News

Great blog post about texting and driving!

2014-03-04T10:47:00.001-06:00

http://www.jillkonrath.com/sales-blog/bid/157397/Avoid-This-Killer-Sales-Strategy-at-All-Costs?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=12102861&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Gwrg-UGZzLKMBhSrUto7aG2GW_QZPq5uqpHB1erpuzdbHoTg6DPcAAEE3YX_fEkA78NUqflCJsugcBIFwgGNbT2mJ-7K_ftf_GjDff0VkL4ossQQ&_hsmi=12102861

Fantastic article on living walls

2013-10-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

http://continuingeducation.construction.com/article.php?L=326&C=951

fantastic article!

Great article on Fall Tree Planting

2013-10-15T15:05:00.001-05:00

http://www.savatree.com/fall-planting-trees.html

Check out this article on the benefits of planting trees and shrubs in fall!

Finding nature south of Chicago

2013-07-17T13:18:00.001-05:00

http://dirt.asla.org/2013/05/08/chicagos-wilderness-beauty-amid-industry/

Why we should all consider approaching our Villages about Greener Roads

2013-07-17T13:13:00.001-05:00

http://dirt.asla.org/2013/06/19/a-road-can-be-more-than-a-road/

Fantastic couple of articles from ASLA

2013-07-17T13:12:00.000-05:00

http://dirt.asla.org/2013/05/28/civic-horticulture-productive-gardens/

Bipartisan Community Parks Revitalization Act Introduced in U.S. House

2013-07-02T10:46:00.002-05:00

FROM ASLA's WEBSITE

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) commends Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), and nine others for introducing H.R. 2424, the Community Parks Revitalization Act, which would help communities to rehabilitate existing and develop new community parks and outdoor recreational facilities.

Today, many communities are suffering from deteriorating infrastructure, chronic stormwater management issues, lagging economies, limited green spaces, poor health, and chronic disease. Community parks and other outdoor recreation facilities have a proven record for revitalizing communities by increasing economic development, improving public health, increasing daily physical activity, reconnecting children with nature, reducing crime, and providing safe, healthy alternatives for youth.

The Community Parks Revitalization Act will stimulate neighborhood economic growth by leveraging limited public resources to generate community reinvestment. Specifically, the bill will authorize grants for park and recreation agencies, which must be matched with local funds. Grants could be used to rehabilitate existing and develop new community parks and recreational infrastructure. In addition the bill now includes an innovative financing mechanism that would establish a program for secured loans and loan guarantees for the development of parks and recreation infrastructure. Notably, this program, modeled after the popular Transportation Infrastructure Innovative Financing Act, would allow either large-scale projects such as trail systems or multiple communities to bundle multiple projects together, allowing eligible entities to take advantage of low-cost financing.

According to Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA, the Community Parks Revitalization Act is a crucial opportunity to strengthen American communities.

“ASLA supports legislation that will assist with the rehabilitation and construction of urban parks and recreational facilities across the country,” said Somerville. “Parks provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits to everyone in the community. Parks are not just pretty places, but critical to the fabric of our daily lives.”

Somerville also noted that landscape architects, many of whom are part of small businesses, plan and design community parks and other outdoor recreational spaces. They help encourage physical activity by making spaces more accessible, attractive, and sustainable. Exposure to nature reduces stress and improves mood. These spaces also absorb stormwater runoff, saving cities millions of dollars and, more important, promoting healthier, happier lifestyles.

For more information on ASLA federal advocacy efforts, please visit ASLA’s I Advocatewebpage.

What is going on with the tulips!?!

2013-04-30T12:25:00.004-05:00

http://link.emailer.colorblends.com/s/ve?eli=33756503&si=i497293684&cfc=3html

From on of our most trusted vendors!!

April 30 is a national holiday in the Netherlands. It's the day that the Dutch pause to honor their queen and all things Dutch. In Amsterdam, young people don something orange - the national color - and try to find a place on one of the many party boats that parade through the canals.

