B&B - 2022 Issue I - The Advocacy Issue

2022 | VOL 74. ISSUE I

The Advocacy Issue

The WSNLA initiatives helping to support the success of your business.

Promoting Careers in Horticulture: Actions, Opportunities & How You Can Help!

Inspiring Consumers & Connecting Them with Your Business.

A Voice in Olympia & More!

WSDA Launches Online Enforcement Program Find Out More Inside.

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Contents Features

8 Leaders in Advocacy

WSNLA Advocacy in Olympia makes a difference

10 Promoting Careers

(Above) WSNLA volunteers lead efforts to promote industry professionalism, inspire gardening, and drive business to member businesses at the NW Flower & Garden Festival. WSNLA’s Garden Lead, Cora Morrison, CPH, Alula Boutique Containers, shares about her experience on page 14.

in Horticulture

WSNLA Action, Opportunities & How YOU Can Help!

14 WSNLA at the NW

Flower & Garden Festival Represents Industry Professionalism Inspires to Plant Something Encourages to shop & hire member businsesses.

18 WSDA Launches Online Enforcement Program

WSDA’s Online Enforcement Program is the first of its kind, and is working to prohibit the sale of noxious weeds & introduction of invasive plant pests.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

2022 | VOL 74. NO. I Editor Breanne Chavez Published Quarterly By: Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association.

PO Box 219 Sumner, WA 98390-0040 253.661.6055, info@wsnla.org Deadlines:

News, Classified ads, Advertising

Columns 4

From the President

6

Executive Director

8

Legislative Update

Departments 22

Calendar of Events

22

WSNLA Marketplace

22

WSNLA Career Center

5pm on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. To place an ad, contact Breanne at (800) 672-7711 or breanne@ wsnla.org. WSNLA reserves the right to refuse

any ad which is misleading, unethical, contrary to WSNLA policy, or does not pertain to the industry.

Comments to the Editor: Interested in sharing your opinions and comments with B&B readers? If you take the time to share your thoughtful comments, WSNLA will be sure to share them with B&B readers. Please submit to breanne@wsnla.org.

WSNLA

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

Executive Director Breanne Chavez e-mail breanne@wsnla.org Finance & Operations Director Holly Osborne, CPH e-mail holly@wsnla.org © 2022, Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association

www.wsnla.org Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association - 3

WSNLA

Message from the President ] Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at an event. Things look bright for WSNLA during 2022!

Timothy Gray WSNLA President Pacific Stone Company Everett Huh. Wow! Has it really been since 2015, which marks the date my first opportunity to address you as President of WSNLA was given to me? This time around our lives, our industry, our world has been shaken and altered dramatically. We all know this and are looking forward to future days when it’s possible to return to our typical lives.

As I write this our state’s Covid-19 regulations are rapidly changing. The virus and associated pandemic are changing, too. Making it impossible to speculate on how we, as an Association, will be responding to the pandemic through 2022. With that in mind I’m going to give you some background on my own life since March 2020, how I have moved forward for nearly two years. And how I view my role for WSNLA in the year 2022.

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Serving the green industry since 1937!

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First, some of you who are my close friends will know about my path these past two years. Let’s start with the Covid-19 death of my father, William B. Gray, Sr. on March 9, 2020. At the time he was listed as the 28th Covid-19 death in the US. Local senior care facility: you all know that story. I spent a few hours with Dad on the 7th, helping him with dinner because he was so ill. Ten days in isolation at home alone before I could get tested: another 6 days for the negative results. I spent this time wondering when this virtually unknown virus was going to kill me. My 60th birthday on March 11th was a surreal experience. That the last thing my Dad would give me was a deadly virus was difficult to contemplate for me and my two brothers.

At the time I was unaware of how compromised my own health was. On September 18th a diagnosis of stage 3 prostate cancer came through. In November I took a ‘vacation’ of 8 days in the hospital having a tumor (benign) removed from my abdomen. On December 7th our mother, Ruth A. Gray, died after a 12-year battle with dementia. 2020 sucked.

Help Shape Your Industry

Most people looked forward to 2021, as things were slowly opening. My battle with cancer took up much of the year. Glad to report it’s no longer a part of my life. Even with pandemic restrictions, there was a light shining: Vaccines arrived, and progress of the virus slowed. Part of the year we relaxed after a difficult winter. Then Delta, then Omicron, and all that was changed again. This isn’t about politics, policies, mandates etc. It’s a time when personal decisions impact both us and our society. Some people will live with those decisions, others won’t.

Thank you for reading this very personal message. Very few people experienced the pandemic so early, so close to home and heart, as my family did. With a world unprepared for such an event, most people have done what they could to exist in the new paradigm. Human history has been changed.

