Grads of 2009!

We had 5 graduates this year out of 9 starts. Three showed up for the actual graduation- Keith, Jason and Matt. Here they are at the graduation and the reception. Keith is shown a-singin' away after the graduation at Dooley's pub.

Congradulations, grads of 2009! Missing from the group are Sonya and Marjan. We missed you!

Our new Landscape Flyer!

Look for it in newspapers all over the province! Way to go to our very own model, Jason Phippen, Landscape grad of 2009!

Snowy seats

A bit cold for sitting! But great insulation for our tree and shrub and perennial collections. We'll be sticking close to the greenhouse! (Swing seat was built by a previous Landscape class at NBCC Woodstock.)

Before, during and after shots....

Every year the Landscape students 'redesign and rebuild' a section of the greenhouse. Paving materials and layout, new structures, new water features, plant layout and seat arrangements are first brainstormed and imagined, designed on paper and then transferred to the 'real deal'. Above are some 'before' shots from last year's grad class and some shots of the development stages below.

The pavers and new recirculating pond are finished with a compass pattern in the centre constructed of pavers.


Students and staff are all enjoying the sound of water again in the greenhouse especially since it is still so cold outside! More after pictures to follow as soon as the arbour and fence is constructed.

Hort East Halifax update

It was great to see the ex- Landscapers way down in Halifax this year- our 'family reunion'. I took the class down for all three days for this year's event- it was nip and tuck because some previous bad weather, but we made it. Great to see Kara and Ryan B. from the Landscape Class of 2008 at the shows and at Bubbles' Mansion. (I didn't get to see Bubbles) We all managed to stay off the tables and out from behind bars and stay out of trouble for the most part. The dance floor was packed once we got the DJ straightened out. Superb talks and a great floor show Halifax and Hort East 08. Thanks very much for this opportunity!

New Crew-08/09

With the onset of classes, we have started our field trips out and about beautiful NB. We hope to start some fund-raising to attend the upcoming big event in Halifax- Hort East /08 at the Cunard Centre in November. Here are some shots of our fall visits. Thanks go to the NB Botanical Gardens, Kingsbrae Gardens, Cornhill Nurseries and Scholten's Landscaping for showing us around.

Hort East

Hey Landscape Grads! Don't forget about Hort East in Halifax this year- November 24-26! Tons of tours, a huge trade show with 58,000 square feet of floor space and an evening at Bubbles Mansion! Not to mention Certification opportunities, and a chance to write the IPM exam- what fun. Here is the link- let's have a reunion! Hope to see you there and meet the new Landscape class! http://www.horteast.ns.ca/

We are all ages......

