^1^ ^'FW HAMPSHIRE J* Plant Growers gUAl.ITV GARDEN CBNTtRS &CROWeRS a CO H 2 H w. fc ha\ e a special name for the trees that come from our tamis — ^ArcticMist.™ When you order ArcticMist,™ you are not just buNing a tree, but all of the time, attention, and care — from seedling to shipping — that goes into creating a safe, healthy, and beautiful Christmas tree. We plant from seed to achieve maximum qualirs control. All ArcticMist^'-' trees are heavily needled and have dense conical shapes. Their lovely blue color, rich fragrance, and good needle retention make them ideal Christmas trees. Fra.ser, balsam, fralsam, white spnice, and pine (white, scotch, and red) are available. Wreaths are also a\ailable. Since our farms are in New Hampshire and Vemiont, we harvest our trees later in the season than many other growers. We also do eversthing we can to minimize moisture loss after harvest and during shipping. ^'ou can order the number of trees that is right for you — from 25 to a trailer load. We can arrange shipping or you may pick up the trees yourself We respect your schedule and guarantee on time delivery. Our trees arrive individually w rapped and ready for sale. All you need to do is remove the vs rappers and set the trees out — no broken branches, no last minute trimming. T I place an order, or to receive specific information about this year's trees: Call us at 800/694-8722 or 603/2.^7-.S702. Send us a fax at 603/237-8439. Or write to us at 38 Bridge Sl, Colebrotik, NH 03,S76. Our internet address is http://www.sibgotree.com SibgoTree Company VJe know what you want for Christmas'. ArcticMist The Phmtsinon CALENDAR Visit www.nhplantgiowers.org for additional calendar items. December 13-15 New England Vegetable & Fruit Conference; Manchester. NH. visit www. nevbc.org for more infomiation January 4-5 Connecticut Nursen, & Landscape Association Winter Symposium and Trade Show ; Mountainside Resort. Wallingford. CT; 802-562-0610 11-13 Mid- Atlantic Nurser\- and Trade Show ; Baltimore Com ention Center; Bahimore. MD 410-296-6959 19 Risk Management Work for Ag Professionals; Sponsored by UNH E.xtension; Mike Sciabarrasi; emphasis on regulations, fami habilit>'. and biosecurity 24 NHPGA/NHLA Joint Winter Meeting 31- Feb. 2 New England Grows; Boston Convention and Exliibition Center; 508-653-3009 or info fl.NEGrows.org February 3-4 NH Fann and Forest Expo; Center of NH Holiday Inn. Manchester, NH March 11-19 New England Spring Flower Show Bay side Expo Center; Boston. MA; 617- 933-4900 or www.masshort.org April 16 Easter 28 National Arbor Day HfjjjfjIfjjjIBHHiHH CONTENTS Departments 3 From the Board 2005 A Year to Remember. . . Brett Andus 5 New Hampsliire News 7 The Green Summit Chapter 1 Nancy Adams 9 Elsewhere in the News 13 Member Profile 2005 Open House Events Melissa Moore 17 AAS 2006 Wimiers 19 Pioneer Pointers Is Your Business at Risk? 25 How About Herbs Plants to Dye For Cover photo credit: At Pleasant View Gardens Open House new varieties were featured in beds, containers, and baskets. The Plantsman is published in early Febniary. .'Vpril, June, August, October, and December witli copy deadlines on the first of each prior month. While camera-ready ads are preferred, set-up assistance is available at a nominal fee. Free classified advertis- ing is offered as a member service. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two issues of The Plantsman. See Price Width X Hhoht 6x Ix 1/8 3 1/2 X 2 1/4 150. 30 1/4V 3 1/2 .\ 4 3/4 200, 40 1/4H 7 3/8 X 2 1/4 200. 40. 1/2 7 3« X 4 3/4 300. 75. FULL 7 3/8 X 9 13/16 500. 100 For further infomialion, please contact the editor: Melissa Moore, 845 Loudon Ridge Road, Loudon, NH, 03307, phone 603 - 267 - 8492. e-mail, Moore@worldpath.net WINTER 2005 m >k Fc ooK idrm GrtHvLng for tke DtserLmmoLting Grudiener Here in New England we grow a complete line of - • Deciduous Flowering Shrubs • The New and Unusual • Native Plants • Over 200 varieties of DAYLI LIES Like the natives, ail our plants are winter hardy! 106 Bonds Corner Rd. IRoute 137-Soutl>) PO Box 476 Hancock, NH 03449 ph. 603-525-4728 fax fi03-5 25-9483 d,i vIlMf i'Wdav l?:biouU'j I m m v.coiri Weston Nurseries V^ Of HOPICINTQN £ tST.lwa Unearth the Possibilities We are committed to giving you the best value. Our plants are generously sized and shipped fresh from our nursery operations. We deliver regularly to landscapers and garden centers throughout New Hampshire. Your customers will love our distinctive, hardy azalea and rhododendron introductions! We look forward to doing business with you. 93 East Main Smtt (Rte. 135) Hopkinton, MA 01748 COMMEHCIAL SaLES PhONE: 508-293-8028 Commercial Sales Fax: 508-497-0743 Commercial Sales Emaiu CoTnmSalr«@'WestoaNorasurance. p<3/v;iMi ttiio^gh Hoilii^a Brok.fr'S^ )Cu acn'S 'AKXi'y abo:^ Iht n«xt h^lste* m flift«i("<3 sftam. Hortliasinows that panis clotit star'» thirnos*. t,y,(.«i »buwic« Ciwprv,. Helping You to Grow B.E. Supply GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMEIST Pre-fiiled Plats & I'ois Klerks Fibns Restricted Pt-sticidcs Kord Products Fertilizers Distributors for Hyde Park Fiifard. Scotts Products Hemlock Road, Lancdon MAILING AUDRtSS: HO. Box 1468. Charlksiown, New IIampshirc 03603 Vfarehouse: 603-835-6664 HOME: 605-835-2523 fax: 603-835-Z180 Inside or out, Q\ia\\iy is covered. HPlRn#IS As the authorized Harnols dealer in the Northeast, the professional staff at Greenhouse Supply, Inc. will handle all your greenhouse needs. Vv'hether you are looking for free standing or gutter connected houses, call us. GREENHOUSE SUPPLY, INC. 1-800-696-8511 Fax: 207-989-1 553 email: greenhse@agrotech.com www.agrotech.com The Plantsman NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS Young Nursery Professional Award Ken Francoeur of Stonewall Nursery in Raymond is the NH Young Nurseryman of the year. His wholesale business specializes in perennials. Francoeur will accept this award at the NHPGA Winter Meeting in January and NE Grows later in the month. NHPGA is pleased to honor this Rockingham county grower. UNH Thompson School Renovates This fall Thompson School classrooms and student lounges are undergoing updates. Total cost of the project is $2.5 million. Windows are scheduled for replacement as well as changes to the exterior of Cole Hall. Commuters will appreciate the upgrades to the student lounge. The construction work began during the 2005 spring semester and should be mostly complete just prior to the end of the fall semester. Dana Samson, Department Chair for the Horticulture Technology Program reports that enrollments are strong in her department. The landscaper's certificate course is also popular with students seeking a career in the green industry. Additional opportunities for real-world projects have been buih into the curriculum. NHPGA Member Directory in the Works An updated Membership Directory is now in production. Robert Demers is spearheading this project. The directory will include contact infonnation for all NHPGA members and information about the product and services offered by each member. Look for distribution of the directory early in 2006. 