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pro grow news Fall 2014

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Summer Conference Highlights MNLA Launches New Website New England Trial Garden Favorites

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pro grow news Fall 2014

contents Features

14 “Down to Earth” Comes to You A brief recap of the 2014 Summer Conference

20 “Down to Earth” Demo Highlights

Sponsors provide insight to a range of products

22 MNLA Launches New Website

Departments 5 President’s Message

Cleaner, more robust site expands access to members as well as consumers

30 New England Trial Garden Favorites

David Fiske offers his thoughts

6 Government Relations Committee 8 Education Committee 10 Safety Sense 12 History Committee 19 Financial Committee 26 Membership Committee 27 Certifiable: MCH News Corner 28 MNLA Product Committee 29 Ad Index On the cover — Fall garden pots Photo courtesy of Karen Howard, MCH Fall|2014

Special thanks to Tina Smith, UMass Extension and Chris Kennedy, MCH, Kennedy’s Country Gardens, for their summer conference photo contributions.

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pro grow news Fall 2014

committees

board PRESIDENT Mary Jesch Cornucopia Gardeners Tel: (508) 879-1822

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Kathy Bergmann, MCH - Chair Bergmann Construction Tel: (508) 533-3831

Rene Fontaine, MCH — Chair New England Botanicals, Inc. Tel: (508) 962-1064

VICE PRESIDENT Tim Lomasney One Source Horticulture Tel: (978) 470-1934

Tim Hay, MCH - Vice Chair Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143

David Ahronian, MCH — Vice Chair Ahronian Landscape & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844

TREASURER Jim Stucchi, MCH Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844

FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM) Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc. Tel: (413) 536-7555

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH)

SECRETARY Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143

Chuck Baker, MCH - Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189

PAST PRESIDENT Jim Connolly, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 293-8028

Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269

DIRECTORS Karen Howard, MCH Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Walter Swift, MCH Swift’s Creative Landscape, Inc.

David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape, Inc. Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney Garden Centers

Government Relations Director Henry Gillet Tel: (508) 567-6288

Government Relations COMMITTEE

Walter Swift, MCH — Vice Chair Swift’s Creative Landscape, Inc. Tel: (508) 478-3768 HISTORY COMMITTEE

Cheryl Salatino, MCH — Chair Dancing Shadows Garden Designs Tel: (978) 460-2180 Jack Elicone, MCH — Vice Chair J.A. Crowdle Corporation Tel: (617) 527-5706 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Mark Ahronian, MCH — Chair Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc. Tel: (508) 429-3844 Peter Mezitt, MCH - Vice Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630 Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208 MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Walter Swift, MCH — Chair Swift’s Creative Landscape, Inc. Tel: (508) 478-3768

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731 Fax: (413) 369-4962

DIRECTOR Michelle Harvey, MCH Lakeview Nurseries Tel: (978) 342-3770 EDUCATION COMMITTEE Kathy Bergmann, MCH Bergmann Construction Tel: (508) 533-3831 Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143 The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, Inc. is proud to be a founding partner of New England Grows.

pro grow news Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org

ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731.

Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.

President’s Message

What Makes You a Great Leader

By Mary Jesch

W

ith our “Down to Earth” 2014 Summer Conference so fresh in our memories, the benefits of membership in MNLA seem obvious to me. Our summer conferences always provide us with the opportunity to catch up with friends, examine the offerings of our vendors, and entertain visiting dignitaries. Who wouldn’t want to be a member of MNLA? First of all, the educational sessions were tremendous, with exciting speakers and interesting topics. We thronged to the demonstrations, took notes during the sessions, and followed up with questions and comments for every speaker.

Secondly, the opportunity to visit one of our members’ sites was too good to miss; the venue for the day was spectacular!

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day, a lovelier site, or more gracious hosts, and the networking, as always, was wonderful. And finally, MNLA had the opportunity to reveal its new website, entice attendees to complete the MCH Plant Geek ID Challenge, and pursue new members. All in all, it was a most successful day.

No event as successful as this one can come to fruition without the dedicated work of committed leaders within the association. It seems to me that we are surrounded with shining examples of the kind of focus that can accomplish such great things. My sincerest thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Summer Conference such a remarkable day.

Recently, MNLA’s Board of Directors has been refining our strategic plan and reviewing our thoughts about leadership within our association. With that in mind, I’d like to present a few of my thoughts about leadership, both within our association and within each of our own businesses.

There is an enormous amount of literature and information available regarding successful leadership, from Amazon to Zappo’s, from Google to Apple, from Starbucks to Walmart, and of course my personal favorite, Disney. Many different business leadership styles and cultures exist, but they all share certain characteristics.

Fall|2014

• Vision. Perhaps the most basic characteristic of a

great leader is personal vision: the knowledge of who you are, what motivates and challenges you, and what your purpose and goals are. It also means you must recognize your own shortcomings and work hard to gain the trust of those around you. Sharing your vision with your management team in a clear and consistent way allows the entire organization to move forward effectively and productively.

• Collaboration. Understanding where your own

strengths lie is crucial to great leadership, but having the good sense to find others who complement your own skill set is equally important.

Your successful team must be comprised of people with multiple talents and many areas of expertise, all focused on the same goal. Collaborating with others who share our vision results in the whole being truly greater than the sum of our individual parts.

• Courage. And finally, great

leaders have the courage to see their vision through to the end, despite external pressures, doubts, or fear. There is a certain amount of risk-taking that must be a part of every successful venture or else there will be no progress. The idea that we can stay where we are and maintain the status quo is a sure path to stagnation and failure.

MNLA is proud to be a leader within the green industry in Massachusetts, and we are happy to provide you with the tools you need to be successful in your own businesses. As you know, MNLA’s long history in our state goes on with no other goal than to be “A Resource for Your Success.” Take advantage of the benefits we offer you — education, networking, certification, political advocacy, products — and come join us in the leadership of our association.

Have a wonderful fall!

Mary Jesch, Cornucopia Gardeners MNLA President

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Government Relations

Legislative and Regulatory Highlights

By Chris O’Brien, MCH

A

s election season approaches, we take stock of what the legislature has wrought and what it means for the nursery and landscape industry as well as agriculture more generally. New laws often produce new regulations issued by state agencies, and there have been plenty of complex rules this year. The legislative and regulatory picture is quite mixed, with lots of work ahead to avoid potentially severe damage to some sectors of the industry.

Significant Actions To Date • The legislature approved a $2.2 billion environmental bond bill to fund a vast array of projects over the next few years. The law includes authorization for $20 million for the Waltham Center for Urban Sustainability project proposed by UMass Extension. MNLA strongly supported this project to rebuild and reprogram the underutilized Waltham field station. The project will require a budget appropriation of funds in the future.

• An economic development bill passed by both

houses extends a 3 percent investment tax credit for capital investments to small agriculture operations.

