"There ivas a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion ..." See page 2^. EW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION EC EMBER 1998 / JANUARY 1999 w. re liavc a special name for the trees that come from our famis — ^ArcticMist.™ When you order ArcticMist,"'' you are not just buying 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 achie\e maximum c|ualit> control. All ArcticMistT'^ trees are heavily needled and have dense conical shapes. Their lovely blue color, rich fragrance, and good needle retention make them ideal Christmas trees. Fraser, balsam, white spaice, and pine (white, scotch, and red) are available. In addition, we are introducing fralsam, a fraser-balsam cross. Wreaths are also available. Since our famis are in New Hampshire and Vemiont, we harvest our trees later in the season than many other growers. We also do everything we can to minimize moisture loss after harvest and during shipping. You 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 arri\ e individually wrapped and ready for sale. All you need to do is remove the wrappers and set the trees out — no broken branches, no last minute trimming. T lo place an order, or to receive specific information about this year's trees: Call us at 800/694-8722 or 603/237-5702. Send us a fax at 603/23 7-8439. Or \vrite to us at 38 Bridge St.. Colebrook, NH 03576. Our internet address is http://ww\v. sibgotree.com SibgoTree Company We tiiww what you want for Cfmstmas\ *w: .rcti( :M is L^f^^ Remember, you can only buy ArcticMisP^ at SiBgo Tree Company. CALENDAR CONTENTS 5( January 5 Greenhouse IPM Workshop, Long- fellow's Greenhouse, Manchester, ME; Margaret Skinner at 802-656-5440 6 Greenhouse IPM Workshop, UNH, Durham, NH; 802-656-5440 6-7 New England Tree Fruit Meet- ing AND Trade Show, Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center, Sturbridge, MA; Bill Lord at 603- 862-3203 7 Greenhouse IPM Workshop, UVM, Burlington, VT; 802-656-5440 12-13 Connecticut Nurserymen's Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show, Radisson Hotel, Cromwell; 203-445-0110 W 13 New Hampshire Plant Grow- ers Association/New Hampshire Landscape Association Winter Meeting, Highlander Hotel, Manches- ter; Tim Wolfe at 603-893-5858 19 Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MeLNA) Trade Show; Sheraton Tara, South Pordand; Edith Ellis at 207-225-3998 19-20 Rhode Island Educational Meeting, Annual Meeting, and Trade Show, Doubletree Hotel, Goat Island, Newport; 1-800-758-9260 28-30 New England Grows! Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; 508-653-3009 February 5 MeLNA Recertification Work- shop; Falmouth Country Club, Falmouth, ME; 207-225-3998 5-6 Farm and Forest Exposition ("Celebrate a Century of Agriculture and Forestry Progress"), Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn and Conference Center, Manchester, NH; Susan Rice at 603-271-3788 9 Second Annual Stockbridge School Job Fair, Campus Center, UMass, Amherst, MA; 413-545-2222 16 Symposium on Mycorrhizae, Stockbridge Hall, UMass, Amherst, MA; Kathleen Carroll at 413-545-0895 16 Vermont Small Fruit and Veg- etable Growers Meeting, Holiday Inn, Rutland; Scott Pfister or Jon Turmel at 802-828-2431 17 Seminar: "Nutrient Management in the Nursery and Landscape," con- currently in Amherst and Bridgewater, MA; Kathleen Carroll at 413-545-0895 1 7 Vermont Association of Profes- sional Horticulturalists Winter Meeting, Holiday Inn, Rutland; Scott Pfister at 802-828-2431 18-21 Sixth Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show ("Gardens of the Future"), Rhode Is- land Convention Center, Providence; Nancy Syme at 1-800-766-1670 18-21 Eighteenth Annual Connecti- cut Flower and Garden Show ("A Garden to Celebrate"), Connecticut Expo Center, Hardbrd; 860-529-2123 26 Fifth Annual Ecological Land- scaping Association Winter Confer- ence ("Ecology and the Managed Land- scape"), Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA; Nancy Askin at 978-897-7490 March 2-4 Second Annual New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show (NERTCS), Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence; 401-848-0004 4 Thompson School Horticulture Curriculum Green Job Fair, Strafford Room, Memorial Union Building, UNH, Durham, NH; Rene Gingras at 603-862-1097 5-7 Vermont Flower Show ("The Wizard of Oz"), Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Burlington; 802-244-5327 10-14 Portland Flower Show, Portland Company Complex, Port- land, ME; 207-225-3998 1 1 Community Tree Conference ("Storms over the Urban Forest"), UMass, Amherst; Dennis Ryan at 413-545-6626 13-21 New England Flower Show ("Artistry in the Garden"), Bayside Exposition Center, Boston, MA; 617-536-9280 17 Perennial Plant Conference, Bishop Center, University of Con- necticut, Storrs; Mark Brand at 860- 486-2930 Departments 3 FROM THE BOARD 5 FORUM 7 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS 1 1 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS Features 19 New Varieties Abound David Giurle 20 Native Notes: Witch Hazel Nancy Surette 21 MEMBER PROFILE Eagle Mountain Evergreens 23 Thyme for Tea Tanya Jackson 26 Tax Laws That May Affect You Theresa Murphy Columns 9 KIWI CORNER Paul Fisher 15 Z NOTES Jim Zablocki 17 PIONEER POINTERS 25 THE GREEN SPOT Mike Cherim Credits Front cover, pages 19, 23, and back cover; illustrations by John Tenniel from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Page 20, illustration by L.E. Partelow; page 22, illustration by J. Elton Lodewick; both from Trees of Northeastern United States by H.P. Brown. The Plantsman is published in early February, April, June, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the first of each prior month. While camera-ready ads arc preferred, set-up assistance is available at a nominal fee. Free classified advertising is offered as a member service. Wc will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two issues of The Plantsman. AD SIZE 6i Ix 3 3/8"w X 2 l/4"h $150 $30 3 3/8"w X 4 3M"h $200 $40 7"w X 2 l/4"h $200 $40 7"w X 4 5/8"h $300 $75 7"w 9 l/2"h $500 $100 For further information, please contact the editor: Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham, NH 03824, 603-862-206 1 ; or PC Box 5, Ncwfields, NH 03856, 603-778-8353. 1998 . JANUARY 1999 > 1 f i Is What We Grow At MiUican Nurseries. / .r We're very serious about biological pest control. Are you ready? The Green Spot, Ltd. 603/942-8925 WHOLESALE SUPPLffiR OF NURSERY & WETLAND STOCK TO THE TRADE. ^^^ I NURSERIES, INC. HERBACEOUS & WOODY WETLAND PLANTS -ORNAMENTALS -GROUNDCOVERS PERENNIALS -VINES DEALER FOR BON TERRA WETLAND FABRICS CONTRACT GROWING AVAILABLE 24 BUZZELL RD, BIDDEFORD, MAINE 04005 (207) 499-2994 (207)282-7235 FAX: (207) 499-2912 CALL FOR A QUOTATION OR A COPY OF OUR CATALOG. -WE DELIVER- Northem Grown Trees Evergreens Shrubs Mon-SaL 7:00 - 5;30 Sun: 9:00 - 5:00 O'DONAL'S NURSERIES Located at juncnon of routes 22 & 114 Gorham, Maine 04038 Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364 Fax 207-839-2290 We specialire in growing specimen plant materials ROM THE BOARD A Horticulture Tour The Netherlands and Germany, August, 1998 PETER VAN BERKUM Should I feel guilty for being here? I'm in a huge, clean, glass greenhouse surrounded by sub- merged beds of healthy water plants. Outside are acres and acres of beautiful gardens and produc- tion fields. In front of me are tables of the most exotic mix of dried fish, cooked fish, sausage, meats, vegetables, fruits, wine, and beer imaginable. I thought I'd come to Germany to grind through long days of box lunches and swollen feet. But no — these people know how to tour nurseries. This August I had the opportu- nity to go on a tour of nurseries, gardens, and breeding stations in The Netherlands and Germany. The first three days were in The Netherlands with ten other Ameri- can nursery people. We were guided by a nurseryman from Booskoop, the country's main nursery district. After that, we moved on to a conference of the ISU (Internationale Stauden- Union, the European version of the Perennial Plant Association). Nearly 700 people, representing 13 countries, attended. The Netherlands is known in the horticulture world for automa- tion and cooperative marketing. Most of the perennial nurseries we visited were not as technically ad- vanced as the cut flower, bulb, or vegetable operations for which Holland is known. What we saw were some wonderfully organized, neat operations that had plants that we think of as unusual in common circulation. Perhaps my favorite place was a retail nursery that grew only perennials. Named De Hessenhof and in the town of Ede, this place was both beautiful and efficient, two qualities that are difficult to combine successfully. They propagated and grew a very wide range of perennials, specializ- ing in shade and sun plants, and did it all in the most organized fashion imaginable. They had a good automated potting system and were using capillary irrigation on many of their beds, recirculat- ing the water. They also had some innovative ideas in signage that we will try to incorporate here at our nursery. On top of all this, they were in touch with every renowned plant breeder that I had ever heard of and were growing their plants and experimenting with all kinds of new plants being bred. The Netherlands is known for its cooperation among growers in marketing and procuring hard- goods. We saw a good example of this when we visited several nurs- eries that were part of an informal cooperative. They realized that they each had their own specialties and that they couldn't efficiently grow everything themselves. So they had each grower grow his own specialty for all the other nurseries. Then, as the