The facts are that globally 423 million people have had Covid-19, with a death toll of 5,881,816 people. In the US 78.5 million people got the virus, with 934,951 Americans dying. (2-20-2022) With every milestone my heart has broken repeatedly since March 9, 2020.

Professionally - much of the nursery and landscape industry experienced strong growth spring through fall, and into winter 2021. So many people staying home, investing in their properties and gardening! Even with employee shortages, product shortages and extended back-orders, our industry saw records across the board. My own company, Pacific Stone Co., had our biggest year since opening in 1999.

WSNLA is slowly moving forward with plans to return to some in-person chapter and board meetings. We had an in-person Certified Professional Horticulturist - Plant Idenification exam on March 8th. It’s possible some of our other events common pre-pandemic could return in some form. With the guidance of our Executive Director and support of the state board we’re forging ahead. As an Association we will follow current guidelines. Many people will continue to wear masks for the foreseeable future. I certainly will. None of this would be possible without our staff: Breanne Chavez and Holly Osborne.

So much appreciation to these two for keeping WSNLA on track the past two years, as the Association has experienced never-before-seen challenges to our membership. Thank you, Breanne, and Holly!

You can reach me at work, 425.258.1911 or on my cell, 425.239.5360. My email is timg@pacificstoneco.com. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at an event. Things look bright for WSNLA during 2022!

Thank you for your membership and support of the Association.

Cheers, Tim Gray

Industry trade associations are driven by member involvement. Today, we ask that you as a member, consider serving on the WSNLA Board of Directors, a committee or task force.

Your contribution of time, talent, and knowledge will strengthen your industry.

It is easier now more than ever, as committee meetings are held virtually. If you have skills or passion in one of the following areas, please consider participating on an advisory committee designed to help shape your industry. On average, commitees meet 3-4 times a year.

Plant Something Industry Marketing Advisory Committee

Help spread the word and encourage new audiences to plant something! The focus of WSNLA’s Plant Something campaign is to promote the benefits of plants, trees and value of landscapes, specifically targeting new audiences. This committee generates ideas for messaging, identifies helpful member marketing tools; and provides guidance for WSNLA’s online presence interfacing with the public.

Plant A Career in Horticulture Advisory Committee

Help recruit future professionals! This new committee will focus on creating strategies for WSNLA to promote careers in horticulture.

Industry Professionalism Advisory Committee

If you have a passion for education and knowledge building, this is the committee for you. Contribute ideas and strategic direction for providing content to members, including webinars, B&B Magazine and other online resources.

To learn more about serving on the WSNLA Board of Directors or a committee, please contact WSNLA President Tim Gray at timg@ pacificstoneco.com or WSNLA Executive Director Breanne Chavez at breanne@wsnla.org.

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2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WSNLA Message from the Director ]

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tim Gray WSNLA President Pacific Stone Company timg@pacificstoneco.com Katie Miller WSNLA President Elect Skagit Horticulture kmiller@skagitgardens.com Trevor Cameron, CPH WSNLA Vice President Sunnyside Nursery trevor@sunnysidenursery.com Kirsten Lints, CPH WSNLA Treasurer Gardens ALIVE Design kirsten@gardensALIVEdesign.com Gregory Smaus, CPH, EPC WSNLA Past President Rock Solid Landscapes gregory@rocksolidlandscapes.com

CHAPTER & CAUCUS LEADERSHIP Ingrid Wachtler, CPH Mt Rainier Chapter President Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery 253-265-6271 | woodbrk@harbornet.com Peter Van Well North Central Chapter President Van Well Nursery 509-886-8189 | pete2@vanwell.net Megan Pulkkinen, CPH, EPC Olympic Chapter President Megan Pulkkinen Landscape Design 360-265-5799 | megancph@hotmail.com Scott Pringle, CPH Wholesale Grower Caucus Chair Paradise Lake Nursery 206-930-4132 | paradiselakenursery@gmail.com Jami Burke Horticulture Supplier Caucus Chair Walrath Soil Technologies 253-531-7499 | jami@tewalrath.com

Looking forward, as you come out of the hustle and bustle of Spring, I encourage you to get involved.

Fresh, diverse and innovative ideas and experience will add value to these, and other, industry initiatives.

Breanne Chavez WSNLA Executive Director The WSNLA MIssion is to grow the success of your business through advocacy, education & promotion. Every program. Every action. Every decision is made with this mission in mind. As we close out the first quarter of the year, this issue of the B&B Magazine features the WSNLA programs and initiatives already at work in 2022 to protect & grow your business.