This legislation extends this credit — which has been available to large agricultural businesses for more than 40 years — to small, unincorporated farms.

• The governor signed a bill increasing

Massachusetts’ minimum wage and freezing unemployment insurance rates. The minimum wage will increase in steps from $8.00 per hour now to $11.00 in 2017. A change to the way unemployment insurance rates are calculated would avoid large increases in rates paid by employers.

• The membership of the Board of Agriculture

was expanded to 13 members in the new budget bill. An increased number of board members had been an objective of numerous agriculture organizations. The board is responsible for the “supervision and control” of the Department of Agricultural Resources according to statute, and the wider farm community had sought more say in how the state’s agriculture policies were being formed. Interestingly, in meetings the agriculture industry has held to date with several gubernatorial contenders, each candidate has voiced support for a strong, broadly representative voice to promote agriculture’s interests to state government.

Site of future Waltham Center for Urban Sustainability

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www.mnla.com

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• Earlier this summer, the Department of

Agricultural Resources published a draft of farreaching nutrient management regulations to comply with a 2012 law. The law pre-empts most local rules, except on Cape Cod, and directs the department to control the application of nutrients (a/k/a fertilizers) consistent with best management practices published by UMass Extension. However, the proposed rules were written with no consultation with affected agriculture sectors and are not in conformance with best management practices. An initial 30-day comment period was extended to 90 days, but the additional time did not change the thrust of the remarks from those who would have to live with the proposed regulations.

They are not workable and need extensive revision. At this point, it appears that this task will fall to the next administration to be elected in November.

• Another set of rules governing the use of water

has been developed over several years by the Department of Environmental Protection under a process known as the Sustainable Water Management Initiative or SWMI. Most farmers and growers are exempt from these particular regulations, but horticulture could be severely affected by limits on irrigation of landscapes. No water = no plant sales. The proposed rules appeared to batch landscaping in general with other outdoor uses considered “nonessential.” In this instance, there has been extensive consultation with interested parties that addresses some of the unintended consequences. We will keep watch on this issue as it develops further.

Chris O’Brien, MCH, Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Governmental Relations Committee Chair

The value of networking— Nathan L’Etoile, Philip Boucher, and John Lebeaux with Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate Karyn Polito

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Education Committee

Two Perfect Picnics

By Kathy Bergmann, MCH

J

uly 24th – what a perfect day for a picnic on the lawn! one week? This one, at my house, was every bit as fun, with At 6:00 in the morning, I found myself heading west on just as much of an educational element, if mostly for me. the Pike toward the glorious Pioneer Valley. What a lovely MNLA Education Committee Chair extraordinaire Michelle sight as you leave the highway and Harvey has stepped down from the meander through a myriad of greens position to concentrate on New amid the rolling hills that surround England Grows, and I have been the Connecticut River Valley. The named the new chair. It’s at times vegetation here looks so happy, I like these that you have to wonder swear I could throw a handful of what you were thinking when you seeds from my car window and come said “yes.” Really, how can anyback a week later to find 4-foot tall one follow in Michelle’s footsteps? saplings.

Luckily, the kind and wonderful Tim I wasn’t alone in my journey.

Hay has offered to be my vice-chair From Cape gardeners to Boston rooffor as long as I need him. top designers to suburban landscapI decided the only way to start this ers, the green industry people who was to invite the entire committee, design, plant, prune, grow, sell, and along with Executive Director Rena teach — more than 600 of them — Sumner and President Mary Jesch, converged on the turf fields of Savage A beautiful spot for a picnic. for lunch and discussion. After lunch, Farms in Deerfield for the MNLA/ we sat under an ancient crabapple on yet another absolutely MFGA “Down to Earth” Summer Conference. perfect summer day and thought about where we want to go Just about every one of them alit from cars or trucks, and what we want to do as a committee. I learned about timelooked up at the perfect blue sky frames and expectations, and then we then down at the immaculate lawn started to throw out ideas for Summer beneath their feet, and announced Conference, Tour de Fleur — happily that this would be a very good time still under Michelle’s watchful eye — to remove their shoes. and the Twilight Meetings, not just for There was a great addition this next year, but for the next and the next year: six short outdoor demonstraand the next. tions reminiscent of the Flower Show As everyone wandered home demos. I particularly enjoyed my about four hours later, one thought friend David Fiske and his showabove all stayed with me: Becoming and-tell of this year’s plants from the a member of MNLA or MFGA, or AAS Trial Garden at Elm Bank. And being an MCH, does not allow you you had to smile to watch the pile of to stop learning. In this industry, we professionals trotting across the fields learn every day from our coworkers, Host Savage Farms showcasing the newest sod to keep up with the tractor headed our customers, our plants, and always cutting technology. out to demonstrate how to cut sod, from the world around us. It is the job or people staring holes into the native plants the gang from of the education committee to help you to keep opening your Sylvan brought for the Plant Geek ID Challenge. minds and your eyes, without ever forgetting that it’s so much Toward the end of the day, right before the music (very easier to learn on a day that’s perfect for a picnic. And we’re good) and locally brewed beer (also very good, I’m told), always open to your suggestions. Fire away. And wait till you everyone piled into the large tent to see Dr. Michael Dirr, see what we have in store for you! obviously happy to be near his old stomping grounds. I couldn’t help but steal a look under the tables, and guess Kathy Bergmann, MCH, Bergmann Construction what? Just about everyone had taken off his or her shoes.

Education Committee Chair July 31: How often do you get two perfect picnic days in

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Safety Sense

The Hazards of Hurrying

W

hen safety is the top priority, the pitfalls and dangers of rushing can be avoided. This is a busy time of year in the landscaping industry, and accidents and injuries are most likely to occur during a company’s busiest season. This is partly because crew leaders and members are rushing to meet customer demands and complete the high volume of work before winter sets in.

Hurrying is a factor in many serious accidents. One insurance company’s statistics show the root cause of 92 percent of accidents is failing to properly perform tasks — a likely outcome of hurrying.

A common line of thinking is that working quickly saves time and money, but this often isn’t the case. When work isn’t performed correctly to begin with, tasks have to be revisited or redone. This takes more time than doing the job safely and properly the first time. Accidents not only cause jobs not to be completed on time, but also are expensive for both the employer (workers’ compensation claims, insurance premium hikes, and possible fines) and the employee (medical bills, lost income). Poorly completed tasks or jobs could also cause your company to lose customers.

Fortunately, when management and crew members make safety their top priority, the pitfalls associated with rushing can be avoided.

Employers’ and Supervisors’ Checklist 3

Stress to crew leaders that while production is important, work must be completed safely and correctly.

Emphasize to crew members on a regular basis that management wants them to work carefully and deliberately so they’ll do a good job and won’t get hurt.

