Container Garden Contest April 1 through October 15, Jefferson City MO

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY


Show off your small garden in a big way by entering the Grow Native! Container Garden Contest.

It’s easy. Send your name, address, e-mail address, telephone number and photos of your container garden (taken throughout the growing season—no more than three) to Grow Native! P.O. Box 630 Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Or enter electronically by sending the same information to grownative@mda.mo.gov.

Also include a list of plants used in the container and their source (retail garden center, neighbor, specialty shop, wherever).
All entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, October 15, 2008.
Three winners will be selected. Each winner will receive a bundle of prizes that include:

• a $100 gift certificate for use at a Grow Native! retail garden center (provided by Kansas City Gardener and The Gateway Gardener),
• copies of Tried and True: Missouri Native Plants for Your Yard, Seedling ID Guide for Native Prairie Plants and Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People
• a Grow Native! gardening wardrobe (hat, apron, t-shirt and vest)
• four free admissions to Powell Gardens or Shaw Nature Reserve
• a profile of you and your container garden in the Kansas City Gardener or The Gateway Gardener and on the Grow Native! Web site.

Containers will be judged on visual appeal, length of bloom time and plant selection (color combinations, textures, heights).
For more information click here

STLCC, Missouri Botanical Garden Partner to Offer Scholarship Program in Horticulture

In an effort to attract a more diverse pool of job seekers to the field of horticulture, the Missouri Botanical Garden has partnered with the St. Louis Community College Foundation to establish a scholarship program in horticulture
The scholarship is renewable each year as long as a student maintains a grade-point average of 2.5 or higher, demonstrates satisfactory academic performance and satisfactory internship performance at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Additionally, the Missouri Botanical Garden will provide a paid part-time internship to allow students to gain hands-on experience.
"We are delighted to be partnering with the Missouri Botanical Garden," said Paul Pai, STLCC-Meramec president. "St. Louis Community College is committed to providing accessible education to all who can benefit from it. As affordable as we are, many students still need financial assistance, and this new scholarship provides a great opportunity for them to pursue their goals through work and study."
STLCC-Meramec’s program teaches students the science and art of horticulture through a combination of classroom theory, laboratory practice and on-the-job training. Students are trained in the college’s greenhouses, outdoor nursery facilities, laboratories and lath houses.
"Our program graduates find challenging careers in a variety of areas that are both locally and globally relevant," said Paul Roberts, director of Meramec’s horticulture program.
Students may specialize in nursery management, interior landscape design and maintenance, greenhouse management, horticulture retail sales, commercial grounds management and urban forestry. Graduates are trained for jobs with state and city park departments, nurseries, landscape contracting firms, golf courses and retail sales.
For more information click here

Pest Alert: Euonymous scale

Adult females are about 1-2 mm –grey-brown in color, and oystershell in shape. Adult males are smaller, elongate, and white. Crawlers are yellowish-orange and difficult to see clearly without a magnifying lens. Infestations are first visible as yellowish-white spots on the leaves, and heavy infestations can cause a whitewashed appearance on the plant.

All varieties of Euonymous (including Burning Bush, Wintercreeper, and the Variegated Eounymous bushes) are attacked by this insect. Other known hosts are hollies, camellias, privets, honeysuckle, and others. Damage is caused to the plant by piercing-sucking mouth parts of crawlers (nymphs) and adults, and often infest heavily enough to cause leaf drop. Continuous leaf drop leads to the death of the plant.

Fertilized adults will overwinter on the stems, eggs beneath the female shell hatch over several weeks (usually late May-early June) and nymphs disperse by crawling or being blown in the wind. They mature in about 6 weeks, adults produce eggs again, and the second generation crawlers appear in late July-mid August.

Control is best when applied during the crawler stages. Prune and destroy heavily infested plant parts, or remove the entire plant (including roots).

