pro grow news
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PRESIDENT
Jim Stucchi, MCH
Ahronian Landscape and Design, Inc.
Tel: (508) 429-3844
VICE PRESIDENT
Tim Hay, MCH
Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
Tel: (508) 845-2143
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
EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair
Bergmann Construction
Tel: (508) 435-3414
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM)
Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair
Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc.
Tel: (413) 536-7555
Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair
Strictly Pruning
Tel: (508) 429-7189
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair
Howard Designs, Inc.
Tel: (617) 244-7269
HISTORY COMMITTEE
Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair
Elysian Garden Designs
Tel: (508) 695-9630
Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair
Harborside P.S.
Tel: (508) 994-9208
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
board committees 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
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
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.
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 pro|grow|news
SummerSummer Solstice from the Presidential Promontory: What Have You Learned?
By Jim Stucchi
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
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
History Committee
Your Foundation is Calling
The 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
MCH Committee
Summer Forecast: MCH Events
Welcome 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
Established in 1910, Cavicchio Greenhouses is a fourth-generation New England farm working more than 250 acres in Sudbury. As a horticultural grower and landscape distributor, we cultivate and supply an extensive variety of annuals and perennials, nursery stock, stone, masonry and landscape materials. 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.
Spotlight on Native Plants
Registered 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.
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
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
Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’
and Native Cultivars
Eupatorium coelestinum — Hardy Ageratum Allium thunbergii ‘Ozawa’— Ornamental Allium
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
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
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
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
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
Three Steps to Just Getting It Done
By Shelley Row
There 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.
Plant health SolutionS
MORE YOUR ALLY THAN YOUR AGENT
With FARM FAMILY, you’ll get an agent who has the know-how and products to help you properly manage your family’s risks. An open appointment book, along with options for home, auto, life, farm and business coverage, means you can feel good that you’re getting more an ally than just an agent. Wherever you are in Massachusetts, there’s a Farm Family agent close to you. Give us a call for more information.
Richard Blair Carver (508) 866-9150
Mark Sylvia Centerville (508) 957-2125
* Photo by Jennifer Gunn
Josh Nadeau Easthampton (413) 203-5180
Jonathan Stewart Framingham (508) 283-1456
Bob Sinopoli Great Barrington (413) 528-1710
Dominic Sinopoli Great Barrington (413) 207-5044
Martin West Marlborough (508) 485-3800
Kevin McCarthy Marlborough (508) 485-3800 Associate Agent
Kay Spencer Middleboro (508) 747-8181 Associate Agent
Andrew Brodeur Middleboro (508) 747-8181
Kevin Sullivan Middleboro (508) 998-0512
Jason Charette North Andover (978) 208-4713
Richard Simonian Northborough (508) 393-9327
Jeff Pichierri Northborough (508) 393-9327
Francis Bingham Norwood (781) 255-2002
Marc Cohen Worcester (774) 329-7067
Tim Viles South Deerfield (413) 665-8200
Sean Rooney Wilbraham (413) 887-8817
Diane Mason-Arnold Southwick (413) 569-2307
Maureen O’Mara Williamstown (413) 458-5584
Eric Mason Southwick (413) 569-2307
Thomas Carroll Worcester (508) 752-3300
John Pagliaro West Springfield, MA Granby, CT (860) 653-3300
Dale Johnson Topsfield (978) 887-8304
Steve Charette General Agent North Andover (978) 686-0170
Don Ludwig Westford (978) 467-1001
Becoming an MCH requires building knowledge and experience in a wide range of disciplines, including:
• Identification and classification of both native plants and ornamentals
• Hardiness zones, soil science, and regional growing conditions
• Landscaping, hardscaping, and use of materials and equipment
• Planting and pruning of trees and shrubs
• Turf care, irrigation, and protecting groundwater
• Mulch, fertilizers, chemical and natural treatments
• Pest management, plant diseases, and weed control
• Sustainability, environmental impact, conser vation, and safety
Listing of MCH Professionals
Certified MCH Company
Since
2009 David Ahronian, MCH Ahronian Landscape and Design
1983 Mark Ahronian. MCH Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc.
1993 Robert Akroyd, MCH Greylock Design Association, Inc.
1984 David Alessandroni, MCH Carroll County Landscape, Inc.
2014 David Amirault, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2017 Eric Anderson, MCH Atlantis Hardscape
1993 Fred Anderson, MCH Anderson Landscape Construction, Inc
2000 Robert Anderson, MCH Anderson Landscapes
2013 Ian Anderson,MCH Bartlett Tree Expert Company
2017 Taylor Andrews, MCH Wilkinson Ecological Design
2014 Sarah Ard, MCH Minuteman High School
2016 Andrew Bachman, MCH Trout Brook Landscaping
2014 Erika Baehr, MCH Village Stonesmith Garden & Masonry
2000 Robert Beaumont, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
2016 Adam Beck, MCH Follaire, Inc.
1982 Edward Bemis, MCH Bemis Farms Nursery
2011 William Benoit, III, MCH Safe Harbor Chatham
2008 Robert Bergeron, MCH CJM Management
2009 Katherine Bergmann, MCH Weston Nurseries
2002 Seth Berman, MCH Seth Berman Gardeners
2014 Amanda Bigelow, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
1981 Patricia Bigelow, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
1998 Christian Bilodeau, MCH Acorn Tree & Landscape
1999 Sean Bilodeau, MCH Acorn Tree & Landscape
2013 Sean Bilodeau, MCH Acorn Tree & Landscaping
1998 Gregory Bilowz, MCH Bilowz Associates, Inc.
1992 Michael Bonadio, MCH A. Bonadio & Sons, Inc.
2009 Cheryl Bonin, MCH PlantCreations
1991 Daniel Bouchard, MCH The Trustees of Reservations-Long Hill
1980 Philip Boucher, MCH Elysian Garden Design
2001 Robert Bourassa, III, MCH Coastal Landscape
2002 Bruce Bourassa, MCH Sumco Eco-Contracting
1981 Thomas Bradley, MCH Emanouil, Inc.
2008 Crystal Brinson, MCH Crystal Brinson Horticulturist
2002 James Brochu, MCH Brochu Brothers Landscape
2012 Nathaniel Brown Jr. , MCH New England Nurseries Inc.
2004 Danielle Bruyere, MCH DCR - Harbor Region Horticulturalist
1986 Richard Bursch, MCH Lakeview Nurseries
2009 Chris Butler, MCH South River Landscape
2016 John Callahan, MCH Brian Callahan Builders, LLC
2010 Kyle Canole, MCH Bailey Landscape
1987 Wayne Carboni, MCH Carboni Landscaping
1997 Alan Carlsen, MCH Worcester Polytechnic Institute
2008 William Carr, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
2011 Laurie Carter, MCH Moon Garden Designs
1980 Marcia Chapman, MCH M.R. Soares Co., Inc.
2001 Susan Cheever, MCH Kennedy’s Country Gardens
2015 Christopher Clark, MCH Nick’s Tree Service
1998 William Clarke, MCH Perennial Solutions
2014 Dirk Coburn, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc.
2009 Kevin Cocklereece, MCH Kevin Cocklereece Landscape Services
2017 Daniel Cohen, MCH Hartney Greymont
2013 Darrah Cole, MCH RFK Greenway Conservancy
2015 Thibaut Collin, MCH
1987 James Connolly, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