3

Never encourage crew leaders or members to rush at the expense of safety. Make clear to crews that they will not be hurried to complete time-consuming safety measures such as equipment inspections, reviewing operating manuals, reading chemical labels, donning appropriate PPE, following prescribed procedures, etc.

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Know that in accident-investigation reports, OSHA has concluded that pushing employees to work at unsafe speeds was the primary cause of incidents.

Rushing employees usually compels them to neglect safety measures. The agency has fined companies even when they had written safety procedures that were violated when a supervisor hurried workers to complete tasks.

3

Lead by example. If your employees see you bypassing safety devices or otherwise working in unsafe ways because you’re in a hurry, they’re likely to follow suit.

3

Identify potentially hazardous situations before giving customers estimates for when jobs will be completed. This will help you plan projects and prepare crews to work safely while giving you the ability to complete jobs on time.

3

Remember to hold your regular safety meetings at the beginning of each job and each day. Point out hazards particular to the job site and types of work being done and ways you will mitigate danger.

Consider ways and times crew members might be tempted to hurry, and remind them not to do this.

www.mnla.com

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Employees Should Not: •

Think you’re only putting yourself at risk when you hurry? Being in a rush when operating a mower, skidsteer loader, or other equipment could result in serious injury to a nearby co-worker. You risk harming your own family, too. If you were disabled or killed, who will provide for them?

Employees Should: •

Be aware that it’s human nature to want to take shortcuts, either to just get the job done or to show your supervisor how efficient you are. You might have grown up being told to accomplish as much as you can. But you might not have been told that rushing can result in accidents, mistakes, and spending more time in the long run.

•

Take shortcuts. If you’re tempted, realize that you’re rushing and engaging in unsafe behavior. Some shortcuts include removing safety guards or shields, jumping or traveling over obstacles or unsafe surfaces rather than taking the long way around, running, and failing to heed warning signs and other safety instructions.

•

Know that rushing can cost you your life — or that of someone else. If you disable or bypass a safety device, for example, it won’t be there to protect you or a co-worker from injury or death in the future.

Keep in mind that getting something done quickly is never more important than someone’s life.

•

Operate a motor vehicle or equipment at unsafe speeds.

•

Fail to read machine and tool operating manuals.

•

Let your mind drift to what you need to do next. Stay focused on the task at hand. This will keep you aware of potential dangers and the quality of the job you’re doing.

•

•

•

Understand other potential, long-term consequences of rushing. These include serious injury and chronic pain, costly medical bills, and disability that prevents you or another person from working.

Think about the consequences when you’re tempted to cut corners. For instance, not taking the time to put on a respirator could lead to a severe illness that would prevent you from working and supporting your family.

Always take the time to put on required personal protective equipment. Putting on gloves, goggles, or other safety equipment might take a few extra minutes, but it can save you from serious injury.

•

Read the product label of every chemical you use, every time you use it. Don’t think this isn’t necessary because the name sounds familiar. Chemical names often sound the same, and it’s unlikely you’ll remember all the safety information on a label.

•

Before beginning any task, identify potential hazards and come up with a plan for dealing with them. If you’re rushing through a task, your mind is on getting it done — not on what might happen in the process.

•

Have the attitude that you can hurry “just this one time.”

Reprinted with permission from Landcare Network © 2011 PLANET.

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History Committee

Archives: Our Permanent Impression

By Philip Boucher, MCH

K

en Burns, where are you?

Preserving our eclectic archival collection of photographs and paper material is going to become an almost overwhelming part of the projects taken up by the three members of your history committee. It is time. You have heard me jokingly talk about the dusty boxes we have stored away and sadly do not seem to get to. Our work will follow a great body of work previously done by E. Dexter Davis, Pardon Cornell, Dick Bemis, and others.

We have to start now to complete the job and to prepare for even more materials to be donated. There is more out there, and we will want these donations in order to complete the story of the MNA/MNLA. To be worthy and ready for new material will require a large effort in the near future, as we will need a system in place to properly accept and take care of it.

I can romanticize about the importance of our history material, but in truth, the committee does not want anything to slip by and fade into obscurity without notice. We can no longer sit wringing our hands waiting for Ken Burns to find us. This is ours to win or lose, for when this work is complete through our collection, you will have admission into a very interesting world where we can fix a moment in time to meet our historic members or create an intriguing true tale. It will help you see that this association had a positive past and believe that it also has a robust future.

Photographing and cataloging to consolidate this part of our history is

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the only way it can be properly saved.

Though many in our membership have been kicking around in the dirt for years, this project is not archeology. No digging, no latex gloves (your choice), or any grand and copious use of Q-tips will be involved. No, it will simply be a loving culling and arrangement of the material we own. After the initial sort, the job of arranging this material according to the years or decades for final filing and storage will be needed. So your history committee, always looking for additional help, has an immediate need for a curious detective armed with digital equipment to assist in our preservation work.

Admittedly, there may be little glory in the work of conserving and preserving the storied, well-traveled memorabilia that we possess. The work is nearly invisible. Many of the objects in the collection may not embody value or meaning to us now. Yet the effort to conduct a final sort must occur to determine if there are duplications, pieces that simply do not apply to our association, or items so damaged we need to give up on them. We may not be able to keep everything, and then the job becomes seeing their value for another group and passing them along. These will be the challenges for individuals willing to assume stewardship for the preservation of these pieces of our past.

The material we have comes from the generous efforts of many individuals, families, and family businesses. Due to their ties to the industry, this is not something to be squandered. Not simply gifts, these are truly a big part of our legacy. Of the many things in storage, www.mnla.com

pro|grow|news

each item could help us understand the past and whether it had some defined order. We need to prepare for the time when — just maybe — our collection can be of value to assist someone in historical research. That is the goal that must drive us to see this job completed. Our collection will have its greatest value only if it can be used.

If the past does in fact inform the future, we have serious work ahead to bring this project to a successful plateau. I am optimistic about the future of this work because I trust in tradition. Yes, our mission is enhanced to embrace this new critical aspect of our history and means greater work involving the electronic conversions of our archives. Yet those same archives have good examples of a treasured tradition that shows people helping other people. It has been — and will likely always be — a meaningful part of this association.

Phillip Boucher, MCH, Elysian Garden Designs History Committee Chair

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Summer Conference 2014

“Down to Earth” Comes

If you missed the Summer Conference and Trade Show, here’s a

B

eautiful weather, a plethora of flowering plants, soft turfgrass, and knowledgeable speakers all played well together to make the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) and Massachusetts Flower Growers Association (MFGA) annual summer meeting a huge success.

UMass Extension coordinated the educational program, bringing in a variety of speakers and topics for the landscape, nursery, and greenhouse industries.

If you missed it, here is a summary of some the topics that were presented.

