THE DIRT

Winter Issue 2018/19, Volume 44, Issue 4

2019 Vermont Flower Show page 4

2018 Industry
1 Award Winners page 6
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
COMMITTEES
Ed Burke Marlys Eddy
Rocky Dale Gardens Vermont Technical College BUDGET AND FINANCE
806 Rocky Dale Road PO Box 500 COMMITTEE CHAIR
Bristol, VT 05443 Randolph Center, VT 05061 Nate Carr - Church Hill Landscapes, Inc.
802.453.2782 802.728.1207 802.425.5222
ed@rockydalegardens.com meddy@vtc.edu
INDUSTRY AWARDS COMMITTEE CHAIR
VICE-PRESIDENT Ralph Fitz-Gerald Ed Burke - Rocky Dale Gardens
Horsford Gardens & Nursery 802.453.2782
Ashley Robinson 2111 Greenbush Road
Ashley Robinson Landscape Designer Charlotte, VT 05445 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR
PO Box 28 802-425-2811 Gabriel Bushey - Crafted Landscapes, LLC
Charlotte, VT 05445 field@horsfordnursery.com 802.233.8551
802.922.1924
arobinsonld@gmail.com Marie Limoge MARKETING & EDUCATION
21 Densmore Drive #21 COMMITTEE CHAIR
SECRETARY/TREASURER Essex Junction, VT 05452 Ed Burke - Rocky Dale Gardens
802-272-8744 802.453.2782
Nate Carr limogemp@gmail.com
Church Hill Landscapes, Inc. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
287 Church Hill Road Sarah Salatino Hannah Decker - Fairfax Perennial Farm
Charlotte, VT 05445 Full Circle Gardens 802.849.2775
802.425.5222 68 Brigham Hill Road
nate@churchhilllandscapes.com Essex, VT 05452 PROGRAM COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
802-879-1919 Sarah Salatino - Full Circle Gardens
DIRECTORS info@fullcirclegardens.com 802.879.1919

Gabriel Bushey EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESEARCH & AWARDS

Crafted Landscapes, LLC COMMITTEE CHAIR
176 South Maple Street Kristina MacKulin Marlys Eddy - Vermont Technical College
Vergennes, VT 05491 Green Works/VNLA 802.728.1207
802.233.8551 P.O. Box 92
info@craftedland.com N. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 VERMONT CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST
Toll Free: 888.518.6484 COMMITTEE CHAIR
Hannah Decker P: 802.425.5117; F: 802.425.5122 Nate Carr - Church Hill Landscapes, Inc.
Fairfax Perennial Farm, Inc. Kristina@greenworksvermont.org 802.425.5222
7 Blackberry Hill Road www.greenworksvermont.org
Fairfax, VT 05454
802.849.2775
perennialfarm@surfglobal.net

THE D
Spring
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Issue
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42, Issu
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Connect with the VNLA/
Advertise with us! Green Works on Social Media!
Connect with us, post to our pages, or let us know something
special you would like to share and we'll share it. It's another
Contact the Dr. Pe
lle tt Aw way for us to help your business thrive! You can find us at ...
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THE D
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Issue 2
me 42,

Facebook: @greenworksvt & @vermontflowershow

6, Volu
Issue 201

888.518.6484
Summer

Instagram: @greenworksvt & @vtflowershow

5
page

Garden
tanic
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The Ro
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2
 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Ed Burke, Rocky Dale Gardens

Dear Fellow VNLA/Green Works Members, by engaging with the VT inside

Tax Department and
The dog had spotted something ruby colored in soon our VT legislators. this issue
the snow and went straight towards it. From • We’ve changed the by-
where I was, I could only see her running there laws to include a retiree Board of Directors 2
and start licking at the spot. When I got closer, I category and remove
The President’s Letter 3
could see the blood stain, small and punctuated archaic language.
by rounded pads. The track of an injured rabbit, • Updated and
The Buzz 4
possibly hit on the busy road on which I live, streamlined our website. 2019 Vermont Flower Show
finding its way to a quiet place where no doubt it Welcome New Members/
There’s more, these items are just additions to
succumbed to its injuries and the deep bitter cold VCH
running great summer and winter meetings with
that settled into the valley that day. Green Mountain Habitat for
interesting and engaging speakers and re-
Humanity - Part 2
Though a true animal lover and genuinely energizing our twilight soirees.
2018 Industry Award
squeamish when it comes to trapping and killing
We live in this ‘Brave Little State’. It is one of the Winners
the animals that destroy my plants, I did take
reasons we wanted to highlight Vermont in our VNLA/Green Works Year in
some comfort in knowing that this might put a
redesigned logo. We’re proud of where we live Review
dent in the destruction of my vulnerable garden
and who we are. I’m also proud to be part of our Calendar of Events
come spring. For it is spring when I find some of
‘Brave Little VNLA’. We have either side of 175
my small trees with delicate branches that touch Leonard’s Clippings 16
members, including comps and associates. We
the ground reduced to fat poles with stubs for
don’t have a big membership or a big budget, we
arms. The Lab 19
don’t have high falutin’ bankers and hedge fund Observations from
In the winter, I like to read, I swear, when and if I managers on our board. We DO have Vermonters UVM Diagnostic Lab
ever retire, I will write the craziest garden who are growers, landscapers, designers and New from the VT Agency of
themed mystery novel. For now, you’ll have to greenhouse and nursery owners who are smart, Agriculture
settle on my little “gotcha” intro above and I will kind, giving, and sharing. We pull off the Bringing in Un-Bee-lievable
have to settle on winter reading because retiring Vermont Flower Show with volunteers every Beneficials
isn’t quite in the picture yet…but I am retiring other year! We pulled off the Habitat for
Classified Ad 24
from the VNLA board and this is my last Humanity project with volunteers this past year!
president’s letter for The Dirt. We engage with the State of Vermont through The Idea Factory 25
volunteers! We attract incredible speakers to our Climate Change in the
My term as President will be over this February
meetings. We are one ‘Brave Little Group’! I never Garden
and after ten years on the VNLA board, it’s time
hear, “we can’t do that”. We are risk takers, we From Classic to Whimsey:
for me to let the new and returning Directors take
work hard, and we succeed. And it’s important to The Art of Decorating our
the reins. I feel confident and excited that they
note that we are very lucky to have someone like Outdoor Spaces
will direct the organization into new and
Kristina MacKulin as our Executive Director to
expanded territory. Strictly Business 30
keep all this energy organized and channeled.
Making Intentional
Thank you for your trust in me to lead the VNLA She makes us look good!
Improvements
over the last 4 years, I have enjoyed working with
It’s been my pleasure to work with and get to New Member Profile-Green
all of you and hope to continue my involvement
know every one of you and I’m proud of who State BioChar
in a slightly lower key way. New VCH Profile - An
we are and all that we’ve accomplished.
Unexpected Journey
As we move forward in a new year, (a Flower Thanks for making my time seem very
Show year I might add) there are many worthwhile. The Plant Lounge 35
accomplishments from 2018 to highlight: The Joy of Working in
Best to you,
• We executed our first Habitat for Humanity Conditions that Make
You Say ‘Ewww, Gross’
service landscape project and it was an Ed
overwhelming success.
• We redesigned the VNLA/Green Works logo. Cover Photo: by Dick Conrad.
• We have rekindled our relationship with the Judith Irven garden arbor which
Vermont Agency of Agriculture. marks entrance to circular patio;
• We have begun a serious effort to deal with a low hedge of Kerria japonica
Sales and Use Tax issue facing our nurseries “”Picta’ remains evergreen for
most of the winter.
3
 THE BUZZ
the low down on what’s up!

2019 Vermont Flower Show

by Kristina MacKulin, Chairperson
The VNLA is celebrating its 55th year this specialty food/spirits vendors.
Other show features include: the
year and believe it or not I think the flower
family room with activities and
show is almost there too! I have been told
entertainment, local artists painting
over the years, and our printed history
in the garden, a local bookstore, and
indicates, that “a flower show” of some type
displays from the VT Garden Railway
has occurred MOST years since the
Society. The Federated Garden
Association was born. We have come a long
Clubs of VT is presenting a “National
way from having displays at the
Garden Club Standard Flower Show”
“Chrysanthemum Show” put on by the
and NEW this year is an “Art
Commercial Flower Growers of VT, autumn
Gallery” featuring local artists. At
shows in Middlebury in 1968 and spring
the conclusion of the show on
shows at the Burlington Municipal
Sunday we will hold a plant sale - a
Auditorium in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
kick off to the massive clean-up that
In 2017 we grew even more by expanding
takes place - in less than 24 hours!
into “Expo North” at CVE, housing the
Grand Garden Display in its own location.
The VNLA believes the Vermont
It was a good move!
Flower Show is one of the best ways
to promote our membership,
Planning has been underway for the past 18
educate the public and bring greater
months with two very dedicated
awareness to the public about the
committees dreaming, planning, and
horticulture industry in our state
coordinating all the details to bring the
and beyond. With 8,500 - 10,000
2019 Vermont Flower Show to life! The
visitors a show, it is quite the
dates are March 1 -3 , 2019 and the theme
audience to capture. I hear more
is Wonder - A Garden Adventure for All
and more comments from
Ages. The fact that these committee
attendees, who say they love our
members volunteer so much of their time,
show so much more than Boston or volunteer to help in any way. No amount of
energy, labor and resources to the show
Philadelphia! We have a true gem in the time is too small!!
demonstrates how exceptional they are in
Vermont Flower Show!
every way.
The Vermont Flower Show is true
With that said, I encourage every member collaboration at its best and the work ethic
Important to the continued success of the
to get involved and help as much or as little everyone contributes to the planning and
Vermont Flower Show are the cash and in-
as you can! There are a myriad of ways our implementation of the show is
kind sponsors that come forward to help us
members participate from donating plant phenomenal. Our members and volunteers
make our show a reality. We are ever
material, giving a presentation, having a are the heart and soul of the Flower Show,
grateful and could not do it without these
booth at the show, or advertising in the which helps fuel the flame for the
donations! Please take the time to visit our
program, - you get the idea! The real FUN Association and its sustainability. So thank
website where all our sponsors are listed.
begins during set-up week when the garden you in advance for what we are about to
They will also be recognized at the show
display gets built. The tasks are many and undertake in March, 2019 and we hope to
and featured in the spring issue of The Dirt.
begin the week of February 25, as well as see many new faces join us for this show!
“staffing” the show during the hours it is Help us spread the word on FaceBook and
The Vermont Flower Show offers a full
open. If clean-up is your thing - we have a Instagram - we want to break our
schedule of seminars and demonstration
place for you! Contact Kristina in the attendance record of 10,000!
workshops all three days. We will have
office - 802.425-5117 if you would like to
approximately 100 exhibitors, including VT

4
Welcome New VNLA/Green Welcome New Vermont
Works Members! Certified Horticulturist!

Green State Biochar Jamie Grasso

Donna Pion S & D Landscapes
501 Lake Street 66 Logwood Circle
Barton, VT 05822 Essex Junction, VT 05452
802-461-5553 prototypeq@gmail.com
donna@greenstatebiochar.com www.landscapevermont.com
www.greenstatebiochar.com 802-292-7911
Active Member Category: Arborist, Hardscaping, Landscape Designer,
Category: Compost, Consultation, Supplier, Turf Care Landscape Design/Build, Landcape Install
Maintenance, Turf Care, Invasive Plant Management
Jane Newkirk
38 Riverview
Vergennes, VT 05491
802-349-5061
janewkirk59@yahoo.com
Active Member

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity:

What’s Next - Project Round 2!
by Ashley Robinson
The VNLA’s Volunteer Project The site for this project is located
Outreach Committe is back at it in Milton. The lot is long and
with Green Mountain Habitat For narrow, measuring 70ft x 192ft.
Humanity for our second project Construction of this duplex is
slated for Spring AND Fall, 2019. scheduled to begin in April with a
In an effort to engage students finish date of mid November.
currently in session, we are
approaching this project in two This allows for a unique
phases. We will look to the opportunity for site visits through
educational institutions offering out the project construction
landscape design & landscape process, analysis and study from
construction related programs for start to finish. For more
help. The intention is to broaden information and to see photos of
our reach to students, help them the site, please contact Ashley
obtain hands-on experience. Robinson, committee chair:
With the guidance from our Proposed building design; construction to begin in April. arobinsonld@gmail.com or
professional, experienced 802-922-1924.
members we can educate, grow, and help influence the greater
community. How exciting!! Meanwhile, consider joining the committee and
We invite ALL members and friends to participate. Stay tuned participating in this fun, rewarding event!
for information on the first 2019 committee meeting on the
horizon!