2012 Miles Connors, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2007 Julie Coop, MCH DCR
2001 Heidi Cope, MCH Stonegate Gardens
1987 Stephen Corrigan, MCH Mountain View Landscapes & Lawn Care Inc.
2017 Jill Costello, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center
1990 Andrew F. Cotreau, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc.
2015 Laura Craig-Comin Merrifield Garden Design
1983 David Crocker, MCH Crocker Nurseries
1985 Stephen Crowe, MCH Sunshine Landscaping Co.
2015 Jamie Davis, MCH A Blade of Grass
2002 Steven Davis , MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
2013 Catherine Davis, MCH Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc.
2017 Valerie Davis, MCH Sorbello Landscaping
2010 Mark Delaney, MCH Swazy & Alexander Landscaping, LLC
2011 Gene Demsey, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc.
2017 Ryan Devlin, MCH Mount Auburn Cemetery
2012 Robyn Dewey, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2016 Peter Di Zinno, MCH A Blade of Grass
2016 Jeremy Dick, MCH The Trustees of Reservations
2009 Theresa Doherty , MCH Greenscape
2006 Timothy Dolan, MCH Chestnut Hill Realty
2006 Jean Dooley, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center
1981 Dennis Dowd, MCH Landscape Development, Inc.
1996 Curtis Dragon, MCH Earth Landscape
1997 Jeff Dragon, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
2007 Jessica Duphily Cook, MCH Quintessential Gardens
2013 Christie Dustman, MCH Christie Dustman & Co, Inc.
2009 Patrick Eleey, MCH Parterre Garden Services
1986 John (Jack) Elicone, MCH John R. Elicone Landscaping Consulting
1989 David Ellis, MCH Roseland Nursery
2017 Anthony Erwin, MCH Boston College
2009 Marc Fadding, MCH Marconica, Inc.
2009 Thomas Farrington, MCH Hill Town Tree & Garden
1996 Pattie Featherstone, MCH D. Schumacher
2002 Paul Ferrin, II, MCH Boston Temple/LDS
2015 Douglas Field, MCH Ahronian Landscape
2008 Colin Finn, MCH Wolf Hill Garden Center
1998 Robert T. Fisher, MCH Amherst Landscape and Design
2016 Alyson Fitzsimmons, MCH Russell’s Garden Center
1981 John Flanigan, Jr., MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
2015 Jessi Flynn, MCH MA DCR
2010 Patrick Flynn, MCH Hartney Greymont
2011 Rene Fontaine, MCH New England Botanicals
2016 Nicole Forsyth, MCH BC Murphy Landscape Inc.
2006 Heath Francis, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2001 Ruth Furman, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2007 Kirsten Ganshaw, MCH Arnold Arboretum
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
1995 Chris Kennedy, MCH Kennedy’s Country Gardens
2013 Jennifer Kettell, MCH Horticulture Education & Consulting
2016 Nicholas Kiernan, MCH Sudbury Design Group
1991 Andrea Knowles, MCH Nashoba Valley Technical High School
2016 Paul Lambe, MCH Nature Works Landscape Services
2017 Glen Lapham, MCH Boston College
2005 Mark Larson, MCH Chestnut Hill Realty Corp
2014 Heather Lashbrook Jones, MCH A Blade of Grass
2016 Nancy Lattanzio, MCH Lattanzio Landscapes
1994 Christopher Laughton, MCH Farm Credit East
1993 Jeffrey Lavoie, MCH Second Nature Landscaping
1983 John Lebeaux, MCH Shrewsbury Nurseries
2009 Deborah Lee, MCH Deborah Lee Environmental Design
2008 Melanie Levesque, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2015 Timothy Lewis, MCH Lewis Landscaping inc.
