Coast to Coast with Kelli Rodda - June 2007

Pennsylvania 

A bill introduced in the state Legislature earlier this year by Rep. Art Hershe, allows nurseries and farmers to hire wildlife removal experts to help with deer control. Currently, only full-time workers and farmers have the right to remove nuisance wildlife. Deer damage costs nurseries and landscape companies an average of $20,000 annually. The bill also provides for local governments or community associations to apply for Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) permission to remove problem deer. Chad Forcey, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association director of government relations testified before the PGC earlier this year. “For PLNA members, deer management is not a theoretical environmental question; it is simply a question of the survival of their businesses,” Forcey said. For more: www.plna.org.

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Netherlands 

Three perennials received an International Diploma for Excellence from the International Hardy Plant Union. The 2006 winners are: Astilbe ColorFlash, Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Summer Nights’ and Penstemon x mexicale ‘Sunburst Amethyst.’ Every two years the group selects winners based on its one- or two-year trialing process. ColorFlash, from Anthony Tesselaar Plants, features foliage that emerges as bright green then matures to burgundy and purple. In fall, its colors are gold, orange and russet tones. ‘Summer Nights,’ from Jelitto, has golden-yellow flowers with a deep-orange-red central disk. ‘Sunburst Amethyst,’ also from Jelitto, features tubular, purple flowers with white throats. For more: www.isu-perennials.org.

Illinois 

This state can grow ’em big. The Illinois Big Tree Register features the state’s most majestic species. The current titleholder is a sycamore on private property in Christian County. It’s 31 feet around, 119 feet tall and has an average crown span of 134 feet. Second runner-up: A bald cypress in Pulaski County that measures 34 feet around, 73 feet tall and a 35-foot spread. Rounding out the top three is an Eastern cottonwood in Henderson County. It’s 25 feet around, 133 feet tall and has a spread of 113 feet. Check out all of the state’s big trees at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/forestry/il_big_tree.html. There’s also a link to the National Register of Big Trees site.

Florida 

Racing certainly pays homage to its sponsors. A racecar driver is always quick to mention them during interviews, and race fans know the logos on their favorite cars. Skinner Nurseries recognized the real estate value on a racecar and is sponsoring Justin Larson, a driver in the Florida Association of Stock Car Auto Racing circuit. The race team will compete in up to 25 events this year. The car also will make some 12 appearances at Skinner Nurseries branches and trade shows this year. “Being a part of this growing phenomenon lends itself to endless marketing opportunities for our customers and employees, giving them an increased sense of ownership and pride,” said David Arant, Skinner vice president of marketing. For more: www.skinnernurseries.com.

Postcards

If you believe weather prognosticators, it may be a good time to check your insurance coverage. The Colorado State University forecast team changed its earlier prediction, and now calls for a “very active” 2007 hurricane season. The team anticipates 17 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin between June 1 and Nov. 30. There’s a 74 percent chance at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline this year. To see the entire report, go to http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu. … Park Seed launched its own blog to commemorate its 104th birthday next year. The company wants customers to relate their favorite memories involving Park Seed and Wayside Gardens. Wax nostalgic at www.parkseedmemories.com. … NASA scientists in New York and California said green-, yellow- or red-dominant plants may live on extrasolar planets. Their study revealed if astronomers looked at the light given off by planets circling distant stars, they might predict some planets have mostly non-green plants. The study will help design telescopes to investigate extrasolar planets and look for alien plants. Maybe they’ll find the elusive blue rose.

Quotable:

“The passage of time between dropping a return in the mailbox and dropping a vote card in the ballot box gives lawmakers a buffer to both wait out public discontent with fiscal policy and fail to follow up on campaign promises.”

- Kristina Rasmussen, senior government affairs manager at the National Taxpayers Union. The group wants the federal tax filing deadline moved to the day before the November election.

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- Kelli Rodda