spring issue of the dirt 2010
DESCRIPTION
Spring 2010 Issue of the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association Newsletter - The DirtTRANSCRIPT
THE DIRT The VNLA Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 36, Issue 1
Sprin
g Is
sue
The Gorgeous
Gardens andGreen Living
Show
Riley Rink
Manchester, VT
2
3
Inside this Issue
president’s letter
Board of Directors 4
President’s Letter 3
New Members 5
Gorgeous Gardens and Green Living Show
6
New Member Profile 7
Green Works Annual Winter Meeting & Awards
8
Meet New Green Works Board Members
9
Industry Awards Program 2010
10
News from the U 11
2011 Vermont Flower Show 12
Award Winners 13
Legislative Update 14
Green Works: Your Website Profile
16
Electric Hazards in Trees 19
Garden Design School, USA
20
Industry Calendar 22
Gorgeous Gardens Photos 23
It’s spring, and the earth is waking up. I imagine somewhere in the North Woods a bear is going to poke it’s nose outside its cave and find hepatica, spring beauties, and trout lily blooming. Down here in our landscaping yard tools are being sharpened, mulch is being delivered, and the compost windrow is being turned. It’s a bright sunny morning, and it feels like we just woke up from our long-winters rest, a bit stiff, but hungry for a new year.
But something has changed since we went to sleep, and it is both subtle and earth-shaking. Over the last year we have dramatically changed how we relate to each other and the landscape that surrounds us. Through the social media explosion we are now connected/networked/exposed to each others actions and ideas both locally and globally more than ever, and we actively expand the tendrils of our communal thoughts every day through Facebook and Twitter, blogs, and e-newsletters.
One idea that really jumps out at me in this sea of information is that a major change in landscape aesthetic is happening, here and now, and it will spread as fast as the electronic tendrils of thought can spread it. Sustainable Landscaping is going mainstream, from ancient European city rooftops, to the Provinces of China, to the Grand Estates of US industrialist tycoons, to the hallowed halls of Harvard, and it’s important for us to understand why. A brilliant article was recently written by Kongjian Yu, (Landscape Architect and President of Turenscape in China, designer of the famous Red Ribbon Project among others) and published in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of the Harvard Design Magazine. Yu writes that “in our resource-depleted and ecologically damaged and threatened era, the built environment must and will adapt a new aesthetic grounded in appreciation of the beauty of productive, ecology-supporting things. Our desire for beauty detached from utility is weakening, and it should be. In our new world, survival is at stake. Wastefulness becomes viscerally unattractive, if not immoral.”
I think that today our clients already see this shift happening. They’re busy yes, so they still want convenient solutions, but they want landscapes that do more than just sit there and look pretty. They want it to be functional, edible, low-input, healing, and ethically responsible. In essence they want it to be more than the sum of its parts – for it to support life – both theirs and the natural world that it is inherently part of. Grandiose gardens are no longer cool – now to be civilized and modern is to be “green”. I believe our job as horticultural researchers, educators, landscape designers, plant growers, retail nursery owners, landscape installers and maintenance professionals is to show them how they can have beautiful, functional, and sustainable landscapes.
This is my first letter as President of Green Works, and I feel very lucky to be part of such a healthy, active and growing Association. I look forward to meeting those of you I don’t already know, touring your businesses and discussing your thoughts about who we are as professionals, what we do and where we’re going. As you might suspect, the connection options are getting absurdly abundant - you can email me ([email protected]), you can Facebook me, send me a tweet (lindenlandscape), join my newsletter via our website (www.lindenlandscaping.com), call my cell (802-363-3044), or just plain stop by. I’ll leave the solar-powered LED light on for you…
Rebecca Lindenmeyr, Green Works/VNLA President
4
PRESIDENTRebecca Lindenmeyr Linden Landscaping & Design, Inc. 2953 Lake Street * Addison, VT 05491 802.759.3033 * [email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENTJoan Lynch The Inner Garden 1723 Route 3 * Pittsford, VT 05763 802.353.5573 * [email protected]
SECRETARY/TREASURERClaybrook Griffith Long Leaf Landscaping, LLC 4379 Ethan Allen Hwy. New Haven, VT 05472 802-999-4558 * [email protected]
DIRECTORS
Ed Burke Rocky Dale Gardens 806 Rocky Dale Road * Bristol, VT 05443 802-453-2782 * [email protected] VJ ComaiSouth Forty Nursery340 South Forty Rd * Shelburne, VT 05482802.425.6222 * [email protected]
Heidi GlesmannGlesmann GardensPO Box 545 * Hinesburg, VT 05461802.272.2683 * [email protected]
Heather MasonAllen Bros., Inc.6023 US Route 5 * Westminster, VT 05158802.722.3395 [email protected]
Dan Redondo Vermont Wetland Plant Supply, LLC PO Box 153 * Orwell, VT 05760 802.948.2553 [email protected]
Sarah SalatinoFull Circle Gardens68 Brigham Hill Road * Essex, VT [email protected]
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
Kristina MacKulin Green Works-VNLA P.O. Box 92 * N. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 Toll Free: 888-518-6484; 802-425-5117 Fax 802-425-5122 [email protected] www.greenworksvermont.org BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRClaybrook GriffithLong Leaf Landscaping, LLC802.999.4558
EVALUATION & PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRRebecca Lindenmeyr Linden Landscaping & Design, Inc. 802.759.3033
INDUSTRY AWARDS COMMITTEE CHAIREd BurkeRocky Dale Gardens802.453.2782
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRDan RedondoVermont Wetland Plant Supply, LLC802.948.2553
MARKETING & EDUCATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRSEd BurkeRocky Dale Gardens802.453.2782
Joan LynchThe Inner Garden802.353.5573
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRVJ ComaiSouth Forty Nursery802.425.6222
PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR CO-CHAIRSEd BurkeRocky Dale Gardens802.453.2782
Heidi GlesmannGlesmann Gardens802.272.2683
RESEARCH & AWARDS COMMITTEE CHAIRHeather MasonAllen Bros., Inc.802.722.3395
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES COMMITTEE CHAIRRebecca Lindenmeyr Linden Landscaping & Design, Inc. 802.759.3033
VERMONT CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST COMMITTEE CHAIRClaybrook GriffithLong Leaf Landscaping, LLC802.999.4558
board of directors
The VNLA Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 35, Issue 2
The Dirt Summer,
Paeonia ‘Westerner’—David Loysen
For information on Advertising
in The Dirt or on our Website
contact
Kristina MacKulin at the Green Works Office - 888.518.6484
THE DIRTThe VNLA Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 35, Issue 3
Mettowee Mill Nursery of Dorset hosts
the Green Works Summer Meeting and Trade Show
Fall
Issu
e
time to read?