busy season approached, they distributed all the plants around to the different nurseries so each would have a good selec- tion. It was an interesting lesson in trust between businesses and it seemed to be working well. From Holland, we took a wild train ride to Hannover, Ger- many, and the ISU Congress. Over the next six days, we visited nurs- eries and trial gardens of all de- scriptions, from fairly simple fam- ily-run operations to highly techni- cal ones. One of my favorite stops was the Jelitto Staudensamen (pe- rennial seed) Company, an inter- national supplier of perennial seed. We got to see how they clean seeds with all sorts of machines, how they store large quantities of thousands of varieties, and how they pack and ship. A nice opera- tion. We saw large outdoor nurseries using traveling boom irrigation. We saw capillary irrigation beds that we will try out in our own nursery next year. One interesting point is that in both Holland and Germany, the norm is to grow plants in 1 1 -centimeter (about 4.5 inches) pots. There was very little being grown in the one- and two- gallon so common here. I think this can be attributed to a more educated gardening public and I don't doubt that this trend will eventually reach us here. In Eschede, we visited an amaz- ing aquatic plant nursery called Jorg Petrowsky. Perhaps ten acres were filled with outdoor sunken water beds, glass houses with sunken beds, and poly tunnels also with water beds. The quality and efficiency was amazing. They ship their water plants all over Europe. What I found interesting was that many marginal water plants (i.e., Lobelia cardinalis. Iris pseudacorus, and Caltha palustris) that are grown here as dry plants are grown beautifully in flooded beds. They also had a huge pond with water lilies of every description. It was quite a sight to see all in bloom side-by-side. And what a range of colors. DECEMBER 1998 .JANUARY 1999 Some new plants to keep an eye out for include a new purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea 'Rubenstern,' that was just starting to break into the market. It has very thick stems, huge intense blossoms, and the best overall ap- pearance of any echinacea I have ever seen. It will be introduced into the United States in the next couple years and I suspect it will become the standard. Another good plant was Orig- anum 'Rosenkopel.' Currently, the only ornamental oregano com- monly available is 'Herrenhausen,' a beautiful and under-used plant with dark foliage and dark pink flowers blooming throughout of the summer. 'Rosenkopel' has all these attributes, but its blooms are nearly twice the size. I suspect this plant will enter the American mar- ket in the next few years as well. Plants of particular interest to me were some of the species of Dryas, a circumpolar evergreen plant with anemone-like blooms and cloudy- looking seed heads. It forms a nice groundcover and we are going to try to get some of these and see how well they do in New Hampshire. I came home well-fed and with my head swimming with new ideas on plants and systems. It was an experience-of-a-lifetime. I would encourage anyone to do sort of thing — for the fun of it and for the endless educational possibilities. Peter van Berkum is co-owner of Van Berkum Nursery, Deerfield. Winter/Spring Horticulture Courses at the Thompson School T'he Thompson School at UNH offers a wide selection of courses in ornamental horticulture, a portion of which are listed below. Note that some may have prerequisites (experience or course work). The spring semester runs from January 19 through May 10, 1999. Half-term 1 runs from January 19 through March 12; half-term 2, March 22 through May 10. HT227B Horticultural Facilities Management M 8-9 2 cr HT234 HT236 Pest Management: Diseases TTh 5:40-7pm; one lab: 7-9pm (half-term 1) 2 cr Pest Management: Insects MWF 10-11; lab: Th 10-12 or 2-4 (half-term 2) 2 cr Floral Design: Weddings TTh 5:40-8pm (half-term 2) 2 cr New Directions in Floral Design TTh 5:40-8pm (half-term 1) 2 cr Flower Show Design and Construction T 12-1 1 cr HT244 HT246 HT250 HT256 Horticultural Pruning F 2-5 2 cr HT258 Herbaceous Ornamental Plants Th 10-12 2 cr HT261 Interior Plants and Plantscaping T 12:30-3:30 2 cr HT266 Garden Design and Culture W 10-12, 1-4 (half-term 2) 2 cr HT268 Sustainable Planting Design T 2-5 2 cr HT272 Landscape Design Studio F 12-5 4 cr HT276 Bedding Plant Production W 10-12, 1-4 (half-term 1) 2 cr HT280 Garden Center Management M 10-12, 1-4 (half-term 2) 2 cr HT284 Nursery Production and Management M 10-12, 1-4 (half-term 2) 2 cr HT 288 Horticultural Business Management MW 6-8pm 4 cr You can enroll by phoning the Division of Continuing Education at 603-862-2015. For information on course content, the part-time associate's degree program, or the diploma in landscape horticulture, call 603-862-1035. Additional horticulture courses are offered at the UNH Department of Plant Biology. WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 acres of quality plants Wntc for catalog Member MNA. NENA Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls. MA 01376 Telephone 4 13 863 2510 s [tewart^ NURSERY, Inc AOE SOS Dave Howell Because of UNH budget problems, the Adult and Occupational Educa- tion program (AOE) is being re- viewed for the possible elimination of the undergraduate teacher option. On December 17, those who are in- terested in looking at the future of ag education in the state of New Hampshire are invite to attend our Ag Ed 2020 meeting which will be held at the Thompson School of Applied Science at UNH. The pro- gram begins at 3 pm and will run until 5. Refreshments are served at 2:30. For information, contact Dr. Richard Barker, State Department of Education, at 603-271-3885 or Dave Howell at 603-862-1760. We hope to see representation from business and industry to show the importance of our ag education programs throughout the state. Cutting the teacher educa- tion program will have an effect on filling our high school teaching positions as people retire or leave the profession. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Membership Drive! WE ARE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD NEW MEMBERS. WHO DO YOU KNOW? Pass this on to someone who'd benefit from membership. The more members we have, the more we can do for you and our industry. WHY JOIN? Twilight Meetings. 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! Meet directly with your suppliers, make new contacts, and enjoy a great barbecue. The Plantsman. The be horticultural association publication in the Northeast. Free with every paid membership. Legislative Issues. More members means more clout on the political front in Concord. Firm Operator Address Zip Telephone Fax E-Mail No Nursery Florist Greenhouse Garden Center Other Wholesale Retail Would you be willing to serve on a NHPGA Committee? Yes MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES (please check one) MEMBER: Someone actively engaged in the horticulture industry or allied professional. Annual dues $50.00. STUDENT MEMBER: Full-time student of horticulture-related studies. Annual dues $15.00. EMPLOYEE MEMBER: Employee of member firm in good standing. Annual dues $15.00 Please send applicadon and check to: New Hampshire Plant Growers' Associadon 56 Leavitt Rd. Hampton, NH 03842 HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 109-111 Essex St., Haverhill, MA 01830, (978)373-6838, (800)244-0332 We cater to the small and medium size nursery in any quantity desired. I. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. 5. Wire baskets untreated and no-rot treated 6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners 2. Open burlap bags 7. Truck covers 3. New windbreak burlap 8. Sisal twine and poly twine 4. Balling bags 9. Woven polypropylene sqs. DECEMBER 1998 . JANUARY 1999 Complete "The landscape professional's choice for unique, landscape size plant materials" ♦ Largest tree & shrub inventory in Seacoast NH ♦ Accessible & convenient location at Stratham Circle (Rtc. 108/33) ♦ Informative tree and shrub tagging system ♦ Quality ♦ Selection * Friendly & knowledgeable staff (603) 778-371 1 FAX: (603) 778-3773 Monday to Saturday, 7-7; Sunday, 9-5 Other hours arranged by appointment STRATHAM CIRCLE Nursery & Landscape Supplies i 1 Rolling Green Landscaping & Nursery 500 varieties of perennials ••> Annuals & herbs Ornamental trees, shrubs & vines ♦> Trellises Wholesale prices available ♦; Call for 1998 listing 64 Breakfast Hill Rd., Greenland, NH (Next to 1-95) 603-436-2732 STEENBURG & CALLIORAS THE AUCTION PROFESSIONALS, INC: AUCTIONEERS Archie Stecnburgh 603/989-5690 Route 10, Haverhill, NH 03765 Peter Callioras, C A I 603/868-1070 Calef Highway (Lcc), Dover, NH 03820 QUALITY New England's Leading Full Line Seed House • Packet Seeds • Lawn Seed • Fertilizer • Grounds Maintenance Chennicals 1 (800) 326-HART FAST, COURTEOUS SERVICE The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. P.O. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD. CT 061 29-01 69 1 (800) 326-HART WEBBER'S DUBLIN Nursery PERENNIAL SIX-PACKS WHOLESALE PRICE LIST PERENNIALS ♦ HERBS * WILDFLOWERS 150 Varieties in 6-cell packs UPS Shipping Available WEBBER'S DUBLIN NURSERY P.O. Box 266 Dublin, NH 03444 603-563-8180 603-563-8272 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS NHPGA Scholarship Awards At every New Hampshire Plant Growers Association summer meet- ing, there is an auction of items contributed by the trade show ven- dors. The proceeds go to the NHPGA scholarship fund. This year, two $750 scholarships have been awarded to two students at- tending the University of New Hampshire. Edward Belliveau is a junior in the Department of Plant Biology. He has worked at Demers Garden Center since his senior year in high school. "In the future, I plan to finish my college degree, con- tinue working in an educational environment, proceed to graduate school to become more advanced in a specific field of plant biology, and eventually enter a career in the same field." Lyndsey Loring is a full-time stu- dent at the Thompson School ma- joring in floriculture. "Completely self-sufficient," she also works at the Dover Day Care Learning Center, a non-profit United Way agency, as bookkeeper and fund-raiser. In 1996, she began to take business classes through UNH continuing education; she enrolled full-time in the Thompson School a year later. Her long-term goal is to become a floral design shop and greenhouse owner/operator while continuing to pursue her passion for horticulture and business. "By choosing me as a recipient of your scholarship, you will be helping a young woman with motivation and determination to continue as an asset to the horticul- ture industry through creative, pro- ductive, and innovative growing and design." Congratulations. Edward and Lyndsey will receive their awards at the winter meeting. Greenhouse IPM Workshops Alan Eaton Depending on when this issue of The PLantsman arrives, you may still have time to register for one of the greenhouse IPM workshops. The lo- cation on January 5 is Longfellow's Greenhouse in Manchester, Maine. The January 6 session will be at UNH in Durham. And the January 7 session will be at UVM in Jolly Farmer ANNUAL PLUGS. . . vfar-roiuid produrnon oi oier 6ri() varielies m 3 si?(».. .^12's, 288',s.aiid 144's, VEGETABLE and HERB PLUGS... t){) vonclies in 3 sizes, '112':.. 2S.Ss. and 144'5. PERENNIAL PLUGS over 100vjnft>re.n2SiK>and H4's, VERNAUZED PERENNIAL PLUGS & CUTTINGS over 120 vdncties in a 70 couni tray. CUTTINGS 1-888-695-8300 Grown and shipped in the growing tray.. i B.-9on.J^^^. Brachycombc I'it^^f"^^'' \ Coleus %,itffi|ij'^' Cuphea Wm^ Cvclamen Uncrs ws Daisy MargiK'nte IB DouWc impatiiins Fall Asters New Guineas Fudisia "Mini Ginis- Hardy Mums Petunia Cascadia Ivy Geraniums ZonaLs Kalanclioes o,i"*"'- Licorice Plant 56 Crabbe Road Northampton. Neu' Brunswick Canada E7N 1R6 FINISHED • YEAR-ROUND COLOR program I includmti 4" & 5" pots, planters, and dish gardens. I • SPRING FINISHED...nats \ hangers, summer annuals. sp. Valleybrook Greenhouse Grower, November, 1998 Valleybrook Gardens, Ltd., Canada's perennial giant and key partner in Blooms of Bressingham North Ame- rica, will open a growing and distribu- tion nursery in the United States. Construction began in October in Cecilton, Maryland. The com- pany will begin selling a limited range of product in spring, 1999. Valleybrook nurseries are currently in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Niagara Falls, Ontario. Be a Friend Growing ME Green, October, 1 998 The Lyle Littlefield Trial Gardens at the University of Maine in Orono is extremely important as a place to test cold hardiness of plants and to display plants that can grow in northern New England. Dr. Reeser Manley, Assistant Pro- fessor of Horticulture at the Univer- sity of Maine, and the Maine Land- scape and Nursery Association (MeLNA) are attempting to establish an endowment, to be named "Friends of the Garden Association." Letters of support can be sent to Dean Bruce Wiersma, Department of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agri- culture, 5782 Winslow Hall, Room 105, Orono, ME 04469-5782. Perennial Plant of the Year The Perennial Plant Association is ending this turbulent century with an international favorite. Bright, adaptable, easy-to-grow, and often seen as the best of the many culti- vars, Rudheckia fulgida var. sulli- vantii 'Goldsturm' is their 1999 Plant of the Year. Its story can claim to have been affected by larger events. In 1937, Heinrich Hagemann noticed a stand of R. fulgida var. sullivantii in Gebrueder Schuetz's nursery in the Czech Republic. Recognizing its superiority, he convinced his employer, Karl Foerster of Potsdam, Germany, to propagate his discovery. World War II intervened, but in 1949, the plant was introduced and began its climb to its present popu- larity. A color slide can be obtained by contacting the Perennial Plant As- sociation, 3383 Schirtzinger Road, HiUiard, Ohio 43026. The phone number is 614-771-8431; fax, 614- 876-5238. The 1999 Gary Awards The Worcester County Horticultural Society, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Nursery and Land- scape Association, continues its pro- gram to highlight woody plants es- pecially appropriate to New En- gland. Criteria include hardiness within two of New England's four growing zones and appropriateness for landscape use. Choices must also be exceptional, season-extending, and available. There are five 1999 winners. (Quotes are from Dirr.) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bear- berry). This hardy (to zone 2) New England native makes a fine ever- green ground cover. Growth is slow, but its flowers ("perfect, white- tinged pink, small urn-shaped, born on nodding racemes April to May"), fruit ("lustrous bright red, persist- ing"), and foliage (glossy dark green in summer, bronze to reddish in fall and winter) make it worth the wait. It's difficult to transplant and A. ^^L^iym ^^BKKr' us apart from l ^""^ ; ^^^ Go' / Make us your ( Wholesale SOO FARM & NUnSERir. INC Gold Sur Wholesale Nunery is a family owned business. Since 19S2 we offering the finest wtiolesale planting materials to landscape conoacton N£. area along with the one element that tnily sets the competition_jervic£. Gold Star welcomes your comments and suggestions. one-stop for the best in wholesale landscape supplies. rWBffil!Wl.WliMfHM.tViiBrflflkiiii»>fl!tiM,.IBI!(i!iWlVg^ir 1998. JANUARY 1999 THE NEWS containers or large mats of plants should be used. It does best in poor, sandy, infertile soils (sun to partial shade) and exhibits good salt toler- ance. Pruning is rarely necessary. And never fertilize. Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (Summersweet). Dirr doesn't name this specific cultivar, but summer- sweet is "excellent for summer flower (perfect, white, delightfully fragrant July into August.... lovely to look at, but even lovelier to smell), shrub border, good plant for heavy shade and wet areas. ...fall color is a worth- while attribute." It's hardy to zone 3. Cornus mas (Corneliancherry dog- wood). "A large (20 feet high, 15 wide) multistemmed shrub or small tree of oval-rounded outline, usually branching to the ground, making grass culture impossible" (it is pos- sible to remove the lower branches), its yellow flowers (early, borne is short, stalked umbels), fruit (bright cherry-red drupes in mid-season), at- tractive summer foliage, and gray- brown to rich brown exfoliating bark make it a four-season plant. It's hardy from zone 4 through zone eight, but is actually less robust in the south. Ilex X meserveae 'Blue Princess' (Blue princess holly). The entire group of Meserve hollies ('Blue Prince,' 'Blue Stallion,' 'Blue Maid,' etc.) were bred by an amateur horticulturalist, Mrs. F. Leighton Meserve, in St. James, New York. Mrs. Meserve has been honored for what is truly a magnificent series of introductions with the American Horticultural Society's Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Ama- teur Horticulture. Little needs to be said (Yes, for berries, you need a nearby male; and yes, in colder, unprotected areas — it's hardy to zone 5, there may be some winter desiccation), for it's al- ready extensively in use and a suc- cessful, ever-green addition Malus 'Donald Wyman.' This crabapple is large and spreading (20 feet high and 25 wide), with "lustrous dark green foliage." Its flowers are "single, expanding buds red to pink, opening to white, tending toward an alternate year pattern, but even in 'off years, still showy; " fruit are abundant, glossy bright red, persisting into win- ter. The only disease problem men- tioned is a slight susceptibility to pow- dery mildew. As with all crabs, any pruning should be done before early June as most initiate flower buds for next year in mid-June to early July. As the list of award winners ex- pands, the choices still seem both practical and imaginative — trustwor- thy recommendations. For information, contact Michael Amum at $o8-86g-6iii, extension ii. To nominate a plant for the list, write the Worcester County Horticultural Society, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, PO Box ^p8, Bojlston, MA oi^o^-o^pS. I NORTHERN NURSERIES, INC. Wholesale Horticultural Distribution Centers Grea t Selection: Shade, Flowering & Evergreen Trees, Deciduous & Evergreen Shrubs, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Perennials & More.... Available All Season Long In The Sizes & Ouantities You Require! 