An exciting article by Rose Rankin, recently published in the Northwest Quarterly, Return of the Oaks eloquently describes the efforts being made to save the “majestic but disappearing trees”.'Parents of children with attention deficit problems are always looking for new strategies to help their children cope. An interesting new study suggests that spending time in nature may help. A small study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign looked at how the environment influenced a child's concentration skills. The researchers evaluated 17 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, who all took part in three 20-minute walks in a park, a residential neighborhood and a downtown area.'
The researchers found that a "dose of nature" worked as well or better than a dose of medication on the child's ability to concentrate.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Green Economy Initiative, also known as the 'Global Green New Deal,' was launched last week with an emphasis on investing in clean technologies and 'natural infrastructure,' such as forests and soils.
The initiative emphasizes five sectors that it claims are likely to generate the biggest transition in terms of economic returns, environmental sustainability, and job creation.
Within the next two years, the Green Economy Initiative plans to deliver a comprehensive assessment and tool kit for the world's nations to make the transition to a green economy.
Read more Alliance for Community Trees
The annual cost of forest loss is between $2 trillion and $5 trillion.
The figure comes from adding the value of the various services that forests preform, such as providing clean water and absorbing carbon dioxide
Some conservationists see it as a new way of persuading policymakers to fund nature protection rather than allowing the decline in ecosystems and species to continue.
Wall Street by various calculations has to date lost, within the financial sector, $1-$1.5 trillion, the reality is that at today's rate we are losing natural capital at least between $2-$5 trillion every year.
Read more at Community Forestry Resource Center
Sustainable farming that employs shade trees may improve crops' resistance to temperature and precipitation extremes that climate changes are expected to trigger. The study focuses on coffee production, although their conclusions could be applicable to other economically important crops, including cocoa and tea, which also were traditionally grown under shade trees.
Scientists believe that the intensification of coffee production has made that crop more vulnerable to higher temperatures and changes in precipitation. The evidence suggests that trends toward increased use of pesticides and less reliance on shade trees, make the crop more susceptible to weather.
The benefits of shade trees appear greater in more marginal growing areas. Further efforts are needed to determine where a return to more traditional agroforestry techniques is likely to protect the livelihoods of farmers threatened by climate change.
Read More at www.aibs.org
"Three species of wasps collected from ash trees in China have the potential to save ash trees in North America.
In mid-June, Purdue University researchers, armed with permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, began to release 200 of the first wasp species in an ash forest near Rousch Lake in Huntington.
These wasps lay their eggs into the eggs of emerald ash borers. As the wasps feed, grow and develop, they eventually kill the ash borer eggs."
"While researchers are optimistic about the study, Cliff Sadof, Purdue professor of entomology, said any control benefits could be a few years away."
Full Article
Trees and landscaping are often considered “extras,” and are first on the budget chopping block, but here are some reasons to reconsider trees as critical to your playspace:
•Incidences of childhood asthma are lower in neighborhoods where there are more trees.
•Incidences of childhood melanoma are lower in children who have less direct exposure to UV rays.
Trees are an investment: take good care of them and you'll reap the benefits. Here are some critical rules for how you can invest in the safety and health of our communities:
•Plant the right trees in the right places: Use native trees.
•Care for your trees.
•Protect your trees.
Read the full articles,
Trees on the playground = healthier kids &
Planting trees at your playspace: Technical considerations.
For more information on the benefits of trees on urban spaces see our Street Smart Articles
Oak Wilt Wisdom
Oak Wilt is a fungus inhibiting all the conducting tissues in the oak tree. It is fairly easy to spot as the leaves can drop mid summer over just a matter of weeks.
As it is with any insect or disease, if we take care to observe the tree in its vigorous form, we will notice when something doesn’t look right. The best treatment in the landscape is to minimize stress and maintain tree health with attention to watering, mulching, fertilizing and avoidance of root compaction. The best treatment in natural areas is to monitor disease when it moves in, and try to prevent its spread to nearby healthy trees. The fungus moves from tree to tree by way of root grafts and insect vectors.
The other two most important tips about oak wilt are:
1. Observe the rule of green thumb to limit pruning oaks only when dormant (no pruning March through October). Cuts during the growing season expose sap literally calling the fungus-transporting insects.
2. When you suspect oak wilt has moved in, consult your state extension or an arborist for advise on the best approach to sever root grafts to protect healthy trees.
Good links:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_oakwilt/toc.htm#summary
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3306.html
-Mary T. McClelland- GreenTech
OUR GREEN TECH TEAM
If you have a concern about plant needs, pests, siting or general plant health, we can help. We offer a site-visit service for any questions about how our plants are doing in their new location.