5
 2018 Industry Award Winners
The Industry Awards Program is coming up on its 11th year. Distinctive Landscaping – Charlie Proutt
We received a variety of submissions for the 2018 Industry Charlotte, VT
Awards Program. A panel of professionals met in early City House Squeezed Between Two Streets
January for a full day to judge the entries. The judges Excellence Award
included a landscape architect, educators, professional
diStefano Landscaping, Inc. - David Burton
landscape designers, and hardscaping experts. As always,
Essex Junction, VT
the judge’s identities remain anonymous. South Burlington Backyard Escape
Honor Award
A big thank you to all who took the time to share and submit
their work!! We always welcome more entries and this Landshapes – Caroline Dudek
program is a fantastic avenue to showcase the great work A Backyard for Outdoor Living
many of our members accomplish each year. On that note, Honor Award
keep track of your projects in 2019 and consider making a
submission later this year. We are looking for a variety of diStefano Landscaping, Inc. - Jeremiah Shook
Essex Junction, VT
projects of all shapes and sizes.
Lakeside Retreat
Merit Award
Please view the winning project photos on pages 7-8, as well
as a slide show on the VNLA/Green Works website. Distinctive Landscaping – Miles Weston &
Presentation boards of the winning projects will be on Christian D’Andrea
display at the Annual Winter and Summer Meetings as well Charlotte, VT
as at the upcoming 2019 Vermont Flower Show on March 1 - Hillside Challenge
3, 2019. Merit Award

In addition, winners present their projects at the Annual Distinctive Landscaping – Elizabeth Proutt
Charlotte, VT
Winter Meeting & Trade Show held on February 7 and are
Hillside Front Yard Update
featured on WCAX’s Across the Fence, with Leonard Perry and
Merit Award
in a Seven Days newspaper insert in April. Please watch for
these promotions! The Grass Gauchos, LLC. – Alec Whitman &
Landon Roberts
Congratulations to the 2018 Industry Award Winners!! Burlington, VT
S. Hero Courtyard & Drive
Merit Award

Participate in the
2019 Industry Awards Program

Get Certified in 2019!

Don’t delay and order
your study manual today!
Start Planning Now! www.greenworksvermont.org
6
2018 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS

Distinctive Landscaping – Charlie Proutt

City Squeezed Between Two Streets
Excellence Award

diStefano Landscaping, Inc. - David Burton

South Burlington Backyard Escape
Honor Award

Advertise in 2017!
The Dirt is now in
full color!
Contact the
Green Works office
today!

888.518.6484
Landshapes - Caroline Dudek
A Backyard for Outdoor Living
Honor Award
7
diStefano Landscaping, Inc. - Jeremiah Shook
Lakeside Retreat
Merit Award

Distinctive Landscaping
Miles Weston & Christian D’Andrea
Hillside Challenge
Merit Award

The Grass Gauchos, LLC.

Alec Whitman & Landon Roberts
S. Hero Courtyard & Drive Distinctive Landscaping - Elizabeth Proutt
Merit Award Hillside Front Yard Challenge
Merit Award

8
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9

In lieu of printing a Membership Directory/
Annual Report the Board of Directors
decided this was a line item in the budget
that we could finally eliminate. Our
membership directory has been located on
our website for quite sometime now . The
following are the VNLA/Green Works
Committee Reports summarizing the “Year
in Review”. Available upon request and at
our annual business meeting held on
February 7, 2019, copies of our balance
sheet and 2019 budget are available.
Treasurer’s Report
Our organization has conducted business in
2018 to advance the green industry in
Vermont. We are able to fund our efforts
from a few sources. Our sources of income
are from dues, program fees including the
net revenue from the flower show and from
our capital reserves which were built up in
the past by flower show proceeds and the
conservative operation of the organization.
Following a 2012 analysis the board of
directors sought to spend down the reserve
funds to enhance the value our members
receive for being a part of the VNLA.
This past year the VNLA succeeded in its
mission of enhancing and supporting the
horticulture industry in Vermont. We did so
though spending on initiatives that
promote our mission. The board allocated a
budget to run programming and events that
provided continuing technical and business
education. We hosted the Annual Winter
Meeting & Trade Show followed by our
other big event in the heat of the summer,
the Summer Meeting & Trade Show. In
2018 both those events followed a winning
formula by bringing in keynote speakers,
nationally known, but regionally located, as
well as experts from within our state to
share their knowledge with our
membership.
To further the interests of the green
industry in Vermont the board committed
funds to support another of the objectives
of the VNLA by providing an opportunity to
network and exchange ideas and
VNLA/Green Works Year in Review
information in the form of our Tuesday
Twilight gatherings, of which we charged
no fees to attend.
Through the remarkable efforts of our
members and board, we initiated our first
annual collaboration with Green Mountain
Habitat for Humanity. This was an effort to
bring our members together in a service
project with the goal of promoting to the
public the value of horticulture products
and services. The VNLA received
considerable press recognition for this
project. The owners of the Habitat house,
who might not otherwise have had the
means, were able to experience the value of
our collective products and services.
The VNLA board also partnered with our
academic members in granting funds that
are applied for by researchers currently and
formerly at UVM. This is another of the
missions of the organization: to support
research to improve horticulture practices
in Vermont. We also award cash merit
awards to a student from UVM and VTC.
These grants/awards support our mission
and the funds for them have come from our
operating expenses and reserve funds.
The VCH program is intended to promote
professionalism in the horticulture industry
of Vermont. This program currently is an
income generator owing to the sale of the
study manual and VCH membership dues.
The final purpose of the VNLA is to
represent the interests of our industry in
Montpelier. This year the board has been
advocating for the inclusion of specific
language exempting the component parts
of our horticulture products from being
levied a sales and use tax. We engaged a
firm this year to study our concern and
draft a letter during a review of the issue in
Montpelier. Ultimately our goal wasn’t
achieved during the rule review, but we
have a more likely solution in the works.
The effort to define and clarify exempt
agriculture products, in our case
horticulture products, is entirely in our
hands and our strategy will only cost
members time.
10
by Kristina MacKulin
In preparing the budget for 2019 this board
has decided that the use of reserve funds
must now be limited. As such, our efforts to
promote the industry, provide continuing
education, network, support research,
promote professionalism and advocate for
our industry will have to be conducted as
break even or net revenue generating. The
budget we present here counts on a good
Flower Show- which everyone should
promote, as well as strong membership
numbers. Our assumption is that we will
pick up more members, but as of this
writing 20% or so haven’t renewed. This
shows the tenuous nature of our endeavor
to maintain a healthy and strong nursery
and landscape industry in Vermont. Please
help out by contributing to the industry
that you are part of, recruit new members
and bring people to the Flower Show.
Evaluation and Planning Committee
Report
The role of the evaluation and planning
committee is to review the role of the
Executive Director and recommend changes
to the description of duties and periodically
review the bylaws of the Association and
recommend changes as needed.
Bylaw changes were presented and
approved at our Annual Meeting on
February 15, 2018. They include a new
membership category for retirees, a change
in title from Executive Secretary to Executive
Director, as well as language to capture
digital voting when necessary between
scheduled board meetings. To read the
bylaws in full visit the VNLA website.
The annual review of our Executive
Director, Kristina MacKulin took place at
our January, 2018 board meeting. It was
agreed that Kristina’s performance as
Executive Director has been excellent. She
has shown a commitment to the
organization, has performed all the duties
of the position and fulfilled the
expectations of the board. An increase in
her contracted compensation was approved
unanimously.
Ed Burke, Committee Chair
Flower Show Committee Report 24 hours I have no doubt that we will be to correct what we see as an issue of double
looking at a successful 2019 show. The taxation on plant material produced for
By the time you read this report we will be
absolute best part of the show continues to retail sales. This is a follow up to Ed Burke’s
just a couple week aways from starting to
be ALL OUR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS article in the previous issue of The Dirt.
set up so we can open the doors for the
who come forward to make it happen!
2019 Vermont Flower Show - March 1-3 - at In September, 2019 we hired the firm
the Champlain Valley Exposition. The Kristina MacKulin, Morris & Demag, Inc., a lobbyist firm, to
theme is Wonder - A Garden Adventure for Flower Show Committee Chair help us draft and submit comments to the
All Ages. VT Department of Taxes request for public
Industry Awards Committee Program
comments on Reg. §§ 1.9701-1.9781. This
The Grand Garden Display Committee Report
regulation is related to sales and use tax
began meeting last winter to design and
The Industry Awards Program is beginning definitions.
plan the 1 acre landscape - the Grand
Garden Display. These committee its 11 th
year in 2019. The caliber of work by
On Monday, October 29th, the Executive
members volunteer their time and expertise our members is impressive and so is the Committee and Executive Director met with
to create a masterpiece. The willingness of several individuals to spend
members of the Vermont Agency of
implementation of this design involves the better part of a day looking at these
Agriculture: Secretary of Agriculture, Anson
organizing hundreds of details as well as projects, evaluating and awarding them. As
Tebbetts; Agriculture Resource
the people who volunteer to come help always, thank you to all who took the time
Management Section Chief, Cary Giguere
build it. to participate.
and Agriculture Development Coordinator,
The Flower Show Chairperson and Every spring we feature the award winners Alissa Matthews.
Committee has also been working on the in a full color insert in Seven Days
The meeting was convened to forge a better
show since last winter. Their tasks include newspaper. They will also be featured at
relationship with the Agency of
drafting the budget, seeking cash sponsors, The Vermont Flower Show this March, Agriculture, gain recognition for the
creating a marketing plan, organizing the 2019, as well as the previous year’s winners.
financial contribution the horticulture
seminars, workshops, family room activities Per usual, we’ll send out press releases industry represents to the Vermont
and entertainment, securing volunteers, announcing the winners which several
economy and discuss opportunities for
and working with outside groups that small publications pick up and publish. We
marketing, research and funding. Along
display at the show - the VT Garden Railway will continue to reach out to all types of with asking for general support and
Society and the VT Federated Garden Clubs publications to further the exposure our recognition, the committee presented three
of Vermont. NEW this year is an art gallery winners can receive. (If you have a specific items: 1) The issue our industry
being curated by Janet Dufrane. connection, please let us know!)
has been having with audits regarding sales
The commitee also works hand-in-hand The number of entrants remains a handful and use tax regulations/definitions. 2) The
with Delaney, Meeting & Event each year; about five to ten percent of our need we have to conduct an updated
Management, who manages all our membership participates. We have economic impact survey of our industry in
exhibitors and helps with everything streamlined the submission process and the state. 3) Vermont Flower Show support.
related to the venue. They are on site all expanded our coverage of awarded
There were several immediate tangible
three days of the show, as well as during projects. We believe the program has value
results of this meeting. The VT Agency of
set-up week. to our industry and members, yet with
Ag agreed to become a cash sponsor for the
limited success in gathering submissions
I am happy to report that we have sold 2019 VT Flower Show in the sum of $2,700
the continuation of the program comes
almost all the exhibitor booths. Advance for the VT Specialty Food/Spirits section.
under scrutiny each year. Let your voices be
tickets went on sale in mid-December and Our Executive Director, Kristina was
heard if you have an opinion about this!
are doing well -all these snowstorms help! informed of two different organizations -
We have exceeded our projected budget on We encourage everyone to consider the Association of Associations and the
cash sponsorship and the shrubs and trees entering your projects for the next round. Society of Association Executives (SAE)
are being moved into the forcing Don’t hesitate to send us your comments which meet to discuss legislative, funding,
greenhouses at Claussen’s on a daily basis, and questions; we’d like this program to and membership issues, among other
beginning in January. work well for all who wish to participate. topics. Kristina attended an SAE meeting
in early December and the board will decide
Many people have been working tirelessly Ed Burke, Committee Chair
in the future whether to become a member
behind the scenes, as you can see above, to of this group. Kristina also had a second
help produce and promote our next Legislative Committee Report
round of meetings with Alissa Matthews
Vermont Flower Show! With the help of the The purpose of this year’s legislative report about potential grant funding sources
hundreds of volunteers that come forward is to inform members of a few bills that coming available in 2019.
to help “build” the display, help staff the have been introduced and also continue the
show, and then help clean-up in less than discussion on the efforts of the VNLA board

