spring 2004 the ecological landscaper newsletter

8/6/2019 Spring 2004 The Ecological Landscaper Newsletter

1/16

The idea of growing things on aroof has always intrigued me.Can anybody do it? What does it

take, and why dont we do it now?After all, the pioneer sodbusters grewgrass on their cabin roofs, and Europehas all kinds of roof plantings, bothon humble farmhouses and ultra-modern commercial buildings.

So I was glad to see that our ELAwinter conference included two talkson the subject: DavidBeatties on the fundamen-tals of green roof systems,and Robert HermansPlanting the Green Roof:Right Plant, Right Place.Beattie, from Penn State,focused on the environmental, eco-nomic and social benefits of roof gar-dens, and the general types of plantsthat do best in roof gardens, while

Herman, an independent consultanton green roofs, concentrated more on

installation requirements, substratematerials, and particular plants forvarious depths of substrate.

The good news from each talk isthat the long-neglected and misun-derstood practice of planting ourrooftops is enjoying more and moreacceptance in this country. In Europeand especially Germanythe ideais booming. In some cities like Stutt-gardt, roof gardens are required on

all new commercial buildings, prima-rily as a means of reducing runoffand flooding, and secondarily as ameans of saving energy.

A more detailed look at these bene-fits shows us that eco-roofs mitigate

stormwater runoff by as much as50%. Acid rain is buffered by thegrowing medium, and nitrogen andparticulate runoff is also low. Roof-scapes lengthen the life of a roof to asmuch as 40 years, and they moderatetemperatures to such a degree thatcommercial building owners canreduce both their air conditioningand heating costs. In one temperaturestudy where the ambient air tempera-

ture was 90F, the temper-ature of gravel was 119F,of polypropylene was145F, and the tempera-ture of the Sedum spuriumon the roof garden was82F.

The bad news is that retrofittingexisting buildings (especially residen-tial ones) with roof gardens is notencouraged. Working with a struc-

tural engineer is essential in anyRoofcontinued on page 4

Roof gardening: the wave of the future?by Natalie Delvaille

EcologicalL A N D S C A P E RT H E

Because land doesnt come with an owners manual

D E P A R T M E N T S

2 Editors two cents

8 ELA news

12 Plucked from the headlines

14 Invasives watch

14 Resources

15 Unclassifieds

16 Events

F E A T U R E S

5 Hold the fertilizer, please

6 Plant health care

7 The cicadas are coming!

11 On these grounds a sense of history prevails

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPING ASSOCIATION VOL. 11, NO. 1 SPRING 2004

ComingSoon:ELAsNewand

ImprovedWebsite,

ecolandscaping.org

Editors note: The popularity of green roofs has been growing inthe U.S. as well as elsewhere. This article gives some of the high-lights of two presentations on green roofs from this years ELAwinter conference. Additional green roof resources were given inthe Spring 2003 issue of The Ecological Landscaper.

T


2/16

The trend seems clear in recent years: Towns,counties, and even countries have increas-ingly been considering or enacting bans andregulations on pesticides and even some fertil-izers, both in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Some examples:

In a ruling resulting from challenges to a locallaw brought by lawn companies ChemLawnand SprayTech, Canadas Supreme Court, inJune of 1991, upheld the right of municipalitiesto ban cosmetic or aesthetic, residential

use of pesticides. The Montreal suburb of Hud-son had been the first in Canada to prohibitlawn pesticides. Notably, the high court, forthe first time, cited the Precautionary Prin-ciplewhich basically states its better to besafe than sorryin its decision. Dozens ofcities and towns across Canada have sinceenacted similar regulations.

Montreal is in the process of developing andimplementing laws to severely restrict pesti-

cides on residential properties. Exceptionsare made for swimming pools and decorativeponds, agricultural properties, golf courses,botanical gardens, to control infestations, andfor some structural pests.

In 1996, San Fransisco enacted laws severelyrestricting pesticide use and requiring imple-mentation of IPM programs by city agenciesand departments.

As of September 2003, after finding amounts ofthe pesticide in water supplies which exceeded

permissible limits, Denmark banned the use ofglyphosate herbicides in certain situations.Glyphosate (active ingredient in Roundup andother, non-selective herbicides) had been themost-used herbicide by farmers, and its usehad doubled in recent years. Denmark hasbanned or restricted a number of pesticides,and has considered a total pesticide ban.

Right-to-know laws, requiring neighbor orabutter notification of pesticide useboth by

2

Talk to us. We welcome your comments, letters, articles,ideas, and opinions. Address all newsletter correspondence,submissions, and address corrections to: Newsletter, 6 Mead-owbrook Lane, Ashland, MA 01721; (508) 881-1517

(phone/fax); e-mail: ELBacktalk@ aol.com. Send all other ELAbusiness to the Concord address above.

The ELA board meets throughout the year in various loca-tions in eastern Massachusetts. All members are welcome.Contact us for specific dates and locations.Use of proprietary product or manufacturer names is for informational

purposes and is not intended to constitute or imply any endorsement

or warranty by ELA. We strive to present accurate and reliable informa-

tion, however, ELA assumes no responsibility for any claims made or for

results obtained from any procedures described in the articles we

print. Unless described as such, opinions expressed in the newsletter

do not necessarily represent those of ELAs directors, staff, or members.

ELA Board of DirectorsPresident: Chris OBrien

Treasurer: Tom Sheehan

Recording Secretary: Sue Storer

M.L. Altobelli Nancy Askin Don BishopAndrea Knowles Bob Levite James Marzilli

Nick Novick Chris OBrien Cathy Rooney Tom Smarr Kathy Sargent-ONeill

Diane Syverson Bruce Wenning

Administrative Assistant: Pat MacAlpine

NewsletterEditorial Director: Nick NovickProduction Editor: Joy Buslaff

Gramma said when you come on something good, first thing to do is share it with whoever you can find;

that way the good spread out where no telling it will go. Which is right.

Little Tree in The Education of Little Tree, by Forrest Carter

The Ecological Landscaperis published by the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA).Subscriptions are a benefit of membership in ELA. For more information about ELA, contact:

ELA, 60 Thoreau Street, #252, Concord, MA 01742-2456, (617)436-5838

Or check our Web site at: www.ecolandscaping.org (Members section password: elapost)

Editors two cents

Municipal bans and regulations;

painting with too broad a brush?

If you are a

gardener, you

can always put

'Plant Manager'

on your

resum.

anonymous


3/16

professional applicators and homeownershave been enacted or considered in manyplaces. Some states, such as New York, requirenotification of all neighboring dwellings withina certain distance of the targeted property;other states such as Wisconsin and Louisiana,have a partially voluntary system, where those

wishing to be notified must first sign onto aregistry.

Earlier this year, motivated by a desire toreduce nutrient pollution of surface waters, theMadison, Wis., City Council passed a measureprohibiting the sale of fertilizers with morethan a trace of phosphorous, except in certaininstances, such as in cases where soils could beshown to be deficient.

