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NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS A S S 0 (, I A 1 1 0 \ FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

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re have a special name for the trees that come from our famis — ArcticMistJ" 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 achieve maximum tjuality 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 spnice, and pine (white, scotch, and red) are available. In addition, we are introducing fralsam, a fraser-balsam cross. Wreaths are also available.

Since our farms are in New Hampshire and Vermont, 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.

\'ou can order the number of trees that is right for you — from 25 to a trailer load. We can arrange shipping or you may pick up the trees yourself We respect your schedule and guarantee on time delivery. Our trees arrive individually 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.

ace an order, or to recei\'e specific information about this year's trees:

Callusat800/694-8722 or 603/237-5702. Send us a fax at 603/237-8439. Or write to us at 38 Bridge St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Our internet address is http://www.sibgotree.com

SibgoTree Company

We know what you want jor Ctiristmasi

ArcticMist

Remember, you can only buy ArcticMisP^ at SiBgo Tree Company.

TM

a \ p^3

CALENDAR

CONTENTS

February

18-21 Sixth Annual Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show ("Gardens of the Future"), Rhode Island Convention Center, Provi- dence; Nancy Syme at 1-800-766- 1670

18-21 Eighteenth Annual Con- necticut Flower and Garden Show ("A Garden to Celebrate"), Connecticut Expo Center, Hartford; 860-529-2123

26 Fifth Annual Ecological Landscaping Association Winter Conference ("Ecology and the Man- aged Landscape"), Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA; Nancy Askin at 978-897-7490

March

2-4 Second Annual New England Regional Turfgrass Conference AND Show (NERTCS), Rhode Is- land Convention Center, Provi- dence; 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 17 Massachusetts Aborists Asso-

ciation Seminar with Dr. Alex Shigo, Rolling Green Inn and Conference Center, Andover, MA; 508-653-3320

17 New Hampshire Landscape As- sociation Spring Conference, Barton Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham; 1-800-639-5601

18 Advanced Green School Work- shop, "Developing a Turf and Land- scape IPM Plan," Bridgewater, MA; 413-545-0895

18-21 Eighth Annual New Hamp- shire Orchid Society Show ("Spring into Orchids"), Nashua National Guard Armory, Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua, NH; Joanna Eckstrom at 603-654-5070

25 Pruning Fruit Trees Workshop, Belchertown, MA; 413-545-0895 26-27 29th Annual University of New Hampshire Greenhouse Open House, Plant Biology and Thomp- son School Greenhouses, UNH, Durham; Alan Eaton at 603-862-1734 26-28 Seacoast Flower, Home, and Garden Show ("Classic Coun- try Gardens"), Whittemore Center, UNH, Durham; 603-356-7750

26-29 Fifth Annual Breath of Spring Flower Show ("Flowers Over the Rainbow"), Cheshire Fair- grounds Arena, Keene, NH; Steve Curtin at 603-355-6335, ext. 161 27 Little Royal Livestock Show, University of New Hampshire, Durham; Laurie Chapman-Bosco at 603-862-1019

April

8-11 Bangor Flower Show, Bangor Auditorium, Bangor, ME; 207-947-5555

8-11 New Hampshire FFA State Convention, Waterville Valley; Dave Howell at 603-862-1760 16 UNH-FFA Interscholastics Career Development Events, Thompson School, UNH, Durham; 603-862-1760

Departments

3 FROM THE BOARD

7 FORUM

8 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS

13 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 25 DIAGNOSTIC LAB

Dr. Cheryl Smith 28 ALL ABOUT HERBS

Tanya Jackson Features 19 Building a Sustainable

UNH Campus

John Hart

20 The Web: Is It for You? Deb Brewer

21 MEMBER PROFILE Gillyflower Glen

23 An Attractive Problem; A Growing Concern Diane E. Yorke Columns 17 THE GREEN SPOT

Mike Cherim 24 PIONEER POINTERS

Credits: Cover photograph detail: Bob Parker; page 7: quilt, "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul," ca. 1850; page 13: floral design from Christies, 1929; back cover: quilt, "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul,"

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 are preferred, set-up assistance is available at a nominal 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 Plantsman.

AD SIZE		6x	Ix
3 3/8"w X	2 l/4"h	$150	$30
3 3/8"w X	4 3/4"h	$200	$40
7"w X	2 l/4"h	$200	$40
7"w X	4 5/8"h	$300	$75
7"w X	9 l/2"h	$500	$100

For further information, please contact the editor: Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham, NH 03824, 603-862-2061 ; or PC Boi 5, Newfields, NH 03856, 603-778-8353.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

■ > 1 • .

'/QUALin;

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This Is What We Grow At Millican Nurseries. ,

/ .r

^ vf

Wouldn't you someday like to

tell your grandchildren that

you started using

biological pest control

way back in the 1 900s7

1-_A

Come on, be a pioneer. Give us a call and we'll help you make it all possible.

FREE

CATALOG

AVAILABLE

The Green Spot, Ltd.

93 Priest Rd , Nottingham, NH 03290-6204

Tel: 603 942-8925 Fax; 603 942-8932

EmI: I nfo@GreenMethods.com

WHOLESALE SUPPLIER OF NURSERY & WETLAND STOCK TO THE TRADE.

NURSERIES, INC.

HERBACEOUS & WOODY WETLAND PLANTS

-ORNAMENTALS PERENNIALS

^ROUNDCOVERS -VINES

DEALER FOR BON TERRA WETLAND FABRICS

CONTRACT GROWING AVAILABLE

24 BUZZELL RD, BIDDEFORD, MAIhfE 04005

(207) 499-2994 (207)282-7235

FAX: (207) 499-2912

CALL FOR A QUOTATION OR A

COPY OF OUR CATALOG.

-WE DELIVER-

Northern Grown

Trees Evergreens Shrubs

Mon-Sai 7:00 - 5.30 Sun: 9:00 - 5:ai

O'DONAL'S

NURSERIES

Uxaied at juncnon of routes 22 & IH

Gorham. Maine 04038

Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364

Fax 207-839-2290

We specialize m growng specimen plant materials

FROM THE BOARD

"All That Is Old Is New"

plus, as an added feature, "NHPGA Truck Talk'

GEORGE TIMM

All that is old is new". How many times have heard that phrase? If you have been reading any recent trade magazine, you'll know exactly what I'm getting to. As most of us are either small-to- mid-size growers or independent garden centers, one way that we compete with the "big box" stores is by studying the latest trends.

The hottest recent trend is nos- talgia. Anything that baby-boomers can recall from their childhood memories that gives a "warm fuzzy feeling" is hot! Take for example some of the stars of the 1999 Auto Show: Ford T-Bird, Chevrolet Im- pala. Dodge Power Wagon, and Charger. Recognize any of these names? Lastly, who can say that they haven't seen the new Volkswagen Beetle?

Baby boomers will flock to those images that bring back what they were used to when they were growing up. According to a 1996 survey of why customers shop gar- den centers, almost 30% said to purchase annuals and almost an- other 25% said to buy perennials. Let's give 'em what they want!

Hot perennial plants. With the revival of the 60s, any daisy or daisy-like flower is a sure bet. Hey, how about a promotion with a local Volkswagen dealer? Bring in a few "Beetles", have employees dress in 60s attire with beads, bell bottoms, tie dye shirts, flowers in their hair, etc. Play some good classic 60s music and feature dai- sies or other Peter Max-type brightly colored flowers. You might even contact a local radio station to come in and do a re- mote broadcast for the event. Oh well, you never know what will work unless you try. Back to the

plants. Hollyhocks, very popular in the 30s. Anemone windflower, in pink white or lavender. Chrysan- themum, 'Alaska', 'Snow Lady', or the double form 'Aglaya'. Also in- cluded here would be coneflowers and black-eyed susan. Other nos- talgic perennials could include lavender, poppies, hosta, bee-balm, daylilies, delphiniums, and peonies.

