The Chime Is Right For This Belle

When Peter Chaires of the New Varieties Management & Development Corp. stopped by the office the other day with a bag of oranges, we knew we were in for a treat. You see, what he was dropping off was the first University of Florida-created citrus variety meant for commercial production --- aka the Sugar Belle. The news about this cultivar broke a couple months back. Now, we were about to get our sneak preview. One of the perks of being an ag editor.

The Sugar Belle is a Mandarin orange hybrid that is made up of a cross between a sweet clementine and the Minneola. The bell-shaped beauty was bred to be high in flavor and low in seeds. An early maturing fruit, this orange also is suited for winter-holiday marketing purposes.

OK, enough background info, let the peeling begin --- which I must say, was easy. As the skin was peeled back, a very strong aroma of the fruit's citrus oil began to permeate. My colleague commented how he could smell the orange half-way across the office. It was pretty potent. So was the taste going to match the Sugar Belle's aromatic prowess?

I would describe my culinary experience as quite juicy and flavorful. The sweetness was a high note for me. I wouldn't call it "sugary sweet," but it was definitely satisfying. The stringiness was minimal on the flesh and I only found one small seed in the fruit.

Overall, I can honestly say Sugar Belle met my expectations as well as the ones built up by my co-workers since learning about it. We'll have to see if the Sugar Belle rings true when it hits the stands. I know I'll be looking for it when it does.

Out Of Gift Ideas? Try A Plant

Year after year, the holiday season turns up the pressure cooker on those trying to find the right gift to give -- especially in the cases when it is for a distant relative you see maybe once a year or the office worker you were stuck with in the holiday gift exchange. Either way, gift giving certainly can be a challenge.

While the buzz of high-tech toys and gadgets are a cool gift choice, they can be a bit pricey. Gift cards, while practical, are kinda boring. And hey, nothing says "re-gift" like a slightly disheveled box that contains a Snuggie.

OK, let's explore some other options. Clothing: Attempting to shop for someone in this department is a sure-fire way to find yourself in the dog house. Taste is a hard thing to account for --- especially in clothes. Taking this route normally leads to a number of equally tragic scenarios following the receiver's frantic search for a gift receipt: a one-time wearing of said garment and never to be seen again; the garment doesn't make it out from an unfortunate dryer incident; or perhaps it finds itself on a one-way trip to the Goodwill pile. Either way, the chances of the oversized sweater, shirt, or ugly tie you gave showing up on the catwalk is not very likely. Let's pass on this, shall we?

Jewelry: Don't even go there.

Come on, time is running out before the onslaught of the company holiday parties and family get-togethers begin. This year, instead of falling back on the old reliables (or unreliables), consider giving the gift of a plant or plants. Though hard to wrap, there is no shortage of variety, size, shape, and color to choose from --- all at relatively reasonable prices. In short, your much sought after gift idea might be as close as your local garden center or even in your own nursery.

Poinsettias are popular during the winter holidays. Although they tend to get lost in the shuffle and discarded once the confetti has settled from the New Year's bash, these colorful foliage plants can really be a solid gift choice any time of the year.

Stepping off the beaten holiday path a bit, orchids are a nice desktop and/or counter-top adornment. They also now are being marketed for ease of care and convenience. Case in point, Just Add Ice Orchids launched earlier this year by packaging attractive orchids with easy maintenance instructions. As the name suggests, the watering secret is to add 3 ice cubes once a week (according to the directions) and that's it. People like things that are pretty simple. Pretty and simple is even better. An orchid on the rocks, please. I like the sound of that.

Mini container gardens of succulents or bromeliads also are attractive, cool-looking low-maintenance gift-giving options. You could go with bigger specimens (depending how much you like the person you are getting the gift for) like a ficus and/or a potted palm. The spectrum of height, width, color, and texture is extremely broad. That ensures the gift's originality. All plants, even if they are the same species, are unique.

While you still might get that less-than-enthused reaction when you give a plant as a gift, tell them you got it for their health. There are several studies showing the benefits of having indoor plants around. For example, "Project Carbon," an ongoing three-pronged study is seeking to provide the additional science that would support an expansion of the certification to indoor plants. Preliminary results released a couple of months ago (more to be revealed during the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition next month in Ft. Lauderdale) show that a total of 216 4-inch plants of Ficus benjamina, pothos, philodendron, sansevieria, aglaonema, and spathiphyllum, clearly fix carbon. Research like this not only bodes well for the foliage industry, but also for us who enjoy breathing. It's good information to have when giving a plant as a gift, too. You can call it a gift that keeps on giving.

Now, if the aforementioned suggestions and all else fails, perhaps it's time to go with Plan B: Can you say Chia Pet? Like I said earlier, there is no accounting for taste.

Happy holidays to all, and here's to getting as good as we give!