In a related matter, last month MendocinoCounty, Calif., voters passed Measure H whichbans the growing or raising of genetically

engineered crops and animals in the county.

As one might expect, commercial lawn carecompanies and pesticide manufacturers havebeen fighting these bans. Somewhat disingenu-ously, they argue that judicious use of somematerials should be allowed, conveniently for-getting or ignoring the fact that their scheduledapplication programs are anything but judicious.And it has been the widespread and often un-necessary use of pesticides by these companieswhich have cause the problems which have leadto these bans.

That saidand though it may sound contra-dictory coming from someone who calls himselfan ecological landscaperim not sure thatblanket bans are the best solution to pesticidemisuse problems. Ironically, perhaps, there is anargument to be made for authentically judicioususe of some synthetic materials on a case-by-casebasis. Bans may prevent such uses or make themso expensive as to be impractical.

Devils may lie in the details of some of theseregulations. For example, the exceptions allowedfor in some bans dont seem to include cases

where re-establishing native plants is a designpriority. That process usually begins with elimi-nating existing, nonnative vegetation. Althoughthis can be accomplished in a number of ways, alow-impact herbicide is often the most effectiveand economically efficient way to do it.

Some bans allow organic materials, yetorganic protocol prohibits some very useful andeffective materials with minimal environmentalor health impacts. And, there are some problemsfor which there is no good organic solution.

Do exceptions written into the laws allow forprotecting valuable plants from pests such ashemlock wooly adelgid?

Do laws ban all chemicals, regardless of theirdocumented potential to cause health problems?Some newer classes of chemicals are docu-mented to be less likely to cause environmental

or health problems. Will the laws be revised tokeep up with newly released materials?

Notification laws can add significant time andexpense for landscape professionals, even thosewho only use chemicals carefully, as a last resort,and choose materials with the lowest potential tocause health or environmental problems. Small,conscientious applicators are, arguably, less ableto absorb these increased costs than larger, mass-marketed companies.

Its unfortunate that the long-standing irre-sponsibility of the large chemical manufacturersand lawncare companies have driven events tothis point. Their profit-driven programs whichover-apply toxins have resulted in a situationwhere those who use pesticides in a restrainedand careful way are going to have to deal withthe consequences of their actions.

Nick Novick

3

Devils may lie

in the details

of some

of these

regulations.


4/16

Roofcontinued from page 1event. The problem, of course, is the weight. Aroof must support the weight of the medium orsubstrate, the plants, and the water at maximumsaturation. And most green roofs (usually theseare flat in commercial buildings) require elabo-

rate irrigation and drainage systems. Hermansuggested that if we try one ourselves, we do soon a garage or upscale garden shed.

Soil requirements for a roof are stringent.The growing medium must be 80-85% mineraland 15-20% organic matter and have enoughorganic fertilizer to get started; that is, onepound of nitrogen per thousand square feet.And on average, the medium needs to be porousenough to provide a ratio of 40% water to 20%air. Ideal substrate materials are expanded clay,shale, slate, or pumice/lava. Brand namesinclude Norlite, Permatill, and Stalite.

The depth of the medium determines theintensity with which we can plant the garden.If the building can support only 2-3 inches ofsubstrate, your choice of plants is limited to low-growing sedums of different colors (Delosperma,Sedum album Coral Carpet, S. spurium, and S.kamtschaticum have been well tested) with per-haps a scattering of ordinary chives for accent.These all fulfill the ideal requirements for roofgarden plants. That is, they must be low-grow-ing, shallow-rooted, cold-hardy, and wind- anddrought-tolerant. They must also be resistant to

insects and diseases, too, ensuring low mainte-nance.Three-to-four-inch depths allow more inten-

sive planting. Testing has shown Petrorhagiasaxifraga (I knew it years ago as Tunica saxifraga),Campanula rotundifolia, thyme, oregano,Alliumcernuum, Prunella grandiflora, Dianthus deltoides,

and the grass Bouteloua curtipendula to be useful.At 4-5 inches, plants like the shorter achilleas,

lavendar (except in the north), and prairiedropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) can be added.

Deeper depths (6-12 inches) and intensive carecan support a wide variety of perennials,groundcovers, small shrubs, and small trees.

Two plants are warned against: moss, becauseit (1) dries out and becomes a fire hazard and(2) it allows water to sheet over the top; andclover, because it is extremely invasive and looksbad in winter. And, despite its name, JapaneseRoof Iris (I. tectorum) thrives only in a cool,shady environment.

Roofs should be planted in spring, using seed(sedum seed is sometimes mixed in hydroseed-ing), spreading cuttings, planting plugs, spread-ing preplanted mats, or using containers, andbare-root plants). The roof must be irrigatedweekly at the start and then tapered off as soonas possible.

Maintenance can be limited to yearly inspec-tion, weeding, and the application of one poundof slow-release organic nitrogen for every thou-sand square feet. The nitrogen can be discontin-ued after five years, at which time the roof sys-tem should be self-sustaining.

Sources of plants in varying forms includeEmory Knoll Farms in Street, Md.; PioneerGardens in Deerfield, Mass.; and North CreekNurseries in Landensberg, Pa.

Other resources on this topic are extensive.

Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction(WW Norton, 1997) is a comprehensive tool andan excellent introduction. Research is beingconducted at Penn State, Michigan State, andNorth Carolina State universities.

On the Net, a Google search under roof gar-dens, eco-roofs, greenroofs, and roof-scapes yielded Web pages for advocacy groups,installation contractors, sellers of green roofproducts, and construction industry magazinesas well as book lists. Of particular interest wasa magazine entitled Environmental Developmentand Construction .

Some well-known roof gardens in this countryinclude the headquarters of the Gap, the FordMotor Company in Detroit, and the Church ofLatter Day Saints in Salt Lake City. The QueensBotanical Garden in New York and the museumat Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut each haveone; and finally, closer to home, the BostonTrade Center, and the Carabbas restaurants,which have intensively planted gardens alongtheir buildings.

4

Water Wells and Related Services for

Landscape & Irrigation Professionals

978-640-6900www.WellWaterConnection.com

Roofs

should be

planted

in spring.

The nitrogen

can be

discontinued

after five years,

at which time

the roof system

should be

self-sustaining.


5/16

5

Some anti-lawn crusaders havecalled lawns boring, green car-pets, but, recently, people are replac-ing lawns with actual green carpets,of a sort. Long used for professionalplaying-field surfaces, more and

more, synthetic turf is finding itsway into residential yards.

As recent news reports indicate,homeowners are increasingly turningto artificial turf in the arid areas ofthe West and Southwest, where long-running droughts and water restric-tions have made maintaining reallawns difficult and expensive. Somewater-strapped municipalities andagencies, such as Anaheim and theMetropolitan Water District of

Southern California in OrangeCounty, Calif., are actually encour-agingand even subsidizingresi-dents to install fake lawns in a pilotprogram.

