President ’ s Message
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Karen Kerr , MCLP Harrison McPhee , Inc . n Millis , MA
Chris Connors , MCLP SavATree , Inc . n Mashpee , MA
SECRETARY / TREASURER
Andy McDuff , MCLP Landscape America , Inc . n Wrentham , MA
DIRECTOR
PAST PRESIDENT
Miriam Hellweg , MCLP A Blade of Grass n Sudbury , MA
Brian Churchill , MCLP , CSP The GroundsKeeper , Inc . n Ashland , MA
EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR Mike Davidsohn , MCLP UMASS / Stockbridge Landscape Contracting Program
Amherst , MA
MANAGEMENT TEAM
M . Virginia Wood
Peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Carrie Martin
Charissa Sharkey
MLP NEWSLINE is a publication of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals , Inc .
MLP NEWSLINE is published four times a year for the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals ( MLP ) and is distributed free of charge to members . The purpose of the newsletter is to disseminate information to promote general standards and ethics in landscape contracting , as well as to foster research and share knowledge with its members . MLP is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to communications between its membership and the industry . MLP believes the information in this publication to be accurate as of its publication date and is not responsible for inadvertent errors . The MLP and Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional ( MCLP ) logos are trademarks of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals , Inc . Qualified MLP members and certified members only are permitted to utilize the logo . Logos for MLP and MCLP are available through the MLP office .
EDITORIAL Readers are encouraged to submit articles , announcements , review of products , or letters . Address correspondence to the attention of the MLP Newsletter Editor at the address below .
ADVERTISING For advertising rates and information , contact Carrie Martin at cmartin @ MLP-MLCP . org or at the MLP phone number below . Ads may be submitted as high-resolution pdf files . Discounted advertising rates are available to MLP members .
DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MLP .
Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals 67 West Street • Medfield , MA 02052 phone : 508.653.3373 info @ mlp-mclp . org • MLP-MCLP . org
Hello MLP Members ,
As the craziness of spring settles into the “ lazy days of summer ”, your MLP board of directors has put planning into high gear !
We ’ re happy to be partnering with NALP on a local , Young Professionals Network meet-up at the Start Line Brewery in Hopkinton on July 27 ( see page 15 for details ). It will be a great way to get together with like-minded professionals and make new connections .
We ’ re also putting the finishing touches on MLP ’ s Fall Field Day . It will be held on September 13 at beautiful Cushing Memorial Park in Framingham . We ’ ve got a terrific line up of exhibitors and hands-on education . Co-hosting with the MAA makes for a productive and fun day of networking .
One of the sessions we ’ re planning for Fall Field Day focuses on sustainable plantings and pollinator health . My company , Harrison McPhee , recently volunteered to help educate fourth graders in Millis about the importance of pollinators in the landscape . Three pollinator gardens were planted , one with perennials and shrubs , one with all annuals , and one with edibles ( vegetables , herbs , and fruit plants ). Complete with a honeybee observation hive from my own apiary , and students building homes for mason bees , it was a great success . Children are our industry ’ s future workforce - the earlier we get them excited about insects , birds , and plants , the better .
I am sure you have all heard about the devastating fire that destroyed the horticulture building at Smith Vocational Agricultural High School in Northampton in late May . Nicole Forsyth , horticulture instructor at Norfolk Aggie , is leading a fundraising campaign to help the staff and students rebuild . MLP has made a donation to the cause . If you ’ d like to help , contact Nicole at nforsyth @ norfolkaggie . org .
Finally , please join me in congratulating our Management Team as they celebrate 30 years in business ! I ’ m sure you agree that the Massachusetts landscape industry has benefitted greatly from their guidance and hard work . We thank them for the countless ways they have supported our members and our industry through the years .
Karen L . Kerr , MCLP President
MLP Newsline | Summer 2022 3