One (S)hell Of An Idea

I'm a big proponent of the "Buy Local" philosophy. There are food packages a plenty in my pantry and fridge with the words "Fresh From Florida" emblazoned on them. There's a sense of pride that comes with using items built, grown, and/or harvested in your own back yard. I guess it's that kind of thinking that instinctively led me to the Shellscape booth at this year's Landscape Show in Orlando. When I got in for a closer look, I noticed that the organic alternative groundcover product on display was, in fact, shell.

Available in several colors, this mulching option lends a distinct, decorative look and texture to the landscape that is uniquely Florida. Recently, I have become intrigued about mulch alternatives like recycled glass. Colored recycled glass looks really cool, but from what I know, it's kinda expensive and it's not easy to find as I've come up empty trying to locate it at several local box stores and garden centers. The more I saw of the shell product, the more I wanted to learn.

After speaking with Shawn Sundall and Ryan Krinsky of Shellscape, I was able to find out more about the product and its advantages. One big plus is that the shell is a byproduct of mining done right here on the sunny shores of the Sunshine State. A home-grown product. Now you are talking.

According to Shellscape's product literature, some of the advantages of using shell include:

• An organic byproduct from Florida mining (nice plug for those looking for a "green" angle)
  
• Shell can maintain its appearance longer
  
• It does not have to be replaced, just re-colored if desired (good for those looking to reduce costs)
  
• Allows optimal water flow and drainage
  
• Moderates soil-temperature fluctuations
  
• Natural fertilizer: Shell releases nutrients that plants need including calcium and phosphates
  
• Safe for kids and pets
  
• Colored shells can be maintained via spray application of a water-based natural coloring: Shells are colored via a dying process that is totally water based and has no toxins to affect either plant or living organisms
  
• Does not provide a natural habitat for insects and other pests
  
• Retains moisture


• Can be applied around fruit and vegetable plants where other mulch alternatives like rubber cannot
  

Sundall and Krinsky added that they have contacted the University of Florida about conducting research on the effectiveness of using shell as a landscape groundcover. I'm looking forward to those results as it should motivate more people to try shell as a landscape application.

During my booth visit, I was thinking in the back of my mind how this product could complement my landscape. I was able to snag a few hand-size samples (blue, red, and a natural color) and place them in a planting bed mixed with pebbles.

I really like the splashes of color and different texture it adds. Throw in the other environmental and low-maintenance benefits, and I can't wait to see what kind of impact a larger quantity of Shellscape shell has on my Florida yard.

Test Run: KeyPlex H/G

It's always fun going to trade shows and seeing the latest and greatest products suppliers have to offer. After hearing about and reading up on KeyPlex H/G (Home & Garden) at this year's Landscape Show in Orlando, I knew I wanted to try it out. According to product information, the chelated micronutrient and protein-based formula geared to home gardeners is an ideal supplement to a fertilizer program and can be applied to a host of plant material including flowering annuals and perennials, trees and shrubs, fruits and nuts, and veggies. Similar to KeyPlex's other line of products, H/G works by triggering a plant's natural defense mechanism, protecting it from disease and spurring new growth.

When I inquired about the efficacy of the product, Rich Johnston of KeyPlex Direct said, "Try it on anything that's green and grows." Hmmm. I had several plants at home in need of some TLC. So, I decided to take him up on the challenge.

Instead of trying the product on several different plants, I wanted to focus on one plant and take it from there. A pygmy date palm in my front yard was to be the test subject. Despite being on the heels of an average rainy season, the palm had recently started to droop and was displaying browning in the bulk of its fronds. Although the browning was heaviest on the lower leaves, some discoloration had found its way up into the canopy. Yep, this was going to be a good test.

Before applying the product for the first time, I pruned off all the fronds that were completely brown and had no green in them at all. Next it was time to read the directions, lock, load, aim and fire. For sickly looking plants, applying the product directly to the leaves until the point of runoff is recommended for those using the hose-end sprayer method.

About of minute or two of spraying took care of the initial foliar application of this diminutive specimen. The directions call for this same application process once a week until good color and "vigor" is back. Then it scales it back to once every 3-4 weeks for maintenance purposes.

My Impressions And Observations:

The environmentally friendly angle of the product is certainly of value and attractive to the end user. I liked the convenient hose-end sprayer, the lack of odor, and not having to wear gloves or a mask for protection during application.

After five consecutive weeks of applications, I have noticed marked improvement. New leaves have emerged and there are no signs of browning on them. I'd like to see a little more pop, however, before I say we've reached the point of vigorous. But I think we are getting there.

With that, my 32 oz. bottle has run its course. Luckily, I have a second bottle I will continue treatment with on this palm and then try on another candidate.

Stay tuned to see how things progress.