One Phoenix-based installer antic-ipates he will install about 400 syn-thetic lawns in the coming season,

about four times as many as last year.AstroLawn, a company that manu-factures one version of synthetic turf(they also make AstroTurf) antici-pates installing its product in 1,800homes this year. Around 5,000 homes

in the U.S. so far have some artificialturf.

The AstroLawn product is madeof polyethylene and is installed witha raked-in infill of sand or rubbergranules, or a mix of both. It is beingpromoted not only in arid regions,but also in other parts of the countryfor sites where real grass does not dowelldense shade, high traffic, etc.At an installed cost of $6-8 per squareyard, its more expensive to put in

than a seed or even a sod lawn, butrequires only a fraction of the mainte-nance of real grass, the manufacturerclaims.

The material is porous to water,cleans up fairly easily, and has aprojected life of 15-20 years. On thedownside, dogs may still try to dig

holes in it, it gets hot in the sun, anditll remain distinctively green evenin the dead of winter. One wouldalso have to wonder about accumu-lated dirt, organic material, etc. overthe long term. What happens when

wind-born seeds find their way intothe grass/dirt matrix? What aboutmold and moss in wet climates? Andwhats going to happen to all thatplastic when these things start wear-ing out and need to be taken up andreplaced?

Also, some local laws prohibitartificial landscaping. Some ofthese have been challenged byinstallers and manufacturers. OneColorado resident, having spent

$9,000 for an artificial lawn, laterfound out that his town prohibitedartificial landscaping and that hewould have to remove it.

sources: Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times,AstroLawn, Albuquerque Tribune

Nick Novick

Hold the fertilizer, please; and the mowing and watering


6/16

Planthealthcareby Robert D. Childs

[editors note: This is the second part ofa discussion of IPM and plant healthcare methods which began in the lastissue of The Ecological Landscaper.]

In 1980, Dr. David Nielsen fromOhio State University gave aspeech at the annual conferenceof the International Society ofArboriculture (ISA) on the subject of

pest management as it pertained totrees (Tree Care Industry, September1999). In this talk, he initiated theidea ofplant health care (PHC) to hisaudience. At first inspection, thisappeared to be simply IPM for treepests. However, it was much more.His distinction between the two was:Instead of keying on target diseases,insects, and weeds, the idea was toconsider trees as the primary targetand clients as those who need infor-mation. This implied a holisticapproach that incorporated muchof step #3 [in Bobs IPM article; seeWinter 03-04 issue of TEL]. Insteadof a pest management professionalsimply visiting a site, recognizinga specific pest problem, and thenchoosing and implementing the bestmanagement strategy, the profes-sional would then obtain informationabout the planting history, fertiliza-tion, irrigation, soil dynamics, andthe customers expectations. This is

viewed as a blending of PHC andIPM. Once these issues were clear,the client would then be educatedabout the situation, what needed tobe done now and in the future, andat what level the client would parti-cipate toward achieving these goals.

In the book Pest Management at theCrossroadsby Dr. Charles M. Ben-brook (Consumers Union, 1996),the concept of biointensive IPM isdiscussed and described as follows:

Biointensive IPM is a systemsapproach to pest management basedon an understanding of pest ecology.It begins with steps to accuratelydiagnose the nature and source ofpest problems, and then relies on arange of preventive tactics and bio-logical controls to keep pest popu-

lations within acceptable limits.Reduced risk pesticides are usedif other tactics have not been ade-quately effective, as a last resortand with care to minimize risks.

At this point in the discussion,its important for readers to evaluatethe level at which they practiceIPM/PHC. In many cases, thosewho claim to practice IPM/PHC areactually implementing aspects of allfour steps of IPM and some of PHC.This is fine and moves pest manage-ment in the direction that it needsto go, but it may not be IPM or PHCin the true sense, as defined above.

Over the last quarter century, therehas been a fundamental shiftin attitude as to how insect pests areto be managed. The old way was tosimply broadcast a chemical pesti-cide into the environment to kill thetarget pest. There was little regardor understanding that the target area(trees and shrubs) was actually a

system (a mini-ecosystem) thatwas very dynamic with various lifeforms. One factor that is often over-looked is that whenever one intro-duces a change in nature (such as apesticide to remove a pest), natureis going to respond in some fashionand it may not always be in a waythat pleases the pest manager.

A classic example of this is whena chemical is applied to a plant toremove a caterpillar pest. Thisshould be successful, but after one

to two months the same plant maythen develop a raging spider miteoutbreak. The reason for this out-break most likely can be traced backto the chemical used earlier in theseason for the caterpillar. Yes, itmanaged the caterpillar nicely, butit also destroyed the population ofpredatory mites that were keepingthe spider mites in low populationnumbers. Now that the natural con-trols were removed, the spider mite

population could explode into greatnumbers and become economically(aesthetically) important. This isknown as creating a secondary pestoutbreak and is more common thanone might think. Therefore, the lessthat we alter the system in any way,the fewer problems well have.

However, obtaining a sustainablelandscape environment is a majorchallenge given the wide rangeof plant material and associatedinherent problems.

One aspect of the old approach tomanaging pests that is still prevalentin many minds today is that oferadication. The definition of thisword literally means to annihilate,to root out, and to completelyremove all traces. These words arequite enticing when one considersinsect pest management. However,one must ask, Just how affective iseradication as an overall approachto insect pest management? Theanswer is, Not very. Once an insectpest has arrived in a new area andhas become established (which maytake only a year), it then becomes achallenge to totally remove its pres-ence. Eradication is primarily effec-tive only when the new invasion isdetected early and dealt with at that

time.A recent attempt to eradicate apest is now underway in the U.S.for the Asian longhorned beetle(Anoplophora glabripennis) which wasfirst discovered in New York Cityin August of 1996. It has since beendiscovered in other areas of NewYork, including Long Island, as wellas is in some suburbs of Chicago andnow Toronto. This pest from Chinaattacks and kills healthy trees, espe-cially maples. It has the potential to

be the most serious pest of deciduoustrees in this country in the last cen-tury. In-depth investigation at thestate and federal levels indicates thatthis beetle may have been here for aslong as 8-10 years prior to discovery.Yet, the main focus of managementis eradication. Once infested treesare found, they are then removed.Eradication, in this case, is the onlyavailable method for dealing withthis potentially highly destructive

6


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8/16

8

Donald FalkBalancing the Systems

Don gave a wide-ranging talkwhich helped elucidate some ofthe connections, parallels, andphilosophical underpinnings sharedbetween projects of different scalesfrom ecological restoration of largerscope to smaller landscapes.

The reduction of nature to anabstract reflects the often odd rela-tionship of humans to nature.

