Pro Grow News Summer 2017 Digital Edition

pro grow news SUMMER 2017

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Spotlight on Natives The Great Sciadopytis Adventure

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pro grow news SUMMER 2017

contents Features 8 Spotlight On Natives and Cultivars 15 MCH Member Listing Update 20 The Great Skiadopytis Adventure 24

New England GROWS — Your Kind of Show

Departments

5 President’s Message

6 Committee Reports 29 Marketplace/Ad Index 30 My Favorite Plant On the cover —

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pro grow news SUMMER 2017

committees

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

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE

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

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

SECRETARY/TREASURER Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 PAST PRESIDENT Tim Lomasney One Source Horticulture Tel: (978) 470-1934 DIRECTORS Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc.

Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family

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

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR Henry Gillet Tel: (508) 567-6288 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731

Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair Bergmann Construction Tel: (508) 435-3414

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

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH) Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair John R. Elicone Consulting Tel: (617) 527-5706 PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Peter Mezitt, MCH — ­­ Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269 HISTORY COMMITTEE Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630 Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208 MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Gaele McCully, MCH MCLP — Chair Mahoney’s Garden Center Tel: (781) 729-5900 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Mary Jesch, MCH — Chair Cornucopia Gardeners (508) 879-1822

PRESIDENT Michelle Harvey, MCH Lakeview Nurseries Tel: (978) 342-3770 EDUCATION COMMITTEE Kathy Bergmann, MCH Bergmann Construction Tel: (508) 435-3414 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

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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.

www.mnla.com

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President’s Message

Summer Solstice from the Presidential Promontory:

What Have You Learned?

By Jim Stucchi

S

ummer Solstice from the Presidential Promontory: What Have You Learned?

Welcome to summer 2017! Last fall/winter’s backlog has been completely satisfied. The cleanups are done. The first few waves of major construction projects have come and gone, and the new projects are somehow more eagerly anticipated than I can ever remember. Employees who were hired in February and didn’t show up in April are forgotten, and new crews are broken in. New equipment has experienced the first dents, and old work horses are giving up the ghost (but we’re still pushing them as hard as ever). School buses are off the streets, and commute time has dropped by a third...Life is good!

Here’s a glimpse into an MNLA Board meeting. First, we have a round table opening where we each share how things are going. It’s one of my favorite parts. I imagine it is what people who actually have spare time do when they go to a cafe or a coffee shop to chat with friends. The highs, the lows, whatever is affecting you the most at the moment is shared and the air is cleared so we can focus on our members’ needs.

There was a similar thread at this past meeting. Business is phenomenal. You definitely didn’t have to have your ear to the ground to hear the stampede coming through this past spring. From what I can tell the summer season is going to be very similar. The economic market is bright and brimming with opportunities. July is the new June, and plant stock will be backfilled in the next week or two at our local suppliers.

This is great news.

Looking back on what was an epic whirlwind of a spring season, I am fascinated with what I have learned from our decisions and even more enlightened by what has transpired with the happenings that were totally out of our control. Take for instance, the now perennial labor challenge. We hired them... multiples of them; we signed them up, we followed up and set the stage and dates for their on-boarding - and then NOTHING!!! So instead of complaining..OK...not true...there was the immediate and ever so slightly elongated conversation of, “What in God’s name is wrong with these people?!!”).

So onward and upward we went. Next stop, more automation. We haven’t made robots (yet), but this new crew weighs in at less than 2,800 pounds; it lifts over 1,000 pounds into the back of a 26,000-pound truck. It moves all day at 5 mph and is quieter than a push mower. We bought the new Dingo TX 1000. It comes in at just about $30,000. It is more economical than hiring a laborer for a full season. In the past five years we have purchased two other Dingos and the most Summer|2017

appropriate and useful attachments. These machines have easily replaced several people on just about every job. It’s not that hard to see that proper utilization of compact equipment equals efficiency, productivity, and a stronger bottom line. However, you still need a person to operate the machine properly, but it’s faster, stronger, and more effective in the elements than any warm body.

It’s not just the Dingo; our 9,700-pound mini excavator saves us time and labor every day. It’s not just construction either. Our lawn care division was upfitted with a new articulating ride-on spreader with dual tanks for simultaneous multiple liquid and granular applications — all in one motion. None of these pieces are new to the market, but they are now more precise, more agile, and more effective at delivering maximum returns with minimal labor and product outlay.

Note that it’s not just landscapers using these tools. Growers, nurseries, and wholesalers are moving into high-capacity planting machines, compact articulated wheel and track loaders equipped with tree spades for digging, hydraulic oscillating jaws and forks for lifting and loading large trees and shrubs. Delicate perennials and annuals are stacked, racked, and rolled off route trucks for short orders and expedited deliveries. Hard-scape suppliers come out with a new and improved way to lift, grade, set, and seal our patios and stonework every day. The industry has come a very long way in the past 25 years. One of the most important pieces of advice in my work lifetime was from an older excavating friend. In a very Yoda-esque way, he said, “Do yourself a favor.

Learn all you can about the machinery in your profession. Then go learn about the machinery in all the related professions, and make them work for you.”

Our Down To Earth Summer Conference and Trade Show at Wachusett Mountain on July 19 will show off the industry’s cutting edge equipment with live-action demonstrations. Take advantage of Solution Central with our vendors and put your business steps ahead of your competition. Our speakers are geared up to supply you with knowledge to help you further your business and give you the tools to have the advantage. We will offer a Red Cross First Aid certification course as well as Pesticide and MCH credits. Take a ride on the chairlift to the top of the mountain and grab a beer while the live band performs your favorite tunes. Lunch will be a three-hour event so eat, drink, and be merry at your leisure. See you there!

Jim Stucchi, MCH, Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc. MNLA President

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MNLA Committees History Committee Your Foundation is Calling

T

he summer meeting is just around the corner on July 19, 2017. This is a time to pause for a day to enjoy and participate in the educational sessions offered and mingle with friends and colleagues from the industry. It can be a day for business connections, just catching up, or checking out the latest “what’s new” that might interest you. Take advantage of all Wachusett Mountain has to offer as a venue and enjoy the day away from a hectic first half of the season.

