Newsletter May 2010, Volume 41, Issue 2

President's Report

Dear IPPS members

It is with some regret that I come to the end my term as president, but also a lot of very good feelings as I reflect on the pleasure and satisfaction that has come with the post. The Executive is a voluntary group of very dedicated individuals who work hard for the betterment of the Society. I have worked with many committees but this is one of the most supportive. It epitomizes the friendship and good fellowship of the IPPS. It's an organization without the overt competition and politicking that can be unproductive within other organizations.

Newsletter Format

This newsletter is sent to all New Zealand IPPS members:

By email if we have your address or
by post if you prefer.
It's also available on our website - www.ipps.org.nz

Some members have experienced problems reading the email version and may prefer to receive a hard copy.

If you'd like to change the method by which we send your copy, please advise:
Shirley Ogilvy
Email sogilvy@clear.net.nz
Post 208 Narrows Rd, RD 2, Hamilton
Phone 07 843 4902
Fax 07 843 4396

Many thanks to all the people I have served with over the last 6 years, and to those other IPPS members that bring ideas, and give assistance to, the Executive.

The Society is well run but the future health of the Society is in entirely in the members' hands. Your input is critical. Without member feedback and participation the Society will cease to grow and is less likely to be providing what the members want. This input may be in the form of attending or organizing conferences and field days, contributing at AGM's and Society forums, mentoring other members, putting yourself up for the Executive, opening up your nursery for a field day ... the list goes on.

IPPS - people passionate about growing plants coming together to seek and to share knowledge, and to pass that passion on to others.

The exciting news is that we will have the first Japanese recipient of the new Japan / NZ Exchange Scheme arriving on 15 May in time to attend our Blenheim conference. Mr Ouchi is 24 years old, speaks good English after time studying in the States, and works for his father growing Cymbidium orchids. Mr Ouchi will be part of the 4-pack at conference. We are looking for IPPS members to host him before conference, and as he will be flying into Christchurch, you will need to be in the Canterbury area. Hosting could be the form of showing him your nursery or places of horticultural interest for half a day, to having him with you for a few nights. Contact me directly at murray@southernwoods.co.nz if you are interested, as time is short.

The Japan region conference is in September and we would love to get a NZ IPPS member over there. If you are willing to seek and to share with the Japanese, and you want an expenses paid and fully-hosted trip, then contact me now at the above email, or alternatively Peter Waugh, for more detail. Sign on for a trip of a lifetime. This trip is offered to one NZ member every year and you can apply for the 2011 trip now if you wish.

The Blenheim conference is just about upon us and it's never too late to register if you haven't done so already.

I look forward to seeing you then.
Cheers
Murray Mannall

New Zealand Conference - Blenheim: 27 - 30 May 2010

'Sunshine, Wine and Weather'

27-30 May 2010, Marlborough Convention Centre

Time's marching on, and you are running out of time to get ready for this year's conference in the sunny Marlborough region.

Pre conference tour - 24-27 May 2010

Monday 24 - into Nelson for dinner Monday night
Tuesday 25 - boat trip into Abel Tasman National Park
Wednesday 26 - local nursery visits in and around Nelson and Richmond area
Thursday 27 - nursery visit and a trip to the Nelson Lakes, met by DOC officer and tour of area, over to Blenheim for start of conference on Thursday night

39th Annual conference 27-30 May

This will be held in the Marlborough Convention Centre with an approximate 5 min walk to surrounding motels.

A good lineup of speakers is confirmed including Vance Hooper, Bruce Dippie, Nicola Rochester, Ruth McConnachie, Morgan Rogers and Dr Andrew Tait.

We hope to provide you with a relaxing conference that appeals to all with sunshine, wine and great weather.

Get going, register and make your bookings now:

Pre conference tour - 24-27 May
39th Annual conference 27-30 May

We look forward to seeing you in Blenheim. Conference details and registration form attached and online at www.ipps.org.nz

Conference 4 Pack

Congratulations to these successful applicants. They'll attend conference and help us keep this running smoothly. Welcome.

Angela Gerrard
Hi, my name is Angela Gerrand; I am living in New Plymouth, working as an apprentice in the Parks team at the City Council. I am currently working towards my Level 4 Advanced Trade in Horticulture. I am a keen gardener and love the outdoors, especially netball and fishing which I do in my spare time after study and work.