Queen's Day often coincides with peak bloom in the tulip fields, but not this year. Spring has been slow in coming to the Netherlands. Most years, the growers have cut all of the flowers by the end of the first week of May. This year there may still be tulips in the fields until the middle of the month. Will the crop be affected by the tardy spring? That question can't be answered until the tulip bulbs are dug in late June or early July.

(If you would like to learn more about the commercial cultivation of tulips in North Holland, the largest bulb-growing region in the Netherlands, click here for a great slide show.)

This will be the last Queen's Day for some time. Queen Beatrix has abdicated in favor of her son (as her mother did for her and her grandmother did for her mother - a very polite and civilized passing of the torch). Prince Willem-Alexander takes the throne today. He is the first king the Dutch have had since 1890. Next year, the Dutch will celebrate his day, King's Day, on his birthday, April 27.

The Colorblends Team

Announcing new Irrigation Superintendent Michael Zimmerman

2013-02-21T10:11:00.000-06:00

The Facts:

· Nationally Certified Irrigation Contractor

· Twelve years of irrigation experience

· OSHA 30 hr Construction Safety and Health Certified

The Fun Stuff:

“Outside of work I enjoy aquaculture, having multiple fresh (community and cichlid) and marine tanks, plus I have a 5 month old purebred German Sheppard named Ella (registered name of Princess Ella von und zu Zimmerman) who will be trained and participating in the German sport of IPO (Schutzhund) once she is old enough.”

“I liked Michael almost immediately during the interview process.

I was impressed with his thoughtful and frank responses to questions, his technical savvy and his ambitious spirit.

Adding people like Michael to our team brings innovative ideas, a passion for the utilization of new technologies and most importantly...someone who truly cares about creating the best customer experience.”

-Donna Vignocchi Zych

President

Peavey Plaza, Minnesota, Listed on National Register

2013-01-23T12:38:00.002-06:00

Peavey Plaza Listed on National Register of Historic Places

Peavey Plaza, a Modernist urban plaza in downtown Minneapolis designed by landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg, FASLA, that opened in 1975, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The designation was made official on January 14, 2013 and will be published January 25.

The plaza, which is currently threatened with demolition by the city, is widely considered the finest surviving example of Friedberg’s work from the period. Friedberg, a recipient of theAmerican Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Design Medal in 2004, the organization’s highest award, is one of the nation’s leading landscape architects. Peavey joins an elite group of works on the National Register – of the more than 88,000 sites on the Register, some 2,300 have significance in landscape architecture.

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“Peavey Plaza’s National Register designation is a victory of Paul Friedberg’s brilliant design, for Modernist landscape architecture and further undermines the City of Minneapolis’ ill-advised demolition plans,” says Charles A. Birnbaum, founder and president of the Cultural Landscapes Foundation, which fought to protect the plaza.

Click here to read the TCLF press release.

The other big news is that Seattle's Gas Works Park, by Richard Haag, FASLA, has also been listed in the National Register.T hat make two Post War projects listed in the first two weeks of January. Of the 2,300 or so National Register listings with significance in landscape architecture, only 208 are less than 50 years old.

Interior Sec Ken Salazar, Hon. ALSA Steps Down

2013-01-23T12:37:00.002-06:00

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Hon. ASLA, announced that he will return to his home state of Colorado, having fulfilled his promise to President Barack Obama to serve four years as secretary. Salazar has informed President Obama that he intends to leave the department by the end of March.

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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar,
Hon. ASLA

Salazar “helped usher in a new era of conservation for our nation’s land, water, and wildlife,” President Obama said in a written statement. The president also praised Salazar’s efforts to resolve disputes between the federal government and Native American tribes, and said the secretary ensured that decisions on energy production “are driven by the best science and promote the highest safety standards.” During his tenure, Salazar was responsible for the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO), which started a national dialogue about conservation and reconnecting Americans with the outdoors. Salazar’s vision for AGO was to create the next generation of great urban parks, to encourage young people to spend more time in the outdoors, and to protect treasured landscapes across the country. As part of Obama’s Great Outdoors program, Interior established 10 national wildlife refuges and seven national parks since 2009. AGO also established forward-thinking protections for wildlife and preserved millions of acres of land, and implemented community-driven, science-based conservation strategies that take into account entire ecosystems and working landscapes.

