First national sustainable rating-system released for landscapes
The Sustainable Sites Initiative (sustainablesites.org) has released the nation’s first rating system for the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings. It was developed through a partnership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden.
The rating system works on a 250-point scale, with levels of achievement for obtaining 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent or 80 percent of available points, recognized with one through four stars, respectively.
If prerequisites are met, points are awarded through the 51 credits covering areas such as the use of greenfields, brownfields or greyfields; materials; soils and vegetation; construction and maintenance.
These credits can apply to projects ranging from corporate campuses, transportation corridors, public parks and single-family residences.
Outdoor living products top list of best gifts for Christmas 2009
Unity Marketing’s (unitymarketingonline.com) surveys of self-purchases among affluent consumers in the past year indicates that outdoor living accents will be popular gifts during the Yuletide season.
Affluents have invested more in their outdoor living spaces this year, so outdoor accents can make a mood-lifting Christmas gift as people look forward to the spring. But these items won’t be found easily in the mass department stores or big box chains. Rather, shoppers will need to turn to local garden centers to get the best selection of decorative pots, baskets, window boxes, chimeneas, bird feeders, flags, banners, garden signs.
Posting strong growth this year among affluents has been outdoor accent lighting, which could make a practical and in-demand gift idea.
WHO’S NEWS?
New positions
Jaye Hamel to senior account executive; Maria C. Shepherd to account executive-retail sales specialist, Hortica Insurance and Employee Benefits, Edwardsville, Ill.
Mike Weber to garden shop manager; Gloria Reese to assistant garden shop manager, Chalet, Wilmette, Ill.
Eric McGourty to Director of Finance/Controller, Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton, Mass.
Business changes
Contech Enterprises, (contech-inc.com) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, has acquired Tanglefoot, Grand Rapids, Mich.
T.O. Plastics has launched a new Web site, www.toplastics.com.
Honors
The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, an 80-foot blue spruce, was sprayed with GSI Horticultural’s Moisturin Anti-transpirant twice before it was cut.
Johnson’s Garden Center, Macon, Ga., celebrated its 50th anniversary in October.
Briggs Nursery, Elma, Wash., has been accepted into the United States Nursery Certification Program.
Ragin’ Cajun, a Southern Living plant, received the Dallas Arboretum’s FlameProof award based on its superior heat- and humidity-tolerance and uniqueness after rigorous testing.
CALENDAR
January 2010
3-4, WESTERN Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Overland Park, Kan.; wnla.org
6-8, Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Baltimore; mants.com
6-8, Northern Green Expo, Minneapolis; NorthernGreenExpo.org
8-9, Birdwatch America, Atlanta, Ga.; birdwatchamerica.com
12-13, Mid-States Horticultural Expo, Louisville, Ky.; mshe.org
12-14, Landscape Ontario Congress, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; locongress.com
Explore the December 2009 Issue
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