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More than 45 exhibitors were on hand to showcase their products and services. For a full listing go to www.mnla.com

www.mnla.com

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s to You

a brief recap of the highlights!

•

Jessica Lubell, University of Connecticut, showcased her research on underused native shrubs as replacements for invasive plants. Native shrubs can be used to create attractive, sustainable landscapes that blend naturally with the surrounding flora.

Landscapes composed of native plants are considered sustainable since native shrubs do not pose the threat of introducing new species to an area. When established in landscape sites similar to their natural habitat, native shrubs require little maintenance, are well adapted to local soils and climates, and attract beneficial wildlife to the garden. Lubell’s native plant program utilizes a vertically integrated approach to bring underused native shrubs into greater acceptance. Part of her research included replacements for the invasive plants Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus). Her parameters for evaluating a plant were to measure survival, size, growth over time, foliage quality, and checking for presence of disease or insects. Her work centered around what would grow well in large public spaces, swaths, and parking lots. Plants she particularly likes for such applications include: Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina); Sweetbells (Eubotrys racemosa) which is deer resistant; Sweet Gale (Myrica gale); Creeping Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila var. depressa); American and Beaked Filbert (Corylus americana and cornuta); and Virginia Rose (Rosa virginia). Lubell also shared her tips for propagating the highly desirable but difficult to root Maple Leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerfolium) and Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides). You can follow her native plant program on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ NativePlantGal. Thank you to Tina Smith, UMass Extension for compiling the summer conference wrap up. A special thank you also goes to UMass Extension for their support of the educational Program. Tina is shown here introducing Gary Kohler.

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•

Mary Owen, UMass Extension, spoke about “Nutrient Regulations in Massachusetts.” The regulation of fertilizer materials and plant nutrients has been expanding state-by-state throughout the U.S. This session covered the status of the current, pending, and proposed regulations in Massachusetts. In 2012, the Massachusetts state legislature passed Chapter 262 of the Acts of 2012, An Act Relative to the Regulation of Plant Nutrients.

This act authorized the enactment of new statewide nutrient management regulations. The legislation gives the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) state-wide authority to regulate and enforce the registration and application of plant nutrients including, but not limited to, fertilizer, manure, and micronutrients. The Cape Cod Commission, Martha’s Vineyard Commission, and Nantucket Commission have the option to adopt their own ordinances in regard to nutrients and fertilizers, but they cannot be less restrictive than the state regulation. The text of the enabling legislation can be found at: http://1.usa.gov/1g0hRjx. Chapter 262 requires MDAR and the other specified regulating entities to ensure that subsequent regulations relative to plant nutrients are consistent with UMass Amherst Extension’s published information, educational materials, and other public outreach programs relative to nutrient management and fertilizer. UMass nutrient best management practices (BMPs) and associated nutrient management information can be found at: http://ag.umass.edu/agriculture-resources/ nutrient-best-management-practices The status of nutrient regulations in process as of July 2014: Massachusetts state-wide regulation. In response to the enabling legislation, MDAR developed and wrote regulation 330 CMR 31.00: Plant Nutrient Application Requirements for Agricultural Land and Land Not Used for Agricultural Purposes. The proposed regulation has been released and public hearings have been completed.

The current dates for the regulation to go into effect are: for agriculture, January 1, 2016; for non-agricultural turf, January 1, 2015. The final regulation has not yet been released by MDAR; the proposed regulation as developed (continued on page 16)

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Summer Conference 2014 (continued fromn page 15) can be found at http://1.usa.gov/1g0i0DE. For further information contact the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture at (617) 626-1700.

Cod Commission. The Cape Cod Commission has • Cape developed a model bylaw for each of the communities

in its jurisdiction. Adoption of the model bylaw itself or of a revised bylaw is at the discretion of individual communities in the district. The deadline for adoption of this model bylaw or a similar version is January 1, 2015, or one year from the time of enactment of the state regulation. Final Cape Cod model bylaw: http://bit.ly/1f7aF70.

For more information contact the Cape Cod Commission: www.capecodcommission.org or (508) 362-3828.

Vineyard Commission. An island-wide regula• Martha’s tion has been approved. To view the regulation document visit: http://bit.ly/1tuZibu. For more information, contact the Martha’s Vineyard Commission: http://mvcommission.org or (508) 693-3453.

Board of Health. The Nantucket regula• Nantucket tion covers applications to turf as well as to landscape

plants. This regulation was in effect prior to enactment of the statewide statute. Regulations require training and licensing of professional fertilizer applicators who must abide by the Best Management Practices for Landscape Fertilizer Use on Nantucket Island manual.

To view the regulation (Nantucket Board of Health Rules and Regulations 75.00, Content and Application of Fertilizer on Nantucket): http://bit.ly/1ea42zZ. To view the required Best Management Practices for Landscape Fertilizer Use on Nantucket Island manual: http://bit.ly/1pb8dLr

•

Gary Koller, Koller and Associates, specializes in garden design. His presentation, “Evaluate then Recycle, Reuse, and Refresh Landscape Plantings” was right on target with the conference theme “Down to Earth.” He discussed the need for evaluating and refreshing public landscapes. Showing vivid examples of parking lot plantings, street trees, and corporate plantings, much of which was dead, he made the case for rethinking strategies with a knowledgeable professional. He challenged landscapers to budget a few hours for site evaluation and to develop a refreshed plan when reviewing their contracted work, especially with large chain stores where dead trees and shrubs are often left in the ground for years. Several times he posed the question, “Who makes decisions about upgrading the landscape? Before you add something, take something out.” Koller spoke of his reluctance to take out plants as a new landscaper 30 years ago, but today he feels good about it since part of gardening is to “ax the suckers” when they are done. Addressing the problem of large hedges, such as privet, that more often than not are seen with bittersweet, maples, elms, and other plants growing through them, he suggests it is better to cut them down and start new. His recommendations for new plantings include—

• Persian Ironwood (Perrotia persica) • Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) • Yaku Rhododendron (Rhododendron yakusiamanum) • Dragon Lady Holly (Ilex x meservaea ‘Dragon Lady’) • Barren Strawberry (Waldstenia ternate) • Bishop’s Cap (Epimedum rubrum) A very special thank you to host Savage Farms

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Michael Oleykowski, Syngenta Ornamental Controls and Bioline, spoke about “New Options in Control Strategies for the Greenhouse, Nursery, and Landscape.” He presented information on new chemistry for a class of pesticide — anthranilic diamides — that controls insect pests by affecting the muscles of the pest resulting in paralysis, cessation of feeding, and eventual death. The new pesticide, Acelepryn®, is labeled for turf and landscape uses. Mainspring™ is not yet registered for sale in Massachusetts; however, it is proposed to be labeled for use in greenhouses, covered hoops, and interiorscapes. Oleykowski also covered IPM strategies utilizing chemical controls along with beneficial insects. He proposed that with proper timing, knowledge of compatibility between chemical control, and macro-biologicals (beneficial insects, mites, and nematodes), superior control and financially effective sustainability can be accomplished. He presented examples for spider mite, leaf miner, and aphid control in the landscape utilizing BCAs (beneficial control agents) and chemicals in a combined integrated approach.