2005 America in Bloom Winners Meredith, NH earned national recognition for its floral displays. (left - to right) Doug Cole. Jeanie Forrester. Jennifer McKenua. Carol Cran- field, and Walter Begley are shown before a display garden in Meredith. As a participating community in the America in Bloom program, Meredith was chosen for the top honor in the category of 5,001- 10.000 residents. In a recent press release. Carol Granfield, Meredith Town Manager, exclaims, "This is a fantastic recognition for Meredith." She credits the town's success to the high level of cooperation between town management, local businesses, and the broader community. The winners in nine population categories were announced at the Fourth Annual America in Bloom (AIB) Symposium and Awards Program on Saturday, September 10, at the Marriott Key Center, Cleveland, Ohio. The event was hosted by the 1 8 northeast Ohio communities, which have participated in AIB since its inception in 2002. AIB is a national campaign and contest which promotes enhancing communities through beautification. In the friendly competition, communities are matched by population and evaluated on their efforts related to floral displays, urban forestry, landscaped areas, turf and groundcover, tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage conservation and community involvement. Judges visited the communities this summer. Nearly 50 communities from all regions of the country participated in the fourth edition of AIB. AIB's 2005 population category winners are: Under 5,000 - Lewes, Delaware 5,001 - 10,000 - Meredith, New Hampshire 10,001 - 1 5,000 -Loveland, Ohio 15,001 - 20,000 - Newburyport, Massachusetts 20,001 - 50,000 - Hudson, Ohio 50,001 - 100,000 - Kettering, Ohio 100,001 - 300,000 - Rockford, Illinois 300,001 or more - Grand Central Partnership, New York City, New York University Campus - Brigham Young University Eight special awards were presented to communities which received high marks out of all contestants in all population categories. These include: Yoder Brothers Heritage WINTER 2005 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS Preservation - Eureka Springs, Arkansas Project Evergreen Landscaped Areas - Westlake, Ohio American Horticultural Societ>' Community Involvement - Logan. Ohio Gardens Alive! Environmental Awareness - St. Paul, Minnesota Ball Horticultural Company Floral Displays - University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Scotts Company Turf and Groundcovers - Ocala, Florida America in Bloom Urban Forestry - Riverside, California Planting Pride Tidiness - Bartlett. Tennessee Plans are underway for the 2006 edition of AlB. Communities can register to enter at www. americainbloom.org Credit: America in Bloom Press Release Oct. 2005 This display garden features AiS Winners including Celosia Fresh Look in foreground. Tired of Mulching Every Year? ^o/^txbn. "Rubberific Mulch" Come see Rubbeh&c forYourself 7 different colors 3 different textures Environmentally safe No insect worries Maintain appearance up to 10+ years! Phenomenal savings over traditional mulch Excellent safety 'cushion" for playgrounds and swing sets CEM Innovation • Freda & Sons Hardware 77 Indian Rock Road (Rte. Ill) Windham, NH 03087 603-893-8865 The Plantsman The Green Summit - Chapter 1 BY NANCY E. ADAMS, Executive Director, NHPGA I recently represented the NH Plant Growers Association at New England Nursery Associa- tions (NENA) inaugural Green Sum- mit held in early September in Lenox, Mass. Sixty-five horticultural profes- sionals from retail, trade associations, wholesale and allied trade businesses spent l'/2 days assessing their busi- nesses and the future direction of the green industry. It was a time of reflec- tion - time to concentrate on strategic thinking in an otherwise hectic, face- paced environment. However, I con- fess seeing some folks rush outdoors with their cell phones in hand during break time. . .guess it's difificuh to pull away even for just 2 days! I want to share some highlights from that conference. I'm labeling this Chapter 1, which intimates there will be subsequent chapters. Hope you enjoy the conference summaries. One guest speaker was Pam Danziger, Unity Marketing, a consumer marketing specialist. Although she specializes in luxury brands, her finn has done market research on consumer buying habits in what she called the "outdoor living markef" - gardening/landscaping, plant material, birding, BBQ grills, porch & patio decorations, outdoor services, outdoor furniture, lighting & sound, etc. The outdoor living lifestyle is on a strongly positive spending trend with impressive growth potential. Competition is intense for outdoor living dollars amongst garden centers, home centers and mass merchandisers, but the key competitive advantage for garden centers lies in the plants. To capitalize on this advantage, horticultural businesses should focus on their existing customers, in particular, their biggest spenders, and leverage this strength into other outdoor living activities and pursuits including gifts and seasonal decorations. Become an expert on outdoor living! One key message: Shoppers are less concerned about the product they buy than the experience they receive from that purchase. They expect good prices (combination of high value at a reasonable price), wide selection, convenient location and sometimes a place to shop for other things. Garden center and nursery retailers should concentrate on enhancing the shopper's experience by creating a unique value for them through a high level of advice and information, garden ideas & inspiration, exceptional high quality goods, better brands more carefully selected by experts, and product guarantees. Get to know your customer more intimately. Have you developed a customer database to track purchases? Are you providing a unique, value-added experience for your customers? Is your business able to demand higher prices as a result? I'm sure we've all visited businesses where we customers are seen as inconvenient intrusions in an otherwise blissful day. Is that your customer's experience?!? Pam segments shoppers into four distinct buying attitude types: Sylvia the Garden Slave - takes no joy in gardening, only does it because she has to, and spends 43% less than the average person on outdoor living. She doesn't shop at garden centers - thankftilly. Therapeutic Thelma - gardens for her personal pleasure - it provides meaning to her life and is therapeutic. She doesn't spend a lot of money but does take a lot of your sales staff time asking questions and seeking advice. Thelma spends 33% less than the average person on outdoor living. Lounging Lisa - finds her garden an important source of social recognition yet doesn't want to do the work herself. She spends the most on outdoor living activities - 39% more than average - and is a wonderful target for outdoor living services. Helen the Happy Gardener - is your primary customer who takes utmost pleasure from gardening - a do-it-yourself person. She spends most on plants but less than Lisa on outdoor living products and services. She spends 1 5% more than average and offers an opportunity to translate her gardening enthusiasm into an outdoor living passion. The key is to train your staff to recognize the types of shoppers they encounter so that they can alter their sales approach accordingly. Nurture and develop your Helen & Lisa customers. They offer the most upside profit potential. Some final thoughts on building opportunity for garden retail sales. Adding services (design, installation, maintenance, delivery, etc.) to your garden center will appeal to high- spending Lisas and have been shown to generate three-times more revenue for garden centers than those that do not offer any services. Expand, develop and explore the outdoor living category for your garden center/ nursery. After all, the future doesn't