B . C . L A N D S C A P E & N U R S E R Y A S S O C I A T I O N P U B L I C A T I O N • A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Sophistication at Home & Garden Show

Landscapers feel good about business

Mobile marketing gets smart

HortWestAPRIL 2011

EDITOR Sheila KeenanDESIGNER Uniquity DesignADVERTISING Cheryl LeeTel: (604) 574-7772 ext 110Fax: (604) 574-7773

HortWest is the newsletter of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association. For further information, contact us at:Suite 102, 5783-176A StreetSurrey, BC, Canad. V3S 6S6Tel: (604) 574-7772Fax: (604) 574-7773

HortWest is owned by the BC Landscape & Nursery Association, and is published 10 times a year. Views expressed inside do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the Association, but are those of the writer concerned. Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without consent of the publisher. All advertising and editorial material are to be received one month in advance of mail out date.

HortWest is mailed under Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement N. 0288608. This magazine is printed in Canada by Hemlock Printers.

BCLNA DIRECTORYEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lesley Tannen ext 106CANWEST / MARKETING MANAGER Karen De Jong ext 112EXHIBITOR RELATIONS / SPECIAL EVENTS Barb Nelson ext 115GROWER & RETAIL ISSUES Hedy Dyck ext 105CLEAN PLANTS Christine Rainer ext 102LANDSCAPE ISSUES Position VacantHORT BASICS TRAINING Ann Marie Walsh ext 108HORT BASICS ASSISTANT Joy Demelo ext 111SALES MANAGER Cheryl Lee ext 110FINANCE MANAGER Marvyn Brown ext 107ACCOUNTING / ADMIN Heidi Henderson ext 109

On the cover: This 2010 Landscape Award of Excellence winning project by Fossil Project Services Ltd. & Paul Sangha Landscape Architecture included the installation of a 65-foot infinity pool. This multilevel garden also showcases the homeowners’ sculpture collection.

B . C . L A N D S C A P E & N U R S E R Y A S S O C I A T I O N P U B L I C A T I O N • A P R I L 2 0 1 1

HortWest April 2011

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Message from the President

Sandy Mathies, PresidentB.C. Landscape & Nursery Association

Board Votes in Favour of Insurance Close to HomeBCLNA directors voted at our last board meeting to endorse the insurance program tailored to the B.C. market and serviced by HUB International

Insurance Brokers. HUB has the experience and a proven track record of working with our members to identify the insurance products available and the knowledge to provide the right insurance based on risk.

HUB’s team of Tina Osen, Melanie Stefiuk and Sandra Milliken-Smith have done this for our members for the last 15 years—finding the right insurer to provide the right coverage for our industry.

Insurance is an expense and getting it wrong can cost you your business. I can go online and buy insurance and pay more or less depending on the boxes I click but do I know what I’m getting? As business owners, we need to have this coverage and we must review it every year. Not doing so may leave gaps or we may be paying for coverage that we cannot collect if an incident occurs.

I have witnessed this first-hand with a member who bought insurance elsewhere and lost a greenhouse in a snow storm. The member had bought non-commercial use insurance (which was cheaper) so the greenhouse was covered only if it was not used for business. The member was denied coverage and could not afford to replace it.

The new CNLA appointed broker has

only one office in downtown Vancouver and no one from the BCLNA has provided any input into the coverage the national product covers. Your board felt that we could not recommend the national program when we were already well represented by HUB in B.C.

All members should contact Melanie Stefiuk or Sandra Milliken-Smith at 1-800-606-9969 to arrange a review of their insurance before their policy expires. It’s free, it’s important, it could save you money and if you have an incident, it could save your business.

HortWest April 2011

Board Synopsis

Monday, March 21, 2011B.C.’s minimum wage will increase to $10.25 by May 1, 2012, and the training wage will be eliminated, Premier Christy Clark announced in March. The general minimum wage will increase to $8.75 on May 1, 2011. The board discussed how raising the minimum wage might affect the SAWP program and the wage levels in our industry. Staff will survey BCLNA members about their response to the raising of the minimum wage. BCLNA staff and board members are also working with the BC Agricultural Council to address issues caused by the increase.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recommended that growers from both sides of the border meet with Canadian Border Services, as well as Homeland Security, to review the shipping standards for nursery stock in vans.