In 2010, Secretary Salazar attended the ASLA President’s Dinner to accept the Olmsted Medal for his commitment and continued efforts in protecting and preserving our nation’s lands and waters as well as its cultural resources.
Previously, Salazar served Colorado as a U.S. Senator, and as Attorney General.

ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, commends Salazar for “his vision in creating and implementing the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, which can serve as a model for future secretaries. We are all the richer for his many years of public service and stewardship over our nation’s natural resources.”

Former North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hays, and former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire have been mentioned as possible replacements. ASLA will continue to monitor candidates to replace Secretary Salazar.

New Grant Option for Rural Community Design Challenges

2013-01-23T12:33:00.000-06:00

New Grant Option for Rural Community Design Challenges

Partnership of federal agencies and national organizations offers workshop funding, technical assistance, and additional resourcesThe Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has issued a request for proposals to rural communities for hosting local workshops in 2013 to help face design challenges. Successful applicants will receive a $7,000 grant and in-kind design expertise and technical assistance valued at $35,000. The Request for Proposals is on the new CIRD website: www.rural-design.org.

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The deadline for submitting a proposal is Tuesday, March 5, 2013. at 5:00 p.m. EST.

CIRD (formerly known as "Your Town") works to help rural communities with populations of 50,000 or fewer enhance their quality of life and economic vitality through facilitated design workshops. The program brings together local leaders, non-profits, and community organizations with a team of specialists in design, planning, and creative placemaking to address challenges like strengthening economies, enhancing rural character, leveraging cultural assets, and designing efficient housing and transportation systems.

Since the program's inception in 1991, CIRD has convened more than 60 workshops in all regions of the country with results that range from the development of public art plans and business improvement districts, to funding for the design of waterfront parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscape improvements.

Each community selected to participate in the Institute will receive $7,000 to support planning and hosting a two-day workshop. Communities will be required to provide approximately $7,000 in matching funds (cash or in-kind). CIRD will work with the communities to assemble teams of specialists based on the communities' individual needs. The workshops will be augmented with conference calls and webinar presentations led by experts who will cover topics related to rural design. The calls will also be open to the general public through CommunityMatters.

The new website at www.rural-design.org is a portal for resources on rural design gathered from diverse organizations across the country. It will be a place for interested citizens to connect with one another and get information about improving design in their own communities.

Find the RFP and application guidelines at www.rural-design.org/apply. Selected communities will be announced in May 2013, and the workshops will be held during the summer and fall of 2013.

CIRD will offer three free application-assistance calls to answer questions and guide interested applicants in assembling their proposals. The first of these calls will take place on Wednesday, January 23, the second will take place on Thursday, February 7, and the third will take place on Thursday, February 28, 2013. Participation in each call is free but registration is required. To register, visit www.rural-design.org/application-assistance.

The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Project for Public Spaces, Inc., along with the Orton Family Foundation and the CommunityMatters® Partnership. A task force of national experts in rural design and planning is also being assembled to help shape the CIRD program.

Landscape Architecture Magazine Featured in Barnes and Noble

2013-01-23T12:31:00.003-06:00

http://www.asla.org/land/LandArticle.aspx?id=38309

Send in a photo of display to enter prize drawing.

The January issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) is featured this month on the end-caps of the magazine sections ofnearly 500 Barnes & Noble stores across the country.

ASLA's Vivian Thompson does a bit of shopping!

Visit your local Barnes & Noble and take a photo--like the ones shown here--and send it topublisher@asla.org. Be sure and let us know where you snapped the photo. LAM will post it on its Facebook page, and you will be entered in the prize drawing for a $100 gift card. One entry per person per photo location. If you really want to show your support, purchase a copy of LAM at Barnes & Noble and drop it off in a library, hospital or medical waiting room, hair salon, etc. -- any place the public might be able to pick it up and learn about the profession. Gift subscriptions can be purchased online.

If your local store is on the list and you do not see an end-cap promotion in the magazine section, please email publisher@asla.org to let LAM know for follow-up.