lie in growing and selling better plants but in providing an enhanced outdoor living experience for your customers through your newly reinvented Outdoor Living Center. WINTER 2005 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS Bay State Invasive Plants News A round of hearings was conducted in September by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural resources on invasive species. At the public hearings, comments were solicited on a proposed ban of more than 1 40 plants. According to a press release from the MASS Dept., the list of plants was derived from the Federal Noxious Weed List and plants listed as invasive by the Mass. Invasive Plant Advisory Group If adopted as is, action on these plants would take place as soon as January 1, 2006. On this date, it will be illegal to import any of the listed plants. Also all plants would be prohibited from sale on this date, with the exception of 12 plants. These 12 plants are key to the ornamental industry and to minimize the effect, a phase out period will be in place. Among the 12 species, the inventory of the herbaceous species may be sold until Jan. 1, 2007, and the woody species may be sold until Jan. 1, 2009. Through the new proposal, the Department will retain the right to issue pemiits that will allow the importation, and sale of listed plants if there is a significant benefit to the public to do so and where the risks by these species can be adequately controlled. The Departmentanticipates that the pemiit authority might be needed in research situations. Comments were accepted through September 30, 2005, For more infomiation contact Trevor Battle, Department of Agricultural Resources, Boston, MA. A list of the species proposed for ban/phase-out is posted at http://mass.gov.agr/farmproducts/ proposedprohibited_plat_list.htm Credit: Mass Dept. of Ag Sept. '05 Extended Daylight Savings One feature of the National Energy Plan enacted in August is the extension of daylight savings by a month beginning in 2007. Clocks will spring ahead one hour early beginning on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. The provision is expected to promote energy savings. Other features of the Energy Bill include tax credits to homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their homes. The bar has been raised for energy efficiency standards in the area of consumer products. Refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps, and water heaters will be manufactured in compliance with these new standards. To diversify the country's energy supply, the bill provides tax credits for new developments in the area of generating wind, solar, and biomass energy. SAF Promotes Flower Power The results of three key studies, sponsored by the Society of American Florists (SAF), have been distributed through national media markets to promote the benefits of flowers. In 2001, SAF launched a fundraising campaign to spark a nationwide Public Relations program titled Flower Fundamentals. Dwight Larimer, AAS, SAF Consumer Marketing Chairman, says," The Flower Fundamental Program is designed to educate consumers about the benefits of flowers and the expertise of professional florists." Industry support for the program is broad based with 2,000 retailers, wholesalers, suppliers, importers, and growers contributing to the fund. The national marketing campaign has generated 521 million consumer impressions in 136 markets, and 43 placements in popular national magazines including: Redbook, Fitness, Health, Allure, First for Women, Ladies Home Journal, Working Mother, Today's Black Woman, and Better Homes and Gardens. The Flowers Fundamentals Program has contracted with celebrity spokeperson, Rebecca Cole from Discovery Channel's Surprise by Design, and developed a month-by- month floral gift giving guide. The three key studies currently promoted in the media are: • Emotional Impact of Flowers Study (Rutgers University, 2000) - This study received academic acknowledgement when it was published in The Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. • Flowers & Seniors Study (Rutgers, 2001 ) This study demonstrated that flowers ease depression, inspire social networking, and refresh memory as we age. • The Impact of Flowers & Plants on Workplace Productivity Study (Texas A & M University, 2003). This study showed that problem solving skills, idea generation, and creative perfomiance improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and plants. Credit: SAF Press Release Sept. 2005 The Phmtsnum ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS Dedication of Teaching Herb Garden at Elm Bank The New England Unit of the Herb Society held a dedication ceremony on Tuesday, Aug 23'^ to commemorate this year's completion of the Society's Teaching Herb Garden. The Teaching Herb Garden located at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Elm Bank Horticulture Center in Wellesley, was designed by former chair Marie Stella Brynes. Construction of the garden began in 2001 and additions to the garden over the past 4 years have included the hardscape, hedging, arbors and all signage for the varieties of herbs. The ceremony, which was coordinated by the Herb Society's Member Chair, Jane O'Sullivan, included garden tours and speeches by the Society's Chair Beryl Feldman and Thomas Herrera- Mishler, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. A Ginkgo tree, encircled by bench stands center stage in the herb garden. A variety of themed herb beds radiate from the center. A few noteworthy herb bedsarefragrance,culinary, friendship. Native American and colonial theme garden. Since Oregano is the 2005 Herb of the year a special section of the garden is devoted to a display of different varieties of oregano. The newest bed is the ecumenical bed, featuring plants that have a religious or symbolic importance to the five major religions. Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The public is encouraged to visit the Teaching Herb Garden and attend future Herb Society events and sales at Elm Bank. MASS Horticultural Society Press Release: August, 24, 2005 T^ VAN BERKUM NURSERY Wholesale PcrconiBls and Groundcoinxs \y A top-qualiry source for hardy pereiiiiials and homd to New Englaixi Woodlaixkrsf nursery -propagated natives. We deliver to iaixiscapers and garden centers in New Ei\£;Iand. Come visit,' ^ 0. (fiOi) -0^^-7663 Cranium maathivm 4 J:*n)«Ri^»i, Peerfield, NH 03037 Faut (603) 4<>3-732fi • B-majl: salesi^vanK'rkunnnuisirv-ctHni WINTER 2005 UNH Twilight Meeting Aug. 2005 BY MELISSA MOORE At the UNH Twilight meeting held August 16th, University re- searchers shared results of their most recent studies. The projects underway were right on target and in sync with market is- suess that drive how pro- ducers choose varities to grow. Experienced grow- ers know the best route to success is providing unsurpassed quality and delivering unique varities that are early to market. Whether its cutilowers, ed- ible soybeans, or colored bell peppers crops, with these characteristics (ear- liness, unique color, and flavor) will give growers a competitive advantage. In the area of cut flowers, Cathy Neal planted more than a doz- en varieities suitable for cut flowers. "My goal is to examine their flower- ing habits, the sturdiness of their stems, and each flower's lasting quality in a vase", says Neal. Every variety was planted at a density of 12 plants per seven foot plot. The new Celosia va- riety called Flamingo Feather stands- out head and shoulders