FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The 40th annual Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show returns to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Feb. 28 – Mar. 3

More than 650 exhibitors will be on hand as 50,000 people are expected to visit over the four days. Guests will find the latest on home and garden products and services. Home and garden experts will be on hand, including celebrity Jeff Holper, known as “The Mole Hunter.” Jyll Everman, a 2011 Food Network Star finalist, and Erica Glasener, host of HGTV’s “A Gardener’s Diary” will also have sessions throughout the weekend.

Alex Babich, popular morel mushroom hunter, is also slated for a 2013 appearance.

Tours of various gardens and landscaping areas will also be available.

The popular kids’ area also returns for 2013. An interactive themed “Old McDonald’s Farm” can entertain children of all ages with hands-on exhibits, a petting zoo, adoptable pets, and ballet and martial arts demonstrations.

Event organizer Karen Tejera said the Master Gardener’s Stage will be a busy area once again. Sessions will include urban forest examination, perennials, herb gardening, rain barrels, tomatoes, butterflies, shrubs, hydrangeas, and soil.

“We always love seeing so many friends and colleagues who have been along on this ride with us for 40 years,” Tejera said in a statement. “We work year-round to present the best show possible for Fort Wayne. The people who live here in the Tri-State area have so much pride in their homes, and we love being able to bring them the best and newest in home and garden products and services every year. We do our best to make the show a one-stop-shop for all things home and garden, and to make it an entertaining event that’s a great destination for the entire family.”

“We are so grateful for the support and friendship of the people of Fort Wayne and surrounding areas, for 40 years now, and look forward to bringing the show to all of you for many, many years to come!”

Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+), and children under 15 are free. Parking at the Coliseum is $4.

The Home and Garden Show runs Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A $2 coupon off admission is available by clicking here .

NewsChannel 15 is a proud sponsor of the event and will broadcast LIVE from the event Thursday and Friday on First News, Noon, First at 5, and at 6. WANE-TV will also have a booth at the event with free giveaways. Make sure and stop by to meet your favorite members of the NewsChannel 15 team on Saturday and Sunday.

They’re baaaack.

Popular in the 1970s, the era of macrame shawls and other unmentionable trends, terrariums and dish gardens are seeing a resurgence across the country. Meaning, as trends go, you may soon want one for yourself.

“We’re seeing all that kind of stuff turn around,” said Vicki Zaiser-Cassabon, manager at Zaiser’s Florist and Greenhouse in Burlington, Iowa.

With miniature, low-moisture and slow-growing plant varieties to choose from, the range of planter options is limited only by the imagination. Ornaments, rocks and other decorative pieces expand the opportunity to be creative in a compact garden space.

“You don’t want all the same colors and shapes together” Zaiser-Cassabon said.

“You have all kinds of neat stuff to put in terrariums you couldn’t get for a long time,” said Steve Ritter, owner of Burlington’s Ritter’s Inc.

Plus, they’re easy — especially for people who aren’t frequent waterers.

Because of the kinds of containers people want to plant in, such as glass bowls, the lack of drainage can be detrimental to plants. So Zaiser-Cassabon isn’t a big fan. Too much moisture leads to root rot, she said. And that’s in dish gardens, which are open to the air. Terrariums have covers, which create even wetter environments by trapping moisture in the air as well as the soil, she said.

“Drainage is important to any plant,” she said. “Otherwise, they sit wet and they die.”

Glass is the traditional choice, but other containers —

terra cotta, plastic and ceramic, for example — work, too, Zaiser-Cassabon said. And while she won’t recommend no-drain kinds of containers, she didn’t say the plantings aren’t doable. They just take more attention to detail.

“With the right soil, container and light, you can have a lot of success with them,” Zaiser-Cassabon said.

Ritter expressed less concern about the moisture issue. After placing rocks, marbles or other loose material at the bottom to allow space for water to drain, a layer of charcoal will help to control excess moisture and prevent root rot and also control odor caused by moisture, Ritter said.

In that way, clear glass is a great option, he said, because it provides a below-the-soil view of the root structure of the plant and also the moisture level of the soil.

“If the roots are brown,” he said, “stop watering so much.”

Regardless of the container, loose soil is a must. And best are sedums and succulents, plants that don’t require a lot of watering because they store moisture in their leaves. Those include well-known plants like aloe vera and hens and chickens, as well as unusual varieties, some of which look as if they come from alien landscapes.