This is also the time when the MNLA Foundation Board members seek your help in fundraising for the scholarship fund. Yes, we sell tickets for a good cause. We hope you appreciate how this money contributes to the future of the young people we want to bring into our industry. The Foundation Board of Directors wants to meet and connect with MNLA members to answer questions, share our visions and concerns for the industry, and relate their perspective on education and what it offers MNLA. I encourage you to take the ski lift to the top of the mountain. Enjoy the scenic valleys, nearby mountains, and with luck, a shot of the Boston skyline to the east as part of the freeing moments of the ride. Then liken this to the height and vision of how far your Foundation Board wishes to take this scholarship and outreach in the near future.

All of our conversations and planning fold neatly into our larger mission to grow our funds and propel our outreach. It is always our wish to have visibility and to be relevant to MNLA. The Board has one collective duty: Select one, sometimes two, scholarship recipients each year. Each member brings a great deal of expertise and personal ideas to bear in our discussions.

At our meetings, the “what ifs” and fertile ideas flow easily as we produce a sensible path for the Foundation to follow.

So, the 19th will be the time to have fun and play a game of 50/50. Talk to us; give us your ideas and your comments to better help us in this quest to grow our endowment and help deserving individuals with their education as they come into our industry. Give us your best Clint Eastwood line: “Are you feelin’ lucky?” It may help, but only if you buy a ticket or two to answer that question. Play to help us, and we all can win.

Philip Boucher, MCH Elysian Garden Designs MNLA History Committee Chair

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MCH Committee Summer Forecast: MCH Events

W

elcome to the quarterly column dedicated to informing the MCH community and MNLA members about what is happening in the MCH Program. It has been a challenging spring for all of us in the green industry with late snow falls, extended wet weather, and unusually early 90 degree days, but we endure and continue to offer professional services to our customers.

This is my opportunity to remind all MCHs and MNLA members of the upcoming events to gather and network with your peers in the green industry.

The next MCH Exam is scheduled for Wednesday, August 2, at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society location at Elm Bank in Wellesley.

Plan to take part in MNLA’s Down to Earth Annual Summer Conference and Trade Show at Wachusett Mountain in Westminster on Wednesday, July 19. MCHs can join in the Plant ID Challenge from 8:00am – 10:00am to earn a recertification credit. The ID Challenge will continue after 10:00am for those who want to participate for fun and discuss recognition techniques with MCH Board Members. This is also an opportunity for those taking the exam in August to get experience on Plant ID. All MCHs are encouraged to experience this year’s Plant Geek Day on Wednesday, August 23, at Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich from 8:00am – 2:00pm. This always proves to be an excellent informative event and allows us a break in our busy schedules.

As always, continually check the MNLA website and log into the events calendar to keep updated on opportunities to secure MCH Credits. The MCH Board is interested in your comments and suggestions; please contact me by email at jackelicone@ gmail.com.

We hope you took part in MNLA’s Down to Earth Annual Summer Conference and Trade Show at Wachusett Mountain in Westminster on July 19. MCHs earned credit for the Plant ID Challenge, and everyone had an opportunity to participate for fun and discuss recognition techniques with MCH Board Members. This was also an opportunity for those taking the exam in August to get on plant identification.

Jack Elicone, MCH John R Elicone Landscape Consulting Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) Board Chair

www.mnla.com

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With a hard-earned reputation for service, quality, selection and sustainability, we work with professionals and garden centers throughout the area to keep our region beautiful.

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Spotlight on Native Plants R

egistered Landscape Architect Scott Mehaffey, RLA, FASLA is a bona fide native plant enthusiast, so we thought it would be fun to discover some of his favorite natives and native cultivars. Here are his top seven picks in no particular order with personal descriptions, photos, and cultural information.

Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’—

Spigelia marilandica — Indian Pink

It’s a dumb name, as it’s a brilliant red and yellow. A shade garden plant, it likes rich soil. Frankly, the flowers don’t last for more than a month, but the foliage is beautiful.

It reminds me of a species fuschia or a wildflower in Sleeping Beauty’s glade or some other old Disney movie.

Cultivate— Plant in part shade to full shade Height: 1-2ft Spread: .5-1.5ft Hardy in zones 5-9 Combos: Combine it with spring-blooming bulbs, ferns, Epimedium, Astilbe, Hellebores, and Hosta Bonus— Blooms in June, attracts hummingbirds, tolerates drought

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This grass provides a bluish color contrast to all of the saturated greens of late summer, then gradually takes on a rosyorange tinge as autumn progresses. This particular cultivar is a little relaxed in form, but there are others, like ‘Standing Ovation’ and ‘Carousel’, that stay more upright. Little Bluestem has been the focus of breeding work in recent years, and there are named selections with various attributes, but all of them share native-plant hardiness and wonderful color through fall and winter.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun, well-drained soil Height: 3-3.5ft Spread: 1.5 - 2ft Hardy in zones 3 to 9 Combos: Coreopsis, Allium, Russian sage, Echinacea, Buddleia, asters, Baptisia Bonus— Deer resistant, tolerates dry soil and black walnut trees, and provides winter interest

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and Native Cultivars Eupatorium coelestinum — Hardy Ageratum

Hello, where have you been? How did I not know we had a winter-hardy blue ageratum? I came across this plant two years ago and thought it was a new annual. Wrong! It’s indigenous to moist open woods and stream banks in the southeastern U.S. The butterflies love it. It flowers in the fall but has clean foliage and a mounded habit that looks good during the summer months, which make it the perfect foil or backdrop for cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and browneyed Susans.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun to part shade Height: 1.5-3ft Spread: 1.5-3ft Spreads aggressively by rhizomes Hardy in zones 5 to 10 Combos: Anemone, Columbine, Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’, Astilbe, Dicentra, Hosta Bonus— Good for naturalized areas and open woodlands

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Allium thunbergii ‘Ozawa’— Ornamental Allium

Although this allium is not a native, I mix it with native asters and prairie grasses. Personally, I like Allium ‘Ozawa’ and Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’ (Little Bluestem) and just about every aster there is for fall. I like fall-blooming Allium because it’s unusual, and the pale purple is a nice contrast to the yellows and oranges that are so prevalent at that time of year. It’s a true late bloomer generally lasting through Thanksgiving, and it tolerates cold weather and light frosts.