Cool Tools

Reading through the latest issue of Popular Mechanics, I was pleased to see a couple landscape equipment items among the winners highlighted in the magazine's feature on the 10 Most Brilliant Products of 2009. Popular Mechanics describes their list of 2009 Breakthrough Products as: "Brilliant innovations -- most of them, at least, make their greatest contributions once they become products people can buy. This year's winners trim energy use, enhance communication, and just make life more fun."

So what were the "breakthrough" products for landscapers?:

The Hustler Zeon: the world's first all-electric zero-turn radius mower.

The LEHR Eco Trimmer: a four-stroke string trimmer powered by propane.

For me, seeing these products listed is not only cool because tools of the trade for landscapers are getting a shout out, but also the fact that Ornamental Outlook featured both in our New Products section earlier this year.

With advancements in technology continuing at a frantic pace, so does the ingenuity in the tools we use on a daily basis. I'm looking forward to what suppliers have in store for 2010. I'm sure landscape professionals are, too. Keep the good ideas coming.

The Landscape Show-Day 3

Well, another Landscape Show has come and gone. As always, it was fun to walk around the exhibit hall and see cool plants at the displays, learn at informative demonstrations and short-course sessions, gawk at the new, innovative products and have a chance to catch up with everybody I saw.

The overall mood was relatively positive. Of course, I'm sure expectations were low going in. I think it's obvious that acceptance of current marketplace challenges has fully taken place and everyone--myself included---is ready for the healing to begin. When will that happen? If you go by the numbers (see opening general session), we have a ways to go. Perhaps we'll get there faster. The only way that can happen is by sticking together and sticking it out. Showing up and showing your best at an industry trade show is a good way to display solidarity and resiliency. Good show, everyone. Good show.

Show Standouts

Booth Winners

Best of Show: Acosta Farms

Island Display:

Plant, 1st Place: TreeTown USA

2nd Place: Excelsa Gardens

Allied 1st Place: Pottery Patch

Allied 2nd Place: BWI Cos.

300 Sq. Feet+

Plant, 1st Place: Triple O Nursery

2nd Place: Soaring Eagle Nursery

Allied, 1st Place: Larry's Cap Rock & Stone

Allied, 2nd Place: Marshall Pottery

200 Sq. Feet

Plant, 1st Place: American Farms

2nd Place: Hopkins Tropical Fruit Nursery

Allied, 1st Place: AM Leonard

Allied, 2nd Place: Capital Garden Products

100 Sq. Feet

Plant, 1st Place: Tropical Landscapers

2nd Place: Chapman's Orchids

Allied, 1st Place: EcoWalls

2nd Place: Easy Garden Box-A Boman Kemp Product

Most Unusual Plant Specimen:

Wollemi Pine from Beds And Borders South

Click here to see more about Wollemi Pine.

The Landscape Show-Day 2

A day of recognition and learning going into the second day of this year's Landscape Show.

For the last 11 years now, Ornamental Outlook and Meister Media Worldwide have honored the nursery profession by recognizing operations that excel in the field of innovation, leadership, and a commitment to the future of the green industry. It was an honor for me to present the 2009 Ornamental Outlook Operation of the Year award to Ruskin, FL-based Sun City Tree Farm. The award was presented to the company at their booth during the show.

Sun City Tree Farm will be featured in the upcoming November issue of Ornamental Outlook. I'll be heading out to their operation in Ruskin to conduct the photo shoot and interview next week.

Demonstration Education
I was able to take in a few demonstration sessions during the show today. Michael Orfanedes from UF/IFAS led a talk about grading trees. The session, directed to landscape inspectors, discussed ways to measure, inspect, and spot the signs to know if the tree you're looking at is a "Florida Fancy" or a cull.

The Roots Plus Field Growers Association of Florida provided a tree grading cue card for the presentation that listed helpful tips, including:

• Look inside the crown of the tree at the trunk form


• Check branch arrangement


• Choose appropriate tree matrix type (Type 1: spreading and rounding shapes; Type 2: pyramidal shapes; Type 3: columnar/upright shapes; Type 4: vase shapes; and Type 5: oval shapes)


• Measure the caliper of the trunk (measured 6 inches from grade on trees up t and including 4 inches in caliper, and 12 inches from grade for larger trees.


• Grade the tree based on crown spread


• Grade the tree according to structural uniformity

Click here to see more helpful steps from the cue card.

Not only a good demonstration for landscape inspectors, but also a timely topic as more scrutiny is being put on the quality of material that is going in to landscapes.

Veggie Gardening By The Square Foot
Kevin and Theresa Riley from Rockledge Gardens led a demonstration titled "Gardening by the Square Foot." Edible landscaping is a hot topic right now and this presentation showed an easy way for IGCs and/or landscapers to provide a "full-proof" way for a client/homeowner to succeed in veggie/herb gardening and for green industry professionals to take advantage of a profitable niche.