11
Anson Tebbetts contacted the VT
Department of Taxes about our sales and
use tax issues, which resulted in a meeting
with that department, (see details further
along). As for the survey, we were advised
to apply for a USDA grant to fund the
survey. The timing for this year’s
application, (February 2019) leaves us to
consider this avenue of funding for 2020.
Most importantly, the Executive Committee
re-established a relationship with the VT
Agency of Agriculture and we now have an
open line of communication and some new
avenues to explore and build upon.
The Executive Committee and Executive
Director met with two representatives from
the tax department on November 13th:
Douglas Farnham, Economist and Director
of Policy, Outreach, and Legislative Affairs
and Kirby Keeton a policy analyst. The
focus of the meeting was the sales and use
tax regulations/definitions related to the
horticultural industry and specifically, the
agricultural exemptions referencing the use
tax charged on the “packaging",
(components) of a plant for retail sale. The
components or “packaging” are the pot,
label, planting medium, and fertilizer.
Farnham and Keeton were understanding
and sympathetic to the Committee's
concerns that the “packaging” was a
necessary part of a salable plant and that
those components were built into the retail
price of the plant and taxed (sales tax) at
the point of sale. They did, however, state
that changing the statute that describes
exempt agricultural products to include this
“packaging” would require a
specific language change through
legislative action. We will pursue this
statute change by identifying and working
with sympathetic representatives from the
Agriculture and Ways and Means
Committees.
With the 2018/2019 legislative session
under way there are a few bills that have
been introduced that may be of interest to
some of the VNLA membership. As I write
this report none of the bills have been
passed. More information on each bill can
be found at www.legislature.vermont.gov.
The first two are the only bills I have found
that directly apply to the commercial
production of plant materials. And the last
bill would increase the minimum wage over
time.
S.54 This bill proposes to establish a
comprehensive regulatory system for the
production and sale of cannabis and
cannabis products in Vermont. A bill has
also been introduced that would allow for
workers compensation payments connected
with the prescription of marijuana for
symptom relief.
S.58 This bill proposes to amend the 7
requirements of the State hemp program to
conform to federal requirements of 8 for
the cultivation of hemp. The Secretary shall
establish a pilot program to research
regulate the growth, cultivation, and
marketing of industrial hemp. Under the
pilot program, the Secretary shall register
persons who will participate in the pilot
program through growing or cultivating
industrial hemp.
S.23 This bill proposes to increase the
minimum wage so that it reaches $15.00
per hour by January 1, 2024.
Gabe Bushey, Committee Chair
Marketing Committee Report
Marketing efforts in 2018 included:
• A Vermont Public Radio underwriter
message plugging Vermont Certified
Horticulturists and VNLA members. The
sponsorship ran for 5 weeks mid-May
through mid-June.
• Our annual insert in Seven Days (April
2017) featuring the winners of the 2017
Industry Awards and the VNLA Annual
Awards winners. We also included
information about the VNLA and
Vermont Certified Horticulturists and
steered the reader to our website.
Additionally, Seven Days offered
discounted ad space to our members
with a VNLA identifier.
• The Dirt continues to be produced in
full color and the new layout and
graphics introduced in 2016 have
created an easier to read publication.
Join our growing list of contributors and
write an article for The Dirt.
• Keeping up with social media in a
meaningful way is always challenging!
This challenge belongs to all of us. We
12
invite and encourage all our members to
“like” our FaceBook pages and “follow”
our Instagram accounts: Green Works
VT- The Vermont Nursery and
Landscape Association & Vermont
Flower Show. Please share posts so we
can keep our pages informative, exciting
and pertinent to us!
• In 2018 we updated the VNLA website
with a new look and streamlined the
process for members to update their
profiles and add photos. Our website is
continuously updated by Jackson
Whelan, our webmaster. We hire him to
make both big and small changes when
needed and he lets us know when we
need to update our website so it
operates properly with mobile devices,
security measures and new technology.
• In 2018 we updated our logo to
emphasize The Vermont Nursery and
Landscape Association and relegated
Green Works to a subliminal position.
History: In 2008 we underwent a
rebranding when we adopted The
Vermont Nursery and Landscape
Association as our new name
(previously we were known as the
Vermont Association of Professional
Horticulturists.) “Green Works” was
developed as a branding name to use in
conjunction with The Vermont Nursery
and Landscape Association. In 2017, the
board felt strongly that The Vermont
Nursery and Landscape Association
should take the prominent position in
our logo and in 2018 we implemented
that change.
• New collateral: Hats, VCH pins and new
membership decals!
• We received excellent coverage for our
Green Mountain Habitat landscape
project. We were featured on the WCAX
evening news with their Seven Days co-
sponsored program, Stuck in Vermont.
The video can be viewed on YouTube.
• Flower Show: Marketing was well under
way in the latter half of 2018. Posters,
media sponsors, (WCAX and Seven
Days), presenting sponsors (Price
Chopper/Market32 and DoubleTree at
Hilton), press releases, bag and seminar
sponsorships- all developed and secured
in the fall of 2018.
Ed Burke, Committee Chair
Membership Committee Report
In 2018 the VNLA had a total of 174
members. We had 5 new members and had
17 members who did not renew. This
decrease in membership is a continued
concern of the board and should be for all
members.
Our members are the life line of our
organization! The VNLA has continued its
quality of programming and with higher
visibility events like the Vermont Flower
Show and the Industry Awards program, we
are confident that more businesses will see
the value in our organization ! But we need
everyone’s help in recruiting new members
- our Association depends on it!
In 2018 we added a new “Retired”
membership category which will allow our
“retired” members to stay active and
connected to the association.
We would like to thank all our new
members who have joined in 2018 and wish
the best of luck to those who have moved
on to new adventures.
Hannah Decker, Committee Chair
Nominating Committee Report
At the 2018 VNLA annual business meeting
held during the February 17, 2018 Annual
Meeting and Trade Show, VJ Comai
presented the slate of executive board
nominees who who were up for re-election
and were re-elected for two year terms as
follows: Ed Burke, president, Ashley
Robinson, vice-president, Nate Carr,
secretary/treasurer. Board of director
nominees elected to two year terms were as
follows: Hannah Decker and Ralph Fitz
Gerald. Board of directors nominated and
elected to one year vacancies were Marie
Limoge and Sarah Salatino.
VJ Comai, Committee Chair
Program Committee Report
The VNLA began the 2018 year with the
Winter Meeting at the Davis Center at UVM
in Burlington. The keynote speaker,
Thomas Rainer, spoke about Five Effective
Strategies for a More Resilient, Beautiful,
Ecologically Abundant Landscape. Ann
Hazelrigg, extension professor of Plant and
Soil Science at UVM, let us know about
what pests and diseases to watch for in
2018. Peter van Berkum of van Berkum
Nursery, gave us a grower’s perspective of
the definition of a native plant as well as
the ecological value of native cultivars. A
two-part business roundtable discussion
was facilitated by Ashley Robinson. In the
first part, we split into two groups: growers
and retail businesses, and landscape to
discuss common issues. During the second
part, the groups came together to compare
and address issues.
On April 18th the VNLA had a pop-up
social which consisted of viewing the Piet
Oudolf movie, Five Seasons: The Gardens of
Piet Oudolf at Contois Auditorium in
Burlington and a social afterwards.
The UVM Horticulture Farm was the setting
for the next twilight meeting on April 24.
We did a business brainstorming session
which included collaborating, managing
clients, dealing with plant supply and
shortages, and how to navigate between
desired plants and their availability in the
industry.
After an earlier postponement due to rain,
on August 7th, Marijke Niles gave a tour of
her nursery, Marijke’s Perennials Gardens
Plus in Starksboro, as well as offered a
sumptuous spread of goodies to all who
attended!
The Summer Meeting was held on August
22nd at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn
under a threat of much needed rain that
never materialized. Keynote speaker, Dan
Jaffe of the New England Wildflower
Society, spoke on “For Us and Them: Native
Plants for Both Us and the Pollinators to
Feast Upon”. Little did we know there are
many native plants that one can use for
cocktails. Dan also spoke in the afternoon
on “Plants Are Better Than Mulch”. Earlier,
Bill Landesman gave a very descriptive talk
on “Lyme Disease, the Black Legged Tick
and It’s Key Eco-Factors”. Also in the
afternoon, Judy Rosovsky informed us
about what pests and diseases would likely
occur this season and the various methods
to use to manage them. AJ Bavaro of
Church Hill Landscapes and Steven
Wisbaum of Eco-Equipment Supply gave a
demonstration on eco-friendly electric
mowers and trimmers. Finally, Birgit
Deeds, Head Gardener of Shelburne Farms
13
gave a tour of the gardens at the Inn and
the restoration project currently underway.
The next Summer Twilight meeting was on
August 28th at Vermont Wetland Supply in
Orwell. Dan Redondo gave a very
informative tour of his nursery and
greenhouses.
On September 17th Leonard Perry, UVM
Professor Emeritus/Green Mountain
Horticulture led a tour to the Chinese
lantern display of the Montreal Botanical
Gardens. This year was so popular we filled
2 buses!
Finally, on a snowy evening on November
27th the VNLA held their fun “Beers, Tears
and Cheers” social gathering at Zero
Gravity.
The Program Committee looks forward to
bringing you all more great programs next
year. Have a suggestion for a speaker or
Tuesday twilight gathering - contact:
Sarah Salatino: info@fullcirclegardens.com
or Kristina@greenworksvermont.org.
Sarah Salatino, Chair
Research and Awards Committee Report
Awards: The following awards were
presented at our 2018 Annual Winter
Meeting and Trade Show at the UVM Davis
Center:
Horticultural Achievement Award to
Joan Lynch, The Inner Garden,
Cornwall, VT.
Environmental Awareness Award to
Nate Carr, Church Hill Landscapes, Inc.,
Charlotte, VT
Retailer of the Year Award to Horsford
Gardens & Nursery, Charlotte, VT.
Allen B. Crane Horticultural Employee
Acknowledgement Award to Amy
Olmsted, Rocky Dale Gardens, Bristol,
VT.
NENA Young Nursery Person of the Year
Award to Ashley Robinson, Landscape
Designer, Charlotte, VT.
A VNLA/Green Works student merit award
of $500 was given to Kaly Gonski, Milford,
CT. Kaly is a junior in the Plant & Soil
Science department and has her own
landscaping company in Milford, CT. Kaly
also served as the VP of the UVM
Horticulture Club in 2016/17.
A VNLA/Green Works student merit award
of $500 was given to Ben Zaccara, Milford,
CT. Ben is a first year student in the
Landscape Design and Sustainable
Horticulture program. Ben hopes to earn a
degree in landscape architecture, gain
industry experience, and eventually open a
design-build firm with his brother.
Research: In 2018 the VNLA awarded a
research grant of $500 to Dr. Leonard Perry,
Green Mountain Horticulture, LLC for his
continued field-based research on
herbaceous perennials.
Margaret Skinner, Bruce Parker and Cheryl
Sullivan, UVM Entomology Research
Laboratory were awarded $1,800 for
research on “”Bringing in Un-Bee-lieveable
Beneficials to Greenhouse & Nursery
Settings”. Please see the article on page 21
regarding this research.
VCH Committee Report
The Vermont Certified Horticulturist
program continues to be an important part
of the VNLA mission to promote
professionalism and encourage continuous
education of its participants. The program
currently has 62 VCHers. The manual
continues to sell and we are in our 3rd
printing since it was updated in 2015. We
are very proud of new VCH participants this
year. If enhancing professionalism and
continuing education are important to you
please consider becoming a Vermont
Certified Horticulturist.
Volunteer Project Outreach Committee
(VPOC)
Our first VPOC project was completed July
14, 2019 for residents of Green Mountain
Habitat For Humanity built homes in Essex
Junction. The project involved site
planning, design and installation of
landscaping at 55 Park Street.
Discussions of forming a committee to work
on volunteer outreach projects began
November 2017. It was decided the Green
Mountain Habitat For Humanity
organization was a good place to start.
After proposing our project, we quickly
formed a committee. By April, the 6
member committee had completed a site &
design plan, formulated a list of materials,
solicited donors, promoted the project, and
secured volunteers to help install. The
project was completed in one day thanks to
29 volunteers and 16 donors who helped
make it happen.
Due to tremendous success and
enthusiasm, the committee will continue its
involvement with Habitat For Humanity
through out the state, as well as look to
other organizations with a similar mission.