The early days of ecologicalrestoration looked a lot like agricul-ture; biological diversity was not a

prominent goal of many early efforts.Key aspects of restoring ecological

processes include dispersal, germina-tion, competition, community assem-bly, disturbance, biogeochemicalcycles. Emphasis has shifted fromspecies composition to ecologicalprocesses, and functional attributes.Human-mediation in species compo-sition = weeding.

Smaller-scale landscapes provideconsiderable opportunity to build/support/remediate viable ecologies:In 2000, of all U.S. lands, roughly8% were permanently protected;6% were irrevocably urbanized ordestroyed; 86% were part of a semi-natural matrix.

Aspects of sustainable landscapes:preserves rare plants, preserves com-plex interactions, restores rare orephemerally unique habitats, restoresfunctioning ecological communities,provides an opportunity to observe/

study process ofchange close-up.

Awareness ofthe larger world

and broader events can motivate ourindividual and collective actions. Thecurrent scale of human disturbance isunprecedented. We are treating theearth as if it were a business in theprocess of liquidation. (HermanDaly)

If we recognize and acknowledgethe valuein economic termsofecosystem services, we may be moremotivated to protect them. Estimated

cost of building industrial systemsto provide all the life essentials pro-vided by nature: $33 trillion! For suchthings as capturing solar energy,water purification, breakdown oforganic waste, etc.

We are changing the earth morerapidly than we are understandingit. The environment is not a specialinterest. Everyone is affected by,and pays for environmental degra-dation, but the problems are mostlycreated by developed countries. Theecological footprint (amount of landrequired to support one person): inmost developing countries is lessthan .5 hectare; in Europe is about 3.5hectares; in the U.S. is 5 hectares (1ha. = 2.47 acres); 22% of the worldspopulation lives on less than $1 perday.

What can be done? Create andmaintain an ecological consciousness,individually and community-wide.

Make our own businesses models forsustainablity: reduce waste, increase

transportation efficiency, make officespace a good habitat for workers,provide technical support for othergroups, promote beliefs, help raiseecological awareness of clients andthe community, work to make organ-izations a force for progressivechange.

Richard PaisPlanning Before Construction;Ecological Land Planning andDevelopment

Development is going to happen;its counterproductive to merely rageagainst it. Instead, consider the possi-blities to enter into/influence theprocess toward a better end. Oppor-tunities to reduce impacts: shareddriveways, minimize road takes, treeprotection, mimimize house plotclearing.

Most tree damage during construc-tion happens in the first few passeswith heavy equipment. Put tree pro-tection up first; make it part of theconstruction process. Make it wellknown that violators will be fined.Essential to coordinate the differentwork processes being done on thesiteerosion control, engineers, sub-contractors, etc. Helpful to involvethe builderwork to develop enthu-siasm and emphasize shared benefitssuch as savings in time, money, andeffort (less grading, less extensiveutility infrasctructure, etc.)

ELA newsAnother successful conference!For an ELA winter conference it was an unusual daynosnow! Despite what might have been an uncertain omen, aswell as competing green industry events occurring at the sametime, ELA's Winter Conference and Eco-Marketplace produceda good turnout. Attendees braving the sunny, 50 weather weretreated to a variety of stimulating and informative presentations, marketplace vendors

with a range of services and products, and plenty of opportunity to talk and network.Thanks to conference coordinator Nancy Askin, marketplace coordinator M.L.Altobelli, their respective committees, our co-sponsors, volunteers, and everyone else

who worked so hard to make this event a success!See notes and quotes below for highlights from some of the

presentations. Thanks to Natalie Delvaille, Adaela McLaughlin,Malcolm Wright for their reporting.

Robert Hermans talk focused on choosing and installing green roof plants.

Cheryl Smith, plant

health specialist

with the UNH

Cooperative

Extension,

discusses some

of the major

diseases of

trees in the

northeast.

NOTES AND QUOTES: Snippets and highlights from ELAs 2004 winter conference

Diane Syverson, ELAs

PR coordinator,

answers questions

at the ELA table on

the marketplace floor.


9/16

9

Ecologically well-developedprojects have tangible benefits. Forbusiness parks and office buildings,employees are happier, more produc-tive and relaxed (nice views fromwindows), take less sick leave, etc.In residential projects, nearly allresponded positively to accommo-

dations for wildlife, most would paymore to live in sustainable neighbor-hoods, lots sell faster.

USFS study: 60% of kids unstruc-tured outdoor activities involve somesort of interaction with nature. Createopportunities for experiences andinteractions with nature: birds, eggs,bees, turtles, waterget close to lifeprocesses.

Among the most endangeredgeneral type of habitat is the earlysuccessional shrub community. There

are often landscape opportunities tocreate naturally arranged plantingsmodeled on this community. Get listsof endangered/rare butterflies foryour area, plant host plants for thesein your projects.

Opportunities for seniors resi-dences: Create wellness land-scapes. For some elderly, almost theirentire experience of nature may comethrough a windowconsider viewsfrom the inside. Plan outside spacesfor enhanced social experiences and

intimate contacts with plants anddynamic natural processesconsidermotion, color, critters, birds, butter-flies. Water features can be calming,engaging, therapeutic. Nick Novick

Rolf Briggs and Dave RopesManaging Tree Systemsthrough the First 15 Years

Rolf Briggs led off the presentationwith an overview of the proper plant-ing techniques and aftercare of newlyinstalled trees. As we all know bynow, planting too deeply is the num-ber one cause of the premature deathof newly planted trees. Rolf recom-mended an inch to inch rule fordetermining the level above gradethe trunk flare should be positioned.For example, a two-inch caliper treeshould have the flare positionedapproximately two inches abovegrade. This formula allows for thesettling of the root ball.

Rolf also discussed the importanceof removing any soil that is above theflare and exposing the valleys of theroots. This can be done (carefully)with the combination of a hand culti-vator and whisk broom. Any dam-aged root ends should be pruned offcleanly as well as any roots that are

above the flare and any girdlingroots.Aftercare includes mulching with

2-4 inches of organic material, prefer-ably ground tree prunings that havebeen aged for several months. Thistype of mulch more closely dupli-cates the conditions found on thewoodland floor. Pure bark mulch ismade up of pieces that are fairly uni-form in size which tend to mat downand do not allow for great air circula-tion or water penetration, but the

application of any organic mulch ispreferable to none.

Dave Ropes followed Rolf with avery informative presentation on themethodology and science behind theproper pruning of trees. He stressedthat pruning should be done withforethought since every cut madeaffects all the other parts of the tree.For example, cutting a terminalbranch disrupts the flow of auxinswhich subsequently interrupt thegrowth of some of the roots and also

stimulates the growth of side buds.There is constant communicationbetween the roots and the stems oftrees. Trees are an integrated system,information flows between theleaves, roots, and connective tissue.