BCLNA staff will work with their Washington counterparts and organize growers if there are any issues with de-vanning this spring.

Compensation for P. ramorum losses ended Dec 31, 2010. The USDA requirement that all SOD host plants must be inspected at the destination when plants originate from areas regulated for P. ramorum in the U.S. took effect March 1, 2011. It had been hoped that this pest would be downgraded and possibly de-regulated, but with this action by USDA, and the new finds of P. ramorum on douglas fir and western hemlock in the UK, the attention to this pest has been heightened. The BCLNA has requested the help of CNLA to lobby the federal government for the reinstatement of compensation.

The BCLNA recently delivered an education program, Horticulture Basics, at Ferndale Institution, a minimum security federal prison in Mission. The program’s 12 participants were set to finish the program at the end of March. Correctional Services Canada wants to incorporate Irrigation and Pesticide Application Certification into their next fiscal budget. If this pilot is a success, there may be opportunity to expand the program, which generates revenue for the BCLNA, in the western region. Ferndale has two of its six greenhouses in operation and its farm produces over 65,000 pounds of food each year.

In cooperation with HortEducationBC, WorkSafeBC has completed a safety manual for nurseries. Copies will be available for all BCLNA grower members.

4

From pro rata to P. ramorum

Michelle Linford joined the staff of BCLNA in March. As Program Administration Assistant, she will assist Christine Rainer, Nursery Certification Advisor, with Canadian Nursery Certification Institute programs.

After three years as a judicial clerk in provincial court Linford was ready for a change. “It’s close to home, it’s something new.”

She says she looks forward to the challenge of learning about the nursery industry in exchange for the legal terminology she had to know as a judicial clerk.

Changes at HortWest HortWest magazine has a new editor, designer and printer.

Sheila Keenan is the new editor of HortWest. She previously edited Outlook, the member magazine of the Certified General Accountants Association of B.C. She has several years experience as a reporter, editor and proofreader and has a degree in journalism from Carleton University.

Tammy Lyon of Uniquity Design is the new designer. Lyon has done print and web design work for a number of clients, including a wedding magazine.

Hemlock Printers, one of the largest printers in the Pacific Northwest, will print HortWest magazine.

Former HortWest Editor accepts national position BCLNA says a big thank you to Renata Triveri, HortWest’s dedicated editor for five years. Triveri has accepted a position with the CNLA. As Garden Centre Priorities Manager, Triveri will continue to be based in B.C. and will work on garden centre opportunities for the sector group.

Triveri was named BCLNA’s Young Member of the Year in 2010 for her volunteer service to the CanWest Show, Green For Life, and several BCLNA committees. She has extensive experience working for and with retail garden centres and helped plan the 2008 International Garden Centre Congress held in Vancouver.

New Faces at the BCLNA

BCLNA News Bulletins

Michelle Linford

Sheila Keenan

HortWest April 2011

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Excellence at BC Home & Garden ShowCongratulations to BCLNA member, Vandenberg’s Landscape Design, which won the Best in Show Garden award at the 2011 B.C. Home and Garden Show. The show featured eight garden displays, including the BCLNA’s.

Garden writer Steve Whysall praised the show’s new venue, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and the high quality of all the garden displays.

“Perhaps the new space has brought out the best in exhibitors,” he wrote in the Vancouver Sun.

He called the garden displays engaging and noted their “surprising increase in sophistication, both in terms of the plant material and overall design.”

Colleen MacDonald, the show’s garden manager, quoted in the same article, also praised the excellence of the garden displays. “There’s a confidence and refinement, especially in the use of plant material, that we’ve not seen before.”

Approximately 55,000 people visited the show, which included about 425 exhibitors, and ran from March 2 to 6.

W.I.G.’s succulents on display

BCLNA participating members were:Beneath Your Feet Landscaping Inc.Bedford LandscapingHorizon LandscapeJovak Landscape & DesignVandenberg’s Landscape DesignArt’s Nursery Ltd.W.I.G.

Thank you to the following members for donating garden supplies for the BCLNA display:Bedford LandscapingBlasig Landscape Design & Construction Ltd.Elite Crete Systems of BCGolden Ears Landscaping Ltd.It’s About Thyme Nursery Ltd.Northwest Landscape & Stone Supply Ltd.West Creek Farms Ltd.