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Bruce Crawford, Rutgers Garden, Rutgers University, spoke about his personal experiences and observations growing the best plant material that should be incorporated more frequently into Northeast gardens. Among the myriad of plants available, there are those that stand alone due to longer floral display, phenomenal foliage, or incredible tolerance to challenging sites. Bruce’s best of the best plant material included: Winter gardens. Dwarf Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Pusillus Minimus Aureus’); Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger ‘Joseph Lemper’); Coral Bark Willow (Salix alba ‘Britzensis’).

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Blue Star (Amsonia hubrictii and Amsonia taber• Spring: naemontana ‘Seaford Skies’); False Indigo (Baptisia australis and Baptisia x ‘Carolina Moonlight’, ‘Screaming Yellow’, ‘Twilight Prairie Blues’); Lenten Rose (Helleborus x ‘Golden Lotus Strain’, Peppermint Ice’); and Golden Spirea (Spiraea thungergii ‘Ogon’).

Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora); Fragrant • Summer.

Abelia (Abelia mosanensis); Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora); Calamint (Calamintha nepeta); Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica); Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera ‘Copper’); Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum); Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus); Indigo (Indigofera amblyantha; Natchez Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia x ‘Natchez’); Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa); Fountain Grass (Pennisetum orientale); Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia); and Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum).

Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolius • Autumn: ‘Raydon’s Favorite’); Bluebeard (Caryopteris divaricata Top notch education by top notch educators!

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‘Snow Fairy’); Greybush Spicebush (Lindera glauca var. salicifolia); Tea Holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus); Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues,’ ‘Northwind’); Cutleaf Sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Laciniata’); Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’); Angelina Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre); and Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus).

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Summer Conference 2014

•

Chris Kennedy, Kennedy’s Country Gardens, reviewed what was new with exhibitors in his talk “What’s New Under the Big Tent.”

Among the new selections were several landscape plants that have been selling well with branding and marketing. These included— Hydrangea ‘Bloomstruck’, the newest addition to the Endless Summer® Collection of reblooming hydrangeas, which has a great blue flower.

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paniculata, ‘Bobo’ white Proven Winner • Hydrangea growing to a height of about 40 inches.

‘Cheyenne Spirit’ is a seed strain of first-year • Echinacea flowering coneflowers that are sturdy, compact, and

drought tolerant. Plants produce an abundance of blossoms in purple, pink, scarlet, yellow, cream, or white surrounding a central cone.

or the Mexican Hat plant, which is a • Ratibida butterfly magnet. sesslifolia ‘Cool Splash’, a variegated • Diervilla dwarf bush honeysuckle that is deer resistant. velvet boxwood is a favorite for formal• Green looking landscaping.

(Oxydendrum), a great plant with • Sourwood spectacular fall foliage, should be used more often.

‘Snow Princess’ is heat tolerant, so • Lobularia flowers just keep on coming.

‘Blue my Mind’ loves hot weather, is drought • Evolvulus and humidity tolerant, and blooms all summer.

Dr. Dirr signed copies of his book after the presentation.

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Dr. Michael Dirr. The educational sessions ended with keynote speaker Dr. Michael Dirr, internationally recognized expert in plant materials and UMass graduate, on the topic “The Future of Plant Materials.” He is the author of numerous books on woody plants that have become staples on our desks, including his most celebrated: “The Manual of Woody Plants,” “Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs,” “Hydrangeas for American Gardens,” and “Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season.” He showed examples and talked about many newer trees and shrubs that are best adapted to the northeast. Attendees had the opportunity to purchase signed books at the show. Here is a brief summary of “the future of plant materials…according to Dirr”: • Branding will continue to accelerate.

• Plants must have the WOW factor to enhance impulse purchases.

• Color to the ninth power is critical when marketing in garden centers and for landscapers.

• Color in every plant part: flowers, fruits, leaves, stems.

• Reblooming (remontancy) is a coveted trait (Hydrangea macrophylla, Syringa Bloomerang®, Weigela Sonic Bloom™).

• Extended seasons of aesthetic qualities.

• Compact habits for smaller landscapes and containers.

• Heat, drought, wet, cold, and pest tolerances.

• Plants must look spectacular in a 3-gallon bucket.

• Low chemical and maintenance inputs are important from the customer standpoint.

• Ease of propagation, production, and shipping are important for growers.

Dirr concluded his presentation by talking about the importance of selecting plants for disease resistance using the example of American Elm and cultivars with various degrees of resistance to Dutch Elm Disease.

Chris Kennedy and Dr. Dirr www.mnla.com

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Financial Committee

College Savings — Passing the Test

By Steve Corrigan, MCH

I

t’s back-to-school season again. If you have school-age children, you’re probably bargain hunting with your supplies list in hand. Before you know it, though, your child will be headed for college — and tuition payments never go on sale.

In fact, college costs on average are rising faster than the rate of inflation, according to the College Board. But don’t let the price tag discourage you. A college education has its benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that workers with a bachelor’s degree earn more on average and have a lower unemployment rate than the workforce as a whole.

As a first step, determine how much you’ll need for education expenses. Will your child attend a public or private institution? Do you plan to pay all the costs or simply tuition?

Even if you can’t answer these questions yet, it’s important to think about them and understand your options. Setting these goals can greatly influence your bottom-line number.

How to Save Smarter Saving for your child’s education doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Consider the following to ramp up your savings strategy: • Save early and often by contributing to your child’s education savings plan on a regular basis.

• In lieu of toys as birthday or holiday presents, ask relatives such as grandparents to contribute directly to your child’s college savings plan.

• After your child reaches school age, shift money used to pay for day care to college savings.

• Use your annual tax refund or a bonus as an additional contribution to a college savings plan.

What are Your Other Goals?

You may be tempted to divert all your savings toward a college savings plan, but you most likely have other financial goals, such as saving for retirement. Time is a valuable asset, so don’t delay saving for one goal over the other; instead, view them together. By understanding how your goals interact, you can work to make sure you don’t inadvertently derail one when saving for another.

Your Edward Jones financial advisor can work with you to develop an education savings strategy that takes into account all of your financial goals. For more information, contact Stephen M. Corrigan, president, Mountain View Landscapes, (413) 3776173 or stevec@mountainviewinc.com.

Steve Corrigan, MCH, Mountain View Landscape & Lawncare, Inc. MNLA FINCOM Chair This article was provided by MNLA’s investment advisor, Edward Jones.