We provide Green Tech service at no charge. To make an appointment give us a call or fill out the online form for more information.
Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago on Thursday unveiled perhaps the most aggressive plan of any major American city to reduce heat-trapping gases.
The blueprint would change the city’s building codes to promote energy efficiency. It also calls for installing huge solar panels at municipal properties and building alternative fueling stations.
Ron Burke, a director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, which helped shape the plan, said it was “more robust and quantitative than those in any other city.”
Like hundreds of other cities, Chicago has pledged by 2020 to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases 25 percent from the levels in 1990, the baseline established by the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate treaty. Mr. Burke said the Chicago plan offered much more specific ways than other cities’ plans to measure and cut the emissions.
The mayor, who called the plan a “model for the rest of the nation,” has already won praise among environmentalists for a program that promotes rooftop gardens to conserve energy.
Full article - NYTimes.com
50 Ways to Help the Planet
Our Favorite: #19. PLANT A TREE
It's good for the air, the land, can shade your house and save on cooling (plant on the west side of your home), and they can also improve the value of your property.
Diana Beresford-Kroeger says there are many unseen chemical relationships between trees, chemicals they produce, pollinators and pests are going on in the world around us.
She refers to herself as a "renegade scientist" "[trying] to bring together aboriginal healing, Western medicine and botany to advocate an unusual role for trees"
Bioplanning uses natural chemicals rather than synthetic ones by reforesting cities and rural areas with trees according to the medicinal, environmental, nutritional, pesticidal and herbicidal properties she claims for them, which she calls ecofunctions.
A recent NMPro Survey revealed the different approaches in the industry to fuel surcharges.
Percent of responders with vendors charging fuel surcharges- 100%
The first confirmed discovery of EAB in Wisconsin occured in Ozaukee County, on a private woodlot near Newburg.
The second discovery followed soon after the first. A beetle was found on a trap in a park in the Village of Newburg (Washington County).
Ozaukee and Washington County, as well as neighboring counties Fond du Lac and Sheboygan have been quarantined.
State Assembly Forestry Chairman Donald Friske made a statement on August 4 about EAB in Wisconsin.
Scattered Woodlands Complicate Forest's Response to Climate Change:
A warming climate may cause tree species to move north to find the right growing conditions, but it may not be a simple switch of tree species.
University of Wisconsin-Madison forest ecologists developed a model that predicts the rate of decline and replacement of trees in northern forests. Their findings show a decrease in forest biomass in the northern part of the state. The rate of climate change is faster than the rate at which the southern trees can migrate north, and there are also barriers along the way. Scattered woodlands in the central part of the state, due to agriculture and development also slows the progress.
Stop by and see us at booth #92 at the ILCA Summer Field Day.
August 6, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
at Ball Horticultural
622 Town Road West Chicago, Illinois 60185
EAB is found in a trap in Bloomington (McLean County) and in South Elgin during an inspection.
But on a brighter note-
DON’T TRASH THAT ASH
Furniture Exhibition Shows That EAB-Infested Ash Can Be Reclaimed And Reused
LISLE, IL (July 16, 2008) – The tree-lined Chicago streets provide a picturesque image, but that image is likely to change with the recent discovery of Emerald ash borer (EAB) within city limits. Does the EAB find mean infested trees must go to the chipper? The simple answer is no.
Just as these ash trees have brought beauty to Chicago streets, they can be reclaimed and reused to create new, practical and striking creations. Some marvelous examples will be featured in Rising from Ashes: Furniture from Lost Trees, a traveling furniture exhibition at The Morton Arboretum August 22 – September 7... MORE
Northwest Herald- 7/18/08- Grant to preserve oak trees:
WOODSTOCK – In the 1830s, about one-third of McHenry County was oak-hickory woodlands. Today, they cover less than 5 percent of the land.More on Project Quercus
If nothing is done to protect or regenerate the oaks that are left, they could be gone in 20 years, environmental experts said.
“A big problem in the county with our remaining oak woodlands is that a lot of them are on private landowners’ land, and the landowners will mow underneath all the oak trees,” said land protection specialist Linda Balek of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. As a result, oak seedlings are mowed down before they have a chance to grow.
The Land Conservancy is leading a project to address the local oak decline by planting new trees, raising awareness about the need to take care of existing oaks, and gathering data about local oak trees.
Project Quercus – “quercus” is Latin for oak – began two years ago this month.
In that time, area children have planted, adopted, and named more than 200 small oaks at sites around the county and pledged to water them for two years, Balek said.