And thank you to the following for the set up/tear down and coordination of our booth:Russ Lyons and Jeff Carslake, Golden Ears Landscaping Ltd.Stuart Bronson, The Pond DoctorJerry Ingram and Annika Ingram, Ingram Landscape by DesignBlaine Benoit, Elite Crete Systems of BCGord Bedford/Bedford LandscapingCable Baker/RCB Garden Service

Images: (top left) BCLNA display came together with help from many members (bottom left) Vandenberg’s Landscape Design award-winning display ( Photo: Jason Timmis )

BCLNA News Bulletins

HortWest April 2011

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BCLNA News Bulletins

International Turfgrass Trade Show Cheryl Lee, BCLNA’s Sales Manager, represented the association at the recent International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, held March 4 to 8, at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The conference was attended by approximately 2,000 people from Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, Scandinavia and Europe and the trade show featured over 100 exhibitors.

Online, All the TimeAll members will soon be able to access online services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with “Membee,” our new membership management system. Members will be able to update their profiles, register for meetings and events, pay for invoices and search the BCLNA member directory when it is most convenient for them. The system will also include “Members’ Only” webpages. Members will be able to access exclusive information with a Member username and password.

Once Membee is up and running, each member will receive their own username and password with instructions on how to access the system.

Key features of Membee:• Searchable event calendar and member

directory• Online event registration with secure

credit card payment • Self-serve member profile updates• Pay for memberships dues online

When the system launches, Heidi Henderson, Administrative & Accounting Assistant, along with other BCLNA staff, will offer technical support to members who have questions about using the system.

Great Results for Clean Plants ProgramCanadian Nursery Certification Institute (CNCI) is pleased to report that there are now 90 P.ramorum Certified Nurseries in British Columbia that have applied for Phase 1 Clean Plants Nursery Certification. Clean Plants applications now includes over 110 nurseries spanning five provinces across Canada. Check the www.cleanplants.ca website for the List of Certified Clean Plants Nurseries across Canada.

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HortWest April 2011

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BC Minister of Agriculture Listens to BCLNA Concerns

BCLNA News Bulletins

Several BCLNA members and staff met with then-Minister Ben Stewart* on Mar. 4 to tour two sites and to discuss issues of concern to the industry. The BCLNA contingent included Sandy Mathies, Pres-ident, Tim Loewen, 1st VP, Tony Van Oort, Director for Legislation and Politi-cal Action and Mike Kato, Representative to the CNLA, as well as BCLNA staff Lesley Tannen, Executive Director, and Hedy Dyck, Nursery & Retail Industry Development.

This visit coincided with Stewart’s tour of the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Langley. At Kwantlen, hosted by Dr. Deborah Henderson, the Minister toured the laboratory and greenhouse and spoke with researchers, students and staff about their work and research projects.

At N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd. in Langley, the Minister was provided with a comprehensive presentation by Rod Nataros and his staff about the innovative techniques and materials required to service the green roofs and living walls market. N.A.T.S. is on the leading edge of this technology, providing a new focus and purpose for plants as environmental buffers, as compared to purely ornamental and aesthetics.

The next stop was Clearview Horticultural Products where hosts Fred and Rob Wein, talked about the production of clematis, geraniums, hanging baskets and bedding plants.

The BCLNA contingent travelled with Stewart throughout the afternoon, providing insights and comments about issues that affect the industry.

Issues raised included:• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program

(SAWP) and its importance to the industry

• Reinstatement of compensation for losses due to Phytophthora ramorum.

• Colour fuel, clear fuel and the road tax for vehicles shipping to the U.S.

• AgriStability

• Stable funding for BC Agriculture Council• Water Act: agriculture’s right to water• BC Ministry of Agriculture – Increase

funding for extension and industry specialists

• Water efficiency through irrigation management

• BC Landscape Standards applied to all landscape sites

• Licensing of the landscape industry in B.C.

At the Minister’s request, the BCLNA will develop these points into a comprehensive discussion paper. * On March 14, a new Minister of Agriculture, Don McRae, was appointed. See page 13 for more

information.

HortWest April 2011

WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL?The origin of the Industry Development Council (IDC) is rooted in a generous act by B.C. nursery growers to donate a one-time government rebate of growers’ contributions to the BCLNA to fund

projects and initiatives that would benefit the industry. In 2001, their collective government rebate resulted in a fund valued at approximately $1.5 million. Over the last 10 years, this fund has been a mainstay for the BCLNA and has enabled it to move far ahead of many agricultural sectors, through wise investments and judicious program spending.