It’s definitely a front-of-the-border plant, a bit more diminutive than culinary chives. Also, as the sun is lower in the sky in autumn, we get deep shadows, and this plant is a real bright spot in semi-shady areas.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun to part shade Height: 9-12in Spread: 9-12in Hardy in zones 4 to 9 Combos: Asters, Liatris, Stachys, Amsonia, native grasses, Sedum Bonus— Tolerates drought and is deer resistant

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Symphyotrichum oblongifolium— Aromatic Aster

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

I found this in a mail-order catalog in the early 1990s.

People went nuts over it, and you can buy it locally now. Loose, billowy, aromatic, attracts butterflies, but don’t overwater or it turns yellow. Likes dry soil and full sun but will easily tolerate half-day shade, as well.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun to light shade Height: 1.5ft Spread: Slowly by rhizomes Hardy in zones 3 to 8 Combos: Allium, Echinacea, Stachys ‘Hummelo’, Prairie dropseed, Joe Pye weed Bonus— Good for mass planting

Acorus americana Sweet Flag— This is a favorite for moist gardens, rain gardens, or the shallow edges of ponds because it colonizes and smells fantastic. It’s a warm-season perennial but looks good eight to nine months of the year. It’s a great alternative to cattails and Siberian Iris.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun to part shade in moist areas Height: 2-3ft Spread: Spreads vigorously by rhizomes Hardy in zones 3 to 6 Combos: Sedges, Carex, Hosta, ferns, perennial hibiscus, Ligularia Bonus— Great for stabilizing pond edges

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I like this native prairie plant for its architectural thistle-like flowers that bloom from June to September. Prefers dry, well-drained, even sandy soils. Overly fertile soils or shade will cause the plants to sprawl. Has a deep tap root and resents transplanting.

Cultivate— Plant in full sun Height: 4-5ft Spread: 2-3ft Hardy in zones 3 to 8 Combos: Mass it with native grasses, coneflowers, day lilies, coreopsis, and baptisia Bonus— Drought tolerant and deer resistant

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Business Focus

Three Steps to Just Getting It Done

By Shelley Row

T

here are some tasks on my to-do list that make me cringe — mostly the ones that require attention and focus but aren’t so fun. It takes a lot of energy to get to these sometimes. Here are three steps that work for me.

Set Aside Time Schedule the time on your calendar and don’t let anything else encroach on it.

Maybe it’s an hour or two or a half to full day. Identify a time and block it off. Keep your resolve and don’t schedule anything else that could take up even a sliver of that time block. When that appointed time comes, straighten the desk and get your resources together. Do all that before the time block so that you are

ready to hit the ground running and take full advantage of your day.

Keep it Distraction Free Just before (not during) the time block, turn off the ringer on the phone, set it out of reach, and disable email, text message, or social media popups. Tell work colleagues you will be out of pocket for this time period. Ask them to respect your time and to wait on any interruptions until after you finish — unless it’s an emergency. The idea is to give yourself uninterrupted time. Each interruption drains your mental energy, and it takes precious time to get back to where your thought process was prior to the interruption.

Engage in Positive Thinking Feed yourself positive thoughts like: • I can get this done.

• I’m going to finish this task and get it off my list.

• I’m perfectly capable of accomplishing this.

The brain responds well to positive input, and you will set yourself up for a productive work period. Start the positive thinking the day before the scheduled time so your brain is revved up and in gear when the appropriate time comes.

Shelley Row, the founder of Shelley Row Associates LLC, is a speaker, consultant, and the author of four books.

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Grow With a Pro

2017 Massachusetts Certified Horticulturists

Take the ch bec

Becom knowl range

Summer|2017

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Listing of MCH Professionals Certified Since 2009 1983 1993 1984 2014 2017 1993 2000 2013 2017 2014 2016 2014 2000 2016 1982 2011 2008 2009 2002 2014 1981 1998 1999 2013 1998 1992 2009 1991 1980 2001 2002 1981 2008 2002 2012 2004 1986 2009 2016 2010 1987 1997 2008 2011 1980 2001 2015 1998 2014 2009

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MCH

David Ahronian, MCH Mark Ahronian. MCH Robert Akroyd, MCH David Alessandroni, MCH David Amirault, MCH Eric Anderson, MCH Fred Anderson, MCH Robert Anderson, MCH Ian Anderson,MCH Taylor Andrews, MCH Sarah Ard, MCH Andrew Bachman, MCH Erika Baehr, MCH Robert Beaumont, MCH Adam Beck, MCH Edward Bemis, MCH William Benoit, III, MCH Robert Bergeron, MCH Katherine Bergmann, MCH Seth Berman, MCH Amanda Bigelow, MCH Patricia Bigelow, MCH Christian Bilodeau, MCH Sean Bilodeau, MCH Sean Bilodeau, MCH Gregory Bilowz, MCH Michael Bonadio, MCH Cheryl Bonin, MCH Daniel Bouchard, MCH Philip Boucher, MCH Robert Bourassa, III, MCH Bruce Bourassa, MCH Thomas Bradley, MCH Crystal Brinson, MCH James Brochu, MCH Nathaniel Brown Jr. , MCH Danielle Bruyere, MCH Richard Bursch, MCH Chris Butler, MCH John Callahan, MCH Kyle Canole, MCH Wayne Carboni, MCH Alan Carlsen, MCH William Carr, MCH Laurie Carter, MCH Marcia Chapman, MCH Susan Cheever, MCH Christopher Clark, MCH William Clarke, MCH Dirk Coburn, MCH Kevin Cocklereece, MCH

Company Ahronian Landscape and Design Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc. Greylock Design Association, Inc. Carroll County Landscape, Inc. Parterre Garden Services Atlantis Hardscape Anderson Landscape Construction, Inc Anderson Landscapes Bartlett Tree Expert Company Wilkinson Ecological Design Minuteman High School Trout Brook Landscaping Village Stonesmith Garden & Masonry Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Follaire, Inc. Bemis Farms Nursery Safe Harbor Chatham CJM Management Weston Nurseries Seth Berman Gardeners Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Acorn Tree & Landscape Acorn Tree & Landscape Acorn Tree & Landscaping Bilowz Associates, Inc. A. Bonadio & Sons, Inc. PlantCreations The Trustees of Reservations-Long Hill Elysian Garden Design Coastal Landscape Sumco Eco-Contracting Emanouil, Inc. Crystal Brinson Horticulturist Brochu Brothers Landscape New England Nurseries Inc. DCR - Harbor Region Horticulturalist Lakeview Nurseries South River Landscape Brian Callahan Builders, LLC Bailey Landscape Carboni Landscaping Worcester Polytechnic Institute Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Moon Garden Designs M.R. Soares Co., Inc. Kennedy’s Country Gardens Nick’s Tree Service Perennial Solutions Weston Nurseries, Inc. Kevin Cocklereece Landscape Services