Careers in Horticulture Oh boy is this a big topic impacting all sectors of the industry. The WSNLA Community has been vocal about the need for a concerted local effort here. On page 10 you can read more about what WSNLA is doing to promote careers in horticulture and opportunities for you to get involved. The WSNLA Board of Directors has created a Task Force to explore and advise strategies to enhance these concerted efforts in the coming year.

Flower & Garden Festival As this year’s show came to an end, Holly and I were reminiscing about the various ways WSNLA has been involved with the show over the years - the co-op WSNLA Plant Market; Full size display garden; a Certified Professional Horticulturist Booth; and now WSNLA beauitfies the stage on the garden show floor. The thread tying them all together is that volunteers ARE what make this industry promotion effort happen - in whatever form it takes. You can learn more about this year’s garden effort on page 14.

In Olympia & More The value of having eyes and ears in Olympia these days is more than invaluable. The 2022 Legislative Session has seen a variety of bills with potential impacts to nursery and landscape businesses. Thank you for providing timely feedback providing guidance on bills of concern and proposed amendments. Your input is what makes WSNLA’s advocacy in Olympia strong.

In addition to Olympia, WSNLA has representation on many different committees, councils and commissions. These individuals give their time to represent the horticulture industry ensuring your business is respresented. You can learn more about this on page 9. If you are interested in representing your industry in this fashion, I encourage you to reach out. There are several seats open or coming open soon.

As we turn to the second quarter of the year, WSNLA will launch into promoting your business and planning. Looking forward, as you come out of the hustle and bustle of Spring, I encourage you to get involved. Fresh, diverse and innovative ideas and experience will add value to these, and other, industry initiatives. Getting involved is easier now than ever - and we need you!

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FindPlantsPNW.com

Connecting Buyers With Wholesale Plants, Products & Supplies.

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Legislative Update

Advocating for Your Business & Industry

WSNLA’s business membership includes a diverse community of large and small growers, garden centers, landscape professionals and suppliers. It is the intent of WSNLA Board of Directors to ensure legislative activities focus in on overarching WSNLA member needs, while effectively balancing the diversity in business scale and location. To that extent, the following priorities have been identified, with member input, to guide and strengthen WSNLA legislative and regulatory activities throughout the State.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Washington Nursery and Landscape Association supports stewardship of the land and the plants and trees that grow upon it.

Our priorities include: • Promoting a positive business climate for growing and marketing plants and landscape services.

• Protecting our industry from burdensome regulation, taxes and fees.

• Working in a bipartisan manner and focusing on results.

• Ensuring policies are reasonable and based on sound science.

WSNLA will coordinate with other affiliated professional organizations to support our members on agricultural and environmental issues such as: • Water availability, management & quality • Urban planning and the inclusion of green spaces • Pesticide regulation • Open space taxation On general business issues, WSNLA will focus on impact to members. Such issues include but are not limited to: • Labor: availability, training, minimum wage, workers comp, health care, benefits • Simplifying business regulation including streamlining local jurisdiction business licensing • Taxes WSNLA Priorities drafted June – September 2017.

Member comment period January – June 2018.

Board approved June 2018.

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Heather Hansen WSNLA Lobbyist As of this writing, the 2022 legislative session is in the home stretch. Final budgets should be out within a few days. By the time you read this, it will all be over. The 60-day session ends March 10.

The Washington State economy is expected to continue to outperform the national economy. The state revenue forecast consistently predicts an increase in tax collections for this budget cycle for a total of $61.7 billion. That is around $5 billion more than when legislators adopted the current two-year budget last April. The budget proposed by the House this session is 26% higher than last April’s budget.

The size of the state budget has nearly doubled in the nine years Governor Inslee has been in office.

Salmon.

The budget includes funding for the governor’s office to bring together tribes, legislative leadership, local governments, agricultural producers, commercial and recreational fishers, business organizations, forestry, salmon recovery organizations, and environmental organizations to develop recommendations on changes in policy and spending priorities to improve riparian habitat to ensure more salmon.

Along with all the rhetoric about helping salmon, the Conservation Commission was given $1.3 million to plan to work with nurseries and community groups to grow native plants for riparian planting. But the money will be used only for planning, not actually growing plants. Beginning in 2023, the Conservation Commission also plans to work with school groups and other citizens groups to grow native plants for riparian plantings.

HB 1117, the bill that would have added net ecological gain for the purpose of saving salmon to every project in Washington, died in the Senate Ways and Means committee, but language and funding remain in the budget for the Department of Fish and wildlife to assess how to incorporate a net ecological gain standard into state land use, development, and environmental laws and rules to achieve a goal of better statewide performance on endangered species recovery. The department must report to the legislature by December 1, 2022. As this plays out, anticipate more attempts to place riparian buffers on any land bordering a creek, pond, lake or river. The cost of any project that requires a permit will go up.