Cobble Creek Nursery, LLC

W e grow a diverse selection of

B&B trees and shrubs at our
nursery in Monkton, Vermont. We
offer shade trees, ornamental trees,
flowering shrubs and dwarf conifers.
At Cobble Creek Nursery we are known
for quality Vermont Grown plants,
exceptional service and extensive
woody plant knowledge. Stop by for
a visit or give John a call for more
information.

John Padua
991 Tyler Bridge Road, Bristol, VT 05443
phone/fax: 802- 453-3889 / e-mail: cobcreek@gmavt.net

14
 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 1-3, 2019
Vermont Flower Show
Champlain Valley Expo
Essex Junction, VT
March 6 - 7 , 2019
Ecological Landscape Alliance
Conference & Eco Marketplace
UMASS Amherst
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
www.ecolandscaping.org/event/ela-
conference-eco-marketplace-2019/
March 13-14, 2019
Northeast Hardscapes Expo
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, RI
www.nehexpo.com
March 19, 2019 July 25, 2019
VNLA Tuesday Twilight: Pruning MNLA Down to Earth Summer
Workshop - 1:00 - 3:00 pm Conference
Horsford Gardens & Nursery Sylvan Nursery, Inc.
2111 Greenbush Road Westport, MA 02790
Charlotte, VT 05445 www.mnla.com
April 2, 2019 July 29 - August 2, 2019
FREE M.U.S.T. Excavation Safety 36th Perennial Plant National
Breakfast Seminar Sympoisum
8:00 am - 11:30 am Chicago, IL
Trade Dukes www.perennialplant.org
1117 Williston Road
S. Burlington, VT 05403 August 1, 2019
www.must-ne.com/safety_training.php VNLA/Green Works Summer Meeting
& Trade Show
July 25 - 29, 2019
Fairfax Perennial Farm
APLD 2019 International Design
Fairfax, VT
Conference
Seattle, WA
www.apld.org
15
 LEONARD’S CLIPPINGS!
by Dr. Leonard Perry, UVM Horticulture Professor Emeritus

Here’s your biannual snapshot of the consulting, it has been a pleasure to

continue working with your strong
PSS department focus and student
Association of such great members and
interest, as shown by courses being
leaders, and I look forward to this again in
offered this Spring (and faculty or
2019—particularly handling testing for the
lecturers teaching them, with their
VCH program and coordinating speakers
current enrollments). As of this
for the Flower Show.
writing in mid-January, with courses
begun, they include: Intro to
Some Recent Highlights from UVM
Ecological Agriculture (Izzo, 40), A
Overall:
Bug’s Life (Izzo, 147), Drawing and
Painting Botanicals (Masseau, 14),
Plant Pathology (Delaney, 23),
Commercial Plant Propagation
(Starrett, 30), Permaculture (White,
23), Soil Fertility and Conservation
(Gorres, 32), Diversified Farm
Planning (Bradshaw, 12), Ecological
Landscape Design (Hurley, 15),
Chemistry of Soil and Water (Ross,
18), Soil Ecology (Neher, 13),
Professional Development (Neher,
10), organic Grain Production (Lazor,
4), Eco Frontiers in Agroecology
(Chen, 4), Ecological Foundations of
Agriculture--online (Izzo, 12). Delaney
is from Plant Biology, and lecturers
hired for these courses (not full time
faculty) include Izzo, Masseau, White,
Lazor, and myself.
One of my main projects in retirement
is continued teaching of my online
courses for PSS which include, for this
Spring, a record number of 269
students for me in: Pollinators and
Perennials—winter session, completed
(27), Home Hops Growing (30), Home
Vegetable Growing (101), Indoor
Plants (28), Garden Flowers (30),
Flowers and Foliage (25), Perennial
Garden Design (28). These plus my
continued press articles (online and
sent to media, available for your use
too in newsletters), tapings for Across
the Fence, and a few consulting gigs
seem to allow me even less time to get
hands-on with flowers. On the
modernization and upgrade to the
recreation, wellness, and varsity
sports complex (ie the Gut and
related facilities). It will re-use
existing space plus new construction.
Several donors have stepped up to
the plate already with million dollar
gifts. If passing by the complex
you’ll see design renditions of the
new complex on exterior walls.
• Speaking of fundraising, the Move
• The Princeton Review ranked UVM
Mountains campaign has raised $479
#20 for “colleges their students
million as of this past fall—95% of its
love”, and #15 for “happiest
goal of $500 million. This will go to
students”
student scholarships, investing in
• In the past five years, 117 students
faculty and priority programs, and
have been winners or finalists for
enhanced facilities.
prestigious fellowships such as the
Fulbright and the Rhodes. • From the PSS department since the
last issue of this newsletter, Terry
• The Grossman School of Business as
Bradshaw and team had a lead story
ranked as the #1 Green MBA in
in the Boston Globe about the Farmer
Princeton Review, including
Training Program at the Hort Farm
contenders such as Yale and
(aka Hort. Research and Education
Stanford.
Center) on Oct. 21
• The new Central Campus Residence
(www.bostonglobe.com/metro/
opened in August 2017 (if you
2018/10/21/)
haven’t seen it, next time near
campus or the hospital check it out—
This past year, the Union of Concerned
you can’t miss it nor not be
Scientists ranked all 50 states on farm and
impressed). It houses 695 first year
food health, scoring each state in many
students and features a multi-station
indicators which were grouped into 10
dining hall, discovery kitchen
broad categories. Vermont, which has
offering nutrition and culinary
rated elsewhere as first in the localvore
classes, fitness center, indoor bike
movement, ranked first here overall too,
storage, and sky-bridge to the library.
• Next to the new central
campus housing is
UVM’s new STEM
complex, phase one
which has now opened.
This will serve as a
state-of-the-art hub for
science, technology,
engineering, and
mathematics.
• The UVM Board of
Trustees authorized
moving forward on the
design of a

16
but was behind 23 other states in the
category of agricultural ecosystem
impacts. Maybe something for our
state agricultural industries, research
and extension to make a higher
priority? (www.ucsusa.org/food-
agriculture)
In the Spring issue of this column I
mentioned a study showing how
students are smarter when plants are
around. Another study, this one out
of a university in South Korea
(courtesy of Ball Green Talks),
showed that students with emotional
or behavioral problems had reduced
stress levels (lower cortisol
concentrations) with therapeutic
gardening. “Those children who
participated in flower arranging,
planting and flower pressing saw
positive results from their garden
therapy when compared to a control
group. The most interesting finding?
Flower arranging and pressing seemed
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(www.childrenandnature.org/research,
search for “horticulture”). Are you active
with your local schools to help promote
gardening?
In my modest perennial trials at my zone
4a site, one of the outstanding selections
that has survived wet and dry, cold and
17
heat, and weed pressure for 3 years and
still looks great is Jeana tall garden
phlox. In addition to its vigor, a couple
other key benefits are its long and late
bloom (mid-summer into October), and
lack of powdery mildew. In fact, it was one
of the few perennials in bloom in mid-
September that several monarchs were all
over.
“Phlox ‘Jeana’ produces fragrant tubular
lavender-pink florets (to 1/2” diameter)
densely packed in large tiered terminal
clusters (to 6" long). Each individual floret
has a long corolla tube and five flat petal-
like lobes... It was discovered by Jeana
Prewitt along the Harpeth River in
Nashville, Tennessee. It is an upright,
conical perennial that typically grows in a
clump to 2-4' tall and to 3' wide on stiff
stems clad with narrow, opposite, pointed,
elliptic, deep green leaves (to 4” long).
(description and photo courtesy Missouri
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18
 THE LAB
putting it under the lens . . .

Observations from the UVM Plant Diagnostic Lab

by Ann Hazelrigg, Phd.
Trees and shrubs are susceptible to a lot of diseases. Although in
Vermont we battle some bacterial diseases in trees such as
fireblight, most of the pathogens attacking landscape plants are
fungi. Powdery mildews, apple scab, cedar apple rust, maple tar
spot and botrytis blight of peonies are all caused by fungal
pathogens. Most fungal leafspots are not that harmful to the plant
and can be ignored as long as general vigor is good, but repeated
defoliation over time can impact the health of the tree or shrub.
Since we are not depending on our landscape plants for income, it
is not necessary to spray our crabapples 15 times a season to
control the apple scab fungus, as in the case of apple orchardists.
Fungi that plug up the tree’s vascular system (water conducting) White mycelial fans of the fungal pathogen, Armillaria. The
like those that cause Dutch elm disease, Verticillium wilt or purpose of hyphae and mycelia is to facilitate spread of the fungus
Chestnut blight can be devastating. Although those diseases and to gather nutrients from the plant it is parasitizing. The
cannot be cured, we can avoid the problem by choosing resistant largest living organism in the world is purported to be an
cultivars. Knowing how fungi work and intervening in the right Armillaria fungus with underground mycelia spreading over 2,385
place can help minimize the incidence and severity of fungal acres (almost 4 square miles) in the Malheur National Forest in
diseases in landscape plants. Oregon.

Most fungi produce branched threads called hyphae. Sometimes

these can be seen with the naked eye, as with the powdery
mildews, but a microscope is very helpful especially if the hyphae
is growing within host plant tissues. Sometimes in the Plant
Diagnostic Clinic we are able to identify the fungus under the
microscope just by the way the hyphae branch and whether they
have cross walls.