The National Environmental Education Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant Friday to The Land Conservancy to help pay for equipment associated with planting baby oak trees on Sept. 27 in Woodstock’s Emricson Park for National Public Lands Day.... MORE
Flooding and Potential Effects on Trees
(from US Forest Service factsheet)
CFIA- Plant Health Division- June 26, 2008:
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
EAB does not spread quickly on its own. In fact, it is most commonly spread when people move materials which it has infested. Moving these materials even just a few kilometres away can spread the emerald ash borer to new areas.
Area residents can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by not moving the insect or materials such as firewood, logs, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood.
The Government of Canada is working hard with provinces and municipalities to limit the spread of the emerald ash borer and protect Canada’s valuable forests.
The CFIA will be carrying out increased surveying of trees in the area to determine the extent of the infestation and affected property owners will be notified. Regulatory measures to control this pest will be taken based on information obtained through the surveys.
The CFIA continues to work with its partners and stakeholders toward the goal of slowing the spread of this destructive pest.
EAB was found on private properties in the Village of Golf (part of the Glenview Park District) in late May. Village officials are still trying to figure out how bad it is and what to do.
EAB was found in the Village of Algonquin this is the first confirmed infestation in McHenry County.
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension are studying the impact of invasive plants in forested areas where Ash were killed by EAB.
Palatine readies for ash borer invasion by replacing 76 ash this fall.
Evanston tries an injection program
Trees Do Their Best Work with Thermostats at 70 : NPR:
"Seventy degrees is a lovely, comfortable temperature for most people. And the same turns out to be true for all sorts of tree species. In fact, scientists have found that trees actually have tricks they use to keep their leaves close to that perfect temperature."Scientists found that leaves do the most photosynthesis at 70˚F, regardless of species or where they are growing.
EAB was found in Chicago for the first time in an Ash tree at State and 29th. The insect was found in a trap earlier this spring, and bark stripping revealed EAB galleries and insects. At least five more trees were found along the block with EAB.
EAB has also now been found in Naperville.
The future of LaBagh Woods on Chicago's Northwest Side is passionately debated in the community of Sauganash.
An article published in the Chicago Tribune on May 28, 2008 (Future of Northwest Side woods divides environmentalists into 2 camps) leans towards the opponents of restoration with these statements:
Your story about restoration in the Sauganash neighborhood (Future of Northwest Side woods divides environmentalists into 2 camps - May 29) asks, "If you cut down or burn something, where's the restoration?"
Natural area restoration has many benefits, though not all are immediately evident. Removing invasive plant species like buckthorn - which may be green but chokes out native plants and trees - allows native shrubs, plants, and wildflowers to flourish. Native trees like the iconic oak are able to germinate and thrive. The wildflowers support healthy populations of insects that feed many birds, while those same insect populations pollinate the flowers. Grasses produce seeds that are eaten by small mammals, which then become food for hawks and owls. In short, restoration efforts are supporting an entire ecosystem at work. Our goal is not to convert forests to prairies, but simply to protect the existing habitats that have been a unique part of our region for much longer than any of us.
To accomplish this, Chicago Wilderness members use scientifically-based management practices in which their employees and specially trained stewards and volunteers skillfully remove invasive species, carefully conduct controlled burns and apply limited amounts of herbicide directly to the stumps of invasive species to prevent re-growth.
Such practices have been universally accepted by leading conservation organizations in Chicago and around the world, including The Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, Chicago Botanic Garden and the more than 220 additional member organizations that form the Chicago Wilderness consortium. Each of these respected conservation leaders recognizes the critical role restoration plays in order to ensure our natural areas remain healthy, vibrant and thriving with life. These are the qualities that make places like LaBagh Woods and other natural areas such a treasure for both people and nature.
As an organization that cares deeply for our region's wild places and believes a connection to healthy natural areas is vital towards enhancing the well-being of both people and wildlife, Chicago Wilderness and its members strongly support restoration efforts in the Sauganash area and throughout our region.
Melinda Pruett-Jones
Executive Director
Chicago Wilderness
8 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60603
"The Project for Excellence in Journalism has released a study examining the front pages of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal from December 13th through March 13th 2008. The report found that both the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times essentially buried environmental stories, as environmental news for both papers made up only 1 percent of the total front page."
Environmental news buried at New York Times and Wall Street Journal
Contractors, we don't envy the job you have, especially in Spring, and especially in this particular Spring. We thought you would enjoy this article and the list below (it is more about Building Contractors, but the headaches are similar for Landscaper Contractors).