Proper pruning begins with theremoval of dead, diseased, and cross-ing branches. The tree should then bepruned for structural health, but nomore than 15-20% of the branchesshould be removed at any one time.Demonstrating on a small tree thatDave brought, he showed how toremove a codominant stem as well asthe removal of marginal branchesthat would enhance the structure ofthe canopy. When asked when it isthe best time to prune (other thanwhen the saw is sharp and the checkis in hand), Dave suggested that theonly time you really should notprune is while the tree is leafing out.All other times of the year are appro-

priate, but late winter might bepreferable since it is easy to see thestructure of the tree at that time ofthe season. Malcolm Wright

Robert ZimmermanSmart Storm the Rainwater

Recovery System

Robert Zimmerman of the CharlesRiver Watershed Association statedthat in Massachusetts, the averagehome needs around 85,000 gallons ofwater per year; of this, about 13,000gallons are used on lawns. Almostevery town in Massachusetts experi-ences water shortages. Yet, around55,000 gallons of rain are lost annual-ly from the average yard. This lostwater can be captured in a SmartStorm rainwater recovery system thatconsists of partially buried tank stor-

age and a pump to which a gardenhose can be attached. Zimmermanalso discussed the importance of notmixing pollutants with water that islost to storm drains. He introducesa drywell system for capturing thiswater. Rainwater Recovery Co. willsell these systems.

Leo KenneyManaging LandscapesNear Vernal Pools

Leo Kenney of the Vernal Pool

Assoc. discussed the importanceof not removing leaf litter aroundvernal pools and also between thevernal pool and the forest, to helpsalamanders, frogs, snakes, turtles,and insects utilize the vernal pond.(So, if there are formal plantingsaround the vernal pool, please dontcut them back until after insectshave molted and amphibians havereturned to the forest. I would guessby August you could cut back plants,but please verify this!)

Cheryl SmithUnderstanding the MajorDiseases of New England Trees

Dr. Cheryl Smith of UNH statedthat if anthracnose causes defoliationfor 5-6 years in a row, then the treemight be damaged. It is important toprune out diseased parts of plantsnow, in the dormant season.

Adaela McLaughlin


10/16

10

Display ads will be priced according to predetermined sizes as below.Line advertisements will run in an unclassifieds listing.

R A T E S (horizontal x vertical)full page . . . . . . . . (71/2 x 10") . . . . . . . . $125/issue; $425/4-issue runhalf page. . . . . . . . (7 1/2 x 47/8") . . . . . . . . . $85/issue; $290/4-issue runquarter page . . . . . (35/8 x 47/8") . . . . . . . . . $50/issue; $170/4-issue runeighth page . . . . . . (35/8 x 25/16") . . . . . . . . . $25/issue; $85/4-issue runbusiness card. . . . . (2 x 31/2") . . . . . . . . . . . $25/issue; $85/4-issue rununclassifieds (line ads, up to 50 words). . . . . . $5/issue; $17/4-issue run

(additional words: $1/10 words)

TERMSRates are for camera-ready copy.

The Ecological Landscaper is published quarterly, approximately atthe change of seasonDecember/January, March/April, June/July, and

September/October. For an ad to appear in a specific issue, it must arriveby December 15, March 15, June 15, or September 15, for that respec-tive issue. Ads received after those dates will appear in the next issue.

Payment in full must accompany the ad, or the first ad if more thanone run is purchased. We do not bill. If an ad was taken out for a multi-ple-issue run and cancelled before the end of the run, we will issue apro-rated refund, less a 15 percent service fee. Such cancellations mustoccur two weeks before the deadline dates noted above to take effectfor that issue. Any change(s) made to a multiple-run ad after the adsfirst run voids the multiple-run discount.

Advertiser is responsible for final content of their ad. ELA is notresponsible for typographic mistakes or errors of content. ELAs liabilityfor errors in printed material is strictly and solely limited to rerunning thecorrect advertisement in the next issue(s) of the newsletter.

ELA reserves the right to refuse any ad if it feels the ad, product, com-

pany, or organization involved is not consistent with the spirit or intentof ELA's mission or purpose, or for any other reason.

ELA makes no claims, warranties, or other declarations as to theeffectiveness, reliability, or consequences ofor the results from the useofany products, services, or procedures described in any ad.

There are currently no tie-ins with advertising in any other ELA publi-cation or venue. This may change in the future.

Send ads and payment to: ELA, attn. newsletter advertising, 60Thoreau Street, #252, Concord, MA 01742. Checks should be payableto Ecological Landscaping Association.

For general questions about ad policy, contact ELA Newsletter Editor,6 Meadowbrook Lane, Ashland, MA 01721; phone/fax (508) 881-1517;e-mail: .

R A T E S A N D I N F O R M A T I O N

Advertising in The Ecological Landscaper

Theater event benefits ELAMany thanks to Prana Productions for their generous dona-

tion to ELA in support of the new Guide to Healthy Landscapes.The Holliston, Mass.- based theater group wanted to support alocal environmental organization with the ticket sales from theirperformance of A.R. Guerneys Love Letters and ELA wasthe lucky recipient. Special thanks to producers Roberta Weiner

and Nick Morana as well as thanks and kudos to actors DawnAnderson and Paul Champlin.

J O I N U S T O D A Y !

Membership Categories

Associate | $40For nonprofessionals and others who want to support ELAs mis-sion. Associate members receive the ELA newsletter, mailings, anda copy of the Membership Networking Directory.

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level of commitment and/or participation in ELAs programs. Pro-fessional members receive the ELA newsletter, mailings, and a copyof the Membership Networking Directory. This level also includes alisting in the Membership Networking Directory, if desired; a pro-gram discount for one person, when available; and selective publi-cation discounts.

Supporting | $125All of the above-listed benefits plus program discount for two peo-ple, when available; selective publication discounts; and a free 1/8-page ad in the Membership Networking Directory.

Sustaining | $250All of the above-listed benefits plus program discount for four peo-ple, when available; selective publication discounts; and a free 1/4-

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ELAs membership year is January through December. Remit half themembership fee if you apply after July 1. Canadian members, pleaseadjust for the currency exchange. ELA is a 501(c)(3) charitableorganization. Your membership is tax deductible in accordance withfederal regulations. Download a registration form from our websiteor call (617)436-5838 and a form will be mailed to you.

www.ecolandscaping.org


11/16

11

Over the past couple decades, my husbandand I remodeled our barn-home and then,seven years ago, I started the conversion of ourhalf-acre lawn into a native-plant wilderness.All that labor and learning was mere practice forwhat we are tackling today: the renovation of mychildhood home (a stone school in southeasternWisconsin) and the landscape that surrounds it.

A year ago Dan and I moved into the 136-year-old building and began smothering half of thefront yard with black plastic (an agricultural film

sold at farm supply stores). A 20x50-foot sheet(4.5mm thick) costs about $30. We weightedours with timbers and shipping palettes. If youwanted to disguise the plastic, you could put alayer of woodchips over the top, then sweep offthe chips when youre ready to lift the plastic inthe fall.