Check out New England Nursery Association Book Reviews at:
www.newenglandnurseryassociation
.org/sections/green_leaders_bookreview.php
These reviews are some of today’s most talked about business books and are submitted by NENA members.
5
Alena BotanicaAlena Schnarr4 Winooski StreetWaterbury, VT 05676802.244.1699alena@alenabotanica.comwww.alenabotanica.comCategory: Landscape Designer, Garden ArtistActive Member
Gay Ellis Gardens & LandscapesGay EllisPO Box 163Sheffield, VT [email protected]: Landscape Designer, Landscape Design/Build, Landscape Install MaintenanceActive Member
Garden AlternativesBruce W. Herforth10 Landgrove Road #1Weston, VT [email protected]: Landscape Install Maintenance, Arborist, Propagator, Turf Care, Greenhouse RetailActive Member
Grow Compost of VermontLisa Ransom2046 US Route 2Waterbury, VT [email protected]: Compost/soil-wholesale/retailCategory: Active
Kelly’s Green Acres Farm d/b/a Kelly’s KoversSteve & Donna Kelly2453 Route 144Benson, VT 05743802.537.3233sdkelly@shoreham.netwww.shrubprotectors.comCategory: Wholesale brokerAssociate Member
Limbwalker Tree Service, Inc.Mike FallisPO Box 733Shelburne, VT 05482802.559.0422limbwalking@gmail.comwww.limbwalking.comCategory: Landscape Install Maintenance, Arborist
Mill Brook BonsaiA.P. (Sandy) Anderson32 Tarbox RoadJericho, VT 05465802-899-5585treeman205@aol.comwww.millbrookbonsai.bizCategory: Nursery Retail, BonsaiActive Member
Murphy Landscape Design & SiteworksLiam Murphy777 Dewey RoadSalisbury, VT [email protected]: Landscape Designer, Landscape Design/Build, Landscape Install MaintenanceActive Member
North Branch Landscape Co., Inc.S. Stephen Tworig III392 Main RoadStamford, VT 05352802.694.1782pam@northbranchlandscape.comwww.northbranchlandscape.comCategory: Landscape Design Build, Landscape Install Maintenance, Nursery Wholesale, Arborist, Nursery RetailActive Member
Pleasant View GardensCarol Huntington7316 Pleasant StreetLoudon, NH [email protected] * www.pwpvg.comCategory: Propagator, Greenhouse Wholesale, Nursery WholesaleAssociate Member
New Green Works Members
Are you and your employees certified? Now is a great time to order VCH manuals for yourself and/or your employees as the season gets underway. Prove your level of professionalism and commitment to excellence to your clients. Order a VCH manual this Spring, take the test this Summer and become a Vermont Certified Horticulturist. Contact Kristina MacKulin or Claybrook Griffith for ordering and test information.
6
The Gorgeous Gardens & Green Living ShowThe second week of March began with unseasonably warm temperatures. The snow was nearly gone and everyone’s thoughts and instincts turned towards the garden. By the weekend, winter returned. Perfect. Perfect for bringing people into Riley Rink in Manchester, VT for Green Works’ first southern “flower show” like event! The 2 day event offered the public and our Association members in the southern part of the state a venue for the same educational and product/services information as is enjoyed at our biennial event in Essex. The show was a combination of garden show, flower show and lecture series on topics including landscape design, agriculture, and sustainability. Vendors displayed everything from birdhouses to pressed flower prints and offered information on landscape design services, sustainable gardening and passive solar design.
A total of 1,500 people came through the doors over the weekend! The response was overwhelming for a first time event. Southern Vermont is more than ready for a staple event to add to their late winter plans. Riley Rink offered it’s challenges with maintaining heat, and providing adequate parking, but the Gorgeous Gardens and Green Living committee is already working with Riley Rink on how to improve the weakest areas and to build upon the success of the show.
The decorations committee, along with a slew of volunteers from Green Works and the Master Gardeners, transformed the normally unattractive concession area of the Rink into a beautiful spring like woodland garden setting. Cut trees of white pine, spruce and white cedar camouflaged the cinder block walls and instantly set the stage for an indoor escape to the woods. The smell of hyacinths and eye-catching forsythia branches were nestled in
with an array of ferns, alyssum, tulips, daffodils and pussy willow. Gorgeous iron urns were overflowing with fresh cut flowers and bud bursting branches. Not having a central display, as in Essex, the floor of the rink was brought to life with 4 (20’ x 25’) outstanding booths constructed by Garden Arts, Mettowee Mill Nursery, Churchill Gardens (Pittsfield, MA), and Northern Landscape Services.
The speaker seminar area was flanked by “woodlands”, bent willow chairs, slate benches, and a wooden greenhouse structure. We had a “People’s Choice Award” for best booth with the winner receiving an overnight stay at the Equinox Resort in Manchester. The winner was Mettowee Mill with an amazing display of tropicals, faeries, fountains, and outdoor living. Tied for second place was Baierlein Landscaping, showcasing their stone work and patio kitchens, and Garden Arts Company displaying fencing, lighting and unique garden sculpture. All three are Green Works members!
The weekend offered an exemplary line up of speakers. This was a major
draw to the show and the public wasn’t disappointed! We had people purchasing weekend passes in order to come back on Sunday for more lectures. The best way to sum up the seminar evaluation is to quote our keynote speaker, Julie Moir Messervy, who said, “I’d love to consider doing the same lecture for the Burlington show if it's as good as the Manchester show was.”