Kevin built a small, 2x2 garden box as Theresa discussed some of the advantages to creating a veggie garden this way. It showed how easy it was to construct it and then to accentuate it to produce a managable landscape element that can give back. Lots of interest and questions from attendees.

"The number one goal for us is for our customers to be successful," Kevin said.

Stay tuned for video clips from these presentations to appear on OOTV.

Speaking Of Recognition ...
The Landscape Awards of Excellence event was held tonight. The Roy Rood Award went to the creative team behind the beauty of Aquatica. The Worlds of Discovery team took home a few other awards, too. Click here to see a complete list of winners.

Another full day in the books. Tradeshow fatigue is starting to set in. One more day to go.

The Landscape Show 2009-Day 1

With the economy top of mind for everyone, what better way to kick off this year's Landscape Show in Orlando with an opening general session addressing that very subject. Henry Fishkind from Fishkind & Associates spoke to a full room of very interested industry professionals. FNGLA retained the consulting services of Fishkind to conduct an in-depth, six-month study about economic trends and how they affect the Florida nursery and landscape industry in particular.

All the numbers and graphs aside, Fishkind says "there is light at the end of the tunnel." Though, the light is a ways off. He says that numbers indicate the economy has bottomed out and the losses are slowing or stopping. Thanks to stimulus money, consumer confidence is starting to come back and the forecast calls for a technical recovery to give way to sustained recovery in 2010. "Things will get better, but we're not off to the races," he says.

Unfortunately, the wait will be a little longer for Florida, according to Fishkind. Indicators show for the rest of 2009 into 2010, it will be "more of the same," he said. All signs point to a slow recovery with housing starts moving up and improvement in population growth in 2011-2012.

On the bright side for the Florida green industry, floriculture sales are on the way up. He cautioned to "keep your seatbelts on" if you're in greenhouse and nursery sales.

From the reaction of the crowd, it doesn't appear that any of the information presented was a shocker: just more reinforcement of what we already know. The trick is to find a way to get to that light at the end of the tunnel relatively unscathed.

When it came to "Defining Your Economic Future," Fishkind offered these words of advice to those attending: "Be smart, vigilant, and careful." For those looking to make structural changes he said to "be prudent." Message received.

Go Green

Sustainability is still a hot topic. I sat in on Joe Lamp'l's short course presentation on "Greening Your Business For The New Eco-Savvy Shopper."

He says today's target audience are looking for safety and more eco-friendly alternatives when seeking out lawn and garden services. "The green industry needs to be a source of information for them," Lamp'l said. "People are asking more questions and we need to be ready to answer them."

Lamp'l pointed out some noteworthy trends for the industry:

• Home vegetable gardening is spiking (Bonnie Plants had its best year ever in 2009---2010 looks to be even better, according to Lamp'l)


• There's more interest in rainwater harvesting


• Bayer Advanced is looking to introduce a new eco-friendly product line called Natria


• Espoma is enhancing its natural line of products

There is a demand for alternatives. The biggest hurdles for the nursery and landscape industry in connecting with the eco-savvy consumer are economics and lack of consumer education. "We need to be a trusted source so we can manage their expectations," Lamp'l concluded.

Get Vertical
In keeping with the "green" theme, I noticed several stunning examples of vertical walls around the demonstration area. Not a gardening practice seen too often around Florida---yet, the message was loud and clear that vertical gardening is not as hard as it looks and could present potential landscape service opportunities for those willing to reach up for them.

Really cool displays and impressive how much goes into not only putting them together, but also keeping them looking good.

Good first day. Gearing up for the second.

Reclaiming The Yard--Part II

The last time we checked in on my latest DIY home landscape project, it was just a concept in my head vs. a big mess of vegetation choking out valuable real estate in my back yard. While other duties called and the "rainy season" lived up to its name, any work intended toward this challenge was delayed.

Recently though, there was enough of a break to allow Phase I (clearing and cleaning out) to get under way. The displaced bugs and snakes are a little confused, but they'll get used to it.

The clearing will continue and eventually give way to Phase II (tilling of the soil and plant selection that can complement the big oak, take away attention or conceal the chain-link fence, cope with the shade and other conditions related to my Zone 9B location, and most of all--look good).

No amazing discoveries digging through this jungle yet. I have found a few stray balls that undoubtedly found their way over from my neighbor's some time ago and got lost in my outback out back.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel and it's finally penetrating this area.

Well, one thing at a time. Rome wasn't built in a day and reclaiming this part of my back yard certainly won't be either.

Stay tuned.

Whatever Works ...