By denying light to the turf through most of2003, we effectively killed the grass and weeds.Come autumn, I skimmed off the dead turf witha shovel and set it aside to use in enriching ourforthcoming kitchen garden. This action pro-duced a bare-soil surface which I scratched with

a rake. Disturbing it more than a fraction of aninch would only have brought more weed seedsto the surface.

We have chosen to sow locally native species,that is, plants whose ancestors grew in ourcounty. In faithfully restoring our building, wehave grown sensitive to the value of authenticityand aspire to the same fidelity for our landscape.

We sowed a combination of collected andpurchased seeds. The tiniest ones were mixedwith damp sand and distributed across the plot.The larger seeds were mixed with damp, coarsesawdust and also cast over the dark soil. The

sand and sawdust helped to carry the seed asit was thrown and showed where it had beendispersed. Then the area was raked lightly. If wehad had a lawn roller, we would have pressedthe seed into the soil with it, but, instead, myhusband and I stomped the whole planted sur-face with our feet.

This year an additional 2,000 square feet of theyard is blanketed by the plastic, and well repeatthe planting process this fall. The field and hilland ponds that adjoin our property are owned

by a quarrying and roadbuild-ing company, and they havegiven us permission to go onkilling and planting beyondour own borders, so the plasticwill be used for many seasonsa cheap investment for suchan easy-to-use and effectivesite-preparation tool.

The shoulder along our property was partiallyregraded last summer by road crews repaving

the highway. I sprayed the rest of this area withglyphosate to kill the remaining grass andposted signs to let the crews know we did notwant them to seed or sod the area because wewould sow our own no mow fescues pur-chased from Prairie Nursery . This blendrequires little or no mowing and stands no morethan 8 inches tall.

I chose to use herbicide along the roadwaybecause I knew plastic sheeting would presentat least a distraction if not an outright danger todrivers zooming by. Because I want to maintain

visibility from our driveway, I would not chooseanything taller than turf grass for this strip,which, technically, belongs to the state.

You can monitor our planting and renovationprogress by visiting www.quarryschool.com.Click on the computer-and-vase image for land-scape scenes and on each of the oval portraits forhistoric and current architectural photos of thebuilding were striving to get on the NationalRegister of Historic Places.

Our first native

landscape was

a lot of work.

Experience

makes our

second one

easy.

A S I G N T H A T M A R K S O U R S I T E R E A D S :

On these grounds a sense of history prevails

in architecture, artifact, landscape, and wildlife

by Joy Buslaff


12/16

12

This end upAttention bulb planters: California

Late and Korean Six Piece garliccloves were planted either upright,sideways, inverted, or randomlyoriented. The upright-planted Cali-fornia Late emerged earliest, andinverted cloves emerged latest. Also,inversion resulted in much lower

yields (37% reduction in total bulbweight for California Late; 53%reduction for Korean Six Piece)relative to upright plantings. Also,inversion produced the smallestnumbers of bulbs per unit area.Bulbs from plots with inverted clovesgenerally were misshaped, and it washard to harvest those bulbs withoutbreaking them from the tops.(Effect of Clove Orentation on GarlicBulb Yield in Central Washington, ErikSoensen [Cooperative Extension,Washington State University, 1016 N.4th Ave., Pasco WA 99301]. Gary Pelter,Roy Vandenburgh, Richard Hamman)

Its organic, butSoybean meal applied as a fertilizer

at transplanting time for sweet pep-pers (at rates of 0.05 or 0.09 poundsper square foor) led to considerablereductions in plant weight (69% and82%, respectively) and yield (64%and 86%, respectively) relative to

controls without soybean meal fertil-ization. Also, a series of greenhoseexperiments showed that soybeanmeal can inhibit germination of vari-ous vegetable seeds, especially thosewith small seeds, such as spinach, let-tuce, carrot, and radish. Inhibition ofseed germination by soyban mealwas found to be most pronounced ifthe meal was placed on the surface ofthe growing medium rather than

mixed with the medium.(Soybean Meal: Phytotoxic Potential of

a Material Used as an Organic Fertil-izer, Melissa Pline [HorticulturalScience, North Carolina StateUniveristy, 1221 Duplin Rd., Raleigh,NC 27607] and Jeanine Davis.)

Borer-resistant birchesBetula papyrifera Varen (Prairie

Dream) paper birch and B. platyphyl-la VerDale (Prairie Vision) Asianwhite birch were selected especiallyfor resistance to the bronze birchborer,Agrilus anxius, a formidable

threat to white-barked birch species.The former has snow-white, peel-ing bark, semi-pyramidal to uprightform (becoming broadly oval withage), and bright, golden-yellowleaves in the fall. The latter haschalky white bark with blackishmarkings, upright, oblong to semi-pyramidal form, and golden-yel-low leaves in the fall. Both havetolerated heavy borer pressure for30 years: and are hardy in U.S.D.A.Zone 3. They may be trained to onetrunk or multiple-trunks.(Introduction of Two New BirchCultivars with Resistance to BronzeBirch Borer, Dale E. Herman [Dept. ofPlant Sciences, N. Dakota State Univ.,Loftsgard Hall, 266E, Fargo, ND 58105],Larry J. Chaput, Wenhao Dai)

Plants apparently partialto particular pots

Purple, burnt orange, maize, white,copper, terra cotta, green fiber,

mauve, burgundy, thin green plastic,black, thin black plastic, and thinrust-colored plastic pots were tested.Plant height was significantly greaterwith fiber pots than with other pots;the lowest plant heights were in rustand green pots. Plant diameter anddry weight were significantly greaterwith white pots than with other pots.(Effects of Pot Color on Soil Tempera-ture and Root Development on Rhodo-

dendron obtusum Kurume AzaleaHot Shot, Wayne J. McLaurin [Horti-

culture Dept., University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602])The above excerpts from researchabstracts were reported in HortIdeas,November 2003. (HortIdeas, 750 BlackLick Rd., Gravel Switch, Ky 40328). The

papers presented at the American Societyfor Horticultural Science 100th AnnualInternational Conference, Oct. 6, 2003,were published in HortScience 38(5),

August 2003 (ASHS, 113 S. West St.,Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314-2851).

EPA to openinerts department

The Environmental ProtectionAgencys (EPA) Office of Pesticideprograms is planning to open a sepa-rate regulatory branch specifically todeal with pesticide inert ingredientswithin the next year, acording to.

For years, EPA has experienceda large backlog of inert materialsawaiting approval and is receivingindustry pressure to expedite theprocess so new materials can reachthe market. At the same time, therecent implementation of the FoodQuality Protection Act requires theagency to reasses tolerances for hun-dreds of food-use inerts by mid-2006.

According to an agency spokes-person, it could take up to eightmonths to create the new depart-ment.