With most of these types of plants, it’s the leaf and not the flower that draws the interest. In fact, only a handful flower at all.

Another type of table-top garden, the fairy garden, uses dwarf versions of more traditional plants, such as miniature ferns. Slow-growing plants are a must, too, to keep the planting from outgrowing the container too quickly, Zaiser-Cassabon said, adding that pruning and pinching back will help keep them small, too.

When choosing plants for a terrarium, dish garden or fairy garden, “you don’t want all the same colors and shapes together,” Zaiser-Cassabon said. And Ritter recommended filling the container fairly full, explaining that a tight fit will help to control root growth.

Lighting also is crucial, though Ritter and Zaiser-Cassabon were of two minds about how much and what kind.

Zaiser-Cassabon recommends direct, but not intense, indoor light. East and southwest windows in the house are good spots, for instance. Ferns, which are better in wetter conditions and so more suitable for terrariums, need cooler, indirect light.

She was less convinced about dish gardens and terrariums in office spaces without good natural lighting. Fluorescent lighting isn’t a sufficient replacement for sunlight, she said.

Ritter, though, said flourescent lighting is good for most plants because it gives off a blue light that encourages photosynthesis and leaf growth. And in such places as offices, where room lights can be off for hours at a time, he recommended keeping a light fixture handy and turned on when other lights are out.

The Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, LOWA, has scheduled a Landscape for a Healthy Lake Conference 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 5 in Suite G of Building D at Tan-Tar-A Family Resort in Osage Beach.

The general public, landscapers, lawn care professionals and rock workers are invited to come to the free conference and dinner and hear renowned experts speak on the newest and smartest landscape techniques that thrive in the rocky and steep Ozark terrain. Learn how to use rain gardens and beautiful deep-rooted Missouri native plants that require little maintenance or water to slow down rainwater runoff and reduce lake pollutants. Educators will also speak about using landscape techniques and rip rap to stop property and seawall erosion from the constant pounding Lake wave-action.

Attendees will have the opportunity to register for LOWA’s cost share landscaping program, “Green$ for Greenery.” In this program, you receive free soil samples, a free evaluation of your property by a Trained Volunteer Evaluator and free expert advice on the best landscapes for the property. You can also get up to $900 off on landscaping and rip rap as well as a free LOWA LILs Lake Protector Sign for their yard.

Light refreshments will be available at the conference, and a light dinner will be provided. The RSVP deadline for dinner is March 3. For more information or to register for the free conference, call 573-280-2296 or email mjdoores@onemain.com. To read more about LOWA LILs go to www.soslowa.org.

About the speaker The keynote speaker is Dave Tylka. Tylka is a semi-retired Professor of Biology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, where he taught full-time for more than 20 years. He still teaches native landscaping, field zoology and Ozark ecology courses. In 2002, he wrote the Missouri Conservation Department book, “Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People.” Dave has also written several popular pamphlets on backyard landscaping, bird feeding, and butterfly gardening. As a widely recognized educator, biologist, nature author, and photographer, he brings together a wealth of information on native species and ideas that can inspire any landscaper. Tylka was the first St. Louis Urban Biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, a position he held for 14 years. While with the MDC, he co-produced and hosted “All Outdoors” on Channel 11 in St. Louis.

Conference subjects

1. Using native plants and landscaping to beautify property, benefit wildlife and manage stormwater runoff.

2. The Filtrexx Grow Soxx(r), a compost sock used to manage storm water, that is considered “gold in a grow sock” by scientists due to the nutrient rich dirt inside that helps plants to grow “anywhere,” including a steep rocky Ozark hillside.

3. The Rain Reserve(r) catchment devices that are used in capturing water, and why Lake property owners should care about “disconnecting downspouts”

Panel of experts

a. Ameren Missouri’s Georganne Bowman on shoreline vegetation

b. Schultz Surveying and Engineering’s Mike DeLong on managing rain water run-off through engineering

c. The University of Missouri Extension Office’s Bob Broz on soil erosion

d. Local landscaping experts on LOWA Low Impact Landscapes (LILs) and rip rap

ocean friendly

Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 3:30 pm

Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Landscaping to be Featured at Annual Home Garden Show

The Ocean Friendly Garden is getting the spotlight. The sustainable designs of Falling Waters Landscape Inc. will be featured among the Garden Masters at the 28th Annual Spring Home-Garden Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Friday, Saturday and Sunday — March 1, 2 and 3, 2013.