HOW IS THE FUND DOING?Since the IDC’s inception, $941,720 has been forwarded to the BCLNA to fund projects and address issues. The BCLNA has leveraged funds from the IDC to obtain an additional $2.4 million from other funding organizations, for a total project value of $3.35 million. Effectively, this means that the BCLNA has been able to lever an additional $2.50 for every $1 of program costs. Without IDC providing funds to BCLNA, the industry could afford few projects and have little to leverage additional funds.

HOW IS THE IDC SET UP AND WHO IS ON THE BOARD?The IDC has its own governance with directors elected by each commodity group, as follows:Retailers 1 member Landscapers 1 member Growers 7 members

THE CURRENT DIRECTORS OF THE BCLNA INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARE:Len Smit, Chair, Bradner’s Growing Concern, representing small growers/herbaceous plants

Jonathan Klinck, Atlasta Tree Nurseries, representing field production

Garfield Marshall, Advance Orchard representing B.C. interior growers

Sandy Howkins, Specimen Trees, representing container trees and shrubs

Sandy Mathies, Cannor Nurseries, representing retailers

Ruth Olde, Blasig Landscape & Design, representing landscapers

Dave Woodske, BCMA Nursery Specialist, Ex-Officio

Hedy Dyck, BCLNA Nursery & Retail Industry Development, Staff

IDC account balance (as of 01/31/2011)$1,228,670

Original Fund Value (2001) $1,505,000

Funds provided to BCLNA since 2001 $941,720

WORKING TO ADVANCE THE ORNAMENTAL LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY

HortWest April 2011

Growers are elected to provide the following representation on the Council:• One HM Eddie Foundation member• A minimum of one grower representative

from the interior of British Columbia • A minimum of one grower representing

“small growers” (those with farm gate sales less than $500,000 per year)

• Representation from the following production sectors:

• Container trees and shrubs• Field production• Herbaceous plants.

The Directors are responsible for ensuring the IDC fund is well invested, for reviewing potential projects and recommending projects to the BCLNA board. The IDC provides funds to the BCLNA, which in turn funds projects that both the IDC and BCLNA boards have agreed would benefit the industry.

There are currently three vacant positions on the board, to be elected by nursery growers in the fall of 2011.

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS HAS THE IDC FUNDED?

The scope of funding includes pure scientific research, marketing, export development, retail marketing and industry-wide IPM initiatives.

With the recent economic downturn, IDC Directors have diligently managed the fund, carefully analyzing all proposed projects. One of the main criteria that directors look for before granting funding is whether the project will benefit the industry, either economically, by increasing its profile, educating its members or significantly addressing an emerging issue.

Scientific research projects reports and industry studies are available on the BCLNA website at www.bclna.com, or by contacting Hedy Dyck at hdyck@bclna.com.

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES FUNDED BY THE BCLNA WITH APPROVAL BY THE IDC INCLUDE:

“All Commodity” Project:

• Ornamental landscape industry strategic plan

• Invasive plant project

Projects for the Consumer:

• B.C. consumer shows, including Kamloops, Abbotsford, Nanaimo and the Vancouver Home & Garden Show

• Communities in Bloom

• Healthy Garden Guide

Retail Project:

• Development of a retail environment strategy

Nursery Growers’ Projects:

• Increasing sales of B.C. grown plants

• Aphid bio-control

• Green roofs project to study noise impedance in partnership with BCIT and Kwantlen Polytechnic University

• Funding for WALI and BCAC legal costs for SAWP workers

• Rose midge control

• Black spot on roses

• Predator management of spider mites

• BCLNA growers nursery industry development

BCLNA Industry Development Council

HortWest April 2011

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Landscape Clippings

Landscape members optimistic about 2011BCLNA landscape members are optimistic about business in 2011, despite some concerns about the economy and the rising price of fuel, according to a recent survey by HortWest.

Overall, survey respondents are optimistic about how business will be this year. Close to 70 per cent said they are optimistic, 20 per cent said they are neither optimistic nor pessimistic and just 10 per cent said they are pessimistic.

