Download - President's WVNLA lends a helping hand Message · to a two-pot system years ago, allowing him to ... boxwoods, barberries, hollies. Most prefer plants that consistently perform well

Summer 2014

August 2014

Greetings.I sit at my desk and enjoy the

many honeybees and goldfinchesthat feed on the runaway cupplant, Silphium perfoliatum.I love the plant, though it is one

you need to keep under control. Anative to thetall grassprairie, ittowers at overeight feet, likemany of theplants in theprairie. Thebees pollinate,the goldfinches

harvest the seeds and I have seenwarblers drink from the cups thathold water, formed by the joiningof two leaves at the stem. It issmall wonders like this that makeme realize why I make my livingin the plant world.I have been placing orders for

bulbs, both for my clients and myown garden. Every spring I notewhat I feel is missing from thebulb palette and try to fill it income fall. This year there will behundreds of blue and whiteSpanish Bluebells, Hyacinthoideshispanica. In my woodland I usethe smaller but charming EnglishBluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Their subtle beauty workswell there among ferns and springephemerals.We recently had a WVNLA

Board meeting in Sutton, a small,sleepy town in Braxton County.(Continued on page 3.)

President'sMessage

A mobile agricultural science lab, school landscape awardprogram and horticulture research all benefited fromWVNLA’s board members’ decisions at the July 23 boardmeeting to fund their organizations.

Mark Riggleman, program coordinator of the WV FarmBureau Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab, said WVNLA’s $1,000contribution will help keep the lab on the road as it travels toelementary schools throughout the state.

Instructors in the 40-foot lab bring agricultural andhorticultural lessons and experiments to schoolchildren, withthe goal of interesting students at a young age in horticulture,gardening and farming.

“We set up on their school grounds for a week at a timeteaching students agriculture-related lessons throughscientific explorations using the scientific method,” Rigglemansaid in his application. Leaders read ag-related books toyounger students and follow up with hands-on activities thatreinforce the lessons.

The program also emphasizes the value of landstewardship and natural resource conservation.

WVNLA’s donation will be recognized in an inscribedplaque inside the lab.

Board members also voted to fund a school landscapingaward given through West Virginia Garden Club, Inc. Theaward is given to a garden club whose members haveachieved excellence with a landscaping project for a publicschool.

WVNLA both renewed its membership in and made anadditional donation to the Horticulture Research Institute. Inrecent years, the institute has provided funding for researchprojects and scholarships and has worked to guide USDAfunds toward Boxwood Blight research.

WVNLA lends a helping hand

Schoolchildren listen to "The Tree Farmer" as they sit in front ofindividual experiment stations inside the Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab.

West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association www.wvnla.org Summer 2014

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ST MARYS, WV -- When they hit the “emptynester” stage in the 1980s, Danny and DonnaDavis found themselves with some extra time ontheir hands. They eschewed the classic time-filling options such as hobbies and travel for amore productive option. They started a nurserynear their St. Marys home.

Both kept their day jobs, Danny asMaintenance Superintendent at Pleasants PowerStation and Donna as a teacher, but they alsocarved out time to slowly expand Davis Nurseries,a business they started on a shoestring in 1981.

“We had kids in school. There was no moneyto invest. Somebody would give us a cutting andwe would propagate it. We started cuttings fromplants at home,” Danny said. “We’d hunt aroundin the woods for things to dig up. Those were goodtimes.”

Today Davis Nurseries sits on 12 acres alongthe Ohio River, just north of St. Marys. Elevenpolyhouses protect the nursery stock from theharshest of winter’s conditions. The resultingplants suffer less damage and are therefore moresaleable in the spring.

Danny switched from growing trees in-groundto a two-pot system years ago, allowing him tosafely pull out the trees and sell year round. Hedeters deer from them using a trick he picked upat WVNLA’s Winter Symposium years ago. Heties empty plastic pots around the trees’ trunks.The deer stay away.

Before theystarted thenursery, theDavises’landscapingefforts centeredon their homes,first in Fairmontand later in St.Marys. A series ofgardeningcourses in the1970s conductedby West VirginiaUniversityExtension Servicein Fairmont

provided Danny with some guidance.“I figured out I was doing everything wrong. I

started paying attention as I landscaped ourhome. Pretty soon, people were asking for ouradvice,” he said.

He enjoys experimenting with propagationand said he has gained an unexpected benefitfrom it. “It teaches me patience, which I probablyneeded to learn,” he said. “I try something andhave to wait a year to see how it works. Thatrequires patience.”

Like many nursery and garden center owners,Danny says customers buy lots of tried-and-true –boxwoods, barberries, hollies. Most prefer plantsthat consistently perform well and suffer less fromdeer damage. But hestocks much morethan that. Wanderalong the rows andsee flowering shrubsthat are Danny’sfavorites. Customerscome from wellbeyond St Marys –Belmont, NewMartinsville,Pennsboro andEllenboro.