Certified Since 2017 2013 2015 1987 2012 2007 2001 1987 2017 1990 2015 1983 1985 2015 2002 2013 2017 2010 2011 2017 2012 2016 2016 2009 2006 2006 1981 1996 1997 2007 2013 2009 1986 1989 2017 2009 2009 1996 2002 2015 2008 1998 2016 1981 2015 2010 2011 2016 2006 2001 2007

MCH

Company

Daniel Cohen, MCH Hartney Greymont Darrah Cole, MCH RFK Greenway Conservancy Thibaut Collin, MCH James Connolly, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. Miles Connors, MCH Parterre Garden Services Julie Coop, MCH DCR Heidi Cope, MCH Stonegate Gardens Stephen Corrigan, MCH Mountain View Landscapes & Lawn Care Inc. Jill Costello, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center Andrew F. Cotreau, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc. Laura Craig-Comin Merrifield Garden Design David Crocker, MCH Crocker Nurseries Stephen Crowe, MCH Sunshine Landscaping Co. Jamie Davis, MCH A Blade of Grass Steven Davis , MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Catherine Davis, MCH Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc. Valerie Davis, MCH Sorbello Landscaping Mark Delaney, MCH Swazy & Alexander Landscaping, LLC Gene Demsey, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc. Ryan Devlin, MCH Mount Auburn Cemetery Robyn Dewey, MCH Parterre Garden Services Peter Di Zinno, MCH A Blade of Grass Jeremy Dick, MCH The Trustees of Reservations Theresa Doherty , MCH Greenscape Timothy Dolan, MCH Chestnut Hill Realty Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center Dennis Dowd, MCH Landscape Development, Inc. Curtis Dragon, MCH Earth Landscape Jeff Dragon, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Jessica Duphily Cook, MCH Quintessential Gardens Christie Dustman, MCH Christie Dustman & Co, Inc. Patrick Eleey, MCH Parterre Garden Services John (Jack) Elicone, MCH John R. Elicone Landscaping Consulting David Ellis, MCH Roseland Nursery Anthony Erwin, MCH Boston College Marc Fadding, MCH Marconica, Inc. Thomas Farrington, MCH Hill Town Tree & Garden Pattie Featherstone, MCH D. Schumacher Paul Ferrin, II, MCH Boston Temple/LDS Douglas Field, MCH Ahronian Landscape Colin Finn, MCH Wolf Hill Garden Center Robert T. Fisher, MCH Amherst Landscape and Design Alyson Fitzsimmons, MCH Russell’s Garden Center John Flanigan, Jr., MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Jessi Flynn, MCH MA DCR Patrick Flynn, MCH Hartney Greymont Rene Fontaine, MCH New England Botanicals Nicole Forsyth, MCH BC Murphy Landscape Inc. Heath Francis, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Ruth Furman, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Kirsten Ganshaw, MCH Arnold Arboretum www.mnla.com

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2015 Morgan Gasperini, MCH Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center 2004 Victor Gelinas, Jr., MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. 1998 Byron M. Getchell, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc. 1997 Dennis Gibbons, MCH Dennis. Gibbons Landscapes LLC 2014 Jeanie Gillis, MCH Parterre Garden Services 2011 Joanne Gilmartin, MCH Joanne Gilmartin Garden Design 2013 Rebecca Goguen, MCH Garden Solutions, LLC 2015 Shannon Gojanovich, MCH Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc. 2004 Mitch Goldstein, MCH Robert Hanss Landscape Construction & Management 2015 Stacey Gordon, MCH Parterre Garden Services 2012 Elisabeth Green, MCH New England Wildflower Society 2007 Scott Grimshaw, MCH Arnold Arboretum 2013 Kyle Guerrini, MCH Guerrini Landscape Inc. 1995 Mary Hallene, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. 2014 Sean Halloran, MCH Parterre Garden Services 2015 Bryan Hamilton, MCH Parterre Garden Services 1995 Ben Hanelt, MCH Lakeville Nurseries 2007 Laura Harrigan, MCH Nature Works Landscape Inc 2007 Marianne Hart, MCH 1991 Michelle Harvey, MCH Lakeview Nurseries 1992 Timothy Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. 1996 Mark Heimlich, MCH Heimlich Landscaping & Construction Co. 1996 Todd Heimlich, MCH Heimlich Landscaping & Construction Co. 2006 Miriam Hellweg, MCH A Blade of Grass 1991 Peggy Henden-Wilson, MCH Avalon Woods 2015 Ashley Hill, MCH Wolf Hill Garden Center 2000 Denise Hills, MCH Harvest from the Hills 1990 Larry Hindle, MCH Evergreen Tree & Landscape Service, Inc. 2015 Victoria Hiney, MCH RFK Greenway Conservancy 1991 Daniel Holmes, MCH Holmestead Nursery/Jon L. Holmes & Sons 2005 Lauren Holt, MCH Valley Crest Landscape Maintenance 2010 Karen Howard, MCH Howard Garden Designs 2008 Peter Howland, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc. 1993 Keith Howlett, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. 1996 Bob Hoxie, MCH Great Hill Horticultural Services 2017 Jacqueline Hoyle, MCH Roseland Nursery 1987 Kevin Humphrey, MCH Humphreys Garden Design & Landscape 2014 Elizabeth Hutchinson, MCH Parterre Garden Services 1984 Christopher Iannitelli, MCH Town of West Bridgewater 2017 Jacquelyn Jackson, MCH Town of Brookline 2014 Eileen Johnson, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. 2015 Dustin Johnson, MCH Wilkinson Ecological Design 1999 Timothy Johnson, MCH Estabrook Landscape 1999 Daniel Johnson, MCH Northfield Mount Herman 2012 Christopher Johnston, MCH Ahronian Landscsaping & Design, Inc. 2015 Ed Kassor, MCH Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc. 2006 Patricia Keating, MCH Artistic Garden Design 1990 Doug Keenan, MCH Mahoney’s Rocky Ledge 1996 Barbara Keene Briggs, MCH Tree Specialists, Inc. 2007 Diane Kelly, MCH Russell’s Garden Center Summer|2017