2011 Jolene Lewis, MCH Lewis Design Associates
2011 Corinne Lidsky, MCH CML Fine Gardening
1981 Roger Lusignan, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2016 Anne Lyngdoh, MCH Recover Green Roofs
2014 James Lynn, MCH Christie Dustman & Company
2014 Ellen Mackey, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design
2016 Andrew Magee, MCH Sylvan Nursery
2010 Steven Magliacane, MCH Busy Bee Nursery
1980 Paul Mahoney, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Centers
2007 Laura Mangan, MCH D Schumacher
2014 John Mapel, MCH Mapel Plants Nursery
2011 Paul Marean, MCH Garden Design Associates
1989 Dennis Mareb, MCH Windy Hill Farm, Inc.
2012 Paul Marini, MCH Fine Gardeners
2003 Joseph Marshall, MCH Town of Barnstable DPW
2009 Dexter Mason, MCH Webster Landscape
1987 Thomas Mauer, MCH MVL Shrub Man
2011 Charleen Maunsell, MCH Potscapes
1981 James McBratney, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
1990 Joann McColgan, MCH Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farmstand
2006 Joanna McCoy, MCH A Blade of Grass
2017 Gaele McCully, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center
2013 Brian McGinn, MCH Christie Dustman & Co, Inc.
2014 Bridget McGovern, MCH Curbside Appeal Garden Design
2003 Keith McKeone, MCH Patriot Landscape & Arboriculture Inc.
2004 Adaela McLaughlin, MCH Branch in Hand Garden Care
1998 Don McMahon, MCH Siteone Landscape Supply
1980 James McManus, MCH Wagon Wheel Nursery & Farm Stand, Inc.
2009 Andrew McMeekin, MCH McMeekin Landsdcape Services
2003 James McSweeney, Jr., MCH Hilltown Tree & Garden LLC
2012 Jerry Mendenhall, MCH Mount Auburn Cemetery
2015 Ellen Menounos, MCH
2006 Katherine Merrifield, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design
2008 Katherine Merrill, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2014 Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
1980 R. Wayne Mezitt, MCH Hort-Sense/Weston Nurseries
2016 John Milos, MCH Mountain View Landscapes
Listing of MCH Professionals
Certified MCH Company Since
2009 Megan Montefusco, MCH Cultivation, Inc.
2007 Ramon Monzon, MCH Organic Gardening & Landscaping
2008 Winslow Mulry, MCH Landscape Planners, Inc.
1991 Dennis Murphy, MCH Murphy Nurseries
2004 Jennifer Nawada, MCH Nawada Landscape Design, Inc.
2011 Michael Nonni, MCH Fuse Landscape Design, Inc.
2011 Christopher O’Brien, MCH Howard Garden Designs
2015 Susan Opton, MCH Terrascapes
2003 Geoffrey Orbegoso, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
2004 Darcy Paige, MCH Laurel Garden Design
2015 Ellen Parker Menounos Phil Mastrianni Corp
2016 Patricia Pascarelli, MCH Seoane Garden Center
2009 Grace Peabody, MCH Eastgate Garden Design
2015 Brendan Pearson, MCH Brendan Pearson
2010 Justin Pelis, MCH North Country Landscapes
2016 Ian Penman, MCH Sylvan Nursery
1994 Kelly Perry, MCH Swan Point Cemetery
2010 Erin Piester, MCH Wards Nursery Inc.
2015 Sophia Pilling, MCH Parterre Garden Services, Inc.
2015 Michael Pistininzi, MCH RFK Greenway Conservancy
1993 Adam Prata, MCH A. Prata Complete Landscaping
2008 Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose
1989 Herbert Prew, MCH Prew Landscaping
2014 Michael Prusak, MCH Parterre Garden Services
1998 Carl Quist, MCH
1989 Tim Ramey, MCH Tim Ramey Horticulture Creations
2009 Kristina Ramos, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2016 Brian Razzano, MCH Heritage Museums and Gardens
2016 Sally Ream, MCH Ream Design
1995 Skott Rebello, MCH Harborside P.S.
2001 Christian Rezendes, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
1991 Kurt Richardson, MCH Franklin County Technical High School
2014 J. Allan Robinson, MCH Christie Dustman & Company
2002 Melanie G. Roeber, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2005 Jennifer Rolo, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