above the pack. Its pink flower looks like a tuft of feathers sitting on top of a grace- ful wand. The feathery top is light and airy and promises to hold up well in mixed bouquets. In the Rudbeckia family, Neal favors Prairie Sun. With a pale green center encircled by a ring of lemon- yellow petals, this blooms appears like it mirrors sunshine. Pra- rie Sun is a crowd pleaser that will spur sales. In this ever expanding This beautiful Prairie Sun appears to mir- ror sunlight. A wonderful cut flower for mixed houquels. category, this new Rudbeckia is a keeper. Becky Grube, UNH Extenstion Education in Sustainable Agriculture, tackled some essential questions with high-value vegetables that have the potential to make an important eco- nomic difference to growers. Demand for colored peppers is strong, yet they pose a unique challenge here in the Northeast. Peppers typically need a long season to color-up. Grube explains, "Color development requires an additional 2-3 weeks of frost-free days past mature green, and ripening fruits are increasingly suscep- tible to diseases, insects, and other production prob- lems." Her study focused on Identifying peppers that colored early and would be recommended for New Hampshire growers. She in- cluded 21 different varieties in her study. These varieties were grown in three dif- ferent environments: open field conditions, unvented high tunnels, and vented high tunnels. Preliminary results suggest that there is not a significant difference between peppers grown in high tunnels versus open field conditions. Through- out the study, data was col- lected on the average num- ber of fruits per plant, and the average weight per fruit. Grube said, "The study will wrap up just prior to frost when the number and weight of all remaining (immature) fruits will be recorded." At the August Twilight meeting, colored pepper varieties testing well were Ace and New Ace from John- ny's Selected Seed. Three new variet- ies from a Cornell breeding program 10 The Plantsman were showing good size and color in the trial. Blusing Beauty, an ivory col- ored pepper also earned postive com- ments. Edamame (vegetable soybeans) was the focus of a second variety trial conducted by Grube. These beans are picked when immature (pods 85% filled out). The beans can be steamed in the pod and then shelled for a great finger food, or they can be shelled and cooked just as you would green beans or peas. Edamame is gaining in popularity and can be found in gro- cery stores and restaurants. Bartend- ers are offering them as an alterna- tive to beer nuts. This is one reason why a popular variety is named "Beer Friend." Some other varities grown at the Woodman Farm Trials include BeSweet 2001, Envy, Black Jet, and Black Pearl. Grube explains," Some varieties are highly sensitive to pho- toperiod and will not blossom and set pods until very late in the growing season." Grube set out to identify va- rities with early pod set that would be harvest ready in a typical NH grow- ing season. For more infonnation on these trials contact Becky Grube at 603-862-3203 or becky.grube@unh. edu. Pumpkin and squash, the staples of a grower's fall harvest, were fea- tured at the Twilight Meeting. Brent Loy has conducted breeding trials and selected for compact growth habit, and flavor. In the pumpkin trials, Loy has successfully developed a pump- kin with tasty snack seeds. At the close of the program, par- ticipants were invited to tour the new Otho Wells Classroom. This class- room space was recently renovated to provide a spa- cious conference room at the Woodman Farm. Otho Wells, a former UNH Ex- tension Vegetable Special- ist, thanked everyone for their contributions to the project. It was satisfying to stroll the grounds and see all the work that was un- derway. For a grower to replicate similar studies on their own would not be feasible. To learn more about any of these stud- ies visit the website http:// ceinfo.unh.edu and follow the links for agricultural resources. Becky Grube diii.u:^:-^:< ii^i u.^iuuJi .'.niJic.s al Woodman Farm aimed at improving earliness in high-value crops for vegetable growers. "^ir: Celosia Flamingo Feather is a smart choice for cut flower growers. John Hart left (Woodman Farm Manager) congratulates Olho Wells, retired UNH Extension Educator on the completion of the new Olho Wells classroom at Woodman Farm. WINTER 2005 li If You Are Building A Greenliouse . Call Rimol Greenhouse Systems Gutter Connect Greenhouses Free Standing Greenhouses Call Toll Free 1-877-740-6544 XRIMOLX Greenhouse Systems, Inc. 40 Londonderry Turnpike Hooksett, NH 03106 Call For A Free Catalog Fax 603-629-9023 www.rimol.com 12 The Plantsman MEMBER PROFILE 2005 Open House Events BY MELISSA MOORE Companion foliage adds ex- ceptional texture and color to garden plantings. At Open House events held this summer, foli- age plants captured the spotlight. Bur- gundy and black foliage were popu- lar offerings in a range of heights. In the low-growing, mounded category. Pleasant View Garden's Heuchera Dolce "Licorice" was a standout. The large leaves in deep burgundy are an exceptional foliage accent. The line- up of Oxalis species also from PVG- Proven Winners includes two burgun- dy varieties titled "Charmed Wine" and "Charmed Velvet". For a splash of color in containers or a shady bed these plants are new introductions with a bright future. The Oxalis spe- cies offer unique leaf shapes with pe- tite, white flowers. They will reach a maximum height of 10"- 14". Ajuga 'Black Scallop' is another purple foli- age plant that has a mat growth habit and is dense with leaves. In the mid-range category, an un- surpassed variety for color is Pseu- deranthemum atropurpureum Ru- brum showcased in display gardens at D.S. Cole Growers. This plant, featured in D.S. Cole's Designer se- ries, has won some distinctive honors around the country. It was named a top- 10 winner in the People's Choice competition at the 2004 East Texas A & M Plant Trials. It prefers full sun and will reach maximum heights of T-y. Whenever a planting calls for both height and foliage color, Cordy- line Red Sensation and Pennisetum Rubrum are must-have plants. These upright varieties will stand alone or in combination containers. Cordyline Pulmonaria "Gaelic Spiiiig "prcjcn iluiJc but will light up its spot with its variegated pattern of lime green and dark green coloration. tolerates both full sun to partial shade, but the ornamental grass Pennisetum Rubrum requires full sun. Both of these choices have the potential to reach heights of 3 feet. Ajumbo, black foliage plant that is exceptional in height and leaf size is Colocasi Black Magic. With the common name, El- ephant Ear it's no surprise the Colo- casi's best feature is its broad leaves. In recent years, the family of green foliage plants has grown by leaps and bounds. Some outstand- ing introductions that have a trailing growth are Lysimachia 'Goldilocks' and Vinca Vine 'Illumination'. Other noteworthy, mounding foliage plants include all the Plectranthus species. For the 2005-2006 growing season, two exceptional foliage plants joined this elite group. From PVG's Proven Winners line-up comes the perennial Pulmonaria "Gaelic Spring". It's a shade-lover, but will brighten its sur- roundings with its lime green color and heavily variegated pattern in shades of green. Pulmonaria is a sure bet to fly off the benches ne.xt spring. In shady beds, it is a dependable performer that fills out space with a compact, mounding forni. The