N OLYMPIA WSU EXTENSION REGULATIONS

WSDA Nursery Advisory Committee Roger Canfield, CPH Puget Sound Plants

WSDA NurseryAdvocates Advisory WA Urban & Community Industry Forestry Council Giving Committee Voice Through Industry Representation

The following WSNLA members volunteer their time to serve on CPH Dan Mieir Kirsten Lints, Commissions, Councils and Committees ensuring the voice of the nursery Briggsindustry Nursery ALIVEgroups, Design and landscape is represented. Learn Gardens about the different their scope of work, and how you can serve at WSNLA.org/Giving Voice.

Employer / Employee issues HB 1837 would allow the state Department of Labor and Industries to impose ergonomics regulations on employers.

Twenty years ago, Washington voters passed Initiative 841, repealing the state’s burdensome and expensive ergonomics standard.BUILT Employers are already required by law to provide ONSAHIPS OVER a safe working environment for all employees, and L&I can THE YEARS cite employers for ergonomic issues. This bill adds costs for employers.

SB 5761 requires employers to disclose in each job posting, the 1. and IN OLYMPIA wage scale or salary range a description of all of benefits WSDA Nursery Advisory EXTENSION and other compensation2. toWSU be offered to the hired applicant. It Committee applies to businesses with or more employees. It would 3. fifteen REGULATIONS Roger Canfield, CPH 1.2023.

IN OLYMPIA take effect January 1, WSDA Pollinator Task Force WA State Commission for WSDA Nursery Advisory

WSDA Nursery Advisory Committee Dan Mieir WSDA Nursery Advisory Committee Puget Sound Plants WSDA Nursery Advisory Briggs Nursery WSDA Pollinator Task Force Marketing & Outreach Large Scale Wholesale Nursery Pesticide Recertification 2. WSU EXTENSION Committee Dan Committee Meier, Briggs Nursery Colleen Miko, CPH | Marketing & Outreach There is some good news for employers. SB Shad 5873 reduces Snyder 3. REGULATIONS Roger Canfield, CPH CPH Dan Mieir Colleen Miko, the social cost factor in unemployment insurance premiums.

C&O Nursery Briggs Nursery Premiums are affected by both the employers experience-rating Puget Sound Plants

WA

G

and the social cost factor rate. In 2023, employers who had ten or fewer employees as of the fourth quarter of 2021, will have a graduated social tax factor capped at rate seven. This will lower the tax rate for small businesses who are in rate class OVER eight or RELATIONSAHIPS BUILT higher.

THE YEARS

Electric Equipment RELATIONSAHIPS BUILT OVER SB 5543 died, then came back to life in a different form. It now THE YEARS creates a B&O tax credit for sales of discounted, new, all-electric lawn equipment. This will benefit businesses that sell electric lawn equipment. And since the credit only applies to sales of discounted equipment, purchasers should also benefit. The WAWA State Commission State Commission for for credit expires Jan. 1, 2025.

1. IN OLYMPIA

WSDA Nursery Advisory Committee

WSDA Nursery Advisory Pollinator Task Force WS Grower Pesticide Recertification Pesticide Recertification WSDA Nursery 2. WSU EXTENSION Roger Canfield, CPH, Puget Sound Plants Committee Shad Snyder, C&O Nursery | Marketing & Outreach HB 1918 dealing with zero emission outdoor power equipment Shad Snyder 3.itREGULATIONS RogerColleen Canfield, CPHCPH Miko, also took multiple different forms this year. In its final form, WA State Commission C&O Nurseryfor WSDA Pollinator Task Force Puget Sound Plants provided a sales tax exemption for all zero-emission outdoor Pesticide Recertification | Marketing & Outreach power equipment. It is not expected to pass but look for its Shad Snyder Colleen Miko, CPH return next year.

C&O Nursery Conservation District Elections HB 1652 dealing with Conservation District elections died but will also likely be back next year. There is an ongoing debate about how conservation district elections should be held, RELATIONSAHIPS BUILT OVER independently or on the general ballot. Getting on the general ballot is very expensive for the districts and would allow people THE YEARS with no knowledge of district activities to vote.

Pesticide Advisory Board 1993 would have created a pesticide advisory board in the WSDAHBNursery Advisory WSDA Nursery Advisory department of agriculture.

The bill died, but the agency Committee Committee has committed to creating Roger Canfield, CPH the board voluntarily.