4; DEDICATED TO SERVING: The Professional Landscaper, Nurseryman, Grounds Manager and Golf Course Superintendent, with the highest quality & selection of plant materials & horticultural supplies. DiSTRIBUTQRS of; • Lofts Turf Seed • Anderson Turf Fertilizer • Lebanon Tire Fertilizer • DeWitt Landscape Fabric • PennMiilch • OlyOla Edging • Permaloc Edging • Spreaders & Sprayers • Gelscape • NatlreSafe •Concrete Pavers • Wallstone • Blliestone • Bulk Stone • Hydroseeding Mulch > AllGro Compost • Bulk Mulch > Par Aide Golf Accessories • AND MUCH MORE! Two Locations For Your Convenience: 1 6 PiNKH AM Rd West U.S. Route 5 Harrington, NH White River Jct., VT (603)868-7172 (802)295-2117 '■ '■"■-' -^ >J^-^xu.,.,/ ii^Jdin.UiiliJ,.iiL.iLj Let Rough Brothers' expertise turn your greenhouse into a powerhouse — for profits. Call the experts at Rough Brothers for mformation and technical assistance on these quality products. Manufacturers of; • WhiteHouse • The International • Harvest House • The "2100" gutter-connected house • Free-standing poly arch houses • Techlite glazing • Ro-Flo benches • Ebb & Flo benches Distributors of • Alcoa Aluminum Fin Heating • Heating and ventilating equipment • Maintenance supplies, glass, parts ...and more Rough Brothers 5513 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217 rem ROUGH BROTHERS 1 I 1-800/543-7351 Temperature & Misting Controls for Greenhouses of all sizes Misting automatically adjusts with changes in sunlight rain or shine ! reduce disease, increase yields, reduce labor, reduce rooting time Sunny day misting ■Rainy day misting Solar 3B (3 zones , $385) Solar 12B ( 1 2 zones . $890) Temperature Set separate temperatures for mght,sunrise and day DIFtrol 23A ($385) Electronic Temperature Control 2-stages of heating control , and 3-stages of cooling control with horizontal airflow (circulation); or 4-stages of cooling; or roof vents; or side-curtains. 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First payment plus $550 security deposit due at lease signing with approved credit Your Source FOR THE Finest in Greenhouse Grow your business to new heights with structures, products, and accessories from Rimol Greenhouse Systems, Inc. • Greenhouse Structures • Drip Irrigation & Fittings • GH Filnn and Polycarbonate • Fertilizer Injectors & Timers • Heaters, Fans. & Vents • Plant Carts & Monorail Systems • Environmental Controls • Shade Cloth & Ground Cover • Generators & Sensaphones • Benches & Expanded Metal Technology. New Company, New Ideas, New Way of Doing Business ilXRIMOL^ I Greenhouse Systems, Inc. 670 N. Commercial Street Manchester, NH 03101-1149 Phone: 603-629-9004 Fax 603-629-9023 m Quality Young Plants from Worldvi^ide Sources T PS. COLE 251 North Village Road, Loudon, NH 03301 Phone 603-783-9561 Fax 603-783-9562 ^^ Red Maple 1 .5-3" caliper Varieties Red Sunset*. Autumn Flame ® (P.P 2377), and Armstrong specimen quality, own root (no incompatibility problems), high limbed for street and commercial use 604 Main Street, Cromwell, CT 06416 Phone (203) 635-5500 FAX (203) 635-3685 jH^|. Trees Since 1929 9fillane 9?ursenes,^nc. Growing 500 Acres of New England $ Finest Trees & Shrubs More and more growers are growing their own plugs rather than buying them. Availability of specific varieties, plant qual- ity, and the fact that they are there when you need them are some of the reasons people turn to growing their own. Unfortunately, learning to grow a plant in a cell the size of a thimble is not an easy task. By buying plugs, growers avoid one of the most difficult stages of plant develop- ment— germination and early propagation. You'll have to revisit basic information on media, water quality, nutrition, and envi- ronmental management. A tray's cell size affects the water-holding capacity of the mix, so it is important to realize that in a small cell, you'll have 3% porosity, compared to iO% in a normal flat. Because of this, you reach saturation very quickly. Water management is everything. Relative humidity in your plug house will effect how quickly the tray will dry far more than soil temperature. Since you are working with a small volume of soil, your water quality will impact the soil virtually overnight. Clear watering and low ppms are the plug pro- duction norm, so adjusting your water, ei- ther with acid or the proper fertilizer, each time you water Is imperative. For plugs, do a water test annually. Many try to control height by limiting fer- tility. I see in my travels many plug trays full of elongated, half-starved plants with poor root development. And all due to poor nutrition. A fertilizer commonly recommended for plug production is 13-2-13 with calcium and magnesium. Low phosphorous with elevated levels of Mg and Ca is critical for plugs. Remember that this product will be more alkaline, possibly raising your pH. Most commercial plug growers today use some hormones to control height and make a stockier plant rather than trying to accom- plish this by withholding water and nutrition. Jim Zablocki, Technical Manager of the Northern Horticultural Group, the Scotts Company, can he reached at 6o}-224-$i8}. DECEMBER 1998 .JANUARY 1999 m^^ doili/i i Guraener PRODUCTS, INC. Select from our COMPLETE LINE OF BULK AND BAGGED PRODUCTS. y^^S i^^. MULCHES: Hemlock, Ccdnr, L, "*^^^^^i Fine-Sprua; Pnic Nu^^ets, |k« a ^I'mRlK Premium Mix. Dark Bark and s '■ T "j^'*^ ^^^iK Colomat Re.i - our rich raU eolor enhimeed muUh. o.-, . S^I-^iflFT?^ SOILS & SOIL KjTi 1 MMiiir •^Jc^P" AMENDMENTS: Premium i^%i f^^km^^ Polling .s<'//s c- Top Soih. Peat & 1 >r'^imii lliiiinii. Composted & ^^-"'1^'^ Dcliydniled Cow Maiiurei, «■ .i;g^«j8P (hi;iiiiic Compost, Peat Moss and ^•■'^^^.#1^ ^^^^ our exclusive Shrub & Tree jix|-, ■■ ysw Planting Mix. li^^-^-'^^ *"'^^tmP^ PGM Prolci>i. in exiciisive bK""*'*^ ^^B^P ^^_^- Jr greenlmnse and nursery ^^^%&^^^^^ upplualioiis, Ihisfinnving --■^fl lb«2^r media is without eijual. HIH Mmm/mr< ruwi/^;,. /..//, 1,1 rnier" line of mulches and soils. ■^.. ^):.mism 48 TEL: (207) 99 1 SPRINGWATER POLAND SPR 8-5580 (BOO) 8 ROAD, P.O. BOX 527 NG, ME 04274 79-2275 FAX (207) 998-2006 "The 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 2Z0 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 Inside or out, Quality is covered. As the authorized Harnois dealer in the Northeast, the professional staff at Greenhouse Supply, Inc. will handle all your greenhouse needs. Whether you are looking for free standing or gutter connected houses, call us. GREENHOUSE SUPPLY, INC. 1-800-696-8511 HRRflvylS FAX: 207-989-1553 email: greenhse@agrotech.com http://agrotech.com B PIONEER POINTERS Tax Planning — a Must! Although operating seasons may overlap some- what from one calendar year to the next, don't forget that your 1998 operating season — from a fi- nancial standpoint — ends on December 31. 1998 is shaping up to be a decent year for the Green Indus- try. That's why you should start tax planning as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the last minute. A common comment from self-employed green- house owners who do not review their tax situa- tions early is, "Why do I owe so much income tax, even though if I drained my checkbook before year's end?" The three most common reasons: • Paying down operating or term debt before year's end. Only interest is a deductible expense, not the principal portion. • Paying cash for large capital expenditures. Al- though some capital purchases (equipment, for ex- ample) are depreciable and qualify for section 179 depreciation, some do not. Land is totally non-de- preciable and can really bite you if you pay cash or a sizeable down payment for a land purchase. Also, think twice about buying that vehicle and putting down a sizeable down payment. It may be difficult to classify it as entirely for business use. It may therefore be only partially depreciable and/ or subject to luxury car limitations which cap the amount of depreciation you can take. • Drawing from the business to cover living ex- penses. If you've been able to pay college education bills out of personal draws from the business while still covering expenses, it simply means that you are making decent profits. Before spending the rest of the cash in the checkbook on personal items, remem- ber that Uncle Sam is entitled to a slice and set some aside. Are you paying cash for that $2,500 trip to Orlando over the holidays? Consider putting it on your credit card and paying it when the bill comes due in January. Use the $2500 to prepay an operat- ing expense before December 31. (SW) For more tax information, contact the Bedford of- fice of First Pioneer Farm. Credit, 2 Constitution Drive, at 1-800-82^-32^2. j\ Dynamic 3y\ifi-r\et Cofnmunity to: • |i>vd resoui*ces, infortnafionj npvJS, ideas • locate suppheys arui buyers • advei-tise and promote yowi* weo presence • ►'^view or proyt\o\e. prx^duc+s oc plant Qvoijability T7ke +'lo>^+icuItu»^al Web www . Ko^*ticul+u>*e .coiw 1 .800. WWW.6W(£B atte»-\o viHwal trade shows — feglstec ^of tke ceal tKing o'eate yowK own ^\o^*t-^*elateo Kome page. c.v\a\ witn coileagwes Mt\cove>* life-lor>g-lea»^iKvg launck points skop in , /eekly ■Hoct XoMC secwi»e-t)'a nsaction :)ugkt to you exclusively on the ■eld Wide Web at tKe oddt'ess you i grow to reiT\GMibef, A world leader in development, production and sales of horticultural prodi Only the finest floral products, bear the Yoder name. You can see them on television and in picture spreads in leading publications In numerous store and (iarcier\ center promotions. In municipal parlv Guinea Impatiens * drokered Plugs and Oeraniums « Ferenmals ...somethings to grow on Quality Landscape-Grade Plants all season long! The Winter Blanket » a better way to overwinter your nursery stock Call for info or a product sample 1-800-692-7752 fax: 978/692-5887 1028 Horseneck Road, Westporl, MA. 02790 508-636-4573 508-636-3397 FAX www.sylvannursery.com Specializing In Heath... Heather... Bearberry... Perennials... Seashore Plants... also, a full line of quality nursery stock "Our Service Keeps Growing and Growing." The Plantsman New Varieties Abound DAVID GIURLEO An abundance of new vegetative plant material for the upcoming season was introduced this spring at the California Pack Trials. Some of the exceptional varieties seen during our tour are high- lighted below. Cascadia petunias, distributed by the Paul Ecke Ranch as part of the Flower Fields Collection, include some colors not available in other trailing vegetative petunia series. Red and yellow-with-eye are two standouts along with the white, which was recently picked as the top performer this summer at the petu- nia bedding