Close to 40 per cent of survey respondents said they are most concerned a poor economy will affect their business in 2011. Of the 23 per cent who responded “other,” most seem concerned about the economy, while one respondent mentioned weather as a concern. Another was concerned about a combination of factors.

“Rising fuel is a concern for sure, but more importantly, the uncertainty in our economy is causing people to hold back on spending their discretionary income on outdoor materials,” said one respondent. “This has affected my business for the last two years.”

Five Fuel-saving TipsSLOW DOWN. The faster you go, the greater the fuel consumption.

SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE REGULARLY. This includes maintaining correct tire pressure and checking to make sure your air filter is clean.

TURN IT OFF. Turn off the air conditioning, especially when travelling at low speed, and any other electronics, such as headlights, when you don’t need them.

LOSE SOME WEIGHT. From your vehicle, that is. Don’t carry around more equipment than necessary.

DON’T BE A JACK RABBIT. Jack-rabbits starts use more fuel. Accelerate moderately.

Following these tips consistently can have a noticeable effect on your fuel bill. In 2008, 50 British Automobile Association employees tested similar tips over a one-week period and saved an average of 10 per cent and up to a high of 33 per cent on fuel.

Overall, how do you feel your business will do this year?

Optimistic 70% (21)Pessimistic 10% (3)Neither 20% (6)

Which issue are you most concerned will affect your business in 2011?

Poor economy 40% (12)Rising price of fuel 17% (5)Ability to find good staff 20% (6)Other 23% (7)

Total No. of respondents (30)

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Innovate and Thrive

Landscape Clippings

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) has just published its Crystal Ball Report #30— Innovate (or Die): How Green Industry Companies Will Thrive in the New Economy.

“Survival is a big motivator for you to embrace innovation, but here is another angle to consider: Innovation is the very best way for many companies in the green industry to differentiate themselves, increase their profits, and protect their futures,” says the report.

The 112-page report includes principles of innovation that are applicable to just about any business. What landscape professionals will likely find most interesting are the stories of businesses which have innovated and thrived, even in tough times. For example, the Atlanta landscaping company that actually increased their irrigation business after the city banned all watering.

The report also contains ideas for fostering an innovation culture at your company and steps for implementing innovation action plans for small, medium and large companies.

The report, $30, is available for sale as an e-publication at PLANET’s website at www.landcarenetwork.org (click on Bookstore).

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Dave Woodske, Industry Specialist, BCMAL

Paclobutrazol Concentration and Substrate Moisture Status Impact Efficacy of Liner Dips for Size Control of Three Bedding Plants (HortTechnology 20(4):735-739) – Impatiens, petunia, and scaevola cuttings were rooted in Ellepot cells that contained a peat-perlite substrate. Three weeks after sticking, the rooted plugs were dip-treated with paclobutrazol and transplanted into 4.5-inch pots. One month after treatment, growth of the treated and untreated plants were measured. The scaevola plants treated with 2 mg/L paclobutrazol were

44% smaller, whereas the petunia and impatiens were 46% and 33% smaller, respectively, when treated with 16 mg/L paclobutrazol. The study also investigated the effect of treatment location (e.g. indoor versus greenhouse), dip duration (10 to 300 seconds), and the moisture status of the substrate (20 to 100%) on growth of petunias three weeks after treatment. Treatment location and dip duration did not have a significant effect on petunia growth. In contrast, reducing the substrate moisture level from 100% to 50% significantly decreased petunia size, but not when the moisture level was reduced from 50% to 20%. The authors concluded that the dip treatment offers growers “an efficient and effective size control option” for bedding plants.

Planting Depth at Onset of Container Production and Subsequent Root Ball Remediation at Transplanting Affects Pin Oak and Littleleaf Linden (HortScience 45(12):1793-1797) – Deep planting can reduce growth rate and lead to premature tree decline. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) recommends removing substrate to expose the root flare prior to transplanting. This study investigated the impact of the ISA recommendation on the growth of pin oak and littleleaf linden. Trees were planted into 50 L containers with their root flare positioned

