- Phone: +62 856-4561-3576
- hello@zengarden.com
- Mon-Fri: 7:00 - 18:00
The Saginaw Valley Nursery and Landscape Association (SVNLA) provides its members with educational meetings throughout the year. Our daylong Short Course and the Fall Landscaping Seminar are always well attended and provide MDARD & CGIP Continuing Education Units (CEUs). At MNLA’s Great Lakes Trade Expo each January, there are also opportunities to earn recertification credits in 10 industry accreditations. GLTE 2026 information will be available on GLTE.org beginning in July 2025.
If you are in a Green Industry related business within the Saginaw Valley or surrounding area, and aren’t an SVNLA member, visit our Contact page to join or email Becky at Becky@MNLA.org to arrange a visit to attend an event to see what we are all about!
Be an integral part in helping grow our greener community!
September 29, 2025: SVNLA Town Hall at Reder Landscaping, Inc. in Midland, MI. Contact Becky for information: (517) 381-0437.
October 28, 2025: SVNLA Fall Landscaping Seminar at the Trillium Banquet Center in Saginaw. Contact Becky for information: (517) 381-0437.
December 4, 2025: SVNLA Christmas Party. Location TBD. Contact Becky for information: (517) 381-0437.
February 19, 2026: SVNLA Short Course. Location TBD. Contact Becky for information: (517) 381-0437.
The SVNLA Spring Kick-Off took place on Thursday, April 3rd and was held as a Community Project at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo. The afternoon started with education on pruning by SVNLA President Jerry Somalski. Attendees then broke up into 3 groups led by Jerry Somalski, Shawn Barbeau, and Dan Vos, where further discussion took place as well as pruning at different locations on the property. The groups rotated in order for all groups to hear from each of the group leaders and help tackle a variety of pruning needs. The evening concluded with a catered buffet dinner and presentation of an Honorary Member Acknowledgement to Gordie Bushong upon his retirement from Target Specialty Products and the SVNLA Board of Directors. Thank you Gordie for your dedication to SVNLA and all of the years you served as a member on the Board! SVNLA would also like to thank the event sponsors, Alta Equipment Company and Rent Rite of Saginaw.
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The SVNLA Short Course took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at the Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center in Frankenmuth, MI. The SVNLA Board of Directors would like to thank the sponsors of the 2025 Short Course: MHI Fund/RPS Regency and Target Specialty Products. Attendees enjoyed networking with their peers and listening to the industry-specific presentations including:
Green Industry Updates
Amy Upton, MNLA Executive Director
Good Bugs: Tales of Biocontrol Success and Failures
Elly Maxwell, Entomologist – Dow Gardens
Pruning Fruit Trees for Production and Improved IPM
Derek Plotkowski, Ph.D. – MSU Fruit Extension Educator
Cultivating Tree Cultivars to Prevent Disease and Insect Issues
Jay Kelly, Company Sales Rep. – J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Plants with Purpose: Plants that Work in Different Categories Based on Needs
Jason Bornhorst, Regional Manager – Willoway Nurseries, Inc.
Perennial Mixology: Plants that Grow Well Together, Where to Plant Them, and How to Maintain Them
Josh Roggenbuck, Regional Product Manager – Walters Gardens
MDARD Regulation Updates
Lauren Young, Pesticide Inspector – MDARD
Ficaria verna – Newly Added Invasive Species
Carolyn Miller, Plant Recorder/Botanical Technologist – MSU W.J. Beal Botanical Garden
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The SVNLA Christmas Party took place on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at the Saginaw Club in Saginaw, MI. Attendees enjoyed a delicious plated dinner and networking along with trying their hand at CRAPS, Roulette and Black Jack for a chance to win fabulous prizes. Much fun was had by all who attended!
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PROGRAM:
Dr. David L. Roberts, The Plant Doctor, LLC 5:15pm-6:15pm “The Plant Doctor’s Tree and Landscape Update”
Kevin Frank, PhD., MSU Dept. of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences 6:15pm-7:15pm
“Managing Turfgrass Pests in a Summer of Extreme Weather”
Josh Roggenbuck – Regional Product Manager, Walters Gardens, Inc. 7:15pm-8:15pm
“Easy to Grow Perennials for a Spectacular Landscape”
Aaron Hathaway-Technical Services Manager, Nufarm Americas Inc. 8:15pm-9:00pm “Using Plant Growth Regulators to Benefit Turf and Turf Managers“
The SVNLA Evening at Artisans Landscaping & Design, Inc. & Town Hall Meeting was held on Monday, September 30, 2024. The weather was perfect and attendees had the chance to listen to Legislative guests: Senator Kevin Daley; Chief of Staff for Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, Liz Trombley; Rep. Timmy Beson; Rep. Amos O’Neal; Rep. Bill G. Schuette; and Rep. Jerry Neyer.
After their introductions, everyone had the chance to ask questions. Many important issues were discussed that would greatly impact the Green Industry. A delicious dinner commenced after the Town Hall Meeting followed by the history of Artisans Landscape & Design, Inc. and a self-guided tour. A Huge Thank-You to Chad Fournier and everyone at Artisans Landscaping & Design, Inc. for their gracious hospitality and a wonderful evening!
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Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Trillium Banquet Center at Timbers Bar & Grill, 6415 State St., Saginaw
4:30 pm Registration, Vendor Networking, and Buffet-Style Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Program
SVNLA Members - $35 per person / Non-Members - $45 per person
Four (4) MDARD Pesticide Credits-3A, 3B, 6, Comm CORE & Priv CORE
Four (4) CGIP CEUs
Four (4) ICA Credits
PROGRAM
5:15pm-6:30pm
The Plant Doctor’s Tree and Landscape Update Dr. David L. Roberts, The Plant Doctor, LLC
6:30pm-7:00pm
Box Tree Moth in Michigan
David Lowenstein, Consumer Horticulture Supervising Extension Educator – MSU
7:00pm-8:15pm
Tree Versus Turf: Managing the Competition
Dr. Kevin Frank, Michigan State University
8:15pm-9:00pm
Gypsy Moth and Pine Trees
Dave Sutton, Territory Manager – ISA Board Certified Master Arborist – TriCity Tree Doctor
Sponsored by: Midwest Arborist Supplies
The Saginaw Valley Nursery and Landscape Association