Puget Sound Plants

Dan Mieir Briggs Nursery

WA Urban & Community

WSDA Nursery Advisory Committee

WA Urban & Council Community Forestry Fruit Tree Grower Forestry Council Kirsten Lints, CPH Todd Snyder C&O Nursery Gardens ALIVE Desig n Kirsten Lints, CPH WA State Commission for Gardens ALIVE Design Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association - 9 WSD Pesticide Recertification

Promoting Careers in Horticulture WSNLA Actions & Opportunities

The need for greater promotion of careers in horticulture is irrefutable. For years, horticulture businesses have been struggling to meet adequate staffing needs. Each year, this need continues to grow. The pandemic has further contributed to labor shortages already felt from the lack of a healthy flow of new professionals coming into the horticulture industry.

WSNLA – through its members and various program partnerships, has been laying a foundation for a more proactive campaign to promote careers in horticulture. At the 2018

Day of Professionalism, WSNLA convened a panel of industry leaders who shared a variety of needs and perspectives around career promotion – this is where ideas and strategies were born. Further conversations with individual member businesses worked to fine tune these ideas. And, through established and new relationships, WSNLA has explored opportunities to provide resources for students seeking employment in the field of horticulture.

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Here is how WSNLA is working to help you grow your team:

WSNLA JOB FAIR.

WSNLA hosted its second annual Job fair, from February 21 – March 4, expanding the fair to two weeks this year. Member and non-member businesses were invited to post openings. Over the two weeks, advertising was placed across multiple social media platforms to reach a broad audience connecting them with WSNLA Job Fair Listings. In total 60 job openings were featured in the job fair. (You can view some of the listings on page 16.) Over 39,000 potential job seekers were reached

via advertising. Over 1000 people visited the job fair. On average, listings received 46 clicks during the fair, with the highest being 72 clicks and the lowest 11. Additional outreach was done on social media, LinkedIn, and directly to horticulture program contacts (from high school to universities).

WSNLA Career Center.

The WSNLA Career Center provides an opportunity to get the word out about your job openings

throughout the year. The WSNLA Career Center includes links to career building resources, such as scholarships, education programs and professional certifications.

Looking forward, WSNLA is exploring ways to bridge horticulture students prepared to enter the industry with employers. Access the WSNLA Career Center at www. wsnla.org/Networking.

GardenWashington.com Career Resources.

WSNLA

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association Scholarship & Research

Charitable Fund

WSNLA has developed online resources that provide an inside glance at the different careers and their pathways, including: q&a interviews with working professionals highlighting their education, skills and job requirements, a list of scholarship opportunities and horticulture education programs, information on professional industry certifications, and links to current job listings. These resources can be found at www.GardenWashington.com/Careers.

Career Development Resources & Opportunities.

WSNLA administers two certification programs, providing access to individuals interested in upskilling or reskilling: Certified Professional Horticulturist and the ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional. Advisory committees for both certifications have been working to reach new audiences and provide greater access to training and certification. For example, the Certifed Professional Horticulturist program is exploring a Level I certificate, that includes demonstrating knowledge and skills, for high school horticulture students. The ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Professional Certification is leaning in to virtual trainings that remove travel and time barriers, and is considering recording sessions to further serve professionals seeking independent study that works for their schedule.

WSNLA is prepared to enhance these resources and increase efforts to promote and bring awareness of the exciting jobs within the horticulture field. Most people, including students studying horticulture, have a limited view of the career opportunities available in the horticulture industry. This is an opportunity for the industry to tell its story – to shape society’s perceptions of careers in horticulture through real stories and the breadth of professional opportunities available.

Please consider taking action on one of the following to help WSNLA Promote Careers in Horticulture. In addition, a WSNLA taskforce has been developed to further explore opportunities and develop strategies for promoting careers in horticulture. If you have a passion for this topic, you are encouraged to join the task force.

Your Gift Matters to WSNLA.org/ MakeADonation

Turn the page to learn how you can help Promote Careers in Horticulture.

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WSNLA

JOB FAIR Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association

60 job listings. Over 39,000 potential job seekers reached through advertising. Over 1000 visiters to the Job Fair.

46 clicks, on average, per job listing.

Help Promote Careers in Horticulture Here’s how:

GardenWashington Q&A

Help build the GardenWashington Career Pages by sharing your career journey. Your story will help shape perceptions and inform individuals interested in entering the field. Visit the WSNLA Career Center at www.wsnla.org/networking to share your story. Be sure to submit a photo to be included.

WSNLA Career Panels – live and/or recorded sessions

Connect with students at horticulture programs via ‘zoom career panel’ sessions, both in live and/or recorded sessions. To make this happen, we need a bank of professionals willing to participate on virtual panels. This will provide students a chance to ask questions to professionals directly and will also serve as online recorded resources.

Careers in Horticulture Videos

The WSDA Nursery Research fund has awarded grant funds to WSNLA to develop and advertise videos promoting horticulture careers. The videos will be used to educate a broad audience about the breadth of careers available, also working to shape perception.