The VNLA is proud to claim this first time event as a success. It was a leap of faith born from the commitment that the organization has to support and represent all of it’s members. Not only is southern Vermont ready for a southern event, the VNLA is ready for a southern event. This first year was a learning experience in determining what the true costs are in producing a show in the south and seeing who the attendees are in mid March. We now have a base in which to work from and network of support in which to count on. The Board of Directors has decided to maintain this event as a biennial event, as is the Vermont Flower Show in Essex. We will market the two shows together so that the public will know that they have a Green Works produced show to go to every year.
As a member of Green Works and the Board of Directors, I would like to thank the organization for having the faith in me to organize the event, but most importantly I want to thank the committee; Sarah Green, Steve Burzon, Paul Morgan, and Janice Valgoi and all who participated in donating their time, materials, advice, and most importantly their support and friendship. Anyone who would like to join this new adventure is welcome! No experience necessary – just a positive attitude!
See page 23 for photos.
Joan Lynch, Gorgeous Gardens and Green Living Show Chair
7
Grow Compost of Vermont is transforming Vermont leftovers into a high grade, nutrient rich soil enhancer that puts healthy, locally grown food back on the plates of Vermonters.
Grow Compost of Vermont LLC is located in Moretown on Route 2 . This new business partners with local organic haulers, neighboring farms, restaurants, schools, resorts and food manufacturers in Central Vermont. “Our compost diverts yard waste, food scraps, and other compostable material creating an especially rich, black compost – perfect for reconditioning soil, “ says Scott Baughman, co-owner of Grow Compost.
Scott and Lisa spent the past two years developing their compost recipe and learning best practices to create high-grade horticultural compost. They attended the University of Maine Compost School and spent a tremendous amount of time permitting and engineering their compost site.
Now that their business is open, Scott spends his time meticulously managing long windrows of compost that reach temperatures over 150° for extended periods of time. These high temperatures kill pathogens and weed seeds while at the same time encouraging beneficial fungi. The whole process takes close to a year to complete. Scott says, “There are quicker ways to make compost, but none of them create a product as desirable as the compost we produce here.”
Lisa runs the business side of Grow Compost but also has her hands in the dirt. She spent this past winter becoming certified as a Vermont Master Gardener and spends much of her time in her garden and barn. She keeps a flock of Romney sheep, several angora goats, chickens, ducks, and bees.
You can learn more about Grow Compost at their website: www.growcompost.com. The première windrows of Grow Compost will be for sale to the public this coming fall with full sales anticipated in Spring 2011.
new member profileGrow Compost of Vermont
Lisa and Scott of Grow Compost of Vermont
Grow Compost of Vermont located in Moretown.
8
Green Works held it’s Annual Meeting and Trade Show on February 10, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in Rutland, VT. As always, it is great to have a day to catch up with one another, hear some great speakers, and talk about the season to come. It was record attendance with 150 people attending and 31 vendors. Thank you to all of you who exhibited and attended!
Our keynote speaker, Michael Talbot of Talbot Ecological Land Care and co-founder of the Ecological Landscaping Association spoke to members on an “Overview of Ecological Land Care: Enhancing Greater Sustainability and Environmental Sensitivity in the Green Industries”. Michael offered his ideas, experience and expertise on how to incorporate sustainable principles and practices into your work and how to better serve clients by opening up new markets and enhancing reputations as professionals. Other presentations included Steve Faust of EnSave talking about greenhouse/nursery energy conservation and efficiency; Dan Redondo of VT Wetland Plant Supply spoke about selecting native plants for wildlife habitat in constructing ponds and wetlands; Dale Paden of Pine Hall Brick Co. gave a presentation on using permeable pavement systems; and Anne Macmillan from the VT Agency of Agriculture spoke about recycling horticultural plastics and what is possible for 2010. It was a full day of great information to be shared!
The business meeting was well attended and began with the awards ceremony. Alice Beisiegel presented
the UVM student achievement award to Jesse Ackemann. Jesse is a junior in the Sustainable Landscape Horticulture Program and has worked for member Walker Farms. The next award Alice presented was the NENA Young Nursery Professional of the Year Award to Shannon Lee of Cobble
Creek Nursery. The Environmental Awareness Award was given to Charlie Proutt and Eileen Schilling of Horsford Gardens & Nursery. Ralph Fitz-gerald accepted the award on their behalf. Alice next presented the Horticultural Achievement Award to Amy Rose-White of Rocky Dale Gardens.
Following these awards Ed Burke presented awards to the winners of the 2009 Industry Awards Program as follows: Susan Els in Residential Landscape Design Build – Grand Honor Award; Sarah Stradtner and Tricia King of Distinctive Landscaping – Residential Landscape Design Build - Exceeds Excellence Award; Caroline Dudek of Landshapes for Commercial Landscape Design Build – Grand Honor Award; Middlebury College Landscape Department for Landscape Design Maintenance – Grand Honor Award; and Special Projects Category – Bill deVos of TreeWorks – Grand
Honor Award. On behalf of Green Works - we congratulate all awardees! See photos on page 14.
The annual ID contest was held with a record number of test takers trying to remember how to spell all those latin names. This year’s winner of the ID
Contest was Alena Schnarr of Alena Botanica. Congratulations Alena!
The business meeting concluded with the nomination of officers and board members. I would like to acknowledge the three long-time board members who stepped down from the board. Their outstanding dedication and work over these last years has greatly contributed to where Green Works is
today and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their commitment to Green Works. Stepping off the board were President - Tim Parsons, who joined the board in 2004; Vice-President -David Loysen, who joined the board in 2003; and Board Member - Alice Beisiegel, who joined the board in 2004. We would like to welcome new board members VJ Comai of South Forty Nursery, Heidi Glesmann of Glesmann Gardens, and Heather Mason of Allen Bros., Inc. Meet your new board members on page 10.
It seems we have an early Spring as the winter months begin to fade to memory. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Summer Meeting and Trade Show on August 18, 2010 at Cobble Creek Nursery in Bristol, VT.