How to Drive a Contractor Crazy- My favorites from the list:
1. Avoid making decisions.See the full list
2. Change orders frequently, then become outraged by the additional costs and delays.
3. Ask a contractor to provide a solution to a difficult design problem, then use a different contractor for the job.
4. Challenge a contractor’s expertise with sentences that include the words “my brother-in-law thinks,” “my neighbor thinks”
9. Schedule construction during the third trimester of pregnancy.
11. Call the contractor in the middle of the night and on weekends about problems that can wait until Monday.
12. Hover about a job while murmuring tragically, “It doesn’t look finished.” It’s a job site. It doesn’t look finished because it’s not finished.
The Greening of America - washingtonpost.com:
"Cities once planted trees because they were beautiful. Now trees are being retasked as "green infrastructure" managed by "urban foresters" to work as powerful energy-saving, carbon-sucking, wastewater-treating tools to save the planet. But as the mayors spin their green dreams, their releaf teams have had to confront a brutal reality: Planting a tree is a lot harder than it looks..." MORE
Our very own May's Delight Crabapple has just joined the nations largest municipal collection of Crabapple in Highland Park. For two decades City Forester Larry King has been adding to the collection of over 2,000, and now has 73 varieties of Crabs.
Welcome to Crab Apple City:
"I'm planting a couple of new varieties this year, American Salute and Excalibur, and a brand new one just put out, May's Delight," he said.
Early spring is garlic mustard control season- WI DNR:
“Before the spring wildflowers emerge is the ideal time to search out and contain this highly invasive plant. In most woodlots it will be one of the only green plants on the forest floor this early, so it is easy to spot,” says Kelly Kearns, plant conservationist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Kearns says that because just about all forests in Wisconsin are vulnerable to being invaded by this Eurasian transplant, every woodland owner should learn to identify it and search their woods carefully, marking and removing all plants before they go to seed in May and June...
What is at risk from a garlic mustard invasion?
Kearns says that the garlic scented plants can carpet a forest floor, crowding out native wildflowers. Tree and shrub seedlings can also be displaced, preventing long term regeneration of canopy trees and native shrubs. Recent research has shown that chemicals in the roots of garlic mustard can inhibit the mycorrhizal fungi that certain tree roots use to draw nutrients from the soil. It appears that these 2- to 3-foot tall plants have the ability to stunt the growth of trees that tower over them. MORE on Garlic Mustard
GROW's (Giving Real Opportunities to Women) Annual Plant and Bulb Sale
Saturday, May 3rd, from 8:00am - 4:00pm
270 Country Commons Rd in Trout Valley
They will be selling plants and bulbs donated by local growers and more.
GROW helps at risk mothers and families by providing education opportunities and affordable childcare.
The Wildflower Preservation & Propagation Committee Native Plant Sale 2008
Sunday, May 4th 12:00 - 3:00 pm
McHenry County College Cafeteria 8900 U.S. Highway 14 Crystal Lake, IL 60012
They will be selling prairie plants and grasses, woodland species, organic heirloom garden vegetables and herbs, and Native trees.
WPPC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting native species through preservation, propagation, and education.
Here is a story from the New York Times about the difficult job urban foresters have in greening the urban landscape while facing resistance from residents.
For Urban Tree Planters, Concrete Is the Easy Part - New York Times:
Arthur Simpson, a professional forester, always thought that everyone likes a tree.
Then he moved to New York.
Humming Praises for the Wild Bee- New York Times:
Also see our article from the Archives...The bumblebee and other native wild bees are all the more important in the garden now that the population of honeybees is in such decline — down to 2.4 million colonies last year from 5.5 million in 1945, according to the Department of Agriculture, due mainly, scientists say, to mites infesting the hives and, lately, to a mysterious epidemic called colony collapse disorder....
...But native bees are on the decline too and we need to encourage them, now that there are fewer honeybees.... MORE
Bees (and a few other insect groups) provide a useful and free service to us although it is mostly unseen. In exchange for a little pollen and nectar and some small space for nesting, bees pollinate the flowers of many of our ornamental, and edible plants.