Euphorbias are unrivaled in growth habits. Whether it's the variety 'Diamond Frost', 'Ka- lipso' or 'Efanthia', all sport unique foliage and early spring flowers. At the Open House events held in August, both Loudon Growers dis- played many new ornamental grasses. Sedges showed up in the greatest number. Pleasant View Garden show- cased Carex "Leather Leaf Sedge" and Carex "Toffee Twist" in stand alone pots or combination containers. At D.S. Cole Grower's Inc, Carex, "Red Rooster" was a multi-use plant in beds and container plantings. These grasses supply great vertical interest wherever they're planted. Gardeners looking for something new to try are bound to be enthralled with all the new introductions in this category. Ornamental grasses are low mainte- nance and dependable. Gardeners will find success and great visual impact with this plant family. No Open House would be com- plete without a sampling of new flow- ering annuals and perennials. Some fun plants that sport pleasing blos- soms are new introductions in the Lobelia family. The varieties Laguana 'Sky Blue' and 'White' have demon- strated that they are dependable, easy- care performers. The Yubi Series of Portulacas offered by Pleasant View Gardens includes eight different col- ors. These versatile plants are suited for the landscape, baskets, containers, or as ground cover. In the landscape they perform just as they are described in the catalog - "offering dramatic im- WINTER 2005 13 MEMBER PROFILE pact with their almost iridescent col- ors." A mass planting of these would really stop traffic. The Gaura family boasts long- blooming varieties that display light and aiiy flowers in shades of white and pink. The persistent reblooming characteristic of these plants is one of its best features. The delicate blooms on long, arching stems give a planting some vertical interest that's not over- powering. Growers will want to get their customers reacquainted with Phlox. The bold new colors are dramatic and the traditional flower forms have won top-votes in plant trials across the country. PVG's Phlox Intensia Neon Pink and Intensia Lavender Glow will have gardener's ripping up sod to ac- comodate these new choices. In D.S.Cole's All-America Se- lections Display gardens the Zinnia 'Magellan Coral" was superb. It's deep, uniform color and fully double blooms are just two of its outstanding characteristics. This zinnia flowers all summer and doesn't need to be dead- headed. New foliage and blooms will grow up and cover the spent blossoms. 'Magellan Coral" is an easy care plant with basic requirements. It was named an AAS flower award winner in 2005 along with Gaillardia Aristata 'Arizo- na Sun'. Both flowers will bloom over long periods throughout the growing season. 'Arizona Sun' is suitable for use in mixed annual bouquets. Butter- flies find its red and gold coloring al- luring. The 2001 AAS Bedding Plant Winner, Eustoma 'Forever Blue' was at home in its full sun location. The graceful 2 1/2 inch blooms above dense foliage make it stand out from the crowd. During an Open House event, growers can get a good sense of plant size and growth habit for many va- rieties. Whether they're planted in beds or featured alone in containers. In a single pot this sedge creates vertical intei est and dramatic impact IL^ This Zinnia is superb in color and bloom size! Try Magellan Coral Zinnia for cut flowers of in garden beds and containers. In containers: these oxalis are lookiii;^ vigorous. Their unique color and shape are appealing. iliLs hUick Joluii^c plum IS drunuuic. It's a coast-to-coast fa\'orite for full sun plantings. there's no substitute for the real thing. They make the thumbnail photos in the catalogs come alive! No doubt this up-coming winter will be easier to tolerate once the seed and young plant catalogs arrive. The best recipe for beating the winter blues is to pour over plant catalogs and dream about new varieties for the upcoming grow- ing season. Both companies oflFer ex- tensive resources for additional infor- mation on these new plants. You can browse the virtual catalogs over the Internet or hold a paper copy in your hand. Either way, check out what's new from these two NH growers. 14 Tlie Pkmtsimm Oval Color Planter Color Bowl Tewksbury, MA Tel; (978) 851-4346 Fax: (978) 851-0012 Cheshire, CT Tel: (203) 699-0919 Fax: (203) 699-9515 Richmond, VA Tel: (604) 233-3454 Fax: (804) 233-8855 Latham, NV Tel: (518) 78S-350O Fax (518)786-3586 Auburn, NY Tel: (315) 255-1450 Fax: (315) 255-0580 Brookhaveti, NY Tel: (531) 286-8200 Fax: (631} 286-8288 Tel: (609) 530-9120 Fax: (509) 53O-9140 Morganiown, PA Tel: (510) 286-«046 Fax: (610) 286-0012 Bridgelon. NJ Tel: (856) 451-5170 Fax: (856) 451-4873 Gray, ME Tel: (207) 657-5442 Fax (207)657-5459 ^ Bobcat Bobcat of New Hampshire Your Skid Steer Sales and Rental Headquarters W carry the full line of Bobcat equipment and accessories. Come see the innovative new products from Bobcat Company — especially suited for the nursery industry: new combination all-wheel steer/skid-steer loader; Toolcat™ utility work machine with 1,500-lb. capacity. Sales • Service • Parts • Rental Two locations to serve you: Route 102, Hudson, NH (603)579-9955 & Route 4, Chichester, NH (603)224-1234 www.bobcatnh.com WINTER 2005 15 Drive grass and broadleaf weeds out of your operation. I Stop spurge, chickweed, groundsel and other difficult weeds before they start I Killing weeds for Nursery Professionals for over 30 years I Strict quality assurance standards mean every bag meets your high expectations I Excellent technical support and service from Scotts professionals Contact Jocelyn Deneen at 508-479-1344 or jocelyn.deneen@scotts.com. Scotts ...the Scons difference* www.scottsprohort.com • Finisi St'k-clmn ot'NiirsiT)' StiK:k in Nvw England • Pbtit LtxTrilicxi StTvifiN • IIK!p.'ndabb DflK.'iTy thrDugtKHJt New England • Diaxi Ship PrDgram • Exlmsivt' H.irdsrapti' St'ltflion • Ljndscapi'Siipplii.'s • Bulk .VViti^rials • Ice Meiienv'Sand-Sall Mixtures ISorthedst i\iir.s*>/y. Inc. 6 ntirtninn liMcl, Ffcahxty. MA 019M New Prvduct Lines: • Irrisatton ic li;4l>Iins • RhiUiI Center • IUidvv,m-;Ttu.'J5..5247 16 The Plant small 2006 All America Selections Winners Anew trial category was created for the 2006 contest. The goal was to test flower's performance in cool conditions. The AAS Cool Season Bedding Plants Trial is conducted in the fall and spring during 14 months of testing. AAS Cool Season Bedding Plant Judges evaluate entries in the greenhouse and outdoors for improved performance. Qualities such as length of bloom, cold tolerance, winter hardiness and spring recovery are evaluated. Flowers that can be tested in the Cool Season Bedding Plant trial category are alyssum, bellis, calendula, campanula, ornamental cabbage or kale, carnation, delphinium, dianthus, lobelia, lupine, pansy, poppy, ranunculus, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, or viola. Gardeners in the South can rely upon Cool Season Bedding Plant award winners to perform during the winter months. In the North, gardeners will be able to use these AAS Winners and extend the colorful growing season into the fall. The two Cool Season Bedding Plant Award Winners are: Diascia 'Diamonte Coral Rose" Botanical name: Diascia integerimma. The first Fl hybrid diascia, "Diamonte Coral Rose' is improved for early flowering, branching habit, flower production. and length of bloom. 