The firm’s founder and lead designer, Ryan Prange, is G3 certified as an official contractor for Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden Program. The nonprofit’s San Diego County Chapter has used Prange’s expertise to re-landscape several local residences with conservation, permeability and water retention in mind.

Attendees of this year’s Spring Home-Garden Show will be able to see a sample of Prange’s work and learn firsthand what it takes to create an ocean friendly landscape design.

In Southern California’s semi-arid climate, pesticides and fertilizers can build up on lawns and gardens only to be washed down streets and storm drains and into the ocean as toxic runoff during infrequent rains. By opting for plants native to Southern California’s Mediterranean climate, capturing and reusing rainwater, and incorporating permeable paving and mulch so water can soak into the ground instead of running off into the street, Ocean Friendly Gardens restore balance to the water cycle and provide natural habitat for local wildlife.

The 3-year old Surfrider program is seeing success in coastal communities in and beyond San Diego where it directly addresses the need for cleaner beaches, better coastal preservation, erosion prevention and reduced water and energy use.

“The Garden Show is our chance as professionals and stewards of the environment to educate the public and showcase new ideas in the landscape. The OFG program may be relatively new, but we hope it becomes the ‘new normal’ for San Diego landscapes,” says Prange.

Participants can learn more about the show and purchase tickets at www.springhomegardenshow.com.

General price tickets at the door are $8. Tickets are $6 if bought online or at the door after 3 p.m. Children under 12 are free, and seniors attending the show on Friday can purchase tickets for $1.

In addition to being an active member of Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden Committee, as lead designer of the award-winning Falling Waters Landscape Inc., Prange is a member of the California Landscape Contractors Association and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. The firm is also a member of the United States Green Building Council.

To learn more about Falling Waters Landscape Inc. and see samples of Prange’s work visit www.fallingwaterslandscape.com.

For more on Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program visit http://sandiego.surfrider.org/programs/ocean- friendly-gardens, or contact Susan Krzywicki at (619) 318-4590 or susan@surfridersd.org.

For more on the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, visit http://surfridersd.org/.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013 3:30 pm.

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The Wayne Art Center was named the First Place winner of the Radnor Township Manager’s Beautification Award, which recognizes citizens, businesses and organizations that have improved their properties.

The Center is sited on nearly three acres of mostly wooded land, with two large parking areas and two prominent street entrances, Maplewood Avenue and Conestoga Road.

The art center describes its gardens in the following text:

Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden                                                                 

The nursery located behind the Wayne Art Center building rents space to several landscaping companies. The area is used for construction vehicles, not at all the tranquil setting we envision for our students to study art. There were no plants or shrubs or a backdrop to yield privacy. The area also required grading and additional pipes and drains to alleviate an ongoing drainage problem and divert the flow of water away from our facility.

We now have 15 varieties of woody plants and 18 varieties of perennials in the Hamilton Garden. We have built a semi-circular boulder wall with seating at the edge of the garden, using boulders given to us by the Township when they built the Radnor Walking Trail adjacent to the Art Center. It is truly an inspiring outdoor space that is visible from the clear storied window wall that was installed in the newly renovated Hamilton Studio.  It also is a wonderful space for students to sit and relax.

Betty Moran Garden                                                                                   

These gardens are located in front of the Wayne Art Center building, adjacent to the parking lot. The plants that were installed there were overgrown and a new design brings freshness and new color to the area.

Steven Laden Meditation Garden                                                              

The installation of this garden served as a kick-off to our Landscape Campaign and was a wonderful way to honor Steve and share his love with the entire community.  It was our dream that the grounds surrounding the Wayne Art Center would serve as inspiration and respite for our students and community. Creating a “Meditation Garden” behind the “link” that connected the Center’s old and new sections and was an ideal starting point for achieving our dream.  This special connecting space is now utilized everyday by all of our students and visitors.  We have achieved the creation of a restful, peaceful place – an oasis of calm in a garden setting that helps students connect with their own creativity and goals in the same way that our studios and exhibitions now already do.

Josephine M. and Calvin W. Schmidt Garden                                   

The Schmidt Garden is a beautiful backdrop for available for works of art displayed in the Davenport Family Gallery. This garden surrounds a rain garden that was installed during our last major renovation project. It has an edible theme: including blackberry, raspberry and blueberry bushes, strawberries in addition to herbs such as rosemary and thyme. These edible plants are being utilized in the culinary classes we offer during the summer and enjoyed by all of our culinary students. Lovely magnolia trees also grace the terrace which is used for gallery receptions and special events. A Rain Garden is located in the center of the Schmidt Garden and will feature rotating sculpture throughout the year.