LAM has also arranged for a Barnes & Noble end-cap promotion of its April issue in recognition of National Landscape Architecture Month, and the September issue, which will feature the 2013 Professional and Student Awards.

Drought could reverse flow of Chicago River

2013-01-14T14:09:00.002-06:00

Check out this interesting article!

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8947719

Chicago Botanic Garden to add two additional gardens

2013-01-07T13:48:00.000-06:00

http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/chicago-botanic-garden-designers.aspx

Downy Mildew Update

2013-01-07T13:40:00.003-06:00

Lawn and Landscape Magazine provides us with a Downy Mildew Update

http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/ll1112-downy-mildew-impatiens.aspx

Great blog

2013-01-07T13:32:00.004-06:00

Great information in this blog by arborsmith...

http://www.thearborsmiths.com/our-wisdom/

Overwintering container plants

2012-10-22T14:11:00.002-05:00

The key to overwintering plants in containers is to prevent the soil mass from freezing and to maintain moisture in the soil throughout the winter. Freezing can be prevented by having a large soil mass in a well-insulated container or planter located in a protected area. Watering containers with needled and broadleaf evergreens such as hollies, boxwoods and ivy is essential in winter.

Most containers can be damaged by freezing and thawing conditions if the soil is left in them during winter. Large concrete and wooden planters are typically able to withstand northern Illinois winters without being cleaned out. All other planters and containers should be emptied of soil and plants and stored upside-down to prolong their useful life.

PSI Management mourns passing of founder Tracy Hill

2012-10-17T12:44:00.005-05:00

PSI Mourns the Passing of
Company Founder Tracy Hill

Rolling Meadows, IL .... It is with great sadness that Property Specialists, Inc (PSI) announces the passing of our founder and past president, Mr. Tracy Hill. Surrounded by loved ones, Tracy passed on Sunday, October 14th of complications related to lung cancer.

As a son of professional homebuilder Kimball Hill, Tracy was born into a family with a strong understanding and devotion to the Illinois housing market. Tracy and his older brother David grew up on construction sites, assisting in both the business and labor side of the industry. For almost 100 years, the Hill Family has worked to build and maintain vibrant communities throughout northern Illinois. While David went on to eventually operate Kimball Hill Homes, Tracy decided to take another route and establish his own niche within the Chicago housing market. In 1975, Tracy formed Property Specialists, Inc., at that point a small boutique firm managing only a handful of properties in suburban Cook County.

As founder and President of PSI, Tracy established the firm as a strong regionally based company, competing with technology offered through larger national firms while maintaining the personal attention of a local entity. Considered a giant in the emerging field of residential property management, Tracy's goal was to establish the communities in which he managed as a profitable return on the homeowner's investment. He understood the importance of a home to the homeowner, always wanting his communities to be a place where his clients were proud to reside.

Tracy was always quick to share his passion for the industry he so dearly loved. He served as a mentor to his entire staff, passing along his beliefs to future generations of community managers. A firm believer in continuing education, Tracy received his Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designation, the highest designation afforded to an individual property manager by the Community Association Institute (CAI). He encouraged his staff to follow suit, offering scholarships for continuing education classes. Tracy considered management to be a partnership between his firm and his clients. To better foster this partnership and prime it for success, Tracy developed his own continuing education course for not only his staff, but his clients as well. He was the first person to offer his Board members free educational classes in order to help new and returning Board members navigate the sometimes difficult waters of community management. He was often a featured speaker at CAI events. Seeing others in which he mentored succeed was one of Tracy's greatest joys in life.

Under Tracy's guidance, PSI grew from 10 communities to over 250. The firm is currently one of only five Illinois firms to have obtained the coveted Accredited Association Management Company (AAMC), the highest designation awarded by Community Association Institute.

Tracy was thought of fondly by all employees as a tough but caring employer. He treated PSI as a second family, often helping employees with personal loans, advice and general support. He was always considered more of a father figure than as a boss.

In June of 2012, Tracy retired from active management of PSI, handing over the company to longtime employee and personal friend Cathy Dean Ryan. Tracy wished to spend his remaining time with his family.