Kristina MacKulin
green works: Annual Winter Meeting and Awards
Michael Talbot, Keynote Speaker
9
VJ Comai, South Forty Nursery
VJ was born and raised in Readsboro,Vermont, a very small town on the southern border as one of 5 kids. Heattended HS at Drury HS in North Adams MA. '80-'84. He received a BS in Community Forestry and Horticulture From the University of Vermont in 1988under the guidance of Prof. Norman Pellett. During his years at UVM, he spent one summer working for Allen Haskell, Horticulturist in New Bedford, MA. He also worked part-time and one summer at The South Forty Nursery along side John Padua. Upon graduation from UVM, VJ took over full-time as manager of the South Forty Nursery in Shelburne where he remains today.
In 1993, VJ built a home on a piece of land bordering the nursery in Charlotte. He has been a member of the VNLA (formerly VPA,VAPH) since 1988. VJ served on the VNLA board from 1993-2000. During his time on the board VJ served as chairman of the Flower Show committee and was involved in the planning of the current day VT Flower Show, born from the days of the Lawn and Garden Show. VJ is a member of theInternational Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2008.
VJ has 4 children ages 16, 15, 12 and 10 and two stepchildren, ages 22 and 18. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hiking, kayaking, backcountry skiing, hunting and tree climbing among other things.
VJ currently serves as the VNLA's representative to The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Council. He decided to return to the VNLA board because 10 years absent was enough time for him to forget why he stepped down the first time. Seriously, he really likes the direction that the board has been taking these past few years after weathering some pretty tough times. He feels there are many excellent initiatives the VNLA has recently committed to that will be of great benefit to our membership and will serve to heighten the professional image of our industry. Having been in this business for more than 20 years now, VJ feels that he has a much different perspective and more experience
than he had to offer the first time around and hopes that his contributions to the board will help to keep the VNLA moving forward in a positive direction.
Heidi Glesmann of Glesmann Gardens
Heidi was born in Hamar, Norway in 1974, the oldest of three children. The Scandinavian connection is through her mother’s family. After moving back to the United States as a child, they settled in northern New York State. Her father’s furniture design/build business and her mother’s outdoor lifestyle as a New York State Forest Ranger influenced her love for the outdoors and natural world. She and her sister Erica grew up hiking, camping, canoeing, biking and skiing. Earning a bachelors degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1996, brought Heidi closer to Vermont. She studied Fine Art with a concentration in photography and printmaking. Following her education, she moved to Burlington, Vermont. She mixed work with some travel back to Norway, Alaska and a drive across the U.S.A. With these influences she made a decision to pursue a career in horticulture. Back in Vermont Heidi started working as a landscaper/estate gardener. After several years, she was introduced to the VNLA through the VCH study guide. She became a Vermont Certified Horticulturist in 2006. Last spring Heidi started her own landscape/ gardening business, Glesmann Gardens. She immediately became a member of the VNLA at this point. The connections she has made through the VNLA certainly helped to build her new business. It has been a great way to continue obtaining more knowledge through all of the lectures, events, meetings and Flower Shows. Heidi joined the Board this winter to work alongside professionals in an organization she respects while contributing her own experiences, time and energy . “I am certain this opportunity will enhance my understanding and knowledge of our industry in ways I can not imagine”.
meet Green Works new board members
continued on page 10
10
Heather Mason of Allen Bros, Inc.
Heather Mason, 32 grew up in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire. She inched further and further north on the Connecticut River each year until settling in the town of Springfield with her husband David and her step-daughter Mariah. Heather began working at Allen Brother’s in 2001 and quickly realized this was more than just a job, it is a way of life. Plants have become her passion. At Allen Brothers, they dapple in all aspects of farming but specialize in hanging baskets, mums, hardy perennials, shrubs and fruit trees. Allen Brother’s is a place where her curiosity and creativity are appreciated and nurtured. Allen Brothers became Green Works members in 2007 and has benefited greatly from the networking opportunities the association offers. As a board member, she is anxious to give back by further increasing the value and opportunities Green Works offers it’s members.
PAGE 10 THE DIRT VOLUME 35, I SSUE 2
Fairfax Perennial Farm Inc.
WHOLESALE PERENNIAL GROWERS
Providing a large variety of quality, Vermont grown plants.
7 Blackberry Hill Road ~ Fairfax, VT 05454
802-849-2775
www.fairfaxperennials.com
Participate in the
2010 Industry Awards Program
Scope out your projects and start taking photos!We will mail you the forms soon.
11
This News will be brief, as not much new to report with the main preoccupation now being the BIG move to Jeffords Hall beginning May 10, then the usual end of classes and all but extension faculty then otherwise occupied during the summer. The move is highly orchestrated and timed, with cleaners coming
right after we vacate to make room for Aiken folks to move in, as their building will begin renovation in the fall. Already for a couple months we've been boxing and tossing (huge recyling bins full each day), with the first move of boxes and equipment mid-April. However, Jeffords hall wont be officially open until Mon. May 10 when the first wave of moving people and of whole offices begins (Extension and research), to be followed by another wave after classes of teaching faculty. The first tour will occur May 8 during the alumni CALS banquet, the President's official open house will take place graduation weekend (prior to the second wave of moving), and then next fall our departments (PSS and Plant biology) should have our own open house with the focus more on the education and research happening there.
As of this writing the exterior looks about done, complete with name on the building and beautiful raised beds. The interior as well is shaping up nicely and an incredible improvement over the current Hills space, no comparison really. We should still have our same phone numbers as presently. If in the area this summer, do stop by to take a look. More updates in the next News!
In an effort to better utilize the Hort and Miller farms, several CE courses are being offered through our PSS department this summer, with full descriptions and registration information online (http://learn.uvm.edu/igs/food_systems):
• diversified ag farm residency, John Hayden• weed ecology and management, Sid Bosworth• plant pathology, Terence Delaney (Plant biology)• into to ecological agriculture, Stacey Waterman• tree fruit production, Terry Bradshaw• organic farm practicum, Yolanda Chen
Once again we'll have our All-America selections flower display garden at the Burlington waterfront park this summer, in cooperation with Burlington Parks and Recreation. However, with the new construction there, the former main front beds are now a rain garden. Our new beds will be installed on the right and back sides of the main drive and walks, so should provide the same amount of quality, visible space. (perrysperennials.info).
