ Bloom time: August-September Bloom color: White Culture: Full to part sun in wet to moist soils

Chelone lyonii

Height: 3-4’ Spread: 2-3’ Bloom time: July-September Bloom color: Pink Note: C. lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ grows 3-4 feet tall with a spread of 2-3’. It bears hot pink flowers in August-September. Culture: Full to part sun in wet to moist soils

Editor’s Note: Honorary Lifetime ILCA Member Kathy Freeland, a certifiable plant geek, was a regular contributor to The Landscape Contractor starting in the late 1990s. She introduced readers to strange and sometimes exotic plants, frequently offering suggestions on how they might be employed in the landscape. In a world of euonymous and impatiens, she offered a path less travelled. Twenty years later, we offer a look back at how some of her recommendations have stood the test of time.

The Landscape Contractor January 2020

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