There is also a Winged Euonymous scale which are darker in color, and more closely resemble the oystershell scale. This scale can be found more commonly on E. alatus, E. fortunei, Pachysandra, Salix and Cornus; and had been found attacking the same plants as the Euonymous scale, making identification and control more challenging.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) announces that President Bush signed H.R. 1268, the "Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act," which provides funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill also contains the "Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005," which would provide cap exemptions for service sector guest workers who participated in the H-2B visa program in any of the last three years.
"This legislation was made possible by the tireless grass roots efforts of ANLA members and other service sector employers," said John Meredith, ANLA's director of legislative relations. According to Meredith, "this legislation rewards those firms relying on the only legal channel to obtain seasonal help." The passage of the H-2B legislation means that employers will have access to a foreign labor "safety net" despite the 66,000 worker cap being hit in January of 2005. Employers depend on these seasonal workers to make up shortfalls in the domestic workforce.
Chick here for more information or visit Save Small Business- www.savesmallbusiness.org

MLNA GREEN LEADER Loma Vista accepts the challenge

Ottawa, Kansas - This spring, Loma Vista Nursery launches a company wide “green initiative” with the goal of implementing more sustainable business practices. Spear heading their “green initiative” is Loma Vista Nursery’s Pot Return Program. This program encourages local customers to recycle their empty plastic container pots by returning them to Loma Vista in one of two ways. Loma Vista has set up collection bins at their Landscape Distribution Center in Olathe, KS for customers to drop off empty container pots during normal hours of operation.

In addition to the drop off location, Loma Vista Nursery offers a collection service to select local customers. To date, the participating businesses include Kokopelli Nursery, Curby’s Lawn and Garden, and Northstar Garden Center.

The majority of containers collected will be reused. Those that aren’t will be recycled. Loma Vista has joined forces with a company that collects their unusable container pots and their used greenhouse plastic and turns it into usable plastic for various items.

Loma Vista’s commitment doesn’t end at plastics. They have put into practice a company wide recycling program that includes recycling of paper products, cardboard, and aluminum in addition to plastics.

Loma Vista Nursery is a wholesale nursery specializing in high quality, cold hardy plant material. They produce containerized plants and field grown trees for retailers, wholesale distributors, and landscapers across the Midwest.
Founded in 1991 by Mark Clear, Loma Vista Nursery is family owned and operated. Their 310 acre container production nursery is located in Ottawa, Kansas, just 40 minutes south of Kansas City. They have over 650 acres of in ground tree production just 20 minutes west of the container nursery in Baldwin City and Willow Springs, Kansas. Loma Vista Nursery also maintains a full service Landscape Distribution Center in Olathe, Kansas, to meet the needs of their local customers.

Bailey Nurseries, Welcomes MLNA Past President As New Sales Representative

St. Paul, Minn. (Spring 2008) Bailey Nurseries welcomes Bill Harbstreet as sales representative for AK, KS, MO, Southern IL, and the Quad Cities area. Bill comes to us with over 20 years of experience in the nursery industry. Bill’s experience includes retail sales, wholesale purchasing and operations/senior management. Bill has been very active in the Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association, serving on the board as well as President n 2004. We are excited at the experience Bill brings to Bailey’s. Bill can be reached at: Office 660-638-4514, Fax 660-638-4515, Cell 816-813-6661.

Bailey Nurseries is a family-owned wholesale nursery with home offices in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is among the top wholesale nurseries in the United States and provides industry members throughout the U.S. and Canada with a full line of bareroot and container-grown plants from Bailey’s properties in Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.

For more information on Bailey Nurseries, log on to our web sites at: http://www.baileynurseries.com/, http://www.endlesssummerblooms.com/, http://www.easyeleganceroses.com/ and http://www.newgrowthmarketing.com/

###

Why professionals hire an Arborist for projects

An arborist is a specialist in the care of individual trees and are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. Hiring an arborist shows you have considered the best management practice for your customer. Tree care decisions should not be taken lightly. Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Well-cared-for trees are living advertisement o f your quality of work that will add considerable value to your client's property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees.

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/hire_arborist.aspx

Invitation extended from Bowood Farms to MLNA members and friends

June Hutson, one of our all-time favorite container-garden experts, is giving two wonderful workshops on containers this Saturday afternoon at Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive Street in the Central West End.
Come hear her talk about container-gardening trends, about container tricks of the trade and about her own container work in and around the Kemper Center for Home Gardening as well as on grounds of the U.S.
Botanic Garden last year. Meanwhile, June will help you design your own special container, with seven annual plants of your choosing from the Bowood supply, plus potting soil and a deep, 10-inch plastic drop-in pot for popping into your own favorite container. The cost of the workshop is $48.
To register, please call Bowood at 314-454-6868. And go online -- to http://www.blogger.com/www.bowoodfarms.com -- for more information or for a map to the garden center!
Spread the word! June's dynamic wisdom on the topic should not be missed!