Maree Jordan
Originally from Taranaki, moved to the Nelson area in 2001. Working at Appletons Tree Nursery, Wakefield, as part of the propagation team has given me an opportunity to gain Levels 2, 4 and 4 Advanced National Certificate in Horticulture. At present I am working towards my IPPS scholarship.
I am a married mum of 2, step mum of 3 and have 5 grandchildren. My favourite things in life include family, friends, trout fishing, art, music, trees, gardening, and good humour.

and ...

Alice Bulchl of Nelson
Chris Ramsay of Havelock North

New Zealand Field Days

Early days yet, but here's what's pencilled in for the foreseeable future:

Tauranga - October 2010
Christchurch - Feb 2011
Great Barrier - March 2011

and ...

Southern California, USA - June 2011, Philip Smith organising, with a presentation to be given at conference.

International Tour and Conference

Eastern Region: 29 Sep to 2 Oct 2010

Hosted by the Eastern Region the Pre-conference tour runs from 16 to 28 September followed by Eastern Region 60th Conference 29 September to 2 October.

The International tour starts from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the long tour on September 16th; although you can also join the tour here also on the 17th and 18th, while the short tour starts in New Jersey on September 24th and finishes in Warwick, Rhode Island for the Eastern Region Conference.

Contact Glenys or Shirley for further information, or see the International website at www.ipps.org

IPPS Propagator's Scholarship

It's time to be thinking about applying for the IPPS Propagator's Scholarship. Further details will be in the August newsletter or contact Jeff Elliott (03) 314 9049 or jeff.elliott@clear.net.nz for application forms. Applications will close 31st October 2010.

IPPS is looking for keen aspiring propagators to apply for the scholarship. Realising that many in the industry don't have a research or academic background, we are seeking those people with some practical, loosely-researched observations that will interest our membership base. Anybody can apply for the scholarship; all you need is an interesting project for us to sponsor and be prepared to speak at an IPPS Conference for 5 - 10 minutes.

Tongariro Crossing Field Trip - 20 Feb 1010

We had a good turnout for the crossing field trip with 19 hardy souls ready to take on the mountain. Most people had not done it before. It was a perfect day for the crossing; Mother Nature was definitely on our side weather-wise.

The majority of us met on the Friday night before the big day and went out for a meal. The IPPS motto of 'seek and share' was very appropriate for some campers who either under, or over-packed for the trip. We swapped and shared everything from blankets to spoons and packs to ensure everybody were well prepared for the challenge.

The Tongariro Crossing winds up the Mangatepopo Valley to the saddle between Tongariro and Ngaruahoe. It climbs to the Red Crater (1886m), then drops down to the vivid Emerald Lakes. The track then sidles around the northern slope of Tongariro and descends down to Ketetahi Hut and then to the pick-up point. It is just under 20km one way and usually takes around 7-8 hours. Some of our more energetic members finished in around 6 hours but the majority took about 7 hours.
Then it was back to the pub for a well earned beer or two!!!! (and a couple of foot massages went down a treat).

There was some botanising happening on the way with the alpine flora providing some spectacular contrast from alpine herb fields to tussock lands and down through some lowland bush on the return. We were happy to see some alpine flowers still out to.

Overall, a very enjoyable, if not exhausting day.

Update on McGredy Rose Garden

... By Hayden Foulds
In November 2009, I attended the official opening of the McGredy Rose Garden which was featured in the November newsletter last year. In front of a large crowd of rose enthusiasts, the garden's creator Georgina Campbell and Dr Sam McGredy, accompanied by wife Jillian and daughter Maria opened the garden.

Sam spoke warmly of the project saying, "No where else in the world to my knowledge, is there such a collection of my roses. We all love it when our families come together; this is how I feel about this garden. My roses are like my children."

The garden continues to grow with around 160 in the collection and around 30 more in various stages of propagation. However, this is only a fraction of the 600 roses that three generations of the McGredy rose breeding dynasty have created, so the hunt is on for as many as possible to join the collection. One way the collection may be increased is by importing roses in tissue to overcome import restrictions. However Georgina needs some help with this, so if anyone is able to help, please let me know and I'll put you in touch with Georgina.

Membership Returns & Late Subscriptions

I still have a few subscriptions that remain unpaid as at 1 May. If you haven't paid your subscription could you please contact me to let me know whether you intend to remain a member of IPPS or whether you wish to resign?