After he retiredfrom the powercompany 18 yearsago, Danny was ableto really concentrateon the nursery andplans to continue thebusiness as long as health allows.

Contact Davis Nurseries at 304-684-2324 oremail [email protected].

Danny Davis scoops soil thathe mixes on site in an oldcement mixer (behind him)purchased for that purpose.

Davis Nurseries includes a garden center withsome annuals, but most of the stock is shrubs andtrees.

Plastic pots tied on thetrees discourage deer.

Member focus

Propagate and protect are bywords at Davis Nurseries

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The 2010 census notes a population of 994. Beforethe meeting, we all sat overlooking the banks of theElk River. It wasdifficult to goindoors. Thebulk of themeeting wasspent indiscussion aboutsupporting theWV BotanicGarden byunderwritingconsultants tohelp them moveforward withtheir masterplan. Thebotanic gardenboard memberswill be selectinga candidate tobring in for aninterview and

President's message(Continued from page 1.)

Birds and bees flock to Silphiumperfoliatum, or Cup Plant.

FAIRLEA, WV -- Visitors to the Arts and CraftsTent at the State Fair of West Virginia walkedthrough entrances softened by landscapingprovided by Cole Nurseries, Greenbrier ValleyDreamscapes, Groundworks and Tally HoLandscaping. The four companies combined effortsto landscape either side of both entrances, creatingfour “plantings” of weeping purple beech,hydrangea and hosta.Appreciation goes to Chris Chanlett of

Groundworks, Norman Cole of Cole Nurseries,Rudy Horst of Tally Ho Landscaping, and CurtisDowdy of Greenbrier Valley Dreamscapes for theirtime and efforts. The Arts and Crafts Tent is oneof the most popular and heavily trafficked areason the fairgrounds. Special thanks goes to Chris,who organized the effort among the fourcompanies.

Greenspaces enhancestate fair tent entrances

we have selected Bill Noble, who recently retiredfrom The Garden Conservancy, as a secondcandidate to interview. Both will share theirobservations, and one will be selected.It is exciting to watch the botanic garden grow.

The dam at the garden is being breached and theSolar House that West Virginia University hasdonated will be moved onto the property soon.We are always looking for those who are

interested in joining WVNLA’s Board. We are avery diverse and committed group. The reward ofyour commitment is in seeing thingsaccomplished, not just discussed.Enjoy the end of summer!

Regards,

Bill MillsWVNLA President


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Grueber suggested that these “crossover plants”provide a smoother transition from the traditionalabrupt swing from winter to summer sales. Many

will bloom into fall. If theirlengthened bloom time does notextend into fall, they provide anopportunity for additional sales.

“Think of them as seasonal,disposable color,” he said.

Grueber said that the much-hypedDigiplexis, a shrubby foxglove lives upto expectations and performs well as acrossover plant, producing non-stop

flowers untila hard frost.

To viewdetails ofGrueber’spresentation,visitwvnla.organd click onCrossoverPlants, oremail [email protected] and request a copy.

COLUMBUS, OH -- Garry Grueber ofCultivaris urged audience members attending hispresentation at the Cultivate’14 in July toconsider cultivating“crossover plants” toboost early springsales. With the righttreatment, “halfhearty” perennials,plants such asErysimum,Pericallis,Calceolaria andPrimula, can be setout in full bloomweeks before thefrost date requiredof true annuals.

The key to theseearly blooms is togive them the coldshoulder, or exposethem to a chill periodof short-day, low-light conditions ofgenerally 6 to 8weeks, after they are planted in liners in latesummer/autumn and grown in greenhouses.

The process, called vernalization, gives theplant the ability to flower in the spring, byexposing it to prolonged cold (frost-free.) Whencreated artificially, the process allows growers tostock blooming annuals that should withstandcold outdoor temperatures and boost early springsales.

Primula 'Ooh La La' series is a good earlyspring container plant. Photo courtesy ofCultivaris.

Digiplexis 'Berry Canary.' Photocourtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' was named Plantof the Year 2012 at Chelsea Flower Show. Photocourtesy of Cultivaris.

Cross over to an early chill to heat up pre-Spring sales

Cultivaris suggested plants for"Crossover" success

Erysimum (wallflower)Pericallis (cineraria)Calceolaria (pocketbook plant)Leucanthemum (Moroccan daisy)Primula (primrose)Digiplexis (shrubby foxglove)

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Nearly 30 licensed pesticide applicatorsearned 11 hours of continuing education creditsduring a mid-summer session hosted by WVNLAin Flatwoods. The July 14 event featuredspeakers from West Virginia State University andWest Virginia University Extension Service aswell as from co-sponsor West VirginiaDepartment of Agriculture.