Ralph J. DiMaio Landscaping of Wayne designed most of the gardens and donated maintain them over the summer months.

                            

Dave Tylka

Professor Dave Tylka will be the keynote speaker 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 5 at the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance Healthy Lake Conference in Osage Beach. Tylka is a semi-retired Professor of Biology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, where he taught full-time for more than 20 years. He still teaches native landscaping, field zoology and Ozark ecology courses. Tylka was the first St. Louis Urban Biologist for the Missouri Conservation Department, a position he held for 14 years. He is also a widely recognized educator, biologist, nature author, and photographer, he brings together a wealth of information on native species and ideas that can inspire any landscaper.

Posted: Monday, February 25, 2013 5:24 pm
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Updated: 8:17 pm, Mon Feb 25, 2013.

Author, television host, professor to speak at Healthy Lake Conference March 5

Press Release

LakeExpo.com

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. – A free conference and dinner will accompany words of wisdom and practical advice on Lake-friendly landscaping next Tuesday.

The Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance (LOWA) has scheduled a Landscape for a Healthy Lake Conference 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 5. The conference will be held in Building D, Suite G at the Tan-Tar-A Family Resort in Osage Beach.

The general public, landscapers, lawn care professionals and rock workers are invited to come to the free conference and dinner and hear renowned experts speak on the newest and smartest landscape techniques that thrive in the rocky and steep Ozark terrain. Learn how to use rain gardens and beautiful, deep-rooted Missouri native plants that require little maintenance or water to slow down rainwater runoff and reduce lake pollutants. Educators will also speak about using landscape techniques and rip rap to stop property and seawall erosion from the constant pounding Lake wave-action.

Real Estate professionals are also urged to come and hear information on steps they can take to protect the Lake – one of the greatest assets in their industry.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Dave Tylka. Tylka is a semi-retired Professor of Biology at St. Louis Community College at Meramec, where he taught full-time for more than 20 years. He still teaches native landscaping, field zoology and Ozark ecology courses.

In 2002, he wrote the Missouri Conservation Department book, “Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People.” Dave has also written several popular pamphlets on backyard landscaping, bird feeding, and butterfly gardening. As a widely recognized educator, biologist, nature author, and photographer, Tylka brings together a wealth of information on native species and ideas that can inspire any landscaper.  

Tylka was the first St. Louis Urban Biologist for the Missouri Conservation Department, a position he held for 14 years. While with the Conservation Department, he also co-produced and hosted “All Outdoors” on Channel 11 in St. Louis.

Conference subjects include:

• Using native plants and landscaping to beautify property, benefit wildlife and manage stormwater runoff.
• The Filtrexx Grow Soxx®, a compost sock used to manage storm water, that is considered “gold in a grow sock” by scientists, due to the nutrient-rich dirt inside that helps plants to grow “anywhere,” including a steep, rocky Ozark hillside.
• The Rain Reserve® catchment devices that are used in capturing water, and why Lake property owners should care about “disconnecting downspouts.”

 

A notable panel of experts will also be available to answer questions on the following subjects:

 

• Ameren Missouri’s Georganne Bowman on shoreline vegetation
• Schultz Surveying and Engineering’s Mike DeLong on managing rain water run-off through engineering
• The University of Missouri Extension Office’s Bob Broz on soil erosion
• Local landscaping experts on LOWA Low Impact Landscapes (LILs) and rip rap

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about, and register for, LOWA’s Cost Share Landscaping Program, “Green$ for Greenery”, where they can receive:

• Free soil samples
• A free evaluation of their property by a Trained Volunteer Evaluator (TVE).
• Free expert advice on the best landscapes for their individual property by a TVE.
• Up to $900 off on landscaping and rip rap.
• A free LOWA Low-Impact-Landscape (LIL) Lake Protector Sign for their yard

The cost share program is available on a first come, first serve basis.

A light dinner will be provided at the conference. The RSVP deadline for dinner is Saturday, March 3. For more information or to register for the free conference, call 573-280-2296, or email mjdoores@onemain.com. To read more about LOWA LILs go to www.soslowa.org. Partner businesses in the cost share program are required to attend this program.

