Lake Sunapee from the Gardens of the Hay Estate, circa 1 930. For current restoration plans, see page 23. NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1994 What do you want for Christmas? You Want Someone Who is Responsive to Your Needs At Sibgo Tree Company we offer a wide variety of high quality Christmas Trees. Other tree companies can say that too But, since we aho have a retai Christmas Tree business, we linow what retailers want What sets us apart is our understanding o{ your needs. We know what you want from a supplier. You Want to Keep It Simple. You are looking for trees that are ready to go. Our trees arrive individually wrapped. All you have to do is remove the wrappers and set the trees out. No broken branches. And since our trees are basal pruned, you and your customers will not have to hassle with any additional trimming to fit the tree to the stand. You Want Quality. We offer heavily needled trees that have been pruned to achieve a traditional, yet natural form. The sturdy branches and carefully shaped profile offer room and support for your customers' valued Christmas ornaments. You Want Freshness. The later a tree is cut, the better it is able to retain water. (Did you know that if a tree loses 40% of its moisture it will never recover.?) Since our trees are grown in New Hampshire and Vermont, they are not shipped long distances. This means that the trees can be cut later in the season. In addition, after cutting, we do everything we can to minimize loss of moisture. For example, we interlock the tops of the trees after cutting to prevent drying. You Want Variety. We grow blue balsam, known for its lovely color, fragrance, and good needle retention. Fraser, another favorite at our plantation, also has good needle retention. And this year we will be offering something new: fralsam, a fraser- balsam cross. White, scotch, and red pine, and white spruce are also available. You Want On-time Delivery. We guarantee on time delivery — on the day jw^ have scheduled to receive your order, not the day before or the day after. You Want the Number of Trees That's Right for You. ^bu can order either 25 trees or a trailer load. Have We Missed Anything? Call 800/694-8722 and ask for Mike Godzyk. He would love to talk to you. And, while you're on the phone, schedule an appoint- ment to visit us and inspect our trees. This summer... or anytime. Or if you don't have time in your busy schedule to visit us, we'd be happy to visit you. Sibgo Tree Company Wr know viha[ ijou want for Christmas'. CALL US AT 800/694-8722 FAX 603/237-8439 COLEBROOK, NH CALENDAR August r^ AUGUST 17 NH PGA Summer ^ Meeting, Ledgewood Farm, Moultonboro. NH; co-hosted by Spider Web Gardens, Center Tuftonboro; for information: Chris Robarge at |603) 862-1074 AUGUST 20 Plant Sale. Hay Estate, Route 103-A, Newbury, NH; information; Ann Loeffter at |603| 526-4153. AUGUST 22 Poinsettia Pest Manage- ment School. Pleasant View Gardens, Loudon; for information: Alan Eaton at (603) 862-i 159. AUGUST 24 Vermont Plant Growers' Summer Meeting. South Forty Or- chard & Nursery, Shelburne, VT; for more: Tina Nyce at (802) 899-3361. AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 3 Professional Plant Growers Association (PPGA) Technical Tour of Denmark. for information: I -800-647-PPGA September SEPTEMBER 7 CNA Twilight Meeting. Prides Corner Farms, Lebanon, CN; for more: (203) 872-2095. SEPTEMBER 13 Maine Landscape & Nursery Association Charity Work Project Twilight Meeting, location to be an- nounced; for information: Edith Ellis at (207) 225-3998 C^ SEPTEMBER 14 NHPGA ^ Twilight Meeting, 5:30-7:30, Gateway Gardens, 430 Loudon Road, Concord, NH; for information: Kirk Weyant and Sue Englund at (603) 229-0655. SEPTEMBER 16-OCTOBER 1 Easlern Stales' Big E,' West Springfield, MA SEPTEMBER 17 Flore/ Garden Mum VJorkshop. Konjoian's Greenhouses. Andover, MA: information: Peter Konjoian at (508) 683-0692 'j^ SEPTEMBER 21 Twilight Meeting ^ (4:30 P M), Berry Hill Farm, Stratham, NH; for information: Nada Haddad at (603) 679-5616 SEPTEMBER 22-27 27lh International PPGA Conference and Trade Show, Buf- falo, NY; for more: 1 -800-647-PPGA October OCTOBER 7 New England Regional Meeting. International Plant Propa- gators Society, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, MA; information: Kathleen Carroll at (413) 545-0895 OCTOBER 13 Urban Integrated Pest Management Conference. Royal Plaza Motel, Marlborough MA; Kathleen Carroll at (413) 545-0895, OCTOBER 17-19 New England Greenhouse Conference. Sheraton Sturbridge Inn, Sturbridge, MA; for information: Henry Huntington at (603) 435-8361 OCTOBER 29 UNH FFA inlersflto- lastic Contest. UNH, Durham, NH; for information: Dave Howell at (603) 862-1760 November NOVEMBER 7 Vermont Plant Grow- ers/Department of Parks & Forestry Seminar "Community Tree Care Through an IPM Approach," Vermont Technical College. Randolph, VT; information: Tina Nyce at |802) 899-3361. NOVEMBER 12 Rhode [stand Nurserymen's Association 75lh Birthday Celebration. Doubletree Inn, Newport, Rl; for information: 1508) 761-9260 NOVEMBER 15-16 MassacftMsetls N ursery men's Assofialion/Cooperalive Extension Business Short Course. Worcester Marriott, Worcester, MA; information: |ohn Bragg at (508) 534-1775 December DECEMBER 5-6 Seminar "Tree Haz- ards. The Ultimate Session" (Shigo & Mattheck), Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA; information: John Kirkland at (503) 254-0482— PST Looking Ahead JANUARY 26-28 New England Grows. Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; (508) 534-1775. FEBRUARY 2-4 New Hampshire Farm & ForesI Exposition. The Center of New Hampshire/Holiday Inn, Manchester, NH: information: Mary Ellen Pitman at (603) 271-3788. CONTENTS FORUIVI 3 NH NEWS 5 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 9 DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE Dr Cheryl Smith 14 MEMBER PROFILE Rye Ridge 17 PPGA HIGHLIGHTS Crowing Basics for Saivla 28 FEATURES A Master Gardener Tells All Carl Deame 13 Preservation Begins: The Old Garden at the Hay Estate Bill Noble 23 COLUMNS Z-NOTES |im Zablocfci 6 HOW ABOUT HERBS Tanya ]ackson S THE GRIFFIN GURU 20 THE GREEN SPOT Mike Cherim 23 About Our Cover Lake Sunapee from the gardens at the Hay Estate in Newbury. New Hampshire, circa IP30 Tfie Planlsman Is published In early February. April, lune, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the first of each prior month While camera-ready ads are pre- ferred, set-up assistance Is available at a nomi- nal fee. Free classified advertising Is offered as a member service We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two Issues of The Platitsman AD SIZE 6x Ix 3 3/8-w X 2 i/4-h $120 $30 3 V8-W X 4 V4-h $160 $40 7w X 2 i/4-h $160 $40 7"w X 4 5/8-h $250 $50 7-w X 9 l/2-h $400 $100 For further information, please contact the editor: Robert Parlter at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham. NH 03824. (603) 862- 206 1 ; or PC Box 5. Newflelds, NH 03856. (603) 778-8353. AUGUST /SEPTEMBER 1994 PS. COLE Growersl Your Double Impatiens Source 240 North Village Road. Loudon, NH 03301 (603) 783-9561 Fax (603) 783-9562 Let Rough Brothers' expertise turn your greenhouse into a powerhouse — ^for profits. Call the experts at Rough Brothers tor mtormation and technical assistance on these quality products Manufacturers of • WhiteHouse • The International • Harvest House • Tfie "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 P.O. Box 16010, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 rmn ROUGH BR0THEH3 1-800/543-7351 > T * t Mums Asters Sedums^|r& SERVICE / .r Northern Grown Trees Evergreens Shrubs Mon-Sat 7:00 - 5:30 Sun: 9:00 - 5:00 O'DONAL'S NURSERIES Located at juncaon of routes 22 & 114 Gotham, Maine 04038 Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364 Fax 207-839-2290 We specialize in growing specimen plant matenals FORUM Thanks Go To.... The Board would like to thank Doug Cole — and employees — for hosting a twilight meeting for NHPGA members and friends at D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon on )une 16. It was hot night, but the visitors were comfortable under the over- head shading system of the two four-bay 17,000-square foot Verbakel- Bomkas glass houses. During the tour — both inside and outside, Doug pointed out the advantages to many of the effi- ciency-oriented systems (the tag- ging machine, a bench washer) he's incorporated into his operation. Showing how he moves rolling benches throughout the glass range, Doug said, "It's not that were lazy. A system like this means that we don't even have to think about this aspect of the op- eration and can concentrate on other things." Right now Doug is concentrating on Elatior begonia (Reiger is one series of this type) production and rooting material from specialized Danish growers. •« Ben Shambaugh, owner of Wayside Farm in North Sandwich, will be re- signing from the NHPGA Board be- cause of time commitments to town government. The Board thanks Ben for his year and a half with them. His willingness to travel the extra CLASSIFIED HELP WANTED: Retail Garden Center Grower/Manager for a well-established operation To manage greenhouse pro- duction and retail sales op- erations Supervise 1 0 to 25 employees. A full-time posi- tion Contact: Frank Wolfe, Lake Street Garden Center, 37 Lake Street, Salem, NH 0307O; telephone: (603) 893-5858 distance to meetings and his prag- matic analysis of questions under discussion were appreciated The Board is currently looking for someone to fill Bens position It would be ideal if this person were from the north or west of the state — this would help achieve a geographic balance — but anyone interested should contact Bob Demers, )r., at (603) 625-8298. Notice The University of (Vlassachusetts Cooperative Extension System is offering a new manual — The Profes- sional Turlgrass Management Guide for Massachusetts — 1994. Features in- clude a comprehensive key to turfgrass diseases, a list of turfgrass variety characteristics (including potential disease resistance), moni- toring techniques, and suggested threshold levels for turfgrass in- sects Cultural management of dis- welcome New Members BrUtoHS Greenhouse 25 Elm Street V/estmoreland, NH 03467 Goudreault Farm & Creendouses 82 Newton Road Plahtow, NH 03865 Carlos Sllva 3 Crest Street Hampton, NH 03842 eases, as well as environmental considerations in the use of herbi- cides, are discussed. Each copy costs $7.00 To order, send check (payable to University of IVIassachusetts) to: Bulletin Cen- ter, Cottage A, Thatcher Way, Uni- versity of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 COURSES AT THE THOMPSON SCHOOL This Is a partial listing of horticultural courses offered this fall at the UNH Thompson School. Some courses may have prerequisites (courses or experience). Additional courses are offered at UNH In Plant Biology, Entomology, and other departments. The fall semester runs from August 30 to December 17, 1994. You may enroll In these courses by phoning the Division of Con- tinuing Education (DCE) at 603-862-2013. For more Information on course content, the part-time Associates degree program, or on the Diploma In Landscape Horticulture, call 603-862-1035. HT247 Intro to VIoody Plants. 