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Advanced shipping notification required for some crops
Beginning March 1, 2011, interstate shipping nurseries located either in counties that are established as quarantined areas or in regulated counties that have previously tested positive for Phytophthora ramorum must provide advance notification to destination states in non-regulated areas for certain high-risk plant species.
All nurseries located in the quarantine area that ship any species of Camellia, Kalmia, Pieris, Rhododendron (including Azalea) and Viburnum interstate to non-regulated areas must provide advance notification.
Also, nurseries shipping those species interstate to non-regulated areas must provide advance notification if they are located in regulated counties, with one or more interstate shippers that have tested positive for P. ramorum, since 2003.
The affected counties are:
California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Placer, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, Shasta, Stanislaus and Tulare; Oregon: Curry, Clackamas, Columbia, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill; Washington: Clark, Cowlitz, King, Lewis, Pacific, Snohomish and Thurston.
For more: www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/index.shtml.
Branding company looks to revitalize bulb market
Brand revitalization agency, Woodbine, has been selected by a group of 17 flower bulb trading companies to develop and execute a marketing campaign to invigorate consumer demand for flowering bulbs throughout North America. The participating companies are affiliated with Anthos, the Royal Trade Association for Nursery Stock and Flower Bulbs headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Together, the participating companies account for 85 percent of consumer sales in North America.
The campaign, set to launch during the second half of 2011, will consist of a website, consumer advertising, digital marketing, social media, public relations and event marketing. It will also have a trade component targeted to retailers across all channels of distribution. The participating companies have made a three-year commitment to the campaign, totaling $1.9 million per year.
Goldenraintree named Urban Tree of the Year
The Society of Municipal Arborists named Koelreuteria paniculata the 2011 Urban Tree of the Year.
The emerging leaves on the goldenraintree are pink-red then mid-green then turning butter yellow in the autumn. Small yellow flowers form large pyramidal panicles that resemble paper lanterns mid- to late-summer followed by pink or red-flushed fruit capsules. It takes the cold, heat, drought and wind well.
Greener Plants concept takes root
An initiative by a Virginia nursery developed with the support of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is taking root as the garden industry, watershed protection groups and the public push to improve water quality through a movement that starts in the homeowner’s yard.
In late 2010, Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia launched its Greener Plants brand to encourage consumers to adopt environmentally responsible growing practices at home that will help clean up and preserve America’s watersheds.
To help consumers grow more responsibly, Eastern Shore Nursery has launched the www.greenerplants.com website. The nursery’s full line of Greener Plants will be available starting in spring 2011, including the nursery’s Hollybrook Orchards brand of fruit trees, berries and nuts.
Vegetative caps can seal old landfills
USDA scientist Pat Millner and safety manager David Prevar have worked with the EPA and private consultants to conduct a pilot study for an alternative way to cap landfills. Millner’s idea was to cap or seal the old landfill with trees and shrubs, planted in a mix of topsoil and compost, instead of the traditional clay caps. Vegetative caps are gaining acceptance from state agencies as a sustainable practice. Vegetative caps reduce methane emissions while preventing rainfall from penetrating into the landfill waste and then leaching into groundwater.
Bailey Nurseries implements rose guarantee
Easy Elegance roses from Bailey Nurseries now come with a two-year guarantee for consumers. If the plant doesn’t thrive for two years, Bailey Nurseries will refund the purchase price.
The guarantee covers all new residential plantings from the date of purchase with a limit of two roses per household. The refund cannot exceed $60 total. The guarantee does not cover damage from animals or roses over-wintered in containers. Guarantee requests will not be accepted until after June 15, 2011.
Oregon approves buddleia cultivars for sale
The Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Division, recently updated its list of buddleia cultivars approved to sell in the state. The approved varieties produce 2 percent or less viable seeds and meet Oregon’s standards for sterility. The approved varieties may be transported, propagated and sold in the state.
The approved list includes: Buddleia ‘Blue Chip,’ ‘Asian Moon, ‘ ‘Purple Haze;’ Flutterby Grande Blueberry Cobbler, Flutterby Grande Peach Cobbler; Flutterby Pink; Flutterby Petite Snow White; Flutterby Grande Sweet Marmalade; Flutterby Grande Tangerine Dream and Flutterby Grande Vanilla.
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