Also my website now has links at the bottom to sign up to follow on either twitter or facebook, or both. I'll be posting periodically updates of interest including timely events, books and references, research updates, new plants, and more. If you're on these, sign up to follow vtperennials on twitter or perrysperennials on facebook.
In case you're not aware, there are many shows from our Across the Fence television show streaming and viewable online, including many on various aspects of gardening. These may be of interest to you, employees, or customers. There is even an order form if you/customers would like to order copies of any. The extension Across the Fence site (www.uvm.edu/extension/?Page=across.php) has those relating to Extension personnel over the last few years, grouped by subject matter. I also have the gardening ones on my website (http://perrysperennials.info/forpecon.htm) in several formats for viewing.
If you're in retailing, you may want to have the Master Gardener website (http://www.uvm.edu/mastergardener/) and helpline numbers (800-639-2230 in Vermont, local and out of state 802-656-5421) handy for yourself and customers.
Submitted by Leonard Perry
news from the U
News from the U—Dr. Leonard Perry
PAGE 12 THE DIRT VOLUME 35, ISSUE 2
Summer is a great time at universities if you like it quiet
with no meetings, and ability to park even with the much
reduced spaces due to construction! I'm spending much
time outside with perennials, building stock for next year's
freezing studies, working on field trials (currently 190
different plants), and accumulating coralbells (Heuchera)
for both field and freezing studies funded this past year by
the NH Plant Growers Endowment. I"m currently up to
about 60 cultivars of coralbells, including very new
introductions and new villosa hybrids which some growers
question their hardiness (as they are from France), hence
this study. I'll keep you posted here and on my website
(perrysperennials.info) of this and other research your
association has helped fund. Data is collected, I'm just
waiting for some rainy days to get it written up.
We once again planted about 100 varieties of annuals at the
All-America Selections Display Garden at Burlington's
Waterfront Park the first week of June, thanks again to
help and collaboration with Burlington Parks and
Recreation. This is the garden that we won a national AAS
award for this past year. As in previous years, I'll be
posting the plant listing and ratings at the end of the
summer on my website. Here also you can find lists and
results from the past several years. This year my assistant
Sarah Kingsley Richards and I think we have some great
combinations put together, with a focus on about 20
different petunias (near the boathouse), several new coleus
and several new sweet potato vines. One of my favorites
and perhaps most unusual is the new Pretty Much Picasso
petunia, violet purple with a lime green rim. Another
outstanding new and unusual selection is the mealycup
sage Salvia Sallyfun Blue Emotion, tall, blue florets with
white eyes.
This year's AAS garden features about 50% plants from
Pleasant View Gardens (Proven Winners and Selections
and trials), about 40% from DS Cole Growers, and about
10% from seed (All-America Selections and others). I hope
you get to see these gardens if in Burlington (at the foot of
College St. by the ECHO center and boathouse), not only for
the plants, but as the beds are planned to be different next
year. Due to planned construction and road reconfiguration
beginning after Labor Day this year, the main two front
beds will disappear forever, with a new front bed planned
closer to the boathouse in the grassy area.
On campus, the good news is that thanks to federal
stimulus money, the state greatly reduced cuts to UVM and
Extension. Coupled with support from the college, no
on-campus Extension faculty member (to my
knowledge) was cut this coming fiscal year. However once
this money runs out in a couple years, we may be back to
round two of big budget cuts.
So if opportunities arise in your future to support Extension
with your legislators or even UVM administration, it can
surely help. Our new plant science building (Jeffords Hall)
is now enclosed, with connection underway to the UVM
greenhouse. We are still scheduled to move in next
summer. In our department, our fairly recent faculty
member Sarah Lovell will be returning home to take a
similar position in landscape architecture at the University
of Illinois, so her design courses will be taught by yet un-
known person this next year, with a new search hopefully
in our future. Main research at the Hort Farm now
includes two projects of Dr. Lorraine Berkett-- a USDA
funded large project (recently refunded and highly rated) on
organic apple production (the reason many of the crabap-
ples were cut down in order to reduce scab and other
diseases) with full details online
(http://www.uvm.edu/~organica/), and the third year of
trials on hardy grape varieties (http://pss.uvm.edu/grape/).
Submitted by Leonard Perry
instrumental in the development of the Learning Landscape
Project at URI. In 2008, he was recognized for his many
contributions to the green industry and received the
prestigious honor of being one of the first to be inducted into
the RINLA Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the
Rhode Island Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Donations in Ken's memory may be made to The Kenneth
Lagerquist - RINLA Horticultural Scholarship, URI
Foundation Acct ED99, 79 Upper College Road, Kingston,
RI, 02881.
Scott Pfister, former VT State Pathologist and Green
Works supporter has left his position in June at the
Vermont Forest Protection Department. Scott has taken a
position with USDA-APHIS in Washington, DC and will be
coordinating the USDA’s programs for the Asian longhorned
beetle, emerald ash borer, and firewood pest mitigation. We
will miss him and wish him and his family well.
(Continued from page 9)
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P.O. Box 92 N. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473
Work has begun on the 2011 Vermont Flower Show, which is less than one year away! Having travelled recently to see the Capital District Flower and Garden Show in Troy, NY, it really illustrated just how unique our Vermont Flower Show truly is. Designing and landscaping a 10,000 square foot area that it put together, for the most part, through donations of time, materials, plants, and labor just does not occur at other flower shows.
We are lucky to have Chris diStefano of diStefano Landscaping and Matt Leonetti of Morning Dew Landscaping as the designers/coordinators of the Central Display for the 2011 Vermont Flower Show. They have accepted this monumental task and have been working on the design over the last couple of months. The theme for the show is “Sweet Dreams”.