1995 2013 2016 1991 2016 2017 2005 2014 2016 1994 1993 1983 2009 2008 2015 2011 2011 1981 2016 2014 2014 2016 2010 1980 2007 2014 2011 1989 2012 2003 2009 1987 2011 1981 1990 2006 2017 2013 2014 2003 2004 1998 1980 2009 2003 2012 2015 2006 2008 2014 1980 2016

Chris Kennedy, MCH Kennedy’s Country Gardens Jennifer Kettell, MCH Horticulture Education & Consulting Nicholas Kiernan, MCH Sudbury Design Group Andrea Knowles, MCH Nashoba Valley Technical High School Paul Lambe, MCH Nature Works Landscape Services Glen Lapham, MCH Boston College Mark Larson, MCH Chestnut Hill Realty Corp Heather Lashbrook Jones, MCH A Blade of Grass Nancy Lattanzio, MCH Lattanzio Landscapes Christopher Laughton, MCH Farm Credit East Jeffrey Lavoie, MCH Second Nature Landscaping John Lebeaux, MCH Shrewsbury Nurseries Deborah Lee, MCH Deborah Lee Environmental Design Melanie Levesque, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Timothy Lewis, MCH Lewis Landscaping inc.

Jolene Lewis, MCH Lewis Design Associates Corinne Lidsky, MCH CML Fine Gardening Roger Lusignan, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Anne Lyngdoh, MCH Recover Green Roofs James Lynn, MCH Christie Dustman & Company Ellen Mackey, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design Andrew Magee, MCH Sylvan Nursery Steven Magliacane, MCH Busy Bee Nursery Paul Mahoney, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Centers Laura Mangan, MCH D Schumacher John Mapel, MCH Mapel Plants Nursery Paul Marean, MCH Garden Design Associates Dennis Mareb, MCH Windy Hill Farm, Inc. Paul Marini, MCH Fine Gardeners Joseph Marshall, MCH Town of Barnstable DPW Dexter Mason, MCH Webster Landscape Thomas Mauer, MCH MVL Shrub Man Charleen Maunsell, MCH Potscapes James McBratney, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Joann McColgan, MCH Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farmstand Joanna McCoy, MCH A Blade of Grass Gaele McCully, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center Brian McGinn, MCH Christie Dustman & Co, Inc. Bridget McGovern, MCH Curbside Appeal Garden Design Keith McKeone, MCH Patriot Landscape & Arboriculture Inc. Adaela McLaughlin, MCH Branch in Hand Garden Care Don McMahon, MCH Siteone Landscape Supply James McManus, MCH Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farm Stand, Inc. Andrew McMeekin, MCH McMeekin Landsdcape Services James McSweeney, Jr., MCH Hilltown Tree & Garden LLC Jerry Mendenhall, MCH Mount Auburn Cemetery Ellen Menounos, MCH Katherine Merrifield, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design Katherine Merrill, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. R. Wayne Mezitt, MCH Hort-Sense/Weston Nurseries John Milos, MCH Mountain View Landscapes

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Listing of MCH Professionals Certified Since 2009 2007 2008 1991 2004 2011 2011 2015 2003 2004 2015 2016 2009 2015 2010 2016 1994 2010 2015 2015 1993 2008 1989 2014 1998 1989 2009 2016 2016 1995 2001 1991 2014 2002 2005 2011 1995 1995 1982 2005 1997 2003 2005 1996 1981 1988 1995 2016 2002 2015 2016 2014

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MCH

Company

Megan Montefusco, MCH Cultivation, Inc. Ramon Monzon, MCH Organic Gardening & Landscaping Winslow Mulry, MCH Landscape Planners, Inc. Dennis Murphy, MCH Murphy Nurseries Jennifer Nawada, MCH Nawada Landscape Design, Inc. Michael Nonni, MCH Fuse Landscape Design, Inc. Christopher O’Brien, MCH Howard Garden Designs Susan Opton, MCH Terrascapes Geoffrey Orbegoso, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. Darcy Paige, MCH Laurel Garden Design Ellen Parker Menounos Phil Mastrianni Corp Patricia Pascarelli, MCH Seoane Garden Center Grace Peabody, MCH Eastgate Garden Design Brendan Pearson, MCH Brendan Pearson Justin Pelis, MCH North Country Landscapes Ian Penman, MCH Sylvan Nursery Kelly Perry, MCH Swan Point Cemetery Erin Piester, MCH Wards Nursery Inc. Sophia Pilling, MCH Parterre Garden Services, Inc. Michael Pistininzi, MCH RFK Greenway Conservancy Adam Prata, MCH A. Prata Complete Landscaping Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose Herbert Prew, MCH Prew Landscaping Michael Prusak, MCH Parterre Garden Services Carl Quist, MCH Tim Ramey, MCH Tim Ramey Horticulture Creations Kristina Ramos, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Brian Razzano, MCH Heritage Museums and Gardens Sally Ream, MCH Ream Design Skott Rebello, MCH Harborside P.S. Christian Rezendes, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Kurt Richardson, MCH Franklin County Technical High School J. Allan Robinson, MCH Christie Dustman & Company Melanie G. Roeber, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Jennifer Rolo, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. Angela Rose, MCH Angela Rose Gardens, LLC Tina Rovito Bemis, MCH Bemis Farms Nursery Maria Ryder, MCH Maria Ryder Michael Sahagian, MCH MGS Landscaping Cheryl Salatino, MCH Dancing Shadows Garden Design D.J. Salmon III, MCH D.J. Salmon Lawn & Landscape Inc. Michael Sarowsky, MCH Hart Farm Nursery Chris Saunders, MCH Saunders Landscape Mark Sawyer, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. Shawn Shea, MCH Misty Hill Landscape Design, Ltd. Paul James Shea, MCH Paul J. Shea & Assoc.