…..and from all walks of life. We are a former elementary school teacher, a rock-climber, a fabricator, a lab technician, a gardener, an auto detailer, a program director and a high school grad. Our ages start at 18 and go up as far as 53. Some of our parents are still together, some have passed on, and some have separated. We bring our life experiences to the classroom, regardless of how short or long those experiences have been. We all have varying degrees of experience with growing things- whether it be trees, shrubs, annuals or perennials or turfgrass. Some of us are accomplished carpenters, welders or propagators, but some of us have never held a hammer or a pair of pruners or a torch. Some of us can tell the difference between an Acer platanoides ‘Schwedleri’ or Acer saccharum ‘Legacy’, but most cannot. But we are all interested in a common subject- how to improve the surroundings in which we live- either our own properties or others. By the end of the school year, we will know over 400 botanical and common names of trees, shrubs and vines common in the Landscape Industry- both native and exotic. We will have built a stone wall, laid some pavers, built a trellis and a compost bin. We will know how to tie a Running Bowline, a Prussic Loop or a Taut line in order to safely climb a tree to prune it. We will know to leave the branch collar after cutting a branch of the tree so the tree will heal quickly. We will learn what IPM means, what is a highway mix and what HI stands for. We will know what will happen when we bury a tree’s trunk with four inches of bark mulch or what will happen if you run a skid steer loader continually over a mature tree’s roots. We will learn the difference between available Nitrogen and unavailable Nitrogen, which plants like a high pH and what ones prefer a low pH. We will learn proper body language when speaking to a client and how to nullify an upset one. We will learn the difference between a dichotomous leaf arrangement and a whorled arrangement. We will learn how a piston engine works, which oil is best and operate a backhoe. We will ask questions, paraphrase a statement, make a list for a bibliography and give a power point presentation to our peers. We will know what employers are looking for in an employee and what they are not. We will know the difference between a semi-hardwood cutting and a softwood cutting and how to choose healthy container grown stock or healthy field grown stock. We will have seen some of the most beautiful gardens and arboretums in New Brunswick. Our hands will get cold and muddy and we will sometimes ask ourselves why we are here, but our faith will be restored at the sight of a graft that succeeded, a cutting that took root, or a tiny seedling that will some day become a tree. We will be restored when we are 30’ swinging from a tree branch looking down on the world or dead-heading roses on a summer day when the rest of the world is inside their air-conditioned offices. By the end of the year, we will have giggled, teared up, fell asleep while studying, drank too much coffee, skipped lunch, missed our parents or our wives, made new friends, overslept on test day or cheered on our floor hockey team. This is the Landscape class of 2008 at NBCC Woodstock- come join us.

Slowing down...

I made a pact that I would walk and bike more after my courses ended in July. So this week I've started to walk and bike to work every day. Since I live less than a mile away from work this is not a big issue. There is also a great trail along a cove off the Meduxnekeag that is maintained by the town of Woodstock that takes me right to the college- how many people in Toronto can say that?

The first morning I noticed a bit of the calm water and a couple of trees along the way. It took me about three walks to slow my pace and my thoughts down enough to notice more. This morning I noticed what flowers were blooming, watched a tern fly across the water, admire the tenacity of some wildflowers growing through cracked pavement and picked a bouquet for a family of a sick child at the college. I noticed that there is beauty even in the flower of a burdock-ever seen the flower of a burdock? There were native flowers blooming along with the non-natives- Scottish creeping bellflowers and yellow loosestrife along with the not-so-liked purple loosestrife- signs of a perennial garden from long ago. This, by the way is the biggest trembling aspen I have ever seen in this area- it has a huge trunk- 2 grown men couldn't wrap their arms around it.....

Maybe more of the world could stand a walk like this every morning...and everyone would be happier and healthier.

A nice note....

I just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know how much I appreciate the job that you and your students have done on our grounds. The landscaping is absolutely beautiful. Now that everything is starting to grow and flower, you can really appreciate the effort that you have put into it.

Thank you for making our College such a beautiful place to work!
From Eloise Wright- Purchasing

What the past grads are doing.....

I try to keep in contact with the graduates from NSAC and from NBCC Woodstock. Here are some updates from the graduates from 2006-07 from NBCC Woodstock.

Meagan MacLeod- 'I am attending the NSAC, going into my 3d year of the Environmental Hort degree program. Also I've been chosen to attend a Green Roof course at Virginia Tech this August 14th. The NSAC is paying for most of it so I'm pretty excited about that because I've decided I want to be a Green Roof designer. I'm also playing basketball for the NSAC so a little something to keep me sane from the work. '

Isabelle Simard- She is working for Gould's Landscaping in Saint John, NB and is loving it! She says they want her to get certified and will help her financially to achieve this goal. She is also interested in design work and is learning more about it and possibly she might be going on for further study- hope you do Isabelle!

Khryspn Jensen- She is a new Mom! Here are her words...'I have a bouncing beautiful baby boy named Braylin Gary Jensen Tiner he is a little over 3 months now. He was born Feb. 20th 8lbs 10oz and we had to him weighed yesterday and he is 15lbs 14oz!!!' Congradulations Khryspn and Daddy

Wesley Trevors- Wes is back working with the City of Mirimichi and enjoying it and keeping busy at home with my raspberries and strawberries. He was wondering about this year's crop of chicks and how the year panned out. He was also interested in taking the IPM Certification test- great to hear from you, Wes!