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“Down to Earth” Demo Highlights

D

id you miss this year’s Summer Conference and Trade Show? The 2014 program was especially dynamic and innovative with expanded hands-on demonstrations. Each one was an opportunity to have fun

while learning about new products or services offered by more than 45 exhibitors.

Here are highlights of four of the well-received demonstrations.

Invasive Insects of Massachusetts for Land Care Workers (presented in English and Spanish)

Stacy Kilb, MDAR Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Outreach Coordinator taught attendees how to prevent the spread of the many invasive insects that threaten Massachusetts forests and crops by knowing what to look for.

The presentation covered ALB, Emerald Ash Borer, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and other agricultural pests.

Sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Selecting and Using Backpack Sprayers Robin Gingras reviewed backpack sprayer selection, spray tip options, and proper spray deposition for shrub and turf applications. Attendees viewed a selection of backpack sprayers up close and had the opportunity to ask questions of an industry supplier while learning to decipher equipment manual directions confidently.

Sponsored by OESCO, Inc.

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www.mnla.com

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Using Mulch and Mulch Blowers

Sod Cutting and Draught-Tolerant Seed

Randy Prostak, UMass Extension, looked at the most common myths about mulch and mistakes made by landscapers when using mulch. David O’Sullivan, Vermont Mulch Company, showcased various types of mulches and suggest handling strategies. Chris Bacon, Hydrograss Corporation, demonstrated the “how to” of bark blowers, their value, and expanded uses including spreading compost.

Sponsored by Finn Corp, HydrograssCorp.com, and Vermont Mulch Company

Bruce Chapman of Barenbrug reviewed new drought tolerant seed options available on the market today. Jay Savage, Savage Farms demonstrated the newest sod cutting technology that provides double-down pressure for less scalp and a high quality product.

Sponsored by Savage Farms, Inc.

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(888) 889-9996

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MNLA Launches New Website

Cleaner, more robust site expands access to members as well as

By Susan Bergeron-West

O

ver the past six months, we’ve had the pleasure of working with the Technology Task Force to design and launch the new MNLA website.

They were tasked with the challenge of moving a static website to a more interactive, member-driven format.

New technology and a growing membership made it ever more important to easily engage the MNLA community.

And with more and more people using smartphones and tablets to communicate via email and social media, providing a more usable experience through responsive architecture made an update to the mnla.com website that much more a necessity.

MNLA started by refining its branding to be sure members and their customers perceive the organization as professional and as a green industry leader. The new website needed to market a business membership that is diverse, and provide networking opportunities and legislative advocacy, among other things. From the consumer standpoint, MNLA wanted to ensure that the consumer has easy access to MNLA members as a valued resource. The MNLA website is a place where both the

professional and the consumer can find solutions.

Based on sister organizations’ experience, YourMembership was selected to provide databasedriven software for the new website that would offer the ability to integrate a simplified membership platform.

YM provides secure hosting and automatic software updates, and streamlines administration. MNLA Executive Director Rena Sumner says, “Its robust management software gives members what they need at their fingertips. Members can control their face to the public. The more information members enter, the more their presence is enhanced to the consumer.”

What Does This Mean to Members?

Members can now access their profiles to keep them up to date. Those updates are immediately reflected in the member directory. Filling out the Specialty section with business offerings in the member profile enables consumers to search by keywords based on that section.

It’s a simple matter to post job openings, send messages to other members, sign up for workshops and events, renew membership, and post photos. www.mnla.com

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consumers.

Connect with Consumers New to the MNLA website is a consumer area focused on home gardeners. They can connect with Massachusetts industry professionals via a search engine tool based on the MNLA member directory.

A search by town will result in a list of green industry professionals in the local area, and will direct visitors to members for services and products. The consumer area also offers informational videos about planting, invasive plants to watch out for, awards/ scholarships for future leaders in the nursery and landscape profession, and information about the Plant Something MA campaign, along with links for updates on the latest horticultural developments.

Phase II Underway The MNLA website includes room to grow, so to speak. We are certain that as members explore the site, they will begin to look for deeper functionality. Plans are already underway to further develop the store.

Currently, the MNLA Resource Guide, which is needed for the MCH recertification exam, can be purchased through the website. Still to come is a Find-an-MCH directory to help foster the MCH online community. (continued on page 24) Here’s what you can expect when you log into the new site: • Job postings for your business.

• Available scholarships.

• Event registration for you and your employees.

• A communication tool to network with other members.

• Social media added to your profile to gain a larger audience on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.

• File or photo libraries where you can manage files and links and share with other members.

• Online advertising that can be featured on every page of the website.

• Membership dues, event tickets, MCH recertification payments, and more directly through the website • News updates for the industry.

• A variety of horticulture and landscaping links.

• Reference to the top 15 apps recommended by MNLA members.

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(continued from page 23) Marketing tools will be developed and offered through the website. Expanded partner program information provided through MNLA membership is another area that will be built out. We look forward to using the Featured Member and Survey functions that will be visible in the sidebar on every page but the home page. On the home page, slide graphics relating to events, possibly news articles, and the changing seasons will be developed.

We encourage you to visit the website if you haven’t already done so. Explore.

Be sure to completely fill out your profile.

Like or follow us on our social media sites, and we will offer a reciprocal like or link. Be in touch if you need assistance.

Take advantage of everything this new site has to offer.

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Be Sure to Sign In! Members will have received an email message with a link to the sign in page, your constituent ID number that is your user name, and a temporary password.

You can change your user name if you like but you must change your password.

For security reasons, it is best to log in as soon as possible and complete your registration. Once you log in, the website will step members through the process.

We encourage you to complete the registration as much as possible in order to fully gain the member benefits of the new site.

If you have not received an email message and you are a member in good standing, please contact Rena Sumner at mnlaoffice@aol.com.

Susan Bergeron-West is a design professional with more than 25 years of experience working on award-winning projects for national and regional accounts, and is the founder and principal of Sirius Design. The agency provides communication via branding and design for non-profits, small businesses, and organizations through websites, promotional materials, print advertising, and direct mail.

www.mnla.com

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Membership Committee

Keynote Speaker, Plant Geek Challenge Highlight Summer Conference

By Rene Fontaine, MCH

I

hope you have enjoyed what has to be one of the best summers we’ve had in New England in quite some time.

If you were lucky enough to attend our annual “Down to Earth” Summer Conference and Trade Show, you experienced perhaps the best day of the season along with an amazing schedule of events. Educational seminars like “New Fertilizer Regulations,” “The Best of the Best in Plant Materials,” “Invasive Plants,” and “Invasive Insects of Massachusetts” all shared valuable information to help us become better at serving our customers.

Although I don’t have final attendance figures, more than 600 people were lucky enough to participate in educational seminars, networking, meeting vendors, and a fabulous lunch capped off with some live music and adult beverages. I hope you were one of those lucky enough to experience this terrific event offered by MNLA to its members.