David Shea, MCH Crocker Nurseries Jenny Sherman Tonsig, MCH Nature Works Landscape Services Chuck Sherzi, Jr., MCH Sherzi & Company, LLC Jason Shute, MCH Vista Horticultural Services Joanne Silveira, MCH Sylvan Nursery Corinne Jean, MCH Wisteria & Rose

Certified Since 2014 2008 2006 2006 1986 2013 2012 2017 2004 1992 2009 2007 1994 2015 2001 2000 2000 2010 2000 2000 2008 2016 2003 2014 2017 1993 1988 2012 2007 2010 2001 2000 2006 2011 2017 2010 2002 2004 2008 1993 2003 1992 2016 2016 2001 1986 2012 1993 1989 2013 1982 2006

MCH

Company

Kathy Small, MCH Parterre Garden Services Trevor Smith, MCH Land Escapes Maria Soares, MCH M.R. Soares Co., Inc. Reginald Soares, MCH M.R. Soares Co., Inc. Rip Sokol, MCH Fourth Generation Nursery, Inc. Patricia Souza, MCH Sylvan Nursery Michael Spencer, MCH Mike Spencer Horticultural Services Caitlin Splawski, MCH Allandale Farm John Spring, MCH Spring Bros. Landscaping Scott Stacey, MCH Fairview Landscaping Barbara Stafinski, MCH Jennifer Stephens, MCH Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design Hope Sterling, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Kate Stonefoot, MCH Parterre Garden Services Jim Stucchi, MCH Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc. Michele Sullivan, MCH Garden Girl Darryl Sullivan, MCH Mt. Auburn Cemetery Laurie Sullivan, MCH The Schumacher Companies Aime Sund, MCH The Shepherds Gardens Karen Sutherland, MCH Dedham Country & Polo Club Walter Swift, MCH Swift’s Creative Landscape Jana Szeglin, MCH Michael Talbot, MCH Talbot Ecological Land Care Mark Taylor, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc. Erin Taylor, MCH Downer Brothers Landscaping William Thompson, MCH Robert Baker Co. Peter Thornton, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc. James Tierney, MCH Parterre Garden Services Robert Trainor, MCH Garden Tech Horticultural Services LLC Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden M. Gregory Trussell, MCH Plowman Landscaping/Hartford Farm Geoff Uva, MCH Michael S. Coffin Landscape Construction Amy Van Doren, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center Tracy Van Schouwen, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design Angela Verge, MCH AV Garden Design, LLC David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape Inc. Matthew Vetree, MCH Linden Landscapes LLC Denis Wagner, MCH Denis Wagner Fine Gardening Robert Walsh, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Gregory E. Ward, MCH Ward’s Nursery Ted Watson, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc. Michael Weiss, MCH Weiss Landscape Company, Inc. Eric Weston, MCH S.U.N.Y. Cobleskill Alexandra Whitney, MCH Starbright Group Charles Wiley, MCH Vineyard Gardens Inc. Thomas Wilhelm, MCH A Blade of Grass Trevin Williams, MCH Parterre Gardens Jeffrey G. Willman, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Howard Wilson, MCH Windy Hill Farm, Inc. Kip Wilson, MCH Estate Gardeners Randolph Wright, MCH Garden Craft, Inc. Daniel Zima, MCH Longmeadow Country Club www.mnla.com

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72 72?

72 months at 1.9%.

Any down payment?

No. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

What’s included?

New Skid Steer Loaders, Compact Track Loaders, Multi Terrain Loaders, Backhoe Loaders, Excavators up to 308-size, Wheel Loaders up to 938-size, D3-D5 Dozers, Telehandlers and new Work Tools when purchased with a machine.

And all machines come with an Equipment Protection Plan.

And the catch?

Three months to act – July, August, September.

Talk to your salesperson, or visit us at www.miltoncat.com/72 for a complete list of models and monthly payments. And yes, we’ll take your old equipment in trade, also – any make or model. .

www.miltoncat.com Financing through CAT Financial based on credit approval.

Summer|2017

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19

The Great Sciadopytis Adventure (or What Three MCHs Do for Fun in the Off Season)

By Gaele McCully, MCLP

M

other Nature certainly had some mood swings in February and March 2017. Periods of temperatures in the 60s were followed by plunges into the deep, deep freeze. Sustained winds over 40 mph occurred on several days.

March 10th was one such day. MNLA Board member Jean Dooley, MCH, came Gaele McCully home from her day’s work at Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester to find the beautiful Sciadopytis verticillata in her front yard on its side, resting on a Magnolia.

The snow in a small area of the front yard looked as if it had been swept away with a broom, leading Jean to think there may have been a micro burst of wind — right where the Sciadopytis lived.

Fortunately, the root mass remained largely in the ground.

While many of us might have sought to right the tree and continued to enjoy it for years to come, Jean was ready to let go.

Finding a good home for her tree allowed her the freedom to indulge the idea of something new and wonderful. Haven’t we all felt that desire to plant something new, but we’ve run out of space? I guess that’s the curse of being a plant geek.

Amy VanDoren, MCH, knew my garden was still a work in progress and I was in need of a good-sized conifer. She mentioned it to Jean, and the wheels were set in motion. It was the offseason, after all. Didn’t we need something to capture our horticultural imaginations? There were certainly some logistical issues to be dealt with: righting the tree, digging a root ball sufficient

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to support an 18-foot tree, loading the big fella for transport, getting it back in the ground in its new home — not to mention that Jean lives in Woburn and I live in Marblehead. Amy’s employer, Ray Bouley of Bouley Landscaping, got caught up in our excitement and provided the crew and equipment to make it all possible.

We waited for a day when the ground had softened enough to allow us to dig a good size root ball, the temperatures were above freezing, and the skies were clear, or at least not sleeting on us. It was quite a long wait for these conditions to be met, so we were truly testing this poor tree, but the big day did arrive. Ray’s crew of Will, Jeff, and Amilca arrived at Jean’s house with excavator, bobcat, chains, rope, tarps, and tools. It was quite a dance to bring the tree back to the upright position, dig around the base as deeply as possible, secure it tightly but delicately, and bring it down the steep slope of the yard, all the while being conscious of the overhead power lines. It made its way along 128 and arrived safely in front of my house. Then, another dance as it was off-loaded, moved into my backyard, and set upright in its freshly dug and prepared hole.

While most households have an emergency kit made up of first-aid supplies and bottles of water, my emergency kit includes Bio-Tone Starter. You never know when it might come in handy. The tree was carefully staked, watered in, and of course, admired. Ray’s crew did absolutely wonderful work and left both my yard and Jean’s looking as if nothing had happened. And they did it all with good humor.