trials at the University of Maine. Vegetative double petunias are available this season in the Flower Fields program as well. The Doubloon series feature variegated flower colors and are available in blue, pink, and red. Those in the Marco Polo series have more traditional flower colors and are also avail- able as pink and blue. Both series are a week to ten days later to flower than traditional "supertunia" or "wave" petunias. The Duet series of vegetative portulaca is a com- panion series to the popular Yubi family. Available colors include rose and yellow; the Duets have a bi- color flower pattern that is quite striking. Growers who have had success with Yubis should do well with Duets. The Proven Winner family adds several items, in- cluding two new cobbity daisies, a purple-vein surfinia, a blue-and-white nemesia, and a burgundy color to the popular Temari verbena series. The suc- cessful Million Bells calibracoa family adds a trailing white variety for 1999 as well. The Compact inno- cence and Blue Bird nemesia both feature mini-snap- dragon-type flowers and look like excellent combina- tion plants in hangers and window boxes. Goldsmith Seeds has introduced a new series of vegetative verbena called Freefalls. Available in four colors, the Freefalls family has delicate, fernlike foliage and makes an excellent groundcover or accent plant in a combination basket. Flower performance and bloom period look excellent in the series. Colors include bur- gundy, deep purple, light lavender, and purple. Also, three new Royal Dahlietta varieties have also been added to the miniature dahlia line. Ball Floraplant introduced three additions to the Celebration New Guinea impatiens series. Lavender Glow, Electric Rose, and Sangria all offer very large blooms along with vigorous growth habit for hanging baskets and containers. Floraplant also introduced Fantasia geraniums, a companion series to the existing Designer geranium family. Fantasias feature a medium- vigorous growth habit, have a dark green foliage, and are available in six colors. Oglevee has added several colors to its Global ivy geranium family. Salmon Pilar, an extremely vigorous upright grower for use as a topiary plant has also been introduced. Fischer Geraniums introduced many new zonal and ivy geraniums at the pack trials. Featured ivies in- cluded Taj Mahal, burgundy with a good branching habit, and Mandarin, a bright scarlet-orange. Lambada has also been improved for 1998 with a better habit. New zonals from Fischer include companions for the popular Tango geranium. Dark red, violet, and salmon are all new colors in the series, and feature the excellent basal branching and compact growth habit that have made the original Tango so popular in North America and Europe. Other notable introduc- tions included Bravo Lt. Pink, a striking intermediate pink. Fischer will be introducing at least six new zonal and ivy varieties for the year 2000; a trial assortment is available for shipment in 1999 for growers who want a preview. And these are just some highlights. Your customers won't lack for choice. Growers interested in a obtaining a free set of photo- graphs of new seed and vegetative varieties from this year's California Pack Trials can call David Giurleo at ($o8) 3P3-4S34, or email him at dgiurleo@hallseed.com. DECEMBER 1998 JANUARY 1999 Native Notes: Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) NANCY SURETTE The winter always give me pause. What native plant would be interesting in this time of year? If I move my thoughts away from perennials, I can come up with a large list of trees and shrubs. It was I was thinking along those lines that I remembered the excitement of seeing a tree that was flowering in the woods in winter. The common witch hazel is a familiar understory plant in New Hampshire. In our town, we have so many plants that, one hundred years ago, there used to be a witch hazel factory here making the medical astringent still sold today. (The extract witchhazel is distilled from the bark of the young stems and roots.) An extremely hardy tree, the buds are naked, with none of the outer protection that most other plants give, and the fruit capsule has the bad manners to spit its seeds (called "dehiscing") all over the place a year after flowering. Be that as it may, the witch hazel is forgiven when the yellow fragrant flowers made up of four strap-like crumpled petals appear from mid-October until as late as early December. The show can last from two to four weeks and is quite startling as the yellow flowers dance above the snow. Even the fall foliage is spectacular, with a wave of lemon yellow leaves creating a background canvas in the woodland understory. This native shrub — or small tree — can grow to twenty-five ■ feet with a twenty-to-twenty-five-foot spread. It's best left: in a natural state and will live in either sun or shade. It will tolerate dry condi- tions, but prefers moist soil. There are no serious diseases or insect prob- lems, although, as Dirr says, "when planted near birches, a peculiar insect makes small galls on the underside of the foliage, like hackberry nipple gall." There are a number of non-native varieties that can keep your garden flowering through much of late winter as well. The Chinese witch hazel {Hamamelis mollis) has a spectacular yeliow-to-orange fall leaf color followed by a February or March flower — surely the first sign of spring. 'Arnold Promise,' a hybrid between H. japonica x H. mollis, is the cul- tivar I like best for the home landscape. Introduced by the Arnold Arbore- tum, this shrub has clear yellow flowers with reddish calyx cups. Its flowers are fragrant and appear from late February to late March. Smaller than the native, this shrub's mature height is twenty feet. Fortunately, most nurseries that stock witch hazel stock this ciJtivar, so it's not terribly difficult to find. The purist would say that I'm mixing my natives with introduced cultivars. This is true, but using both varieties of witch hazel appropriately by naturalizing with the native and al- lowmg "Arnold Primrose" an ornamental spot on the lawn creates a flowering landscape for most of the winter. And in New Hampshire, that's something worth thinking about. Nancy Surette lives in Windham, New Hampshire, with her husband. She owns Seedling-Naturescapes, a landscape design ser- vice. For information about this service, she can be reached at 605-89^-7904. MEMBER PROFILE Eagle Mountain Evergreens — Coming Home Each November for the last eigh- teen years, Kirk Weyant has gone to Maine, up to Calais, and rented the former Cole's Express Building in nearby Woodland. It's big— 100x100— with loading docks for tractor taller trucks on all four sides — just right for the production and shipment of wreathes. For that month, he rents a place to live — maybe a Winebago or, with luck, a picturesque camp on a lake — and settles in to run Eagle Mountain Evergreens. But this year, it's different. He's rented an old mill building in Franklin, where he and his family live, set up his machines, and hired lo- cal help. He's able to live at home, go home for lunch, work in his office in the evenings. Kirk's involvment with wreath-making began in 1979, when Kirk was manager/grower at Gold Star Sod Farm and Nursery in Cantetbury. Gold Star decided to make and sell its own wreathes. Kirk went to Maine, looked around, and chose the area around Calais — an area with plenty of the basic raw material, balsam — as his base of opera- tion. He found the building and began developing a network of workers and suppliers. Wreath production became an annual event. In 1991, when he left Gold Star, he decided to continue in the business and founded Eagle Mountain Evergreens. When he became a partner in Gateway Gardens in 1993, Eagle Mountain became a subsidiary. Through- out all these shifts, the business has continued to grow. This year, Eagle Mountain produced over 50,000 wreathes. People and techniques have remained pretty much the same. Garlands and larger (24-inch to 84) wreathes are produced in the central location. Three Kelko wreath- Kirk's hired a dozen Bosnian refugees sponsored by the Lutheran Social Services and now living in Franklin. making and one garland-making machine are set up; suppliers deliver their boughs. Some were soldiers; some are here with their families With no homes left T"J and no knowledge of English, without work in their accustomed fields. they're literally starting over. rgest volume, however, in the smaller sizes. Wreath-making is a cottage in- dustry in the border country in both Canada and Maine and most of the small sizes (eight- inch up to 20) are made by people in their own homes. Sometimes they organize into larger groups. One of Kirk's subcontractors is typical: she has twenty or so families making wreathes for her, working both in their homes and in a shed at het house. She supplies materials and deliv- ers the finished wreathes to Kirk. A skilled worker can make 75 plain twelve-inch wreathes a day. Most wreathes are balsam; a few are made of a mix of greens (white pine and cedar are added); some are decorated to order, usually with cone clusters or artificial berries. Suppliers of boughs ("tippers") are also self-em- ployed and "tipping" is an important source of sea- sonal income. During the summer, they scout paper company lands, looking for areas with lots of new growth. When they find a spot that seems promising, they buy the right from the paper company to "tip" the tract — a tract can be up to ten acres. The branch tips — usually around a foot long — are snapped by hand. The traditional way to handle them is to first cut a six-foot limb and remove all the branches but one stub near the bottom. This holds