Inert ingredients have long beena contentious issue among groups

working to curtail pesticide use. Inertingredients, which account for thelargest portion of a pesticide product,are not the active ingredient bywhich the product achieves its pur-pose. The inerts may themselves betoxic, but current law allows thesematerials to remain undisclosed tothe public, as they are consideredtrade secrets. Although inert ingre-dients do require EPA approval, the

Plucked from the headlines


13/16

required data are much less stringentthan for active ingredients. Approvalfor registration of inerts may begranted even though data are incom-plete or inconclusive.

Of the 2,300 substances EPA

believes are currently used as inerts,over 1,700 are classified of unknowntoxicity. 209 inerts are consideredhazardous air and water pollutants,and/or hazardous waster, 14 havebeen assessed as extremely hazard-ous, and 21 are known or suspectedcarcinogens, according to the North-west Coalition for Alternatives toPesticides.

from Beyond Pesticides

Take two andsee me at harvest time

People arent the only ones tobenefit from salicylic acid, the activeingredient in aspirin. Research hasshown that spraying this naturallyoccurring compound onto someplants triggers natural defenses thatkeep harmful fungi, bacteria, andviruses at bay.

Plants have always had somemeans to defend themselves; its justthat some dont recognize theirmicrobial attackers in time. Sprayingsalicylic acid or certain other com-pounds snaps them to attention andputs their defenses on high alertagainst future attacks.

Plant scientists first encounteredthe phenomenon, called systemicacquired resistance (SAR), in the 1930s.Plants make salicylic acid, particu-larly after encountering a pathogen,and use it as a key regulator of SARand expression of defense genes. But

only recently have companies begunmarketing salicylic acid and othersimilar compounds as a way to acti-vate SAR in cropstomato, spinach,lettuce, and tobacco among them.

Saving water in the nurserySun City Tree Farm in Ruskin,

Fla., received the 2003 Commis-

sioners Agricultural EnvironmentalLeadership Award for its exemplarystewardship of the natural resourcesthey are charged with protecting.Owners and brothers J.S. and EricTort have developed growing sys-

tems that use less water but do notaffect tree quality. The farms permit-ted water usage has not changeddespite growing from 5 to 150 acres,and it uses only 60% of the water per-mitted. Trees are grown in SmartPots, which have fabric sides and bot-toms, allowing water to be drawn upfrom the ground. from NMPromagazine, February 2004

Budget woes affect

state programsAnother symptom of tight state

budgets: Beginning with fiscal year2004, the governor and legislativeleaders agreed to eliminate theConnecticut Department of Agri-culture as a separate agency andmerge it with the Department ofConsumer Protection. The movewill save around $500,000 per yearby combining some administrativepositions and moving the office backto a state-owned building. No depart-ments will be eliminated, but theConn. Agricultural ExperimentStation will see its budget cut approx-imately by half. Support your stateextension!

More info: Conn. Nursery and Land-scape Assn. , Conn. Farm Bureau

Benefits of drought?Its not the first thing that comes

to mind when thinking about watershortages, but monitoring data fromthe United States Geological Survey(USGS) from the Chesapeake Bayindicated the drought conditions thatprevailed from 1999 to 2002 actuallybenefitted water quality in the bay.Nitrogen levels trended downwardin major, tributary rivers of theChesapeake, a result of less nutrientbeing carried off land masses into

surface waters. Some reduction mayalso have been due to better manage-ment practices. On the other hand,reduced flows also increased salinityin the bay, which caused dieback ofsome freshwater, underwater grasses

and also created conditions whichfavored some shellfish diseasesstillno free lunch.

Of course, a better way to improvewater quality would be to actuallyreduce nutrient loads in normalflow conditions.

from Bay Journal, Alliance for theChesapeake Bay, November 2003

Okay, hold itwhosecucumber is out of tune?adventures in tasty music

The First Viennese VegetableOrchestra [were not kidding] con-sists exclusively of vegetable-basedinstruments, although, where neces-sary, additional utensils such asknives or mixers are employed. [Whybe confined?]

According to the FVVOs Web site,this instrumentation creates anautonomous and totally novel typeof sound which cannot be achievedwith conventional musical instru-ments. Marinated sound ideas andcanned listening habits beg forexpansion!

The nine-person ensemble has beencooking their musical stew since 1988and performs a mix of their owncompositions and existing works, instyles from traditional African piecesto Eurpean concert music to experi-mental electronic music. The veggieand kitchen utensil instruments areamplified with a variety of micro-phones.

After concerts, the stage is left tothe cooks who then work the instru-ments into a tasty vegetable soup[again, were not kidding] which theaudience and musicians consumetogether, providing an opportunity tomeet and talk with the musicians. ACD is available from the groups Website.

13


14/16

ResourcesManaging wildlife

The U.S. Department of Agricul-tures Wildlife Services Program isavailable to assist landscapers andgrounds managers with wildlifedamage management throughoutMassachusetts, Connecticut, andRhode Island. Wildlife Services may

provide assistance with obtainingpermits and the development of amanagement plan specific to mostgrounds managers needs. For moreinformation, please contact DonWilda at (413)253-2403, or e-mail at

Plants database

The National Plant Data Center(NPCD), an office of the NationalResources Conservation Service(NRCS), maintains an extensive data-

base, available on the Internet, ofover 43,000 plants. Information listedincludes common and scientificnames, plant fact sheets, speciescharacteristics, wetland indicatorspecies, invasive species, photos, cul-turally significant plants, and more.

The database is searchable by anumber of criteria, including scien-tific and common name, genus, fam-ily, and state where found. Relatedinformation on the site, plus links toother sites, provide users with usefulresources for many conservationapplications including erosion con-trol, natural resources inventory,nutrient management, wetland delin-eation, and landscaping. Manydownloadable files are available.This is a great site.Web address: Other contact info: National Plant DataCenter, P.O. Box 74490, Baton Rouge,LA, 70874-4490; tel.: (225)775-6280.

14

MassachusettsInvasive Plant Group

The findings from the first phase ofevaluations of the Plant EvaluationSubcommittee are now available onthe Massachusetts Nursery andLandscape Assn. Web site . Twenty-seven specieshave been designated as Invasive andeleven species as Likely Invasive.These are the findings that were pre-sented to the group on September 23,

2002, with some revisions included.The most important revision is theinclusion of Black Locust as Invasive.

These findings will be revisited onan annual basis. The Committee willaccept requests for re-evaluations, butsufficient data must be submitted tosubstantiate the need. The re-evalua-tion of Phase I plants will take placein mid-March of 2004. Requests anddata should be submitted to RenaSumner ([email protected], 413-369-4731).

The committee is now forging

ahead with the Phase II evaluations(about 45 species). Information willbe released about these findingswhen they are complete. At least onemore phase will follow Phase II.

Another project undertaken is thewriting of a strategic plan for address-ing the invasive plant problem inMassachusetts. Questions regardingthe plan may be addressed to TimAbbott at The Nature Conservancy at(413)229-0232 x226; [email protected].

ELA board member Don Bishop is

ELAs representative to the MIPG.