Tracy is well known for his charitable contributions, including substantial contributions to Special Olympics. Each year Tracy would personally match dollar for dollar the contributions raised by his employees for this cause. Among his many charitable donations, Tracy has served on the Illinois Board for epilepsy research and has donated heavily to Harper Community College for the purposes of establishing a center for the hearing disabled, both afflictions suffered by members of his immediate family.

He has served on the Board of Directors of the Community Association Institute, Illinois Chapter; as President of the Multi-Family Housing Council of Illinois; as President of the Apartment and Condominium Council of Greater Chicago; as a member of the National Association of Home Builders' Multi-Family Mortgage Finance Committee; as a past Chairman of the NAHB RAM Board of Governors and as a founding member of the Housing Credit Certified Professional organization. Concurrent with this last position, he serves as a National Director of the National Association of Home Builders. In 1996, Mr. Hill was appointed to the Legislative Review Committee and concurrently served as a State Director for the Home Builders Association of Illinois.

In 2001, then Governor George Ryan appointed Mr. Hill to the Joint Energy Advisory Commission of the Illinois General Assembly, where he reviewed proposed legislation for setting residential and commercial industry standards, while also serving as President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago.

Tracy's deep love for country is known throughout the industry as Tracy's annual speech thanking our servicemen and women has become a staple of the CAI's Winter Formal. He was known to offer incentives to those employees who exercised their duty and voted each election day, regardless of which candidate they supported. Though if asked, he never shied away from giving his thoughts on a candidate or political party.

Fun Pumpkin Facts

2012-10-17T10:39:00.000-05:00

pumpkins carved by Aaron and Sofia Zych

Total U.S. pumpkin production was valued at around $140 million equaling 1.1 billion lbs

496 million pounds of pumpkins were produced in Illinois.

The top pumpkin production states are Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.

Around 90 to 95% of the processed pumpkins in the United States are grown in Illinois.

Pumpkins originated in Central America.

In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" - the Greek word for "large melon."

Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

Pumpkins are a fruit.

Colonists sliced off pumpkin tops; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.

Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.

Just for fun

2012-10-03T14:34:00.004-05:00

Clive Bevan with his giant vegetables

By Daniel Owens
Published on Wednesday 3 October 2012 10:59

Northamptonshire gardener and giant vegetable grower Clive Bevan is putting the final touches to one of the region’s best-loved horticultural competitions.

Super-sized spuds, monster marrows and colossal cabbages will be among the giant vegetables of all shapes and sizes coming to the Autumn Show at the East of England Showground in Peterborough.

Growers from all over the country – as well as from across Northamptonshire – will be showcasing their heavy weight produce at the Show on Sunday, October 14.

Now in its fourth year, the Giant Vegetable Competition is one of the many popular attractions at the show – with entries already up on last year, as more and more green-fingered growers get bitten by the gardening and allotment bug.

Clive Bevan – whose skills have taken him around the world to advise growers in countries such as China and Malaysia – is again helping to organise the competition, and will be overseeing the weigh-in of the vegetables on the day.

Mr Bevan – who has recently appeared on ITV’s Alan Titchmarsh show, along with his monster veg - said: “We are expecting a fantastic turnout, giving the success of the past three years. We’ve already secured Peter Glazebrook and Graham Tranter, respective growers of the recent world record breaking onion (18lbs) and most tomatoes on a single truss (304) to exhibit at the show.

“And we are hoping that Peter brings his record-breaking onion with him to display to visitors.”

Clive added: “It’s not a beauty contest. The vegetables don’t have to look pretty – it is all about the weight.”

All the veg will be scrutinised on the day as the battle for the best and heaviest commences!

Get organized

2012-10-03T12:51:00.002-05:00

Get organized!! I love the inspirational photo that makes me want to run home and get my act together to make my gardening fun and more efficient.

An Outdoor Medicine Cabinet

2012-09-14T09:22:00.001-05:00

Everyone these days is becoming increasingly concerned about what we put into our bodies that might be harmful. The truth is that most of the "new" natural products that are out there are a step back to a simpler time when people used what was available to them.

Below are some interesting tidbits about plants your might have growing right now and what they are truly capable of!