WVNLA members who attended tookadvantage of free admittance through the

membership, while non-members paid $50.Barbara Liedl, an associate research professor

of Plant Breeding and Genetics at WVSU, spokeon “Biocontrol Options in Protected Cultures” and“Pollinators and Neonicotinoids.” MahfuzRahman, a plant pathologist with WVUExtension Service, spoke on “DiseaseManagement in Turf and LandscapeOrnamentals.”

In the afternoon session, Daniel Frank, anentomologist with WVU Extension Service,”provided information on “Invasive Insect PestManagement in Landscape Plantings.” MiraDanilovich, who heads WVU Extension’sConsumer Horticulture program, gave a“Pesticide Safety Review,” with plenty of goodreminders about safety on the job.

Mike Arnold with WVDA’s Plant/PestRegulatory Programs, presented “Plant/PestRegulatory Changes,” with sobering reminders ofthe dangers of non-compliance such as thedevastation wrought by the Emerald Ash Borer

Plants, pests and pollinators took center stage at workshop

and the coming threat of Asia Long-hornedBeetles.

Doug Jolley,a plantregulatoryofficer withWVDA, finishedthe day with alook at “InvasivePlants in theLandscape.”Some may becontrolled whileothers such asthe dreadedkudzu are notdissuaded fromaggressivegrowth.

The next Pesticide Applicator’s RecertificationWorkshop sponsored by WVNLA will be held Jan.22, 2015, in Charleston.

WVU Extension Service will offer a session inMorgantown in October. Contact Daniel Frank at304-293-8835 or [email protected] for moreinformation on the Morgantown session.

Doug Jolley with WVDA presented informationon invasive plants.

As the not-so lazy days of summer slip away,pesticide applicators might take a minute to seeif they are up to date on continuing educationcredits required for certification -- if they can findtheir paperwork, that is.

If not, the West Virginia Department ofAgriculture invites you to visit the WVPlantswebsite, which will provide applicator’scertification status.

Visit https://portal.wvda.us/WVPlants/Index.aspx to get to the WVDA’s Regulatory andEnvironmental Division, and then click on thePesticide Programs to view your options. You’llneed a WVPlants ID number and PIN number,which may be obtained by contacting KathyMartin at [email protected] or 304-558-2209.

Once into the system, you can:• search for continuing education

courses,• request CEC credit for a meeting or

event,• check your current status.

WVPlants provides license check


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We are pleased to welcome Watkins Nurseriesin Midlothian, VA, to WVNLA as an AssociationMember. Founded in 1876, Watkins Nurseries is alandscape design build firm and wholesale growerof large field-grown plants. At Watkins Nurseries,trees and plants are propagated and grown on 750acres of farmland south and west of Richmond.

Watkins offers individual landscapeconsultation, design development, and completelandscape project bidding.

Watkins NurseriesRobert Watkins101 Dry Bridge RoadMidlothian, VA [email protected]

Congratulations to Norman Cole III of ColeNurseries in Pipestem, WV, who was elected as aSouthern Nursery Association officer. Norman willserve as Director, Chapter 1, for the 2014-2015year. He was elected at the Annual BusinessMeeting on July 24 in Atlanta.

Norman Cole named SNA officer

New member note

Watkins Nurseries, Midlothian, VA.

Earn the distinction of adding CertifiedProfessional Horticulturist to your qualificationsby preparing for and passing the exam, nextoffered by WVNLA on Jan. 22, 2015. A CPHdesignation indicates that the holder is a trainedhorticulture professional with demonstrableknowledge of the industry. He or she is qualifiedto offer sound scientific horticultural advice on avariety of industry-related subjects.

If you’d like to hit the books now and avoidcramming later, order a CPH manual for $50.This informative resource is an excellent studytool.

Topics covered include plant nomenclature,trees & shrubs, lawn establishment andmaintenance, interior and bedding plants,fertilizers, composting, insect, weed and diseasecontrol as well as landscape contracting andmanagement, and regulations.

Email [email protected] or call304-553-1234 or visit wvnla.org for additionalinformation.

Certified ProfessionalHorticulturist prep

Congratulations to Robert Barnitz, owner ofBob’s Market and Greenhouse in Mason, WV, whowas recently inducted in the West VirginiaAgriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame. Robertwas one of five inductees who were chosen for thehonor because of the outstanding contributionsthey have made to the establishment,development, advancement and improvement ofthe agricultural, forestry and family life of WestVirginia.

Other inductees were Mark Alan Metz(posthumously), Roscoe Kessler Plumley, RichardMcClung and and Jack Sturgill.