2 cr. Lecture F 10-11, Lab M 1-3 or F 1-3 HT 248 Applied Soil Technology. 3 cr. Lecture MW 10-11, Ub Th 10-12 or Th 2-4 HT 251 Plant Structure and Function, 4 cr. Lecture MWF 11-12. Lab T 10-12 or T 2-4 HT 254 Landscape Construction and Maintenance. 4 cr. Lecture WF 11-12, Lab W 1-5 HT 255 Fruit Science. 4 cr. Lecture MF 10-11, Lab M 1-4. HT 259C Pest Management: Weeds, 1 cr. Lecture/Lab F 1-4 (First 7 weeks only) HT 259D Pest Management: Control Applications. 1 cr. Lecture/Lab F 1-4, (Second 7 weeks only) HT 263 F/or/fMltura/ Crop Production, 3 cr. Lecture WF 8-9, Lab T 8-10 HT 265 V/oody Landscape Plants. 2 cr. Lecture/Lab Th 9-12 AM261 SmafI Engines 3 cr. Lecture F 9-10, Lab hours arranged AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1994 HART'S- 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. PO. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD, CT 06129-0169 1 (800) 326-HART WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, '""= 240GniwoldRd WeUurtTuU. CT 06109 mm KeiMtbutik. ME 04043 QUAUTY BLUEGRASS BLUEGRASS • FESCUE BLENDS LOW MAINTENANCE BLENDS PENNCROSS BENTGRASS In CT 203-529-6869 Outside CT I -800-243-0232 ^PfeA PRODUCTS COMPANY Lawn & Garden Limestone Decorative Landscape Stone White Plays and Bagged Bark Mulch Robert F. Myers 28 Horseshoe Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074 (»00) 541-0127 LAN NURSERIES, 259 College Street, Magog JIX 2K4 Phone & FAX: (819) 843-5071 Lan is owned by a group of Quebec growers in onder to present a large variety of hardy flowering slirubs and perennials showing THE NORTHERN BEAUTY Dogwood - Forsythia -Hydrangea Honeysuckle - Lilacs - Ninebark Potentilla - Rugosa Rose Spirea - Sumac Viburnum - Vine The Plantsman NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS New Product; Bark Compost-only Medium (from Greenhouse Manager, |uly, 1994) This spring, lolly Farmer Nurseries, East Lempster, NH. unveiled a growing medium consisting entirely of composted softwood bark culti- vated from material supplied by sawmills of Maine. The company grew its entire spring product line in its new Professional Growing Me- dium (PGM). "We were looking for a media that would be better than the nor- mal pet-lite mixes, more resistant to soil-born disease, eliminate the surface algae problem that is so common with peat-lite mixes, and in general have a healthier soil," Daniel English, head grower, said. Unlike aged bark, which requires less attention in production, PGM is composted Regularly watered, the pile of material is turned whenever it reaches a certain tem- perature, usually once or twice a week. The aerobic process in- cludes additions of nitrogen and beneficial bacteria. This biological activity heats up the medium, kill- ing undesirable bacteria. "From what we've been told, this is a first," English said, "for 100 percent bark media amended to prime growing levels." PGM is sold in both 3-cubic foot bags and in bulk. For more information, contact Daniel English at 1-800-695-8300. ^fe^ BETWEEN CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW September "G^CAN-AW"^^ 23-27 FREE program on request! Professional Plant Growers Association (800) 647-PPGA • Fax (517) 694-8560 UPDATES Pesticide Dse Control State legislators wrapped up this years debates on pesticides by finding ways to increase local im- pute into the state's pesticide management program. The legisla- ture stopped short of restoring local control, but voted to create a citizens advisory committee charged with soliciting public opinion and reporting their findings to the states Pesticide Control Board (HB 1512-FN). The composition of the committee is mandated and would include representatives from a range of interests HB 1533 changes the composi- tion of the Board itself by adding one member representing the in- terests of municipalities. HB 1185 requires that fees be paid by both private and commer- cial applicators beginning next lanuary first. And, in a variation of the pesti- cide theme. Senate Bill 591, which took effect on May 27, requires no- tification of all aerial pesticide ap- plications in rural areas. FFA It's never too late to announce a winner. Winners of the FFA Flori- culture and Nursery/Landscape Competitions held at UNH in Durham on May 13th are as follows: Floriculture — First place team: Winnisquam (Vicky Cushing, Jill Ober, Charlie Robinson), second: Coe-Brown (Candy Brown, Correng Bohl, Michelle Dechane), third: Fall Mountain (Mary Wendell Adams, Bridget Blaine, Breanna Smith); In- dividual— first place: Mary Wendell Adams, second: Vicky Cushing, third: Candy Brown. Nursery/Landscape — First place team: Pembroke (Nick Tordoff, David Wilson, leremy Lawrence), second Co-Brown (Kevin deRuyter, Tim Hathorn, Sarah Ykema), third: Somersworth (Matt Long, loanne Merrill, Ken Dewing): Individual — first place: Nick Tordoff, second: Matt Long, third: Kevin deRuyter. Eighteen teams competed in the Floriculture competition; 17 in the Nursery/Landscape. Congratulations go to all participants — and thanks to everyone who worked to orga- nize the event Awards And on April 23, Frank Collins, of WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member MNA. NENA Millers Falls Road. Turners Falls, MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-25 1 0 tewarts I NURSERY, Inc. "^**^ AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1994 NEW HA PSHIRE NEWS Collins Flowers, Inc., Nashua, NH, received FTD's John A. Valentine Award in Denver. This national award, named after the founder of FTD and given in his hometown, recognizes outstanding leadership in the floral industry. Frank is the father of Peter Collins, who cur- rently operates Collins Flowers, and the son of Frank, who began the business in 1930. He has been active in promoting the industry and in the FTD organization throughout his entire professional life Nominated by the FTD's local regional chairman, Ray Savage, Collins and Savage were flown to Denver where Collins received a plaque at a banquet in his honor "The food and hospitality were wonderful — it was a great honor. " FloraStar has named 'Pink ice,' an impatiens variety developed at D.S. Cole Growers, Loudon, as a Fall, 1994, Winner. The variegated plant with lavender-pink double blossoms is part of an ongoing series. A Sabbatical in Poland Nancy Adams, the UNH Coopera- tive Extension Educator in Agricul- tural Resources in Rockingham County, is currently in Poland par- ticipating in the "Polish/American Extension Project ' This USDA-spon- sored program is helping Poland start its own Extension Service Nancy, who left in |une, will spend six months in Poland, where she is the member of a team (con- sisting of a state-level extension educator from Montana and herself, as well as an interpreter) working with Polish officials at a provincial- level advisory center Although Nancy is missed in New Hampshire (she will be back in De- cember), it sounds like an opportu- nity for growth and adventure. Poinsettias...and Water As you begin this year's polnsettia crop, think about having your water tested. This Is Important because a proper feed program should be based on the results. Ph, alkalinity, and calcium levels are some of the factors that affect the success of your crop. For ex- ample, calcium levels of SOppm from the very beginning will reduce the chance of bract edge burn later. October Is not the time to be making ma)or nutritional adjust- ments; plants don't respond well to drastic nutritional or Ph changes: stunting can occur— which could contribute to a pythlum problem. A steady feed of 15-5-15 Excell enables you to give the crop Ca and Mg at appropriate levels, although early test results may require you to alternate with 31-5-20 to adjust the Ph. Start with 350ppm of N at planting. Then lower to 200ppm four to six weeks later. A fungicide drench (eg: Banrot) Immediately at planting will re- duce any later Infections of pythlum or phlzoctonla. As the canopy develops, horizontal air movement Is Imperative to reduce botrytls. Should an outbreak occur, an application of Ornalln may be re- quired. So before you begin, test the water. \im Zabocki, Territory Manager (603) 224-5583 The Scolls Co.. Northeast, can be reached al MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS... Polnsettia Pest Management School UNH Cooperative Extension will run a polnsettia IPM School at Pleasant View Gardens, Loudon, beginning at 9 AM on Monday, August 22. It will take about three hours and will cover such topics as identification of insects on sticky cards, disease management, whitefly management, and insecticide use For more information, contact Dr. Alan Eaton at (603) 862-1159. Twilight Meeting Nada Haddad Have you ever considered — or even imagined — using on your farm a vehicle powered by solar energy? A solar-powered vehicle that can be used to transport pickers, work- ers, or clients to the fields, as well as transport tools and harvested produce? A vehicle that uses