Our Little Treasure of a Greenhouse at NBCC Woodstock

  Tucked away on the second floor of our building is a small green quiet space where everyone is welcome to spend lunch, have a tea. meet with a friend, or study a bit. Every year the Landscape students recreate this space to make it their own- their own design, their own paver and seating and plant layout. This year the class of 2008 succeeded in creating a what I call an Italian Courtyard garden, complete with the sound of water and Spanish guitars strumming in the background. But wait, do I hear someone singing?  

Famous sayings from the Grad class of 2008

Ones I won't be forgetting....

It's a banana!
Imagine!
I know a song about that- want me to sing it for you?
Did I get the bonus question?
Wait guys- you can't leave- class is starting!

If you can think of more, please let me know.....

From Terry H.

Richard, are you going to make coffee?
Anyone interested in potluck?
Hockey practice tomorrow!
Can we just skip this week's test?

The Ugly Little Planter

There is an ugly little cement planter sitting by the back steps by the old carriage house entrance in the house where I live. It has been sitting empty for the third summer now- the only thing planted in it has been cigarette butts. Tonight I decided to fix that emptiness at very little cost.

'My house', which was built in 1870, is surrounded by a collection of wildflowers and ferns and cultivated heritage perennials that have been allowed to spread- some of these are good alternatives to lawn. Some of the non-natives are: forget-me-nots, lungwort, goutweed, Scottish Bluebells, and Scilla- (a bulb.) There are also fiddlehead ferns and fall asters. There is always colour and lots of lush greenery around. All that is lacking is a tiny patio with some stepping stones leading up to it and I would have a private oasis to catch the western sun that wouldn't need mowing. It takes a lot of foresight on the part of my landlord to leave this greenery. Most people would weed-wack everything in sight. Actually his origins are from the UK and they are more tolerant of what makes a weed and what doesn't.

Anyways, back to the planter. Tonight I stuck in some forget me nots, a lungwort or two, a couple of fiddlehead ferns, a fall aster and some Scottish bluebells and a few pansies for colour. It is quite shady there and it will blend in with the rest of the surroundings of the house. The end of ugliness! Well, it's still a bit ugly but once the plants start to fall over the edges, it will be hidden a bit.

Work site visits...

Around the province I went last week to visit all ten chicks. Everyone seems to be enjoying their work terms and most are hired for the summer and beyond. Here are some shots. Top to bottom:

1. Nicole right in the middle of weedin' and mulchin' at a lovely home overlooking the river in Moncton- Ayles Natural Landscapes.
2. Richard by his bloomin' crabapple in front of his home in Blackville- thanks for the lunch and tea Richard!
3. Ryan E. doin' some blowin' along a sidewalk outside a property in Moncton- Ayles Natural Landscapes.
4. Craig a raking away along a wonderful home along the riverside in Fredericton- new sod, new shrubs and trees are about to be installed- Green Village
5. Kara a diggin' and a sweatin' to create a trench for an irrigation system at the same riverside home as Craig was working- Green Village
6. Terry with his new truck (and hat!) working as the village gardener for the Town of Florenceville.
7. Lindsay by the gazebo in Bristol where she is about to do some work- Spruce Hill Nurseries. 8. Tyler- planting annuals in King Square with his workmates in sunny Saint John- City of Saint John.
9. Ryan B. planting annuals and watering on a foggy morning on a magnificent property in Rothesay- Brunswick Nurseries.
10. Sarah with the chipper and truck- City of Moncton

Job Interviews- What not to do....