Given all the new high-tech gadgets being thrown at us today, it's hard to choose which one or ones to go with. However, sometimes simplicity is the best solution. With that being said, a press release about a new landscape product passed on to me by a colleague caught my eye. No, it was not a new ultra-modern looking mower or a gps-guided edger for those precise cuts. The featured product in the release was .....(insert drum roll here) a white board. A white board? Yep.According to the release, the 31-Day Crew Schedule from Magnatag is a fused-printed magnetic whiteboard system that's available in 4 sizes to accommodate 4 to 16 crews for up to 4 months. It includes magnetic cardholders to show job locations and specifications. Magnet circles in 10 colors for special job detail codes. Magnetic month and date sets and write-on tools are included, too.

Pretty neat little organizational tool that doesn't have to re-invent the wheel.

I love digital doo-dads as much as the next guy. But, practicality can be cool, too. Despite all the modern conveniences of high-speed digital communication and cell-phone reminders, we still use a big white board here at the office, I have two white boards up around the house, and have a plethora of sticky notes in both locations. You can never be too organized.

Now if we can only figure out how to populate that big crew schedule white board with lots of landscape jobs. I wonder if that comes included?

Social Media Madness

It's all the rage right now: People who barely know each other or who haven't seen each other for a long time are connecting, becoming friends and exchanging ideas and thoughts. It's happening all over the world at an astounding pace and is still growing. This phenomenon I speak of is the social media craze that has taken over as a primary means of communication.

Digital-based forums like Facebook and Twitter have led the way in this social media revolution. Yes, it is true that these sites are social communities, but that doesn't mean relevant information isn't there. More and more businesses have come to realize this and are taking advantage of the reach and immediacy of this technology.

An interesting study just came out confirming that those in the ag industry are quite plugged in (even more than what people probably think) to today's digital media tools.

According to a newly released Agriculture New Media Usage Study (corn and soybean segment focus), 85% of respondents indicated that they visit websites related to their farm operation and 76% check manufacturers' websites. The study also explored the presence of crop producers actively engaged on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. The study goes on to details growers' usage of blogs, forums and/or message boards, and search engine usage and preference also were explored. For more details on the research, click here.

This research confirms what we already know. Information is power, and if there is a faster, more efficient way to get it and disseminate it, then people will follow.

Ornamental Outlook will be exploring this topic further in our upcoming September issue and featuring an article on social media opportunities and what they can do for your business. From what we've learned so far, a growing amount of Florida nursery and landscape professionals are taking part in these social networking circles. More will follow. If you haven't checked out these sites, do it now. You might be missing out.

Gator Tale

Man, I should have saved my alligator photo for this blog post. Oh well. Just recently, another instance of man vs. nature (or in this case woman vs. nature) reared its ugly head here in Florida. A landscaper pulling weeds out of decorative pond in Sanibel was bitten on the hand by a six-foot alligator. The gator did a pretty good number on her hand. Though shaken, the landscaper will be OK. The gator, on the other hand, didn't fare so well with the subsequent meeting it had with Fish and Wildlife.

This news piece is an interesting story (click here to go to OrnamentalOutlook.com to read it) and a painful lesson learned for the landscaper. Shortly after we posted this news item to our website a few days ago, the comments started rolling in from our subscribers. About a dozen so far have come in (BTW--this is much above the average we receive for other articles). Reading through the feedback, I was pleased to see such interactivity from our readers. I also am a little surprised to see how many comments were in favor of the alligator and blaming the victim for invading the reptile's territory.

To me, this is simply a case of wrong place, wrong time. The landscaper probably did know better. People who live here and work here-- especially outdoors -- are aware of the natural risk factors out there. A previous blog post of mine touched on this very subject matter. The Orlando Sentinel had a front-page article earlier this week about the hazards Floridians live with every day.

Plain and simple: Landscaping (especially in Florida) is not an easy job, but somebody's got to do it!

The Deep End

Florida may be a peninsula, but it often feels more like an island when it comes to water issues. A combination of population explosion, drought-like weather patterns, and environmental water quality has allowed water consumption to swim its way to the hot-topic surface. Nursery and landscape professionals know this all too well. Water restrictions impact their very livelihoods.

Water restrictions around the state, especially in South Florida, have finally eased lately thanks to tropical-moisture fueled storm systems that have dumped nice amounts of precipitation in the last couple of months. Though the regulations might have softened, the problems are still bubbling. South Florida is coming off the worst drought since 1932 (since recordkeeping began). Recently, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties launched an online discussion and survey to get the pulse of people's attitudes on water conservation. This comes on the heels of a study on water resources in the future. I'm curious to see what the banter and the survey dredge up. After all, this water problem runs deeper than just nursery and landscape businesses. This is not just an industry issue, this is a community/lifestyle issue.

Is there enough water to go around? Well, the water management districts say no. However, I get a different message when I drive by and see irrigation systems in commercial parks and even residences running at full tilt in the middle of a downpour (especially disheartening, during last year's four-day soaker, aka--Tropical Storm Fay). There is plenty of technology out there to prevent such ignorance from happening. There's even low-tech ways like looking out the window to see if it's raining.