no fossil fuels and is nonpolluting? Caroline and Buck Robinson, Berry Hill Farm, Stratham, New Hampshire, have retrofit a golf cart to be powered with solar energy and have been experimenting with it and using it for their daily trans- portation needs at their organic farm here in Stratham. If you're ex- cited by the idea and would like to know how it works, join us on Sep- tember 21 at 4:30 pm at Berry Hill Farm In addition, there will be a discussion on growing berries. For directions and more informa- tion, call Nada Haddad, UNH Coop- erative Extension, Rockingham County, at (603) 679-5616 (Pesti- cide credits have been requested.) Workshop — Back to Basics The most serious problem in the SBA tree planting program, accord- ing to Mary Reynolds, Urban For- ester in charge of the program in New Hampshire, has been im- proper planting techniques. What are the correct techniques? You'll have an opportunity to find out Marys planning to offer a Back-to- Basics Seminar this winter Dates and details will be forthcoming The Planlsman No Surprises EXPERIENCE. At The Conley Farm, we have been growing high quality Balsam and Fraser Christmas Trees since 1 968. This year we have 8,000 trees, al! marked by grade and size, ready for harvest. LOCATION. Our regular customers—most of them have been with us for about 1 5 years — appreciate our Southern New Hampshire location which allows easy access for inspection of the crops. Plantation visits are welcome anytime. SERVICE. Our convenient location, an elevator loading system, and roads that are accessible for any size truck in any weather make shipping efficient and cost effective QUALITY. As a result of an upgrading program started in 1 982 we are now able to grow better trees faster. The freshness of our trees after harvest is insured by a custom designed shaded storage area. And, since we only sell trees grown on our farm what you see is what you get. No surprises. Call Bill at 603/ 332-7102, or Marty at 603/ 332-9942, for more information or to schedule a visit. The Conley Farm The wholesale grower of Balsam & Fraser in Southern New Hampshire AUGUST /SEPTEMBER 1994 E W H E R E IN THE Rhode Island Celebrates the 75th The Rhode Island Nurserymen's As- sociation (RINA) will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a banquet and festivities at the Doubletree Hotel in Newport on Saturday, No- vember 12. The day's activities in- clude tours of Newport, wine tast- ing at the Vineland Wine Cellar, discount shopping in Fall River, and a visit to the Foxwood Casino In the evening there will be lots of dining and dancing. Another activity of this anniver- sary year has been the publication of a wholesale buyer's guide This was compiled by Dr. Brian May- nard, Department of Plant Science, University of Rhode Island, King- ston, from catalogs sent to him by companies that responded to his request for information (Eighteen did so.) The catalog is an alpha- betical list of species Beneath each species and cultivar name is a list of available sizes (limited to four classes) and suppliers (num- bered one though 18). Suppliers are identified by number on the inside back cover. The source list, available on computer disk, is up- dated once a year. Financial support for the devel- opment of the database was pro- HOW ABOUT HERBS Herbs to Walk On An herb garden rich In texture and subtle color can be magnifi- cently pulled together by planting herbs among Its pathways' paving stones and bricks. Here are some that are sturdy and fra- grant, perfect for scenting and cushioning the steps of a happy gardener taking an evening stroll. The large group of creeping thymes are mostly forms of Thymus serpyllum, with a few distinct species. Caraway thyme IT. fierba- barona) makes a vigorous carpet with tiny white flowers. Its also a useful thyme for cooking, delicious with beef or pork. Red thyme (T. serpyf/um cocdneus) has red-magenta flowers In mid- summer and very small fragrant leaves. It's very hardy and sturdy, an excellent variety to walk on. A more fragile variety (T. albui\ with white flowers Is lighter green with tiny rounded leaves. I have read that It resents competition, so It might like to rule the walkway by Itself. It would do well between wide flat paving stones — If creeping thymes can get a firm grip In the soil, they'll spread out over the stones and look their best. Woolly thyme (T. serpyllum lanuglnosus) has rounded grey leaves that make attractive fuzzy patches In gravelly soil. This one must be well-drained, as It resents any lingering moisture. The flowers are lavender and appear In July. Another sturdy woolly thyme Is T. lanicaules. which has more widely-spaced leaves on long trailing stems. The habit of this plant Is very spreading and allows spring bulbs to come through Its cover. Of course, weeds could come through as well and this should be a consideration. All creeping thymes benefit from rocks, pavers, or bricks over which to spread. These help drainage and provide the warmth the plants need to order to thrive. Overwintering Is aided by a light mulch of compost, then a layer of coarse bark, put on the fall and raked off In the spring. Tanya \ackson is a well-known area herbalist. She can be reached al (603) 431-6774 vided by RINA and the Rhode Is- land Urban and Community For- estry Council. Funding for publica- tion was provided by the partici- pating nurseries. The guide is seen as a useful tool for landscape contractors, gar- den centers and landscape archi- tects— and a real benefit to the wholesale aspect of Rhode Island's nursery industry. For more — Ken Lagerquist at (508) 761-9260 A Walk throueh Real Life (from Plugged In, the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers' Association Newsletter, Issue 2, 1994). The major CGGA event of the sum- mer was an educational evening called Real-Life Compliance with Worker Protection.' Officials from the state department of environ- mental protection walked small groups through Grower Direct in Somers and pointed out how that firm has complied with various regulations. This is the first time an event of this nature has been offered The lune 23rd event included a picnic and chance to ask questions and closed with a talk on new vari- eties. Grant Awarded (from Npu's lo Usf, the Connecticut Nurserymen's Bulletin, |une, 1994) Dr Mark Bridgen, UConn, has been awarded a $10,000 grant to develop and market four new Astroemeria hybrids Dr Bridgen has worked since 1985 to improve the breed and speed up its propagation through the use of tissue culture techniques. He'll be working with two CNA firms to make these plants commercially viable. Flower- field Nursery, Monroe, will produce 2-inch liners from the micro-propa- gation tubes White Flower Farm, Litchfield, will pot the liners for re- tail and feature them in its Spring, 1905, catalog. ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS SEMINARS, CONFERENCES.... A First The first Urban Integrated Pest Management conference in New England for companies and govern- mental and private agencies Inter- ested in IPM will be held on Octo- ber 13 In Marlborough, Massachu- setts. The conference, sponsored by the New England regional office of the EPA, includes presentations on turf, golf course, ornamental, and structural 1PM. panel discussions, and discussion sessions "designed to answer questions about the meaning of 1PM In various green in- dustry and related professions, and how we can educate the public about IPM ■ Conference co-sponsors Include UMass Cooperative Extension, Mas- sachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Biotechnology Center of Excellence For registra- tion information, contact Kathleen Carroll at (413) 545-4968 Biology Meets Physics "For the first time in the United States, the world's premier tree bi- ologist will share the stage with a German physicist to give what may be the most complete picture of tree hazards ever presented to American audiences " The seminar, titled "Tree Haz- ards: the Ultimate Session," will join Dr Alex Shigo with physicist Claus Mattheck at the Sturbrldge Host Hotel from 9 am to 4 pm on December 5 and 6. ShIgo will examine the trees biological system and how it ad- justs to stress; Mattheck, from the Institute for Material Research In Karlsruhe, Germany, will discuss trees as physical structures and the laws that determine how long and under what pressures they can re- main standing ShIgo said that he and Mattheck had been aware of each other's re- search for years, but didn't meet until last September when both were invited to share the stage at a symposium in Sweden. "Oddly enough, a lot of people thought we would be in opposition to each other. This was not the case. Our research complemented each other's work; it was the best of all worlds." The program Is being produced by Tree Care Educators in coopera- tion with the Massachusetts Ar- bonst Association. The cost Is $98 per day, or $176 for both. (Massa- chusetts Arborlst Association mem- bers will receive a 10 percent dis- count.) To register or ask for more infor- mation, contact |ohn KIrkland at Tree Care Educators, Portland, Or- egon, at (503) 254-0482. Newton Greenhouse 32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 603-382-5289 Quality Plants green and flowering from 3" to 10" pots Holiday, bedding planLs, & dish gardens year round cut snaps, cut tulips and iris in season, gloxinias and African violets Licensed propagator of Mikkelsen & Ecke New Guinea Impatiens Cabeente "The Qeranium Specialists" Wholesale Growers 2 1/2" Geraniums (year round) 4" Pre-finished Geraniums 2 1/2" Ivy Geraniums &. Fuchsia Martha Washington Geraniums Spring Hanging Baskets, LiUes/Bulbs Azaleas, Cyclamen, Poinsettias, Foliage JOHN B. CARPENTER, Presidem ROBERT j. CARPENTER, General Manager 603/659-3391 220 SOUTH MAIN STREET NEWMARKET, NH 03857 AUGUST /SEPTEMBER 1994 HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 109-113 Essex St.. Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 373-6838, (800) 322-0332 We cater to the small and medium size nursery in any quantity desired: 1. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. untreated & no-rot-treated 2. Open burlap bags 3. New windbreak burlap 4. Balling bags 5. Wire baskets 6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners 7. Truck covers 8. Sisal twine & poly twine 9. Woven polypropylene sqs. "WHOLESAI Price List Available PERENNIAL - HERBS - WILDFLOWERS 80 Varieties in 6-cell packs UPS Shipping Available ROUTE 101 P.O. Box 26 Dublin^ N.H. 603-56^-8180 Annuals beddine Plants (6 cell pacKs) Zonal Geraniums-4K2 ' pot Hardy Mums in season 3!/2qt.pan Perenials available in 2qt. - 3qt. - 4qt. and 6qt. pots m^^i^^^^^^^^^^^BJiiJijjjiBmii FOR QUALITY SOD AND SERVICE (\Tiimfiniif ROUTE 3A LITCHFIELD, NH 1-800-556-6985 ^ » Big Rolls with Roll-out Service » Convenient Farm Pick-up » Prompt Delivery Sen/ice PRUNERS ■ LADDERS ■ SPRAYERS FORKLIFTS PUMPS ROUTE 116, P.O. BOX 540 CONWAY, MA 01341 413-369-4335 For Friendly, Courteous, Efficent, Technical Service CALL US AT 1-800-634-5557 FOR INFORMATION AND CATALOGS HOSE > TANKS ■ REELS ■ MOWERS ■ SAFETY EQUIPMENT The Piantsman E W H E R E THE NEW Try IPM school. (See page 6.) plant cultivar Miracle Salmon' im- pressed judges with its uniform centered flowers which were long lasting and did not fade, its light pleasant scent, and its compact habit. Plants germinate in 3-4 weeks and in 8-10, they reach the two-leaf stage At this point, growers should transplant seedlings into intermediate- sized containers, leaving the corm slightly above soil level to discour- age crown rot. About 16-18 weeks after sowing, they should be transplanted into 3- inch containers Night temperatures of 65-70F are best for the first few weeks with re- duced temperatures (60-65F) desir- able for intermediate-sized plants. Finished crops hold at 55-60F. The plant finishes in 23-26 weeks in 3- and 4-inch containers. For more: FloraStar. PO Box 27517, Lansing, Ml 48P09; telephone: (517) 694-7700. Name Change Approved (from the Massachusetts Nurserymen's Association Nursery News. April, 1994) On January first. 1995, the Massa- chusetts Nurserymen's Association will no longer exist In its place will be the "Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association." The name change, approved by mem- bers at this year's annual meeting in January, was made simply to better represent the membership "the name 'MNLA' more clearly de- fines the diversity we enjoy within our organization." Trends (from a conversation with |udy lohnson of O'Donal's Nurseries in Maine Landscape & Nursery Association Newsletter, Summer, 1994). "Perennials, perennials, perenni- als ..not only are people continuing their interest in perennials, they're getting specific: they're buying for a specific purpose." They're more educated — "They're not just asking for a viburnum; they're asking for a Viburnum opulus. ." Water gardens — "Last year the retail customer showed great interest in water fea- tures for their yards. This year they're craving the information needed to keep the water garden at its best" There's more interest in landscape lighting and containe gardening "is the up-and-coming "vogue" — easy, quick, with the po tential for much creativity and flex ibility of design." The "Instant" garden: "we've no ticed at O'Donal's a desire fo larger, more well-established plants this spring" ..all this, along with re quests for low-maintenance plants green screens, winter-hardy variet ies, and longer-lasting bloom MORE AWARD WINNERS Miracle Salmon' MInl-cyclamen (from Greenhouse Manager. July, 1994) FloraStar has named Goldsmith Seed's 'Miracle Salmon' mini-cycla- men as an outstanding new potted Waller's Sorbet Violas (from Greenhouse Grower. June, 1994) Greenhouse Grower's 1994 Medal of Excellence has gone to the Sorbet Viola cornula series from Waller Flowerseed Company in Guada- lupe, California. Attributes include "F-1 hybrid vigor, earliness, uniform flowering (within a five-day window across the series), compact and uniform habit, free-flowering ability, "face- up" bloom presentation, good ger- mination rate (85% minimum) and unusual colors ('Blackberry Cream,' "Blueberry Cream,' "Lemon Chiffon,' "Purple Duet,' "Yellow Frost' — and Waller expects to add more in the future)." Bred for the spring and fall mar- ket. Sorbets are "tolerant of tem- perature extremes and overwinter well in temperate climates. They've performed well in southern trials and will be undergoing trials in the northern US " For information, the Greenhouse Grower phone number (Willoughby, Ohio) is (216) 942-2000. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1994 Throw away that unsightly and inefficient cold frame ! The Humbug Mini Green House is an attractive addition to any yard or deck. It is constructed of lightweight aluminum frame with clear lexon ends to provide rigid support and comes with a greenhouse quality 6 mil polyethylene cover for easy access to your plants. <9 Can be set directly on the ground. ® Allows unhindered growth deck, or patio. up to 24" high. ® Accommodates 190 starter pots ® Weighs only 1 2 Lbs ® Dimensions are 48" L x 24" W x 24" H Wholesale programs tailored to fit your needs. Promotional materials and co-operative advertising programs available. Please call (603) 964 - 1 1 15 and ask for Michael P. Scott for more details or to place an order. Don't wait for the season to pass call today. (the BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECT '^J > PESTS T The Green Spot there are available 39 different species of biological pest control agents- better known as beneficial insects — siuted to most com- mon pest situations on the fann or m the greenliouse. Li addition to the good bugs, tlus locally owned and operated company has a wide variety of otlier associated products and a lot of valuable uifonnation you will Ukely need to make it work for you. For more information, please call. Tne Green Spot /Department of Bio-Tnge nuity 93 Priest Road. Barrington. New Hampshire 03825. ,603-942-8925 A MASTER GARDENER TELLS ALE CARL DEAME For the next eighteen weeks, the group met e\ery Tuesday and plowed through soil science, insects, diseases, annuals, fruit trees, lavms and a dozen other subjects. 1 first heard about the Master Gardeners when the program was featured in a National Geographic article about three years ago. The attention get- ter for me was the chance to do volunteer gardening work in conjunction with some formal university training. At the time, however, New Hampshire hap- pened to be one of two states that had not yet started the program. An inquiry revealed that plans for starting this program were being considered, but that not much headway had ever been made Finally, in January, 1993, fifty selected candidates from Merrimack, Strafford. Rockingham, and Hillsborough counties gathered in a highway department building in Concord. They became the first Master Gardening class in New Hampshire. For the next eighteen weeks, the group met every Tuesday and plowed through soil science, insects, diseases, annuals, fruit trees, lawns and a dozen other subjects. The courses were taught by UNH Extension specialists who pre- sented information in their own fields The first group of trainees was made up of folks who had been gardening most of their lives Many were earning a living or part-time income from a specific crop (blueberries and perennials seemed to predominate). In some cases, the student knowledge may have equaled the instructor's when the courses switched to their specialties. Upon graduation in May, the volunteer projects started. A home for children in Rochester, The Farm Museum in Milton, and the gardens at the Merrimack County Nursing Home were just a few of the places that received Master Gardener attention A newspa- per was organized and published and many of the graduates wrote newspaper articles and did TV spots on various gardening subjects I ended up answering phone calls from homeowners who had gardening questions. If you want an interesting experience, try answering all the questions that come into a county Extension office in one week All things considered, the program has been a success. The first group was joined by the second graduating class in May of this year and Belknap and Carroll counties have been added to the program. There are now over one hundred graduate Master Gardeners in the State of New Hampshire who are offering their talents as volunteers They have joined the large pool of individuals who give their time to make our state a better place to live. Let's hope the hundred become a thousand in a very short time Carl Deame is Program Assistant, kgricullural Resources, Strafford County Cooperative Extension, 259 County Farm Road. Unit 5, Dover, NH 03820-6015. He can be reached at (6031 749-4445. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1994 BARK MULCH DIVISION P. O. Box 527. Route 122 Poland Spring, Maine 04274 WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS Jolly Farmer PRODUCTS NURSERY DIVISION: P. O. Box 56, Route 10 East Lempster, N.H. 03605 WHOLESALE GROWERS Bark Mulch • Hemlock , Mix & Cedar... by the Tractor-Trailer load. Bagged Mulch - Our own barV mulch now available In 2 and 3 cu.ft. bags.. .Hemlock. Pine-Spruce, Cedar, Spruce-Hemlock & Dark Bark. Also.. .Pine Bark Nuggets & Mini Nuggets. Bagged Soils & Manures - Top soii. Potting Soil, Peat Humus, Peat Moss, Composted & Dehydrated Cow Manures. Cut & Split Firewood Telephone: 1-800-879-2275 1-207-998-5580 FAX: 1-207-998-2006 Annual Plugs Rooted Cuttings Geraniums Bedding Plants Potted Annuals Hanging Baskets Fall Mums Cyclamen.. .Liners, Finished Polnsettias...Cuttlngs, Finished Telephone: 1-800-695-8300 1-603-863-3370 1-603-863-7814 "Integrity, quality and reliable service since 1967" NORTHERN NURSERIES WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS U.S. Route 5, White River Junction, VT 05001 16 Pinkham Road West, Barrington, Nh 03825 4 SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL WITH ABOVE GROUND PLANT MATERIAL Distributors in the following lines: • Lofts Seeds , Birchmder Sprayers • DeWitt Weed Barrier • Lebanon Turf Fertilizers • Corona Hand Took . Mulch & Grow Hydroseeding Fiber • Eaithway Spreaders • Nursery & Landscape Supplies Contact: Jim Babb, Mgr., White River Junction, VT, (802) 295-211 7 '" Bob AvcrcU, Mgr., Barrington, NH, (603) 868-7172 GOOD SERVICE • DEPENDABLE QUALnT' CONVENIENT LOCATION AGNOSTIC UPDATE Well, it certainly looks like the plant pathogens have been busy during the months of May and June, as well as the early part of luly. The number of sannples submitted to the lab doubled between May and )une Although typical spring and sum- mer diseases of field-grown orna- mentals are beginning to show up in the lab, a few diseases contin- ued to plague greenhouse opera- tions. Botrytis and pytfiium became more problematic as the tempera- tures (and humidity) increased, and three additional cases of bacterial blight of geranium were confirmed in May (see the diagnostic update in the lune/july issue). Symptoms of early winter dam- age began to appear shortly after our first hot spell in lune. Woody shrubs and small trees, particularly those planted within the last two years, began to leaf-out; then the leaves suddenly wilted during the hot weather. The injured tissue is usually at the soil line. The dam- age likely occurred during the first few bouts of freezing temperatures, before we had any significant snow- cover. Since 1 mentioned snow, it seems appropriate to discuss snow molds on turf Snow molds were the most frequently diagnosed dis- eases on turf samples received in the Diagnostic Lab during May and early June. The more 'typical' warm-weather turf diseases, such as brown patch, pythium. and leaf spot (helminthesporium) have begun to show up in the last three weeks throughout the southern half of the state. In addition, anthracnose and ascockyta leaf blight is showing up on turf that was stressed by last summer's drought. The shoot blight phase of brown rot (monilinia) was a problem on Prunus species again this spring, particularly flowering almond and ornamental cherries. The symptoms are usually blighted blossoms, but in severe cases, entire twigs may be killed. Crabapples have been hit hard by apple scab this spring. The youngest 7-to-8 leaves on a shoot are often completely blighted, and in severe cases defoliation has already begun. Sanitation (removal of infected leaves after they fall in the autumn) is a very effective means of control for apple scab. Numerous cases of anthracnose on maples and ash have been diag- nosed in the lab in the last few weeks. During my recent travels around the southern part of the state, I have noticed significant twig death and dieback on sy- camore trees that were hit with an- thracnose last year. I haven't yet re- ceived any sycamore samples this year, so hopefully we've escaped at least one problem. Botrytis blight and leaf spots have been showing up on annuals and perennials for the last few weeks During the last week of )une, two cases of fusarium wilt were diag- nosed on china asters. The fungus is soil-borne and may also be seed-borne. The symptoms of the disease include stunted growth (of- ten one-sided), wilt, and black streaks that extend up the stem from the soil line. Infected plants should be removed and destroyed (do not compost them). Most of the diseases we are see- ing now will continue to plague us for the rest of the growing season. Hazy, hot. and humid weather (af- fectionately called the three H's' by the weather forecasters) will fa- vor brown patch and pythium on turf, botrytis blight, and the progression of wilt diseases (such as Dutch elm disease and verticillium) By the be- ginning of August, powdery mildews should be appearing on a wide range of hosts (I have already seen some growth on a few lilacs around campus). Sanitation in the autumn is also effective in reducing the in- cidence of powdery mildew. If our summer is hot and dry, as it was last year, expect to see spider mite feeding damage on a wide range of hosts. Many conifer species were particularly hard-hit by spider mites last summer To check for mites, place a white piece of paper beneath a branch and tap the branch a few times, if the specks on the paper begin to crawl around you have a potential mite problem. If you wish to submit plant material to the PDL for diagnosis, send samples to. Dr. Cheryl Smith, Plant Diagnostic Lab. Nesmith Hall. UNH, Durham, NH 03824. Samples should be accompanied by an identification form [available from your county Cooperative Extension office). There is no fee {at this time] Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in Plant Health, and can be reached at (603) 862-3841 The More You Qdw, The More You Know. (<^,hNortheast Nursery, Inc. ▼ Te've been in Ihis business a long lime. We know our customer's needs and demands. It doscn'i make a difference of the lime of year or the size of the project. Northeast Nursery covers it all. With the widest selection in wholesale plant maieriaJs and landscape supplies in all of New England it's no wonder many consider Northeast Nursery the best One-Stop shopping for all your landscape and green supplies. Supplying Fine Plant Material & Landscape Supplies 234 Newbury Street, Rt. 1 South Peabody, MA 01960 Tel. (508) 535-6550 Fax (508) 535-5247 AUGUST /SEPTEMBER 1994 Ernie's Greenhouse 107 WHITEHALL ROAD, ROCHESTER, NH 03868 TEL. 1 •603-332-91 95 T X he Wholesalers of Pre-finished Geraniums, Ivie Geraniums, Fuchsias, Geranium Ivie, Vinca, Dracaena he heart of our own rapidly expanding retail business is our lavish display of the best geranium, ivie geranium and fuchsia varieties on the market today. Many of these are new Oglevee varieties that clearly out-perform the old standbys. We dazzle our retail customers with color, growing plants in all popular sizes, including spectacular big planters priced to sell in volume. Let us help you increase your sales and profit by helping you custom design just such a sales program. Available Varieties fOgl = Oglrcee patented) ZONAL GER.ANIUM Kim, Red, Ogl Sassy, Dk Red, Ogl Veronica, Rose, Ogl Melody. Pink, Ogl Pink E.\pectations, Ogl Snow White. Ogl .•\urora (violet) Beth, (light pink) Additional varieties may be introduced We ship rooted cuttings in 806 Packs. -I IL". 6". H" anc to " pre-finished wie geraniums and fuchsias We may also be able to custom grotf some selected i IVIE GERANIIM Sybil Holmes (rosebud pink) Amethyst (violet) Bluebeard (deep burgundy) Beauty ot" Eastbourne (rose) Simone, Red, Ogl Nicole, Pink, Ogl Minicascade (red) KUCHSIAS Swingtime (red/white) Dark Eyes (red/purple) Blue Eyes (red/blue) Starry Trail (purple/whii Southgate (pink) Pink Marshmallow 10" pre-fmished zonal geraniums, and < inuals in S06 packs (prc-finished). "Helping You To Grow" rc/u^// B.R SUPPLY _> .:^svW4^ GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Rd. - Lang(don Mailing Address: P.O. Box 0 Charlestown. New Hampshire 03603 • Nu-Form Products • Pre-filled Flats &. Pots • Restricted Pesticides 'Fertilizers • Kord Products • Distributors for Plasti Form &. Plasti Vac • Distributors for Hyde Park &. Sunshine Soils 603-835-6930 fax: 603-835-2180 MEMBER PROFILE XXfter fifteen years as a dental technician, Barbara O'Brien figured out wfiat she wanted to do with her life. Plants had been one con- stant— she remembered growing them when she was a child— she decided to become a grower. She enrolled in the four-year plant science program at UNH, but while getting her degree, realized "you really learn by doing " She began growing cut flowers on the two acres she and her hus- band own on Washington Road in Rye. She grew a lot — of all kinds — and harvested them and delivered to local florists. She sold bou- quets at the Farmers' Market in Portsmouth, doing "very well: I usu- ally sold out in a couple hours " She expanded and leased land from a neighbor In 1983, she found a glass house — an 18x32 Lord and Bumham — glass, crank-operated top vent — in pieces on the ground in Bedford. She bought what was there, figured out what was missing, ordered the needed parts, and, with the help of her husband (a forest pathologist for the US Forest Service — "people think our work connects, but it doesn't really") and Charlie Nurn- berger from New England Green- house Construction, assembled it in February, 1Q84, in time to pro- duce a spring bedding plant crop She added a 4x20 cold frame to the back, then began expanding down the slope. EVEN AFTER ten years in business, Barbara still gets first-time custom- ers telling her, "we always thought it was a private greenhouse." One reason for this is the contour of the land Washington Road is built on a ridge line — the land slopes downward on either side — which is why the homes are built so close to the road. At Rye Ridge, you look down from the road onto the glass house, but see nothing behind it But there's more. The business is on several levels Parking is at street level. On the second level are the glass house and shop, as well as work and storage areas. Display gardens alongside a stonedust path descend a steep slope to a third level (not level at all, but a long gradual slope). A 8x100 cold frame (the next struc- ture put up after the glass house) runs parallel with the slope and becomes an axis off of which smaller units are placed. On the left are three 22x48 hoop houses and, between them, two cold frames (14x48 and 17x48). Beyond these are cut flower beds. On the right, the main features are two square display gardens. Display benches (wood frame, wire tops) are set up throughout all this Some benches follow the line of the axis; others are perpendicular to it These geometric underpin- nings give a sense of order to the great variety of plants displayed. The area is framed by woods. THIS SMALL intensely-used area continues to evolve. This year there's improved parking. There AUGUST /SEPTEMBER 17 WHOLESALE PRICE LIST This fall we have over fifty varieities of Container-grown Mums. All varieties are Yoder stock and include many of the new introductions as of January 1994. ' Delivery Is Included In price (minimum $200 order) Sold First Come-First Served • High Quality / Reasonable Prices • Grown in combination mix of Sunshine Mix, Sand & Horse