the first branch on the pole. Other branches go tightly on top of this until the pole become as six-foot cylin- der of greens. A piece of rope holds it together. The cylinder can be hoisted onto your shoulder and carried back to your truck. But it has to be cold: several hard frosts are needed for the needles to "set." Cut before frost, needles would shed. Timing, controlled by weather, is crucial. DECEMBER 1998 . JANUARY 1999 MEMBER PROFILE Kirk stresses his suppliers' experience in choosing the right time to cut. Branches are bought as needed — enough to keep production rolling. Once the wreathes are made, they are loaded for delivery. Eagle Mountain has 30-40 customers, as far south as Virginia, with orders ranging from 150 wreathes to 150 dozen. Orders of fifty dozen or more are sent on tractor trailer trucks; Kirk may take smaller orders himself in a Ryder truck. Some custom- ers pick up their own; Kirk also uses UPS. Maintaining quality while coordinating all the vari- ous activities would seem to require a lot of planning. "I begin thinking about the next season in January," Kirk says, but there are plenty of variables that can't be controlled. Obviously, storms can make travel diffi- cult, but heavy snow on the trees can hamper gather- ing boughs as well. Right now, competition's intense as more Canadian firms take advantage of the favor- able exchange rate and enter the market. There's not much profit margin — and customers are continually being enticed with slightly lower prices and suppliers, with slightly higher rates. As Kirk says, "Nothing up there is stable." In the end, flexibility and a broad, strong network of people count for more than precision or long-term planning. there have been both -containin This year, with the move south major changes. New networks- old and new elements — are evolving. His workers are new — both to wreath-mikin and to New Hampshire. Kirk's hired a dozen Bosnian refugees sponsored by the Lutheran So- cial Services and now living in Franklin. Some were soldiers; some are here with their families. With no homes left and no knowledge of En- glish, without work in their accustomed fields, they're literally starting over. Their willingness to learn and to work is impressive and, after piecing together some of their stories, Kirk says he's learned not to complain about any rough spots in his own life — he's had it easy. "They' great people," he says; "they'll all m: their kids are going to school — they wa do well here." As before, larger wreathes will be made at headquarters — this year in Franklin — "the bigger ones are good for beginners be- cause the frames have a double rail and it's easier to tie in the boughs. Some of his connections in Maine and Canada re- main. Tractor trailer loads of boughs and finished wreathes will continue to be brought to Franklin on a regular basis. But a brother logging in Canterbury will furnish white pine. When Kirk leaves Gateway Gardens in April, 1999, Eagle Mountain will go with him. He will be going into landscaping and turf installation for himself for three seasons of the year, but wonders about expand- ing, not only the amount and variety of Christmas material, but also with wreathes for other seasons — of pussy willow for spring, of blueberry foliage ("the blueberry barrens are spectacular") for fall. Finding re- newable sources is part of the equation. Creating a market is another. He's never advertised; business has been built through word of mouth. He sees his consistency and quality as enough working in his favor. Now there is a Web site (www.eaglemtevergreens.com) on which he describes wreathes and wreath-making. He promotes some hand-crafted ornaments — and there is an order form. But Kirk admits more needs to be done. Meanwhile, he's spending this November at home — the first in eighteen years, creating new homes of their own. We wish ^^ ,• them success. (BP) And a dozen people are Kirk resides at 84 Pine Street, '. Franklin, New Hampshire. The phone number is 603-934-6165. The Plantsman hyme for Tea ing in upon think of a B The winter us makes friendly chat by the warm fire and a cup of tea. Herbal tea. Tea herbs in early America came not only with the European immigrants, but were found grow- ing wild. Eventually, with the guidance of the native Americans, the newcomers adapted the native plants for use with the ones they'd brought. By 1775, after the Boston Tea Party, when our forefathers heaved 342 chests of heavily taxed China tea into the harbor, your patriotism was measured by how much you enjoyed herbal tea. The search for tasty herbs began in ear- nest and a cup of tea was more than just for medicine. The colonists had many herbs from which to choose — and no doubt many a strange tasting brew was swallowed before the most popular ones were listed in herbals and recipe books to pass along to future generations. Plain meadow hay was tried, juices were squeezed from cornstalks, and sweet va- nilla grass, flavored with maple syrup or honey, made it into the teapot. A dash of rum or brandy sometimes im- proved the flavor and kept one's innards warm against the New England chills. Ceanothus americanus, or New Jersey tea, became one of the most popular substitutes for China tea. This little shrub, found growing on gravel coastal slopes from Ontario southward, joined with other na- tive plants — blackberry and raspberry, bee balm {Monarda didyma), elderberry (Samhucus canadensis), wild roses, lemon balm and the American linden tree (Tilia americana), bayberry, sweet fern, and wild gin- ger— to find its way to American tea time. The native sassafras {Sassafras albidum) made a pleasant and invigorating tea which the native Ameri- cans enjoyed and shared with the colonists. It became so popular that it made its way to London, where the fashionable drank it for its tonic promise. Wintergreen from the woodlands, ground ivy, and cat- nip all foimd their way into blends and mixtures for tea. Garden herbs and flowers — dill, fennel, chamomile, violets, borage, calendula, hyssop, peppermints, marjo- TANYA JACKSON THE PERFECT BREW ring to boil a pot of fresh cold water. Rinse a china or pottery tea pot to warm it, then place loose tea leaves or herbs inside. (You can use a tea ball or even a tea bag.) Use about one teaspoon for each cup. Pour boiling water over. Put the cover on the teapot and put a paper towel plug in the spout to keep steam and flavors in. Wrap the teapot in a clean tea towel or cuddle it in a quilted tea cozy. (We once sewed one that looked like a setting hen.) Let the tea brew for 3-5 minutes, longer for some herbs, but not long enough to make it bitter. Serve in china cups. ram, lavender — were all called upon to add flavor and comfort to the cup of tea. The garden sage [Salvia officinalis), already a popular seasoning for poultry and other meats, came into demand as an herb tea simply on its own, with a touch of maple syrup to make a cup of perfection. This is still a tradition in some parts of rural Vermont and is said to make one wiser — and who is wiser than a hardy, taciturn "real old Vermonter?" Ttf of promise or a gooa cup tea and the beauty and fragrance of the herbs themselves are good reasons for creating your own Tea Garden. The herbs used are often the plants that at- tract bees and butterflies — an- other good reason! And the help with the pollination of your gar- den and with the production of honey to use for your tea — more good reasons as well! I've been growing my own tea herbs for years right in the flower borders, the standard herb garden, and among the vegetables. I've long considered making a "real" tea garden. Most of the herbs used will thrive in ordinary soil with little extra attention. They don't need a rich soil, but they are demanding about a few things. The first is drainage. Most herbs hate wet feet and tea herbs are no exception. Raised beds will help — as will lots of good organic material — shredded leaves, old bark mulch, and, of course, compost. A weed-free area is good — you don't want weeds mixed in with your tea. A dose of limestone is a good idea if you have typical New Hampshire acidic soil. Other than that, plants for tea are easy to grow. Most herbal tea plants are perennial, but when you plan your garden, plan for a place that allows seeding of annuals directly into the soil. Patches of red clover, chamomile, and alfalfa, for instance, are easily direct- seeded and don't need much special care. I envision my tea garden backed up against a plot where I can seed these annuals with a line of perennials along the front. Anise hyssop, catnip, garden sage, bee balm, and lemon balm are all perennials that are easy to get DECEMBER 1998 JANUARY 1999 23 TOXIC TEAS COMFREY: possible carcinogen, banned by FDA for internal use. And never confuse comfrey leaf with digitalis (foxglove) — the result would be lethal Lemon verbena: banned by FDA for anything but alcoholic drinks MUGWORT: banned by FDA for internal use Pennyroyal: can cause abortion and kidney problems Sassafras (yes the famous sassafras of colonial times): contains safrole, a possible carcinogen; banned by FDA for internal use, although I re- cently saw sassafras soda in The Vermont Country Store in Weston, Vermont Sweet woodruff: overuse can cause symptoms of poisoning and dizziness; banned by FDA for use in anything but alcoholic drinks Tansy: toxic, banned by FDA for internal use Valerian: powerful narcotic; OK to use in small quantities for insomnia if you're knowledgeable about the use of medicinal herbs WoRJrfWOOD: toxic; banned by FDA for internal use going and quick to produce. A variety of thymes would make a fine front edging and a large accent plant of rosemary, a pineapple sage, and some scented