We will have a plant list to circulate soon and it will be posted on the website. If anyone is interested in donating plant material or willing to grow some of the plants needed please contact Chris at 802.279.5900/[email protected] or Matt at 802.760.7577/[email protected]. Anyone interested in working on the Central Display Committee should also contact either Chris or Matt.
Vendors are already calling to sign up for booth space and speakers are asking to present. With the success of the show in Manchester, it is clear the public is craving our show!
Kristina MacKulin
2011 Vermont Flower Show
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After 16 years of great plants the Claussen Perennial Farm has moved to join the Florist & Greenhouse location on Main Street in Colchester Village. The new facility will offer the same great perennials, a brand new garden center, additional parking and excellent service. Manager James MacAuley and his staff will continue to share their extensive knowledge and experience at the new location. They will offer customers new varieties of Claussen Grown Perennials and a great line of exciting garden accents and accessories. The doors of the Claussen’s Perennial Farm will open on Tuesday, April 20th and they will have a grand opening celebration in May.
The staff at Claussen’s would like to to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the thousands of customers that have supported and strengthened their business during the past thirty eight years. “We have had the pleasure of meeting so many
great customers over the years. Our mission is to grow “Top-quality Vermont-Grown Plants” which we have done for almost four decades. We thank you, our neighbors, our community and our friends for making this new venture possible”.
Claussen Perennial Farm Relocates
Claussen Perennial Farm -now located at 187 Main Street, Colchester, VT
award winners
Jesse Ackemann - UVM Student Award, left; Shannon Lee - NENA Young Nurseryman Award, center; Amy Rose-White - Green Works/VNLA Horticultural Achievement Award, right.
Ralph Fitz-Gerald accepts award for Charlie Proutt and Eileen Schilling of Horsford Gardens & Nursery for Green Works/VNLA Environmental Awareness Award, left.
2009 Industry Award Winners - bottom row: Tricia King & Sarah Stradtner of Distinctive Landscaping; Jamie Case and Tim Parsons of Middlebury College; back row: William deVos of TreeWorks; Caroline Dudek of Landshapes; and Justin Quenneville and Dave Oberle of Middlebury College.
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The Vermont House of Legislators is currently formulating a new bill (H.769) to address fees for nursery certification/licensure and nursery inspections. The bill, which identifies a fee schedule based on size thresholds, is likely to affect many of our members as well as farmers who grow and sell vegetable starts (such as tomato seedlings). At its most recent meeting, the VNLA Board of Directors adopted the following motion: “To support a fee based certification/licensure program and an aggressive inspection process to maintain healthy nursery stock throughout the state.” Please note that although the Board did not comment on the size thresholds, we have concerns that many of the small nurseries and farmers would be placed in the same “large” classification as the commercial stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, and Agway. Therefore, we ask that our membership review the legislation (http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/calendar/hc100324.pdf) and provide any comments/suggestions for improving the bill. Presently, the bill has been read three times on the House floor, which means it is close to being approved and sent to the Senate for their review/discussion/approval.
Please contact Dan Redondo, Green Work board member and Legislative Committee Chair at 948-2553 or [email protected] with any questions.
Legislative Update
Trillium seeds and plants for sale. All plants are grown from seed. They will be flowering around Mothers Day in May. Younger non-flowering plants also available. Please contact me about availability of plants, species and seeds. Orders for seeds should be sent before collection time (July). Trilliums Unlimited: Stephanie Solt-owner. [email protected]. 802-865-3113. Burlington, VT. www.trilliumsunlimited.com <http://www.trilliumsunlimited.com
classified ad
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PAGE 9 THE DIRT VOLUME 35, ISSUE 2
Pleasant View Gardens receives record-setting
grant -- Pleasant View Gardens in Loudon, NH has
earned a half-million dollar renewable energy grant to
power its biomass burner efforts, which has drastically
diminished its dependency on oil. This new system has a
potential 85 percent cut in heating costs. The biomass
burner, which is fueled by wood chips, will cut oil use to
zero. For more information, visit www.pwpvg.com.
Educational Resource -- UMass Extension has released
its Massachusetts Nursery Best Management Practices
(BMP) Handbook. To access this, and other helpful
industry information you can visit http://
www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/plantculture.html.
Emanuel "Manny" Shemin passed away on January 28,
2009. He was 78 years old and suffered from
leukemia. Mr. Shemin is the founder of Shemin
Nurseries, Inc. and was credited with pioneering the
landscape distribution model. Shemin Nurseries now has
30 distribution centers across the United States. Mr.
Shemin also founded an organic seed company in Israel—
Genesis Seeds, Ltd. Donations in Mr. Shemin’s name can
be made to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer
Center Leukemia Program at Johns Hopkins.
Gary Vermeer, founder of Vermeer Corporation,
passed away at age 90 February 2, 2009. Gary and a
cousin started the business in 1948 after inventing a
wagon hoist five years earlier, which made it easier to
unload corn. Demand for the labor-saving device led to
opening Vermeer Manufacturing Company. Vermeer
Manufacturing Company has grown into an international
organization that manufactures agricultural, construction,
environmental and industrial equipment.
Ken Lagerquist -- Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape
Association (RINLA) Executive Director, NENA Past
President, and great green industry friend -- passed away
on March 25, 2009 surrounded by his family. Many of the
VNLA board members and myself got to know Ken over
these last few years at NENA leadership meetings. He
was always quick to say hello, shake your hand, and talk
about the green industry.
Ken founded Evergreen Tree & Landscape, a business he
ran for many years before retiring. Ken was very active in
his town and his church, and was past-president of both
RINLA and NENA. Ken was the beloved Executive
Director of RINLA from 1991 until 2009 and was
(Continued on page 12)
News from Around New England
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The Green Works new and improved website is due to launch by the end of April. Here is what you can do to get ready. Each member and VCH is entitled to their own profile page, just like before. Because the site will run on a new platform with increased enhancement, each member will need to submit information for their profile page again. Each profile page will also feature your own slide show of up to 13 photos (baker’s dozen). This is a new feature. Before you were entitled to 4 photos that were static on the page. All of this information, text and photos, can be submitted on-line via the website at your leisure. Once the site launches each member will receive login information and a password.