Robert Barnitz receives hallof fame honors

Upcoming eventsSept. 17 -- Greenhouse & Nursery Growers

Tour, Toledo, OH. onla.com.Sept. 24 -- A Gathering of Plantsmen,

Kirtland, OH. onla.org.Sept. 25 -- S. Carolina Nursery and Landscape

Fall Field Day, Columbia, SC. scnla.com.Oct. 25-29 -- International Plant Propagators'

Society Annual Meeting, Hickory, NC. ipps.org.Jan. 5-7 -- Green & Growin', Greensboro, NC.

ncnla.memberclicks.net.Jan. 7-9 -- CENTS, Columbus, OH. onla.org.Jan. 14-16 -- MANTS, Baltimore, MD.

mants.com.Jan. 22-23 -- Pesticide Applictor's

Recertification (Jan. 22) and WVNLA WinterSymposium (Jan. 23), Charleston, WV. wvnla.org.

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DANIELS, WV -- Golf Inc. recently awardedAspen Corporation, a WVNLA member in Daniels,WV, as Renovation Project of the Year. Thenational magazine selected Aspen’s renovation ofThe Country Club of Buffalo, NY, in the categoryof Projects Topping $1 Million.

Aspen Golf, a division of Aspen Corporation,specializes in golf course renovation, restorationand full-service golf course construction. It is oneof only 36 certified golf course constructioncompanies nationally.

The course at The Country Club of Buffalowas first designed by Donald Ross and opened in1926. A design architectural firm drew up plans torestore the Ross design, based on historic mapsand photographs. Aspen implemented the design,which included the restoration of original bunkersand fairways, recreation of greens and draining,irrigation and tree work.

Aspen has been involved in numerous historicgolf course restorations, so the company broughtthose experiences to the project, according toAspen Vice President Ronnie Adkins. Still, theyfaced more than a few obstacles along the way.

“Weather was quite a challenge at times asthe first phase went into late fall and of course,Buffalo winter can arrive early, as it did,” Ronniesaid. “Other challenges included getting an

enormous amount of restoration work completedin a relatively short time so the course could beutilized by its members.”

The Country Club of Buffalo project was alsoselected as Best in Show. The course remainedopen during the construction, as work was limited

to a few holes at a time.“Aspen is pleased and proud to have its work

recognized by industry peers and experts. It is verygratifying to our organization to be recognized for

our efforts and results on this project,” Ronniesaid. “This project was in competition with manyother U.S. and worldwide projects that were beingconsidered. We are humbled to have the project wedid to be selected as number one in its category,but also as Best in Show among all of the projectsbeing considered.”

Aspen Corporation has three divisions: AspenGolf, Aspen Irrigation and Aspen Landscape. Visitaspen-landscaping.com or aspen-golf.com.

Aspen historic renovation project hits a hole-in-one

Golf Inc. recently recognized the renovations at TheCountry Club of Buffalo, NY with a Best in Show award.

The deadline to renew annualmemberships, as set forth in WVNLAbylaws, has passed, but 2014-2015renewals and dues will still be accepted fora brief time. All members should havereceived a renewal letter with a self-addressed and stamped envelope enclosedfor your convenience. If you did not receiveone, please email [email protected] orcall 304-553-1234 to request one.

We appreciate all of our members andwant each one to enjoy the benefit of anaccurate listing in the Member Directory,which is distributed to potentialcustomers, and of free or reducedadmittance to Association events. Ensurethese benefits, as well as others, with yourmembership renewal.

Renewal reminder

A picture perfect day on the links.

West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association www.wvnla.org [email protected]


P.O. Box 20284Charleston, WV 25362

Winter Symposium Officers & Board of Directors

President:Bill Mills – [email protected]

Vice President:Norman Cole – [email protected]

Secretary:Tim Forren – [email protected]

Treasurer:Mark Springer – [email protected]

Past President:Pat Biafore – [email protected]

Board Members:Bud Cottrill – [email protected] Barnitz – [email protected] Bartholomew - [email protected] Chanlett – [email protected] Jett – [email protected] Saunders – [email protected]

Executive Director:Julie Robinson – [email protected]

Mark your calendars now for WVNLA’s 2015Winter Symposium on Jan. 23 at the Holiday Inn& Suites in South Charleston. We’re bringing top-notch speakers such as the team of Ed Laflammeand Bill Arman, two landscape and greenindustry business veterans who will present theirkeys to competitive success, and Kevin Kehoe whowill talk about successful job estimating andpricing and about managing costs and schedules.

Acclaimed garden designer andpreservationist Bill Noble, most recently of TheGarden Conservancy, and Tres Fromme, whosedesigns include Atlanta Botanical Gardens, TulsaBotanic Garden and Longwood Gardens’ 2000master plan, will get creative juices flowing, aswill other design-related speakers.

On Jan. 22, we’ll sponsor a PesticideApplicator’s Recertification Workshop, in thesame location.

Watch for upcoming registration details, butsave the dates Jan. 22 and 23 now.