Features. New & Old Fall Zinnias. July/August Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Region IV. Every Issue. New & Old Fall Zinnias

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1 Knowledge Integrity Service Serving Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fanin, Grayson, Hill, Hunt, Kaugam, and Rockwall Counties July/August 2016 Features New & Old Fall Zinnias Mounds of seasonal color Zika Virus and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases AgriLife Extension provides Important information Spotlight on Board Member Greer Pittman, Treasurer Every Issue Calendar Industry News Board of Directors Parting Words Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Region IV New & Old Fall Zinnias - Mounds of Seasonal Color - A Texas Superstar Plant Writer: Robert Burns These are very colorful plants that we re promoting for fall use They have all the fall colors you like to see: oranges, apricots and yellows. -- Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist COLLEGE STATION What really got the Texas Superstar board members excited about fall zinnias were some new series, including the marylandica types that form disease-resistant mounds of color, lasting until frost when planted in late summer, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Research horticulturist. These are very colorful plants that we re promoting for fall use, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist and head of the Texas Superstar board, Overton. more on 4

2 - INDUSTRY EVENTS Calendar Submit Content Do you have some industry news you'd like to share with Region IV members? Maybe an article, photo, advice, or something else? Contact: Jonathan Schlimme (972) full calendar at August Thurs-Sat No Meeting Nursery/Landscape EXPO in Houston George R. Brown Convention Center More Info Schedule of Events September No Meeting October 11 Tuesday Regional Monthly Meeting at Southwest Wholesale 220 Sandy Lake Road Carrollton, TX :30 8 pm November 1 Tuesday Regional Monthly Meeting at Industrial Power 436 Powerhouse McKinney, TX :30 8 pm December 13 Tuesday Holiday Party at Main Event 3941 Central Expressway Plano, TX :30 8 pm 2 TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August 2016

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4 New & Old Fall Zinnias AgriLife Extension Continued from Page 1 They have all the fall colors you like to see: oranges, apricots and yellows. Fall zinnias and chrysanthemums have similar attributes and can be used in much the same ways, Pemberton said. Fall zinnias have all the colors gardeners love to see in the fall oranges, apricots and yellows, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research horticulturist. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Robert Burns) But whereas chrysanthemums may only flower for several weeks, and then only if the weather is cool, fall zinnias tolerate Texas heat well and will display color until the first frost, if properly watered and fertilized. Strictly speaking, the marylandica type refers to a distinct species, Zinnia marylandica, he noted. Marylandica types include the Profusion and Zahara series, Pemberton said. They bloom prolifically and grow as tall as 12 to 18 inches. Individual flowers are as large as 2.5 inches in diameter. Mounds of color refers to the marylandica types, which tend to be more compact or bushier than standard zinnia varieties, he said. This bushy characteristic makes them ideal for mixed borders, beds, cutting gardens, containers and what are known as cottage gardens, a rustic style featuring a mixture of ornamental and edible plants Originally published on AgriLife Today Marylandica Zinnias Standard zinnias can be susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew the marylandica types are highly resistant. Young plants of the standard types can be pinched off or pruned, to encourage bushyness, but this is not required for the newer types. Zinnias attract pollinating insects, which adds to their fun, said Dr. Brent Pemberton, AgriLife Research ornamental horticulturist. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Keith Hansen) Placing the plants so they get good air circulation or flow will further help prevent fungal leaf diseases. The flowers are big attractions for pollinators, such as butterflies. Dying flowers retain some color, and there s generally not a lot of deadheading.involved Fall zinnias of all types usually begin showing up in Texas garden centers in September. Writer: Robert Burns , rd-burns@tamu.edu Read Full Article New & Old Fall Zinnias: A Texas Superstar 4 TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August 2016

5 on Board Member Greer Pittman Treasurer I am a native Texan and grew up in Grapevine. I think that I first got the itch to work with plants when I travelled to my grandfather s farm in Sweetwater, TX and rode regularly on his tractor in the cotton fields that he worked. Upon graduating from High School, I ventured back to west Texas where I enrolled at Texas Tech University. While I did take and enjoy Horticulture 101 as an elective course, I ended up attaining a business degree from Tech in After a stint in the corporate world, however, I felt called to make a career change. In the spring 2004 I enrolled at Tarleton State University and graduated in December 2005 with a MS of Horticulture. While attending TSU I started working in the green industry part time at a Dallas landscape company. I then moved on into a full time sales position at Southwest Wholesale Nursery upon graduating. In mid-2006 I moved into purchasing at Southwest where I now work as Purchasing Manager. My wife, Angie and I, have two children, Crawford and Adelle. In my down time, I can be found coaching my son s sports team, navigating my daughters Adventure Princess circle, hunting or enjoying some other outdoor pursuit. Treasurer Greer Pittman GPittman@SouthwestNursery.com TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August