MLNA Matchmaker connects you to the plants and green industry services you need to make your business grow

University of Missouri Plant Clinic

Cool wet weather may result in an increase in plant disease problems this spring, particularly fungal and bacterial diseases that thrive during these conditions. After last spring’s unusual freeze, as well as droughts, flooded soils, ice storms and other stressful environmental conditions over the past few years, we may also see an increase in other plant stress related problems including root rots, cankers, insect infestations such as bark beetles and borers, and other issues. Recently in the diagnostic clinic we have received an influx of samples that have been submitted from severely stressed pines and other conifers that have turned yellow and brown over the winter. In some cases the problems are related to environmental conditions and little can be done to save the tree. In other cases treatable diseases are present. Proper disease identification and careful timing of treatment applications can make a difference in protecting susceptible plants from damage, especially in a year with favorable conditions for disease development. The time for treatment applications for some of these diseases may occur within the next few weeks.

Sample submission to the diagnostic clinic can provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your plant problems and management recommendations. Please refer to the sample submission section of our website http://soilplantlab.missouri.edu/plant/index.htm or contact us for more information on sample submission. See Pest Alert for weekly "pertinent posts"
Simeon Wright, MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic 573-882-0623

MLNA member, Powell Gardens celebrates Missouri Arbor Day by partnering in “Go Green” carbon conscious initiative with KMOS TV and 90.9 the Bridge

For Immediate Release:

MLNA member, Powell Gardens celebrates Missouri Arbor Day by partnering in “Go Green” carbon conscious initiative with KMOS TV and 90.9 The Bridge April 4th, 2008.

MLNA Executive Director, MaryAnn Fink joined Powell Garden staff, volunteers and this year’s honorees , the members of KMOS TV and 90.9 The Bridge to celebrate Missouri Arbor Day. The day was celebrated by planting a grove of 27 lindens (Tilia spp). KMOS TV and 90.9 The Bridge. By harnessing the support of contributing members, the stations have join forces with Powell Gardens to finance an innovative project that will create an ongoing effort to reduce the “carbon footprint” of the stations. “KMOS-TV viewers and 90.9 The Bridge listeners are being given the opportunity to chip in an extra $5 with their membership contributions,” said Donald W. Peterson, director of Broadcasting Services at UCM. “Each contribution will be used to plant trees, under the supervision and direction of the experts at Powell Gardens.”The “Go Green” initiative kicks off in August during KMOS-TV’s membership drive. “We’re happy to be partnering with UCM’s public broadcasting stations,” said Eric Tschanz, president and executive director of Powell Gardens. “The additional funds will be used to incorporate more seedling and sapling planting projects in Powell Gardens’ educational programs. This will have the added benefit of teaching children the value of reducing carbon in the atmosphere.” Lindens are wonderful choice for carbon banking in Missouri because linden trees also have very nectar rich flowers in late spring-early summer when there is a lull of flowering. The flowers are important for our declining honeybee populations as well as for a plethora of other pollinators and beneficial insects. (Remember how important these creatures are to pollinating our fruits and vegetables that we all too often take for granted!) They make a fine honey and the blossoms are listed as edible, especially used for teas. Powell Garden, MLNA Green Leader has taken an active role planting carbon-reducing trees which will help maintain the natural environment for generations of viewers and listeners. Powell Gardens' Director Eric Tschanz (right) and Senior Gardener Janet Heter place the first shovel of soil. Janet led the program with her

"Top Ten Reasons to Celebrate Arbor Day:"10. Trees are TREEific. 9. Trees provide a cool and beautiful place to live, work and play. 8. Trees improve our air and water quality. 7. Trees are renewable resources for paper, fuel and countless wood products. 6. Trees reduce heating and cooling costs. 5. Trees increase property values. 4. Trees provide habitat for wildlife. 3. Trees are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. 2. Trees enrich our lives. 1. PLANT a TREE! Janet closed with this poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes:"When we plant a tree we are doing what we can to make our planet a more wholesome and happier dwelling place for those who come after us, if not for ourselves."
For more information about Powell Garden visit http://www.powellgardens.org/

The Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association, founded in 1921, is a not-for-profit professional trade association representing the green industry throughout Missouri. Its mission is to enhance the success of its members through knowledge, advocacy and communication. It promotes horticulture education, professionalism, integrity, and environmental stewardship.