at: 1) the substrate surface, 2) 10 cm below the surface, or 3) 20 cm below the surface. After 17 months, the trees were transplanted in the landscape. The root flare was exposed for half of the deep planted trees when transplanted. The trees were watered sporadically for the first two growing seasons in the landscape and were not irrigated in the third year. All of the trees were mulched with shredded hardwood bark. Deep planting had little effect on the growth of pin oak and littleleaf linden.The lone exception was trees that had their 20-cm-deep root flare exposed prior to planting in the landscape. Three years after transplanting, growth of these remediated trees was reduced 28% and 20%, respectively, for pin oak and littleleaf linden. The authors suggested plants that readily produce adventitious roots, such as pin oak, likely don’t need to be remediated because the adventitious roots can develop into new structural roots. However, exposing the root flare prior to transplanting may be desirable to prevent trunk-girdling roots for trees that do not produce adventitious roots, such as littleleaf linden. Many roots that could potentially girdle the trunk were observed on the deep-planted lindens. Lindens planted 20 cm deep were less likely to sucker, but this benefit is outweighed by the potential disadvantages of trunk-girdling roots.

Research Snippets

BCMAL Report

HortWest April 2011

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BCMAL Report

Industry events and programs

April17 Arboretum and Botanical, Society of Langley Plant SaleDerek Doubleday Arboretum 212 Block - Fraser Highway, Langley 11 am - 4 pm

Proceeds from the sale go toward development of the arboretum. Information: Les Clay at 604-530-5188.

20 Collectors’ Plant AuctionUBC Botanical Garden www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/events/auction.php; www.friendsofthegarden.ca

May7 A Growing Affair (formerly the Perennial Plant Sale)Plant sale, workshops and demonstrations UBC Botanical Garden www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/events

June8 BCLNA Landscape Commodity MeetingCandy Cane Nursery, Abbotsford www.bclna.com

21 Annual BCLNA Golf TournamentSandpiper Golf Resort, Harrison Mills See additional details on right.

July8 – 9 Certification Exams(CLT, CHT, CLP, CLD) Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley Information: Joy Demelo jdemelo@bclna.com; 604.574.7772 EXT 111

August9 Landscape MeetingWild Play Element Parks, Maple Ridge www.bclna.com

18 Landscape Awards of Excellence Entry Deadline

September28-29 CanWest Hort ShowTours & Equipment Field Day: Sept 30 Vancouver Convention Centre www.canwesthortshow.com

30 CanWest Hort Show Tours & Equipment Field Day www.canwesthortshow.com

“FORE!” A GOOD TIME: SIGN UP FOR GOLF TOURNEY Everyone goes home with a prize at the annual BCLNA golf tournament. Take a day to relax, socialize and reward yourself for working so hard during the busy spring season.

When: June 21, 2011Where: Sandpiper Golf Resort, Harrison Mills, B.C. Time: 12 p.m. shotgun start, Texas scramble format Cost: Golf package – $150 (plus HST) Dinner only – $40 (plus HST)

Your tournament golf package includes:

Green fee Power cart Light lunch Deluxe dinner buffet Lots of fun & prizes

Trophies are awarded for the best overall team, the most honest team, closest to the pin and longest drive. Register online at the BCLNA website, bclna.com – go to

“Meetings and Events.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Cheryl Lee at the BCLNA office at (604) 574-7772 ext.110.

B.C.’s New Minister of Agriculture

B.C.’s new Minister of Agriculture, Don McRae (right), signs his oath of office while Lieutenant Governor Steven L. Point looks on.

Don McRae was named B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture on March 14, by Premier Christy Clark.

McRae is a relatively new MLA, first elected in 2009 for the riding of Comox Valley. He served as convener of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Health and Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

McRae is a former high school teacher and served as a Courtenay city councillor from 2002–2009.

“The BCLNA congratulates the new minister on his appointment. I and the BCLNA board look forward to working with him on the many issues facing our industry,” said Lesley Tannen, BCLNA executive director. “I would also like to extend my thanks to former minister Ben Stewart. While only minister for a short time, I felt he listened carefully to the concerns of our industry.”

Stewart, MLA for Westside-Kelowna, was appointed Minister of Agriculture in Oct. 2010.

14

In Memoriam

Bruce MacDonald, 1940–2011

(Photo: Ray Moon, Friend of UBC Botanical Garden)

Bruce MacDonald, the well-respected former director of the UBC Botanical Garden, passed away March 11.

Born in the U.K., MacDonald came to Canada in 1980 to take a position at the UBC Botanical Garden and was Director from 1987 to 2002.

