CLCA San Francisco Bay Area Chapter

With the title "The Birds and the Bees" we hope to catch your attention and get your to read further. First--and this blog really deals with the effects of the drought on wildlife and plants--is the birds. With plants stressed, birds are finding it hard to feed themselves. A good option is a bird feeder and they come in a variety of types. Cats, even indoor cats, have a great time watching birds. Hummingbirds are always looking for a food source. For hummingbird feeders, there are a couple of things to remember. First, the best nectar for hummingbirds is one that does not have any color in it. The recommended mixture is 4 cups water to 1 cup sugar and boiling the mixture until the sugar completely dissolves. The second important things is keep your hummingbird feeder clean and wash it out often. Mold can build up in the feeder and make birds ill. All of the birds are looking for water and need water as many of the water sources away from your yard are now dry. I'm making ...

On May 12, 2022, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of California Landscape Contractors Association went on a free tour of Zanker Recycling, 675 Los Esteros Road, San Jose. The tour started at 10 AM and end at 12 Noon with Zanker providing lunch. Over 30 people attended this event. Safety comes first... The group was very lucky to have as tour guide Jerame Renteria. He proved to be well informed about the various sites and answered the groups questions. Clearly knowing his subject well, he was an excellent spokes person for Zanker. The group was also lucky to have a fine bus driver who even managed, without a backup camera, to make a 3-point U-turn inside the organics recycling building. We were surprised to learn that 70% of the costs of running the site are tied up in transportation. Zanker Road Resource Management began operations of the Zanker Road Landfill in 1985 and was to be full in 5 years, but smart management has kept the site open. Site 2—Know formerly as the Owens Corning...

April’s Focus on Partners features Jeff Henninger with Delta Bluegrass Co . Jeff have been with Delta Bluegrass Co since 2013. He has been highly involved in CLCA for 25 years. Jeff is the past CLCA SFBA President for 2020.  Jeff has been married to his wife Donna for 35 years. They live in Pleasanton and have two young adult children, Shane (32) and Nicole (27). Jeff also proudly served in the U.S. Navy for six years. When not at work, you can find Jeff traveling, golfing, skiing, playing or refereeing soccer and spending time with his family. Delta Bluegrass Company has been providing premium sod products and installation services to the green industry since 1978. As pioneers of sustainable turf, Delta Bluegrass Company maintains the industry’s highest quality turf blends while constantly working to improve varieties that minimize watering requirements. As a full-line Sod Company, we are one of the few in the industry supplying a complete product line of Commercial, Residential, ...

Each year the Perennial Plant Association announces the plant of the year. And this year's selection is Schizachyrium scoparium and cultivars.  Little bluestem is a tough and dependable clumping grass that blends well with perennials such as asters, sedums, coneflowers, and other grasses. Schizachyrium scoparium is native to a broad swath of North America, it was one of the dominant grasses of the vast tallgrass prairies. Cultivars have been selected for shorter plants, enhanced leaf colors and stronger stems. The wider selection of not only little bluestem, but any associated cultivars, allows regional perennial experts to select and promote the cultivars that do best in their location. For the landscape companies planning to use this in new plantings, it is recommended to use 1- to 2-gallon pots. A bit slower growing. Once established, schizachyrium scoarium likes to grow on the dry side with low to moderate fertilizer rates. Overwatering and too much nitrogen can cause floppy gr...

What do the members of San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association do on St. Patrick's Day? Head out to the nearest Irish pub for a pint of Guinness and a hearty meal of corn beef, potatoes, and cabbage? Guess again. Bobby Budelli of RGB Landscape Company and Charleen Ott, SFBAC audito r Leo Ott, Juan Carlos Esparza, SFBAC president, and Jose Gonzalez   Instead of frivolity, we gathered for an in person chapter meeting at Celia’s Restaurant on Camino Real in Palo Alto. After a buffet dinner of Mexican food, we listened to three speakers. Gina Stanley and Debbi Abele with CLCA Insurance Solutions discussed the latest updates on coverage and explained how they work with different insurance companies to get the most competitive rates for members. Then Lance Perry, also with CLCA Insurance Solutions, presented information about the new Cal Savers option for owners to implement 401(k) plans to employees. This program offers businesses an easy...

 Today's blog introduces what we expect to be a regular monthly feature: Focus on Our Partners and their new products. Today we are spotlighting SiteOne Landscape Supply and their outdoor sound system. SiteOne Landscape Supply now offers outdoor, backyard audio systems from Ambisonic a world-wide name when it comes to high-end acoustics. Audio kits range in size depending on the square footage and the number of speakers your client prefers. Wiring can be run alongside your lighting systems when installing new fixtures. Amplifiers resemble lighting controllers and are hung in a similar fashion. For more information, available on-site demos and pricing, contact their sales rep: Andrew Tuckman Key Account Manager SiteOne Landscape Supply 707-299-8343 atuckman@siteone.com