2011 Angela Rose, MCH Angela Rose Gardens, LLC
1995 Tina Rovito Bemis, MCH Bemis Farms Nursery
1995 Maria Ryder, MCH Maria Ryder
1982 Michael Sahagian, MCH MGS Landscaping
2005 Cheryl Salatino, MCH Dancing Shadows Garden Design
1997 D.J. Salmon III, MCH D.J. Salmon Lawn & Landscape Inc.
2003 Michael Sarowsky, MCH Hart Farm Nursery
2005 Chris Saunders, MCH Saunders Landscape
1996 Mark Sawyer, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
1981 Shawn Shea, MCH Misty Hill Landscape Design, Ltd.
1988 Paul James Shea, MCH Paul J. Shea & Assoc.
1995 David Shea, MCH Crocker Nurseries
2016 Jenny Sherman Tonsig, MCH Nature Works Landscape Services
2002 Chuck Sherzi, Jr., MCH Sherzi & Company, LLC
2015 Jason Shute, MCH Vista Horticultural Services
2016 Joanne Silveira, MCH Sylvan Nursery
2014 Corinne Jean, MCH Wisteria & Rose
Certified MCH Company Since
2014 Kathy Small, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2008 Trevor Smith, MCH Land Escapes
2006 Maria Soares, MCH M.R. Soares Co., Inc.
2006 Reginald Soares, MCH M.R. Soares Co., Inc.
1986 Rip Sokol, MCH Fourth Generation Nursery, Inc.
2013 Patricia Souza, MCH Sylvan Nursery
2012 Michael Spencer, MCH Mike Spencer Horticultural Services
2017 Caitlin Splawski, MCH Allandale Farm
2004 John Spring, MCH Spring Bros. Landscaping
1992 Scott Stacey, MCH Fairview Landscaping
2009 Barbara Stafinski, MCH
2007 Jennifer Stephens, MCH Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design
1994 Hope Sterling, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2015 Kate Stonefoot, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2001 Jim Stucchi, MCH Ahronian Landscaping & Design, Inc.
2000 Michele Sullivan, MCH Garden Girl
2000 Darryl Sullivan, MCH Mt. Auburn Cemetery
2010 Laurie Sullivan, MCH The Schumacher Companies
2000 Aime Sund, MCH The Shepherds Gardens
2000 Karen Sutherland, MCH Dedham Country & Polo Club
2008 Walter Swift, MCH Swift’s Creative Landscape
2016 Jana Szeglin, MCH
2003 Michael Talbot, MCH Talbot Ecological Land Care
2014 Mark Taylor, MCH Weston Nurseries Inc.
2017 Erin Taylor, MCH Downer Brothers Landscaping
1993 William Thompson, MCH Robert Baker Co.
1988 Peter Thornton, MCH Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2012 James Tierney, MCH Parterre Garden Services
2007 Robert Trainor, MCH Garden Tech Horticultural Services LLC
2010 Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden
2001 M. Gregory Trussell, MCH Plowman Landscaping/Hartford Farm
2000 Geoff Uva, MCH Michael S. Coffin Landscape Construction
2006 Amy Van Doren, MCH Mahoney’s Garden Center
2011 Tracy Van Schouwen, MCH Merrifield Garden & Design
2017 Angela Verge, MCH AV Garden Design, LLC
2010 David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Landscape Inc.
2002 Matthew Vetree, MCH Linden Landscapes LLC
2004 Denis Wagner, MCH Denis Wagner Fine Gardening
2008 Robert Walsh, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
1993 Gregory E. Ward, MCH Ward’s Nursery
2003 Ted Watson, MCH Northeast Nursery, Inc.
1992 Michael Weiss, MCH Weiss Landscape Company, Inc.
2016 Eric Weston, MCH S.U.N.Y. Cobleskill
2016 Alexandra Whitney, MCH Starbright Group
2001 Charles Wiley, MCH Vineyard Gardens Inc.
1986 Thomas Wilhelm, MCH A Blade of Grass
2012 Trevin Williams, MCH Parterre Gardens
1993 Jeffrey G. Willman, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.
1989 Howard Wilson, MCH Windy Hill Farm, Inc.
2013 Kip Wilson, MCH Estate Gardeners
1982 Randolph Wright, MCH Garden Craft, Inc.
2006 Daniel Zima, MCH Longmeadow Country Club
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.
The Great Sciadopytis Adventure
(or What Three MCHs Do for Fun in the Off Season)
By Gaele McCully, MCLP
Mother 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 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
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.
Gaele McCully
Miss Kim Lilac
Mandarin Lights Azalea Colorado Blue Spruce
Carpet Spirea
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.
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.
New England GROWS –
Plan 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.
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.
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.
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
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,
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. 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.
Impact of Cold on Herbicide Activity
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?
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
In Memoriam
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.
Horticulture’s Seat at the White House Table
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.
MARKETPLACE
A delicate look with a tough habit
Gillenia trifoliata (syn. Porteranthus trifoliatus)
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
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
The Details
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