Shrubs of yesterday. Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora'. I used to tell my customers that this is one of the ten plants that you jus can't kill in New Hampshire Some of the new forms such a; 'Pink Diamond' or the late-flower ing 'Tardiva' would be good addi tions. Hydrangea a. 'Annabelle, with its large pure-white heads, i: impressive. For those in warme; areas of the state or, if your cus tomers have summer homes on the Cape, then Hydrangea m. 'Nikko Blue' is a good choice. Kolkwitzia amabilis, (beauty bush), often seen planted alongside the front en- trance and largely unnoticed until it bursts into bloom in the spring. Syringa vulgaris, (common lilac) — it's our state flower. Enough said. Roses, roses, roses! The shrub types such as R. rugosa and its hy- brids like 'Hansa', 'Magnifica', or perhaps those of the Explorer se- ries from Canada are much, much hardier and more disease-resistant than those hybrid-teas.

Annuals. Aside from obvious choices such as petunias, impa- tiens, marigolds, and pansies, I don't have much on old favorites. However, here is where some of the newest varieties are hot! First would be the Proven Winners se- ries and Wave petunias. Also, I've heard that Profusion zinnias and Sundial portulacas are in.

Here are a few other plant notes and random thoughts in no particular order. Tough, hardy, or- namental grasses. Tibouchina, with large purple flowers and textured foliage, is something new and dif- ferent than bougainvillea or mandevilla. Big! Plants! Some folks want instant gratification or to make that perfect statement and are willing to pay . . . some don't even want to know how much: "Just make the area look nice". Pest-free or, for some, deer-proof are highly sought after features. Herb-themed merchandise and plants are also popular, not so much for their culinary use as for medicinal value. Planters and mixed baskets. Fountains and wa- ter gardening. Gazing balls with decorative pedestals or bases. Wall pockets, popular in the 40s. And . . . how about a web site?

"Truck Talk".

This was taken directly from the 1/1/99 American Nurseryman. Driving Laws Amended for Teen Workers! The Teen Drive for Em- ployment Act, which amends the child-labor laws of the Fair Labor Standards Act, was passed by Con- gress and went into effect Oct. 31, 1998.

According to a release from the US Department of Labor (DOL), the new law prohibits 16-year-olds from driving on public roads while working and increases on-the-job driving time for 17-year-olds, but with specific restrictions. Previ- ously both 16- and 17-year-olds were allowed to do occasional on- the-job driving for such things as running errands and making deliv- eries.

Under the act, 17-year-old em-

FEBRLARY / MARCH 1999

plovees mav drive no more than one-third of their work time in anv workday and no more than 20% of their work time in any workweek. Driving is allowed only in cars and light trucks during daylight hours. The teen must have a valid license, have com- pleted state-approved driver train- ing, and have no record of any moving violations.

In addition, the driving per- formed by 17-year-old employees may not involve towing vehicles, route deliveries or sales, the trans- portation for hire of property, goods, or passengers, or urgent, time-sensitive deliveries. They are not allowed to transport more than three passengers or drive more than 30 miles away from the business. More than two trips away from the business in any single day to deliver goods to customers is prohibited, as well as more than two trips to trans- port passengers other than employ- ees. All rules apply whether the em- ployee is driving a personal or em- ployee owned vehicle.

I spoke with Mr. Allen Rines of

Classified

FOR SALE SiEBERixG Rov.\l Gas Furn.\ce with attachments; 360,000 BTU; LP/natural gas input; used for one season Asking S800.00 (price new: over $2,000.00). SuNDERMAN Oil Furnace; 200,000 BTU input; 11 years old; excellent condition; asking S280.00 (price new: Si, 200. 00). Shade cloth; 55' shade; 96' x 36"; hemmed, with grommets; asking S200.00 (price new: over S450.00). Call Yuda Daskal, Blue Bell Greenhouse, Route 155, Lee, NH, at 603-659-2997.

POSITION AVAILABLE Independent sales rep selling nursery stock, stone products, pottery, organic fertilizers, peat, retail and green- house mixes, green-houses. FAX: 413-357-6311 or 207-989-1553.

PERENNIALS, WILDFLOWERS, HERBS For resale, lining out, or containers; cost per six-cell pack: S2.00. Minimum order: 24 six-cell packs; three six-cell packs of one variety. Mix and match. 200 variet- ies. UPS. Call for availability and complete list: Webber's Dublin Nurser>', PO Box 266, Dublin, NH 03444; phone: 603-563-8180 or 563-82^2.

New Hampshire Licensing who was unaware of these new changes. He also told me that New Hamp- shire does not have any such regu- lations on the books so this law will stand as written. For more in- formation, the DOL suggests call- ing the local Wage and Hour Di-

vision Office.

Have a good winter; s plan for the best (last) the century!

ay warm; spring of

George Timm, owner/operator of Davis Brook Farm, Hancock, can he reached at 6oj-^2§-4j28.

The More You Grow, The Moie You Know.

(fr^^f>^ortheast Nursery, Inc.

(^^JL^ Supplying ""^""^-^^-v^Tcl. (i

w„

vc been in this business a long iime We knov. our cuslomer's needs and demands It dosen'i maJce a difference of ihe lime of year or the size of ihe project Northeast Nursery covers i aJI Wiib Ihe widest selection in wholesale plant maienaJs and landscape supplies in all of New Hngland it s no wonder many consider Sortheast Nursery ibe best One-Slop shopping for all your landscape and green supplies.

Fine Plant Material &. Landscape Supplies

234 Newbury Street. Rt. 1 South

Peabody, MA 01960

508) 535-6550 Fax (508) 535-5247

WHOLESALE NURSERY

TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS

150 acres of quality plants Wnte for catalog Member MNA. NENA

Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls. MA 01376 Telephone 413 863-2510

s

tewarts

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Complete

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"The landscape professional's choice for unique, landscape size plant materials"

♦ Largest tree & shrub invcntorv' in Seacoast XH

♦ Accessible & convenient location at Stratham Circle (Rte. 108/33)

♦ Informative tree and shrub tagging system

♦ Quality- « Selection ♦ Friendly & knowledgeable staff

(603) 778-3711 FAX: (603) 778-3773 Monday to Saturday, 7-7; Sunday, 9-5 Other hours arranged by appointment

STRATHAM CIRCLE

Nursery & Landscape

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

Xke f-Ior+icul+u^^al Web

www.Ko>*+icul+M>'e.cotrv

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• \\>\a resources/ i»Af"or>r\afior\/

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V^oHie«fc«,

FEBRIARY / .VURQI 1999

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 best 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 application and check to: New Hampshire Plant Growers' Association 56 Leavitt Rd. Hampton, NH 03842

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 Film 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

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Greenhouse Systems, Inc.

670 N. Commercial Street Manchester, NH 03101-1149

Phone: 603-629-9004 Fax 603-629-9023

Wrap-up

Henry Huntington

We had a wrap-up meeting on Tuesday, December 15, for 1998's New England Greenhouse Conference. While the final fig- ures are not quite in, it was a very profitable conference and a rousing success. Because of the high profits, we are exploring some additional causes that we may want to fund above and be- yond the usual grants that we have awarded in the past.

Because we were in a new fa- cility, there were certainly a few unforeseen difficulties. Trade show hours will be adjusted to benefit the exhibitors; we are pushing for better food service and climate control (both issues will be taken care of as details for running the new facility are worked out) and are looking at possible one-day rates and trade- show-only passes.

Henry can be reached at 603- 435-8361.

w w ^

Requesting Cooperation

In late October, a letter and some fact sheets were mailed from Department of Environmental Services. These read in part:

On January 1, 1998, the sale, distribution, importation, purchase, propagation, transportation, and introduction into the state of the following exotic aquatic plants was prohibited (RSA 487:16-a):

Butomus umbellatus (flowering rush)

Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort)

Egeria densa (Brazilian elodea)

Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (frogbit)

Lythrum salicaria, L. virgatum, L. alaturn (purple loosestrife)

Myriophyllum aquaticum (parrot feather)

Myriophyllum heterophyllum (variable milfoil)

Mycrophyllum spicatum (Eurasian milfoil)

Najas minor (European naiad)

Nymphoides peltata (yellow floating heart)

Phragmites australis or P. communis (common reed)

Potamogeton crispus (curly leaf pondweed)

Trapa natans (water chestnut)

There are currently 33 bodies of water in the state with known exotic plant infestations. The law is designed as a tool to help prevent further infestation. It is hoped that, by preventing their transportation over land, the spread between lakes will be stopped.