My sincere thanks to them. www.mnla.com

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There is nothing like an 18-foot tree for instant effect. When we sit on our patio in the evening and look in the direction of the Sciadopytis, not only is it a handsome tree, it completely obscures a neighborhood street and the attendant headlights. Thank you, great tree. I am prepared for what will surely be a record-setting water bill for the next year or two as I do my best to help the tree adjust to its new surroundings, but it is a small price for such a fun adventure. I wonder what Jean, Amy, and I will do in the next off-season?

Gaele McCully, MCLP, is part of the landscape design team at Mahoney’s Garden Center, and chairs MNLA’s Magazine Team.

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www.mnla.com

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MDAR Pollinator Plan Released The Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan was released as part of the Commonwealth’s Earth Week celebration on April 21, 2017, at the State Apiary located at the University of Massachusetts’ (UMASS) Agricultural Learning Center in Amherst. As a result of the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources began developing the Pollinator Protection Plan in 2015 in coordination with the Pollinator Stewardship Group and eight county bee keeping associations.

The Pollinator Protection Plan calls upon agencies to coordinate their efforts to improve bee pollinator health, increase monarch populations, and increase pollinator habitats. When implemented, the guidelines presented in the Pollinator Protection Plan will work to preventatively mitigate unintended negative impacts on pollinators and/or proactively establish hospitable conditions under which populations can thrive and become sustainable. Through education, outreach and individual projects designed to help the plight of the pollinators, which include bees, birds, bats, butterflies, and other species, MDAR will continue to honor the intent of the plan.

(888) 889-9996

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23

New England GROWS –

P

lan now to take advantage of New England GROWS, the largest, most valued professional trade event in the Northeast on November 29 – December 1, 2017, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. GROWS 2017 is YOUR kind of show — a not-to-be-missed, one-of-a-kind experience that’s all about sending you home with new products, tools, resources, and information you need to succeed.

Innovative Education Get the tools, insights, and information you need to run a smarter operation and be even more profitable next year.

GROWS’ professional conference is world-class and progressive with value-packed topics and industry-leading speakers.

Exceptional Exposition What new trends and fresh ideas will take your business up a notch? At GROWS 2017, we bring together your entire supply chain in one convenient place, with hundreds of green-industry vendors to show you the latest and greatest plants, equipment, technology, services, and more. Stop by the Bright Ideas Center to chat with UMass Extension experts, and don’t miss the rapid-fire Sprint Sessions covering the full range of today’s industry trends.

Grunder @ GROWS Landscape professional and consultant extraordinaire Marty Grunder will lead a day-long business-building seminar on Thursday, November 30, at GROWS. As an innovative entrepreneur and CEO of a multi-million- dollar landscape company, Marty is one of our industry’s most noted authorities on leadership, team building, sales and marketing, and professional and personal success. He will bring proven strategies, along with practical advice to help you grow your company and reach your fullest potential. Stay tuned for details about this focused, fun, hard-working seminar — with everything you need to build your landscape business. Seating is limited. Separate ticket required.

Powerful Networking Rub elbows, trade stories, and indulge your enthusiasm for this profession at our industry’s gathering place — where ideas are shared, careers are built, and real business gets done.

Whether you’re connecting with vendors on the tradeshow floor, attending education sessions, or meeting up with old friends, the time you spend at GROWS 2017 will widen your circle, help your career, and strengthen your business.

New England Wetland Plants, Inc. Wholesale Native Plant Nursery Your source for...

Trees, Shrubs, Ferns, Flowering Perennials, and Grasses Coastal and Inland Wetland Plants Specialty Seed Mixes Coir Logs, Straw Wattles, Blankets and Mats

820 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 Phone: (413) 548-8000 Fax: (413) 549-4000 Email: info@newp.com Web: www.newp.com

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www.mnla.com

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Your Kind of Show Industry Suppliers: Our Goals are Your Goals GROWS has your company’s success as its highest priority. Join hundreds of industry suppliers by reserving exhibit space at GROWS today.

Contact Charissa Sharkey at csharkey@ NewEnglandGROWS.org for details.

Tyree Moses Named GROWS Future Leader of the Year The GROWS Future Leaders program provides high school students with an opportunity to gain cutting edge horticultural knowledge, engage with industry leaders, explore the latest equipment and

Did you know…

Created by the industry, for the industry, GROWS puts everything we’ve got into giving back and supporting the green industry. MNLA, a founding GROWS partner, receives an educational grant based on the net results of the show. The grant helps to fund MNLA programs. The more successful the show, the greater the benefits for MNLA and our members.

SPECIAL THANKS to the MNLA members who exhibit at GROWS and to Tim Hay and Kathy Bergmann who represent MNLA on the New England GROWS Educational Advisory Committee.

Summer|2017

services, and become familiar with career options.

The GROWS Future Leader of the Year winner is chosen based on essays students write about their experiences at New England GROWS’ Future Leaders Program.

To check out the many benefits of GROWS’ Future Leader sponsorship, visit https://tinyurl.com/flpsponsor or contact Carrie Martin at CMartin@ NewEnglandGROWS.org or phone (508) 653-3009. Sponsorship opportunities are limited, so don’t delay. Let us hear from you by October 1 to ensure your spot in front of these Future Leaders.

Pictured here with his mother, Diane,

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25

Impact of Cold on Herbicide Activity

waterskiing, hockey, farm-fresh vegetables and

record-keeping.

As an accounting specialist at Farm Credit East, Mark Hughes enjoys record-keeping … a lot. In fact, keeping his clients’ records up-to-date, accurate, and compliant with the latest ag-related rules and regulations is a passion that he brings to every project. Whether providing on-farm accounting services, or preparing weekly, monthly or quarterly reports through the mail, Farm Credit East accounting specialists are committed to giving your business the solid records you need to assess your financial condition with confidence and to capture more profit.

Weeds are arguably the most common pest problem in landscape management. Landscape managers face the challenge of scheduling a variety of activities, and as a consequence, can struggle to stay ahead of spring weed control. One strategy to overcome this is to move herbicide applications from springtime to less-busy periods such as late fall/early winter or late winter.

This leads landscape managers to ask, “Do herbicides still work when applied in cool temperatures?”

Recent research in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture showed that herbicides applied during cool temperatures generally are less effective than those applied during warm temperatures.

However, herbicide formulation may help overcome the differences. Ester formulations, as opposed to amines, are more soluble in the plant cuticle and are more easily absorbed by plants.

