We at Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape, Inc. realize that there is great opportunity to showcase our landscaping work if we were to vigorously pursue landscaping and design awards.  However, due to the time involved in putting together the required “portfolio’s” to do this, we have not highly prioritized this task.  In spite of this , two most recent recognitions occurred in late 2012:

 - Recognized as a “Finalist” by Post-Crescent readers in the Landscape Center category.  We actually placed 2nd.

 - Recognized as “The Best” in five significant categories in the second annual Garden Talk Awards.  These awards were presented by Mr. Robert Zimmer, Post-Crescent freelance writer of the “Garden Talk” column.  To compile these awards, Mr. Zimmer and a few of his gardening friends visited each greenhouse, garden center and specialty shop in the area a minimum of three times over the course of 2012 to view the selection and quality of the plants available.  Nobody at Van Zeeland Nursery knew or recognized these judges when they were at the Nursery.  Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape was recognized as best (1st place) in the following categories:     Best Collectors Conifers;    Most Unusual Trees and Shrubs;     Best Trees and Shrubs;     Best Roses;     Best Sales Staff (2nd place behind Edgewood Hostas).

PLANET, or the Professional Landcare Network, recently announced that Rick Sanderfoot, owner of Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape since 2003, has been recertified as a CLP (Certified Landscape Professional). In PLANET’s memorandum to Mr. Sanderfoot, they state “we are pleased to provide you with an updated card that reflects your commitment to maintaining your PLANET certification through continuing education and industry service. Your certification is now current through 12/31/10.”

The PLANET Certification program is an international certification program whose objectives are:

• To raise the standards of the profession.
• To encourage self-assessment by offering guidelines for achievement.
• To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of principles and practices of the profession.
• To award recognition to those who have demonstrated a high level of competence in the profession.
• To improve performance within the profession by encouraging participation in a continuing program of professional development.

On August 1, 2008 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was discovered in ash trees in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. This is the first time that this invasive species has been found in our state, and its potential impact on ash trees here could be devastating. To learn more about this borer and to stay informed of our states’ response to this pest, you should refer to the Wisconsin DNR website http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/foresthealth/emeraldashborer.html or Wisconsin’s Emerald Ash Borer Resource website http://www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov. How can you help – - BECOME INFORMED! You should review the information on EAB signs and symptoms, other pests and diseases and EAB look alikes on the two aforementioned websites. After that, if you believe you have spotted signs of this pest, please report them immediately by calling the emerald ash borer hotline at 1-800-462-2803.

As of 2008, Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape has discontinued the inventory and selling of any/all ash trees. Although ash trees are some of the hardiest, cleanest, beautiful and fast growing trees in the Fox Valley area, we believe that it is no longer responsible to sell an ash tree to a client of ours until there is either eradication of this borer or an effective way to control its damage.

Please contact the Nursery at 920-788-1051 if you have further questions.

Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape, Inc. recently joined the American Conifer Society. This society is a non-profit organization with a stated purpose of “the development, conservation and propagation of conifers, with an emphasis on those that are dwarf or unusual; standardization of nomenclature; and education of the public.” Joining the society is a natural fit for Van Zeeland Nursery as we continue with our mission of providing a selection of plants unlike available elsewhere in the greater Fox Valley area. For more information about the society, check out their website at www.conifersociety.org; for more information on our plant selection at Van Zeeland Nursery, visit the Nursery in Spring of 2008 or give us a call.

Post Crescent readers have voted Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape, Inc. as the Fox Valley’s best landscaper in 2007.

Everybody likes a huge, old tree. The largest specimen of a particular tree species is called a “champion”. There is a national registry, a state registry and even some local communities who keep registries of champion trees. The Wisconsin Champion Tree Program identifies and recognizes the large trees and is a great way to encourage appreciation of your community’s urban forest. The official registry of Wisconsin’s largest trees is maintained by the DNR. Information on the location, dimensions, and rank of these champions, representing over 270 true species and cultures, totals over 2200 records. The registry is available on the DNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/uf/champion/. The registry is very interesting, but is has one problem—it hasn’t been revised since 4/25/01.

Since that date: Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape, 1715 E. Main St., Little Chute has been formally recognized as having the 11th largest Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum) in the state.*

*When our Champion Silver Maple was measured, it had a circumference of 218”, a height of 85’ and a spread of 90’. It is surely larger today. This tree is estimated to have been a seedling in 1794, marking it at approximately 214 years old in 2007. To put this in perspective, immigrants first began arriving in the lower Fox River region near La Petite Chute (French for Little Falls, and the original name for the area of the rapids on the Fox River where Little Chute is today) in the 1830’s.

Stop in today to see our nursery “Champion”!

PLANET

Professional Landcare Network
950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450
Herndon VA 20170
800-395-2522
Fax 703-736-9668
Landcarenetwork.org

Contact: Marcia Higgins
Certification Administration Manager
800-395-2522
marciahiggins@landcarenetwork.org

For Immediate Release

PLANET ANNOUNCES NEW CERTIFIED LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL

Herndon VA August 14, 2006. The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) announced today that Rick Sanderfoot, CLP, of Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape, Inc. in Little Chute, WI, recently passed the Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) exam.

The four-hour exam covers all aspects of working in the landscape industry. It is divided into seven sections covering sales and marketing; strategic planning; leadership and corporate citizenship; human resources; risk, law and contracts; corporate financial management and production operations/horticulture.

PLANET’s certification program contributes to professional growth and credibility of members of the landcare business who achieve the designation. It provides professional recognition to individuals engaged in the business of landscape contracting and lawn care. The objectives of the program are:

• To raise the standards of the profession;
• To encourage self assessment by offering guidelines for achievement;
• To identify persons with acceptable knowledge of principles and practices;
• To award recognition to those who have demonstrated a high level of competence;
• To improve performance by requiring continuing professional development.

For more information about Certification, please contact the Professional Landcare Network office at (800) 395-2522 or visit the Professional Landcare Network Web site landcarenetwork.org.

The Professional Landcare Network represents approximately 4,300 members nationwide, including its core membership of companies engaged in landscape maintenance, installation/design/build, lawn care, or interiorscaping and suppliers.