'Diamonte Coral Rose' will flower within 60-70 days. The 8- to 10-inch height and 18-inch spreading habit is perfect for mixed containers where a cascading plant is desirable, or as a low edging plant in a sunny garden. The one-inch rosy coral blooms are produced in spikes on all sides of the plant. The frost tolerant plants can be literally covered with blooms. Viola, 'Skippy XL Red-Gold' Botanical name: Viola corniita This isthe first Viola corinitaXov=^ MANAGER: ERNIE FINNEY FAX: 802-295-4889 BARRINGTON, NH 16 PINKHAM RD. WEST PHONE: (603) 868-7172 MANAGER: JOE REYNOLDS FAX: 603-5 -6522 WINTER 2005 19 Quality Landscape-Grade Plants all season long! tm The Winter Blanket a better way to overwinter your nursery stock Call for info or a product sample 1-800-633-0159 fax: 978-251-0282 Rolling Green Nursery 64 Breakfast Hill Road Greenland, NH 03840 (603) 436-2732 wv\fw.rollinggreennursery.com E-mail: rgln@rcn.com Perennials Vines, Herbs Annuals, Alpines Ornamental Trees & Shrubs Tools & Pottery Statuary & Gifts Display Gardens Aquatics Wholesale Discount Annua! & Perennial Plugs, Plug & Ship, Geraniums, Prefinished Plants, Proven Winners, Bulbs, Holiday Crops, Flowering Plants Joseph Giannino Co. Representing fine growers of quality plant material 17 North Road East Kingston, NH 03827 Office (888)948-2001 FAX(603)642-9230 gt^ Si- year VjOundQarden Center and ')v(w(esa[e (grower of Seasonaf Qreenfuruse Crops. 141 RoUini Road Rolliniford, NH OSSeg Retail f603^ 743^1919 * Wholesale ^603^ 743-1113 Retail (WW) 743-49 19 ■ Wholesale (603) 742-1 1 13 Take Care Of All Your Plant Needs AtgLocatJon! • Northern-Grown Ibees, Evergreens & Shrubs > Expanded Aquatic Area • We Specialize In Specimen Plants • Blooms Of Bressin^am Distributor ODonal's ■irnum«nniiii!MH!iiimimia« Nurseries Ask Aboat Delivery Service O'DOffial's Nurveriaa, Inc. 6 County Rd., RFD #4 Qortiam, ME 04038 Ji-vnciNs Ot Roi i>;s 114 & 22 ■ GomivM. M.\ink (2071 839-4262 • FAX (3071 839-2290 u'U'H-.odonalsnurseriett.com Om-N iiAii.v 7,\M TO 3:30i^i, S.\-n'RiiAV 7.VM n> 4i-ii 20 The Plant swan -^ All Natural Land Care Supplies Offering Natural Fertilizers, Soil Amendments and Environmentally Compatible Pest Controls for the Professional: •Landscaper •Turf Care Expert • Arborist •Nurseryman • Orchardist • Vegetable Grower • and Retail Dealer U^\ NATURE'S TURF 8-1-9 FOR PROFESSIONAL TURF CARE For mora informalion cor^act: North Countiy Organics • Depot St. • Bradford, VT 05033 ph: 802.222.4277 fax: 802.222,9661 email: ncoinfo@norganics.com website: http://vmw.norganics.cQm %, SCENIC NURSERY & Landscaping Growers of quality Trees, Shrubs, Annuals & Perennials Over 7 acres! A full service nursery and greenhouse Check pricing and availability at www.scenicnursery.neft Minimum 15% off to Trade 9 Dudley Road Raymond, NH (603) 895-0236 Rotate for success. BhWot 8G TnAari lAddTruhan®orBanrot® to your rotation for the most effective disease management I No known resistance to the etridiazol found in both after more than 25 years of use I Both deliver exceptional plant safety and cost effectiveness Contact Jocelyn Deneen at 508-479-1344 or jocelyn.deneen@scotts.com. Scotts. ...the Scotts difterence"' www.scottsprohort.com PERRENNIALS -WILDFLOWERS - HERBS For Resale, Lining Out or Containers Cost per 6-Cell Pack: $2.00 Minimum Order: 24 6-Cell Packs 3 6-cell Packs of one variety Mix and Match - UPS - 200 Varieties Call for availability and complete list WEBBER'S DUBLIN NURSERY RO. Box 266, Dublin, NH 03444 (603)563-8180 (603)563-8272 Javo Standard Potting Machine For Sale In working order including an automatic pot dispenser. Will work with pots up to and including 10" hanging baskets. Requires 3 phase 208 volt power and compressed air. If you do not have 3 phase power onsite, it can be created using a Rotophase. Asking $2,900. Call Bob at D.S. Cole Growers 603-783-9561 WINTER 2005 21 Providing you with the best product possible is just the beginning, and not the end, of our relationship with you. Pleasant View Gardens lives by the belief that we are only successful if we protect our greatest asset — our customers. JP# Our CorriTTiJtrnent, ^ *:^%. Your Growth. You can count on us for all of your floriculture needs, for any season, now and in the future. ^^Pleasant • H ~ INNOVATIONS IN Fl INNOVATIONS IN FLORICULTURE PLEASANT VIEW GARDENS 7316 Pleasant Street • Loudon, New Hampshire 03307-1616 • Phone: 1 .800.343.4784 • Fax; 603.435.6849 • Web: wwwpvg.com • E-mail: sales@pvg.com i Pleasant View Gardens All Rights Reserved Complete Landscape Supplies "The landscape professional's choice for unique, landscape size plant materials" ♦ Largest tree &. shrub inventory in Seacoast NH ♦ Accessible & convenient location at Stratham Circle (Rte. 108/33) ♦ Informative tree and shrub tagging system ♦ Quality ♦ Selection ♦ Friendly & knowledgeable staff (603) 778-3711 FAX: (603) 778-3773 Monday to Saturday, 7-7; Sunday, 9-5 Other hours arranged by appointment STRATHAM CIRCLE Nursery fe- Landscape B a HART'S 'seeds' QUALITY SINCE 1192 New England's Leading Full Line Seed House • Packet Seeds • Lawn Seed • Fertilizer • Grounds Maintenance Chemicals 1 (800) 326-HART FAST. COURTEOUS SERVICE The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. P.O. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD, CT 06129-0169 1 (800) 326-HART 22 The Plantsman Golden glow Chamaecyparls pislfera 'Bright Gold' (Gold Thread Cypress) Bright yellow foliage graces this selected variety of Gold Thread. Medium growing evergreen shrub (to 1 0' x 1 0'), 'Bright Gold' does well in full sun or ^ partial shade within Zones jC^ 4-8. Prefers moist, loamy, * well-drained soil, humid climate and lime-free soils. A top seller for landscape designers. Call for our catalog of over 350 moody ^ ornamental liners or order online. Sold in 3" pots in trays of 32. WESTERN MAINE NURSERIES ;t T NURSERY Raymond. NH Specializing In Wholesale Perennials Grounded In Quality 1 and 2 gallon containers Call to request our current plant availability. Delivery available 3 Split Rock Lane Raymond, NH Phone: 603-244-1224 "Tfie Geranium Specialists" Wholesale Qrowers 2 1/2" Geraniums (year round) 4" Pre-finished Geraniums 2 1/2" Ivy Geraniums & Fuchsia Martha Washington Geraniums Spring Hanging Baskets, Lilies/Bulbs Azaleas, Cyclamen, Poinsettias, Foliage J.B. CARPENTER & SON, INC. 603/659-3391 220 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET , NH 03857 The Ultimate Tool for Your Landscaping Needs 7 Person Crew Cab, Automatic transmission When manpower makes the difference, this truck is for YOU! A 2003 Mitsubishi FESP 7 Person Crew Cab In Stock Liberty International Trucks OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, LLC 1 4DD South Willuw Street • Manchester nh D3 1 03-40*77 Phone . 603-623-aBV3 . SDD-5Ei Z-3 a 1 4. (Sales fax) 603 ez3-0653 . inrricE Fax] e03-G4 1-?4S& • $250 Cash rebate with copy of this ad on first purchase < WINTER 2005 23 Hardy, northern-grown nursery stock 2SI \oilh vm^e Rciad Loudon. NH Oi507 (603) 783-9561 Fax (605> 7S,i <;5*.2 vvmv.dstolcmMt'rs.tiim PS. COLE Growers T.'tC:: Founded over a century ago, Sherman Nursery continues to offer the finest selection of nursery stock the industry has to offer. frees shrubs evergreens roses fruit trees small fruit perennials Contaa your professional Sherman Nursery sales % representative today. Frank Thomann phone 800-431-6625 fax 860-561-4130 Email fetsalesis>comcast.net Growing With America Since IS 1-800-747-5980 www.shermannursery.com GardenScape JSfURSERY Building Relationships through Quality Plants from Select Growers (802)751-8400 (802) 751-8124 fax P.O. Box 350, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 mfo@newenglandnurserysales.com SC H I C H T E L'S Diverse Inventories from Regional Growers, Every Week with No Minimums! 