BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUE
Or more aptly, Back-To-Trade-Shows! Unlike the last couple of years, this summer found us out & about again, rubbing (and bending) elbows, flaunting our wares in IL, OH, PA, TX and FL. Next stop: the Griffin Expo, September 20 -21. It’s the last hurrah of our summer show season, and it’s in beautiful Lancaster, PA. Chow down on chow-chow, scrapple, sweet bologna, chicken pot pie, shoo-fly-pie and whoopie pies. Oof. But you can work it off with a long walk, ‘cuz Lancaster County has great scenery, too.
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As this newsletter takes shape, it’s 14° cooler at our Southern headquarters than at our Northern location. Reality will soon reassert itself. Meanwhile, we’re busily converting seedlings, cuttings and TC into your future perennial crops – like 1,000 new trays of Phlox subulata. See “Tray Bon!” below for more.
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As for your grass needs, we’re performing our usual oxymoronic magic: Multiplying by dividing, i.e., transforming field-grown roots into your liners. Over 2,000 trays of Miscanthus, 1,700 of Calamagrostis and 700 Muhlenbergia come of age in September and October. When you’re ready for them, they’ll be ready for you.
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One hot sunny day in early August we hosted a visit by the Perennial Plant Association during its National Symposium in Lancaster. Two+ busloads of growers, retailers, garden writers, designers, educators and every other shade of green industry folks spread out into our greenhouses, trial gardens and production field.
Heck, it was the most excitement we’ve had around here since that big wind tore the side off House 7 a few years ago. But this was lots more fun.
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We’re keeping our production crews busy here, too, with fresh batches of T-REX Begonias, Heuchera ‘Melting Fire’ three varieties of Lewisia, and nearly 300 new trays of everybody’s favorite native sedge for shade, Carex pensylvanica. See What’s Hot! below for more on that.
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WHAT'S HOT! Now you see it, soon you won’t!
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The grass that saves gas
Faced with challenging sites, designers, landscapers and homeowners often call in a specialist: Pennsylvania sedge. This low-profile beauty is a go-to design element for large plantings, public, institutional and private.
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C. pensylvanica’s low, lush carpet is the answer for shaded areas, even those that are hard to maintain, as it rarely needs watering or mowing once established. Spreading quickly, it forms a casual low-traffic lawn alternative with a mesmerizing, flowing habit. Bonus: It’s a native, hardy all the way down to Zone 3.
Now you know why it tends to vanish from our Availability in big chunks. Today’s large tray count is often tomorrow’s empty spreadsheet row. Don’t dawdle!
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About the Rock Star Award
Our Rock Star award honors ECG employees who demonstrate a sustained high level of performance and inspire others. This month, that description fits Jonathon Simmons, who joined us in the autumn of 2020. He has become a valued member of our Grass Production Crew at Milton.
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Here’s what his peers and managers had to say in selecting him for the honor.
“I would like to nominate Jonathon Simmons. He has become a key player in grass production. Jonathon is also extremely helpful in our plant care department, cutting back crops, and general grounds cleaning/ maintenance. I can depend on Jonathon day in and day out. He is a very deserving candidate for the Rock Star award.”
“Jonathon has made an impression on everyone. He can gather stock, lay out soil trays, catch errors, teach new employees the details of the job, wash plants, drive equipment, and supervise a potting crew. Recently, we’ve leaned on him for plant care help. He has been trimming plants, moving plants, cleaning out greenhouses, cleaning up greenhouse debris, and cleaning up around the property as needed.”
“Jonathon understands the big picture. He helps direct traffic in grass production and is willing to do any job asked of him, big or small. He is consistent and reliable.”
“Jonathon doesn’t complain, he just gets the work done! Lately, he has been helping us out on plant care with cutbacks and cleanup, and doing a stellar job. Plant Care is very grateful for his help.”
Congratulations, Jonathon! You exemplify the “whatever it takes” attitude that’s so key in this industry. Thank you for your hard work and consistent effort as an important part of the ECG team. You rock!
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Jonathon with Greg Mandel (grass production manager) and Paul Babikow (owner)
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SEPTEMBER LIGHTS (High & Low)
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1: American Chess Day
Are you sure you want to make that move?
2: National Hummingbird Day
C’mon, learn the words already.
5: Labor Day
When most of us don’t.
7: National Beer Lovers’ Day
Um… isn’t that every day?
13: Hug Your Boss Day
Notice the date. This could be very bad luck.
15: Felt Hat Day
Don’t make me do it without the fez on!
19: International Talk Like A Pirate Day
Because Yarrrr!
26: Rosh Hashanah
L’chaim!
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ECG Owner, Al Mueller with his fez on
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Don’t let spring creep up on you!
Known variously as creeping phlox or moss phlox, early-flowering P. subulata is a familiar friend, a welcome harbinger of spring. Its cheerful five-petaled blooms blanket slopes and spill over walls.
Planted now, a crop of P. subulata has oceans of time to fill your containers with vigorous roots. All too soon, cold nights and short days will shut down vegetative growth. That tough evergreen foliage will set the alarm and hunker down. Sleep tight!
Come spring, this fall’s head start will manifest itself as full pots, bursting with color. You’ll be glad you thought ahead when you see this low-lying rainbow. All are just 4-6” tall, and hardy all the way down to Zone 2. Some highlights from our 14 varieties:
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‘Candy Stripe’
Pristine white petals with a perky pink stripe.
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‘Crimson Beauty’
A flourish of rosy-red flowers.
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‘Purple Beauty’
Unique deep purple-blue blooms cover neatly mounded plants.
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‘Red Wings’
Crimson-pink flowers with dark red centers.
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‘Scarlet Flame’
Deep rose with a scarlet eye.
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Spring® White
Pristine white flowers bloom a week or more ahead of others.
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If your situation can’t accommodate late summer / fall planting, fear not: You can book liners for later, too. But potting now gives you a leg up on the competition. And it’s not like you’ll have nothing else to do in spring, right?
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The aforementioned PPA visit to ECG North was part of five days of tours, trade show, education and memorable dinners at Longwood Gardens and Chanticleer. If you were here, thanks for coming. If not, aren’t you sorry you missed us?
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Longwood Gardens Historic Main Conservatory
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Mark your calendar for July 24 – 28 ‘23, when PPA’s National Symposium jumps to the next nation north: Niagara Falls, Canada! You’ll have to settle for back bacon instead of scrapple, but we hear there’s a pretty cool water feature up there, eh?
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John Friel
Marketing Manager
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