Manure w/ Osmocote top dressing Soil weighs more to prevent drying out and tipping over No cherry picking , ^lO^ GARDHMS OF A L r w IV We Offer Three Sizes (largest size is limited in productior)) PRICES CLASSIC CUSTOM 2000 12" X 11' -3 Plants per Pot 200 Available - 4 ea. of 50 varieties $10 Each CLASSIC CUSTOM 600 8 1/2" X 8 1/2" - 1 Plant per Pot 6000 Available -50+ $1.95 Each ROUTE 28 . ALTON, NH 603^69-2127 or 603-875-4444 FAX 603-569-3964 Specioi Offer! PREFINISHED MUMS Toke delivery of any Mums before Aug. 15th S TAKE 10% OFF THESE PRICES! (Flonts will b» buddmd w/ no tolor showing) CLASSIC CUSTOM 400 7 3/4" X r ■ 1 Plar« per Pol 12.000 Available - 50+ varieties $1.25 Each Please Phone or FAX for further information. Thank you! are three areas — a 60x20 area of crushed stone; and an area for three cars marked off on the house driveway; also, the lawn has been shortened and the area next to the road asphalted, giving a place for delivery trucks to unload The largest area is the most changed. Before this year, it was a gravel strip next to the road — "so narrow that if you parked beside a van, you'd have to pull out into the road in order to see around it. There were never any accidents, but I worried." A display garden was on the slope below it Now there's a dry retaining wall — maybe five feet high — built of Diamond Stone — 70-pound inter- locking cement blocks, tiered (bat- tered) slightly. The slope and most of the garden are gone, although a jog in the wall accommodates a good specimen of pinus slrobus nana, which will be the centerpiece of a smaller display. A climbing rose ("We saved out a "New Dawn") will grow up the wall; terracotta pots filled with an- nuals are already on top. Another change was that the steps from the street to the second level are no longer there; a walk of blue- stone leads into the sales area The railing of steel pipe — repeating the curve of the walk — was made by a local welder (For a quick, clean in- stallation, Barbara recommends drive-in fence posts' — metal squares with pointed bottoms These were driven into the ground; the railing supports were placed inside and welded to them — "a lot neater than using a post hole digger ") People like the changes — older people in particular appreciate the gentler slope of the walk, as well as the solid railing The cut-flower bed to the right of the axis wasn't planted this year, but covered with sawdust — it s square shape is crisp against the grass — and used for display The four corners of the square are planted; groups of potted plants are placed in geometric configura- tions around them and lead to a focal point — one of Monet's luteurs filled with ivy geraniums (a tuleur is a three-legged iron stand with sev- eral shelves on which to place trailing plants — a device used by Monet at Civerny — "a blacksmith up in Maine makes them — I liked the design") There's space to walk around. It's not complicated, but Barbara says it's made a differ- ence— sales have been stronger from this particular area "I LOVE PERENNIALS— and Im a reader — I'm constantly reading about them and finding new ones 1 want to try And in the last few years, there have been a remarkable number of ex- citing introductions." For several years, Barbara has had problems with the town over zoning, but these have been re- solved Expansion will occur in un- obtrusive ways — Rye Ridge has col- lected, grown, experimented with, and overwintered garden material for ten years now and today offers bOO varietie's of perennials (as well as several hundred annuals) to its customers; Barbara's own enthusi- asm, now fueled by the expecta- tions of her customers (from Maine and Massachusetts, as well as lo- ^GRIFFIN GREENHOUSE & NURSERY SUPPLIES TAKE A 3-MONTH VACATION FROM INSECT CONTROL MARATHON™ insecticide offers residual control lasting 12 weeks or more, thanks to a revolutionary new family of chemistry. That means you can control whiteflies, thrips, aphids. mealybugs and other pests for at least six times longer than most conventional insecticides. You'll save time. Labor. And reduce worker exposure. Use MARATHON on poinsettias, mums, bedding plants, roses, cut flowers, foliage plants, cuttings, flowering plants and more. It's the only 1% systemic granular insecticide available. For more infonnation, call 508-851-4346. call, will continue to expand the number Barbara's favorites this year (they change from year to year) in- clude Lithodora ("long blooming; a gorgeous blue"); Saxifraga x endressii ~Red Carpet." Salvia "Cherry Blos- som," "Peach (Vielba" nasturtiums; Nicoliana sylveslris... Along with the new, she likes the old-fashioned: Calliopsis and Osteospermum are two of this years reintroductions. ■"Everything we can grow, we do. We cant expand because of the limited area, but we can buy in. Last year (under the old zoning regulations) it was 13% Are there trends? "People are into everything," she says "They read more and come in with articles about plants that interest them.'" Barbara still grows cut flowers — less than when she was wholesal- ing, but enough to keep customers coming back in the quieter months of luly and August She tried offer- ing cut-your-own, but people wanted completed arrangements and were willing to pay the additional cost. She sells no shrubs and. with the exception of the luleurs and a selection of decorative pots, no hardgoods. Rye Ridge has one spe- cialty: high-quality and unusual plants for the garden These — along with the individualized service and lots of information — give it its niche MARKETING is done in two ways Although its roadside presence is very low-key, advertising is some- thing Barbara strongly believes in. "Its important to get the word out. When sales are down, its easy to rationalize cutting costs, but that may be the time you should spend some money selling your product "' She advertises weekly in three or four local newspapers — and once the people are there, she relies on the display gardens (seeing the plant growing helps people envi- sion it in their own yards") and signage. "Its hard to convince people to try new plants — good signage is one way of getting the word out to them — we just dont have the time to talk to everyone."" The signs give a lot of informa- tion. The sign for Sanvitalia, for example, gives its common name (Creeping Zinnia) and species (Mandarin Orange) and tells the readers that the plant is low, likes sun and high temperatures, is drought resistant, blooms early summer until frost and "is great in rock gardens. '" There is also a color picture of the plant The sign for- mat is set up on her computer, the signs are printed out and taken to a local copy center where they are printed on thicker stock; then the photo is added and the whole thing is laminated (Barbara has a laminator). Even with this, Barbara feels more signage is needed. The information offered has led to another aspect of Rye Ridge — garden design and landscaping Barbara does the design work (she likes the "English cottage garden" look) and she and a crew do jobs throughout'the summer until hard frost in the fall. These are smaller jobs — no heavy equipment is in- volved, but they allow her to see just how some of the newer mate- rial works out in practice. And it AUGUST /SEPTEMBER gives new ideas she can pass on to her customers. All this variety and information is labor Intensive — eight or nine people can be working there during the height of the season. Automatic watering doesn't work well because "with that number of varieties, a lot of them in fairly small quantities, there's a wide range of requirements — some need watering, some don't ." A lot of individual attention is given. "WE TRY to be as up-to-date as possible. We try to do the things a big grower would do, even if we do it on a small scale We use a seeder — it's a hand seeder, but we use it And when plugs came out, we used them immediately — ahead of some of the larger growers. I'm constantly reading about the industry. ..' ...and coming up with new ways to improve Rye Ridge — another new walkway up the hill; a shade gar- den near the pines; maybe another glass house re- placing one of the plastics... In winter, she needs to keep the heat on in the glass house in order to prevent the pipes from freez- ing. She grows one cool crop — Martha Washingtons — to wholesale This done, she starts her pansy crop at the beginning of January. The house — parallel to the road — becomes an advertisement. "People driving by can watch the progress of the crops and begin count- ing the days to the first of May " And every May there'll be new varieties and innovations. A lot can be done on two acres. (B.P.) Rye Ridge Greenery is al 630 "Washington Road. Rye, New Hampshire. U's open every day May \ -August 31 from 10 until five. The phone number there is (603) 964-5339 from the Griffin Guru Ready to Go Gutter-connected? Why should you start thinking about going to a gutter-connected greenhouse? Although factors and costs vary, the reason Is still the same and can be summed up In one word — efficiency. When you decide you need Increased efficiency In the production of your crop, gutter-connected structures may help you achieve this goal. Large block growing areas are most desirable when growing a single crop or several with similar re- quirements. Large block framing allows better temperature control with less surface heat loss and Is Ideal for boom watering systems which give uniform watering labor-free. Rolling benches — maximum growing surface without any sacrifice In crop handling ease — are also easily fitted In. These can be quickly expanded by ei- ther widening or lengthening. All In all, the gutter-connected greenhouse of- fers many benefits that should be looked Into when thinking about your growing needs. JOSEPH GIANNINO Greenhouse Plants Unrooted • Rooted Preflnlshed Finished Nursery Stock B&B Container Bare Root 56 Tuscano Avenue Revere. MA 02151 Home: 617-286-6541 Fax: 617-289-9412 From Slort to Fmiih D A POSOCCO, Inc. STEENBURG & CALLIORAS THE AUCTION PROFESSIONALS, INC. ^^ AUCTIONEERS: Archie Steenhnrgh 603/989-5690 Route 10, Haverhill, NH 03765 Peter Callioras, C.A I. 603/868-1070 Calef Highway (Lee), Dover, NH 03820 h^ \bP^' Cc»np«rv). 