To some plants, bees are an absolute necessity, but bees, wild and domestic, are disappearing at alarming rates, because of habitat loss, pesticide poisoning, and exotic pests and diseases. The Green Industry can do its part to ensure we do not lose these important pollinators, by reducing pesticide use and designing bee-friendly plants into landscapes.... MORE
Alliance for Community Trees: Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works
Washington, DC (February 1, 2008)- The American Public Works Association received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to develop a series of best management practices on effective urban forestry management. Teaming up with the Society of Municipal Arborists and Davey Resource Group, American Public Works Association developed this project to strengthen communications between urban foresters and public works professionals by creating a series of reports and conducting an education campaign on urban forestry management... MORE
USDA AND ITS PARTNERS DECLARE VICTORY OVER THE ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE:
CHICAGO, April 17, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the City of Chicago today announced the official eradication of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) from Illinois. The event was held in the Ravenswood, Chicago neighborhood where the pest was found almost 10 years ago. This makes Illinois the first state fighting active ALB infestations to declare victory over the invasive insect.... MORE
From IL Dept of Ag: Purple Traps Become Focus Of Detection Strategy For Emerald Ash Borer
The Illinois Dept of Ag., with APHIS, will be using purple traps in Illinois to monitor EAB. The 2,700 traps will be placed in a 100-mile arc across central and northwestern Illinois. More traps will be placed around the Chicagoland area and in southern Illinois at high risk sites. Traps will not EAB to the area, but will trap the beetle if they are present in the area.
The regulatory process for a product called Tree-age(emamectin benzoate) is underway in Illinois, but it is not yet available for use. For more prevention and control information, see the Emerald Ash Borer Insecticidal Management factsheet from U of IL Extension
As with many Native trees, people have found uses for all parts of the River Birch. Birch trees have been tapped for syrup, and the sap can also be fermented to make birch beer or vinegar. In the past the buds were used to make a salve, the leaves were used to treat dysentery, and the bark was used to treat other stomach issues.
Birch wood is light but strong and hard, and can be used for furniture, baskets, and other small-scale woodworking, but its multi-stemmed nature usually lends it too knotty for commercial use. It has also been used for pulpwood, with other bottomland trees. Small branches were used to make whisk brooms.
Learn more about the many uses of River Birch in our article this month 'River Birch- A Noteworthy Native'.
Road Salt: A problem for landscape plants and also the environment, but still the safest and easiest option for snow and ice in our region.
With the shortages of salt and corresponding price increases, people are looking at other options. Some areas of the Midwest experimenting with Beet juice, which helps salt work better at lower temperatures. This reduces the amount of salt needed (as much as 30% in some cases), which is better for the environment and saves money spent on road salt. Right now the beet juice does cost more than salt though.
The Amazing Power of the Beet (Kent, Ohio)
Beet Juice on Wisconsin Roads
Beloit, WI has used Beet juice for seven years
Dane County, WI has been experimenting with it this winter
Madison, WI also is interested in trying it
Beet Juice on Illinois Roads
Communities in the Chicago area are trying the beet-juice mixture
Local rivers and lakes have seen an increase in chloride levels each year.
The IL-DOT tried it but has stopped because of costs.
Arbor Day
When: Celebrated the last Friday in April (IL and WI)
History: J. Sterling Morton and his wife moved from Michigan
The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10th, 1872, with prizes awarded for the most trees properly planted (suggested by Morton). This inspired plantings of over a million trees, and changed the landscape of Nebraska.
Later, Arbor Day was declared a legal holiday in Nebraska, and the date was changed to April 22nd in honor of J. Sterling Morton's birthday.
Today: The official Arbor Day is celebrated worldwide, usually on the last Friday of April, but dates vary for states with different growing seasons.
How to Celebrate:
Illinois
When: Celebrated every year on April 22nd
National Garden MonthNorthwest Herald - Spangenberg: Buy local for your landscape:There is an advantage to buying plants from local nurseries.
Locally grown plants tolerate Northern Illinois’ weather and soil conditions. They also support animals, birds and human habitat. They need less pampering, less water and less fertilizer. Also, you are supporting local farmers who are more likely able to keep the land green instead of turning it over to developers.
The Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois was founded in the early 1940s to produce quality nursery stock, hardy and well-acclimated to Midwest and northern U.S. soils and climates. Twenty-two OGA nurseries grow landscape plants on more than 6,000 acres. A comprehensive plant listing of member nurseries’ inventory is published for the landscape and garden trades at www.ogaoni.com.
The Chicagoland Grows plant introduction program is a partnership between the OGA, Chicago Botanic Garden and the Morton Arboretum. Program goals are to develop and introduce to the landscape industry a variety of groundcovers, perennials, trees and shrubs specifically recommended for northern climates. Breeding programs develop new cultivars that exhibit excellent hardiness and ornamental characteristics. Visit www.chicagolandgrows.org and www.mortonarb.org.
