Cardno JFNew Nursery Open House 2013

On a warm, windy day in Mid-July, I attended the Cardno JFNew Nursery Open House, located in Walkerton, Indiana.  The last time  I visited was in the year 1999, when I was still a graduate student in the University of Illinois’ MLA program.  Well, a lot has changed in 14 years!  JFNew was founded in 1989 by Jim New as J.F. New & Associates, it currently goes by the moniker of Cardno JFNew.  JFNew is a restoration contractor, native plant nursery, and so much more that it may be best to visit their site to check out all that they do. The nursery is 130 acres in size, during my visit, I saw about five acres.  Throughout the day, there were speaker presentations in the air-conditioned conference room, guided tours of the growing houses and fields, and a native plant sale.


The event was held in the pole barn where the seed cleaning equipment is held, with attached office space where the presentations, including one on permaculture by Dr. Katherine Kent, of Ivy Tech Community College, were held.  Other presentations concerned grant writing, invasive species control, natural areas restoration techniques, and The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The building holding the indoor events, was surrounded by growing fields, including this large stand of Purple Coneflower.

The plant sale had trays, of 38 or 50 plants each, preselected for rain gardens, prairie gardens, and other conditions as well, or plants could be purchased individually in plugs or gallon pots.

 Demonstrations included a discussion on how air spades, in conjunction with a large vacuum, are used to identify the depth of utilities in work zones.

Another area displayed bioengineering products used in slope retention and restoration along the shores of water bodies including lakes and streams.

The bags are filled with a mixture of gravel and growing media

Other bags were seen in one of their shade houses, along with other emergent wetland plants…

..including Swamp Milkweed and Blue Flag Iris in one gallon pots.

Out in the fields, they were growing emergent wetland plants in “RootCarpets.”  RootCarpets consist of 15ft long by 3ft wide sections of coir (coconut) fiber, encased in woven coir blankets.  The blankets are 2.75 inches thick and wetland plants are installed approximately 12 inches on center.  During installation, the blankets are held in place with 12 inch long steel staples or hardwood stakes.  Live stakes (dormant woody cuttings) can also be driven into the carpets in spring or fall installations.

RootCarpet production beds

There was an amphibious machine called the “Marsh Master” on display.  Pretty cool.  It can be used to spray or mow invasive plants, such as Phragmites or Cattails in wetlands, with the proper attachments.  It even floats in open water.  It would be fun to that that baby out for a test drive!

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The greenhouses were full of plants in different stages of maturity. Some plant plugs in flats were about to be potted up to larger one gallon size pots.

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Others were just starting out in flats that contained 200 small seedlings…

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Such as these flats of Marsh Blazing Star planted at the end of June.

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Others like these Prairie Dropseeds, in 50 plant trays, …

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..and these Penstemon sp., looked ready to be sent out to restoration sites.

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An automated irrigation system ran along tracks hung above the plants.

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The growing fields full of Cardinal Flower and Rattlesnake Master will be ready for seed collection at the end of summer.

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Purple Coneflower must also be popular in seed mixes, if this field is any indication.  Every area of the nursery was incredibly well maintained and the plants looked great.  It was all very impressive and I was  amazed at the growth of the nursery (no pun intended!) over the last 14 years since I visited last.  

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During the mid-day break (the open house ran from 9am EST to 4pm) a lunch of BBQ pork and side dishes was served.  The food was tasty and, overall, it was a good day of hearing new ideas and gathering information on natural areas restoration, seeing how the plants are grown and bioengineering materials are used, as well as, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends.  Congratulations to all the folks at Cardno JFNew involved in organizing such an enjoyable day.

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Pizzo & Associates, LTD. Celebrates 25 Years of Natural Areas Restoration

 

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On what started out as a lovely, sunny, start to the official summer season, I began my journey west on Interstate 80.  I was on my way to an anniversary celebration at  Pizzo & Associates, LTD in Leland, Illinois, when, 50 miles into my drive, and with 30 more miles until my exit (thank goodness for Google maps and GPS!), the skies turned ominous – YIKES.

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But there was no turning back now, I was too far invested to give in to a “little” storm.

A few minutes from arrival, I could see that the clouds were clearing, and the sun was going to try to make an appearance that afternoon.  And so it did (sort of), the rain passed and the celebration went on.

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Jack Pizzo, center left, enjoying the celebration

Pizzo & Associates are ecological restoration contractors and native landscape specialists, including green roofs, bio-swales, and ecologically sound stormwater detention basins.  In the words of Jack, himself,  he’s “connecting landscaping to the landscape.” 

Some folks gathered in the propagation house where a few outside vendors set up tables and liquid refreshments were served.

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There was a book signing by landscape architect, Daniel Weinbach, for his newly published book, Trees 4 Seasons – A Visual Guide , and the beverage area had a nice selection of beers, wine, and ciders made by Jack himself, and a friend or two.

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While I grabbed a sample of the Jack’s (potent)Pear Cider, I joined Kyle’s tour of the facilities, which started in the newly constructed propagation house.

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Here, seeds are started in flats, holding 128 plants each.  These will soon be potted up in to flats of 34 and grown on until ready for sale.

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Upon exiting the protection of the greenhouse, umbrellas were opened and we checked out the seed collection plots.  Most of the 40, former farmland, acres that make up the nursery, have been restored to wetland and prairie, and are under a conservation easement that will keep the land in its current, restored, condition in perpetuity.

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Another stop on the tour was a plant sales area.  Here, one could purchase individual plants, or trays of preselected “NativeScape” kits.  Included where  kits of salt, drought, and shade tolerant plants, as well as , rain garden, butterfly garden, prairie garden, and rock garden kits.  The rock garden kit looked especially interesting, as the plants selected were of a shorter stature – a good choice when adding native flowers and grasses into an existing landscape bed.

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The plants in this kit could find a home in any front yard landscape.

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A green retaining wall system was also on display.  Here, different plants, including strawberries, various sedges (Carex sp.), and Alumroot (Heuchera americana) were tucked into the nooks of soil between the concrete, interlocking blocks.

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On top of the wall, Prairie Dropseed grass (Sporobolis heterolepis) was planted.

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However, a twining vine, Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana), seemed to be the all out winner when it came to coverage.  A very exuberant grower to be sure.  It made me wonder how our native Hops Vine (Humulus lupulus/ H. americanus) would do in this situation.  In my garden the hops form a solid wall of green on my four foot high, vegetable garden fence. It has the ability to grow 20+ feet in one season, before fall frosts knock it back to the ground, only to come back the following spring with renewed vigor!

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Back inside, and at the end of the half dozen, or so, speakers that afternoon, State Representative, Bob Pritchard recognized Jack’s 25 years in business in Illinois, by presenting a him with a certificate of achievement.

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Finally, just after 6pm, the roasted pigs, along with corn on the cob and a variety of salads, where ready to feed the mass of hungry well-wishers.

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So Midwest cloudburst be damned, it was a great afternoon of speakers, tours, games, food, and drink.  Congratulations to Jack and his staff for not only putting on a great event, but for the work they do throughout the year.  Thanks!

 

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