Macdonald was admired both locally and internationally. In 2001, he received the BCLNA’s Outstanding Service Award. In 1998, he was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s highest honour, the Gold Veitch Memorial Medal, and was the first Canadian to earn the award.

He developed the UBC Botanical Garden’s innovative Plant Introduction Scheme, which has made plants

grown or developed at UBC available internationally. His book Practical Woody Plant Propagation for Nursery Growers is a standard text for horticultural students around the world.

When the “Golden Spruce,” a tree revered by the Haida, was cut down in 1997, MacDonald traced two scrawny golden Sitka spruces in UBC’s collection back to cuttings from the original tree. He contacted the Haida and offered to send the trees back to Haida Gwaii. In a New York Times article on the incident, the reporter described how MacDonald explained the process of photosynthesis, all the while lovingly touching the branches of one of the golden spruces.

MacDonald is survived by his wife

HortWest April 2011

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Liz, children Katie and Jenny and grandchildren, Ethan, Emma, Lucy and Piper. A memorial service was held for MacDonald at the end of March.

Donations in memory of MacDonald may be made to the UBC Botanical Garden, the B.C. Lung Association or the Delta Hospital Foundation.

CNLA’s GM discount program revving up GM’s 2011 line up has industry hitting the gas pedal with CNLA’s available discounts. CNLA members save $11,500 on a GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. Simply go into your GM dealer and speak with your fleet manager about the details. Conditions apply.

Urban Horticulture Certificate offered onlineA new online program offers certificates in Sustainable Urban Horticulture and Sustainable Urban Agriculture. The program consists of four core courses and three elective courses. There are no prerequisites for any of the courses and they may be completed in any sequence.

A partnership with Ontario Agricultural College, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Plant Agriculture and the University of Guelph Office of Open Learning has made this online program possible.

Information and registration details are available at www.urbanhort.ca.

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HortWest April 2011

16

The Mobile Phone: Your Marketing Tool of the Future

Marketing your business has become a lot more challenging and exciting than ever in the past. In the past we had an opportunity to digest new technology and then adapt our business marketing model to suit the new technology. The emergence of third screen technology means that we need to react quickly to gain a market share.

First screen technology was the TV and the marketing opportunity created by TV advertising. For many retailers advertising on TV was too expensive and it was left to the larger retailers to use this medium.

Then second screen technology, the computer

screen, emerged in offices. It took a few years before a computer was found in everyone’s home. The evolution of sites such as YouTube give all businesses the opportunity to produce promotional material at low cost.

And now, the third screen. Smart phones with the Android operating

system, iPhones, iPads and Blackberrys are rapidly

gaining market share. Your business can use these

smart phones as a means of communicating with your

customers. As I write this article, 30 per cent of Americans are using

smart phones and within a few months that will be 50 per cent of the

population.

There are two major ways we need to look at how the phone can be used in your business.

QR CODE AND HOW SUPPLIERS CAN NOW BE YOUR TALKING PARTNER Have you noticed that on some products, including newspapers, a small black and white square box, or a smaller coloured square box of what looks like random squares has emerged on the label or packaging? One recently sat on my pillow in a hotel where there used to be a complimentary chocolate. This is called a QR Code and all you have to do is download a QR reader app onto your smart phone and then you will be able to take a picture of the random squares. Depending on what software the supplier of that product has used, your phone will either connect to the main webpage or to a special website that will provide you

John Stanley, John Stanley Associates

HortWest April 2011

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The Mobile Phone

with information on the product. The manufacturer can now provide a virtual presentation of the product directly to the consumer.

This has a major influence on retailing as it forms a shift in consumer attitude. For some time the consumer has been losing faith with retailers and lack of consumer trust has become a major hindering factor. With QR code evolution in technology the trust can be shifted from the consumer-to-retailer relationship to the consumer-to-producer relationship. The producer will now become the customers’ hero and source of knowledge and the retailer will now become the endorser of that knowledge.

We are already seeing this shift in supermarket retailing where the farmer is now promoted as the expert in the supply chain and is helping endorse supermarkets credibility.

Over the next few months we will see this type of technology become more common and advanced as suppliers of product see the advantages of such a concept. Smart retailers will create their own codes so they can communicate with the consumer at the point of purchase in front of the product. Research indicates that the impulse consumer now also needs information to make a decision and this type of technology will help that process.