If you sell any of these prohibited exotics, please de- stroy them immediately.

If you have questions regarding the legislation or are unsure if you carry one of the prohibited plants, please call Amy Smagula at 603-271-2248.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

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.

1. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. untreated and 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 and poly twine

9. Woven polypropylene sqs.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

IMEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS

Catalog Available

The Green Spot, Ltd., a major supplier of biological pest control agents and integrated pest manage- ment paraphernalia, is pleased to announce the availability of its 1999 Green Methods catalog. Its forty pages is full of useful infor- mation and it's free for the asking. The postal address is 93 Priest Road; telephone is 603-942-6204; fax, 603-942-8932; the e-mail ad- dress is GrnSpt@cwixMail.com.

New Representative

Barbara Anne Yaeger has joined Carolina Nurseries as a sales and service representative. She'll be re- sponsible for customers in a multi- state area that includes New Hampshire. Barbara's previously

held management positions with the Conard-Pyle Company of West Grove, Pennsylvania, and Imperial Nurseries, Gandy, Connecticut. Carolina Nurseries, begun in 1984, is headquartered in Moncks Cor- ner, South Carolina, and serves a 34-state area from Maine to the Midwest

For information, contact Connie Thompson at 1-800-845-2065.

NHLA Certification Manual Released

New Hampshire Landscape Association Newsletter, November/December, 1998

The NHLA-sponsored New Hamp- shire Landscape Professional Certifi- cation Program Manual was re- leased on November 4 at the NHLA dinner meeting. This manual is the result of several years' work by the

certification committee: David Alessandroni, Chris Beasley, Anne Colby Hines, Dana Sansom, and Chuck Simpson.

The first certification exam will be given in March. It will have two sections: plant identification (40 plants by both scientific and common names) and fifty ques- tions on general information.

In addition to passing the exam, applicants must present evidence of employment, education, or experi- ence in the field, complete an appli- cation form, and agree to comply with a code of ethics. The fee is $50.00. Certification is good for one year and is renewable each year by earning five "maintenance credits" and paying ten dollars. The manual costs $50.00.

For more information, contact Guy Hodgdon at 1-800-639-5601.

Jolly Farmer

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ChirJen Center

Consultations and Landscaping Designs Greenhouses, Nursery, Craft, and Christmas Shop

656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A)

Manchester, NH 03109

(603) 625-8298

»^

MICHAUD

Nurseries & Greenhouses

Route 85, PO Box 334, Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 772-3698

Wholesale & Retail

Annuals, Perennials, Nursery Stock

Blue Heron Images

Photography

Catalogs. Brochures, Annual Reports. Web Sites. .Special Events

Richard H Raymond

Specializing in Honiciilliiral Images

Traditional and Digital Photographic Services

:HCTonImagC!. 1 ConsuWe Road Durtiam. NH 01824 Phone (603)659-7.*13

Perennials, Plugs, Geraniums, Prefinished Mums Bulbs, Holiday Crops, Flowering Plants

Joseph Giannino Co.

Representing Fine Growers of Quality Plant Material

P.O. Box 757, Rowley, Massachusetts 01969 Telephone: 978/948-8167; Fax: 508/948-8167

Rolling Green

Landscaping &. Nursery

500 varieties of perennials *> Annuals & herbs

Ornamentaltrees, shrubs & vines ■»> Trellises

Wholesale prices available *> Call for 1998 listing

64 Breakfast Hill Rd., Greenland, NH (Next to 1-95) 603-436-2732

Ball Seed Company

Your Source for Superior Plant and Seed Material

Annual plugs, geraniums, "Vigor Indexed" seed,

spring plants, perennials, pot plants, holiday crops,

prefinished flats& hanging baskets, and more!

David Giurleo

324 Howard Street, Northboro, MA 01532 Phone: 508-393-4534, Fax: 508-393-0003 Toll Free Pager: 800-719-9360

WHOLESALE GROWERS and SUPPLIERS of QUALITY PLANTS

Spring Annuals • Geraniums • Hanging Baskerts Perennials and Foliage Plants 3" to 10"

P.O. Box 360 • Alton NH 03809 • Tel: 603-8754444 Located on Route 28, 1 V^ mile south of the Alton Traffic Circle

Owners Bruce and Linda Holmes

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

AMPSHIRE NEWS

Showtime '99

New Hampshire hasn't one single major show, but several smaller ones. All preview spring; all are ac- cessible— pleasant, instructive — with- out overcrowding or lack of parking.

A MONTH EARLIER than is usual, 18-21 March, the New Hampshire Orchid Society holds its annual show — now in its eighth year — at the Nashua National Guard Armory on the Daniel Webster Highway. Judging and a gala recep- tion are on Thursday; hours are: Friday, 9:30-8; Saturday, 9:30-6; Sunday, 9:30-4.

Although it's being held in the same time period as the big show in Boston, there's enough here to inter- est both enthusiasts and the general

public. Displays of live plant mate- rial and — a renewed emphasis — cut flower arrangements (with several large florist shops — Bert Ford, Chalifours — participating) are a ma- jor part of what's offered.

But vendors, demonstrations (flower arranging), and speakers are here as well. Leon Glicenstein is returning on Saturday to speak on orchids native to Maine; on Sunday, the students from Lin- wood High School in Lincoln, New Hampshire, will be discussing their work. With a grant from the University of California, Davis, and under the direction of Dr. Pe- ter Faletra, head of the school's science department, the students are propagating lady slippers in their lab. They've visited Kew and made a presentation before the

Royal Horticultural Society. In this time of so much criticism of public education, it might be worthwhile to go simply to see that remarkable educational experi- ences can still be had there.

For information, contact Joanna Eckstrom at 603-654-5070.

NOW IN ITS 29TH YEAR, the Greenhouse Open House at the University of New Hampshire in Durham is the longest running of the local shows. A joint venture of the Plant Biology Department and the Thompson School Horticulture Curriculum, the format remains unchanged — displays of research, interior plantscapes, plants for sale, food, and — the strong point — prac- tical information: a series of talks will be geared toward the home-

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owner and amateur gardener; lots of staff, extension, and faculty will be around to answer questions.

The dates are Friday and Satur- day, March 26-27; times are 9-4; contact person is Alan Eaton at 603-862-1734.

This is held on the same week- end as two other events — the Little Royal Livestock Show (Saturday only) at the horse barns and riding arena just beyond the greenhouses and the Seacoast Flower, Home, and Garden Show (Friday through Sunday) at the Whittemore Cen- ter, also within walking distance. The latter promises to "bring to- gether under one roof business owners from throughout the region demonstrating their home-and landscape-related services." The shows are separate — there is an ad-

mission fee at the Whittemore event; the others are free. Dates and hours are different as well, but on Saturday, you could visit all three. A contact number for the Flower, Home and Garden Show is 603-356-7750; for Little Royal, 603-862-1019.

AND ON THIS SAME weekend— the weekend before Easter, the "Breath of Spring" Flower Show will be at the Cheshire Fairground Arena on Route 12 South, just outside of Keene. In its fifth year, it has continued to grow and pre- sumably will be bigger and better this year as well. The theme is "Flowers over the Rainbow" and will inspire "colorful events from The Wizard of Oz and other land- scapes of the imagination. The

1 2,000-square foot central display will include 10,000 flowers, water features, a forest garden, life-size characters, and blossoming trees and shrubs of all varieties." This could really hit the spot on a raw March day.

Along with all this, there are ven- dor and information displays, food, and free workshops presented by the UNH Cooperative Exten-sion's Master Gardener Program. The show opens Friday at noon, Saturday and Monday at nine, and Sunday at ten. It closes all days at five.

The show benefits Home Health- care, Hospice, and Community Ser- vices for hospice care for the termi- nally ill and prenatal care to prevent birth defects. For information, call 603-355-6335.

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Another Country Heard From

One thinks of Russia as a land of rough winters and economic tur- moil. There may be some substance to this, but these are certainly not the whole picture. Small businesses are starting up. In October, a new seed-exporting firm in Moscow wrote asking for a NHPGA mem- bership list.

Intrigued, an e-mail correspon- dence was initiated. To be honest, communication is spotty — periods of busy e-mail activity surrounded by long silences. (Right now, we're into silence.)