Either way, progress and solutions need to be discussed now and put into action before the next "drier-than-normal" season rolls around. The Florida nursery and landscape industry have made great strides to promote smart plant purchases and install more Florida-friendly landscapes. This has been a good start, and needs to continue to make up for those who are not so water wise and those who refuse to be.

Hurricane Hunting - Microsoft Style

Mother Nature beware. Bill Gates is after you. According to news reports, the master of Microsoft is looking to put a hurting on hurricanes and tropical storms. He, along with a list of other inventors/contributors, submitted applications to the U.S. patent office that offer a way to weaken or break up the monster storms. For those who live and work in a hurricane-vulnerable state like Florida, this is interesting news.

In short: It sounds like the plan would consist of fleets of barges to ride out ahead of the storm and chill the sea temperatures by dumping and stirring up cold water in the storm's path thus depleting it of its main fuel source.

Hmmm. I understand the reasoning behind the effort and applaud the creativity, but but you have to wonder about some of the effects this kind of climate control would have.

Some of the questions that come to mind:

• By eliminating these storms, does that mean Florida's rainy season should change its name to the drier muggy season?
  
• How much lead time will these barges have on the storms? Storms can develop and diminish pretty quickly; and I wouldn't necessarily put the words "fast" and "barge" in the same sentence.
  
• How will fish and other marine life react to all this cold water being dumped into the warm currents?
  
• When it comes to really large storms like Andrew, Katrina, and Ike, how much water displacement are we talking about?
  
• Can this really work?

If this concept has any legs whatsoever, these questions, along with the multitudes of others, will be addressed in time. This is not the first time an idea has been pitched to disrupt hurricanes, and I'm sure this won't be the last. Of course, none of those ideas were powered by Microsoft. So, watch out sun. You might be next.

In the meantime, we'll watch the tropics this hurricane season and -- like always -- rely on preparation and good judgement to deal if disaster does indeed make a threat.

Reclaiming The Yard

In these budget-crunching times, more people are spending time at home and in their yards. Outdoor living is a way of life in Florida and a well-planned "staycation" starts and ends in the yard. This a good thing for local garden centers, growers, and landscapers. Whether it's DIYers looking for plant and hardscape material or those with a larger budget looking for a professional to do the heavy lifting, there is opportunity.

As a homeowner and someone who covers the Florida nursery and lanscape industry for a living, I understand the value of a well-groomed landscape. Click here for more reasons to love landscaping.

Documented research certainly can help with the marketing of plant products and landscaping services in an environment where buyers are weighing the value of their investments more than ever.

My family and I enjoy doing things like hanging out, grilling, and playing in the yard. I'm sure I'd love it even more if it were a tropical oasis--but I do what I can, when I can. There's a budget and timeframe out there for everybody. BTW-Like most, mine is limited on both accounts.

But I digress. Indeed, there are some areas around my yard that I'd like to address. Case in point:

This mess is located along my back fence under the cover of a live oak tree. Overgrown with ferns, lilies, and other assorted items planted by the previous owner--not to mention all of the live oak seedlings that have sprouted up from the mother tree -- this part of my back yard is unusable. I'd like to reclaim this part of the yard by clearing it out and laying some sod to extend the main lawn and maybe carve out a planting bed around the base of the oak for contrast and to soften the fence area.

This has literally become no man's land. A little breathing room would be nice.

Instead of a space I can enjoy (let alone even get to), this area is a haven for snakes, a hangout for mosquitoes, and a hiding place for other creepie crawlies. Believe me, I've seen enough of all of them to know. It's going to be fun digging through this jungle.

Can anyone say hodge podge?

Yep. This is going to take some time. Got any ideas on what I can do with this space? Feel free to leave a comment. Feedback is welcome as I come up with a gameplan to try and tackle this project. Check back as I give updates as things progress. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.

Cool Concept

While compiling information for an upcoming Ornamental Outlook New Products feature, I came across this eco-friendly concept mower from Husqvarna. Pretty slick looking, and silent to boot. Man, I'd like one of these.

Right On, Retail

Looking around my yard, there are some projects I'd like to tackle. After factoring in time and budget, I know I can't do everything at once. OK. So, let's start with some mulch. Time to go stimulate the economy.

Every time I drive by Lukas Nursery in Oviedo, I have a hard time remembering that we're currently experiencing a down market. During a visit a couple of months ago, the parking lot of this independent retail garden center was filled with cars and was bustling with activity inside. My most recent visit, this past Friday afternoon, it was more of the same. I wasn't expecting as many people on a blazing-hot, late afternoon on a holiday weekend.