geraniums would make my tea garden complete. Mints should be there, but remember all the warnings about mints and take them seriously. Contain them with some sort of barrier or they will overrun the garden. I use chimney tiles — the three-foot-tall in 12"xl2" or 16"xl6" are a generous size. Bury the tile, leaving about eight inches above the ground, then fdl with good soil, and plant a mint — in no time, you'll have plenty. I've seen a variety of well-designed gardens. Some are very small and near the kitchen door. An old lad- der laid on the ground with herbs planted in the spaces between the rungs was charming. An old wagon wheel — with herbs planted between each spoke — makes a lovely garden. Bricks laid in a pattern work well. And of course, the traditional knot garden is a perfect tea garden. Let your imagination run wild. And don't forget to place a bench nearby for sitting and enjoying that summertime glass of iced herbal sun tea. The obvious advantage to growing your own herbs is that you can control quality. You can be certain that there are no chemical residues, that the herbs are picked at the peak of their flavor, and are dried in a clean environment. Fresh herbs are always available for summer tea, but unless you have a greenhouse or live in a warmer cli- mate, you'll need to preserve herbs for winter. The TEA TERMS Cambric Tea: a children's beverage of warm milk lightly colored with China tea China tea: the dried leaves of an Asian shrub {Camellia sinensis) that has fragrant white flowers and evergreen leaves. Often referred to as "real tea," the character of China tea depends on climate, alti- tude, and the soil in which it's grown, on the man- ner of harvesting and the method of processing Decoction: a beverage made by simmering herbs for lO-io minutes; this method is generally used to bring out the full flavor of roots and seeds such as clover blossom, horehounds, and bee balm Green tea: China tea that has not been oxidized or fermented Infusion: a beverage made by pouring boiling water over herb leaves or flowers and seeping them for 5-10 minutes to release the aromatic oils; a general recipe is one teaspoon of dried herbs or three tea- spoons fresh, crushed herbs per cup of boiling water; for stronger flavor, use more of the herb — steeping longer may make it bitter Scented tea: dried tea, the flavor of which has been enhanced by steaming it with fresh, fragrant flowers such as jasmine or rose until tea absorbs the blossoms fragrance and flavor; the leaves are then dried again; the spent flowers may or may not be removed from the final product Sun tea: tea made by adding herb or tea leaves to cold water in a covered glass jar and setting the jar in fiill sun for 4-8 hours. The sun warms the water and causes gentle release of aromatic oils; teas made this way are never harsh — and they rarely turn cloudy in the refrigerator as steeped teas sometimes do Tisane: an infusion of fresh or dried herbs used as a beverage or medicinal tea Tonic: an invigorating, refreshing energizing beverage or medicine Sources Maitland, Derek. Five Thousand Years of Tea. New York, Gallery Books, 1981. Norwood, James. The Tea Lover's Treasury. San Francisco, lOl Productions, 198Z. traditional method is to dry them and good air circu- lation in a warm room is usually sufficient. You don't want the place to be too warm or the essential oils will dissipate and the flavor will be gone. Rodales Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs recommends brushing dust and in- sects off the herbs, bundling the stalks together with rub- ber bands, and hanging them upside down in your dry- ing place (temperatures under 90F are best) until they are crisp — no longer than that. If you must wash them, dry them well in a salad spinner or with a towel, so that excess water will not dilute the oils or lengthen drying time. If the drying area — a breezeway or open shed — is not dust-free, put the herbs in paper bags with slits cut in the sides and hang them in these. There are other methods — the oven with a pilot light, the microwave, the electric food dehydrator, even your car as it sits in the summer sun — I've dried many herbs over the years in my "herbmobile." It smells won- derful and makes for quick drying, but no doubt it does get too warm and those nice smells mean that the oil is evaporating along with the moisture, so perhaps the tra- ditional method of hanging in biuiches is still the best. Dried tea herbs should be stored in tightly sealed jars in a dark place away from all heat sources. If you want to keep your blends near the stove for conve- nience, keep only small amounts, so you'll use them before they deteriorate. For a flavorful teatime, you'll also want to have on hand some herbs and spices you'll need to purchase. Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, hawthorne berries and rose hips, hibiscus flowers, lemon and orange peel, dried lemon grass, vanilla beans, and maybe almond flavoring are a few things you might enjoy. Here are some of our favorite herbal tea combinations: • Six parts peppermint, one part sage, one part rosemary • Equal parts chamomile and lemon balm • Equal parts bee balm leaves and flowers, lemon balm, peppermint, and pineapple mint • Equal parts lemon balm and peppermint, with a pinch of lemon or orange peel • Three parts mint, one-half part marjoram, one- quarter part lavender flowers • Equal parts chamomile, peppermint, rose hips, and a touch of lemon peel. So — exjseriment this winter and plant your garden next spring. Further Reading Davies, Jill. A Garden of Miracles: Herbal Drinks for Plea- sure, Health, and Beauty. New York, Beaufort Books, 1985. (An extensive compilation of herbal tea concoc- tions for both simple sipping and medicinal uses.) Norman, Jill. Teas and Tisanes. New York, Bantam Books, 1989. Tanya Jackson, a well-known area herbalist, can be reached at 60^-4^1-8011. THE GREEN SPOT Free Beneficials As this is being written (in the latter half of October), Harmonia axyridis, a.k.a. multi- colored Asian ladybeetles, are swarming the of- fice trying to get in. They're looking for a place to spend the winter. You may have noticed some where you live. Pests? No, I don't think so. In fact, we sell this same species in small quantities for use in scale insect and aphid control. Our offering is a laboratory-reared product which is better able to perform its intended function than its wild brother, but it's the same beetle. Now, since my timing stinks, here's some- thing to think about for next year. Collect as many of these wild beetles as possible and bag them up in a brown paper or cotton bag and stow them for a few months. Keep them in your fridge or, better yet, in a cold storage room, shed, or barn. (Don't keep them in your green- house unless it stays cold during the day.) Be- ware of frost-free refrigerators — they may be too dry for the beetles. When you open up your greenhouse later in the year and have some plant material started, begin releasing a few beetles every few days — say, one beetle per square yard of growing area. Continue this for as long as possible. Try to de- termine how many you'll need so that you can collect an appropriate amount next October. In doing this, you'll be serving many pur- poses: first of all, you'll be helping the beetles secure a safe haven for the long winter season; secondly, you'll be providing yourself with some hungry beetles which may decide to eat that first aphid which happens to show up early in the season; lastly, you'll probably save yourself some of the need for early pest control and hence, the associated costs and hassles. You'll keep open ail your pest control avenues doing this — and you may some money and reap other benefits as well. Of course, we'd prefer that you buy your beetles from us, but — there's no denying it — this is worth trying. Mike Cheriirt is president of The Green Spot, Ltd., Department of Bio-Ingenuity, 5*5 Priest Road, Nottingham, NH 032^0-6204. The telephone number is 6o}-p42-8p2f; the fax, 6o}-942-89}2. 1998 . JANUARY 1999 Tax Law Changes That May Affect You THERESA MURPHY The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 was signed into law by President Clinton on August 5, 1997. It contained 824 amendments, 285 new code sections, and 114 changes, of which 36 were ret- roactive, 69 became effective on January 1, 1998, and five more will become effective after 1998. More than a few taxpayers threw their hands up in frustration and sought professional help, some for the first time since they started paying taxes! You may have been one of them. Then, just when most taxpayers were starting to come to terms with the changes from the 1997 legisla- tion, Congress passed the Internal Revenue Service Re- structuring and Reform Act of 1998, which was signed into law on July 22nd of this year. In addition to reorganizing the structure and man- agement of the IRS, it too provides for a number of changes. These include accelerated electronic filing, technical corrections to certain tax laws, and the re- peal of the 18-month capital gains holding period. Summarized below are some of the changes that are probably most relevant to ordinary taxpayers, like you and me. There are many more changes, particularly to the Roth IRA rules and to capital gains exclusions, but a discussion of these is beyond the scope of this article. justed gross incomes over $110,000 for joint returns, $75,000 for single filers, and $55,000 for married in- dividuals filing a separate return. Education Tax Incentives HOPE Tax Credit. The HOPE Credit may only be claimed if: 1. the student is in one of the first two years of post-secondary education; 2. the program leads to a degree or certificate; 3. the