Still, there is a long list of avail- able seed. It's varied; not all of it is uniquely Russian — Acer rubrum is there, but A. mandshuricum and A. palmatum as well. Some of the birches seem unusual — and cold- hardy: the source for both B. ermanii and B. manshurica is Vladivostok; several cold-hardy clematis (also from Vladivostok) also seem worth looking into. The cam- panulas (native to Russia) could be unfamiliar varieties.

English is spoken; prices are listed in US dollars per kilo; you can buy small amounts ("minimum quantity, transport, terms of payment are to be discussed separately with every customer"); import licenses are ap- parently in order.

E-mail works best. (Air mail, promised, has yet to arrive.) The contact person's name is Alexey Chernetsky. His company is Agbina, PO Box 7, 105023 Moscow, Russia. His e-mail address is

<Alex@agbina.msk.ru>. If you have an interest — and are adventurous — try it.

In Other States

The annual meeting of the New En- gland Nursery Certification Council (NENCC) was held on Wednesday, December 19, 1998. Updates of state programs were given.

ALCM (Association of Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts) re- ported that 40 people passed exams in 1998, making a total of 220 MCLPs in the state. The first recer- tification cycle yielded a 90% reten- tion rate. A fall review course was well received.

CNA (Connecticut Nursery-men's Association) reports 350 certified professionals in the state, 54 of these being people passing the exam in 1998. A "Living Laboratory" has been set up at Prides Corner in Lebanon, where candidates can try out their identification skills. The is- sue of adding a recertification ele- ment to the program will be dis- cussed in 1999.

MAA (Massachusetts Arborists Association) reported that the Mas- sachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) program was begun in 1957 and that there are presently 850 certified arborists in the state. They've re- cently decided to add a recertifica- tion element to their program, with the possible requirement of a passing grade for each section.

MeLNA (Maine Landscape and Nursery Association) now has a total of 113 professionals in the state. A four-color brochure has helped to keep interest high. Recertification has also been successful with a re- quirement of five credits per year and the offering of a one-day recer- tification day in which these credits

can be earned.

MNLA (Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association) reported that they held two exams in 1998 and that there are now 248 certified professionals in the state. Recertifica- tion is at 90%, with the help of a phone call effort by the certification committee. A manual revision should be completed by February, 2000.

RINLA (Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association) reported 120 certified professionals. Their emphasis in 1999 will now be on building the professionalism and in- creasing the marketability of the cer- tified professional.

VAPH (Vermont Association of Horticultural Professionals) reported 150 certified professionals. VAPH recently moved to an annual recerti- fication system at a cost of $25.00 a year that is proving successful.

These are highlights. There does seem to be a trend toward national certification programs and the prob- ability of a New England unified ef- fort. For more, contact Virginia Wood at 508-653-4112.

Events — Lots of Them

WITH THE CURRENT EMPHA- SIS on sustainability and environ- mental horticulture, attending the 1999 Ecological Landscaping Asso- ciation Winter Conference at the Boxborough Holiday Inn on Febru- ary 26 could be time well spent.

The theme is "Ecology and the Managed Landscape: Working to- ward Better Solutions." Talks in- clude "Nuts and Bolts of Installing an Ecological Garden (Michael Nadeau, Plantscapes, Inc. Fairfield, CT), "Site Analysis: Designing with the Microclimate" (Dennis Carboni, Bonnie Ulin, Inc., Needham, MA); and "Natural Areas Within Managed Spaces" (Francis Clark, Carex Asso- ciates, Lincoln, MA). Twelve topics are offered in three concurrent ses- sions. Choosing could be difficult.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

13

E L S E W H

THE NEWS

The conference is co-sponsored by The Ecological Landscaping As- sociation, UMass Extension, and New England Wild Flower Society. Preregistration deadline is February 19; registration at the door is $130.00. For more information, contact Kathleen Carroll at 413- 545-0895.

NEARLY THREE WEEKS LATER, on March 17, the 1999 Perennial Plant Conference will be held at the Bishop Center at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Again, it promises to be a very full and interesting day. Fourteen top- ics are offered in two concurrent sessions ("Production" and "Land- scape/Retail").

Both Peter and Leslie van Berkum are speaking ("Perennial Production the New Hampshire Way" and "Color Designing with

Perennials," respectively); other topics include "Production and Trends in Siberian and Japanese Iris" (Phil Boucher, Tranquil Lake Nursery, Rehoboth, MA), "Clema- tis for Northern Gardens" (Richard Hawke, Chicago Botanical Garden, Glencoe, IL), and "Use and Care of Disease-resistant Antique Roses" (William Welch, Texas A&M Uni- versity, College Station, TX). Pesticide recertification credit is available pending state approval.

Seating will be limited and early registration is advised. The regis- tration deadline is March 10. For information, contact Mark Brand at 860-486-2930.

AND IN PROVIDENCE, the 1999 New England Turfgrass Con- ference at the Rhode Island Con- vention Center on March 2-4 of- fers a trade show of over 325 turf-

related booths, pesticide applicator recertification credits, and educa- tional sessions on turf management and machinery maintenance.

The industry's focus is less on home grounds than on the surfaces required in the big sports and rec- reation industries — on golf courses and playing fields, in stadiums . . . so I suppose it's no surprise that the keynote speaker is Doug Flutie, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. No topic's been announced, but his per- spective as a player could be fun and even interesting. For information, call 401-848-0004.

(As a footnote showing possible directions of the turf industry. In- vention Submission Corporation an- nounced on December 1 1 that one of its clients, Mr. J. DiBenedetto, of Brookville, New York, has invented "'The Moveable Grass Playing Field System,' to roll in a grass playing

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field for sporting events and then easily roll it back out for concerts and other events. This invention is patented."

This system "would consist of a grid-like steel superstructure base that would support a trussed metal floor panel and grid-like side panels. Made of rock, gravel, and soil, it would make the job of preparing a field less time-consuming and less labor inten- sive; "The Moveable Grass Playing Field System woiJd turn a domed sta- dium into a multi-use facility."

For details, contact Kelly Walmsley at 412-288-2136, ext 157.)

Flow^ers of the Year

New groups announce their "Flower of the Year." This could become te- dious, but hasn't yet, with plenty of flowers to go around.

On October 30, 1998, the As-

sociation of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) announced the "1999 Fresh and Dried Cut Flow- ers of the Year" at its national conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Candidates were nomi- nated by the membership, then chosen by the ASCFG board. Both winners had been trialed in the National Cut Flower Trials and had received high marks.

The "1999 Fresh Cut Flower of the Year" is Zinnia 'Benary's Giant' series from Benary Seed. Zinnias in this series come in twelve separate colors and a mix.

Unlike many zinnia cultivars, 'Benary's Giant' is productive the entire season in most areas of the country. (Growers in southern states may want to make a second planting in July for fall harvest.) Plants are vigorous and more mil- dew-tolerant than most other zin-

nias. Stems average 16-30 inches; the first flower or two may be short and should be removed. Flowers have long vase life and re- tain their colors well.

The "1999 Dried Cut Flower of the Year" is Gomphrena 'Qis Car- mine' from Kieft Seeds Holland. 'Qis Carmine' is a new color for the species Gomphrena haageana, complementing 'Qis Red' and 'Qis Orange.' It's seen as exceptionally productive , with dark leaves, long stems (10-18 inches), and large flower heads. Gomphrena is heat- tolerant and should be planted af- ter soil has warmed.

For information on seed sources, contact Dennis Reynolds (Benary) at 630-790-2378 or Jeff McGrew (Kieft) at 360-445-2031. For infor- mation on the ASCFG, contact Judy Laushman at 440-774-2887 or use its new web site: www.ascfg.org.