Black fruiting bodies of Rhizosphaera needlecast on spruce. Paul

Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center,
Bugwood.org

Rhizoctonia hyphal threads with crosswalls and right-angled branching. Widespread dispersal of the fungus is through the production of
Gerald Holmes http://www.bugwood.org.  fungal spores. Spores are produced through asexual or sexual
means and can form either on the tips of hyphae or within a type
Hyphae in a group or mass forms a vegetative body or network
of fruiting body. The lightweight spores can be carried for miles in
called mycelium. You can often see examples of mycelium when
wind currents and through rain splashing, in addition to being
you peel back the bark on a rotten or fallen tree.
moved by animals and humans. We are familiar with the fruiting

19
bodies of toadstools or
mushrooms in lawns.
The fruiting bodies for
most plant pathogens
are much the same, only
smaller. They often can
be seen with the naked
eye and are a definitive
clue as to what fungal
pathogen is attacking
the plant.
Clouds of spores are
released from the
fruiting bodies, with most of the
spores landing on inert objects
or non-host species. Most fungi
are very host specific so if a
spore produced by the apple
scab fungus lands on a maple
tree, it does not recognize it as a
host and dies within a few
hours. If a fungal spore lands
on the right host, a cascade of
chemical triggers and signals
both within the spore and the
plant occur. These chemicals
enable the spore to recognize
the host and to begin
infection. A different set
of chemicals and
pathways within the plant
alert the host it is being
attacked. The plant
quickly responds by
producing toxic chemicals
or defense-related
proteins that protect the
plant from damage.
Pathologists are hoping
to reproduce these
pathways and chemicals
in the lab so they could be
used as a biological
control agent helping to
replace the use of
fungicides.
Once the spore infects,
hyphae are produced that
feed on the plant’s cells.
Once the mycelia have
gathered enough
nutrients, new fruiting
bodies or spores will be produced that
can continue the disease cycle through
the season.
Most fungi have a method of
overwintering. In the case of leafspot
diseases, the pathogen overwinters in
fallen leaves until warm temperatures
in the spring signal the pathogen to
become active and release spores.
Raking these infected leaves in the fall
can help minimize this overwintering
stage, and reduce the
amount of disease the
following year. Since
most fungal pathogens
require 6-8 hours of leaf
wetness (an exception is
the powdery mildew
pathogen, which only
requires high humidity)
to infect, anything you
can do to minimize this
will help decrease the
amount of disease.
Planting in full sun and
pruning to open canopies
so light and air can easily
penetrate will aid rapid
drying and will help to
minimize fungal leaf spot pathogens.
Avoiding the use of overhead watering
will also reduce leaf wetness and
disease. Most fungal pathogens are
very host specific, so avoiding
monocultures in the landscape by
planting several different genera of
trees and shrubs will help to minimize
any one pathogen becoming a
widespread problem. Always when
planting new trees or shrubs, look for
resistant cultivars to avoid fungal
diseases.
If you have a problem you can’t
identify, send a picture
Top: Cedar-quince rust fruiting bodies. Ethel Dutky, University of
(ann.hazelrigg@uvm.edu) or a sample
Maryland, Bugwood.org.
to the Diagnostic Clinic Jeffords Hall,
63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT
Center: Red Nectria fruiting bodies. Andrej Kunca, National Forest
Centre - Slovakia, Bugwood.org. 05405or call 656-0493 https://
www.uvm.edu/extension/pdc
Bottom: Birch conk or fruiting body caused by Piptoporus betulinis.
Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
20
News from the VT Agency of Agriculture, Foods & Markets
By: Judy Rosovsky, VT State Entomologist
New VAAFM Laboratory Update, Hemp
Rules, Ticks and Federally Regulated Pests
Happy New Year, VNLA members and staff! May
your nurseries and gardens be filled with beneficial
insects and happily growing plants.
Lab Update:
You may know that the Vermont Agricultural and
Environmental lab, primarily housed in the
University of Vermont’s Hills Building since Tropical
Storm Irene came to town in 2011, will be moving to
a brand new facility in Randolph VT,
adjacent to the Vermont Technical College
campus. The State Entomologist and the
Vector Management (mosquitoes and ticks)
program have been housed in Berlin VT, and
we are forecast to move to Randolph by
April. If you have samples or specimens for
me to look at, be sure to find out where I am
before you send them. The former Plant
Industry section and the Vector
Management crew have been combined into
one division, now called Public Health and
Agricultural Resource Management, aka
PHARM.
We will continue to provide
Christmas tree inspections and
permits for export, inspect nurseries
for exotic invasive insects, plants and
diseases and provide insect
identification services. I can always
look at a plant and see if I can
identify any plant health problems
that it is having. And Ann Hazelrigg
at UVM’s Plant Diagnostic
Laboratory is an excellent resource,
as most of you know.
Hemp:
With the passage of both Act 143 and
the 2018 Farm Bill the status of hemp has changed both nationally and
at the state level, so be sure to check our hemp program page on the
VAAFM website at https://agriculture.vermont.gov/public-health-
agricultural-resource-management-division/hemp-program. If you are
a hemp grower (cultivate, store, dry and transport hemp) or processor
(store, dry, trim, extract and manufacture products) you need to
register with the state in order to legally produce your crop. Grower
registration requires an aerial map and a GPS location. The Agency is
in the process of promulgating new rules for hemp growers and
processors. Details will be available on the Agency’s website.
21
Ticks:
The Vector Management staff monitor tick and
mosquito populations for diseases, in a cooperative
partnership with the Vermont Department of Health.
We do not test ticks for diseases for the public, but
we will identify ticks for you if you send them to us.
If you do send insects, please be sure to put them in a
crush proof container, as flattened insects all look
alike. You can send photos, too, though a specimen is
best.
In 2018 the VAAFM tick program embarked on an
ambitious new survey designed to provide better
data on tick population numbers and density. We are
in the final stages of our statewide tick
survey, and hope to collect ticks from the
remaining fifteen towns this spring. Results
can be found on the newly revised VAAFM
website, under Plant Health and Pest
Management. Ticks can carry more than one
unpleasant disease, and we have been
finding that over 50% of our tick samples
carry Lyme disease, so be sure to take basic
precautions if you have been outside.
Federally Regulated Pest Updates:
Please continue to keep an eye out
for the striking looking spotted
lanternfly (SLF), featured in The Dirt,
Fall 2018 issue. You may see dead
adults in potted plants that have
been shipped from distribution
centers originating in other states.
Please report those or any other
sightings to me or to any local
forester or forest health professional.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been
found in 5 Vermont counties,
Bennington, Caledonia, Grand Isle,
Orange, and Washington, but only 7
towns (Barre, Groton, Montpelier,
Orange, Plainfield, Stamford and
South Hero). It is still confined to a fairly small geographic area. If you
see any signs and symptoms on ash trees, such as woodpecker holes in
the upper parts of the tree, epicormic sprouting, dieback or cracked
bark and larval galleries, contact me or a local forest health
professional. EAB finds in new counties must be identified by a
Federal identifier, so if you think you have it, make sure you collect a
specimen or call someone who can. You can go to VTInvasives.org and
use their Report It! feature to upload photos to this site if you would
like an entomologist to check your suspect trees.
We received notification that some boxwood blight infested wreaths
might have been shipped to Vermont, but we checked the potential
recipients and no wreaths were seen for sale. Always make sure that
before you accept a shipment you insure that it is a
legal plant to sell in Vermont and that it is free of
pests and obvious disease symptoms.
This is a good place to remind industry
participants to be careful of what you ship out or
order in. Be sure that you are familiar with
Vermont’s quarantines and rules, and those of the
shipping destination. Please let me know if you
have any questions about when and why you’ll
need a permit.
Other Insect Pests:
Many nurseries had heavy maple leaf cutter
infestations. Raking and burning leaves does help
reduce the populations, or you can treat the
larvae in July. Fall webworm was prevalent in
some areas. The messy webbing can be pruned off
and destroyed or you can use insecticides on the
webs and surrounding foliage in July, when the
larvae are small. Fall pest do not usually harm the
trees, unless the populations are high.
There were several reports of strong allergic reactions to caterpillars
with urticating hairs or spines. At least nine different caterpillar
families have species with irritating hairs, including the spiny oak slug
moth and the hickory tussock moth. If you are gardening and see an
22
unknown hairy caterpillar, you would be well advised to
resist the urge to cuddle with it.
Please continue to be vigilant for signs of the hemlock
woolly adelgid (HWA) and the elongate hemlock scale
(EHS). Both have been found in the southern counties of
Vermont, but this summer the EHS was found in two
sites in Charlotte. It appears that these two insects have
a synergistic effect – the two in combination are more
lethal to trees than either one is alone. The EHS has a
broader coniferous host range than the HWA, though
they both attack hemlocks.
For more information on Federally regulated pests and
diseases:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-
diseases/hungry-pests/the-threat/spotted-lanternfly/
spotted-lanternfly
https://vtinvasives.org/land/emerald-ash-borer-
vermont
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/
PPWS/PPWS-29/PPWS-29-pdf.pdf
State Agricultural rules and regulations:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/public-health-agricultural-resource-
management-division/plant-health-and-pest-management

by: Cheryl Frank Sullivan & Margaret Skinner, UVM Entomology Research Laboratory
In case you missed Cheryl’s presentation
at our Annual Winter Meeting and
Trade Show on February 7, we wanted to
share this information in the newsletter.
Growers across the Northeast who manage
greenhouses and high tunnels or nursery
and landscape settings must continually
deal with a wide range of insect and mite
pests attacking their plants. Historically,
chemical pesticides have been the go-to
solution for these pests, but these
compounds are less and less acceptable,
either because of concerns for human
health or their negative impact on the
environment. They also threaten the health
of non-target organisms, such as beneficial
insects, the very ones we want to
encourage. These beneficials provide many
valuable ecological roles to growers, such as
pollination or pest management. Some
beneficials provide both of these services,
acting as pest-fighting pollinators.
Nurturing these types of beneficials by
providing enticing habitat can contribute to
suppressing pest populations, provide a
beautiful landscape and minimize or
eliminate the need for chemical pesticides.
Scientists at the University of Vermont,
Entomology Research Laboratory have been
working with growers across the state for
the past few summers to establish habitat
hedges to encourage beneficials. They have
evaluated the suitability of different types
of plants in terms of their flowering
patterns and ability to attract beneficials.
These hedges consist of a variety of
annuals, including alyssum, coreopsis, blue
cornflower, Indian blanket, cosmos,
sunflowers and zinnias. These plants were
started from seed or as transplants in late
spring. The hedges provided a diversity of
floral shapes, sizes and heights throughout
the season. A wide range of pest-fighting
pollinators and other natural enemies were
observed visiting these plantings. Many of
these were well-known natural enemies of
notorious nursery pests, including aphids
and thrips.
Syrphid flies, also called hover or flower
flies, were the most commonly observed
Bringing In Un-Bee-lievable Beneficials
beneficial of interest on habitat strips this
past summer (over 40%). These are those
insects that look like bees, but tend to flap
their wings and hover in one place. As
adults, these flies are important pollinators
in many settings, visiting lots of flowers to
feed on pollen and nectar. As immatures,
the larvae (maggots) of many species are
voracious predators of soft-bodied insects,
particularly aphids. Other species consume
decaying organic matter, fungi or bacteria
in the soil. When growers provide flowering
plants early during the growing season,
these beneficials become established in
time to take on their pest prey. Flowers late
in the year supply the syrphids with food in
the fall that helps them survive over the
winter.
The insidious flower bug (Orius insidiosis), Top: Habitat hedges provide a rainbow of
also called the minute pirate bug, is a flowers to attract beneficials and people.
predator of many small, soft-bodied Middle: Syrphid or hover fly adults feed on
pollen and nectar of flowers like blue
insects, like thrips, aphids and mites. They
cornflower. Bottom: Camouflaged ambush
even feed on the eggs of these pests, which
bugs wait for unsuspecting pests.
can stop the pest in its tracks. When prey is
scarce they consume pollen and nectar.
Their small size allows them to search for
prey that hide deep within blossoms. They
become most abundant later in the summer
and comprised 38% of visitors to our
habitat hedges. These bugs are also sold
commercially, but who doesn’t enjoy
finding freebies?
Several other beneficial insects were
observed visiting our habitat hedges. In
addition to lots of different lady beetles,
there were assassin, ambush and damsel
bugs, which as their names suggest, attack
pests along with supping on pollen. In
addition, parasitic tachinid flies that attack
pests like the dreaded Japanese beetle were
noticed. These flies lay their eggs on the
beetle and the larvae drill down into the
beetle and consume it from within.
These habitat hedges not only attracted lots
of beneficials, they also provided several
educational opportunities for inquiring
customers and students. For example, at
Hildene, in Manchester, high schoolers
from Burr and Burton Academy and
graduate students visiting from the
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
23
learned firsthand the benefits
of these eco-niches. All were
taught how to create these
bug-friendly habitats and
distinguish the good bugs from
the bad ones. The Lebanese
students, who took part in an
IPM training course at the
UVM Entomology Research
Lab, brought this knowledge
back to Lebanon to help
farmers reduce their reliance
on chemical pesticides and Insidious flower bug searching for
adopt more sustainable pollen or prey, such as thrips, on
agricultural practices.
Pest management is a balancing act,
combining a multitude of strategies such
scouting for pests, thresholds for pest
damage and action and selecting the right
management strategy that fits within each
grower’s personal and financial objectives.
A parasitic tachinid fly laid eggs on
an unlucky Japanese Beetle visiting
cosmos.
The habitat hedges
offer an easy and inexpensive way to adopt
more sustainable pest management
strategies. They use FLOWER POWER to
fight pests, reduce pesticides and protect
people, pollinators and the environment.
Growers interested in
establishing a habitat hedge
tailored to their commercial
operation should contact
Cheryl Frank Sullivan at
cfrank@uvm.edu
802-656-5434 and she can
help.
More information on Univ. of
VT, Entomology Research
Laboratory cab be found at
https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/
this zinnia.
This work is supported with
funds from the VT Nursery & Landscape
Association/Green Works, the USDA Crop
Protection & Pest Management Program,
National Institute of Food & Agriculture
and Univ. of Vermont Extension.