Members who submit photos will also be featured on the Find a Member page. This will work on a rotating basis. So be ready when we call - assemble your description and photos and we will let you know when to submit them.
green works: your website profile
Green Works is pleased to announce a symposium with Adrian Bloom of Bressingham Gardens, UK. This event will take place on September 29, 2010 at the University of Vermont, Davis Center.
Last minute details are still being worked out. Adrian will do a morning and afternoon presentation.
An evening reception with wine and snacks will be held that evening at Rocky Dale Gardens in Bristol VT. This is a fundraiser for Green Works education programming and will be limited in attendance.
adrian bloom comes to Vermont
Panicle HydrangeaHydrangea paniculata and cultivars
The species, Hydrangea paniculata, is native to China and Japan and was introduced into cultivation in the US in 1861 by von Siebold. In cultivation in New England it typically reaches 8-10’ tall, and requires a few hours of direct sunlight to flower best. Its shade tolerance, long bloom period (July-September) and hardiness (to zone 3) add to its appeal. The clusters of flowers are like overblown cones –6-8” long. The many-branched clusters bear small fertile flowers, and the larger showy sterile blossoms are subtended by showy petal-like sepals. White sterile flowers fade to pink, and ultimately brown, as they age and are held on plants often through the winter. The flowers are borne on new wood so winter damage of buds is not an issue as it is with
the mophead, lacecap, and oakleaf hydrangeas, and plants will bloom even after a hard winter pruning.
H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’, (Often called “PeeGee”) the most common cultivar, is an oldfashioned favorite. The large panicles of flowers can be 12- 18” long—especially if pruned to encourage strong flower development. Both multi-stemmed shrubs and those trained into standards are frequently seen in the landscapes of the northeast. The flower panicles on ‘Kyushu’ are not as dense as they are on “PeeGee” giving this cultivar a more delicate air, ‘Praecox’ opens its flowers in July, earlier than other cultivars, widening the blooming window. ‘Tardiva’ closes the window, beginning its bloom in August at the tail end of the season. ‘White Moth’ bears flower clusters that are less conical than others–flattened, almost round clusters. These cultivars are readily available, and can be grown with ease knowing that they are hardy, pest and disease resistant, available and will add a long season of beauty to any garden.
Visit www.caryaward.org for more information and a list of past award winners.
2010 Cary Award Winner
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New England Wetland Plants, Inc.
820 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
413-548-8000 * Fax 413-549-4000
www.newp.com
From Wetland to Upland…
NEW ENGLAND WETLAND PLANTS, INC.
OFFERS A LARGE SELECTION OF HIGH QUALITY
NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS
NATIVE HERBACEOUS AND FLOWERING PLANTS
NATIVE SEED MIXES
EROSION CONTROL PRODUCTS
BIOENGINEERING PRODUCTS
FOR CONSERVATION
WETLAND RESTORATION/MITIGATION
WATER QUALITY
NATURAL LANDSCAPING
We have what you need
AMHERST, MA – The NOFA Organic Land Care Program, a
project of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of
Massachusetts, will hold the 5th annual NOFA Organic Lawn &
Turf Course at UMass Amherst in Amherst, MA on Friday,
August 7, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This one-day, intensive course will provide state-of-the-art
information for managing lawns and turf organically and is
geared toward land care professionals, groundskeepers and
municipalities who are responsible for the establishment and
care of grass, as well as anyone interested in learning organic
methods.
The course will be taught by NOFA Accredited Organic Land
Care Professional Donald Bishop of Gardens Are Inc.
in Marlborough, MA, CT NOFA Executive Director Bill Duesing
of Solar Farm Education in Oxford, CT, nationally renowned
organic turfgrass educator Chip Osborne of Osborne Organics
in Marblehead, MA, and entomological scientist Dr. Kimberly
Stoner of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station in New
Haven, CT
NEW THIS YEAR! The course will include a special section
on Water Management and Conservation led by noted engineer
and water conservation expert Amy Vickers, president of Amy
Vickers & Associates Inc. of Amherst, MA. There will also be
plenty of time for Q&A and networking. Lunch is provided. All
course participants will receive a copy of the NOFA Organic
Lawn & Turf Handbook: Beautiful Grass Naturally, which
serves as the course manual. This 100-page comprehensive,
practical and easy-to-use reference manual was written and
edited by scientists and experts in the field of organic lawn and
turf care, this book covers what landscapers, landscape
designers, municipal staff and homeowners need to know to
grow natural and organic lawns. Topics include: Why Organic?
Site Analysis, Soil Health, Cultural Practices, Weeds, Insects,
Diseases, Obtaining Materials and Equipment, Running a
Business, Client Relations and much more.
The NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course is happening
concurrently with the 35th annual NOFA Summer Conference at
UMass Amherst. The Summer Conference features over 175
workshops on organic growing along with two keynote
presentations, a country fair, evening entertainment, music,
dancing, special children and teens’ conferences and much more!
Visit www.nofasummerconference.org for more info!
The NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course costs $150 for the first
person from a firm/municipality and $125 each additional
person. Sat/Sun NOFA Summer Conference registrants receive
a $30 discount on the combined registration fees. For more
information or to register, visit www.organiclandcare.net or
www.nofasummerconference.org. With questions, please con-
tact Kathy Litchfield, NOFA/Mass OLC Program Coordinator,
at (413) 773-3830 or [email protected].
5th Annual NOFA Organic Lawn & Turf Course
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Anyone who works with trees, whether climbing, using an aerial lift or felling from the ground, should understand the dangers of contact with electric wires. This statement sounds simple enough but the truth is many professional tree workers and probably most non-professionals lack a good understanding of the potentially lethal characteristics of trees in contact with electrical conductors.