The lines of customers waiting to be rung up not only was a welcome sight for the garden center, but as I see it, also is good news for the Florida nursery and landscape industries. Indeed, people are out spending on plants, garden supplies, and landscaping. Count me in as one who understands the value of landscaping. Is the economy on its way back? I'm not completely sold yet. However it's good to see some positive signs at this IGC in my neck of the woods.
Based on my observations - past and present - this garden center/nursery has done and continues to do a nice job of maintaining and building its client base. I had a fruitful visit and captured some pictures while I was there. I'll be back for more photos and product soon. I promise.

Take a seat or two...

Hardgoods anyone?


Good product placement and selection.

Nice water feature display near the entrance.

Interested in plants or not, the onsite

butterfly encounter is a nice draw.


Pottery barn---literally.


Welcome to Florida.

SMACK!

It's rainy season, and you know what that means: green lawns, vigorous plants and flowers, and armies of mosquitoes outside your door. Man, I hate mosquitoes. But they love me. I can ignite myself in a blaze of citronella oil and they'd still attack.

Here in Florida, we actually "celebrate" Mosquito Control Awareness Week. Last week, Hillsborough County started the blitz to educate local residents about methods to prevent these buggers from overtaking their yards. I took note of an e-mail I received from Hillsborough titled Top 10 Mosquito Prevention Tips. I pared it down to a few that were somewhat related to the industries I cover.

• If you have bromeliad plants in your yard, regularly rinse them out with a garden hose. Mosquito larvae need water to grow and evolve, and bromeliads are an excellent host. The average bromeliad can be expected to produce around a hundred mosquitoes per year. That may not seem like much, but if you have ten or twenty plants in your yard, that’s several thousand mosquitoes! [Yikes, I have at least 50 bromeliads growing in my yard--see picture above. Potential mosquito breeding ground or not, I have no intention of getting rid of these. I'll rinse 'em out thank you very much.]
  


• Take special precautions in high mosquito areas. Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes. Also use insect repellent containing DEET on any exposed skin. Please read the label before using the product and avoid direct application to the face. [There aren't too many places I can think of that aren't high mosquito areas during this time of year]
  


• Watch out for puddles in your yard. Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days. [Good advice no matter what]

If interested in more mosquito prevention tips, go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org.

When I'm out in the yard for any length of time after dusk, I'm armed with a can of OFF! I'm sure you can find a can or two thousand if you look long enough in a landscape professional's equipment truck and/or somewhere in close proximity to a nursery's shadehouse.

Here's a mosquito-prevention method I recently tried for the first time. Sometimes I just don't feel like spraying myself down with a DEET-laced product--especially if I'm not going to be bathing anytime soon after. In those cases, I have tried rubbing my arms and legs with a fresh dryer sheet and then stuffing it in one of my pockets. I heard somewhere that the scent throws the blood suckers off. Well I'll be ... it's worked for me ... so far. It might be only a matter of time before the mosquitoes are on to it and then I counter with a full body suit of dryer sheets. Now that would be a sight--scary.

Ad Placement Is Everything

Advertising is a funny thing. As essential a tool it is to get the word out to a specific target audience, it is often the first budget-item casualty for businesses when times get tough.

Now is not the time to be bashful. Luckily, there are plenty of cost-effective ways to boost your company profile. It's true, the economic downturn has forced companies to become more creative in their marketing strategies ... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Thinking outside the box will continue to raise the sales and marketing bar. So one must be ready with concepts to rise with and above others in your competitive set.

The photo above is a good example of creative, effective ad placement. For this Sarasota-based landscape firm, there's nothing like letting your work do the talking.

Gardening On A Budget

A colleague of mine recently forwarded me an e-mail he received about how to effectively manage gardens and landscapes on a tight budget. A timely topic of interest amid today's economy-conscious society. The e-mail contained tips from Steve Jacobs, president of San Diego-based Nature Designs Landscaping.

The content seemed mostly aimed at the end-consumer. However, there were a few points of interest I think are good reminders for those in the landscape industry, such as:

• Plant perennials instead of annuals. Annuals are short lived, use excessive water and must be replaced, while there is a large selection of drought tolerant perennials that can live for many years and offer plenty of beautiful color.
• Eliminate lawn where you are not using it. Lawns are one of the most intensive maintenance and water consuming plantings in a landscape, requiring weekly mowing, edging and recurrent irrigation.
• Prune naturally instead of formally. When you prune for the natural growth habit of the plant you will reduce the amount of pruning needed per year, resulting in decreased costs. Hedging and balling your plants will create a need for frequent pruning, and the tools and/or professional landscape maintenance services that goes with it.
• Identify and rectify irrigation problems.
• Select drought tolerant plants. These plants, like the Mediterranean and native variety, will use less water and can require very little maintenance.
• Put the right plant in the right spot. Install plants that can grow to maturity where they are planted with minimal care or pruning. Such “zone appropriate” planting will ensure the plant or tree won’t outgrow its space and need to be frequently pruned or, worse, relocated at risk of losing the plant all-together.
• Apply fertilizer modestly. Fertilize only as needed based on the requirements of your individual plants.