“We are urging our ‘Friends of the Lake’ to bring neighbors, landscapers and employees. This is probably the best learning opportunity we have brought to the Lake since LOWA began,” LOWA Executive Director Donna Swall said. “We are pulling out all the big guns, don’t miss this opportunity.”

© 2013 lakeexpo.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Monday, February 25, 2013 5:24 pm.

Updated: 8:17 pm.

Landscape architects see a growing trend in outdoor living, with more American homeowners adding outdoor rooms for entertainment and recreation on their properties.

The results of the “2013 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey” conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects also show an increasing demand for both sustainable and low-maintenance design.

Landscape architects who specialize in residential design across the country were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements in 2013. The category of outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, received a 94.5 percent rating as somewhat or very popular. It all but tied with gardens and landscaped spaces at 94.4 percent.

Across all categories, 97 percent of respondents rated fire pits and fireplaces as somewhat or very in demand for 2013, followed by grills (96.3 percent), seating and dining areas (96.3 percent) and lighting (95.1 percent).

In the category of home landscapes, decorative water elements, including waterfalls, ornamental pools and splash pools, were predicted to be in demand (90.9 percent). Spas (81.5 percent) and pools (75.3 percent) are also expected to be popular. Terraces, patios and decks are high on people’s lists (97.6 percent), as are fencing (89.6 percent) and ornamental water features (84.2 percent).

“In this uncertain economy, homeowners

want to get more enjoyment out of their yards,” says ASLA executive vice president and CEO Nancy Somerville. “They want attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and sustainable.”

Carolyn Miller, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, agrees. “These times have changed the way people live. It costs nothing to keep things neat and tidy. People are doing more ‘staycations’ these days. They’ve moved their living during warm weather to their back yards, where they have added outdoor kitchens, quiet areas, ponds and waterfalls, which add to the enjoyment and relaxation gained from a yard.”

The survey notes Americans still prefer practical yet striking design elements for their gardens, such as low-maintenance landscapes (93.9 percent) and native plants (86.6 percent), with organic slightly increasing in popularity (65.3 percent compared to 61.2 percent in 2011).

More people are opting for food and vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards (82.7 percent). Other sustainable elements such as native or drought-tolerant plants (83 percent), drip irrigation (82.5 percent), permeable paving (72.8 percent) and reduced lawns (72.6 percent) are making their way into outdoor living spaces across the country.

Landscaping is almost as important as having the interior of a house look welcoming, according to Miller, who is with RE/MAX Real Estate Services in Cupertino. Miller says when an agent prepares a home for sale one of the first things that is discussed is curb appeal, starting at the street and moving to the front of the house.

“There needs to be an attraction to get potential buyers inside the house, and if the front welcomes them with color spots and neat and tidy walkways and mowed lawns, they will move to the front door and enter the home,” explains Miller. “Landscaping carries into the house and out to the back yard. Buyers aren’t just buying the interior; they’re looking for year-round living.”

Improving landscape, particularly in front, not only helps sell a home, but makes your home inviting, so people enjoy the view and may feel inclined to stop by long enough to renew friendships or make new friends, says Miller.

“When spring arrives, you can see neighbors outside talking across the lawns, while taking care to fertilize, prune and trim, and add seasonal color to make their homes look fresh and friendly. Homeownership instills this pride of ownership in many homeowners,” says Miller.

Additional information on residential landscape architecture can be found at asla.org/residen tialinfo.

Information is presented by the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at silvar.org. Contact rmeily@silvar.org.

NEWS RELEASE
February 22, 2013

CONTACT:
Kristina MacKulin
kristina@greenworksvermont.org
802-425-5117

Green Works/Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association is pleased to announce the winners of their annual awards. Winners received these awards at the recent 2013 Green Works Winter Meeting Trade Show held on 2/13/13 at the UVM Davis Center.

Horticultural Achievement Award

This award is given to individuals connected to the horticultural industry in Vermont, who are over 40 years of age and whose accomplishments have advanced our industry educationally, by plant development or growing, through literature, or through outstanding personal effort. This award is the most prestigious and distinguished that can be received from Green Works/Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association.

WINNER: Don and Lela Avery, Cady’s Falls Nursery, Morrisville, VT.

Nomination Information: Don and Lela are pioneers in the Vermont horticultural scene. In 1980 they founded their retail nursery in the north central part of Vermont, offering a wide selection of herbaceous perennials and woody plants for northern gardens. Ninety five percent of their retail plant offerings are propagated at the nursery.

