Annual buyback program incentivizes invasive pear tree removal

The city of Herculaneum and a few other online sources have recently posted helpful tips for pruning Bradford pear trees. The once-revered ornamental landscaping plants are now recognized as invasive, and they have a particular trait of breaking branches easily in wind and ice storms. Recent spring storms may have brought the need for treeContinue reading “Annual buyback program incentivizes invasive pear tree removal”

Roadside cedars prove their power after recent winter storms

Driving on Interstate 55 north of the construction zone earlier this month I earned a new bit of respect for the eastern red cedar tree. While I still harbor some ill feelings, seeing several small soldiers poking through the piles of plowed snow, sleet, slush and slop in the chunk rock median proves the tree’sContinue reading “Roadside cedars prove their power after recent winter storms”

Support for native plants and species comes to Powder Valley

When I noticed that Doug Tallamy was the guest speaker for an upcoming program at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, his name sounded familiar. I quickly recognized that he was the author of a great book I read recently that offered a simple plan for conservation. My excitement was tempered when I realized he wasn’tContinue reading “Support for native plants and species comes to Powder Valley”