The current or flow of electricity in overhead lines moves along swiftly to its intended use but what most people don’t comprehend is that that current is constantly searching for a path to the ground. Insulators on the poles prevent it from doing so but any other material that contacts wires and the ground at the same time has the potential to carry that current through it and become energized. The degree to which it accepts or resists the flow of electricity is its conductivity. The wood in a tree is not a great conductor of electricity but given the right conditions it can become dangerously energized. Such conditions include wet weather, high voltage and the tree’s stage of life. The danger to workers is imminent whether they are on the ground, in a tree or even in an insulated aerial lift. Many untrained workers believe an aerial device protects them but it does nothing if the worker connects a tree and wires through his body.
To those unaware of the nature of electric service delivery, there would seem to be a great liability inherent in the operations of electric service providers. This is actually not the case in this country. A review of legal precedents and research shows that most often, the duty of care rests on the public rather than on utilities in the absence of their negligence. If a tree worker or even a reasonably responsible adult homeowner causes trees to contact lines and gets injured he could likely be considered “contributorily negligent” and be unlikely to recover damages. As long as a utility follows “applicable standards of care”, they might not be held responsible for the unsafe acts of the general public. Applicable standards of care could mean only that the utility
has maintained their lines according to their own tree management plan. With few exceptions, it does not mean eliminating all contact between trees and normal distribution power lines.
OSHA mandates that all tree care workers receive electrical hazard training. It doesn’t describe what the training program should be and it doesn’t enforce this requirement.If there is an accident however, OSHA can fine a company that is found to lack such a program or has not implemented one they have. If you own a tree company or any business that may work with trees, you should seek information on developing an electrical hazard training program if you don’t already have one. The Tree Care Industry of America (TCIA) has a very comprehensive tree worker safety program available to members and non-members. Some independent arboricultural consultants also offer training that may be more affordable and tailored to smaller companies. The program you choose should help your workers identify and avoid potential hazards before they start any job and have proper rescue procedures in place if an accident occurs. This is especially important because many people are injured or killed attempting to rescue their fellow worker who has come in contact with energized lines.
When I have spoken to commercial tree companies throughout the country about electrical hazards and trees, it often becomes a conversation stopper. This is because this subject is rarely given the emphasis it deserves in current safety programs. Most foremen or company owners will stress that their workers should stay away from power lines, but many do not know how to look for them. Often I have seen workers arrive on a job and find power lines in their work zone that the person who bid the job did not see. This can slow down or stop a job but observant workers like these save lives. Another issue that some companies may not be aware of is the danger associated with some of the tools they use. It is costly to remedy, but no tree care operation should have aluminum pole saws or power saw extensions on their trucks. Nor should they ever use aluminum
ladders. There is probably nothing you could do that could be more dangerous than using highly conductive aluminum tools in trees that are in contact with power lines. Fiberglass or wood is the preferred construction.
The safety limitations of aerial lifts are also not well understood by many safety trainers. They are designed to prevent the apparatus on the ground from being energized but do not always do so. Recently “elevator” lifts have become more prevalent. There is a very serious design flaw with some of these units that allows the operator to unintentionally override the protective features of the unit, putting workers on the ground at great risk.
An independent safety audit will help identify and correct unsafe conditions, equipment or work practices in any tree care company. Learning about potentially unsafe acts will help prevent them from becoming accidents. Accidents, especially those involving electricity should not be your crews’ teachable moments. They are usually fatalities.
Electricity is everywhere in the landscape. By law, underground utilities must be identified and marked before work begins but there is no such requirement for overhead lines because they can be identified by reasonably cautious people. All businesses that work with trees should include electrical hazard awareness in their daily job briefings and insure that it is an integral part of their overall safety training.
More information about electrical safety awareness can be found on the TCIA website, tcia.org and in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publication on tree worker safety called ANSI Z133.1 available from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) at isa-arbor.com.
Brian Beaty is a VCH/MCA and a member of Green Works, the International Society of Arboriculture and Utility Arborists Association.
Electric Hazards in Treesby brian beaty
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The Garden Design School, USA will be hosting an Open House/information day on May 5th, 2010 at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens. The Garden Design School began their Garden Design Diploma program in the New England area in the fall of 2009.
The Garden Design School offers a 9 month, unique, intensive, part time program that meets at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boyslton, MA. It is designed for anyone interested in choosing a landscape/garden design career, changing to this career, or pursuing superior mastery in their existing career.
For more information: [email protected] or visit www.gardendesignschool.com.
garden design school, USA
Take time to visit:http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/plantindustry/index.html. The Plant Industry Section of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture website covers the following areas:
• Entomology• Plant Pathology• Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (Exotic and
Endemic Pest Survey) • Plant Exportation and Importation Permitting• Diagnostic Laboratory • Vector Management• Nursery Inspection and Licensing • Domestic and Federal Plant Quarantines• Seed Certification• Noxious Weeds• Ginseng Certification• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)• Genetically Modified Seeds/Organisms • Apiary Inspection • Plant and Pest Quarantines
For up to date information on all quarantines in the State visit: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/ARMES/plantindustry/PlantandPestQuarantines.html
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April 23-24, 20107th Annual Perennial Plant SymposiumEquinox ResortManchester Village, VT518.885.3471
May 14-16, 2010Northern New England Home, Garden & Flower ShowFryeburg FairgroundsFryeburg, MEwww.homegardenflowershow.com
May 28-31, 201013th Annual McLaughlin Garden Lilac FestivalMcLaughlin GardensSouth Paris, MEwww.McLaughlingarden.org
June 21-24, 20102010 ANLA Retail RoadshowSalt Lake City, Utahwww.anlatours.org
July 14, 2010CNLA Summer MeetingCanterbury HorticultureCanterbury, CT(800) 562-0610
July 18-20, 2010PLANET Legislative Day on the HillKey Bridge MarriottArlington, VAwww.landcarenetwork.org
July 21, 2010MNLA Summer Conference & Trade ShowBigelow NurseriesCharlton Farm, Charlton, MAwww.progrownews.com
August 18, 2010Green Works – VNLA Summer Meeting & Trade ShowCobble Creek NurseryBristol, VTwww.greenworksvermont.org
Industry Calendar
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scenes from the gorgeous
gardens &
green living
show
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PO Box 92North Ferrisburgh, Vermont 05473