New Article on Find A Landscape Professional Website

We would like to point you to a new consumer article that now appears at our "Find A Landscape Professional" website. Entitled "Garden Speaker Host Etiquette: A Guide to Proper Communication, Care, and Feeding of Your Speaker" it is written by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC.


We would like to thank Tony Avent for giving us permission to reprint his article. We hope it will help Speakers and Event Organizers alike.

If you would like to add your professional listing or speakers listing to our website visit http://theunderground.pbwiki.com/Professional+Listings+and
+Speakers+Bureau and submit the appropriate form. Listings are currently free to members.

The Underground Nursery Tours Conclude

The Underground Nursery Tours concluded for the season on Saturday June 7th. Our final tour was held in Southern New Hampshire and included "Mason Hollow Nursery and The Mixed Border Nursery and Gardens" in Mason and Hollis, NH. Previous tours included "Theme Gardens and Katsura Gardens" in Pembroke and Plymouth, MA and "NorthStar Farm, Sylvan Nursery and Avant Gardens" in Westport and Dartmouth, MA


Mason Hollow Display Gardens, Mason, NH - Courtesy of Barbara Blake
Thank you to Steve Hancock, Pamela Burton and Barbara Blake for their work in coordinating these tours.

The Underground Co-sponsors the CIPWG Invasive Plant Symposium

We are pleased to announce that The Underground is a co-sponsor of the upcoming invasive plant symposium to be held on October 1, 2008. This one-day symposium is entitled "Cherish Our Natural Heritage: Managing Invasives to Promote Natives." The symposium, open to the public, will be held at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. Keynote speaker, Douglas Tallamy, will explain why having native plants in gardens is so important for sustaining our native wildlife. Concurrent afternoon sessions cover habitat and management in grasslands, forest understories, and aquatic sites, management practices (including organic control), and non-plant invaders. A book sale, research posters, and organizational exhibits will be featured throughout the day. The registration fee, including sustainable food and free parking is $40 (postmarked by September 10) and $50 if postmarked September 11-24. The full day's agenda and registration information are available at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg. Continuing education credits (for Pesticide Re-Certification, CT Commercial Forest Practitioners, CT Landscape Architects, and others) will be available. For additional information, or to be mailed a paper copy of the registration brochure, contact Donna Ellis (860) 486-6448.

More than 500 members and growing!

We now have more than 500 members and our group continues to grow and become recognized for its value to the green industry professional. With our growth we have strived to make incremental improvements and enhancements to our grassroots organization and we would like to thank you all for helping us in this endeavor. Please keep up the great work and we look forward continuing to work with you to make this organization everything you want it to be.

Thank you to all our members who lend their support to our group by actively participating in discussions, answering questions, making referrals and generally being helpful to fellow members. We could not do this without you.

Underground Volunteers Needed

The Underground is an all volunteer organization that would appreciate your help. We need volunteers to assist with a wide range of activities. You can choose to help occasionally or regularly, as your schedule permits. No experience is necessary. This is a great opportunity to learn, make new friends, and share with others who have similar interests, while promoting our organization. Many of the committee tasks and responsibilities can be shared, so feel free to enlist friends and colleagues to work on your committee if you need additional assistance.

To volunteer please visit http://theunderground.pbwiki.com/Become-A-Volunteer

Program Participant Feedback

For those of you who have attended any of our educational programs, we now have a feedback form available at our website. Please help us make improvements to our programs by providing us your suggestions and comments.

Please visit http://theunderground.pbwiki.com/Program+Feedback

Members Please Provide Testimonials

Our best advocates are our members. Over the years they have provided tons of feedback and some great testimonials about our organization. If you are a member then please give us your testimonial. We would love to know what you think! Previous testimonials have appeared in our membership brochure.

Some questions to think about about when writing your testimonial:


1. What do you like best about The Underground?
2. How has The Underground been useful to you and your business?
3. What do you like best about our monthly programs?
4. How have our programs been helpful to you?
5. Would you recommend The Underground to others?
6. What else can you tell us?

Tell us how The Underground has benefited you.
Thanks!

The Living Lawn Organic Lawn Care Program - Thank you to Susan Quateman

We would like to thank Susan Quateman for coordinating "The Living Lawn Organic Lawn Care Program". Through her volunteer efforts she has brought two wonderful educational programs (Water-Friendly Landscaping and Living Lawn Organic Lawn Care) to the North Shore of MA and she promises to do it again next year. Thank you Susan!

If you would like to see our programs in your neck of the woods then why not become a volunteer program coordinator? Please contact us for more information.

Thank you.

Announcing Our New Blog

Well, really we have had our blog for quite awhile, but never put it to good use until now. We hope you will visit often to find out about our latest announcements, acknowledgments, and information about new developments. The blog will be accessible to members and non-members alike and will provide news about what our organization is doing and where we are headed. Previous blog postings have been re-created from email archives and document our groups accomplishments since our beginning. Comments are welcome.