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24
 THE IDEA FACTORY
tips & trends, food for thought…
Greenhouse
Grower:
Four Plant and
Garden Trends to
Watch for in 2019!
The Ball Horticultural Company recently highlighted
four plant and garden trends for 2019 in a recent
PanAmerican Seed blog post so here goes!
• According to the color intelligence team at
PanAmerican Seeds LIVING CORAL is Pantone’s
color of the year - believed to energize and enliven
outdoor and indoor spaces.
• The home-grown vegetable growing movement has
moved into the hearts of the next generation who
enjoy the whole experience of growing, eating
local, and using their own produce.
• Everything indoor and potted plants, which is the
segue to outdoor gardening!
• The return of garden Impatiens due to new genetics
and resistant strains of impatiens downy mildew -
season long color returns to the shade garden!
In Case you Missed it . . . .
The 2019/20 New England
Floriculture Guide is available
through the Northeast Greenhouse
Conference website at $40/copy:
www.negreenhouse.org.
This new edition is complete with
detailed information about insect and mite
management, disease prevention and management,
weed control, and information on plant growth
regulations. There are also updates to the ‘Best
Management Practice’ section with an emphasis on
minimizing the threat to bees and other pollinators.
25
The National Association of
Landscape Professionals:
The Top 5 Landscape Trends You
Can’t Ignore in 2019!
After drawing on the 1 million dollar landscape, lawn
care, irrigation and tree care professionals, the NALP
predicts the following trends for the upcoming year:
#1 - Two-in-One Landscape Design: think edible
vertical garden that acts as a privacy fence or a
retaining wall with built-in seating.
#2 - Automated Lawn and Landscape Maintenance
- robotic lawn mower use among homeowners and
professionals; programmable irrigation and lighting.
#3 - Pergolas - a staple of landscape design, they
are becoming more and more popular as people
install outdoor kitchens, fire pits and seating areas.
#4 - Pretty in Pink - experts are anticipating coral
and light blush tones, along with rich shades of pink
to be the colors of choice this season.
#5 - Mesmerizing Metals - used to add a touch of
whimsy or make a bold statement, more and more
landscapes are incorporating decorative metal, art,
and furniture for accents or focal points.
This NALP report is based in part on member surveys
from across the U.S. To read in its entirety please
visit: http://blog.landscapeprofessionals.org/the-
top-5-landscape-trends-you-cant-ignore-in-2019/
Check out this
Book Review:
Healing Earth - An Ecologist’s
Journey of Innovation and
Environmental Stewardship,
by John Todd
www.ecolandscaping.org/01/
book-reviews/book-review-
healing-earth/
Climate Change in the Garden
By: Dr. Leonard Perry, UVM Horticulture Professor Emeritus
Daily the news has articles relating to extremes over 100 degrees.  By the end of
the century, under a low emissions
decade compared to 150 years ago. 
Similarly, in Vermont, lilacs are blooming
extreme weather and climate change. 
scenario, summers in northern New 1.5 days earlier with leaves out 3 days
Whether or not you agree with all the
England may be similar to those now in earlier, per decade (alanbetts.com). Perhaps
predictions, if the climate does continue to
Pennsylvania, and under a more severe the longest record of flowering dates (1200
get warmer and show extremes from one
scenario similar to those now in the years, from Osaka researcher Yasuyuki
area to another, and one year to another,
Carolinas. Aono) shows that cherry trees in Japan are
here are some impacts these may have on,
blooming earlier over the last 100 years.
and in, your own garden.  Much information In addition to temperature, a changing
can be found from Cornell University climate is predicted to impact precipitation.  Depending once again on emissions this
(climatechange.cornell.edu/) or from By the end of the century, we may see 7 to century, by 2085, last spring frost may be
UMASS Boston  (www.ecosystems.umb.edu/ 14 percent greater rain and snow, the higher one to three weeks earlier and the first fall
bace.html). figure under higher emissions.  Most of the frost one to three weeks later.  The result
higher precipitation in the last 50 years has would be a month or more increase in the
Do winters seem to be warmer lately? 
come from the increasing frequency and growing season.  This, coupled with higher
Perhaps this is from the fact that the
intensity of downpours (alanbetts.com).  temperatures, would mean many more
average annual temperature in the
The Northeast has led the country with a 67 plants could be grown successfully to flower
Northeast has increased 1.5 degrees (F)
increase in heavy precipitation (more than and fruit in the north. 
since 1970, at a rate of 0.5 degrees per
2 inches in 48 hours).  What this means for
decade.  Depending on the rate of emissions On the other hand, we might lose some
gardeners is the need for site preparation
(air pollution), by the end this century, trees.  Trees prevalent throughout the east
and plant choices that can handle such
temperatures could increase from 3.5 to as coast such as oaks and pines would remain. 
precipitation extremes.  Along with hotter
much as 12.5 degrees.  Others adapted to cooler climates such as
temperatures for gardening, the models
the sugar maple and American beech might
The latest (2012) USDA hardiness zone map point to more need to water in the future,
shift further north.  One map prediction
released shows much of the country at least with less reliable water from rain.
shows few maples left in New England by
half a zone warmer Much of this precipitation increase is 2100 (www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/tree/
(planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).  A similar predicted to occur in winter, ranging from tree_atlas.html).  This U.S. Forest Service
map from the Arbor Day Foundation 11 to 30 percent more than now.  More rain site lists 134 trees, and gives interactive
(www.arborday.org/media/ and less snow is predicted for winters, maps showing current distributions, and
map_change.cfm) shows half of many areas which will influence overwintering of possible changes in locations with various
a full zone warmer since 1990.   A study by perennials, among other impacts.  This loss climate scenarios.  Another tree change
scientist Loarie and colleagues in the could be one quarter to one half of our relates to fall color.  The best fall color
journal Nature in 2009 shows that, on current snow-covered days.  Snow is one of comes from plenty of moisture, warm days,
average globally, climate zones are moving the best protections in winter for and cool nights.  If nights become warmer,
northward about 3.8 feet per day. Over the herbaceous perennials.  Less snow may lead with drought periods during the growing
past 50 years in Vermont, the facts to more plant losses, and actually the ability season, the result would be less vibrant
(alanbetts.com) show that winters have to grow fewer perennials in areas which colors.
warmed twice as fast as summer, with now have sufficient and reliable winter
Pests, currently in the warmer south, may
winter minimum temperatures increasing snow cover.  Overall snow cover in the
make their way north, and those already in
Northern hemisphere, particularly the far
even faster. the north would reproduce faster, in most
north, has declined each year since 1986
cases.  Already in Alaska, British Columbia
We may have more need in the north to except one year, with a steep decline since
and Siberia, defoliating and wood-eating
consider the AHS (American Horticulture 2003 (climate.rutgers.edu/snowcover).
insects have increased with the longer
Society) heat zone maps as well as cold
The average growing season is increasing.  summers recently.   A study reported in fall
hardiness maps when choosing plants. 
This is seen in the bloom dates recorded for 2013 in the journal Nature Climate Change
These, plus amap from Sunset publishing
plants at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, found that, on average, crop diseases and
that groups regions by climate rather than
which now are blooming about eight days pests in the Northern Hemisphere have
just temperature, are online from the AHS
earlier than recorded there 100 years ago. moved north about 1.7 miles per year since
(ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/
Wildflowers in nearby Concord are 1960. More important is that fungal
gardening-maps). These maps may become
blooming about three weeks earlier than in diseases are moving north about 4 miles per
an indicator of how far the weather is from
1854 when Thoreau observed them year.  Breaking it down further, beetle and
“normal”, rather than what to count on.
(primacklab.blogspot.com).  A researcher at moth pests for instance are moving farther
Increased temperatures could lead to more Longwood Gardens, near Philadelphia, has north an average 70 feet per day each
short- and medium-term droughts.  There shown that flowers in that area are season.
may be more heat waves in summer and blooming on average 1.5 days earlier per
26
Some studies also point to a decrease in natural predators of
insect pests with a more highly fluctuating climate—a situation
many predict with climate change.  Insects and their predators,
!"#$%"&'()$)**#"+'!"$,'
such as birds, may get out of sync, as will pollinators and the
flowers they need. New weeds and invasive species such as
kudzu vine will move northward with a warmer climate. -./+)0"+)'()$)**#"+'1$/2)$0'
Another interesting potential impact is on soils.  Soil organic
matter is second only to oceans in holding onto, or trapping '
(sometimes seen as “sequestering”), carbon and keeping it
from entering the atmosphere.  Higher temperatures would
mean this soil organic matter breaks down faster, releasing
carbon back into the atmosphere, making levels there even
'
higher.

You can monitor climate change in your own garden or

landscape, as many have for years, with “phenology”—the
'
response of biological events such as insect and bud emergence
to weather.  Observers in England
(naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk), and Europe (gpm.hu-
'
berlin.de) have banded together to record dates annually of
specific events, and to compare their findings.  The largest such
effort, begun several decades ago, is in the U.S.  The National
3'4+"567)$$8'9#++':/";'<'!"#$%"&='>?'@ABAB'
Phenology Network (www.usanpn.org) tells more about this
topic, how it is used, and how you can get involved to take “the C@DECBFED33A'
pulse of the planet.” 