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Things to Consider

If you're about to set up a biocontrol program, you should know many things and be prepared with a full IPM arsenal. Scouting is a necessary re- quirement— so start doing it now. Moreover, take the following steps into consideration:

I. Stop using chemicals with long-term residual effects. Products such as Marathon, a popular sys- temic, last a long time in the soil and, thus, in the plant's tissue. Some of these systemic chemicals don't bother beneficials directly, but they do poi- son their food — the pests. Other chemicals can last a long time on surfaces (plants, benches, floor, etc.). Orthene is an example. This product can last up to 84 days in the greenhouse. It doesn't typi- cally provide pest mortality for such a period (due to resistance, perhaps), but it does affect the more sensitive beneficials. Switch to short-term killers such as soap, oil, Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard, Naturalis-O, etc.), or IGRs (insect growth regula- tors) such as Azatin XL and Enstar II. These prod- ucts will fill the gap between using the long-term products and the use of beneficials.

i. Know your space. Your biocontrol supplier will want (and need) to know the specs of your growing area: square footage, actual growing portion thereof, and density of plants — including height. Com- mon sense dictates that a 3000-square foot green- house used for single layer plug production does not have the same amount of treatment area as a 3000-square foot greenhouse used for tomatoes with twelve-foot stems.

3. Be familiar with your problems. Pest knowl- edge can help your supplier make a proper recom- mendation. Pest species and density are both neces- sary to know for proper evaluation of the problem at hand. If your supplier doesn't address these fac- tors or feels they're not necessary information, you may be using the wrong supplier. Case in point: one United States company suggests using one tea- spoon of carrier — containing mites — for every mite infested plant in an indoor site. Remember — it's important to know what pest mites you have, their density, and the size of the infested plants.

4. Don't be afraid. We wouldn't ride bicycles, learn to swim, or flirt with the opposite sex in junior high school if we let fear of the unknown stop us from doing stuff. Try it. You may like it.

Mike Cherim, president of The Green Spot, Ltd,, De- partment of Bio-Ingenuity, 95 Priest Road, Nottingham, NH 0^290-6204, can be reached by phone at 603-942-892$.

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TSAS students work on the East-West Park at the Memorial Un Building, UNH, Durham. September, 1998.

Building a Sustainable UNH Campus

JOHN HART

In a model that has succeeded for some years at UNH's Thompson School, students in the horti cultural technology program, with the support of the Department of Grounds and Roads, this fall com- pleted most of Phase 1 of a landscape renovation at the Elliott Alumni Center on the Durham campus. Students applied their classroom theory to real-world situations while, at the same time, a more environmentally friendly and sustainable landscape was installed and taxpayer and tuition dollars reduced — not a bad deal!

The project began in the spring 1998 Landscape De- sign Studio. A teaching team from George Pellettieri As- sociates of Warner guided the design class to completion of individual site plans. One of the students, Alexander Guide, then combined the best of the class's work into a unified design solution. Presentations to the alumni association's building committee were well received, and funding was approved by Ernie Gale, new director of the association.

This past fall, final design revisions were completed by Amy Craig of the Sustainable Landscape Group, Office of Sustainability Programs at UNH. Estimating, purchas- ing, and implementation were integrated into a fall class in landscape construction led by Michael Sheffield, ad- junct instructor at the Thompson School. Construction

work included removing asphalt, creating stonedust seat- ing areas with granite benches, and installing native plant material. It is anticipated that funding will be available to employ a Hort Tech student during the summer to help maintain this and other new plantings.

Over time, as additional phases of the Elliott Alumni Center landscape are completed, this site will become a showcase for the New England Ecological Garden at UNH, demonstrating and interpreting a new aesthetic of sustainable landscaping to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors. Dr. Tom Kelly, Director of Sustainability Programs at UNH, has called this a "learnscape" — a landscape uniting human well-being, economic viability, and ecological health to educate in sustainable living.

Other landscapes initiated in similar fashion during the 1998 season include a section of the Memorial Union Building and an area around the old infirmary, Hood House. Over winter, students in Landscape Design Studio will apply themselves to a new site as the UNH campus becomes a regional resource in sustainable living education.

John Hart, associate professor in the horticulture curriculum at the Thompson School of Applied Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, can be reached at 6o}-862-iogi.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

19

The Web: Is It for You?

DEB BREWER

Can a web site be profitable for a small business? can you get your money's worth in increased sales? Can you afford one to begin with? Will you have to spend a lot of time and money keeping it current? Do you need to buy a new computer? These are some of the questions that most small business people have whether they are in retail — selling their homemade salsa — or wholesale — selling plant materials.

In this article, I will try to give you useful details per- tinent to your industry. If, in the end, you still have questions and/or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Small businesses are definitely creating a presence and making an impact on their bottom line through the Internet. But, as we all know, nothing in this world comes without a price. Most successful small businesses have paid a professional to develop the web site; they have learned how to market it online and offline; and they continue to put forth the effort to keep the site current and continue the marketing. These are the basics to a successful web site.

The creation and nurturing of a web site is similar to opening a location on Main Street, Anytown, USA. Would you renovate the space to accommodate your needs? Would you open your doors and advertise by putting out a sign and/or advertisements in the local me- dia? Would you continue to advertise your products and new products? And would you assist people by interact- ing with them and helping them solve their problems with your expertise and/or products? Of course, you would do all these things and these all apply to a web site.

Creating your "space" on the Internet is done during the development phase. During this phase, the content, aesthetics, and navigation are critical. To ensure the site is useful and visitors will return, the web site should in- clude free information pertinent to the target market in addition to the information about your products. If you are a retail grower, then you could offer information about what the home gardener or the landscape contrac- tor should be doing at a particular time of year — perhaps a calendar with the tasks listed for the particular zone and/or region. If you are a wholesale grower, information might include new varieties that you offer or updated pest control. Free information will draw the visitors back to the site and will also, and most importantly, make them think of your company as experts in the field. They will remember your company name. The distribu- tion of this free information is synonymous with you in- teracting with customers in your store.

Advertising your web site after it is created is the

most critical part of the whole process. A web site can be an excellent site in terms of aesthetics and content, but if no one can find it, it will fail. Advertising a web site can be accomplished many ways. The developer of the site should be able to register it with the search en- gines so that you are included in their indices. Other ad- vertising would include local directories, which are be- coming more and more popular. Sometimes assembled by the state library, the local news media, or a web de- veloper, "regional directories" are a common place to find businesses that cater to a particular locale. Trade as- sociations of your target market is another way to find your customers. There are so many ways to advertise your site, that it is impossible to list them all in this ar- ticle, but hopefully you have the idea that advertising your site is very critical to its success.

NOW FOR THE COST ISSUES . . . Computer hard- ware prices have come down in recent months to easily below $1,000. Internet access usually amounts to be- tween $ 1 5-$30 per month. A domain name costs $75 to register and $35 per year after the second year to main- tain. Developers charge for site development in a number of ways. Some charge a set contract price for the entire development job and others charge by the hour. As with anything, make sure you get in writing what is being of- fered by the developer. Since this industry is new, it is easy to negotiate a contract without the deliverables and costs being clearly spelled out. A five page site (a page being equivalent to an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper) could be anywhere from $500 to $1,500. And hosting charges (web site storage) range from $20-$ 100 per month depending on the size of your site and whether or not you are going to accept credit cards online. (These prices are only estimates and the actual prices in your specific area may vary.)

In closing, a web site for a small retail or wholesale grower can be successful if the owner is willing (and has the time) to devote to growing and maintaining the site. In the end, the small business who ventures into cyberspace now will be ahead of the game in the future as finding products and services online will become the normal way of conducting business.

Deb Brewer is President of CrystalVision Web Site Design and Internet Services, a company providing high quality web sites, hosting, maintenance, and consulting services. She has been in business for three years and continues to expand as the need for quality web developers increases. She can be reached at 6o^.4^^.(>;^p or db@cvwp.com.

MEMBER PROFILE

Gillyflower Glen Evolving, Involved

lid

The NeWest Mall Shopping Plaza in New Ipswich . . . a couple restaurants — Irena's (family-style) and The New Ipswich House of Pizza, Belletete's True Value Hardware, Ultimate Sensations (nails, ear piercing, skin care), Hoppy's ("Groceries, Meat, Beer"), and Gillyflower Glen Florist and Gifts: maybe not an ideal mix, but a stable one that seems to work.

Gillyflower (an old English word for dianthus) Glen was started by John Isham (who de- scribes himself as "also old and English"), former administrator of the town of Peterborough, as a retirement activity.

The business has two seg- ments. The first. The Gardens at Gillyflower Glen, began as a hobby at his home in Peterborough long before his re- tirement in 1995. In his enthusi- asm, he grew far more than he could use. After giving as mi friends, he began to sell.

