What’s New at MWN!

Positive change has been the scenario since we updated you through our last newsletter. Most significant has been our acquisition by LandCare USA and its subsequent merger with TruGreen-ChemLawn. Together, we have formed TruGreen-LandCare. By aligning resources, we have proceeded with significant elements of our growth plan. Throughout the spring, MWN has expanded production acreage in San Diego to almost 200 acres. In April, we assumed operations of Ortega Growers in San Juan Capistrano. And now we have acquired SeaTree Nurseries in Irvine. Beyond adding two new locations, with Commercial Landscape Centers operating at each site, and dramatically increasing in our tree inventory, these events have brought to us some very qualified associates. In the San Diego Commercial Landscape Center, Kristen Loukes has recently joined our sales team, and Leonard Vargas is a welcome returnee. Brian McDonald is already contributing like a veteran, and all are earning accolades from many of our customers. In purchasing, many of our suppliers have met Sean Delaney, who brings valued assistance to our procurement process. We welcome the wealth of industry experience brought to us by Keith Lazenby (Commercial Ldsp. Center and Site Manager) and Fred Gonzalez (Production Manager) in our San Juan Capistrano location. Additionally, we welcome the professionalism brought to us by Ray Medina (Sales Associate, Commercial Landscape Center) and a strong sense of customer service from Sergio Morillo (shipping and sales).

Our company looks forward to the industry experience brought to us from Bob Seat, SeaTree’s president. Bob’s years of devotion to our industry will provide our operations valuable experience. A very important component of SeaTree Nurseries is the team that will complement our operations: we welcome Max Steen, key account sales representative; Hugo Jorge, sales representative; Jacinto Munoz, production manager; and the excellent support staff members, Sheila Checkley, Debbie Antez, Helen Stamate and Mary Ryan. In our business office, promotional congratulations go to Sherry Hatter (A/R Manager), Tonie Morehead (A/P Manager) and Heather Tabler (Regional Controller). Representing our team, I can tell you that we look forward to the opportunity of developing our new locations to offer further benefit to you. Most important, we want you to know that we remain committed to providing you our very best, from quality products to dependable services. Tom Ewing

• That abundance of summer color you drive by along the City of Chula Vista’s Telegraph Canyon Road resulted from its crews planting hundreds of our Pelargonium peltatum (Ivy Geranium). Hundreds of flats of our Hedera helix ‘Needlepoint’ (Needlepoint Ivy) provide the green blanket in and around the shrubbery. Hemerocallis hybrid ‘Lemon Yellow,’ grown at MWN, are now showing off their vibrant color within the landscapes at Mission Valley Center and La Jolla Village Park. The striking colors found in our Zantedeschia (Calla Lily) albo-maculata, pink and the variety ‘Flame’ can be seen within the landscape at Fashion Valley.

• Torrey Hills planted more Pinus torreyana into their ever-growing development (custom grown from a contract initiated two years prior). Qualcomm's new buildings ‘L’ and ‘AA’ are now landscaped with Erythrina caffra and Nandina ‘Gulfstream’, also custom grown for their project. As part of other contracts, our nursery is growing materials for Coronado Cays (including Phormium hybrids and Birds of Paradise), Disney’s newest themepark, Disney’s California Adventure, as well as several custom home projects.

• Over the spring and early summer, many of our plants were added to the landscaping of new attractions at Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Look for hundreds of our Cotoneaster lowfast, Juniper procumbens ‘Nana’, the groundcovers ‘Blue Star Creeper’ and ‘Lemon Thyme’ as you walk through the new grounds of Carlsbad's Legoland. North County’s Bell Gardens added the ‘Stella D'Oro’ Daylily, ‘Tuscan Blue’ Rosemary, Ceanothus and Diosma to their expanding landscape.

• NMPro magazine’s March issue listed our ‘Lightning Bolt’ Daylily as one of seven perennials to watch as future ‘all-stars.’ April’s issue again featured the daylily as ‘an exciting new plant you'll want to grow.’

August 26-27
CACM 8th Annual Statewide Conference and Exposition, Disneyland Hotel & Convention Center. Call (949) 263-2226 for further information.

September 1999
ESL Class: Plant Identification: Tuesdays/Thursdays — 4:00-5:50 p.m. Classes: September 14, 16 and 21, 23, 1999. Registration: September 7, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. Cost: $6.00 for California residents, non-resident tuition $66.50, international student tuition $66.50. Pre-registration available at Cuyamaca College or register at Miramar Wholesale Nurseries at 3:00 p.m. on the first class session of each seminar. Call Cuyamaca College for more information: Brad Monroe (619) 660-4261 or Diana Maranhao (619) 660-4262.

September 23-25
The Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Conference to be held in San Francisco, CA. The conference will explore the role and importance of art in the interpretation of the landscape to improve restoration. Contact the Society for more information: (608) 262-9547 or e-mail: ser@vms2.macc.wise.edu.

October 1999
ESL Class: Turf Management: Tuesdays/Thursdays — 4:00-5:50 p.m. Classes: October 12, 14 and 19, 21, 1999. Registration: October 5, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. Cost: $46.00 per person for California residents, non-resident tuition $66.50, and international student tuition $66.50. Pre-registration available at Cuyamaca College or register at Miramar Wholesale Nurseries at 3:00 p.m. on the first class session of each seminar.

Call Cuyamaca College for more information: Brad Monroe (619) 660-4261 or Diana Maranhao (619) 660-4262.

October 2-3
Certified Landscape Technician Test at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. For more information and registration, call CLCA Headquarters at (800) 448-2522.

October 19-20
Western Nursery & Garden Expo, Las Vegas Convention Center. Sponsored by the California Association of Nurserymen, Seminars and trade show. For more information, contact Margo Cheuvront at (800) 517-0391.

October 27-30
CLCA Annual Convention, New Orleans Marriott. For more information call CLCA Headquarters at (800) 448-2522.

November 1999
ESL Class: Landscape Pruning: Tuesdays/Thursdays — 4:00-5:50 p.m. Classes: November 9, 11 and 16, 18, 1999. Registration: November 2, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. Cost: $46.00 per person for California residents, non-resident tuition $66.50, and international student tuition $66.50. Pre-registration available at Cuyamaca College or register at Miramar Wholesale Nurseries at 3:00 p.m. on the first class session of each seminar. Call Cuyamaca College for more information: Brad Monroe (619) 660-4261 or Diana Maranhao (619) 660-4262.