Combining a contact herbicide (such as carfentrazone or sulfentrazone) with a systemic (such as 2,4-D or dicamba) is another tactic to increase weed control.

For more information, read the article in full: 2016. Derr, J. and T. Serensits. Impact of application temperature on broadleaf herbicide efficacy. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 34(4):123-130.

Did You Know?

Record-keeping may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Mark’s passion for accurate records will help you keep your business healthy and on track — because WE ARE YOU.

800.562.2235 • FarmCreditEast.com/Recordkeeping

Our associates love what they do. How about you?

Send us your selfie at FarmCreditEast.com/WeAreYou

|26

1. A pineapple is a berry.

2. Asparagus is a member of the lily family, which also includes onions, leaks, and garlic.

3. No species of wild plant produces a flower or blossom that is absolutely black, and so far, none has been developed artificially.

4. The largest single flower is the Rafflesia or “corpse flower.” They are generally three feet in diameter with the record being 42 inches.

5. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew Cannabis sativa on their plantations.

Darryl Sullivan, MCH, Mount Auburn Cemetery

www.mnla.com

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Equipment & Tools for the Landscape Professional

SEE US at the MNLA Summer Conference & Trade Show July 19, 2017 Wachusett Mountain, Princeton, MA

OFFERING A 10% DISCOUNT on ALL HAND TOOLS

Sprayers • Pruners • Saws & Extensions • Ladders • & More

Orchard LADDERS Call for a catalog or just stop by You’ll always be able to talk with a friendly, knowledgeable person who can help.

Mon. - Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. & Sat. 7:00 a.m. - noon

800-634-5557 www.oescoinc.com Summer|2017

8 Ashfield Road/Rt. 116, P.O. Box 540, Conway, MA 01341

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27

In Memoriam

Horticulture’s Seat at the White House Table

Robert A. Storry, 65, of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, died Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Lowell General Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Janis M. (Tobey) Storry, with whom he celebrated 25 years of marriage.

Born in Pickstown, South Dakota, on July 27, 1951, he was a son of the late Orvin and Jetta Mae (Ivey) Storry. Robert was a graduate of Falmouth High School and went on to attend UMASS Amherst.

Bob enjoyed horticulture and showed his strong work ethic at Griffin Greenhouse Supply in Tewksbury for over 30 years. He was a huge sports fan, especially of the New England Patriots. He loved being with his family, including celebrations with extended family, such as the annual Yankee Swap on New Year’s Day. In addition to his wife, he is survived by and deeply missed by his four children: Katherine J. Langley and her husband Dennis of Cranston, Rhode Island; Jeffrey R. Storry and his significant other, Maya Lazarovich of Malden; David J. Storry and Elizabeth A. Storry, both of Tyngsboro; two sisters: Linda Luckraft and her husband Ken of Falmouth; and Donna Kolodziej and her husband Ted of Goshen, Massachusetts; and two granddaughters: Rebecca Joyce Pepler and Jillian Adel Langley.

The White House farmers’ roundtable was attended by producers representing diverse geographies and industries. The green industry was represented by Tom Demaline, President and CEO of Willoway Nurseries, Avon, Ohio, and incoming Chairman of the Board of AmericanHort. Newly confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue also attended.

The roundtable provided the backdrop for a new executive order on promoting ag and rural prosperity. The order establishes a 180-day task force to examine various regulations affecting farmers, with emphasis on the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and Departments of Labor and Interior.

The Executive Order, which touches on a wide range of issues, explicitly states that the Task Force will look at ways to “ensure access to a reliable workforce and increase employment opportunities in agriculture-related and rural-focused businesses.” Demaline and others discussed the critical importance of both the current workforce and the need for streamlined and efficient visa programs.

Prides Corner Farms We are all about You need fewer hassles You need someone who will listen You need a partner that believes in you You need someone who has your back You need product that will not be in big box stores You need a company that will be there now and in the future

We Live This Everyday!

Call (800)437-5168 www.pridescorner.com |28

www.mnla.com

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Advertiser Index

MARKETPLACE

A&B Insurance Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Acorn Tree and Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Amherst Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Arborjet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Bigelow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Cavicchio Landscape Supplies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fairview Evergreen Nuseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Farm Credit East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Farm Family Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Motz & Son Nursery Wholesale Growers of ...

Shade and Flowering TreeS FruiT TreeS dwarf, Semi-dwarf & Standard combinaTion FruiT TreeS (4 in 1)

Ideal Concrete Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Milton Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Motz & Son Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 New England Wetland Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Northeast Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

eSpalier appleS

OESCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Semi-dwarf, combination & one Variety

Prides Corner Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

walnuTS and FilberTS

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Summer|2017

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29

My Favorite Plant

A delicate look with a tough habit Gillenia trifoliata (syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus)

The Details

Why it shines Gillenia trifoliata is a delicate looking plant with a tough habit. It prefers to be in evenly moist soil, but can tolerate drought and can grow well in either full sun or part shade.

Gillenia, also known as Porteranthus trifoliatus, makes a beautiful contrast to thick-leafed plants in a perennial garden. I have used it along the border of a part-shade perennial garden with hosta and catmint; it’s a welcoming sight with slender 2-3’ tall red petioles topped by delicate white flowers blowing in the breeze. Once the petals drop, the attractive red calyces provide additional interest throughout the summer. Gillenia is an easy care plant that does not need division and is disease and pest resistant, as I have never experienced any problems with either.

Gillenia provides extended interest from spring until fall. In autumn, its leaves turn into a stunning array of oranges and yellows, while the stems form interesting seed heads before the entire plant retires to a purple-brown

Gillenia trifoliata (syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus) • Zone 4 - 8 • Full Sun to Partial Shade • Soil: Moist-average; drought tolerant • Deciduous • Fall Color: Orange, Yellow • 2-3 feet high by 3 feet wide • Growth Rate: Average

Facts abd features Gillenia blooms from May to July with clusters of 5-petaled starlike white flowers that resemble Gaura lindheimeri. It provides interest from spring until fall, as the narrow toothed leaves add a soft texture to the garden. Gillenia is a native plant found in the Northeastern parts of the United States and Canada. Combine Gillenia with Hosta, Heuchera, Alchemilla or other bold-leafed plants for a refreshing contrast. Gillenia also makes a great cut flower.

Alyson Fitzsimmon Looking Glass Garden Design, Arlington, MA

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