When seeking landscape plants, how do you know where they originated? Ask your landscaper or garden center. I planted a Chicagoland Grows Buxus Glencoe boxwood hedge in my backyard more than 10 years ago. The hedge has withstood drought, heat, bitter cold, snow and ice and continues to thrive and maintain outstanding ornamental quality the entire time. The same holds true for an arrowwood viburnum introduction called Autumn Jazz planted about the same time.
Always research plants before purchasing and look for locally grown stock that will stand the test of time.
• Send questions to Bruce Spangenberg, c/o the Features Department, NorthWest News Group, P.O. Box 250, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0250.
GMPRO GreEn-MAIL - 04-01-08: "Global warming may generate weeds"
"A major characteristic of global warming is an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Rising carbon dioxide levels have been shown to help vegetable and grain crops grow more quickly, become more drought-resistant and produce potentially higher yields. Rising carbon dioxide is also having an impact on the growth of weeds. A study by USDA's ARS plant physiologist Lewis Ziska showed that weeds grown under warmer urban conditions and more carbon dioxide grew 4 times taller than those in a rural plot 40 miles outside city conditions. Common ragweed plants exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide dramatically increased the amount of pollen produced. Additional work by Ziska suggests that increases in carbon dioxide may have led to bigger poison ivy plants with a more virulent form of the oil that causes people to break out."Publications from 2007:
Newly Published Research on the Urban Forest
Kealia, HI (March 1, 2008)- This book, Engaging Uninvolved Communities in Urban Forestry: It's About More Than Trees, rich with colorful photographs and vivid case studies, takes you to inspiring urban greening projects across the nation. Though the settings and social issues at the project sites vary they have one thing in common: urban greening was used as a catalyst to improve living situations... MORE
Purchase this book
Q:
“One of my clients called to tell me the Pagoda Dogwood planted last year have orange branches and some dead branches. They said they thought they watered them enough. What can we do?”
prone to canker if stressed. Canker can spread through the plant, so you will want to remove and dispose of the infected branches. Prune well below the yellow tissue, down to the base or collar of the branch. Be sure to disinfect the pruners between cuts to avoid spreading the disease. A ten percent bleach solution is an effective and economical sterilant for tools.
Kane County destroying 100 trees infested with ash borer
Crews target infested site in preserve near Wasco
By William Presecky- Chicago Tribune
March 13, 2008
"Work crews with the Kane County Forest Preserve District this week began cutting and burning dozens of trees infested with the voracious emerald ash borer, a tree-killing insect plaguing much of the Chicago region.
Removal of the 100 ash trees, concentrated near the entrance to Campton Forest Preserve on Town Hall Road south of Wasco, is expected to be completed by Friday, said Drew Ullberg, the district's director of natural resources..."
"In order to detect and monitor the possible spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the Village of Lombard has revised its trees and shrubs ordinance to include a no-cost permitting process for the removal of trees on private property.While the borer has not yet been found in Lombard, the village's forestry division has kept a vigilant watch on the green and white ash trees within the village..."
"Village trustees are considering a measure that would give Tinley Park police the power to regulate how firewood is transported in and out of the village. Tinley Park also might apply for federal money to help restock its tree supplies if the village removes dozens of sick trees, among other things, public works director Dale Schepers said.
The ordinance, which the village will consider during the next 30 days, also would allow Tinley Park to remove any infected trees on private properties, such as the trees in your back yard..."
Do you ever get this question from homeowners?
From the NYTimes Garden Q&A Today: Juniper Berries? Be Picky
Also see our article about plants we grow that actually are edible 'Landscaping Not Just For the Birds'"Q. The juniper tree beside my new house in Columbia County, N.Y., is loaded with blue berries. When is the best time to harvest them?
A. Possibly never. Of the roughly 40 species of juniper, a small number are poisonous and a majority have bitter fruits. Only a few yield edible berries (actually modified cones) and only one is routinely used for flavoring.
The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis. It occurs naturally in Asia, Europe and North America, and it is the parent of dozens of popular ornamental varieties..."
Global Warming Rushes Timing of Spring
By SETH BORENSTEIN
"The fingerprints of man-made climate change are evident in seasonal timing changes for thousands of species on Earth, according to dozens of studies and last year's authoritative report by the Nobel Prize-winning international climate scientists. More than 30 scientists told The Associated Press how global warming is affecting plants and animals at springtime across the country, in nearly every state."The National Phenology Network at the U.S. Geological Survey is monitoring these changes which will have countless direct and indirect affects on plants, insects, birds, animals, and humans, from food supplies to allergies.