Thank you,
The Underground Steering Committee

P.S. Members, please help us improve our visibility by adding a link to The Underground on your website or blog.

At the Top of Google Web Listings

Our "Find A Landscape Professional" wiki website (findalandscapepro.pbwiki.com) now appears at the top of Google web listings when searching for both "Find a landscape pro" and "Find a landscape professional".

More and more consumers are using search engines when shopping for services - So why not add your free listing to our website and get the word out about the services you offer? This is a great marketing opportunity to let potential clients know about what you can do for them and have us point them your way!

Now we have made it even easier for you to send us your (Professional and/or Speakers) listings. Just visit our members wiki website page and fill out and submit the appropriate form. You must be a member of The Underground to qualify for a listing.

Need to update your current listing? Visit the link above, provide us your changes - make sure to check the update box.

We've Partnered with PickupPal

FRAMINGHAM, MA. MAY 4, 2008 - As part of our commitment to going green, The Underground has partnered with PickupPal to help reduce our carbon footprint!

1. a global eco-friendly transportation revolution that connects drivers, passengers and packages with the places they need to go.
2. an easy way to save money by going with someone who is already going your way.
3. a great way to make cash by giving someone a drive or taking a package that is on your way.

People interested in ridesharing to our educational programs will be invited to sign up for an account and become members of a growing and dynamic community. It is free to join and to use. On the website members can post routes as passengers and/or drivers, they can complete a profile, and upload a photo. Within their account, PickupPals can track the number of rides they have given or taken, the number of km or miles they have traveled via ride sharing and we can as a group, keep track of the amount of emissions we have reduced as a result.

Sign up today by visiting our rideshare page.

We're Going Green

FRAMINGHAM, MA. APRIL 27, 2008 - The Underground will be working on forming an important environmental policy for our organization. Our goal will be to minimize waste and carbon footprint generated by our educational programs. The positive changes that we can make together will go a long way in helping our world conserve resources and preserve our environment.

A draft of our environmental policy follows:
The Underground is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of our programs and workshops through:

• Decreasing the amount of solid waste produced by the event
• Reducing energy and water consumption at the event
• Minimizing or off-setting harmful emissions resulting from vehicular transportation and energy consumption associated with the event
• Disposing of solid and liquid waste in an environmentally responsible manner
• Eliminating the use of harmful chemicals at or for the event

Join us in our enthusiasm for this green initiative by helping us to achieve our goals. Please email your green ideas and suggestions to us. Thanks.

Lyme Disease Program - Thank you to Dori Smith

We would like to acknowledge and thank Dori Smith for her significant contributions to The Underground. As our Vice President and Steering Member, she has not only been a strong advocate for our organization but she has also helped in coordinating some of our educational programs. The latest was our very important program on Lyme Disease where she also participated as a speaker.

We would also like to thank The New England Wild Flower Society and Greg Lowenberg for ongoing support of our wonderful group. NEWFS was a sponsor for this program and has sponsored programs in the past as well.



Thanks also goes to our program volunteers.
Denise Pegrum, Cheshire Cat Organic Gardens, Steering Member
Lori Fitzgerald, Waterwise Gardens Inc.
Alya Shklovskaya, Hidden Gardens
Adaela McLaughlin, Peaceful Valley Gardens

Lyme Disease: Prevention, Treatment and Management for Landscape Professionals and Gardeners

Lyme disease is an increasing threat to those who work in the landscape, with New England ranking among the highest rates per capita and Massachusetts now fourth in the nation in total cases reported. The disease and its possible co-infections have many forms, and if left untreated can cause a major impact on a victim's life and work. This program "Lyme Disease: Prevention, Treatment and Management for Landscape Professionals and Gardeners" provided the latest information on the disease itself - how it is transmitted, its range of symptoms, accurate and timely diagnosis, acute vs. chronic phases, and medical treatment options. We reviewed methods of preventing infection through landscape practices and personal protection. Speakers will also address public health issues, educational efforts, research studies, and community resources available to help individuals as well as companies whose employees are likely to be infected. We hope that attendees will come away understanding the importance of preventive measures and early detection. This special forum is co-sponsored with The New England Wild Flower Society.

Our guest panelists included:
Pat Smith, President of the Lyme Disease Association
Jeanne Hubbuch, M.D., Newton, MA
Rolf Briggs, President of Tree Specialists, Holliston, MA
Dori Smith, owner Gardens for Life, Acton, MA.