My notification of current members to the International Office is due while I am at conference and I need to know your intentions urgently. A phone call, a written note or an email would be appreciated.

Once again, thanks to the many members who have paid their subscription already.

Shirley Ogilvy
208 Narrows Road, R D 2, Hamilton,
Phone 07 843 4902, Mobile 0274 906 010
Email sogilvy@clear.net.nz

Committee Snippets

Snippets from Executive meeting held in Christchurch in March:

International - All regions apart from us it seems are suffering a decline in membership. International Conference is 16th - 30th September in Philadelphia.

President

Japanese exchange scheme being worked on and will be spoken about at AGM.
Need to keep encouraging new members

Conferences

Conference 2010 - Blenheim, 27 - 30 May - Sponsorship proving more difficult this year, but apart from that, all on track for a great time to be had by all.
Conference 2011 - Napier, 5 - 8 May - Venue all booked at Scenic Circle with the Conference at Anzac Memorial Convention Centre.
Conference 2012 - Cromwell, 26 - 29 April
Conference 2013 - Taupo

Field Days - all well attended

Trade Day stands - For those of you who do not attend Trade Days, IPPS now have a stand to promote our Society. This is combined with speakers at various times throughout the day. Proving very well worthwhile.

New Members

Promotional leaflet being looked at.
Website upgrade to make it more "simple" to get to application forms etc discussed.
Formation of a "Next Gen" group discussed.

IPPS at Trade Days

Once again, IPPS had a strong presence at both the Auckland and Christchurch Trade Days held in March with displays and demonstrations organised by Gordon Scott.

In Christchurch, we had Ray Lawson (Oderings) talking on cyclamen propagation, Paul Michael (Fern Factor) on fern propagation and Mark Stevenson (Hortfert) on growing media and fertilisers.

In Auckland, we had Graeme Platt (NZ Botanical Research Institute) on natives and seeds, Sandra Simpson (Multiflora) on tissue culture, Dr Keith Hammett on plant breeding and hybridising, and Janice Houghton (Rainbow Trees) on cuttings and propagation. Thanks to those members who shared their knowledge and skills with others in the industry. Hopefully, we'll gain new members as a result of our promotions at the trade days.

The state of the industry

In April's NGIA News, John Liddle recorded his views on how we're tracking ...

"I've been asked twice recently of my views on the state of the industry, I'm not too sure how to classify this hospital pass, but here are some personal, generalised and unsubstantiated thoughts:

Plants are still being 'consumed' in numbers similar to the past. Perhaps greater numbers in light of growth revegetation markets
We're passionate about what we do, but sometimes passion is not enough!
Varieties, grades and fashionable plant categories change rapidly
The distribution channels have changed markedly with the influence of box stores, landscapers and revegetation projects
Big, smart and professional layers will get bigger, smarter and more professional
That'll leave gaps in the market for niche growers and retailers
We're still likely over-supplied at both grower and retail level
Low and eroding margins threaten viability; restrict returns and limit capital investment
We are an aging industry, and desperately need young people coming in
Sustainability, green and healthy lifestyle issues present major opportunities
Biosecurity and mitigating adverse environmental effects of our doing business will grow as issues
We lack sophistication - automation, technology, industry statistics, management skills", remember I'm generalising!
Things are different now compared to 10 years ago, and in 10 years time they will be different again!

So where does this leave us? Plenty of room for development and refinement. but with some very obvious opportunities, challenges and hard yards ahead.
Your thoughts? "
Contact John Liddle NGlA, ph 04 918 3513 john@ngia.co.nz

Editorial Contacts

Hayden Foulds
2A Crewe Street, Pahiatua
P: home 06 376 8436, P: work 06 326 8500. F: 06 376 8436, M: 027 232 4589
haydenfoulds@gmail.com

Glenys Evans
PO Box 98, Waikanae
P: 04 293 2501, F: 04 293 5450
E: gus@gusevans.co.nz

Next Issue early August 2010, deadline for copy 31 July 2010.

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Visit www.ipps.org.nz

©2010 International Plant Propagators' Society - New Zealand Region
S Ogilvy (Treasurer)
C/- Bruntwood Nurseries, 208 Narrows Rd, RD2, Hamilton
P: 07 843 4902, F: 07 843 4396

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