Career Events

WSDA Nursery Research grant funds will also support activities to represent the industry at career events hosted by Universities and Colleges throughout the PNW region in 2023. The WSNLA Task Force is exploring opportunities and creating a roadmap for outreach.

If promoting careers in horticulture is something you are passionate about, please join the effort to help raise awareness about and help recruit the best and brightest to the horticulture industry! Contact WSNLA at 253.661.6055 or breanne@wsnla.org to get involved.

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WSNLA Advocates & Inspires at the NW Flower & Garden Festival Represents Industry Professionalism Inspires to Plant Something Encourages to Shop & Hire Member Businesses

Volunteers receive and prepare to begin planting the WSNLA garden space at the NW Flower & Garden Festival. (From left to right) Shondell Kelley, CPH, Jermone Kosman, CPH, Shawna Van Nimwegen, CPH, EPC, and Talia Halperin.

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Q&A

Cora Morrison, CPH, Alula Boutique Containers & WSNLA Garden Lead shares about her experience planning and installing the WSNLA Garden space.

What have you enjoyed most about the process of leading the design and installation of the WSNLA Garden Space?

CM: Meeting new people within the association – the volunteers were awesome!

Their creativity and hard work were instrumental in bringing my vision of a woodland garden to life.

What was your inspiration for the garden space? Do you have a favorite element of the garden, and why?

CM: The new plants I found – Tsuga canadensis ‘Golden Duchess’ with its golden and graceful arching branches and Ribies laurifolium with its red stems and racemes of chartreuse flowers that were blooming! The succulents were my favorite element. People love them. Tuck them in anywhere for a little whimsy.

Have you honed any specific skill and/or gained new ones? If so, which one(s) and why.

CM: Practice calm and patience. “Most things I worry about, never happen anyway.” – Tom Petty, American songwriter Would you encourage others to volunteer for this position? If so, what would you say to encourage their involvement?

CM: Absolutely! Meet new people, watch the gardens being built, absorb the creativity, see new plants, gather ideas, learn a new skill. So many good reasons.

A Special Thank You

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to bring this year’s WSNLA space to life! It is because of our awesome volunteers, that WSNLA is able to have a presence at the show, promote professionalism and encourage show goers to plant something!

Cora Morrison, CPH, Alula Boutique Containers who provided leadership from design to installation.

Jerome Kosman, CPH, Shawna Van Nimwegen, CPH (Maple Hill Gardens, LLC), Talia Halperin (Maple Hill Gardens, LLC), and Shondell Kelley, CPH (Nature’s Hand Gardening. LLC) contributed creative talent and technical skills during setup. And, Krystal Thiel, CPH, EPC teamed with staff to breakdown the garden space.

Our community of volunteers staffing the show each day, distributing the GardenWashington Guide and representing industry professionalism.

WSNLA thanks you all! Your time and contributions are valued and appreciated.

And, to T&L Nursery, Puget Sound Plants and NW Nurseries for their support of this valued industry promotion through contributing plant material. Thank you!

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Planting Inspiration

WSNLA Members & Certified Professionals Plant Inspiration at the NW Flower & Garden Festival (Top Row: #The LIving Workspace, a City Living Display by Smitha Navda, CPH, owner of Rooted in Landscape, LLC, received the People’s Choice award.

(Bottom Row - left) Urban Earth Nursery inspired show goers with their garden display, Palatable Perennials: Planted in the Past, Picnicking Presently.

(Bottom Row - Right) Fresh Squeezed Lemonade is Sally LaBay, CPH, owner of Flourish Garden Coaching & Container Design, City Living Display. It was designed for those that entertain outside in mind. The picture featured is a close up of a planting vignette.

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LLC

www.BIRINGERNURSERY.com

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WSDA Launches Online Enforcement Program WSDA’s Online Enforcement Program is the first of its kind, and is working to prohibit the sale of noxious weeds & introduction of invasive plant pests.

Tristan Carette-Meyers Washington State Department of Agriculture, Plant Services Program

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Plant Services established an Online Enforcement Program in October 2020. A huge increase in online plant and garden purchases in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic left state agriculture regulators with an increasing gap in enforcement of state plant health quarantines. This potentially allows for the sale of noxious weeds that can damage local ecosystems or agriculture and the introduction of highly destructive quarantine plant pests. The WSDA Plant Services Online Enforcement Program seeks to address this gap in compliance before infested plants are shipped into Washington State, greatly reducing the potential for harmful pest introductions.

With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture, WSDA Plant Services has been able to dedicate 60% of one inspector’s time to this task.

Specifically, that is my role with the Plant

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Services Program.