The lot is small — only 1 1/3 acre, and most of it is in production. Gardens around the house have been torn up several times to make room for more plants. Shade plants are now his specialty. Within that cat- egory, he's narrowed his choices to four — hosta, lilies, columbine, and astilbe.

Because the business is small and the only labor is his own, he can work on a small scale, buying a few plants, seeing how well they grow, then dividing them and selling those not needed for stock.

Even in starting up a small operation, much work had to be done. A half acre of pine and maple was cut and stumped. Because the soil is clay, raised beds seemed needed. He used equal parts of sand, manure, and compost, which he rototilled and let sit a year. Initially, boards held the soil in place; now the wood has washed away and the beds stabilized.

"No one really specializes in hosta here," he says, but many growers (King Farm, Cavacchio, Van Berkum, etc.) carry selections, each sightly different than the others. He's begun collecting — his own selec- tion numbers "around fifty" and ranges from the four- foot tall Krossa Regal' to the smaller dwarf types.

Each fall, he quarters each mature hosta with two

JMeWest seems somewhat

out-of-the-way for a florist shop,

but in the tri-town, or Mascenic, area,

there's no single population center. . . ,

There had never been a florist shop

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about buying flowers because

the opportunity had never been there.

So part of the job was getting people

used to a new idea.

cuts of a sharp spade. The plants remain in the ground over winter and individual sections are trans- planted or potted and sold in the spring. (John sees this method as less stressful to the plants.)

The other collections are small (he has only twenty types of lilies, half a dozen of astilbe, and maybe seven of col- umbine— including the native, which seeded in naturally), but growing. (Of course, having sim- plified by choosing four special- ties, he then decided to grow ground covers as well. Bad man- agement? In a larger operation, perhaps; here it's an indication of genuine enthusiasm.)

He feeds once in springtime (a granular 10-10-10) and maybe a liq- uid feed (nothing special) in mid- summer if the plants seem to need it. He waters with a hose.

He's open Sundays and Mon- days and evenings. Advertising has always been through word-of-mouth, although he now has an annual open house that is advertized in local papers.

THE SECOND ASPECT of the business is Gilly- flower Glen Florist and Gifts, at the plaza outside the center of New Ipswich.

John had thought about having a small shop and selling plants from his garden there, so he attended some SCORE-sponsored training sessions (designing a business plan — that sort of thing), then "pretty much followed what they said."

The choice of the site was pragmatic. Peterborough already had both florists and garden centers and he didn't want to go into competition with friends; he looked in the Hillsboro and Dublin areas, but "Hillsboro also already had two shops and Dubliners tend to go to Peterborough," so he chose the tri-town area of Greenville, Mason, and New Ipswich.

NeWest seems somewhat out-of-the-way for a florist shop, but in the tri-town, or Mascenic, area ("Mascenic" is not native American — it's simply letters from the names of the three towns arranged in a pro- nounceable form), there's no single population center.

He rented commercial space that had, for fifteen years, housed a branch of the Peterborough Savings

FEBRUARY / MARCH 1999

MEMBER PROFILE

Bank. It had been divided into two 1200-square foot sections. He used just one, keeping the partitions housing various offices and using these for his own of- fice and for specific product groupings.

Selling cut flowers and floral arrangements seemed obvious — but he knew nothing about them. He talked a retired florist friend into working with him ("for a year and two weeks — he got me through the second Mother's Day"), and teaching him the arts of design and of running a florist shop.

Gillyflower opened in May, 1996. "There was some rough sledding for awhile:" there had never been a florist shop in the area and people didn't think about buying flowers because the opportunity had never been there. So part of the job was getting people used to a new idea.

Also, townspeople, perhaps surprisingly in this age of mobility, have remained connected to specific eth- nic groups: Greenville is strongly French-Canadian; New Ipswich is Finnish. Both groups are large enough to be fairly self-sufficient, so part of the job has been to build trust of an "outsider."

But there were few advertising opportunities — word- of-mouth still is how it's done in small, semi-rural places. But marketing can take different forms. For John, it became finding the right product mix.

He chose not to compete with the hardware store — there's no bird seed or tools, but to complement it, the idea being that if people stopped at one place, they might come over and buy something here too — and if there were a possibility of finding two things rather than two versions of one, they might be more apt to stop.

The mix is casual — if there's a single theme, you might call it "everything for festive occasions." There are party supplies — plates, cups napkins; balloons; in- cense; candles; greeting cards; gifts — Beanie Babies; ex- amples of local crafts — birdhouses and wooden garden ornaments — and photography.

There's chocolate candy and a selection of Finnish items — decals of flags and cute Vikings, Viking hel- mets (although the Finns were never Vikings); framed inspirational messages sell well; a surprising amount of space is used to display Camille Beckman scented sa- chets, hand creams; and bath powders — "I carry nine scents — it's a year-round seller that appeals to a basi- cally female clientele". If the some of the choices seem unusual, they're also pragmatic.

Silk flowers and artificial floor plants are scattered throughout the shop ("I originally bought them for decoration, but people wanted to buy them, so now I keep a few on hand."); there's not a lot of live mate- rial. He buys this in small amounts two or three times a week. A decorative display cart, with gro-lights in its

roof, stays filled with four-inch house plants; he often offers weekly specials — one week, it was roses at six dollars a dozen.

In spring and summer, he brings plants (planted in quart containers) down from his garden and sets them on a cart out front. If they begin to look ragged, they go back to be replanted and others take their place. John also has a small cutting garden at his home and supplements bought-in cut flowers with some of his own.

Christmas brings wreaths and poinsettias and holi- day arrangements in the cooler. Again, numbers are small, but everything's fresh.

SINCE OPENING three years ago, business has tripled. Two months ago, he took down the wall, tore out the tellers' cages, and doubled his space. Again, he kept the small compartments that had held bank of- fices ("a gift shop shouldn't look like a supermarket") and there is now an area of party supplies, a quiet place for people to discuss and choose flowers for vari- ous functions, and an area for seasonal displays.

Greeting card choices have increased — from two racks to "four racks and two spinners."

He's bought a larger cooler. The first cooler was simply a display cooler. The new cooler contains, be- hind the display area, a six-by-seven foot walk-in stor- age area. And he's hired a full-time "designer-in-train- ing."

He still does little advertising, but his marketing seems long term and correct. This year, Santa came by for a day. People could bring their children to be photographed in his lap. The event was advertised by fliers in banks and other businesses. Seventy-five kids — and their parents — showed up.

More importantly perhaps, John's involved in orga- nizing the Mascenic Board of Trade. There are over two hundred small businesses in the tri-town area, of- ten on rural roads with little or no signage. We don't want to change this, but we do want people to know what's available and to encourage people from other areas to come and shop here." Dues are minimal — ten dollars; fifty businesses have joined: the first project will be a directory and map showing members' locations.

So the outsider is slowly becoming an insider . . . and as John becomes more a part of these highly indi- vidualistic and independent communities, Gillyflower Glen will grow and prosper. (BP)

Gillyflower Glen Florist and Gifts is at the NeWest Mall on Route 124 in New Ipswich. The phone number there is 60^-878-0804. Gillyflower Glen Gardens is at 22} Macdowell Road in Peterborough. The number there is 6o3-p24-6j8p.

An Attractive Problem; A Growing Concern

DIANE E. YORKE

Plants that wreck havoc where they grow. We call them invasives, non-natives, exotics, aliens, nox- ious weeds, and biological pollution. Some are attractive to the horticultural community because they mature early, are disease-free, and offer profuse flower- ing. Most are hardy, grow aggressively, produce large quantities of seeds, reproduce vegetatively, and are free from any predators that limit their reproduction and spread. These collective common traits are what make some plants such serious competitors when released in a new environment. Pretty as they may be, many in- troduced plant species are causing problems and have become a growing concern.

How they got here is nothing new. Thousands of plants have been brought to the United States for food, fodder, windbreaks, and other reasons. But oth- ers arrive accidentally in the ballast of ships, in prod- ucts, on people, and through a variety of transporta- tion. Though the majority blend in and cause no problem, others become invasive and spread across the landscape, leaving irreparable damage in their wake.