They grow many classic stalwarts as well as many rare and hard-to-find plants. Some of the distinctive plants they propagate include dwarf and weeping conifers, native ladyslippers, native ferns, bog plants, aquatics, alpines, cacti Itoh hybrid peonies.

Don and Lela have been especially gracious by offering workshops for Green Works members on grafting techniques and propagation by woody cuttings. They are also active members of the Vermont Hardy Plant Club offering even more workshops and tours through this group.

They have chosen to remain a small intimate nursery in order to stay focused on the things they consider important: the evolution of their exquisite and impeccably maintained gardens, the quality of their plants and the quality of the experience people have when they visit the nursery.

Though their gardens and nursery are highly regarded and often written about, Don and Lela remain humble and rooted in their passion for sharing their knowledge with others. We are lucky to have them as a resource and inspiration right here in Vermont.

Environmental Awareness Award

This award is given in recognition of an individual that has implemented an environmentally sound practice that contributes to the protection of our environment.

WINNER: Chris Conant, Claussen’s Florist, Greenhouse and Perennial Farm, Colchester, VT.

Nomination Information: My name is Lori King and I am the Head Grower at Claussen’s. It is an honor for Claussen’s to be nominated for the Environmental Awareness Award. Implementing a successful Integrated Pest Management Program is one of those steps.

Our goal is to use biological control (good bugs) rather than using chemical pesticides to control the pest (bad bugs). Weekly scouting is key. This involves walking through the greenhouses and checking monitoring cards and plants in a random pattern for pest. Then we identify, count and record so we can use the correct beneficials for weekly releasing. Early detection helps ensure that problems are managed and minimized.

Claussen’s attends tri state workshops through UVM, as well as seminars and webinars as both participants and as speakers sharing our successes and failures. For several years Claussen’s has worked with the University of Vermont in many capacities from providing greenhouses for testing for Energy Consumption Efficiency to providing space in our greenhouses or assisting with research.

I am proud to work for a company that is a trend setter and is committed to making a better tomorrow while keeping up the Claussen tradition of top quality plants. Let’s all enjoy the flowers and bees for generations to come.

NENA Young Nursery Professional of the Year Award

This is an annual award established by the New England Nursery Association. Its purpose is to reward, to honor and to encourage participation, achievement and growth by an individual who is involved in a related horticultural industry and has not reached the age of 40 years, who has shown involvement in his or her state and/or regional nurserymen’s association, has contributed to the growth and success of their company of employment and has portrayed an image to the public of what our products and services can do for them.

WINNER: Brian Vaughan, Vaughan Landscaping Co., St. George, VT.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Thetford, VT Brian learned what it takes to be successful: Hard work, persistence and honesty in all relationships. After working various jobs and completing a career test Brian decided to pursue a career in horticulture. In 1999 Brian achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Forestry and Landscape Horticulture with a minor in Applied Design. While a student at UVM, Brian established and chaired the UVM Horticultural Club, which is still in existence today.

Brian decided to launch his landscaping business in 2002 specializing in landscape design, stone work and installation. Educating clients and listening to what they want has resulted in long lasting business relationships. Brian guarantees his work and strives to complete projects right the first time. Celebrating 10 years in business Brian will continue to focus on residential garden design and installation.

In 2007 Brian was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Horticulture Farm. While on the Board Brian was asked to take over as Curator of the Perennial Gardens and is currently in this position. Brian holds educational workshops in the perennial gardens in the Spring and Summer. These workshops also maintain the gardens for the annual Bloomtime festival and FHF Plant Sale.

In 2011 Brian was nominated to the VNLA Board and is currently serving as a director. Brian is chair of the Evaluation Planning Committee and on the Newsletter Committee. Brian has been a VNLA member and Vermont Certified Horticulturist since 2000 and uses this valuable certification in his business.

Retailer of the Year Award

This award will be presented annually to a retail garden center or greenhouse operation that stands apart for their excellence in any or all of the following categories: customer service, quality of plant material, knowledge of staff, creativity and innovations in marketing and presentation of retail space, and overall customer experience and satisfaction. This is a new award this year for Green Works.

