In the face of rapidly-declining honeybee populations, farms across the country are under threat. In California, officials are now pioneering new methods to boost the health of the honeybees and butterflies, according to a recent Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. To reiterate the importance of these efforts, Congressman Jeff Denham, who is also an almond farmer, said at the briefing: "making sure we have healthy pollinators is critical to a state like California."

There to discuss these pioneering methods was Keith Robinson, ASLA, principal of the landscape architecture program at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The purview of Robinson and the 240 landscape architects he leads is roadsides. Their primary job is to control erosion. But Robinson and his team have seized on that mandate to boost the health of pollinators along California’s 250,000 acres of highway roadside.

What books are on your shelves? Which ones should be? It goes without saying – doesn’t it? – that if you’re in commercial horticulture, you have the bibles written by Drs. Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr, both professors emeritus of horticulture at the University of Georgia, Athens. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the game, these are the books you need. Not the only ones, of course, but here’s your foundation:

The premier perennials expert is, of course, Allan Armitage, whose hallmark Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes, isnow in its third edition. But there are more, of course, so let’s list them here.

Recently, I spoke on green infrastructure broadly to a landscape and horticulture production audience. Pollinators (especially native bees) are a passion. One of the audience members said she was having a hard time "selling pollinator habitat to corporate."

She works in a gated, upscale community and management isn’t so sure that having plants attractive to bees in proximity to parking lots or walkways is a great idea. On her behalf I reached out to Xerces Society’s Nancy Adamson who referred me to the Wildlife Habitat Council in Washington, D.C. where Sara Barnas, Conservation Planning Manager sent these great links. I’m sharing with you so that everyone can use these great talking points and examples of pollinators and corporate America.

Congratulations to Heather Blake of Natural Treasures Farm & Nursery on being awarded 2016 Outstanding Chapter Leader Award by FNGLA at FNGLA’s annual convention. Heather is the current president of the Frontrunners Chapter serving North Central Florida. We are so proud of Heather and thrilled to see her good work highlighted in this video.

Attention FANN members and potential members — August 1, 2016 is our deadline to get member profile updates, plant availability updates, credentials/services survey inputs and display ad orders for both the Native Plant & Service Directory and the Guide for Real Florida Gardeners. Please contact Cammie or Emma 321-271-4885 for assistance and questions. Not a member yet? Let your membership lapse? Take care of that right here.

Draft Guidance for Pesticide Registrants on Pesticide Resistance Management Labeling
Applies to all conventional agricultural pesticides (including herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides and acaricides). Focus is on product labeling to improve information about how pesticide users can minimize and manage pest resistance.

At the end of May 2016, C & C Peat Company merged with Southeast Soils LLC to form Southeast Soils Peat Company Inc.

Renee Stambaugh, owner of Native Plant Consulting/Native Gardens Nursery in Elkton, St. Johns County, is seeking someone to take over her successful retail operation serving the St. Augustine region. Her husband has recently retired and she would like to pass this vital business on.

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Florida is home to 22 types of native milkweeds — the plant everyone wants to buy to help save the monarch butterfly — but good luck finding them in local stores.

The Florida Milkweed Project has acquired Asclepias humistrata (Pineland or Sandhill Milkweed) seed for production by FANN growers. This spring-summer blooming, sprawling groundcover-like perennial features pretty flowers but the leaves are even more spectacular — very large and colorful. This species is found throughout North and Central Florida south to Highlands County in the excessively well drained soils such as those found in sandhill and scrub habitats.

Do you find yourself spending hours upon hours replying to landscaper requests for quotes and pricing from their customers? I have a feeling you might and that you’ve probably come to the point of accepting that it’s just a part of the job. However, I suspect you also sometimes find yourself frustrated because the tedious efforts you’ve invested go unrewarded when far too often you’re not winning those jobs.

On average, we see that growers reply to thousands of requests for pricing (RFP) a year. In the busiest seasons, that might mean 400 to 500 RFP replies a month. And if you’re a nursery that commercial landscapers contact for plant material, and are bidding competitively, you’re probably only winning 15% to 30% of the price requests. That’s enough to discourage even the most industrious folks in our business.

There are unidentified potential crooks out there—they could be staff, customers and/or total strangers. If you’re an easy target, they will find you. Make it difficult and they’ll hit an easier mark.

Your defenses should include highly visible—as well as hidden—video cameras. When George’s (San Diego, California) had a break-in, they reviewed their video files. Because the crooks wore the same hoodies when they cased the place three days before as they did when they broke in, identification and arrests were quick. Don’t forget outside areas and the parking lot. If you can electronically follow the thieves to their vehicle, you may get plate numbers.