Carbon Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say
The Washington Post March 13, 2008 By Juliet Eilperin
"The task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures may be far more difficult than previous research suggested, say scientists who have just published studies indicating that it would require the world to cease carbon emissions altogether within a matter of decades.
Their findings, published in separate journals over the past few weeks, suggest that both industrialized and developing nations must wean themselves off fossil fuels by as early as mid-century in order to prevent warming that could change precipitation patterns and dry up sources of water worldwide.
Using advanced computer models to factor in deep-sea warming and other aspects of the carbon cycle that naturally creates and removes carbon dioxide (CO2), the scientists, from countries including the United States, Canada and Germany, are delivering a simple message: The world must bring carbon emissions down to near zero to keep temperatures from rising further." MORE
An article published in the March 2008 issue of BioScience, Will Global Warming Increase Plant Frost Damage? analyzed the sudden freeze of Spring 2007 after unusually warm weather, whic damaged many plants in the Eastern US.
"Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are believed to reduce the ability of some plants to withstand freezing, and the authors of the BioScience study suggest that global warming could lead to more freeze and thaw fluctuations in future winters. This pattern is potentially dangerous for plants because many species must acclimate to cold over a sustained period. Acclimation enables them to better withstand freezes, but unusual warmth early in the year prevents the process. A cold spring in 1996, in contrast to the 2007 event, caused little enduring damage because it was not preceded by unusual warmth."from BioScience Press Releases
Lisa Haderlein of The Land Conservancy gave this presentation on Project Quercus at the Natural Landscaping Seminar held at McHenry County College in February.
See the video online here
or watch for 'Project Quercus: The Third Generation Oaks'
Airing March 17th 8:30pm on GreenScreen (Comcast Public Access Channel 17)
Senate Bill 2120, introduced by Senator Pankau, states that a utility can cut down any tree planted under utility lines after a certain date.
The Illinois Municipal League opposes this bill and testified the legislation does not clearly define what is considered 'under a utility line', how the utilities will know when the tree was planted, and why they are prohibiting all trees when there are species with mature heights that are below utility lines. There is a meeting scheduled to address these concerns.
University of WI Longenecker Gardens Arboretum displays over 2,000 plants over 50-acres, is the premier collection of woody plants in Wisconsin, and is recognized internationally. The Gardens hold one of the most up-to-date flowering crabapple collections in the country. They even have one of our very own, May's Delight!
Events this Spring Highlighting Crabapples:
Magnolias and Other Early Bloomers TourFor our Crabapple Preview, see our article 'More Than Just a Pretty Face - Behind the Bountiful Blooms of Flowering Crabapples'
Wednesday, May 7, 7–8:15 pm
Enjoy earlier-blooming species of many types, notably the Garden’s spectacular collection of Asian and hybrid magnolias, and the first of the flowering crabapples. Laura Jull, UW-Madison professor of horticulture, will examine these and other plants particularly suitable for home landscapes.
Talk to the Naturalist in Longenecker Gardens
Sunday, May 11, 1–3 pm
Arboretum naturalist Ken Wood will be in the Arboretum’s Longenecker Gardens to help visitors learn about the trees and shrubs in bloom, which should include lilacs and crabapples.
Flowering Crabapples Tour
Wednesday, May 14, 7 pm – 8:15 pm
Emeritus Professor of Horticulture Ed Hasselkus, curator of the Longenecker Gardens, will concentrate on the Arboretum’s excellent collection of flowering crabapples, and present highlights in the Garden’s large lilac collection.
Doug Tallamy, chairman of the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware published a book late last year “Bringing Nature Home-How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens”. This book is a map of the food chain in our backyards, with lists of plants by region and the wild things that eat them. He focuses on the relationship between insects and native plants, which are important food sources for birds and other
wildlife.
Some info from the book:
"They are struggling to plant the native species that are needed for insects and animals to flourish. As exotic ornamentals leap the garden fence and out-compete the native plants, many creatures are starving to death because they did not evolve with the exotics and simply can’t eat them...
...You don’t have to cut down the lilacs, but they are doing nothing for the insects and birds. “It’s as if they were plastic,” Mr. Tallamy said. “They’re not hurting anything, except that they’re taking space away from something that could be productive.”
Beyond Showerheads and Sprinklers: Water Governance Solutions for Illinois
May 16 8:00 am–3:30 pm
at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
"Demand for water in Illinois is growing, but supply is not. A gubernatorial order called for the creation of a statewide framework for regional water supply planning. What will that framework be? How will it function? How can it protect our water resources and meet our needs? Participate in this conference, and help set the direction for water supply governance in Illinois."
