Populus deltoides 'Dakota'
Height: 60-80'
Spread: 30-40'
Shape: Upright, oval
Foliage: Green
Fall Color: Yellow
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: -50 F
Introduced by South Dakota State University. It shares common traits with eastern cottonwood but has slightly larger leaves. The main benefit of this fast-growing tree is that it does not produce the cotton.
As Webb’s Administrative Division Director, Melissa VanHoozer supports the company in a number of crucial ways, from keeping everything in order and running smoothly to overseeing critical day-to-day operations. Melissa has been with Webb for over ten years, and in that time she’s seen the company grow and change. A long-time resident of Idaho, Melissa, her husband Brent, and their three beautiful daughters Maggie, Audrielle, and Elliette love being in the mountains and spending time with their German Shepherd, Kya. In her spare time, Melissa loves being outdoors and spending time with her family and friends. If it weren’t for working at Webb, she would probably be a teacher; she believes that education is one of the essential things in life and she loves helping others learn.
As the Landscape Construction Division Director and a project manager at Wood River Valley, Cooper enjoys the challenges and satisfaction that come with helping his clients turn their visions into reality. With over nine years of experience in the golf course industry both in construction and maintenance, and a BS in Horticulture and a minor in Business Management from Boise State University, Cooper has the expertise and knowledge to ensure each project is delivered with the utmost attention to detail. Cooper was born and raised on a ranch in Star, Idaho, where he greatly appreciated the outdoors and learned the value of hard work. When he’s not working hard at Webb, Cooper spends his free time with his family Chukar hunting, skiing, camping, whitewater kayaking, and competing in eSports sim racing tournaments. Cooper loves raising his family in the community-driven environment of the Wood River Valley, and the opportunities during all four seasons to enjoy the outdoors with his wife Tabatha, their son Jacoby, daughters Chloe and Aliana, and their three dogs Clifford, Tessa, and Tiki.
Sharon, affectionately nicknamed Avespa (the wasp) by her teammates, is the Maintenance Division Director at Webb Landscape. With over 20 years in landscaping and a wealth of knowledge, she is a sought-after expert in flower bed design and plant selection. Before Webb Landscape, Sharon lived on the west coast and then in Wyoming, where she learned her craft. Her passion for this field is apparent to those around her and she takes immense pride in her team and the excellent quality they produce. She will be the first to tell you Webb is an employee-owned company and its long-term success in the Wood River Valley can be attributed in large part to the dedication of Webb’s owners (the employees!). Sharon loves to be outdoors in her spare time, mountain biking, gardening, and camping with her partner, Brian, and their beloved pit bull mutt, Snoop Dawg.
Gail Taylor was born and raised in Twin Falls, yet frequented the Wood River Valley over the years prior to moving to Ketchum in 2024. Her interest in working with plants began in the summer of 2000, working at the Kelley Garden Center in Twin Falls. This experience is where she “fell in love with the industry” and while she worked other jobs over the years, she always found herself “returning to plant life!” Gail began working for the Webb Twin Falls Garden Center 2021. Under the mentorship of Manager Jenny Nauman, she took advantage of opportunities to learn and grow and expand her garden center position. She eventually decided that Ketchum was the best place for her to “spread her wings” professionally, taking on the role as the Garden Center Manager in February of 2024. Her favorite part about the job is working with so many great customers and co-workers. And of course, “the flowers!” When Gail is not working at Webb, she can be found spending time with family in the outdoors.
Jenny Nauman has been a resident of the Magic Valley for several years. She joined the Webb family five years ago when Becky Marshall recruited her to become Ketchum’s Garden Center Manager, and then Jenny transferred to the Twin Falls location in 2016 as the Garden Center Manager. As a child, Jenny recalls her punishment was to weed her mother’s flower gardens. “I weeded a lot.” Somehow, she turned this experience into a love of flowers, gardening, and creativity, which is evident in the Twin Falls Garden Center. She thoroughly enjoys helping customers to create beautiful spaces inside and outside of their homes. When not working with her Webb family or customers, Jenny enjoys raising teenagers, mountain biking, vintage campers, and a “campfire surrounded by friends old or new!”
Originally from Utah, Amanda Batty moved to the Wood River Valley in 2017 after she and her husband met Doug Webb in Southern Utah, who talked them into relocating from the desert to an area of snow, outdoor opportunities and an “amazing community.” Amanda grew up gardening, but her real passion for plants came after studying permaculture and creating sustainable self-sufficient ecosystems. This is her real “form of art!” Amanda began working in the Bellevue Garden Center in July of 2023 and quickly found herself promoted into her current role as the Garden Center Manager. Her favorite part of her role is working in the greenhouse mid-February “in a t-shirt with my wonderful co-workers who make Webb feel like a family.” When not at Webb, Amanda can be found playing with her daughter, River, in the garden, snowboarding and camping.
Erin Dunn is the Division Director for the Magic Valley region at Webb. A native Idahoan, Erin was born and raised in Hailey. An experienced landscaper, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in landscape design, project management, and customer service. Erin started helping family and friends with landscaping projects years ago, and his passion for creating outdoor spaces that look beautiful and function at their best has been a cornerstone of the success of many projects. He loves spending time outdoors with his daughter Charolette and Chocolate Lab, Sam. With a wide variety of passions, Erin enjoys running, movies, and the natural beauty of Idaho.
As Nursery Director, Derek Ruhter has been an expert in growing trees, tree care, and the organization of nurseries and garden centers for over two decades. As a certified Arborist and Professional Spray Applicator, Derek started working in Webb’s Nursery in 2001 and has held multiple titles including Maintenance Division Manager, and has lent his professional expertise to a variety of divisions throughout the company. Additionally, Derek helped implement Webb’s Arbor Division and implemented the concept of Maintenance Account Managers. With roots in Jerome, Idaho, he grew up on a small cattle farm and now loves hiking around the Wood River Valley and Stanley Basin area. Derek and his wife Kathy like to joke they share a “Brady Bunch” style family where they live South of Bellevue. They have four adult children (Nathan, Teague, Macey, Maddi), two children at home working and learning to be adults (Emily and Michael), and a “bonus child” Sam, who is at Wood River Middle School.
Jennifer Nauman is a passionate lifelong Idaho native with an unwavering love for learning and exploring the outdoors. As manager of our Twin Falls Garden Center, Jenn has been with the Webb family since 2013 and has embraced the Valley’s many offerings for herself and her two kids, Jonas and Isabella. Jenn’s extended family includes eight four-legged members: four miniature donkeys named Moonshine Mattie, Poppy, Whiskey Girl, and Finley; a Great Pyrenees named Nala; a Dachshund named Scooter; and two barn cats, Phyllis and Ticky. With her active family in tow, Jenn enjoys hiking, biking, and whatever nature can offer in the Magic Valley.
As the CEO of Webb Landscape, Brian Ros has devoted 25 years to helping the company build and maintain some of the most beautiful landscapes in Idaho. His deep appreciation for the art of landscaping began when he first joined the Webb construction crew and continued as he rose through the ranks, becoming the Construction Division Director, Maintenance Account Manager, and Maintenance Division Director before taking the reins as CEO. Brian grew up in North Carolina, but has been in Idaho for over 30 years and is an avid cyclist and lover of the outdoors. When he isn’t riding his bike or taking his old Jeep on an adventure with his partner Sharon and their dog Snoop, he is thinking up creative ways to bring beauty to the residents of Idaho and continuing to build upon the success of Webb Landscape.