1-800-639-1722 Mft»CMX:JU£ W,ifC5(BYMlN 24 The Plant small HOW ABOUT HERBS Plants To Dye For (or, Natural Plant Dyeing) BY MADDY PERRON To some, the definition of an herb is any useful plant. For years, creative individuals have studied plants and their varied parts to see what raw materials can be derived from them. Some are used in cooking, medicines, crafts, and even as dyeing agents for fibers and fabrics. Using plants for natural dyeing is an ancient craft that dates back to even before people began to spin yam and weave cloth. Plant juices and colored earth were used as a colorant to stain the skin. A blue dye from the woad plant was used by the ancient Picts to frighten the enemy. The North American tribes used plants called puccoons to draw red decorative patterns on their skin. Walnut hulls were used in Europe to darken the skin for traveling into unfriendly territory. Most dye plants were discovered thousands of years ago, when people communed with the outdoors, investigating everything in nature. This way many plant uses were discovered through trial and error. Wild harvesting for nourishment, medicines, weaving and dyeing, was away of life. Through tradition, certain colors ended up being cultural symbols of religion and class status. The garbs of kings and priests were dyed with the choice, rare colors such as blue and purple that were costly and difficult to obtain. Through tradition, colors have continued to symbolize events such as red and green for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween, pink for baby girls and blue for boys. Dyeing was a skilled craft among the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. In the Middle Ages, professional guilds were started in the textile business. There was much rivalry between guilds and some dyers tried to steal trade secrets. In colonial U.S. the dyer's trade was again perfonned by trained craftsmen, having learned their skill in European dye shops. By the 19* century, synthetic dyes came into use and commercial dye workshops used large vats to handle long bolts of fabric. There were still pioneer women who dyed their own homespun yardage, but those who could afford to would purchase finished fabric. Few people in this day and age attempt to dye their own fiber or fabric. I had the fortunate opportunity to interview a woman here in New Boston who had years of experience at natural dyeing. Cheryl came to my house well equipped with samples of wool, some of which she had actually spun herself She had cards with pieces of yam tied to the edges in many colors and shades with notations on how each color was obtained. Cheryl once worked at a fann museum in Michigan where she gave instruction on natural dying. Plants were wild harvested and heated up to extract the desired colors. Dressed in period garb, she worked over a campfire, dipping wool into a cauldron of prepared dye and explaining the details of plant dyeing. When dyeing, a mordant ( mord meaning to bite ) is added to the dye bath to help penetrate or "bite" into the fiber. The most popular mordant is a combination of alum and cream of tartar. Many mordants are metallic in nature such as copper, tin, iron, and chrome. Vinegar can heighten the color, especially reds. Ammonia has the ability to draw the color out of the plant materials, especially grasses and lichen. Different mordants used with the same plant material can obtain a different shade of the same color, even in some cases, a totally different color. Wild crafted materials used in dyeing include herbs, flowers, grasses, lichen, berries, bark and even insects. Shades of red can be obtained from sumac, mountain cranberry, pokeweed berries, madder, blackberries, lichen and cochineal (insects). Yellows and golds are available in cosmos, coneflower, yarrow, coreopsis, onionskins, and rhododendron leaves. Carrot tops as well as evemia (a lichen ) with copper sulfate as a mordant produce a nice green dye. Blues are the most difficult colors to obtain with woad and indigo being the main sources. I was amazed at all the different shades of yellow, gold, green and mst as well as all the variations due to diflFerent mordants. Mother Nature has provided us with quite an extensive palette of colors. My chat with Cheryl tumed out to be very infomiative. I even finagled an invite to her next dyeing party, where her spinner and weaver friends experiment with different plant materials. Her enthusiasm was contagious and I'm anxious to meet some of her friends. After all, they are a dyeing breed. Maddy Perron is a Master Gardener with a special interest in herbs. WINTER 2005 25 Grow with us. [And help us grow!) ALL-PURPOSE CONTAINER MIX READY TO USE, FOR INDOOR & OUTDOOR PLANTS The New Hampshire Horticulture Endowment (NHHE) was founded in 1997 as an extension of the New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association. Each year, the NHHE grants money to researchers working on related issues in the field of horticulture that will assist New Hampshire Plant Growers. Proceeds from the sale of this soil will help this fund grow. And your support in making this purchase helps make New Hampshire a greener place to live. For more information, or to place an order, please contact John Gerken of Gerken Horticultural Sales, sBw H*Mr,B..E 59 Old Rabbit Hollow Road. Swanzey, NH 03446. T^l ;5 -nf Telephone (603) 357-3734 ^— ^ A JLcix 11. 0remaiij_gerken@m5n.com Growers QUAUTT CA>OEN CENTMS k CKOWIItS • X For each bag purchased. $1.00 goes to horticultural research for New Hampshire. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President CHRIS SCHLEGAL BRETT ANDRUS D.S. Cole Churchill's Garden Center 427 Loon Pond Rd., Gilmanton, NH 03237 12 Hampton Rd., Exeter, NH 03833 603-783-9561 603-772-2685 RICK SIMPSON Executive Director Rolling Green Landscape & Nursery NANCY ADAMS 64 Breakfast Hill Rd., Greenland, NH 03840 25 Riverbend Rd., Newmarket. NH 03857 603-436-2732 603-292-5238 email; NHPGA@comcast.net .TOHN WELLS Rimol Greenhouse .Systems Inc. Directors 40 Londonderry Tnpk.. GLENN CARON Hooksett,NH03106 Scenic Nursery & Landscaping 1-877-746-6544 9 Dudley Rd.. Raymond, NH 03077 603-895-0236 BRYAN WENTWORTH Wentvvorth Greenhouses ROBERT DEMERS 141 Rollins Rd,, Rollingsford. NH 03869 Demers Garden Center 603-742-1113 656 S. Mamniouth Rd.. Manchester, NH 03103 Extension Liasison 603-437-6336 CATHERINE NEAL UNH Department of Plant Biology JOHN McPTLML 113SpauldingIIall, Gold Star Nursery. Canterbury. NH 03224 38 College Rd,, Durham, NH 03824 603-783-4596 603-862-3208 Current New Hampshire retailers selling New Hampshire Plant Growers Container Mix include: _ Barn Store of New England LLC, Salisbury Barrett's Greenhouse, Swanzey Bedford Fields Agway, Bedford Churchill's Garden Center Inc., Exeter Coil's Garden Center, Jaffrey Demer's Garden Center. Manchester Dodges Agway, Hampton Evergreen of Rye, Rye Hillside Meadows Agway, Tilton House By The Side Of The Road, Wilton J,B. Carpenters Son Inc., Newmarket Lake Street Garden Center, Salem Longacre Nursery Center Lebanon Mill Gardens, Hanover Nicole's Greenhouse, Concord Rolling Green Landscaping, Greenland Scenic Nursery and Landscape, Inc., Raymond Shady Hill Greenhouses, Londonderry Spider Web Gardens, Tuftonboro Warners Garden Shop, Newport Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford 26 ne Planisman PIONEER POINTERS Is Your Business at Risk? We all have check-ups in our lives-healthcare check-ups, dental check-ups, perfor- mance check-ups at work, auto check- ups at the shop, and on and on. But when was the last time you perfonned a Risk Management check- up? Specifically, we're talking about an assessment of the degree to which your business is exposed to potential threats that can do serious hann to your bottom line. Just as a periodic physical exami- nation helps ensure that your body won't break down, a Risk Manage- ment check-up achieves the same ob- jective for your business. Now you can get this done in just a few minutes, anytime of day, and it won't cost you a cent. It is absolutely FREE. Just log on to the Internet Risk Management Check-up Web link be- low, respond to a few questions about your business, submit your completed questionnaire, and you're done. ... and you'll get instant feedback. The purpose is to profile the level of risk in your business in seven key management risk areas: Production Marketing Human Resources Financial Estate Planning Legal Crop Insurance It is a great way to discover: - strong and weak spots in your farm operation regarding overall risk to your business - areas where you might need to focus efforts on minimizing exposure to a potential business catastrophe. To get started, just visit the Web link below, respond to a few multiple choice questions and click on Cal- culate. Once you have calculated, you then receive a Risk Management Score. In addition, you also receive ad- vice about your current position, steps you might take to enhance/improve your situation and "go to" resourc- es (e.g., attorney, lender, insurance agent) that provide assistance in spe- cific areas. There is no risk in completing it! The questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Above all, it is an important step in helping to ensure the long term viability of your farm operations. So log in now to the fol- lowing link: www.firstpioneer.com/risk First Pioneer Fami Credit pro- vides financial services to the green industry. Their services include re- cordkeeping/accounting support ser- vices, tax preparation/tax planning, credit, leasing, consulting, appraisals and payroll. For more infomiation about any of the above financial ser- vices, please call the Bedford, NH branch otfice at 1-800-825-3252. Funding for the development of the Internet Risk Management Check-up Tool was provided through a grant from the USDA Risk Management Agency in partnership with the Mas- sachusetts Department of Agricul- tural Resources and the New England Small Fami Institute. GOL Product Experts, Caring People TAR and of Course, Beautiful Plants For Over 50 Years, Gold Star Has OfTered the Products and Services that Help Your Business Grow 1 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA 02420 250 West Road, Canterbury, NH 03224 800.631.3013 Fax: 7B 1. 86 1. 7608 800.648.8873 Fax: 603.783.4596 Trust the product and service Experts goldstarnurseries.com WINTER 2005 27 Newton Greenhouse Quality Plants Qreen & Flowering Cut Snapdragons & Lisianthus — Year Round Cut Tulips & Iris — Seasonally 32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 603-382-5289 fax 603-382-0632 Liscensed propagatorof New Guinea Impatiens Garden Center Greenhouses, Nursery, and Gift Shop Handmade Gifts and Decorations 656 South Mamnnoth Road (Rte. Manchester , NH 03109 (603) 625-8298 28A) NURSERY^ 1028 Hofseneck Road - Westport, NM 02790 508-636-4573 Fax 508-636-3397 www.SylvanNurserv.com Landscapers and Garden Centers . . . See What SYLVAN has to offer! ^ Trees, Shrubs, Groundcovers >^ Specimens m.^ Heather 8c Heath Native & Sea Shore Plants Perennials, Grasses, Roses Coll, Fax or E-mail to request our catalog GET A GOLDONI 2-Wheel tractors from Goldoni & OESCO, Inc. Introducing the JOLLY PRO Diesel VERSATILE! • Reversible handlebars • 3 side handlebar positions 4 forward, 4 reverse gears PTO for more than 30 attachments See our website tor details WWW. oescoinc. com/goldoni or call for a demonstration. litENGINES Kowosoki 27hp Gns Vonguotd 26.5hp Osl Vonguord31hpG(K Vonguard31hpTuiboOsl l^minute" MQUNT attachments t Versatility By Design The 4200\/XD Compact Articulating Tractor is professional grade. Ventrac's innovative design of an articulating, oscillating frame, combined with All-Wheel Drive allows you to maneuver around abslacles and traverse a variety of terrain. P.O. Box 540, Rte. 116 • Conway, MA 01341 800-634-5557 • 413-369-4335 • FAX 413-369-4431 info@oescoinc.com • www.oescoinc.com 28 The Plant smart ^nte NEW HAMPSHIRE -^ '^ . .__,^ . - ^Hant Membership Drive! QUALITY GARDEN CENTERS ^g jjj.g looRIng foF ?i fcw good (hcw) membcrs. WHO DO YOU KNOW? New garden centers, growers, florists, allied industry professionals, etc. The more members we have in our organization, the more we can do for you and our industry. WHY JOIN? Here are just a tew of the many reasons: TWILIGHT MEETINGS. A chance to visit horticultural operations around the state, talk with your colleagues, and see how another business solves the same problems you have. SUMMER TRADE SHOW. Our big event! An opportunity to meet directly with your suppliers, make new contacts, and enjoy a great barbecue. THE PLANTSMAN. The best horticultural association publication in the Northeast. Free with every paid membership. Helps keep you up to date on our industry events, news, and legislation, along with timely articles for better business management. CLOUT. The more members, the more clout we'll have on the political front in Concord. In 1999 we helped pass legislation that allows non-permanent structures (hoop houses) a tax-exempt status. Membership Application Please complete the information below. Firm Operator Address Zip Code Telephone Fax E-Mail Nursery D Florist □ Greenhouse D Garden Center Q Other D Wholesale D Retail D Would you be willing to serve on a NHPGA Committee? Yes D No D MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES (please check one) O Companies with 1-4 full-time employees $75.00 D Companies with 5-10 full-time employees $100 n Companies with 11-20 full-time employees $125 lU Companies with 21 or more lull-time employees $150 n Associate Membership $100 n Student Membership $15 CD Employee of Member Company (can be mailed to your home) tor $15 d Senior Rate (60 + years) $50 I hereby apply for membership and agree to abide by the by-laws established by the New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association. Signature Date Please send application and check to: New Hampshire Plant Growers Association • 25 Riverbend Rd. • Newmarket, NH 03857 WINTER 2005 This is Credit. / • i^ Actually, it's a poinsettia. But to the greenhouse operator, loans and leases structured to the unique cycles of their business let them get more product to market. Farm Credit understands. We're more than rates: we're results. How the market's moving, where new equipment fits in, when facility expansion makes sense — our in-depth knowledge and in-person service make all the difference. Call Farm Credit: for generations, we've been the leader in helping all types of ag businesses blossom. A Farm Credit Bedford, NH 603/472-3554 800/825-3252 Newport, VT 802/334-8050 800/370-2738 White River Junction, VT 802/295-3670 800/370-3276 NHPGA 25 Riverbend Road Newmarket. NH 03857 NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit 57 Lowell MA ^J^ NEW HAMPSHIRE J* Plant Growers QUALITY GARDtN CENTERS & GROWERS