Pat Smith, President of the Lyme Disease Association (LDA), has been an activist in Lyme-related issues for twenty years. Under her leadership, the LDA, an all-volunteer organization, has become national in scope and supports many research, education, and patient support activities. http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org

Jeanne Hubbuch, M.D., is a family practice physician from Newton, Massachusetts, with experience with both acute and chronic Lyme and co-infections. Her complementary, holistic treatment approach follows the latest research results, and emphasizes diet, lifestyle, and stress reduction for treatment and recovery.

Rolf Briggs, Certified Arborist, is President of Tree Specialists, Inc., Holliston, Massachusetts, providing tree care services. A twice-victim of Lyme disease, he has developed a company-wide approach to prevent infection among his employees, and promotes methods to reduce tick exposure in the landscape.

Dori Smith, M. Ed., owner of Gardens for Life, Inc., a landscape design/install company. A recent victim of Lyme disease, Dori will discuss the impact of a Lyme disease infection on the victim's life and work. She will act as moderator for this forum.

Landscape Lighting Design Workshop with Rob DiSchino of Nightscaping®

In the "Landscape Lighting Design Workshop" attendees learned how to highlight outdoor features and how to use accent lighting to create silhouettes and shadows, and spread lighting to maximize their beauty. We explored landscape lighting design techniques and the interaction of light with different structures and elements in the landscape. Participants experienced the importance of equipment selection and placement to achieve a harmonious design.

Our guest presenter was Rob DiSchino, National Sales Manager for Nightscaping® in Redlands, CA.

Landscape lighting can have many purposes - safety, security, extended viewing and use, or enhancement of the beauty of the garden and structure. Well-designed lighting can transform a landscape into a dramatic scene and add the finishing touch to any outdoor room. It can add magic and illusion by enhancing some outdoor features while leaving others shrouded in mystery. Successful lighting design stems from knowing how to create effects and understanding how to balance light levels between areas of the visual composition.

Landscape lighting design is very similar to the design of the landscape itself: we must determine focal points, use areas, traffic patterns, outdoor "rooms," style, mood, etc. We need to consider how the proposed lighting will enhance the form, color and texture of the soft and hard landscape elements. Lighting should serve to unify both interior and exterior design themes, conceal what may be unattractive and shape the view of the landscape at night.

In this workshop Rob DiSchino showed how you can dramatically change any outside space with the right lighting scheme, whether your goal is to illuminate or highlight areas such as a pathway, deck, patio, pool, architectural plant or feature. He showed us what makes for a successful design and what common mistakes to avoid. He gave expert advice and guidance on the theory, design process, project needs, and techniques of landscape lighting. Whether you’re seeking to sculpt a landscape with light or make an outdoor space more useable at night you learned the creative and technical information needed to beautify your landscaping projects and consistently win client approval.

Please Welcome Jeff Barone as a New Steering Member

We would like to welcome Jeff Barone as a new steering member-at-large. Jeff is the owner of EssentialSpace Earthscapes in Newburyport, MA. We look forward to his participation in the operations of The Underground.

New Event Recording Notice Announced

Event Recording Notice
Notice Regarding Audio/Video Recording of Events

When you enter an Underground event (program, workshop or tour), you will be entering an area where photography, video and audio recording may occur.

By registering and attending the event, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on web sites, or any other purpose by The Underground and its affiliates and representatives. You release The Underground, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or sound recordings.

By attending and entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by The Underground or the person or entity designated to do so by The Underground.

You have been fully informed of your consent, waiver of liability, and release before entering the event.

Stop By and See Us at the New England Flower Show

This year they are calling it Plant Geek Night (Tuesday, March 11, 5:30-9:00) and The Underground will be participating. On hand will be several volunteer members to answer plant questions and distribute information about our "Find A Landscape Pro" wiki website where consumers can contact landscape professionals in their area.

We would like to say thank you to the following volunteers
Alya Shklovskaya, Joanne Neale and Russell Stafford. We really appreciate your contributions to our group.

Our heartfelt thanks also goes to our resident Underground authors for donating copies of their books for our drawing held at the show. Thank you to Barbara Gee, C.L. Fornari, and Vincent Simeone.

Join Us at NELDHA's Career Day

The President of The Underground is set to speak at NELDHA's (New England Landscape Design and History Association) upcoming Career Day on Friday, February 22, 2008.

Please join us for an afternoon of information exchange on The Business of Landscape Design and Landscape Design History. Hear business people in the field discuss their recipes for building their company's success and profitability.

Thanks to Our NE Grows Volunteers

All your help to make our participation at the NE Grows show on February 6-8, 2008 was very much appreciated. Thank you again to all the volunteers who made it happen.

Pamela Burton
Karen Fountain-Lantelme
Seija Halva
Sally Naish
Ted Chapman
Dori Smith
Denise Pegrum
Mike Smith
Melanie Neuman
Jay Bearfield
Kath Holland
Kathy Tunsley
Paul Shoemaker
Susan Quateman
Alya Shklovskaya
Barbara Gee