Since the beginning of the program, we have contacted around 1200 online plant vendors addressing 1,604 potential violations of Washington State’s interstate plant protection quarantines.

WSDA contacted individual, independent online retailers and worked with large sales platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. The communication process varies for each quarantine and website.

On Amazon and eBay, we have been able to work with the regulatory compliance departments of these companies to establish filters on their sites that prevent the sale of prohibited plants or quarantined products not in compliance.

We have also provided them with materials to disseminate to vendors to help prevent future violations.

On Etsy, we primarily contact and work with the individual vendors themselves communicating to them directly about

Since the beginning of the program, we have contacted around 1200 online plant vendors addressing 1,604 potential violations of Washington State’s interstate plant protection quarantines. the regulations involved. This has been a great process, and we have gotten a particularly high response rate back from vendors on the site.

These large sites because of their scale have been the largest sources of potential violations that we have so far found. Plenty of noxious weeds and prohibited plants are for sale on these sites, along with plants that need more specific documentation to demonstrate their compliance with our quarantines.

When we contact individual sellers we discuss what documentation is needed to sell certain plants to Washington State, such as with live blueberry plants or grapevines. Other times, we have to ask them to simply not sell certain things to our state. This applies when the vendor is offering prohibited plants (or propagation material) that are listed in our state’s Noxious Weed Seed and Plant Quarantine.. This can also apply to geographic regions, as is the case with our Hop quarantine, which only allows hop plants or plant parts (excluding cones either dried or fresh) from Washington State, Oregon, or Idaho.

This work is ongoing. We continue to work with all these sites, coming back to double check if potential violations have been corrected, if new potential violations have cropped up, and just to be sure nothing has been missed.

We also mean for this program to be dynamic, responding to seasonal changes and new threats to the agriculture and environment of Washington State. With

Online Plant Enforcement conducts outreach and education, at times having to ask to simply not sell certain things to our state. This applies when the vendor is offering prohibited plants (or propagation material) that are listed in our state’s Noxious Weed Seed and Plant Quarantine.. This can also apply to geographic regions, as is the case with our Hop quarantine, which only allows hop plants or plant parts (excluding cones either dried or fresh) from Washington State, Oregon, or Idaho.

the first ever infestation of Japanese Beetle found in our state in 2020, we are laser focused on making sure no infested plants or other shipments enter Washington, through online sales. Any plants offered for sale from infested states are strictly regulated and must be inspected and treated prior to shipment.

Here are some examples of seasonal changes. In late fall, we address the Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces and boughs coming into our state from areas with established populations of gypsy moth. Once spring comes back, we focus on new planting material being brought into the state as people return to working on their yards. Over the year we refocus on many different things to make sure our work is as effective as possible.

As for new threats, starting in spring of 2021 there was a concern about the potential introduction of Zebra mussels coming from infested Marimo moss balls that were coming in from overseas. These moss balls are aquarium plants and several pet stores reported

shipments arriving in the US covered in the stripped mollusks. If these were to be accidently introduced into a local stream, they can easily crowd and out compete native species, damaging the ecosystem as a whole. We assisted the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife by searching for online sellers and educating them about the pest risks. WSDA is enthusiastic about the progress being made already and is looking forward to the next year of work, with plans to increase outreach in Washington State to plant nurseries, landscapers and consumers.

As we are the first state plant protection agency to create such a program focusing on online enforcement, we are also reporting our progress to other state agencies in the hope that this work becomes commonplace in this modern electronically interconnected world.

However, this is a big task so if you see anything that you think might be a violation of Washington State’s plant quarantines please feel free to get a hold of our program through the email Nursery@agr. wa.gov.

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association - 19

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10

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Target the Pest. Protect the Rest.

Resources for fact sheets on pests: Insect Management Handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect Plant Disease Management Handbook https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease

1. Coreopsis beetle (Calligrapha californica coreopsivora). Adults

black with 3 pinkish or yellow stripes and thorax; adults and larvae feed on only coreopsis. It’s thought to be sporadically common in CA and arrives here with the plants. (There is also a bluish-black species (Phaedon desotonis) in the SW, SC region of the US. Not here yet.)

For more information: https://www.deltaoptimist.com/opinion/blog-pest-alertcoreopsis-leaf-beetle-3027078

2. Alder flea beetle larvae also feed

on alder so both adult and larvae feed on the same plants. Perhaps you’ve seen the black, worm-like grubs, their small clusters of yellow eggs, or their poo (known in high class circles as frass.

3. Lady beetle one of many species

known in Washington. Adults lay eggs among, and feed on aphids and other insects including eggs of other lady bird beetles and other insects.