Basic stuff, yes. Good info to keep in mind, you bet.

Safety First

Flying debris, sharp power tools, frequent exposure to loud, obnoxious noises and various chemicals are just some of the daily hazards landscape professionals deal with (see Florida for snakes, gators, and hurricanes, too). This time of year, the hot weather conditions can be particulary challenging for those who work outdoors for a living. The storms are nothing to mess with either.

Even though Florida is known as the "Sunshine State," it's also the lightning capital of the world. If you live here, you can pretty much set your watch by the thunderstorms that blow up around the same time every afternoon during the rainy season.
Landscapers are often, if not always, out at a jobsite during this time of day. There have been plenty of times that I've driven by a group of landscapers mowing, trimming, etc.. in the middle of these monsoons. I guess there are some jobs that just won't wait.

Unfortunately, the bevy of metal-based equipment and tools used also are great lightning rods. Case in point: Just recently, a South Florida landscaper was struck and killed by lightning while mowing a lawn at a Coral Springs apartment complex. According to the Weather Channel, there were seven reported lightning deaths across the U.S. (including the one in Florida) during the week of May 31-June 6 alone. Three out of the seven were garden/yard/landscape-related activities. Frankly, I'm surprised this kind of thing doesn't occur more often.

According to statistics, farming/ranching and tree-cutting-related jobs rank as some of the most dangerous occupations. OSHA has a web page dedicated to landscape/horticultural service hazards and solutions. There's some basic info there, but there also are some items that put some of on-the-job dangers in perspective.

As a weekend warrior, I might not be able to totally identify with what landscapers endure on a daily basis. But as a journalist who covers the Florida nursery and landscape industry, I do appreciate and respect the risks taken. Keep up the good work and be careful.

Remote Control Mowing

A Roomba with teeth is the best way to describe the Automower from Husqvarna. The battery-operated, self-charging 260 ACX is touted for "semi-professional use" in public spaces that have low-noise requirements like hospitals, hotels, and office locations (Apparently no noise requirements around my office building. Our mow, blow, and go guys take no prisoners in our parking lot every Tuesday morning around 7:30 with every piece of equipment available cranked up to full song).

The Automower doesn't need any supervision. According to Husqvarna, if anything should happen during operation, this mowbot can send a text to your cell phone asking for help.

What will they think of next? I wonder if it is smart enough to avoid anything the dog may leave behind.

Tuned Into Landscaping

There aren't a lot of television shows I watch on a regular basis, but I'll have to admit, I do enjoy DIY Network's and HGTV's lineup of landscape-reality programming. OK, most are far from reality---especially budget wise---but they do entertain me nonetheless.

After watching, I do find myself inspired to go out in my yard and try some of the things they were doing on the show. My inspiration usually turns into reality once I'm actually standing in my yard. I soldier on to cut the grass, weed, and prune to the best of my ability. Aahh, another successful project completed---at least for this week.

Although scripted, I think these kind of "reality" shows do have some value to the landscape industry. Anything that promotes the hard work behind and the value of landscaping is good thing in my book.

If you haven't yet, check out some of these shows:

-Yard Crashers (probably my favorite--they filmed a show that aired recently from this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival)

-Super Scapes (If I only had the budget these people have to work with)

-Get Out, Way Out! (See comment above)

-Desperate Landscapes (Describes a few yards in my neighborhood)

-The King Of Dirt (New show--don't have an opinion yet)

Happy viewing.

A Little Help Here

A little help goes a long way, even for DIYers like myself. When going to big box stores-be it for parts, paint, or tools, I usually have questions and hope for the right guidance. I expect the same when I'm shopping for garden supplies and plants.
Given this, I was pleased to hear that in an effort to help Orange County Utilities get the water-conservation message to consumers, the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA) is heading a training program for big-box garden center employees around the Orlando area during the month of June. The course is a modified version of Florida Certified Horticultural Professional and the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program. Word is that more than 100 garden-center employees from area Home Depot and Lowes are signed up for the four sessions.

The curriculum will cover topics such as:
* Soil conditions
* Plant selection
* Efficient watering
* Mulching
* Fertilization
* Weed and pest control
* Maintenance

Kudos to FNGLA for reaching out with an initiative like this. And huzzah to HD and Lowe's for being receptive to this continuing education opportunity. This only can help open the lines of communication between the middle man and the end user. I shake my head when I see things like bottle or coconut palms on sale at box stores around my Central Florida neighborhood. A training program like this should be able to help prevent a lot of dead plants and frustrated customers.

FNGLA is planning to make this a model for a training program that could be utilized by other utilities companies across the state.

With this kind of much-needed and essential training, "You Can Do It, We Can Help" (I know it's HD's old slogan) never rang more true.