Invasives are especially problematic in disturbed ar- eas, suggesting a relationship between disturbance and invasion. However, no habitat is exempt. They grow in forests, wilderness areas, lakes, rivers, wildlife ref- uges, wetlands, and urban spaces, infesting over 100 million acres nationwide. Thousands are established, across the country, with 94 listed as Federal Noxious Weeds, and 1,400 scientifically recognized as pests. Once established, they reduce and degrade plant com- munities, degrade riparian areas, create fire hazards, reduce land values, and interfere with recreational and harvesting opportunities. The economic cost is up- wards of $20 billion annually.

Some think invasives are the second greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat destruction. They compete with native plants for sun, water, and nutrients and alter hydrology and soil chemistry. Over time, they af- fect entire communities and ecosystems as they alter environmental conditions and processes. Of particular concern is the risk posed to fully two-thirds of all threatened and endangered species and their habitats

by invasives. Determining the ecological cost is impos- sible, as there's no price that can be placed on losing valuable habitats and native species.

Examples are everywhere. Least damaging, but clos- est to home, are the invasives that appear out of no- where, such as the dandelion introduced in the early 1600s as a salad green. Another common backyard nuisance is oriental bittersweet, the twining vine. Though embraced for its decorative yellow-and-red fall fruits, it invades even undisturbed forest areas, where it overtakes and kills many of the plants it entwines. Then there are the wildlife enthusiasts among us who planted an autumn olive or two in our back forty, only to find them now an impenetrable spreading thicket, and appearing along roadsides, fields, and for- est edges.

New Hampshire's greatest threat is purple loos- estrife. It has received national attention as over 1.5 million acres of wetlands have been consumed nation- wide. Though it may have arrived accidentally, it was also brought over from Europe in the early 1800s as both an ornamental and medicinal plant. It is still val- ued today for its showy flowers and for the copious amounts of rich nectar honeybees seem to favor. Though it's most abundant in New England, it is present in 40 states. A single plant can produce almost three million seeds, and it can spread vegetatively as well. In its native habitat, it grows in individual stands or in small groups of a few hundred plants. Without natural predators, it can grow in monotypic stands with upwards of two million plants. In spite of its beauty, it is particularly damaging as it replaces na- tive cattails, grasses and sedges, and some rare, threat- ened, and endangered species.

Garlic mustard, Japanese barberry, common reed, Eurasian milfoil, goutweed . . . the list of examples goes on. It varies from state to state and even from organization to organization, depending upon the cri- teria used in classifying a plant as "invasive." How- ever, despite the lists and the known impacts of many invasives, they continue to be sold in wildflower seed mixes, promoted as ornamentals and wildlife plants,

FEBRLARY/MAKail999

and used for erosion control. All of this has resulted in federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, communities, and individuals coming together to ad- dress the issue of invasive plants.

Solutions to control invasives include managing and restoring existing problem areas and increasing public awareness of the problem while promoting the use of natives. On-the-ground removal options range from handpicking to prescribed burning. A solution that has become attractive to a public increasingly against the use of herbicides is biological control. Though this seemed a hit-or-miss method in the past, causing some present day concerns, today's guidelines require any in- troduced insect predator to pass a strict host specificity test. A recent success story using biological control is the introduction of four beetles that attack purple loosestrife. The beetles have been released in selective spots in New Hampshire and elsewhere where they

have attacked the leaves and roots of loosestrife and reduced it by up to 90 percent in some places. Though there won't be a total elimination of invasives using this method, it does limit their spread and al- lows for the reestablishment of natives.

Invasives are on the move. Kudzu, a high-climbing vine that devours large areas of native vegetation, has grown up to a foot a day to take over the southeast. Surviving mild winters, it has arrived in Massachu- setts. Mile-a-minute is another all consuming and de- structive vine that has withstood the cold to spread as far north as New York. Our only hope is they won't grow as quickly as they have elsewhere or move as fast as some of their names imply.

Diane E. Yorke is a natural resource biologist with the USDA Forest Service in Durham, New Hampshire. For further information call 6oi-868-yyop.

PIONEER POINTERS

What Can Go Wrong?

At the beginning of a new year, growers' thoughts seem to turn to construction projects, to be completed "after the spring sea- son." Soon, the site has been sized up and esti- mates reviewed, the builders have provided their quotes, and the recent great and not-so-great projects of others have been visited. You've talked to the building officer at town hall. You've even talked to your loan officer and had the discussion on 'working capital (The Plantstnan, 6/98) and planning for expansion {The Plantstnan, 6/97) and are comfortable that you have chosen a smart way to finance the project. You're all set, right?

Once you are at this point, our observation is that three things can commonly go wrong and that "commonly" is the correct word. The first is that visit to the building officer. Inevitably, what were believed to be no-issue rubber-stamp permits and approvals from various health, building, zoning, wetlands, etc., commissions are not "no issue." The message here is to probe further during that first visit, especially if your timeline is tight.

This leads to the second wrinkle: the timeline. Schedules which are too tight lead to problems coordinating suppliers and builders, as well as getting all the needed municipal permits

to begin with. Leave yourself room to breath and you will be able to make the appropriate changes during construction without causing chaos. A failure to budget enough time is an in- vitation to disrupted production schedules and increased costs.

The third — and often most significant — finan- cial wrinkle is cost overruns. Everyone invariably thinks they have a good handle on the project, but it isn't uncommon to see 10-2.0% overruns on "high" cost estimates. Fifty-percent overruns are not unheard of and, when they occur, they can have a significant negative impact on finan- cial position. While a lender can review the pro- posal for "big picture" issues and ask if certain items have been budgeted in, it's often a long list of small items that break the budget. Ulti- mately, it is the owner who needs to assure that all bases are covered — and it is the owner who reaps the rewards or suffers the failure after a construction project is finished.

Building projects, while not always fun, can be exciting experiences. The fun part is being able to pat yourself on the back when it's done and say that it's all that you planned for and on budget to boot. If you have any questions about the lender's phase, please call our office at l- 8oo-8a$-3252. (KK)

DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE

□

Happy New Year! I hope 1999 brings a better growing season than last year, or at least one that is closer to 'normal'. The unusual weather patterns that began last March continued through early De- cember with above-normal tempera- tures (at least the heating costs were reduced). Thanks to the mild tem- peratures, the Plant Diagnostic Lab continued to receive samples through November. Most of the samples were a continuation of problems seen earlier in the season, such as anthracnose and other foliar diseases on trees and shrubs, rusts, botrytis blight on annuals and pe- rennials as well as on greenhouse crops, root rots such as pythium, anthracnose and red thread on turf, and the development of stress-in- duced cankers and diebacks on woody species. Given the relatively high incidence of plant diseases in 1998, the potential for disease prob- lems in 1999 is significant. I think its important to consider what the major diseases were in 1998 and what measures can be taken to re- duce the likelihood of their occur- rence if favorable environmental conditions exist (prolonged wet weather).

WOODY ORNAMENTALS Anthracnose and other leaf spots and blights were widespread throughout the northeast. Maple an- thracnose was the worst I've seen in 17 years. Sycamore, oak, and flower- ing dogwood were also common hosts of anthracnose. Management of most anthracnose diseases on woody hosts can be achieved with good sanitation. Remove and destroy as many of the leaves as possible be-

fore bud-break in the spring (the leaves are the source of new infec- tions). If the leaves can't be re- moved, use a mulching mower to reduce the leaves to small particles. Valuable landscape specimens and nursery stock should receive two to three fungicide applications at 7-10 day intervals beginning at bud break. Sycamores and flowering dog- woods require the removal of dead twigs and branches prior to bud- break followed by fungicides. Re- moval of fallen leaves is also very ef- fective for the control of apple scab on crabapples. Fungicides will prob- ably be required for some highly susceptible cultivars.

Ascochyta leaf blight and bacterial blight were the most common prob- lems on lilacs. Ascochyta has two phases, a shoot blight in the spring (which resembles bacterial shoot blight) and a foliar phase during the summer and fall. Dead shoots and branches should be pruned prior to bud-break and fungicides should be applied. Thinning dense bushes will also help reduce disease severity.