student is taking at least 50% of a normal full-time work load; and 4. the student is free of any felony drug convic- tions. The maximum credit per student is $1,500 and is based on educational expenses paid after December 31, 1997. Lifetime Learning Credit. For educational expenses paid after June 30, 1998, this credit is not based upon the student's workload and it is not limited to courses taken during the first two years of post-secondary education. The maximum credit is $1,000 for each tax year no matter how many students in the family qualify for this credit. Exclusion of Gain on Principal Residence Individuals can exclude from taxable income up to $500,000 in gains ($250,000 for single taxpayers) from the sale of property used as a principal residence. To qualify for the exclusion, the taxpayer must have used the property as a principal residence for at least two years during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale. The exclusion can be used no more than once every two years and is effective for sales oc- curring after May 6, 1997. Child Tax Credit Beginning in 1998, a credit of $400 per child ($500 after 1998) will be available for each qualifying child under age 17. The credit begins to phase out on ad- Other Tax Breaks For Education Penalty-Free IRA Withdrawals. The 10% additional tax on early withdrawals will not apply to withdrawals starting in 1998 to pay for the qualified higher education expenses of the taxpayer, spouse, or any child or grandchild of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse for education furnished in aca- demic periods beginning in 1998. Education IRAs. Beginning in 1998, individuals may open an education retirement account to save for qualified higher educa- tion expenses of a designated beneficiary. This exclu- sion is not available for any year in which the HOPE credit or the Lifetime Learning credit is claimed. The Plantsman Education Loan Interest Deduction. Beginning in 1998, interest paid on a qualified educa- tion loan that was used to pay tuition, room and board, and related expenses for post-secondary schools is deductible for certain taxpayers. The deduction is limited to $1,000 in 1998, but gradually increases to $2,500 by 2001. Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction The 1997 Tax Act accelerates the percent deduction for health insurance costs for the self-employed. For 1998 and 1999, the deduction is 45%; in 2000 and 2001, it increases to 50%. Home Office Deduction The new law expands the definition of principal place of bt 1. the office is used by the taxpayer to conduct administrative or management activities of the trade or business and 2. there is no other fixed location of the trade or business where the taxpayer conducts substantial administrative or management activities. Caution! Home office expenses are deductible only if the office is used by the taxpayer exclusively on a regular basis as a place of business. Adoption Expenses Individuals may claim a tax credit of up to $5,000 ($6,000 for a child with special needs) for qualified adoption expenses (e.g. legal fees, court costs) subject to limits based on adjusted gross income. Tax Payment By Credit Card — An Update The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 will allow taxpay- ers to charge any balance due on major credit cards beginning with the 1998 Form 1040 filing season. Unfortunately, this same legislation prohibits the IRS from paying a fee for taxpayer use of the credit card system, meaning such fees will be paid by the taxpayer. As of October 1998, the only companies that have signed on are American Express and MasterCard. Theresa M. Murphy is a certified public accountant with offices in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She specializes in accounting, tax planning, and consulting for professionals, small businesses, and individuals. The telephone number is 60^-4^6-8009; fax number, 6o}-42j-oi46. Nu-Form Products Landmark Products Pre-filled Flats & Pots Klerks Films "Helping You to Grow'' B.E. Supply GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Road, Langdon Mailing Address: P.O. Box 0, Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603 • Restricted Pesticides • Kord Products • Fertilizers • Distributors for Hyde Park &. Sunshine Soils Work: 603/835-6930 Home: 603/835-2523 Fax: 603/835-2180 DECEMBER 1998 JANUARY 1999 75 Chestnut Hill, Route 190 Stafford Springs, CT 06076 W.H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. Greenhouse Supplies & Equipment Plants Bulbs All Your Greenhouse Needs 'Our Goal Is Your Success' Ron Hill NH & Maine Representative CT 800-243-7170 Fax: 860-684-3022 Newton Greenhouse 32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 603-382-5289 Quality Plants green & flowering from 3" to 10" pots Holiday, bedding plants &. dish gardens Year-round cut Snaps, Gloxinias & African Violets Liscensed propagator of Mikkelsen New Guinea Impatiens 1-800-447-4745 bare-root conifer seedBigs and transplants S23-1998 ha\^Relped to keep landowners, jrseries, and forest industries successfully in the green for sevent}'-flve years. Ask for a catalog, today! ESTERN HQ^INEWuRSeriesnc Bo,:S() Inchurt, ML( Fax (20-)')^S 204 ^ WAGEMMIN^ Homes • Bams • Livestock Machinery • Farmer's Liability Livestock Health & Mortality Workers Compensations • Auto Biu k^'fti Insure with New Hampshire's largest independent agricultural agency. 1-800-439-2451 will put you in touch with an agricultural insurance professional. TAKE ROOT v.i^ SHERMAN! "^•Illng to tom«on« cr*at«s a sal*, but ti*lping somaon* to buy cr*at«s a customar.'' -^ Represented by: Frank Thomann Charter Oak Landscape 29 Mountain Terrace Road West Hartford, CT 06107 Toll Free 1-800-431-6625 or 1-860-521-2638 Fax 1-860-561-4130 Professional * Experienced * Dedicated SHERMAN NURSERY COMPANY P.O. Box 579 • 1300 Grove Street Charles City, Iowa 50616-0579 1-800-747-5980 or 1-515-228-1124 Fax 1-800-361-7759 "Growing With America Since 1884" Sherman offirs a complete Ime o/bnreroot and container nurs- ery stock i.ncludi.nq Fruit Trees, Stnall Fruit, Shade and Orna- mental Trees. Ornamental Shrubs, Peonies, Roses, Evergreens, Hedging, Vines, Perennials, Rooted Cuttings and Potted Liners ^ ^ lit ^ ^ '^Stocked'' with Savings GRIFFIN is... AVAILABILITY, AVAILABILITY, AVAILABILITY. Our warehouses are stocked by trained professionals who understand the economical benefit of quick service. By maximizing space in our warehouses, we can minimize freight charges and shorten lead time. In addition, all of our warehouses are connected viacomputer. This enables us to know instantly where aproduct is located when we are quoting a price. By knowing exactly what is in our fully STOCKED warehouses, our quotes are more accurate, our deliveries quicker, and your overall savings are greater. MAKING MORE SAVINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU! ! GRIFFIN GREENHOUSE & NURSERY SUPPLIES MASSACHUSETTS CONNECTICUT MAINE NEW YORK-Lalham NEW YORK-Auburn NEW JERSEY VIRGINIA 1619 Mam Street 20 Grandview Court 50 V7esl Gray Road 4 Airport Park Boulevard 1 Ellis Drive 2 Corporate Drrve 5612 Pride Road Tewksbury, MA01B76 Cheshire. CT 06410 Gray, ME 04039 Lalham. NY 121 10 Auburn, NY 13021 Cranbury, NJ 08512 Richrrond. VA 23224 Phone 978-851-4346 Phone:203-699-0919 Phone 207-657-5442 Phone 518-786-3500 Phone:315-255-1450 Phone 609-409-9399 Phone:804-233-3454 FAX 978-851-0012 FAX 203-699-9615 FAX 207-657-5439 FAX 518-786-3586 FAX: 315-255-0580 FAX 609-409-9360 FAX 804-233-8855 A Reminder- You've received the flier. This is a reminder: the Winter Meeting of the New Hampshire Plant Growers Association (NHPGA) and the New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) is on Wednesday, lanuar,- 13, 1999, at the Highlander Inn in Manchester. It's an important day — the day for the annual business meeting and a time to meet with our colleagues in the NHLA. Interests differ, but a common language is definitely spoken. A group from the NH Division of Pesticide Control will present "Pes- ticide Requirements and Compliance" (a recertification credit has been applied for), but much of the day will focus on plants and planting. Speakers include: Roger Coggeshall and Evelyn King, "Lilacs and Other Woody Ornamentals that Merit Attention;" Doug Cole, "New Spring Plants and their Uses;" Nancy Adams, "A Cooperative Extension Up- date;" Phil Sands, "Natural Pruning: No Squares, Balls, or Lollipops;" and Lucinda Brockway, "Inspired by Histor\-: The Old Can Be New Again." Lunch will be a classic buffet. The price for the day is S40.00 for the first person in a part}- and S35.00 for ever\'one thereafter. DIRECTIONS: take Exit 2 off 101 and follow the signs to the Manches- ter airport. Take the left to the airport; the Highlander is the first right. ASSOCIATIO OFFICERS President ROBERT C. RLVIOL 670 N. Commercial Street Manchester, NH 03101 629-9004 Vice President GEORGE TIMM PO Box 476, Rte. 137 S., Hancock. NH 03449 525-4728 Secretary I Treasurer CHRISTOPHER ROBARGE UNH/TSAS Horticultural Facilities Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Dir ROBERT DEMERS 656 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH 03103 437-6336 DAVID GIURLEO 324 Howard Street, Nonhboro, MA 01532 508-393-4534. ANN HILTON 4 KaracuU Lane, Pittsfield. NH 03263 435-0425. HENRY HUNTINGTON 7316 Pleasant Street, Loudon, NH 03301 435-8361 4Ja PETER VAN BERKUM les Road, Deerfield. NH 03037 463-7663 TIM WOLFE 37 Lake Street, Salem, NH 03079 893-5858 Extension Liaison NANCY ADAMS 13 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833 679-5616 For more, call Tim Wolfe at 603-893-5858. NH PL\M GRO\^TRS ASSOCIATION The Phnisman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43