February 25, 2015 - Lethbridge Sun Times - page 5 LIFE & STYLE Careers in horticulture L


ife is a series of choices. Making a career choice is among the most important in your lifetime. Well, this is what I think


anyway. Here is an overview of the


opportunities in horticulture as I see them. While I am limited to the space of this article, there are in fact over 260,000 stories out there: one for each person working in horticultural trades in Canada. The majority of them are happy stories about people who were on another path and “discovered” the magic of horticulture (imagine, being paid for something that you love to do!) while others are less dramatic, like my own. Growing up in the business as a third-generation “gardener,” it seemed like a natural thing for me to do. The proposition for a career


GARDEN TALK Mark


Cullen


in horticulture can be broken down into the following categories. Take a good look and pass this on to someone who is at a stage in their life where a career choice (or change) is an option. 1. Landscaping The design and installation of gardens,


decks, patios and driveways seems straightforward enough. Our post- secondary schools provide many excellent options for anyone who wishes to learn the skills needed to become a professional in this field. But bear in mind that landscaping entails so much more than a pickup truck and a cache of hand tools. Here is a short list of sub-categories for your consideration: a. Landscape Lighting and Irrigation. As people move onto smaller properties they


Mark Cullen is a gardening expert and spokesperson for Home Hardware Lawn and Garden


want to enhance their outdoor living space with lighting that allows them to extend their enjoyment of it. Outdoor lighting can also enhance grounds security. According to Bob Tubby of Arbordale Landscaping, LED lighting is booming. Some landscaping companies are specializing in the field of in- ground irrigation. With in-ground irrigation, many home owners are enjoying the convenience of self- watering systems that allow them more time to golf. Or goof off. Those who learn how to use these systems properly enjoy a better performing garden. b. Hard-scaping. An industry





term that refers to non-plant landscaping. Think of retaining wall systems, interlocking and poured concrete walks and driveways, wooden decks and fences. This can be heavy physical work but there is an element of engineering and creative design also, especially where water


features and swimming pools are concerned. c. Water-scaping. Koi fish ponds,


swimming ponds and water falls. I have learned the hard way that this is a specialized business. I had my first pond installed by the landscaper nine years ago, only to have it torn out and replaced by a specialist (Genoscape Landscaping: http://genoscape.ca/) who fixed all of the problems created earlier. 2. Retail Garden Centres Many life-long careers started with a job


at a local garden centre as a cashier or “carry out.” This is a terrific training ground for all segments of the industry as you are forced to answer consumer questions that encourage you to learn how


to find answers quickly. It is where I started, at the tender age of 13. 3. Nursery Farming Over one billion dollars worth of plants


are grown and sold each year. If you enjoy the outdoors and the relative solitude of working on your own, have a good look at nursery farming. 4. Lawn Care So much more than grass cutting. Turf


management can lead to a career as a golf course supervisor, a crew foreman of a commercial work crew or owning your own company in the field. Endless potential. 5. Parks The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture


was originally set up to educate and train people for this field 75 years ago. There are endless possibilities that start with general labour in public parks that can lead to supervisory, management and planning positions. 6. Landscape Design Choose between garden design


(Landscape Ontario offers Garden Design Certification courses) and the more sophisticated Landscape Architecture. If you are creative, enjoy engineering,


drawing and/or selling, there are many opportunities. 7. Arborists and Tree


Climbers The early winter ice


storm last year moved this career choice up the radar. No one has been busier than the tree trimmers and the damage-assessment professionals. Hand me that rope and chain saw … thorough training and a serious eye on safety are key considerations. 8. Greenhouses Whether you are


interested in growing


flowering potted plants for special occasions, annual bedding plants, perennials or young seedlings for reforestation, there are many greenhouse jobs available. Greenhouse crops are a net- export in Canada. We are very good at this! www.greenhousecanada.com. 9. Garden Communicators This is what I am. As you read this, you


are indulging my passion for writing about horticulture. It may seem like a narrow field of endeavour but it might surprise you that there are over 600 members of the Garden Writers Association North America wide. I am not finished: there is work in trade


associations, educational facilities, research, green roofs, dry stone walling, sod growing, large tree moving, community gardens, farmers’ markets and horticultural therapy (www.chta.ca/). No doubt I have forgotten a few more: feel free to contact me with your thoughts. Mark Cullen appears on Canada AM


every Wednesday morning at 8:40. He is spokesperson for Home Hardware Lawn and Garden. Sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com.


Best Camera Store 1st – McBain Camera 2nd – London Drugs 3rd – Best Buy


Best Computer Store 1st – Best Buy 2nd – Future Shop 3rd – London Drugs


Best Movie Theatre 1st – Movie Mill 2nd – Galaxy Cinema


Best Radio Station 1st – 98.1 Bridge 2nd – 94.1 CJOC 3rd – Country 95.5


Best Fine Dining 1st – Firestone 2nd – Plum 3rd – The Keg


Best Family Dining 1st–TwoGuysPizza 2nd – Firestone 3rd – Boston Pizza


Best Asian Cuisine 1st – Lighthouse 2nd – Osho’s 3rd – New Dynasty


Best Coffee Shop 1st – Penny Coffee House 2nd – Tim Hortons 3rd – Round Street Café


Best Fast Food Restaurant 1st – Piggyback Poutinerie 2nd – 5 Guys Burgers 3rd – Wendys


Best Ethnic Cuisine 1st – Lighthouse 2nd – Osho’s 3rd – Café Verde


Best Pizza Restaurant 1st–TwoGuysPizza 2nd – Top Pizza & Spaghetti House 3rd – Luigis North


Best Restaurant Patio 1st – Firestone 2nd – Mocha Cabana 3rd – Paradise Canyon


Best Pub 1st (tie) – Average Joes 1st (tie) – Hudsons Taphouse 3rd – Telegraph Taphouse


Best Caterer 1st–LAChefs 2nd – Country Kitchen Catering 3rd – Prime Catering


BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS CONTINUED ON PAGE 11


Thank you to our clients and friends that voted for Flair Travel Planners in the “2015 Lethbridge Best of the Best”!


As part of the Lethbridge business community we strive to give the quality of service that we ourselves would like to receive.


We are proud to provide personal attention and give recommendations based on our professional travel experience. Our motto at Flair Travel is “We’ve Been There”. We'll be there for your entire journey, from departure to return. At Flair Travel Planners we will make your travel dreams come true!


Pat, Brian, Karen, Bylinda, Gosia and Deane extend a heartfelt “Thank You, Lethbridge”


Flair Travel Planners 722 - 4 Ave S, Lethbridge Ph: (403)329-1030 www.flairtravelplanners.ca


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