Invasives Web resourceThe National Biological

Information Infrastructure has puttogether a Web site which is a gate-way to federal and state efforts tocontrol invasive species. The siteoffers species profiles, control strate-gies, extensive data bases, and linksto agencies and organizations that

deal with invasive species, both plantand animal. Log onto .

Sheep Could Help ControlLeafy Spurge

Certain sheep that have a healthyappetite for leafy spurge may helpcontrol this aggressive perennial thathas infested more than 5 million acresof U.S. rangeland, according to Agri-cultural Research Service scientists.

ARS animal geneticist Brent W.Woodward and rangeland scientistSteven S. Seefeldt, at the agency's U.S.

Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois,Idaho, have teamed together to deter-mine why some sheep seem to have astrong preference for leafy spurge. Isthis taste for the plantwith itssticky, milky sapin the animals'genes, or is the dietary inclinationsomething that individual sheeplearn through observation?

While cattle and horses generallyavoid leafy spurge, some sheep willgraze on it. Hoping to take advantageof this tendency, the ARS scientists

have recently initiated studies toinvestigate those sheep's apparentappetite for leafy spurge and otherplants with similar chemical profiles.

Finding a genetic component tosheep's preference for leafy spurgewouldn't be surprising, according toWoodward, since scientists arealready finding that a genetic code isresponsible for taste sensitivities inmammals, including humans.

The researchers' ultimate goal is toselectively breed sheep that will pass

along, from generation to generation,an inclination to eat leafy spurge.

Based on initial visual measure-mentsincluding the challengingtask of conducting sheep bite countsthe scientists found there are twodifferent kinds of eaters. Some sheepconsume leafy spurge readily, whileothers eat it only if forced, over time,due to lack of other forage.

Invasives watch


15/16

15

FROM THE GROUND UPseeks crew member.

Woman-owned businessproviding sophisticateddesign work, installationservices, specialized gar-den maintenance, andpruning care in Bostonarea. Focused on uniquedesigns, organic and sus-tainable landcare, andhigh-quality work. Mid-March through Nov. withbenefits. Be part of dynam-ic, small company! Call

Christie Dustman, owner(617)323-7773.

GARDENING HELPWANTED: Fox Gloves is asmall landscape gardeningand design firm servingclients in Lexington,Lincoln, Concord, Cam-bridge, and Newton, Mass.Now in our eleventh year,we provide design, instal-lation, and ecologically

sensitive maintenanceservices for both large andsmall residential gardenproperties. Our approachis inspired by creative pos-sibilities and a passion formaking memorable places.

We are seeking responsible, strong, and energeticindividuals who enjoy being outdoors, with agreat interest in gardening,a knowledge of plants, aneye for detail, and a desireto share ideas and learn.Applicants must have theirown transportation.AVAILABLE POSITIONSGardeners: 3-4 days/weekcommitment. Previous gar-dening experience pre-ferred, but not essential;Gardening Supervisors: 3-4

days/week commitment.Pruning and perennial gar-

den experience required;Designers/Gardeners: 2-3week commitments everyseason to design andinstall seasonal pots.

Interested individualsshould call Karen Meyersat FOX GLOVES (781) 862-6927. Please provide yourphone and e-mail contactinformation.

ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

and maintenance companyin eastern Mass. seeks pro-fessional, motivated, selfstarters for maintenanceand installation work. Weare looking for both super-visory and general person-nel, FT/PT pay commen-surate with experience andthe amount of availabletime per week. Experiencewith ecological or organicgardening practices a plus!

Please e-mail resumes to. OR fax them to(508) 881-7084. Call (508)561-0532 if you have anyquestions.

HELP WANTED: Smalldesign/build landscaping business in Metrowest,Mass. seeks help for 2004season: part-time book-keeper/office help, plusgeneral field help. Ex-perience/interest in eco-logical methods, nativeplants, etc. helpful. Workincludes lawn fertilizingand pest control, in-stallation, some mainte-nance. Inquire at (508)881-1517; .

SPECIAL OFFER FOR ELAmembers this spring. You

can receive a FREE PAL-LET OF ORGANIC FER-TILIZER from Heart&Soil.While supplies last,Heart&Soil will offer a freepallet of 25 lb. bags ofpHplus for landscapers.pHplus is great for installa-tions and all spring prepwork. The product notonly raises soil pH quicklyand safely, but its also anatural source of potassi-

um, zinc, and iron. CallHeart&Soil toll free andask for details on the ELAspecial offer. Limit one pal-let per company, not forresale! Ask for Dan at (866)999-SOIL (7645).

Reach hundreds of ecolog-

ically minded land-care

professionals, homeown-

ers, and others! Put your

ad in this space for as

little as $5 for up to 50

words (additional words,

$1/10 words). Send you

ads to: attn. newsletter

unclassifeds, ELA,

60 Thoreau Street #252,

Concord, MA 01742.

Unclassifieds


16/16

The Ecological Landscaper

6 Meadowbrook Lane

Ashland, MA 01721

A doctor can bury his mistakes, but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.

Frank LloydWright

MAY 2-4, 2004All Things OrganicConference and TradeShow, McCormick Place,

Chicago. Speakers includeDavid Suzuki, Rick Bayless, SandraSteingraber.

MAY 7On-Site Planting and PruningDemonstration, session 7 of OrganicLawn and Landscape Care series,Elm Bank Reservation, Wellesley,Mass. Umass Extension (413)545-0896;

MAY 14-15Spring Wildflower Symposium,Wintergreen Nature Foundation,Nellysford, Va. Instructors includeC. Colston Burrell, M. Peter Masseo,Desmond Gourley.

MAY 29Bird habitat stewardship work-shop, Colyb Hill Town Forest,Lincoln, Vt., 9 a.m.-noon. Focus on

managing properties to maintainor enhance bird habitat. VermontFamily Forest, (802)453-7728;

JUNE 3-5Native Plants in the LandscapeConference, Millersville University,Millersville, Pa. Field trips, work-shops, native plant and book sale.(717)872-3030;

JUNE 5Wildflower Festival, Rocks Estate,Bethlehem, N.H., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.Identifying wildflowers, birdingwalk, wild edibles, Native Americanethnobotany. (603)444-6228

JUNE 1230th Annual Plant Sale, Garden inthe Woods, Framingham, Mass. Over11,000 native wildflowers, shrubs,

and trees; silent auction, kids table,staff on hand to answer questions,10 a.m.-2 p.m. (508)877-7630;

JUNE 12The Granite Landscape of NewHampshire, Rocks Estate, Bethle-hem, N.H., 9 a.m.-11 a.m., withecologist-author, and one-time ELAconference keynote Tom Wessels.Discussion of geologic features,high-country ecology, and an after-noon hike to Middle Sugarloafmountain to examine plant com-munities. (603)224-9945

Events on the horizon

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spring 2004 the ecological landscaper newsletter

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