6 Texas Superstar plants undergo extensive tests throughout the state by AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists. Texas Superstar is a registered trademark owned by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a state agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System. To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must not just be beautiful but also perform well for consumers and growers throughout Texas. Superstars must also be easy to propagate, which should ensure the plants are not only widely available throughout Texas but reasonably priced. More information about the Texas Superstar program can be found at A list of wholesalers and retailers who stock Texas Superstar plants and labels can be found at 6 TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August 2016

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8 INDUSTRY NEWS The Zika Virus AgriLife Extension s statewide campaign to educate the public Aedes mosquitoes, the principal vectors of Zika virus, are small dark mosquitoes with distinct white bands on the legs. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Mike Merchant) The real challenge here is to convince individual adults, most of whom are not at high risk, to protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes to avoid contracting and then spreading the disease. --Dr. Charles Allen, AgriLife Extension entomologist and state integrated pest management coordinator Educating the public about Zika is now AgriLife Extension s priority-one Writer: Steve Byrns COLLEGE STATION Educating the public to protect themselves from Zika has become priority one for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, a state leader said. AgriLife Extension is tasked with educating the public on a great number of topics for all ages, but in a bold unprecedented move, the agency has harnessed its statewide presence to prepare the public against this ever-increasing threat, said Dr. Susan Ballabina, executive associate director, College Station. As I expect most Texans are aware, the Zika virus spread mainly by the A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes is a very real threat to the health of unborn babies, Ballabina said. With recent cases in Florida almost certainly stemming from local mosquitoes, our experts warn it s only a matter of time before the same occurs in our state. AgriLife Extension has a strong history of addressing emerging issues and the Zika issue is another opportunity to provide our citizens with information to minimize the threat. Ballabina said the timing is right because so far no vaccine has been developed, so raising public awareness on ways to avoid mosquito bites is the best and really the only protection at this time. Dr. Charles Allen, AgriLife Extension entomologist and state integrated pest management coordinator at San Angelo, led a team of entomologists in compiling the resource information now being used by AgriLife Extension agents. He credited Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist at Dallas, and Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension livestock and veterinary entomologist at Stephenville, with providing and compiling the bulk of the information into an easy-to-use straightforward format. 8 TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August 2016

9 The real challenge here is to convince individual adults, most of whom are not at high risk, to protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes to avoid contracting and then spreading the disease, Allen said. It s not so much for their well-being, but for the good of our most vulnerable, the unborn. We need individuals to step up and avoid getting mosquito bitten for the good of growing families in our communities. Read Full Article Educating the Public About Zika Originally published on AgriLife Today 8/09/2016 Writer: Steve Byrns, s-byrns@tamu.edu Contacts: Dr. Mike Merchant, m-merchant@tamu.edu Dr. Sonja Swiger, slswiger@ag.tamu.edu DEFEND AGAINST ZIKA AND OTHER MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES Get proactive with mosquito prevention! Attack the mosquitoes at the larval stage Drain and/or Remove items that might make for a good mosquito breeding ground Drop Mosquito Dunks into any pools of stagnant water Spread the word! Promote awareness on your website, social media, and /or newsletters. Notice potential problem areas in your clients landscapes and fix them! AgriLife Extension info vid Many locations in the typical backyard can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service graphic) More Info Protecting from Zika TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August

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11 Board of Directors & Officers TNLA Region IV Chairman Jodi Joseph, TCLP Lambert s Jjoseph@Lamberts.net Vice Chairman Alan Richmond Southern Botanical, Inc Alan.Richmond@SouthernBotanical.com Grower Director Matt Ruibal Ruibal s Plants of Texas Matt@Ruibals.com Supplier Director Kristen Anderson, TCNP Oakstreet Wholesale Nursery Kristen@OakStreetNursery.com Landscape Director Benjamin Proulx Ben.Proulx@gmail.com Retail Director Doug Duncan Hotchkiss Insurance DDuncan@HIALLC.com Advertising Opportunities The TNLA Region IV newsletter is distributed to more than 1,200 industry professionals. It is published bi-monthly, six times annually: January/ February March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December For more information or to advertise in this publication, contact Jonathan Schlimme at Jonathan@VerdantGrounds.com Member Advertising Rates Ad Size Single Issue 6-Issue Discount Business Card $60/ issue $225 ¼ Page $75 / issue $325 ½ Page $110 / issue $500 Full Page $180 / issue $800 Secretary Travis Ward OakStreet Wholesale Nursery Travis@OakStreetNursery.com Treasurer Greer Pittman Southwest Nursery GPittman@SouthwestNursery.com Communications Coordinator & Newsletter Editor - Jonathan Schlimme Verdant Grounds Jonathan@VerdantGrounds.com State Chairman Billy Long, TCLP Billy Long Enterprises Immediate Past State Chair Johnette Taylor Roundtree Landscaping Johnette@RoundtreeLandscaping.com State Rep, Region IV - Jason Craven Southern Botanical Jason.Craven@SouthernBotanical.com TNLA Region IV Newsletter July/August

12 Parting Words "If opportunity doesn t knock, build a door. Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Region IV July/August 2016