G)$)**#"+%"$,H0I$%J+/7"+K*)L'

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27
From Classic to Whimsey: The Art of Decorating our
Outdoor Spaces
By: Judith Irven, VCH; Photographs: Dick Conrad
A Designer’s Notebook
This is a new column in The Dirt where we
can share landscape design ideas that
work for us and for our clients. Please let
Kristina in the VNLA office know if you
have a contribution for a future issue.
As plant lovers we all love completing a
new design for a client by selecting the ‘all
the right plants for all the right places’.
But, in addition to plants, what about
enhancing your designs with carefully
positioned non-living highlights—a new
bench, a decorative planter, or perhaps a
compelling sculpture? This is akin to
adding a beautiful necklace to complete a
new outfit, or choosing some evocative
pictures to hang on the wall.
The possibilities are endless. Perhaps your
imagination is triggered by that classic
hand-crafted ceramic pot on display at the
Flower Show or a stunning arbor you saw in
a public garden last summer.
But the possibilities are also extremely
personal—and your client may be
stimulated by very different items. Some
people are drawn to classical forms while
others tend towards the more whimsical;
some like colorful pots whereas others
prefer neutral shades; and again some
people want to spend the money to procure
a local handcrafted item whereas others are
happy with something less expensive that
was mass-produced in a faraway country.
So, rather than recommending specific
decorative objects for my clients, I prefer to
discuss the underlying design objectives I
am looking to achieve in their garden—
such as creating a compelling focal point or
an intriguing entranceway. And then, using
plenty of photographs, I show them a
number of different ways that objective has
been accomplished in other gardens. It
does not take long for people to see
something they really like that can guide
their own purchase. After
all—a picture is worth a
thousand words!!
Here are several ways I have
used non-living things to
create highlights around my
own garden, and indeed
they run the gamut—from
classic to whimsey, and
from unique and
handcrafted to readily
available and mass-
produced.
A Dramatic Focal Point
While the shady corners in
any garden may be soothing
and relaxing, sometimes
they can also feel
featureless and
uninteresting. But just the
simple trick of setting a
classic ceramic pot or small
reflecting pool among all
those green leaves will
create a focal point that
draws our attention and
(https://www.stephenprocter.com/), who
brings that shady space to life.
will be exhibiting at this year’s Vermont
I am the proud owner of three beautiful Flower Show. Best of all, since his pots are
colorful pots that I bought many years ago made with non-non-porous material, they
from Robert Compton, a skilled potter who can remain outdoors throughout the year—
lives in Bristol, VT. And, at around 20” a very client-client-friendly feature.
high, they make perfect containers for
some brightly colored shade-loving flowers Beckoning Destinations
like tuberous begonias. Like many people, Dick and I love to spend
precious time outdoors chatting over a cup
Every spring I set out these special pots in
of tea or a glass of wine.
different parts of my garden. I position
each one on a couple of pavers, both to Thus not only did we build a screened
create a firm base and also to elevate the gazebo for those times when the bugs may
pot slightly above all the surrounding ferns be biting, but I have also carefully
and hostas positioned several benches as well as a
pairing of chairs around the garden in both
However like many ceramic pots, mine
sunny and shady areas. And while our
need to be brought indoors for the winter.
preferences have evolved over time, at this
So today I suggest to my clients that they
point our favorite bench sits on a specially
seek pots that can remain outdoors all year
created ‘mini-patio’ under a huge maple.
round.
From this shady vantage point we can look
Check out the stunning high-fire ceramic across the sunny garden beds and watch
pots by Stephen Procter of Brattleboro, VT
28
the butterflies and bees as they flit from
flower to flower in search of nectar.
So, if your clients’ garden seems to be
missing that special ‘something’, what
about adding a pair of chairs or a garden
bench, not only to take advantage of a
special view, but also to be readily visible
from their favorite indoor room.
Garden seating seems to magically conjure
up evocative feelings about the specialness
of our outdoor world. From spring until fall
that bench will beckon them to ‘come on
out and enjoy the garden’, while in the
depth of winter it will be like ‘a ghost of
summer’ reminding them that spring will
soon be here.
An Enticing Entrance
As in many gardens, the space around my
back door is strictly functional. It contains
a small raised bed edged with rocks where I
grow herbs and salad greens, plus the wash
line and the woodshed. Thus my mood here
is decidedly busy and focussed.
But a few steps away, as I walk out along a
short path, my mood is instantly
transformed to serene and tranquil. This is
the entranceway to our back garden with its
colorful flowing flowerbeds and, off in the
distance, a view of Mount Moosalamoo.
I made this entrance path with flat
irregularly shaped bluestone pavers,
flanked on either side by deep flowerbeds.
Here I planted a pair of Shadblow
Serviceberries (Amelanchier canadensis)
and, in their dappled shade, many favorite
woodland plants.
Finally, to further emphasize this special
entrance; on either side of the path I placed
the freestanding lightweight iron trellises
you can see in the photograph. Without
dominating the picture they reinforce the
curvature of the serviceberry branches
Furthermore this arrangement is lovely in
every season. The flowers on the
serviceberries are a springtime delight, the
trellises support a pair of flowering
clematis for summertime color, the leaves
on the serviceberries turn a beautiful
orange each fall, while in wintertime the
snow on the ironwork is nothing short of
magical.
A Welcoming Front Doorway Flower Show Seminar
The south-facing space around our front If you would like to see many more ideas
door, enclosed on three sides by house for using non-plants to decorate our
walls, is a quintessential ‘outdoor room’. gardens, I will be presenting a whole
Flower beds run along each wall, while the seminar on this topic, including almost two
central stone patio (just 18’ x 14’) easily hundred beautiful photographs, at the
provides room for the front walkway and, to Vermont Flower Show on March 1, 2019 at
one side, a charming metal bench. noon. I hope some of you can join me.
Our front door is a busy place. In addition Together Judith Irven and her husband, Dick
to our guests, Dick and I also use it for all Conrad, nurture a large garden in Goshen, VT.
Jusith is a landscape deisnger and VT Certififed
our own comings and goings. So I really
Horticulturist. She also teaches Sustainable
want this small space emanate a huge Home Landscaping for UVM Master Gardener
‘WELCOME’. Program. She writes about her VT gardening
life at www.northcountryreflections.com. You
Not only does the bench create
the perfect sunny spot for
enjoying the early spring
sunshine, allayer long it sets an
easy relaxed mood as we come
home.
And, although most of the
vertical wall space is claimed by
windows, in each of the
remaining areas I have hung
carefully selected objects. On the
east wall a burnished metal ‘sun’
with radiating flames shines
down, while between the
windows on the north wall a
decorative metal trellis provides
support for a Goldflame
Honeysuckle (Lonicera x
heckrottii), which has the added
benefit of enticing the
hummingbirds in late summer.
Finally, about five years ago, to
add a delightful touch of
whimsey to the scene, I hung the
smiling face you see in this
picture to watch over our arrivals
and departures. And, since she
has a small planting pocket
concealed in her hair, each year I
can give her a new hairstyle.
Our lovely ‘face’ is work of
talented Vermont ceramicist,
Susan Smith-Hunter, and, if you
are interested, she currently has
a few for sale in the Brandon
Artist’s Guild—each a unique
individual!
29

Making Intentional Improvements
by Jacki Hart
This is the time of the year
many business owners
consider how to improve
profitability, their teams and
market share. Many of you
will wade deep into newly
found resources, adapting to
new software and apps, and
generally working on
improving systems for the
year ahead.
The true challenge lies in
making changes that will
stick through your busiest times of the
year. It’s easy to let others tell us what we
need to ‘fix’ and how to fix it. In my
experience, the impetus for change should
be coming from within your company: from
the leadership team – rather than from
someone outside of your company.
Including a coach.
I’ve lost count of how many business
owners I know who have paid for and
started to implement new systems,
processes, policies or service lines that
were either quickly abandoned, or left to
smolder in the wings without closure. Most
tried to make changes because someone
from outside of the company recommended
either what to change, how to change it, or
when. Rarely does that work for very long.
The changes that you implement will likely
fail at a rate directly proportionate to the
number of people involved in sustaining it,
unless everyone feels the need for change,
and takes part in its’ success.
Whether making changes either behind the
scenes or upfront, be very intentional about
it. Consider answering this: What should
change? Why? When and How?
Select one critical ‘must improve’ issue: For
example: “I don’t have enough time to stay
STRICTLY BUSINESS
no kidding …
on top of special requests from customers
during peak months. As a result, our
customers are disappointed (or worse).”
Step 1. What specifically is the gap
between what needs to happen and what’s
currently happening? Example: we need to
follow through and communicate more
consistently.
Step 2. How can we change our process to
consistently get the desired result?
Example: Could we be using apps, shared
calendars, live documents etc to capture
verbal promises, or paste emailed ones into
a shared space.
Step 3. What steps are we missing to make
this happen? Example: Start with the end
in mind and work backwards: Ask questions
such as : in what instances are we dropping
the ‘follow through’ ball? Who on our team
is most likely to benefit from having a
solution available that prevents relying on
memory alone in peak months?
Step 4. What process needs to be created
(steps for staff / customer to follow) to
manage clear communication and
approval? Example: Consider adopting a
Customer Relations Management app.
30
Step 5. How will we
communicate and train
everyone on what steps to
follow in the event of an
unexpected customer
request? Example: Create a
signoff training for
introducing the steps/forms/
email trail to follow.
Remember Einsteins famous
mantra: “You can’t solve a
problem using the same
thinking that created it.”
When you and your team intentionally
commit to purposeful change, it will
happen!
About the Author: Jacki Hart is president
of Consulting by Hart in Ontario, Canada.
She is an entrepreneur, advisor, business
consultant, and workshop facilitator with a
career in the Green Industry spanning 35
years. Jacki is one of Canada’s first women to
hold the North American Green Industry
certificate for business management
excellence. Jacki also manages the Prosperity
Program and Peer to Peer Network for
Landscape Ontario.
Jacki writes for other trade magazines and
will be a regular contributor to our business
column. CBH is a consulting firm that
“passionately believes that entrepreneurial
success depends on sustained forward
momentum - across all areas of business -
both the visible and the invisible. To learn
more about CBH visit
www.consultingbyhart.com.
 New Member Profile: Green State Biochar

We asked new member Green State Green State Biochar was awarded a reusing, or to resell this product to local
Biochar to introduce their business via a Vermont Phosphorus Innovation Grant landscapers and food producers.
member questionnaire we sent to them. this fall and will be adding biochar
Please meet Green State Biochar below filtration systems to ditches at the lower The biochar industry is growing at a rate
and we welcome them to the VNLA! edge of farm fields to capture 90% of of 20% a year, globally, over the past 5
years. We would like to
We are Green State see Vermont be a leader
in this industry, keep
Biochar, a company
things local, provide
founded by Roger Pion and
resources to farmers, and
Luke Persons whose
create jobs.
mission is to utilize local
waste wood for the
Please contact us to share
production of high-quality
your thoughts or let us
biochar (the conversion of
know if there is any way
organic waste materials
we can help your
into sequestered carbon in
business.
the form of biochar).
When combined with
Why did you decide to
manures, compost, and/or
join the VNLA/Green
animal bedding, improves
Works?
the availability of
nutrients and increases
The networking
plant uptake and crop
opportunities are great
production by improving From the left: Roger Pion, biochar filtration specialist, Donna Pion, for our business. We are
soil structure, acting as a
general manager and Luke Persons, biochar filtration specialist. also experimenting with
time release capsule for the
biochar, cement, and
nutrients, and providing an
phosphorus before entering streams. In other materials for the
excellent environment for biota growth.
late summer we will have 10,000 plus creation of stone pavers. The recipe was
Biochar is also used in filtration systems
pounds of this nutrient rich material provided to me from a large biochar
to capture storm water and agricultural
which can be added prior to the planting company in Finland. This same recipe is
runoff.
of fall trees or the laying of sod. It can used as foundations for homes, no rebar
also be dug into the ground which needed, and 1/5 the weight of traditional
The business was founded 2 years ago
loosens the soil and releases bound ones. More to follow.
when Roger and Luke realized if they
nutrients. Interested landscapers should
wanted biochar, they would have to
contact us if interested in obtaining this Green State Biochar will be featured on
produce it. Transporting it long distances
material. an upcoming VT PBS show - Center for
was not going to benefit the carbon
an Agriculture Economy - Meet the
footprint problem. To produce biochar
We are encouraged to watch the biochar Makers to be televised on February 14 at
you need a pyrolysis unit (kiln). With
industry grow, particularly in Vermont, 7pm; February 17 and 2pm, February 18
their combined skills of welding,
into an employee owned business whose at 9:30 pm, February 23 at 9:30 pm and
inventing, engineering, and what Luke
mission is to keep local waste wood out February 28 at 10:30 pm.
calls “smarts”, they set out to build the
of landfills or being transported long
kiln.
distances for others to turn into biochar
and repackage in plastic bags and then
Six months later, the kiln was operating
sell back to big box stores. We want to
efficiently (oxygen starved environment
help the farmers with a low cost remedy
at 1200 degrees F) and producing 300
to keep their fertilizers from running
plus pounds a day of high quality, rich,
into waterways by capturing them and
biochar.