For more information: https://pubs. extension.wsu.edu/lady-beetles-shouldwe-buy-them-for-our-gardens-homegarden-series

4. Cutworm – of which there are many

kinds of cutworm caterpillars with varied dark and light patterns. Some hatch and feed in winter months. By spring, they pupate in the soil. You’ve probably encountered the their reddish-brown, bullet-shaped pupa when digging in the garden or repotting a plant. These turn into drab brown moths and become birdand bat-food.

For more information: https:// horticulture.oregonstate.edu/oregonvegetables/black-cutworm-variegatedcutworm

5. Western carpenter ant (Campanotus modoc and other species) is one of the most common

carpenter ants in WA. Adults tunnel in wood for their living quarters but must leave the nest to prey on insects and other food. In the process they make trails to and from feeding areas. If they can restrain themselves from moving in with you, they are great predators to have; known to keep forest pests in check For more information: https://pubs. extension.wsu.edu/carpenter-antstheir-biology-and-control; and https:// pnwhandbooks.org/insect/structuralhealth/wood-infesting-insect/woodinfesting-ant

6. Lilly leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii).

This beetle was first detected in the Factoria near S. Bellevue and has been slowly spreading. Hosts include lilies, fritilarias, himalayan lily For more information: https://pubs. extension.wsu.edu/pest-watch-lily-leafbeetle-home-garden-series

7. Horntails (wasps) lays eggs on

recently cut or dying conifers. The larva which have a pronounced horn on the tail end, tunnel in the wood. The long spike at the tail end is a sheath for their long oviposister.

For more information: https://s3.wp.wsu. edu/uploads/sites/408/2015/02/PLS-4Horntail-Wasps.pdf

8. Asian giant hornet – its thick, 2-inch size, and bright yellow head are dead giveaways for ID. Other wasps are thiner, or pack a long, straight sheath for the ovipositor (not sting). By now you know AGM is a destroyer of honeybee colonies with a powerful sting. They should be reported to WSDA. See this hyperlink to report any sighting; scroll to the map of trap locations and to the bottom report suspicious sightings. Take a photo if you can.

For more information: https://agr.wa.gov/ departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/ insects/hornets/reported-sightings

9. Root weevil larvae found asmong roots. They particularly fond of sedums, rhododendrons and azaleas, and other plants in pots where the weevil is confined among the many roots. Pull plant and soil and look for larvae along the side or look for an area where fine roots are missing on the bottom of the potting soil. There are 16 different root weevil species with different periods of adult emergence. Species ID is key to eradication.

For more information: https://pubs. extension.wsu.edu/root-weevil-controlon-rhododendrons; and https://www. researchgate.net/publication/239529015_ An_Aggregation_of_Root_Weevils

10. Rove Beetles (Staphilinidae) are predators on slugs, snails, cutworms, moths, and even carpenter ants in the garden. The large devil’s coach horse is often brought to clinics for ID. For more information: https://s3.wp.wsu. edu/uploads/sites/408/2015/02/PLS-56Rove-Beetles.pdf

11. Cherry with drought damage

taken near the King Co. Sewage treatment plant. Drought on cherry shows up as uniform drying from the leaf edge to the midrib.

For more information: https://content. libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/ext/ id/18440

12. European pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer) is a new, pest in W. WA. Check mugho and other short-needle pines for light-colored blisters (eggs inserted in the needle). Hatching larvae cluster around needles and together eat their common way down the needle base, then crawl up the next needle and feed together some more. Look for stubby needles.

For more information: https://extension. psu.edu/european-pine-sawfly; and https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/ landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/ pine-pinus-pine-sawfly

Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association - 21

WA State Nursery & Landscape Association

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EVENTS

GROW YOUR KNOWLEDGE. FIND SOLUTIONS. CONNECT WITH PEERS. GAIN INSPIRATION. July 19, 2022 | Certified Professional Horticulturist Exam - Plant Identification Section. Location: Woodinville. Visit www.wsnla.org/events to reserve your seat at

the Plant Identification section of the Certified Professional Horticulturist Exam. Other sections will be offered virtually.

October 24 - 28, 2022 , from 8:30 - 12pm | ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional Training & Certification Exam. Location: Virtual. Visit

www.wsnla.org/events to reserve your seat at the ecoPRO Training. The Puyallup Watershed Initiative has provided scholarship opportunities for this training.

Watch for more WSNLA and other industry events to be announced on the WSNLA Calendar of Events @ WSNLA.ORG/Events.

WA State Nursery & Landscape Association

CAREER CENTER POST OPEN POSITIONS. FIND EMPLOYEES. SEEK EMPLOYMENT. SHARE YOUR RESUME.

The WSNLA Career Center connects employers with qualified applicants; students with internships; and job seekers with potential employers.

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