The highlight event of the day for me was keynote speaker Dr. Michael Dirr’s enlightening presentation on “The Future in Plant Materials.” His thoughts on the ever-increasing introductions of trees and shrubs and the minimal testing of these introductions are an area of concern. Do you have confidence selling a new plant to your customer without its proven success in the landscape? Branding and marketing are now driving the bus, Dirr says, but who really knows best? Just because your customer sees an advertisement in a magazine or on TV doesn’t mean it’s going to work in their landscape. Relying on your experience and expertise is always a good approach.

Remember: right plant, right place.

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Another highlight was the Plant Geek ID Challenge. Many show attendees participated in a challenging display of native plants, all for the bragging rights of “know-it-all.” Hard to say how many people participated, but there was a line of plant geeks studying each example to come up with the correct answer. Part of the fun was bouncing ideas off each other and sometimes arriving at a sound decision through the process of elimination. Peer pressure was certainly on display throughout the challenge, along with a few light-hearted digs that made for some additional fun. Thanks to all those who participated.

The new MNLA website was previewed at this year’s event, and the rollout was completed in early August.

The completely redesigned website offers a new look for consumers and green industry professionals. If you haven’t already done so, please log in and update your personal profile with your current information, and while you’re there, give the new site a test drive. We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised with everything it has to offer, including event registration, membership renewals, MCH credit tracking, and many other useful tools and links. We hope you are pleased with the results. If you have any comments or ideas that might add value, please let us know.

Rene Fontaine, MCH, New England Botanicals Membership Chair

Plant Geek ID Challenge

www.mnla.com

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Certifiable: MCH News Corner

New MCHs and Plant Geeks Recognized at Summer Conference

By Cheryl Salatino, MCH

D

uring every landscape season, we all need a little inspiration to keep us going. This year has been especially busy for most — dare I say exhausting? It’s always midseason when MNLA comes together to give us a timely shot in the arm.

This year’s “Down to Earth” Summer Conference really made a lasting impression on me. There were plenty of excellent educational opportunities, and the speakers provided an engaging discussion, but the extra inspiration came from our featured speaker, Dr. Michael Dirr.

Clearly, Dr. Dirr had prepared a rich presentation covering all aspects of what he is best known for. However, at the tail end of his program, Dr. Dirr spoke a bit more about the business side of our industry. He talked about our relationship with consumers — the people who purchase the goods and services we offer. He described why he believes consumers view the landscape and garden center industry as “making landscapes pretty.”

To me, that immediately meant non-essential. Then, Dr. Dirr turned the tables. He raised the environmental benefits of planting trees and shrubs. He reiterated how our businesses have a critical impact on the air we breathe and the world we live in.

While we know that, others don’t.

That’s when Dr. Dirr challenged us to reframe the discussion and start a new dialogue. There’s a lot of talk about sustainability today, and it’s up to us to help people understand how our industry delivers. He’s right! Now, it’s our turn to expand our message and communicate our value.

Being a plant geek took on a new meaning for me that day.

Plant Geek ID Challenge Did you take the Plant Geek ID Challenge? Lots of MCHs tested their knowledge — and boy, this was a test. Thanks to MCH Board member Kate Merrill of Sylvan Nurseries, native plants were the theme for her plant selection. Several people got very high marks. Our Summer Conference Plant Geek ID Challenge winners included: • Deborah Lee, MCH, Deborah Lee Environmental Design • Mae Clark, MCH, Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.

Thank you to everyone who participated. I hope you had a bit of a brain teaser and some fun too.

Congratulations to Our Newest MCHs • James Lynn, MCH, Christie Dustman & Company • Bridget McGovern, MCH, Curbside Appeal Garden Design • Sarah Ard, MCH, Minuteman High School • Amanda Bigelow, MCH, Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. • R. David Brogan, MCH, Second Nature Land Care • Dirk Coburn, MCH, Weston Nurseries, Inc. • Mary Gotovich, MCH, Wisteria & Rose • John Moretti, MCH, Weston Nurseries, Inc. • John Mapel, MCH, Mapel Plants Nursery Next MCH Exam: Friday, February 6, 2015 at New England Grows.

Recertification Opportunities If you are looking for a few points to round out the year, there are several educational opportunities that crop up in the fall. Or if you are inclined to share your love of a particular plant, please complete our MNLA Plant for Success template.

If you’re a Plant Geek, this is a snap, and it’s quick and easy to complete. Go to www.mnla.com.

If you have questions you would like answered in this column, email Cheryl Salatino at cheryl@dancingshadowsdesign.com. Please put MCH in the subject line of your message.

Cheryl Salatino, MCH, Dancing Shadows Garden Designs Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) Board Chair

• Howard Wilson, MCH, Windy Hill Farm, Inc.

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Products Committee

What’s Your Brand?

by Chris Kennedy, MCH

B

eing a retailer or a contractor is a challenge these days to say the least. There is no easy money, no path that hasn’t been traveled before. Like you, I have mixed opinions of brands, but they are here to stay. You can embrace it or you can just live with it. The reality is that the big companies are spending millions on marketing to build brand awareness so consumers will approach us and ask for the brand by name. Most of us have an answer for why we don’t use that brand and can make the case for what we do sell and endorse. We simply can’t carry or recommend every brand.

If a brand becomes popular, more retailers and contractors begin carrying it or using it, too. This allows the consumer to compare item numbers. Ultimately, the only difference between us and the competition is price.

I think many small businesses have survived in this industry because we are not ruled by brands — at least not yet. Brands like Proven Winners, Endless Summer, Scott’s, and Burpee are moving in. The bigger the brand, the more they tend to line up well with larger companies such as box stores, which can sell more volume and live on smaller margins. Since most of us are smaller companies, we have hard decisions to make about brands.

My company supports some of these brands, at least for as long as they make us money or before they leave us for someone bigger and better. I have worked hard to remove some brands from my shelves despite regular requests from consumers. I try hard to have great substitutions for people asking for that brand, and I assume you do, too. As a smaller company, we are valued for our input. We have built trust with our customers. As long as we don’t abuse the trust, we can recommend products to our customers and steer their purchase decisions to products we believe in and hopefully make money as well.

This takes me to the MNLA brand. It is a very small brand, but at Kennedy’s we have been carrying it, recommending it, and using it for decades. (Full disclosure: Yes, we are loyal to the MNLA brand; my father and I are both MNLA pastpresidents.) There are many reasons we support the MNLA brand, but none more important than dollars and cents. I don’t come to work because I run a charity. I drive to work every morning to make a profit selling products and services that put food on the tables of my family and staff. MNLA fertilizers and grass seed do just that and have for decades.