Shoot blight, caused by the fun- gus Monilinia, was widespread on most ornamental Prunus species, particularly flowering almonds and cherries. This disease has been very damaging for last several years, so protective fungicide sprays may be warranted on nursery stock and valuable landscape specimens. Fungi- cides should be first applied when the blossoms open followed by a second application ten days later. Once again, dead shoots should be removed before bud-break.

Spruce that were infected with rhizosphaera needlecast last year should be treated with fungicides

this spring. The first application should be made when the new needles are half-expanded. Rust diseases were phenomenal in 1998, particularly on cedar, juniper and serviceberry (amelanchier). Most of these rusts have a two-year life cycle, but there are usually overlapping populations of the fungus. Removal of galls from cedars and junipers can help, but it is usually more practical to treat the deciduous host with fungicides beginning just after bud- break.

HERBACEOUS ORNAMENTALS Botrytis blight was the most signifi- cant problem during June and early July, particularly on bedding plants, Asiatic lilies, and peonies. All plant debris from last year's crop should be removed before growth resumes this spring. Plants should be spaced adequately to allow for good air cir- culation. Overhanging branches from nearby trees should be pruned to reduce shading and promote the rapid drying of wet foliage. If over- head irrigation is used, water early in the day to allow the leaves to dry prior to nightfall. Fungicides will be necessary if we have periods of pro- longed wet weather. Management of leaf spot diseases is the same as that of botrytis blight.

Stem cankers caused by the fun- gus Phytophthora was fairly common on sedums. (The stems develop a water-soaked lesion which quickly collapses and rots.) The easiest method for control of this disease is to rogue out the infected plants as soon as symptoms are seen. Fungi- cides should be applied to the re- maining plants if wet weather pre- vails or overhead irrigation is used.

FEBRUARY / MAKCH 1999

25

GREENHOUSE CROPS Botrytis was the 'Big' disease prob- lem! Good air circulation, sanitation, and reducing the humidity are the primary means of cultural control. When fungicides are required, it is important to rotate the classes of chemicals used to prevent disease build-up due to fungicide resistance. One important disease to men- tion as a potential problem in 1999 is bacterial blight of geraniums. Losses due to this disease have been relatively light for the last few years, but there have been early reports (from other diagnostic labs) of bac- terial blight on some of the gera- nium stock which represents this year's spring crop. The most com- mon symptom is wilting of one or more leaves, even though the soil is moist. Leaf spotting, although less common than wilt, may occur if se- verely infected plants are present nearby. Leaf spot develops when the bacterium is splashed from one plant to another or drips from hang- ing baskets onto plants below. Leaf

spotting is usually accompanied by yellowing, often in a V-shaped pat- tern. The symptoms on ivy gerani- ums are not as obvious as those on seed and zonal types. On ivy gerani- ums, the symptoms are easily con- fused with edema or nutrient imbal- ances. If bacterial blight is sus- pected, a laboratory diagnosis is nec- essary to confirm the presence of the bacterium. If confirmed, strict mea- sures are needed to reduce potential crop loss: (i) plants cannot be cured or protected by fungicide sprays or drenches, (ii) infected plants should be destroyed and soil should not be reused, (iii) suspicious plants should be isolated until a diagnosis is com- pleted (cuttings should not be taken from suspicious plants), and (iv) tools, pots, flats, and bench tops should be sanitized with a disinfeaant.

TURF

Snow molds should not be as much of a problem as in previous years because the ground was frozen prior to the establishment of permanent

snow cover (at least in the southern portions of New Hampshire and Maine). Remember, however, that if we get a significant thaw during January or February followed by ad- ditional snowfall, snow molds may develop to significant levels. Al- though fungicides applied during mid-winter thaws have some effec- tiveness, they are not as effective as a combination of systemic and con- tact fungicides applied in the fall.

If you wish to submit plant material to the UNH-PDL for diagnosis, send samples (with a check for $12. 00) to: The UNH Plant Diagnostic Lab, CI O Dr. Cheryl Smith, Plant Biology Department, 241 Spaulding Hall - UNH, Durham, NH OJ824. Samples should be accompanied by an identi- fication form (available from your county Cooperative Extension office or by calling 862-^200). Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Ex- tension Specialist in Plant Health, and can be reached at 603-862-^841, e-mail: cheryl. smith @unh. edu.

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HOW ABOUT HERBS

l\issie Mussie

TANYA JACKSON

. . . Here's flow'rs for you:

Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram.

The marigold, that goes to bed wi' th' sun.

And with him rises weeping. These are flow'rs

Of middle summer, and 1 think they are given

To men of middle age.

—William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale, IV, iv

February, with Valentine's Day, is a time to express our feelings to lovers, family members, and friends — each in different ways. An old-fashioned expression of affec- tion is the Tussie Mussie, a bou- quet in which the herbs and flow- ers do the talking. It is usually small, often with a rose at the cen- ter, and edged with scented leaves or a circle of lace. The stems are tied with a ribbon.

I asked my husband not to bring me a heart full of candy this year. I hope he brings me flowers in a little Tussie Mussie and I'll read a message into the bouquet.

Red roses, of course, symbolize true love. They've been the main- stay of the language of flowers for centuries. I'll accept them with great joy.

I'd love to receive blue flax. It stands for appreciation.

Borage would signify his cour- age— our courage, actually — to stick together all these years. And the bouquet needs sprigs of rosemary for the pleasures of memory. In nearly forty years of marriage, we have ac-

crued many, both good and bad.

Thyme stands for bravery; lav- ender, for loyalty; and salvia is for thoughtfulness, expressed in our thoughtful treatment of one an- other— an important ingredient in this Valentine bouquet. Let's add caraway for faithfulness and marjo- ram for joy, violets for sweet na- ture and mint for good cheer.

Each color of roses has its own meaning. White compliments pu- rity; red, of course, declares true love. But it gets involved: for ex- ample, a Carolina rose declares that love is dangerous. Imagine the messages that could be sent.

At one time, they were. This language of flowers, which began in France in the early 1800s, reached its peak in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. Dic- tionaries of the language became very popular, although some au- thors found different meanings in the same plants. One could express devotion, passion, jealousy, and other significant feelings by put- ting together a few herbs and flowers, but it was important that

everyone involved was using the- same dictionary! The Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway, the English illustrator of children's books, was first published in 1884 and it remains in print today to serve as a guide to those who want to send floral messages.

All of this can lead you in many directions. A final note might be to include a love potion in the Valentine package to your love. The little Viola tricolor, known as Heartease or Johnny Jump-Up-and-Kiss-Me — named so because once you plant them, they seed all over the place and pop up just everywhere, is the best known old-fashioned herbal love potion. Violas can be simmered and steeped in hot water to make a tea or simmered with sugar and water to make a syrup which is then added to tea. The results are the same: love and easing of the heart — joy for your loved ones.

Tanya Jackson, a well-known area herbalist, can be reached at 6o}-4}i-8oii.

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Winners!

All 1998 New England Greenhouse Conference attendees who sub- mitted program evaluations became eligible for several prizes. These prizes and their winners, drawn at random from the names of the more than 500 conference attendees who submitted evaluations, are:

Dosatron, from Dosatron Int.:

Dave Capron, Center Ossipee, New Hampshire

Spear and Jackson spade and fork, from Gardener's Supply Company: Bruce Stedman, Gorham, Maine

Two tickets to preview party for the 1999 New England Flower Show, from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society: Elizabeth Wells, Westboro, Massachusetts

Windchime, from Bemis Greenhouses:

Ted Thiessen, Dr. Green's Garden Center, Port Jervis, New York

Congratulations. Sometimes it pays

out a form.

ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

President

ROBERT C. RIMOL

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

Directors

ROBERT DEMERS

656 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH 03103

437-6336

DAVID GIURLEO

324 Howard Street, Northboro, MA 01532^

508-393-4534

ANN HILTON

4 Karacull Lane, Pittsfield, NH 03263

435-6425

HENRY HUNTINGTON

7316 Pleasant Street, Loudon, NH 03301

435-8361

PETER VAN BERKUM

4 James Road, Deerfield, NH 03037

463-7663

TIM WOLFE

37 Lake Street, Salem, NH 03079

893-5858

Extension Liaison

NANCY ADAMS

113 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833

679-5616

NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Plantsman Editor LNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 43

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