Sage

Both a cooking herb and a medicinal plant, sage is a great salve for insect bites, skin infections, gum infections and mouth infections. It can also help with indigestion, depression and even menopausal problems.

The Latin name, where sage was derived from, means 'to heal.'

Peppermint

There's probably no better-smelling plant that you can grow in your garden than peppermint. It's considered to be the world's oldest medicine which has been used by people from the ancient times to relieve whatever it is that is bothering them medically.

What makes peppermint such a medicinal garden essential is the fact that it is naturally rich in vitamins A and C, manganese and it helps reduce a number of symptoms including upset stomachs.

Echinacea

This lovely-colored flowering medicinal plant is considered to be one of the world's most important medicinal herbs.

What makes it a handy medicinal plant is that it has a wide array of uses, including the treatment of sores, burns, wounds, allergy relief, insect bites, stings and snakebites. This type of medicinal plants also have the ability to help relieve allergies by strengthening immune system.

Aloe Vera

If there's one medicinal plant which has 101 uses, that is none other than aloe vera.

Let's say that you or a kid in your home suffered from a minor burn, you can use the bottom stalk of aloe vera as a soothing balm by rubbing the exposed end on the burn.

Aside from minor cuts and wounds, this medicinal aloe vera is also great for burns, treating eczema and reducing inflammation.

Did you know that this medicinal plant can even be taken internally? You can actually drink aloe vera juice and use it to treat digestive problems and poor appetite.

Emerald Ash Borer & its effects on Chicagoland

2012-08-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

Great article, a series actually on the emerald ash borer and its effects on the Chicagoland area.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120819/news/708199922/

Downy Mildew...the new epidemic

2012-08-29T13:43:00.002-05:00

I had a customer contact me a couple weeks ago saying they noticed thier imaptiens were tall and leggy with little or no blooms. I went out to inspect it and thought it looked like they were suffering their normal end of season blues two MONTHS too early.

Very concerned I contacted our very trusted supplier Mindy Clesen at Ron Clesen's Ornamental Plants Inc. and she informed me that last year we saw the beginning of what is turning out to be a very significant epidemic for impatiens.

She and a fellow employee, Rachel Prescott, have given me the following useful information.

Downy mildew won’t occur until the conditions are perfect. Most people think since they haven’t seen it yet this summer that everything will be fine, however, the cold nights are really what trigger the disease to start taking its toll on plants

Downy mildew is characterized with leaving only the stalks of the plants left in the bed: flowers and leaves will drop, and most of the time the leaves will be covered in white spores on the underside

The best thing to do when you identify the disease is to remove ALL plants from the bed. The most important part of this step is to do it as soon as you can! The mistake I saw a lot of landscapers make last year was they waited a week until their crew was back at the house or jobsite to remove the plant material. There are two very important reasons why you should remove the material right away:
- There are two types of spores that are produced by Downy Mildew. The oospores are the spores that overwinter in the soil, and can cause Downy Mildew in the bed year after year once they’ve settled in. By removing material right away you are trying to prevent the overwintering of these spores.
- The other type of spores are airborne spores. These airborne spores will die if they do not find another host, and in this case they would have to find another impatiens to infect. The quicker you remove the infected material, the less likely the disease will spread to a neighboring bed.

Unfortunately there is no data about if throwing infected material into your compost pile will affect the integrity of the compost. Ball has said to just throw the material away in the garbage if you can, that way you don’t have to worry about your compost being compromised.

Downy mildew of impatiens only infects Impatiens walleriana, the standard impatiens. New Guinea impatiens, impatiens hawkerii are highly tolerant of the disease. No other plants are infected by this pathogen. So choosing a different species of annual in 2013 is a good idea.

Plasmopara obducens produces tough survival spores called oospores that can overwinter in soil and plant debris. As a result if downy mildew was present in your garden last year, it is likely to show up again in 2013. Downy mildew can also move in on wind blown spores. Although it is not known how far the downy mildew pathogen can travel by wind, a close relative, downy mildew of cucurbits, has been shown to move over 600 miles in 48 hrs.