WINNER: Julie Rubaud, Red Wagon Plant, Hinesburg, VT

Julie Rubaud started as a part-time farmer working with friends at Diggers’ Mirth at the Intervale. While her colleagues planted vegetables, Julie was looking for something to do earlier in the season so she started growing herbs that she sold in clay pots at the Burlington Farmers’ Market. The herb business expanded and she began selling wholesale to Healthy Living, Gardener’s Supply, and the Shelburne Supermarket; outlets which continue to buy from her today.

In 2005, Julie founded Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg. Initially the small nursery was established to expand and support her wholesale operation. But during that first year, people kept coming into her driveway hoping to buy plants, so she started a retail business that has been steadily growing since.

Julie has managed to grow in increments, building a new greenhouse one year, building a display garden the next, and expanding her offerings each year. As the Hinesburg area has grown, Julie has increased her offerings to meet the demand.

Perhaps best of all, many of Julie’s customers don’t meet the stereotype of organic plant purchasers, and as Red Wagon Plants is certified organic Julie has the opportunity to share her beliefs and knowledge which she does not only through sales, but through speaking engagements and an on-line blog.

Red Wagon supports the community plant sales and fundraisers with plants and gift card donations and Julie loves her location on Shelburne Falls Road, surrounded by a haying operation, a raw milk farm, and a horse farm. Julie’s goal is to be welcoming to new gardeners and encourage people to grow their own food. As she continues to grow and offer high quality plants to her community, we’re sure she is achieving her goal.

A UVM Student Merit Award of $350 was awarded to John R. Bruce of Ferrisburgh, VT. This student was recommended by the Plant and Soil Science Committee at UVM.

Information on John:

John is a Vermonter having lived most of his life in Ferrisburg. John is a senior in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture. While at UVM, he has been very busy both in the classroom and out. In addition to excellent grades, John was a Teaching Assistant in the Woody Landscape Plants course last fall, having scored one of the highest grades in the class the previous year. In his extracurricular activities John has been exceptionally active. He is the Vice President of the UVM Horticulture Club, the Vice President of the Mortar Board Society and the President of the UVM Club Quidditch Team! (Yes… Quidditch is a real sport!)

John has been very involved in a variety of horticultural internships and work experiences over the past several years. He has worked at most of the local vineyards (Mina Brothers, Shelburne, East Shore and Lincoln Peak). John was also a Horticultural Intern at UVM this past summer, helping to maintain all the display gardens on campus.

John’s real passion is working with his own market garden that he runs from his parent’s property. He has been supplying produce to two restaurants at Basin Harbor Club and he hopes to continue this after graduating from UVM this spring.

John’s future plans are to continue to expand his market garden business here in Vermont to become a diversified farm that includes livestock, fruit trees and “value-added” products. He also hopes to become part of a “Farm to School” program which connects local school children to farms in the area.

For contact information on the award winners and/or photos please contact me directly.

Green Works/Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association is a non-profit, statewide organization representing Vermont’s garden centers, greenhouses, landscapers, landscape designers and architects, nurseries, arborists, plant maintenance experts, turf care and irrigation specialists, horticultural educators and researchers, and other plant professionals. For more information about our members and the association visit www.greenworksvermont.org.

 

Green Side Up Landscaping was awarded the “Best of the Best” designation for excellence in Richmond Landscape and Richmond Landscaping by Follow Media Consulting, Inc.

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) February 24, 2013

Green Side Up Landscaping was awarded the “Best of the Best” designation for excellence by Follow Media Consulting, Inc. in the category of Richmond Landscape and Richmond Landscaping. This award signifies the continued commitment and dedication of the areas best in lawn maintenance and landscaping services.

Green Side Up Landscaping is a full service landscaping company serving Richmond and Williamsburg, Va. Their company is currently owned by three people but with only one vision: to create enduring outdoor living spaces in balance with nature that surround the senses with seasons of colorful low-maintenance beauty.

As an ICPI-Certified contractor, they guarantee their paver hardscapes for their craftsmanship — for as long as clients live at their home. Their residential and commercial renovations are in demand because they’re built to last by degreed professionals with higher standards. Since their inception in 2004, the work they do begins in their hearts, and rewards clients with properly drained, healthy, colorful retreats, drives or entrances that they’ll love for a lifetime.

Green Side Up is a full service landscaping contractor. Whether outstanding needs are new landscaping, creating beautiful hardscapes or simply maintaining a yard and gardens they can help to improve the look and value of a property. Green Side Up can help with drainage problems and protect a home’s foundation or build an outdoor retreat that clients will want to share with friends and family for years to come. Call them today at 804-514-4610 to discuss landscaping needs and dreams and let them help make it a reality.