Welcome New MLNA Member Dr. Mark Goodwin Let us know if we can help

The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO is currently in the process of establishing an arboretum on the Warrensburg campus. Funds have been secured to establish a marked tree and shrub trail. Over 100 different species of trees and woody shrubs have been identified on the campus which will be marked with signs identifying both the common and latin names. A brochure is also being developed to give additional interesting information about each woody plant. The purpose of the arboretum is to enhance the beauty of the campus, to provide educational and research opportunities for both students and faculty, and to educate the public regarding woody plants suitable for Missouri landscapes. Work on the initial tree trail is expected to be completed this summer.

The HortClubPlantSale Picture is from the Plant Sale which the UCM Horticulture Club Sponsored this Spring. The funds raised from this plant sale are used for educational and social trips and service learning projects. The service project the Horticulture Club has chosen this year is to install landscape plants at the first Habitat Humanity House built by the Johnson County Habitat for Humanity.
The second picture is of Students from the Residential Landscape Design Class at UCM. Students not only learn how to design landscapes but they also install what they design which helps them learn what works in a landscape and what doesn't work.

Becky Homan MLNA member and Green Leader reaches out to publicl

The Missouri Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in
the Show-Me State
Author: Becky Homan
Pages: 198
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
Price: $14.95
Reviewer: MaryAnn Fink

While some gardeners checked their yards for the birth of new plants
and other’s browsed the quickly filling tables at retail garden centers
for nursery news and spring surprises, I have been expecting the
arrival of my friend’s first book, sure to be a horticulture treasure.
When the moment finally arrived, I felt like a family relative,
welcoming this slightly overdue but finished project with a happy
heart. And the book didn't let me down.
Becky Homan’s gift with words shines through in her new, "The Missouri
Gardener’s Companion," as she proceeds with a check list of gardening
challenges in the state. Her honest assessment of this transitional
area would be daunting if not followed by an almost simple-sounding
collection of good advice, useful strategies and cultural instructions
for successful lawns and gardens.
With GPS accuracy she guides the reader through challenging topics such
as Missouri’s many soil types, with easy-to-grasp scientific sources
for help. Midwest climate and water issues get addressed, too, with
information on how some areas have managed their water
priorities. Statistics showing that rain gardens absorb as much as 30%
more water than comparable parcels of flat turf are followed with the
story of Kansas City’s 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative.
Nuggets of other shared wisdom such as St. Louis master gardener Alma
Reitz’s advice on how to "be ruthless" when managing an overgrown or
faltering garden are tucked generously among twelve, easy to read
chapters, filled with specific plant selection information, cultural
details, a basic glossary of terms, an assortment of resource lists and
a useful index.
This is a great plant-specific primer -- larger than pocket size but
not overwhelming -- for the newbie gardener as well as for those who
want to compare notes with garden gurus across the state. Reading this
book is the best of all worlds because it's like catching up with all
my favorite gardening experts while also getting tips from them and, in
the bargain, taking an inspiring trip across Missouri.

Becky Homan will sign her book, "The Missouri Gardener’s Companion," at
various events across the state. In St. Louis, there's a signing
on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Missouri
Botanical Garden's Garden Gate Shop, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, during the
St. Louis Herb Society's popular, annual herb sale. And on Saturday,
May 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., just before Mother's Day, at Bowood Farms,
4605 Olive Street (between Euclid and Taylor avenues) in the Central
West End. For more information, go to http://www.beckyhoman.com.

[MaryAnn Fink is a garden writer, conservation specialist,
environmental horticulture consultant and ambassador for the National
Wildlife Federation. A St Louis native, she speaks on a variety of
subjects including butterfly gardening, natural gardening and
horticulture plant research. Her own Web site is http://www.maryannfink.com.