600 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison. NY 10528 Richard C. Zoerb 72 Hawkstead Hollow Nashua, NH 03063 603 886-8665 ^cmers Ciarbcn Center (3)nc- 656 South Mammoth V.oaA (R(e. 28A) Manchester, NH 03109-5049 (603J 625-8298 • fax (603j 622-4073 Nursery • Greenhouses Craft & Christmas Shop We Support The Planlsman ^s^ ESTERN INE NURSERIESiK^ Box 250. One Evergreen Dr.. Fryeburg. Maine 04037 The proof is in the planting. We could turn blue in the face tiying to tell you about the superiority of our service and conifer seedlings St transplants. Here's a better idea— call in your order and prove it to yourself. Oh, remember to ask about our written warranty! Place your order or receive our free catalog by calling 1-800-447-474 (or Fax 1-207-935-2043) "I 'DC beat a completely hstppy customer for Z3 years, (n my opinion, no better planting stock is available any- where and I've neper dealt with any organization more devoted to customer satisfaction." -Peter Mollica Christmas Trees of Vermont, Springfield, VT M Perennial Display! Most of our 450 varieties are displayed in our gardens. Come wander. GREEN THUMB FARMS NURSERY Specializing in Evergreens Fall Listing Pinus Mugo (Mugo Pine) 2—2 1/2 $22.00 Taxus Capitata (Capltata Yew) 2 1/2—3 24.00 2 1/2—3 30.00 3—3 1/2 32.00 3—3 1/2 38.00 3 1/2—4 42.00 3 1/2—4 45.00 Thuja Occidentalls-WoodwardI Pinus Sirobus (White Pine) (Globe Arborvitae) 18-24 10.00 Lightly sheared 3—4 16.00 2-2 1/2 13.00 4-5 22.00 2 1/2—3 17.00 5-6 28.00 Tsuga Canadensis 6—7 35.00 (Canadian Hemlock) 2-3 18.00 Heavy plants 4—5 5-6 25.00 42.00 3—4 24.00 Route 113 — P. O Box 347 Fryeburg, Maine 04037 (207) 935-3341 Fa.x: (207) 935-3318 AUGUST /SEPTEMBER RED HEMLOCK DOESN'T GET MULCH BETTER THAN THIS Morse Bros, is oHering very >ur guaranteed Hemlock Bark M. H ^mpcryord | ^^ per yard | ''t ^ Deluxe Hemlock Call for Details FOB Windha- " Burgundy Hemlock 1-800-866-4991 32 Gambo Rd., Windham, ME 04062 (Tel) 207-892-1400 (Fax) 207-892-3400 HARNESS THE SUN!/! SUN-MATE FOR THE 90'S! Ij 2, 3 TEMPERED GLASS SKINS OR G.E. LEXAN OR ACRYLIC PLASTIC PANEL SKINS. SINGLE TEMPERED GLASS LEAST COSTLY AND PERMANENT. TEMPERED GLASS ARCH RE-SKIN A SPECIALTY See our tempered glass re-skin at UNH. We were chosen for high light, low mainten- ance, and permanent performance re-sl(in. G.E. LEXAN AND ACRYLIC PLASTIC PANELS NEWOR RENEW. 10 YEAR WARRANTY BY MFGR. Lexan Re-skin packages for old glass or plastic re-skin, prefabbed instructions, and plans for easy installation or labor installed. THIS IS THE HEART OF SUN-MATE SINGLE TEMPERED GLASS LOWEST COST AND PERMANENTIIADD2ND OR 3RD SKIN LATER!! TIGGYBACK" Re-skin 1, 2, 3 tempered glass skins on old alum, glass greenhouses. Prefabricated package easy to install with plans & instructions or labor installed. A°ac,^r3"WINANDY GREENHOUSE COMPANY INC. ^X^%, 935-2111 2211 Peacock Road, Richmond, Indiana 47374 SUN -MATE TEMPERED GLASS "LOW SNOW" GREENHOUSES FROM $3.00 SO FT. EASY TO ERECT AND LIVE WITH! COMPLETE PREFAB. AND INSTRUCTIONS YOU CAN RE-SKIN OR ERECT WITH INEXPERIENCED LABOR AND "SAVE"!II NEW RENEW SUN-MATE RE-SKIN AND REPLACEMENT VENTS LESS INVESTMENT THAN WOOD PRESERVATION BEGINS: The Old Garden at the Hay Estate Bill Noble he gardens and landscape of The Fells, the former summer home of the Hay family and now a National Wildlife Refuge, State His- toric Site, and project of The Garden Con- servancy, offer exciting opportunities for gardeners and others interested in landscape history and gar- den design As )ohn Hay, naturalist and author, ob- serves, "This location has remained true to the integ- rity of the New Hampshire landscape, never having overwhelmed it. There is a balance between the wild and the tamed Trees climb the hills and encourage one to feel that there are greater distances to find, out beyond the horizon." An example of this balance is found in the Old Garden, the first garden built on the site and one that deserves a sensitive approach to its preservation in a cultural and natural setting. During the late 1880s, lohn Hay combined nine farms into a single estate and built a cottage under hundred-year-old sugar maples. The Hays enjoyed the scenery, fresh air, and open fields above the lake in the company of family and friends. After |ohn Hay's death in 1905, The Fells passed to his son Clarence, who soon began to alter it to suit his tastes While still a student at Harvard, Clarence built the formal walled garden and a log cabin which he used for hunting and fishing trips. In 1914, he married the young Alice Appleton. She was more ac- customed to the cultivated farmland of Ipswich, Mas- AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER 23 sachusetts, and felt daunted by the dark pines and boulder-strewn fields of Newbury. Tfie young couple enlisted the aid of landscape architect Prentice Sanger to help them improve the house and gardens. In courting his wife, Clarence Hay had promised her that to- gether they would build beautiful gar- dens, and so they did, dynamiting the rocks in the lawn and cutting down trees for the view. Over the next forty years, they pursued their horticultural interests with passion. They visited Europe, where they were particularly inspired by older gardens and the landscape of the Italian lakes. Alice Hay had a series of walls, courts and fountains designed as the set- ting for a rose garden, a perennial border, and the display of choice plants. Clarence Hay became ab- sorbed with the building and tending of the rock gar- den and gardening with native plants Today many of the more ephemeral elements of these gardens are lost, but the structure provided by the architecture and plants remains. IVlany of the more successful plantings have matured and are now some of the best examples of their kind to be found in New Hampshire The story of the Old Garden provides a glimpse into Clarence Hay's gardening style and his interest in plants. Although the details of its history are not yet fully understood, it appears he laid out a garden bounded by stone walls along the edge of the woods north of the house. The garden was built along an east-west axis that on one end encompassed a sugar maple within a niche, and on the other a bust of Pan within a hedge of Abies concoior. The north side of the This location has remained true to the integrity of the New Hampshire landscape, nexer haxing o\er^^/helmed it.' main walled room was finished with a wooden bench and arbor, the south entry with a wooden trellis and gate. The intersection of the main axis was marked with a small statue on a ped- estal; the intersection of the axis in the second room, with a fountain. Flower beds filled the quadrants in both garden rooms. The formal walled structure and its white painted wooden arbors and trellises were set amid the trees and accented with flow- ering vines, shrubs and perennials. Garden ornaments, many of them gifts of Chinese, lapanese and Mexican ori- gin, were displayed in niches and on the walls. Outside the walled garden, the walk up to the log cabin was bordered with lilacs and columbine. The Old Garden, sometimes called the Pan Garden, was exemplary of the formal garden style of the first decades of the twentieth century. Over the years, the style and plants employed in the garden changed as the Hay family's tastes and in- terests changed and their interests in plants matured The formal beds of annuals and perennials gave way to plantings of wild cardinal flower and choice trees and shrubs. Clarence Hay noted in his copy of L.H. Bailey's New Cyclopedia of American Horticulture a number of the different azaleas and rhododendrons which are still found in this garden today. In the middle 1920s, a rhododendron walk was under the high pines to the south and west of the garden. Dozens of catawba hy- brids ('Boule de Neige' and R. maximum), along with Torch and Flame Azaleas and the native Mountain Pink still bloom from late May into |uly. Soon after a 24 The Plantsman 1934 trip to Colonial Williamsburg, the couple added low boxwood edging to the garden. Photographs and an undated watercolor depict this garden as a happy combination of the architectural and ornamental The Old Garden was the focus of horticultural activ- ity at the Fells into the 1920s and has retained much of its structure from those days. In subsequent years, the Hays turned their attention to such projects as the Rock Garden The Old Garden became less of a focus and began to acquire the grace and inattention of age. A combination of formal structure and neglect gives it the flavor of archeology and romance. Narrow paths lead visitors through rhododendrons into the unex- pected ruins of the walled garden The combination of Italian-style masonry and the Colonial Revival wood- work, the vandalized statue of Pan, and the overscaled yews and rhododendrons remind one of the ultimate decadence of most gardens, but the keen plantsperson is able to see into its history. Beneath tall trees and among the rhododendrons are found mature Chinese dogwood, Andromeda, Leucothoe, Enkianthus, Fringetree, and — on the floor — bunch- berry, heather and ferns. As preservation plans begin to develop at The Fells, these gardens become more and more of a chal- lenge and opportunity. Under the active direction of the Garden Conservancy, a dedicated corps of local volunteers have devoted the years 1993 and 1994 to stabilizing plants and structures, pruning trees, and painting woodwork. A plant inventory, survey of exist ing conditions, and historical research are the nex' stages of the preservation process to be undertaken In 1995, we hope to be able to develop a preserve tion treatment plan for this garden with the coopera tion of the preservation, horticultural, and design com munities The Old Garden has been a most challeng- ing place to begin our efforts. The Hay Estate is operated as Ihe ?e\\s Slate Wstork Site at the ]ohn Hay National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury. NH and is a proiect of The Garden