About Follow Media Consulting, Inc.

Named one of the best SEO companies by Jonas Marketing, Follow Media Consulting, Inc. is a rapidly growing worldwide firm of SEO, Social Media, and Mobile Marketing Professionals. Follow Media Consulting, Inc. headquarters is located in Richmond, VA. However, our professional team is networked across the world, with regional offices across the United States, in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, South Africa, the Philippines, and India.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/2/prweb10438910.htm

In his award-winning book, “Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains,” botanist and author Tim Spira, Ph.D., brings to light the tapestry of plant life native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. His book organizes plants into natural communities in an effort to connect the public’s growing understanding of the environment and how all parts of the natural world are mutually dependent.

What: Practical information about using native plants in the home landscape to get more birds, butterflies, biodiversity, beauty and a healthy environment with less watering, maintenance, lawn area and chemicals

Who: Organized by the Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones

When: Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Where: Chattanooga State Community College Humanities Building Auditorium, 4501 Amnicola Highway

How much: $40 for Wild Ones members, $50 for nonmembers before March 1; $60 after March 1 (lunch is included with ticket price) 

For more information: Click here

Spira, a plant ecologist and native plant gardener who teaches botany at Clemson University, will discuss his book as the keynote speaker during the Native Plant and Natural Landscaping Symposium, which will take place on Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga State Humanities Auditorium.

Organized by the Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones, the Native Plant and Natural Landscaping Symposium will provide information about using native plants in residential, public and commercial landscapes to support birds, butterflies, biodiversity, beauty and a healthy environment with less watering, maintenance, lawn area and chemicals.

“The use of native plants is becoming a nationwide trend as more and more people take a sustainable approach to landscaping,” master gardener Sally Wencel, vice president of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones, said. “Gardeners can really make a big difference in preserving and creating wildlife habitat through the use of native wildflowers, shrubs and trees.”

The symposium is part of Wild Ones’ mission to promote environmentally sound landscaping practices to save biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities. Event organizers aim to highlight the diversity of native plant life found in the Cumberland Plateau region, one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world.

“The native wildflowers of Southeast Tennessee often represent the southernmost range of wildflowers found in the North and the northernmost range of wildflowers found in the South,” Wencel said.

Sponsored by the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center, the Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals, the Master Gardeners of Hamilton County and Chattanooga State Community College, the following educational sessions will be offered during the event:

Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachians: Keynote speaker Dr. Tim Spira, author of  “Wildflowers and Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains,” will explain native plant life in the area and how plant communities support each other and reduce the need for constant intervention. He will also provide information about wildflowers that make an attractive addition to woodland wildflower landscapes.

Building a Native Plant Garden: Native Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines in the Urban Environment: Leon Bates—a forester, biologist, botanist and urban forester/horticulturist—will demonstrate how native trees, shrubs and vines provide basic building blocks for a sustainable and enjoyable urban or suburban yard.

Great Native Perennials for Your Garden: Andy Sessions, owner of Sunlight Gardens, will discuss native perennials, which offer beauty, low maintenance, flower and foliage integrity, profuse blooming, and insect and disease resistance.

Gardening for Nature—Promoting Biodiversity at Home: Plant ecologist Lisa Wagner, director of education at the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University, will discuss the use of native plants to encourage birds, butterflies and other creatures to visit and live in the regional landscape.

Managing Invasive Exotic Plants in a Natural Landscape: Cherie Cordell, biological science technician with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has many years of experience in invasive pest plant control and will provide best practices for maintaining a natural landscape.

Symposium speakers will also participate in a group question-and-answer session dealing with gardening challenges in the Tennessee Valley. A selection of native plants will be available for sale from Overhill Gardens of Vonore, Tenn., and Sunlight Gardens of Andersonville, Tenn.

“The symposium is open to anyone who is interested in providing habitat in their yard by putting in a few native wildflowers, shrubs and trees,” Wencel said. “The most sustainable approach to your landscape is a natural approach.”

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Native Plant and Natural Landscaping Symposium, visit http://www.chattanooganatives.blogspot.com/p/tim-spira-to-speak-at-tvwo-native-plant.html.

Jenni Frankenberg Veal is a freelance writer and naturalist living on Walden’s Ridge, whose writing interests include conservation, outdoor travel and sustainable living. Visit her blog at www.YourOutdoorFamily.com.