PHONE APPS Not only is the smart phone’s camera being used as a link to supplier websites but retailers are now creating their own apps to link to their web pages that can be downloaded onto a customers phone. A phone app is now a major marketing tool for the retailer.

One retailer who has adapted to this form of marketing is Lesley Halleck of New Haven Garden Centre in Texas. This relatively small business has found this type of technology allows them to market like the big retailers on the same playing field.

Lesley has taken the new technology and introduced it as a major marketing tool in her Dallas business. She believes she has the only retail business in her sector in her catchment area that is using this approach at the moment. As a result she is attracting her traditional customer and the more technologically savvy young consumer who use phone apps in their daily lives.

She researchers the phone applications that relate to products she sells and puts the app logo onto her point of purchase signage. This allows her customers to do independent research on the spot. Over the next few months there will be a flurry of new phone apps and codes emerging

on the market. Younger consumers will be looking towards these for their information. As a retailer you need to be aware of them and promote them in your marketing and in your business. The key is to be as aware of the new information technology as your consumer.

John Stanley (MSc. Hort) is WA Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 and his business JSA is WA Small Business Champion – Education 2009 and 2010 WA Small Business Exporter of the Year. John is an acclaimed conference speaker, retail consultant and author. Visit his website at www.johnstanley.com.au.

17 NewBCLNA Members

Final Approval

The BCLNA welcomes the following new members as of the March 21, 2011, board meeting:

Ag Resource & Consulting Ltd., Hedy Dyck, Langley, Associate

Alternative Landscapes Ltd., Anthony Ruck, Oliver, Active Landscaper

Crown Isle Holdings, Ron Coulson & Judy Stoutenburg, Courtenay, Horticulturist

Derco Horticulture, Yvon Ferland, St. Germain-de-Grantham, Out of Province

Flora Design Landscaping and Maintenance Inc., Lee Odell, Delta, Active Landscaper

The Gardener Landscape Maintenance, Sean French & David Jones, Vancouver, Active Landscaper

Greenscape Landscaping Ltd., Tony Patrocinio & Jason Ritchie, Penticton, Active Landscaper

Inline Nurseries (2010) Inc., Gord Eckhardt, Tom Berger, Wendy Puruis, Ron Maljaars, Jeff Vrieselaar, Chilliwack, Active Grower

Okanagan Xeriscape Association, Gwen Steele, Kelowna, Associate

United Irrigation & Landscaping Inc., Ken Andrusiak, Kelowna, Active Landscaper

Watershed Land Design Ltd., Michael Dezell, Vancouver, Active Landscaper

Bill Stephen, Vancouver Park Board, Vancouver, Horticulturist

Tentative Approval

The following companies will become BCLNA members at the next board meeting unless a member provides a valid reason for not accepting the application:

Harbour International, Carlos Hinkson, Langley, Associate

Kemper’s Landscape Construction Ltd., Keath Kemper, Kelowna, Active Landscaper

MAPCL (dba Don’t Sweat It Services), Mary McGivern, Burnaby, Active Landscaper (Interim)

Nathan Creek Nursery and Landscape, JoAnn Cassels, Langley, Active Landscaper

O’Grady’s Garden & Landscape Services, Lindsay O’Grady, North Vancouver, Active Landscaper

Persona Landscaping Ltd., Greg Griffin & Dave Jones, Blind Bay, Active Landscaper

Seleena Champagne, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Horticulturist

Marlene Kumnick, Vancouver, StudentVancouver, Active Landscaper

University of the Fraser Valley, Tom Baumann, Chilliwack, Associate

West Coast Harvesting Ltd., Yaddy Kallu, Richmond, Active Grower

Stephanie Holmes, Victoria, Student

18

Uniquely developed to protect the green industry

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Insurance Programs brokered by:

1-888-949-4360

I've been on the HortProtect program for years. SG&S are very accommodating. The fellow I deal with there is Lu DiMeglio. Call him. He's great! Laurie Anderson - Anderson Garden Services Inc.

I've been on the HortProtect program for years. SG&S are very accommodating. The fellow I deal with there is Lu DiMeglio. Call him. He's great! Laurie Anderson - Anderson Garden Services Inc.

Advertise in our

Marketplace!Contact Cheryl Leeat clee@bclna.comor 604.574.7772 ext. 110

HortWest April 2011

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