Hey Folks!!  Looking out the window trying to figure out what a “typical” winter day in New England is this year. Typical or average is certainly outside the norm lately. For instance, Friday last week was 8 degrees with snowstorms or otherwise, typical. Today is 50 degrees with light rain. Definitely not typical.

Some area golf courses had very strong play during the month of December and into the first couple of weeks of January, hopefully this can only help their bottom line. I will be curious to see how the turf responds to the freeze/thaw/snow/freeze typical weather we are experiencing.  

Looking forward to the Patriots vs. Giants Super Bowl match-up

Speaking of “typical”, the AFC Champion New England Patriots have advanced to another Super Bowl event. Once again, the much maligned New England Patriots have improved slowly each week and have advanced to the Championship event. The Patriots advance to the Pantheon of football greatness with a statistically inferior defense. This defensive unit gives up more yards than any other team in the league, but make the typical other-worldly plays to win the game. In the end, it’s all about pulling together to WIN. This version of the Patriots cherish the opportunity to match up against the Giants in a 2007 rematch. Should be a great game!!

Or maybe you haven’t, either way I’m out and here we go again. Ok… so Red Sox nation should be disgusted in the way that ownership kicked manager Tito Francona out the door and attempted to assassinate his reputation. As a diehard Sox fan who has lived and died with the fortune of the olde towne team over the last 86 plus years, I am very disappointed. I bring up the number 86, because it was Francona that guided the happy idiots to crush the curse of the bambino after 86 years, only to be sullied exiting Yawkey way after 8 years. Tito was fired by ownership… I am ok with a business decision, but do not insult the Nation by asking us to believe he resigned… only to have management leak that his character was responsible for the teams collapse in September. Disgusting. Red Sox ownership has a lot of damage control to fix this one.The Stanley Cup Champion Bruins are skating with a Cup Hangover.

You can only drink from the cup and dance through the North End so much before it catches up with you. We’ve all been there at some point, time for a Red Bull, a couple of Advil and start skating like the championship team that you are.

The world-class Patriots are fresh off a horrible game against the Steelers in Happy Valley.

I could not see the game, but I did listen to it on the radio in front of my house. Why you ask? Because the Northeast experienced a typical Nor’easter during an atypical time (October) that dumped over a foot of wet snow with winds gusting to 25 mph. Many of the trees still had not dropped all their leaves, the result was a disaster! Millions without power as trees and/or limbs dropped power lines and blocked roadways. We have not had power since Saturday evening. Average temp in the house is 46 degrees. With any luck, we should have electricity by Saturday. Just to recap since June, our area has experienced a Tornado, Hurricane, Earthquake, Tropical Storm, Flooding and debilitating Nor’easter… just sitting and wondering when the locusts arrive.

Yo, so I am walking through Boston Public Gardens the other day, just after the Bruins had won and were literally drinking from Lord Stanleys cup in the North End, and coincidently after the Red Sox had climbed into first place with the best record in the American League East after starting the season 0-7, when I see a t-shirt vendor selling “Boston, City of Champions.” And then it hits me as I stroll through past the Swan Boats in our quaint little city, that our Olde Towne Teams have won a combined seven World Championships since the New England Patriots beat the “Greatest Show on Turf” in 2001.

For those of you who are challenged with math, that would be 3 for the Pats, 2 for Red Sox Nation, 1 for the Celts and a very satisfying Lord Stanley’s Cup for the Black and Gold!!! If it’s on a t-shirt and you do that math… that equals a true City of Champions!

Hazy, hot and humid for Northeast turf managers
We have an extended period of Hazy Hot and Humid in the Northeast. The weather has stressed some turf and we are dealing with pythium, intermittent dollar spot, and some superficial brown patch.

The real troublesome pests this year have been Nematodes and Hyperoides. Both have caused persistent issues on greens and collars in the northeast.

The stressed turf has also brought on significant weed pressure along cart paths, bunker faces and areas difficult to effectively hit with a preemergent herbicide.

Special “thanks” goes out to Kyle Miller and Tom Hill for their support at the UMASS field days last week. I appreciate their support and moral guidance during a hot humid day!

BTW, did anyone notice that the Josh Beckett of the Red Sox threw a one hitter on Wednesday night! Is there any doubt that we have just witnessed the first leg of a triple crowne……Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots all in one season. Even Tiger Woods can’t win that many majors in one season!!!

I would imagine it is blogs and verbal rantings like this, that make folks from the city of champions so annoying!! It is good to be on top!