I read an article by Derek Abma from Canwest News Service last week that had me in stitches in no time so I'll share the highlights. A staffing firm called Officeteam, shared some of the most bizarre interview gaffes with the writer.
One candidate showed up wearing pajamas with bed head hair, another asked his interviewer for a cigarette. Another job seeker sent his sister to do the interview for him and another kept yelling out 'I love life' and 'Oh yeah' throughout the entire interview! Another job applicant insulted the tie worn by the interviewer. A few problems that happened before the interview couldn't be helped so the interviewees decided to handle the problems gracefully- like spilt coffee on a suit and a bleeding lip after a shaving incident! The best one went like this: 'An applicant was doing really well in the interview until she got to the reason she left her other job. She told us everyone was out to get her.'
There are some tips for you, Terry!

The Northhampton Walk

Down along the shore in Northhampton south of Woodstock, there is a lovely old church called the Kirk. It is not used regularly now, but it is lovingly restored and is surrounded by an ancient cemetery. There are two columnar wood stoves inside and 4 oil lanterns since there is no electricity to the church.
Just past the church is an old road that runs along the river. It leads to the site of an old farm long gone. The foundation site remains along with some perennials not native to our land. I found there some daylilies- variety not known since they are not in bloom yet, lily of the valley in bloom and heavily scented and variegated goutweed. The ones who tended these flowers are long gone. The gardens have outlasted them by decades and will continue to bloom for decades to come. I picked a tiny bouquet in memory of the people who planted them. Unexpected treasures on an old farm road....

Sir Michael A. Dirr

I am just about to order Michael Dirr's (bow to the ground) illustrated encyclopedia- 'Dirr's Hardy Shrubs and Trees'- the hardcover edition for our classroom. This book is called 'the ultimate in reference texts about shrubs and trees...sets what should be the standard for plant books.'- Joel Lerner, the Washington Post. Apparently it is the ultimate.
Dirr is known for his dry sense of humour and it is this humour that will creep up unexpectantly as you read a morphological description. For example, about poplars- 'I never recommended a poplar to anyone, at least while conscious.' Or referring to the common Ninebark- 'an extremely adaptable plant, perhaps even to nuclear attacks, and once established, requires a bulldozer for removal.'

Graduates- Would you like to go to Kew Gardens- Arboriculture training here too!!

Horticulture students come from around the world to study at Kew for the world’s foremost qualification in botanical horticulture – the three-year Kew Diploma. The course offers a broad-based training in amenity and botanical horticulture. The aim is to provide students with an opportunity to study scientific and technical subjects at first degree level, whilst gaining practical experience and responsibility working in this foremost botanic garden. Students are employees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and receive payment throughout the three-year course, including during the lecture block trimesters. This means our students do not have to take out a loan, and do not have to pay top up or tuition fees!
In particular, the course seeks to:
provide an integrated theoretical and practical curriculum, based on all the operations of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; encourage student-centered learning so that all students have an opportunity to pursue study of their own interest; demonstrate practical applications of theoretical principles, referring throughout to current and future needs of the horticultural industry; teach the highest standards of professional practice to all students.

Here is the web address: http://www.kew.org/education/diploma/index.html

Take me! Take me!

The Spring Rose...

To me spring isn't spring until the serviceberry is in bloom. It is also known as the shadwood, sugarplum, juneberry, saskatoon, shadblow, sarviceberry, wild plum, indian plum and last but not least, Amelanchier. I'm sure I've missed a few. Probably the reason it has so many names is because it is a tree if all seasons with edible fruit to boot. It is my favourite native tree, not because I like to eat the berries, but because it is so ornamental with a great form. When the shadblow blooms, the shadfish are running, my father says. The airy flowers are gone too soon, the fruit, if you can beat the birds, taste like blueberries. The native peoples mixed them with fat and dried meats to make pemmican and made arrow shafts out of the stems. The Saskatoons are grown commercially. The fruit was not safe around me when I worked at the nursery- I always made excuses to be around them.

Of course it is in the Rose family....