HortAnswers is a new website by the University of Illinois Extension that provides basic information about plants and their pests and diseases for Zones 4-6. You can search by plant, pest/disease, or problem.
US News and World Report lists 31 careers that have "strong outlooks and high job satisfaction".
Economist Charlie Hall's new blog, Making Cents Of Green Industry Economics offers insight into how things such as the tax rebate, falling consumer confidence, and the weak dollar will affect the green industry.
"Why "Making Cents"? Because as margins get tighter and tighter in the Green Industry due to market conditions becoming increasingly competitive, a few cents per pot/plant can make a world of difference! Stay tuned to this site for up-to-the-minute information regarding economic factors affecting your business and strategic responses to enhance profitability!"Other posts of note:
The Chicago Furniture Designers Association (with the Illinois EAB Wood Utilization Team) presents a traveling exhibition featuring furniture made from salvaged ash lumber.
The exhibition is scheduled to be at the Morton Arboretum August 22- September 7, 2008
For more information go to www.risingfromashes.org
Do you ever wonder how we got from the martyred Saint Valentine in ancient Rome to the cards, candy and teddy bears of today's Valentine's Day?
Well, here is a little time-line if you are interested:
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County's annual 'Living With Trees' Award Program was started in 2006 to recognize individuals, organizations, businesses and local governments that have demonstrated outstanding efforts to preserve remaining oak woodlands and savannas of McHenry County.
The Award Winners:
The Village of Lakewood
For the resolution passed by the Village Board to indicate support for the reforestation program and commitment to maintain the Project Quercus trees that were planted or a period of at least 99 years
The Village also has an excellent tree preservation ordinance that requires replacement plantings of nut-producing native trees. Lakewood is also on the Project Quercus Steering Committee and is one of the pilot sites for the 2007 plantings.
McHenry County Conservation District
For the study in 2007 that documents the changes in the McHenry County's oak woodlands since the the 1830s.
Volunteer Nancy Schietzelt
Volunteer Nancy Schietzelt coordinated the 2007 Project Quercus program, from mailing letters to potential volunteers and site sponsors, to setting up scouting the planting sites for
appropriateness for planting oaks, to coordinating the four planting events. Nancy organized the tools, the people, and the 102 Oak seedlings planted (donated by Glacier Oaks Nursery).
The Living With Trees Award is sponsored by McHenry County Nursery, Glacier Oaks Nursery and McHenry County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) is working with Congresswoman Matsui of California on a bill to help utility companies and nonprofit organizations plant more trees to shade and reduce energy spent on air conditioning. The program is modeled after Sacramento Municipal Utility District's program to provide free trees and instruct how to plant them to save energy.
See the Energy Conservation Through Trees Act
Congratulations to Moore Landscapes, Inc of Northbrook for four awards:
February 4, 2008
The Chicago Tribune came out recently to our sister company Glacier Oaks Nursery to interview Joe and Mary about Project Quercus. The article ran today in the Tribune:
McHenry County coalition works to return oaks to full splendor
In McHenry County, coalition taking steps to restore shrinking forests
By Carolyn Starks- Tribune staff reporter
"The oak saplings at Glacier Oaks Nursery in Harvard are bundled like children in a snowstorm inside warm tunnels that will help them thrive until spring. They may look fragile, but their spindly branches carry a heavy burden.12/29/07
Conservationists are counting on these baby trees as a small step in helping assure that mighty oak forests remain rooted in McHenry County..."
The following is a breakdown of oak forest coverage in McHenry County by the year.12/17/07
1838: 143,000 acres.
1872: 72,000 acres.
1939: 26,350 acres.
2005: 18,000 acres.
"When 17th century French explorers first arrived in the area northwest of present-day Chicago, they marveled at the region's vast oak groves, writing that it was as if a higher power planted each tree individually to maximize their beauty.
Hundreds of years later, the beauty of those groves remains in what is now McHenry County, but ecologists fear that may not be the case for much longer.
With the increasing pressures of development, poor management and sparse efforts to replace dying trees, the number of oaks has fallen precipitously, down to just over 10 percent of what it was when European settlers arrived in the 1830s.
Fearing it may be now or never for McHenry County's oaks, a group of governments, environmental groups and arborists are banding together to save what's left.
"Not only have we cut down a lot of trees for construction, but a lot of what's left out there is sick and dying," said Lisa Haderlein, executive director of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. "People are going to have to intervene to change the situation."
That was the philosophy behind the Land Conservancy creating Project Quercus (Latin for oak), a joint effort of nurseries, villages, state and federal agencies and tree-related businesses to save McHenry County's remaining oak groves."