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I have a pretty good idea what retailers and contractors around me carry for brands. I try to differentiate whenever possible, because if we can differentiate, we can make an honest living. At Kennedy’s, we strive to offer the best quality, best service, and best customer shopping experience; sometimes, we don’t have the cheapest price. I assume that is the same for you. If that is the case, why not carry and support a brand that supports you?

I have heard all the reasons why the MNLA brand is not perfect. The bags and packaging, the lack of marketing, products shortages, the sales team sometimes failing to get the price sheet to us before the buying shows, etc. I get it; I’ve been there and experienced it. It probably never will be perfect because MNLA is a small brand and is run by a committee of volunteers. MNLA doesn’t have a big-company budget and highly-paid consultants.

The MNLA brand, however, has some important benefits.

It supports the industry and our association. It is superior quality, with formulas and blends geared for Massachusetts soils. But the biggest reason for me and my business is the fact that not every retailer near me carries it. I can mark it what I think is fair, and I can order the quantities I need. This path is not worn, and I can say with near certainty that it will never end up in the box stores.

MNLA President Mary Jesch and Product Chairman Mark Ahronian have asked me to make the case for MNLA products. That’s my case. Please consider buying some MNLA fertilizer and grass seed this year, and give your MNLA brand a shot.

Special offer: Before writing this, I talked to the owner of Valley Green, MNLA’s seed and fertilizer supplier. Off the record — don’t tell his accountant — he said I can offer you a special incentive for new orders of $1,000 or more. Email me at Chris@KennedysCountryGardens.com and I’ll send you the details.

Chris Kennedy, MCH, Kennedy’s Country Gardens MNLA Product Committee www.mnla.com

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Advertiser Index Acorn Tree and Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

MARKETPLACE

Amherst Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Bigelow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Cavicchio Landscape Supplies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Coronis Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Farm Credit East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Farm Family Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ideal Concrete Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Motz & Son Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

New England Wetland Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Northeast Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Sylvan Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

coronis consulting __________________

Valley Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Sharing over 35 years of business & landscape success

Weston Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Laurence S. Coronis 603.721.9812 www.coronisconsulting.com

Always well stocked!

And backed by experience...

Motz & Son Nursery

51 employees with 10 + years - 15 are MCH’s

Wholesale Growers of ...

Shade and Flowering TreeS FruiT TreeS dwarf, Semi-dwarf & Standard combinaTion FruiT TreeS (4 in 1) eSpalier appleS Semi-dwarf, combination & one Variety walnuTS and FilberTS deciduouS ShrubS Write for our stock and price: 11445 N.W. Skyline Blvd.

Portland, Oregon 97231 Phone 503-645-1342 Fax 503-645-6856

Catalog & Availability upon request

1028 Horseneck Road Westport, MA 02790

508-636-4573 Fax 508-636-3397

Visit www.sylvannursery.com Fall|2014

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Plant for Success

New England Trial Garden Favorites Garden Curator Fiske shares his favorite plants from the 2014 AAS trials.

C

urator David Fiske brought more than 75 12-inch patio pots from the New England Trial Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley, MA to show in his “Flower Trial Talk.” The container plants are an example of each plant in the ground beds to show how the plants perform in containers.

The New England Trial Garden was established at Elm Bank in 1996 as a cooperative effort between the University of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association, and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Breeding companies from all over the world contribute the newest and best varieties of annuals to the New England Trial Garden for viewing by amateur and professional gardeners. This garden also tests new and unreleased varieties competing for All-America Selections awards, displays previous winners, and grows hundreds of cultivars submitted for evaluation by commercial plant breeders.

Fiske began working for MassHort just a week after Bloom planted the Bressingham Garden with the help of 180 volunteers in 2007. Fiske, whose family ran the Fiske Garden Center in Northborough for 78 years, makes sure the society’s 16 acres of lawn and 20 acres of planted beds remain healthy and beautiful with the assistance of just two other grounds staff members and many volunteers who help trim, edge, mulch, weed, and water. “It’s a lot, but to me it’s just another day at the farm,” Fiske says. “It’s just a matter of keeping those plants as stress free as I can.”

All-America Selections (AAS) is an independent, non-profit organization that tests new varieties in trial grounds across North America.

As an official AAS Judge, Fiske conducts three different trials in the garden: the annual and perennial performance trials and the official AAS trial. The AAS has two trial categories: the flower trial and the bedding plant trial. This year’s trial consisted of 91

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Verbena ‘Endurascape Blue’

Coleus ‘Kong Lime Sprite’

C. ‘Marquee Box Office Bronze’

Petunia ‘Shockwave Denim’

Verbena ‘Endurascape Red’

Impatiens ‘Big Bounce Red’

performance trial plants, 12 AAS trial plants and their comparisons, 47 over-wintered plants, 20 new perennials, and 182 12-inch patio pots. Judges look for significantly improved qualities such as earliness to bloom or harvest, disease or pest tolerance, novel colors or flavors, novel flower forms, total yield, length of flowering or harvest, and overall performance. Over the last ten years, an entry has needed at least two significantly improved qualities to be considered by judges for an AAS Award. AAS winners offer gardeners reliable new varieties that have proven their superior garden performance.

Fiske’s 2014 Favorites Each year, Fiske judges the plants on the AAS criteria, picks his favorites, and publishes the results of the trials.

His winners for 2014: • Begonia ‘Pegasus’ (Proven Winners) • Euphorbia ‘Diamond Delight’ (Proven Winners) • Verbena ‘Endurascape Red’ (Ball Seed) • Verbena ‘Endurascape Blue’ (Ball Seed) • Petunia ‘Shockwave Denim’ (Ball Seedl) • Impatiens hawkeri ‘Infinity Red’ (Proven Winners) • Coleus ‘Marquee Box Office Bronze’ (Burpee Home Garden) • Coleus ‘Kong Lime Sprite’ (Pan American Seed) • Impatiens ‘Big Bounce Red’ (Selecta North America) • Supertunia ‘Morning Glory Charm’ (Proven Winners) • Cuphea ‘Vermillionaire’ (Proven Winners) Fiske suggests seeing the trials firsthand from start to finish to observe the progress of the plants. “It is a great way for growers and retailers to see how those plants perform, know which plants are available, and make your own opinions about the plants.” The Trial Gardens at Mass Hort are open seven days a week, dawn to dusk. For all of this summer’s trial garden scores, visit www.masshort.org/MHSGardens. To schedule a personal tour, contact David Fiske (617)-835-6365 or dfiske@masshort.org.

Euphorbia ‘Diamond Delight’

Supertunia ‘Morning Glory Charm’ www.mnla.com pro|grow|news

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)BSWBSE ." t 5FM t 'BY t BDPSOUSFF!BPM DPN Harvard, MA • Tel: 978.635.0409 • Fax: 978.635.9840 • acorntree@me.com

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