31
 VCH Profile: An Unexpected Journey
By: Lisa Hoare, VCH
As is often true in the natural world, my entered the working world inspired and
filled with knowledge but as yet, unsure
My position for the first year was seasonal,
and under Facilities’ Management. The
path has almost never followed a straight
where to focus my energy. I valued my free landscape around the hospital was
line. In fact, in the year after graduating, it
time in the summer too much to start a
more closely resembled a pea tendril
landscaping business or vegetable farm
circling wildly, searching for something of
but… what to do? I loved working with
substance to grab on to! Lucky for me, I
ornamentals, herbs and vegetables and I
found a strong support system at our state’s
worked that first summer at Arcana Gardens
largest hospital, a somewhat unexpected
& Greenhouses where I learned so much
workplace for a horticulturist.
about growing all of those things
organically, and on a larger scale. When fall
Employed currently as the Garden Educator
came, I started temp work with a local
at the UVM Medical Center, I’ll be entering
agency to try some new things. I worked for
my 8th year in 2019 but, if someone had told
the Champlain Housing Trust, the
me a dozen years ago I’d be working here, I
Department of Labor and for 3 months at
wouldn’t have believed it. After ambling
the info desk at UVM Medical Center (then
along in various industries familiar to
known as Fletcher Allen). I was not much
many, travel, retail, landscaping and
closer to finding anything but in the spring,
hospitality, I settled down for several years
the agency contacted me for an
in commercial real estate sales working with
experimental training for supervisors at the
a small group of accomplished professionals
hospital. It was a new idea they had for
specializing in hospitality business
giving their supervisors practice
brokerage. That was an interesting,
interviewing job candidates and she
challenging and profitable career choice
wondered if I would be willing to help out.
that allowed for a lot of freedom and
Just answer the questions the same way you
provided a healthy income until…. it wasn’t.
would if it were a real interview, she said. It
After a few years in the business, I was
would be fun, she said.
geared up for my most successful year yet
when the financial crisis hit in 2008. By the
Well, as it turned out, I was the only
last quarter of that year, real estate sales
‘practice job candidate’ answering questions
screeched to a halt and it became clear that
from at least 60 supervisors - it was the
what was to be my highest earning year,
most intense non-real interview I’d ever
would in fact result in $0. But, the years
had! Thankfully and of course, everyone
prior had been kind and I had a lot of
was very kind and after a couple of hours in
support from friends and family. I knew I’d
the hot seat, it was done. The recruiter
be ok and I knew I could weather the storm
walked me out and said, ‘Well, everyone
and that sales would bounce back, after all
really liked you and we’d
there was never a shortage of folks
love to find a spot for you!’
dreaming of leaving the city for a ‘quiet’ life
I thanked her but explained
of innkeeping in Vermont. The bigger
that I’d just finished a
question was: did I want to wait for it? Was
horticulture degree so… I
there something else? I wanted to do
couldn’t see how that
something important, something to make a
would work. Less than a
difference in my community. Perhaps this
month later, I received a
was an opportunity. A good friend asked
call that she had found
what I would do if I could do anything and
something for me after all
without hesitation, I said that I’d like to
and so began my career in
work with plants.
horticulture, at a hospital.
Opportunities do
So it was decided and one AAS later from
sometimes come from
Vermont Tech’s Landscape Development
unexpected places.
and Ornamental Horticulture program, I re-

32
experiencing some significant pest and donated hundreds of
disease issues that were resulting in quite a dollars and hundreds of
bit of loss. The management team felt they pounds of produce over
needed someone on staff with a the last 3 years to the
horticulture background and knowledge to CCFS.
assist with the landscape in order that the
In addition to all that
level of care visible from the outside of the
garden therapy, I’m also
facility more closely reflected the high level
working on developing and
of care on the inside. By the end of the first
coordinating some of the
summer season, I’d worked with my
hospital’s food security
supervisor to create a new job description
programs including the VT
that involved landscape management and
Health Care Share, in
care of the vegetable gardens in the
partnership with the Farm
summer and simple maintenance duties in
at VYCC. This
the winter, for a full-time, year-round
inspiring program
position. This was an enjoyable mix of
(partially grant-
tasks which went well beyond landscape
funded) provides
management and allowed me to learn basic
healthy VT grown
woodworking and maintenance/repair skills
produce and
as well as snow removal and various
occasional chicken
equipment operation. I learned how to fix
to 100 of our
things! Well, some things… but most
patients and their
importantly I gained confidence using
families at 4
various tools & machinery and learned how
nearby primary
to work through all kinds of new
care sites. By
challenges.
supplying
My position evolved over the years and delicious, fresh
currently I am working for the Nutrition food along with
Services department, as the hospital’s cooking and
Garden Educator. This involves nutrition
management of the Rooftop Garden, education, this
located at the Main Campus, which supplies program aims to
up to 1,000 lbs of produce and fresh herbs improve long-
for the Garden Atrium and the Garden at term community
Fanny Allen, which houses the Learning health and
Garden, the Cutting Garden and the Garden encourage healthy
Pantry. The Learning Garden Program, in lifestyles by
its 7th year in 2019, is 22 weeks of guided reducing barriers
garden and nutrition education and co- to access to fresh
managed with a registered dietitian. foods while
Together, each year we help 14 individuals increasing
and families learn the joy of growing their familiarity with
own produce and using that produce in vegetables and the
simple, delicious recipes. To date, we are know-how to use
proud that 100% of participants indicate and enjoy them in
they will continue to grow their own food. simple recipes.

The Cutting Garden and Garden Pantry
grows beautiful fresh flowers and food to
benefit the Colchester Community Food
Shelf (CCFS). The flowers are made into
amazing bouquets and arrangements and
sold in the café, with all proceeds donated
quarterly. With much of the talent and
labor coming from volunteers, we have
Next up: Horticultural Therapy. After
many years trying to move this forward, I’m
so excited to finally be receiving some
formal training in this alternative (but as
we all know), effective modality of care and
someday hope to share these new skills
with patients, in our gardens. All of this
work is truly rewarding and allows me to
help my community in ways I would have
never predicted. The act of sharing what
you love with others, who grow to love it
too is nourishment for the soul, mine and
theirs. I am thankful to work for an
organization that values the people/plant
connection as much as I do and quietly
believe – I have the best job at the hospital.

33
 GET OUT OF THE
CLASSROOM AND INTO
YOUR FIELD.

Earn your associate degree in Landscape

Design & Sustainable Horticulture.

Visit vtc.edu/landscape-design
or contact admissions at (800) 442-8821.

Small College. Big Outcomes.

GROWING FOR OVER 40 YEARS
P: 207-499-2994 F: 207-499-2912
sales@piersonnurseries.com
www.piersonnurseries.com
Mailing Address: 24 Buzzell Rd, Biddeford ME 04005
Physical Address: 291 Waterhouse Rd, Dayton ME 04005

CARRYING A FULL LINE OF B&B AND CONTAINER LANDSCAPE PLANTS READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU
• SHADE TREES • FLOWERING SHRUBS • FERNS & GRASSES • NATIVE PLANTS
• BROADLEAFS • EVERGREENS • PERENNIALS • WETLAND PLANTS

Check our website for our most recent availability

Or contact our office if you would like to receive our weekly availability emails

34
 THE PLANT LOUNGE
wiry stems, hairy leaves and bodacious blooms. . .

The Joy of Working in Conditions that Make you Say ‘Ewww, Gross’
by Dan Redondo, VT Wetland Plant Supply

The neat and tidy modern world, organized into precise ones cognac, knowing that pollinators are in the air, ready to spread
and zeros, built of grids of paved roads and ticky tacky boxes on life.
the hillside, and praised on the
tube for eternal 2% quarterly We need to peer into Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia purpurea) and
growth, is missing something. It’s see the ooze of insects as they are digested by a thriving soup
not that Fortnite isn’t fun, or that of larvae, flesh flies,
medicine that destroys tumors and other organisms.
isn’t marvelous. It just all a bit This one warrants a
too Neat. Too Tidy. Too much true ‘Oh Gross’,
Leave at 8, get Home at 5, turn in especially if you have a
at 10. Too counter-top Clean, with 20x hand-lens. Be sure
Bills Properly Filed. Too to keep one of those on
Sanitized. Ah, there it is. We’re you at all times.
getting close now. Too Sterile.
We need to meet
We need more things that make salamanders and frogs,
you say ‘Ewww, Gross’ right before and their floating blobs
you poke it again. More squishy of egg masses at the margins of ponds slowly warming in
things. More things down in the the spring sun. We need to smell the walking stink of a
muck, where the mud oozes snapping turtle just emerged from hibernation. Be sure to
between your fingers and a carry a good poking stick for those brutes if you need to
leech is on your leg. (Okay, move one. Those
maybe not the leech. That’s just things are much
plain old disgusting). Where if quicker to turn
you put your boots too close than you’d think,
together, you might lose your especially for a
balance and get very wet, if you critter that just
can move at all. Where the air woke up and
is anaerobic and reeks of decay. hasn’t had any
Heck, it might even make you coffee yet.
gag a little. We need slippery,
algae covered plants that you So don’t shy away
can throw at your co-worker from the messy
and say ‘Is this an invasive work, the kind
species?’ and ‘What about this where you spend
Top photos: Peltandra virginica; left: Symplocarpus foetidus; and bottom:
one’ until they turn around and 30 minutes just
Sarracenia purpurea. Photos courtesy of gobotany.org.
punch you for being obtuse. getting clean at
day’s end. You’ll
We need to get intimate with plants like Arrow Arum (Peltandra have more fun, even if your friends think you’re a bit weird.
virginica) where the seeds possess a gelatinous and stick-to- Trust me on that one…
your-fingers coating that makes you say ‘Ewww, gross’ and then
‘Hey, look at this!’ when you show the teller at the bank what Dan Redondo is the owner of Vermont Wetland Plant Supply. As
you were collecting during the day. you can tell, he spends the frozen winter days trying to convince
others that a pair of waders, a canoe, and a botany book are just
We need to draw in the scent of Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus about all you need in life. Oh, and fly-rod, too.
foetidus) in the spring. Appreciate it like the aroma of an aged
35
 A Professional Association for
Green Works’ mission is to support and strengthen the
Growers, Retailers, Garden Centers, Nurserymen
horticulture industry
and Women, Landscapeof Vermont by Contractors,
Designers and creating greater
awareness of the benefits
Landscape of landscaping
Architects, Maintenance Experts,and promoting
Arborists, Turf Specialists, Industry Representatives,
PO Box 92, N. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 the professional services and products of our members.
P: 802.425.5117 | F: 802.425.5122 Allied Trades People, Students, and Educators.
E: kristina@greenworksvermont.org
36
www.greenworksvermont.org visit us atwww.greenworksvermont.org
www.greenworksvermont.org