After starting the MLB season 2-10, the resilient Boston Red Sox are only 1 game behind the dreaded first place NY Yankees!! The home towne team is scheduled to visit the evil empire in the Bronx for a three game series to establish early season bragging rights for the AL East.
Meanwhile on the West Coast, the Bruins have taken two tough loses to the classless Vancouver Canucks. A tough 1-0 loss in the first game with 18.5 seconds to go, followed up by a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss at the hands (and fingers) of a Canuck who should have been tested for rabies and not playing Saturday night! Game 3 is tonight at the Boston Garden… look for another hard hitting, closely checked game!!

Thoughts go out to those affected by violent storms & tornadoes near Springfield, Mass.

As a serious note, Springfield, Mass., was hit with several tornados last week. The first one touched ground as it crossed the Connecticut river and smashed into Springfield riverfront. At least two others touched down east of the city damaging homes and trees.

The Springfield tornado was about 3 miles from my house. I was on the phone and cooking supper in the backyard as the tornado was wreaking havoc… not a drop of rain, hail or even a gust of wind in my yard!!! We are thankful we escaped and our thoughts go to those families who have suffered loss, injuries and damage as a result of the storms. The randomness of these violent storms is mind-boggling.

Solutions for managing golf course native area weeds

A week of summer-like temps have been followed by moderate temps in the 70s and cool evenings. Forecast is for 90s by mid-week. Most courses are on their mid season spray program, no unusual stress to report. Met with several superintendents recently and each wanted to discuss native areas and weed control. Segment® herbicide is a good fit for this for more on native areas.

Download this PDF sheet from BASF.

Meanwhile, back in the hub of hockey, the Bruins let a 3 goal lead slide on Saturday and allow the Tampa Bay Lightening to even the series at 2 games apiece. This is shaping up to be a great series… Bruins in 7. There is nothing like playoff hockey!

Weather dominates daily conversation, turfgrass market dynamics and business
The weather is dominating daily conversation, market dynamics and business! Another two weeks of cool, wet weather. As reported by my esteemed colleagues from the north, temps have been in the high 50s /low 60s with rain, drizzle, mist, fog and any other dampness prone to drop from a cloud.

Most golf courses have sprayed in the last two weeks for either leaf spot or general gunk on the turf. Poa is looking like it has puked up on itself… more a result of throwing seed and/or growth regulator apps. Forecast for this week calls for a chance of showers warming to upper 60s.

Insignia® SC Intrinsic™ brand fungicide gets NY registration
New York has granted registration for Insignia® SC Intrinsic™ brand fungicide, with that said plans are being finalized for two launch meetings. The first will take place in Westchester County and the second on Long Island, Nassau/Suffolk County. More details to come.

Red Sox update
As you may have heard, the Boston Bruins have advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 19 years beating Philly 4-0! During those four games, the Bruins outscored the Red Sox!! While the Red Sox may appear to be struggling, they are only 3 games back in the loss column! All praise Lord Stanley for a return to the original six!

Golf courses open, turf maintenance begins
The weather has begun to warm. Lots of snow mold on fairways that were untreated. Minimal reports of ice damage on putting greens in the area.

Golf courses have been opening this past week or two. Most all courses in the territory should be open in the next week or so.

Take care and travel safe!

Turf managers work to overcome slow spring warm-up
Lawn care operators are trying to begin their clean up, but the weather is slowing the season down. Most golf course south of NH and VT are opened or opening this week. Golf course openings are about two weeks behind last year’s opening date. For public golf courses, this is two weeks of potential revenue lost compared to last year.

BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals and BASF Pest Control Solutions meeting market crossover needs
I am meeting with Tom Dolan, my BASF PCS counterpart, in Westchester County this week. Our goal is to explore potential cross selling between our businesses. I am looking forward to meeting with Tom and his customer to explore any opportunities. These meetings always hinges on Red Sox/Yankee blood lines, this could be tricky…

Reports of snow mold on unsprayed fairways
Unlike the last two weeks of Feb, the first two weeks of March have been very busy. With the rains and moderating temperatures, the snow and ice is receding. I only have about 3-4 inches left in the back yard. Golf courses from CT to Long Island have been clearing ice. Not too much damage to report there.

Golf courses on Cape Cod are OPEN for play!! Golf courses from Boston west and north are too wet and/or snowed in. Lots of reports of snow mold on fairways that were unsprayed, both grey and pink (snow mold pictured left, by William M. Brown, Jr., Bugwood.org). Debris clean up on courses has begun.

I’ll go ahead and make my prediction now…
This will be a Trifecta year…Bruins win Lord Stanley’s Cup, Celtics are the Champions again and Red Sox nation rejoices as another World Series Championship comes to Boston

John Bresnahan