Conservancy The gardens and grounds are open to visitors daylight hours year round. For more information or to volunteer or contribute please contact Bill Noble, Director of Landscapes, The Garden Conservancy at The Hay Estate, P.O. Box 276, Newbury, NH 03255; (603) 763-4789, 75 CHESTNUT HILL, RTE 190 STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT 06076 W. H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT PLANTS BULBS SEEDS ALL YOUR GREENHOUSE NEEDS GROW VCTTH US Conn, 203-684-5811 Out of State 800-243-7170 THE GREEN SPOT A popular misconception regarding biological pest control Is that the only weapon at the grower's disposal Is beneficial Insects. This Is not the case. All tools normally used In an Inte- grated Pest Management (IPM) program — with the exception of chemical substances — are available. And their use Is highly recommended. The weapons In the arsenal Include: traps, lures, trap crops (crops that lure and sustain beneflclals while diverting pests), physical barriers, environ- mental barriers and controls, cultural manipulation, soapy sprays, horticultural oils, Bacttlui thuringiensis formulations, vacuuming (this works well on whitefly adults), safe botanical Insecticides (such as Neem), and even hand-picking. lust because the grower Is committed to using beneflclals, that doesn't mean he or she should stop being Interactive. The grower should utilize the controls available and not be content to watch fate run Its course. In the greenhouse, the grower Is still who's In charge. Mike Cherim. owner of the Green Spot, a company supplying biological pest control agents and associated products, can be reached at 603-942-8925 MICHAUD Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. Route 85, PO Box 334, Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 772-3698 Wholesale & Retail Annuals, Perennials, Nursery Stock, Landscape Supplies Since 1890 all your needs: • Fo4iage & Famt • Nuncry Stock jf{lc/U'//4 >.0. Boi 160, King <* Prussia. PA 19406 (215)265-4200 SCOTT A. STEWART 421 Pirk Straci West Noflh Reading, MA 01 864 Phone: 508 -6»4-009e FAX: 90e-664-4076 AUGUST /SEPTEMBER J.D. Power and Associates ranks International Best conventional medium duty truck in customer satisfaction. ^ INTCRNATIONAL BuiD For VbuR Business. LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS, INC 1400 South Willow Street, Manchester, NH 03103 (603) 623-8873 NE WATS: 1 -800-562-3814 Fax #1-603-641-9486 CD OWNERS! Are You Earning 8.3o1% otrr I^^^J For One Year? No Annual Fees! Guaranteed Return of Principal! Multiple Income Features! Call Now For More Information On Tax-deferred Annuities MICHAEL BARNEA |Wageman Ins. Inc.| 1-800-439-2451 Golden Rule Insurance Company. Rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best. This raUng indicates financial strength and stability. • This annuity includes a 3% first-year bonus Rate as of 1-3-94, subject to change. 221A-1093 FofmGFll-AN-10 •c-^^^^'Our goal, quality Our strength, our employees" FOR A GREEhlHOUSE VEFIUULV VIEEEREUT CONTACT: ELLIS S.SPRAGUE OROHO, MINE TEL: 207-866-7919 FAX: 207-866-4747 a HPROOIS PmmAcehjeamerlaum, gankm.tyeesafidslmtbs vuHhAUGnJ'ampost I Increase nutrient and water retention I I'roinde natural fertilization Jbr long term growth. I Increase organic matter to reduce compaction atui erosion. I Provide slow release of nitrogen and trace minerals I Prefent turf diseases from forming. I Improte soil aeration and consistent root development. I Be assured that it is a weed free product. I Save money over using topsoils. peatmoss and manures. All^. Gxi AllGro Inc., Uberty Lane, Hampton, NH 03842 800.662.2440 The Pianlsman OARD HIGHLIGHT lUNE 7 Andrea. Bob, Chris, Henry, and Peter met at Pleasant View Ben is resigning from the Board because of commitments in town government. Henry reported on the NE Greenhouse Conference, saying that the program looi25") cultivars are avail- able in a wide range of colors. Cultivars DWARF: FuegQ- Iredl, Hot Stuff (red), Sizzler series MEDIUM: Carabiniere series. Pha- raoh' (red), 'Red Pillar' (red), 'St John's Fire' (red), Top series. TALL: 'America' (red), 'Early Bon- fire' (red), 'Rambo' (red). Propagation Propagated by seed; cleaned & graded seed are available from dis- tributors. TEMPERATURE: Seeds are initially germinated at 75-79''F (24-26''C), then reduced to 70-72''F (21-22°C) after about I week. Germination is complete around 14 days. LIGHT: Salvia benefits from light during germination. Seeds should only be lightly covered to maintain high moisture around the seeds. Supplemental light is useful at the earliest stages of germination. Growing on TRANSPLANTING Tradid'owaf: Seedlings are trans- planted as soon as they can be handled. Transplanting occurs 3-4 weeks after sowing. P/u^s: Seedlings remain for 5-6 weeks in plugs TEMPERATURE: In plugs, stage 3 and 4 are grown around 59-63°F (I5-I7°C) until transplanting. After transplanting (traditional or plugs), night temperatures of 55-59°F (13- 15°C), day temperatures 70-75''F (21-24°C) result in good growth. PHOTOPERIOD: Photoperiod is cul- tivar dependent, i.e. America' is SD, 'Carabiniere Red' is day-neutral and St. lohn's Fire' is LD. In gen- eral, growers do not apply specific photoperiod unless growing for a early or late market LIGHT: In the greenhouse. Salvia is a high-light plant. Supplemental light while plants are in the seed- ling stage accelerates growth Low light levels cause plant stretch CARBON DIOXIDE: Young Salvia plants respond well to 1000-1500 ppm C02. FERTILIZATION: Fertilization of 50- 75 ppm N of KNO, benefits plugs in stage 2 and 3 and once plants are transplanted and actively growing, 100-150 ppm from a complete fer- tilizer is sufficient. Maintain pH between 5 5 and 6.2 HEIGHT CONTROL: Chemical height control by daminozide (5000 ppm, 2 times) and chlormequat (750-1000 ppm, 2-4 times) is effective. DIF is also used Common Problems PHYSIOLOGICAL: Seedlings are highly sensitive to methyl bromide and will be distorted and stunted if germinated in soil contaminated with even minute amounts of the chemical. High soluble salts result in necrotic foliage. Leaf drop is common when plants are stressed. PESTS: Aphids, whiteflies and spider mites are common pests of Salvia. DISEASES: Bo(ri//is under cool, moist conditions can be a problem Rftiroflonia and Pt/ldium are respon- sible for damping off of seedlings. Postharvest Concerns Plants should be placed in a shady spot of the retail area. They are tol- erant of cool weather, although some reddening of foliage may occur when temperatures fall below 50°F (10°C). Schedule TRADITIONAL: Approximately 10 weeks are required from seed to flower, although faster flowering may occur if supplemental light, photoperiod and C02 are used. PLUGS: 5-6 weeks in the plugs, fol- lowed by about 5 weeks in the final container Adapted from a BedAing Plant Seminar pre- sented by Allan Armitage. Torn Dudek. Scott Gorlsema & Bruce Knox during the PPGA Conjerence & Trade Show in Tampa. Florida, IW3 T»iis was printed in PPGA NEWS, May 1994, and is the seventh in a series oj crop pro- duction guidelines aimed at helping growers gain a thorough understanding oj bedding plant basicx For more 1-800-647-7742 Wholesale Gold Star Wliolesale Nursery is a family owned business. Since 1952 we have been offering (he finest wholesale planting matenals to landscape contractors throughout the N E. area along with the one element that truly sets us apart from the competition...service. Gold Star welcomes your comments and suggestions. Make us your one-slop for the best in wholesale landscape supplies. SBSBSSSS ■itHJBJfflt:itilM»l..ia!lil.mg^if The Plantsman mmmm ^mw Wholesalers & Retailers J &mm 'Poinsettias 'Annuals • Perennials 'Potted Plants 'Seasonal Crops 'Supplies Visit our 12 Greenhouses & Garden Center Claremont Hill, Newport, New Hampshire (603)863-1089 OPEN YEAR ROUND AUSTRIAN PINE, 5-8' height Beautiful, Heavy, Connecticut Valley Nursery Grown. Growing 500 Acres of New England's Finest Trees & Shrubs T^illane ?fttrseries,%c. 604 MAIN STREET, CROMWELL CONNECTICUT 06416 / PHONE (203) 635-5500 / FAX (203) 635-3685 LIGHT MEET Gateway Gardens 430 LOUDON ROAD, CONCORD Q 'n Wednesday, September 14, from 5:30-7:70 P.M., NHPGA members and friends will have a chance to tour one of the Concord area's newer and larger garden centers. What's interesting about Gateway Gardens is that it didn't develop over a long period of time, but appeared suddenly in finished form on what used to be field this spring. The buildings include a big barn (40x70; 35 feet to the peak) and two Rough Brothers houses (30x70 and 30x80). There's a nursery yard and parking for 30 cars. So what has the first five months been like? Did real- ity live up to expectations? Will the marketplace modify the original design? Come and find out. Owners Kirk Weyant and Sue Englund will give a tour and talk about (among other things) the initial planning— how Gateway evolved on pa- per, some of its innovative features (a children's section, for example), and some of the strategies used to quickly create a customer base large enough to support an op- eration of this size. And there'll be refreshments and a chance to socialize. Gateway Gardens is located on Route 9 about a half mile from where it turns off from Route 393/4/202. The phone number there is (603) 229-0655. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President BOB DEMERS, IR. Demers Nursery & Garden Center 636 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 625-8298 Setrelalnj I Treasurer CHRISTOPHER ROBARCE UNHASAS Horticultural Facilities Manager Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Directors ANDREA CAPRON TAMMY HATHAWAY 61 Squamscott Road HENRY HUNTINGTON Pleasant View Gardens RFD#3, PO Box 3701 Pittsfield, NH 03263 435-8361 PETER VAN BERKUM 4 lames Road Deerfield, NH 03037 463-7663 ROGER WARREN 469-3226 (H NH 03770 ; 448-61 10 (Wl RICHARD ZOERB Cloeckner & Company, in 72 Hawkstead Hollow Nashua, NH 03063 886-8665 NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Plantsman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43