The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Landscape value marketing tool.
Photo by Missouri CES
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August 23, 2007
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Selling Houses by the Yard - Wall Street Journal
- Threats to Our Forests: A Top 10 List - The King Township Sentinel, Ontario
- New York City Parking Lot Landscaping Plan
Specifically Wisconsin
- Public Hearing - Senate Bill 197 Regarding Ban on Phosphorus Containing Fertilizer
- Governor Doyle Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration - Drought
- Oak Trees Showing Signs of Deadly Fungal Disease
- Welcome Kathy Gonzalez - SC Regional Urban Forestry Assistant
- Madison Surveys Its Urban Forest
- Horticulture Center at Boerner Botanical Gardens
Emerald Ash Borer
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - 8/15/07
- Job Opportunity - Morton Arboretum
- NUCFAC Grant Pre-Proposals
Conferences & Seminars
- Tree Risk Assessment and EAB - DNR Workshops
- New Technologies for Canopy and Species Mapping
- Tree Rigging & Removal Course
- More Conferences and Seminars
Selling Houses by the Yard - Wall Street Journal
Most homeowners know that replacing the roof or upgrading siding can enhance a house's curb appeal and boost its sales price. Now, as the housing market continues to weaken, some people are considering what the payback will be if they invest in things that appraisers routinely overlook: flowers, shrubs and trees. Logan Nelson, co-owner of Blue Sky Tree Care of Edgerton, Wisconsin, ISA certified arborist, ASCA registered consulting arborist and member of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council is quoted in the article. Kudos to Logan!
Threats to Our Forests: A Top 10 List - The King Township Sentinel, Ontario
Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources forester, John Osmok, says our North American forests are nothing like what our ancestors saw and the future may hold forests for our grandchildren that are nothing like what we see. Osmok shares his own Top Ten list of insects and diseases that are threatening forests.
A Top 10 List of Forest Threats
New York City Parking Lot Landscaping Plan - Landscape Online.com
A New York City proposition would require all new public parking lots to be landscaped with significantly more tree cover. As a means to make the city's "asphalt eyesores" easier on the eyes and on the environment, a plan requiring public parking lots to be landscaped with more trees has been introduced.
Public Hearing - Senate Bill 197 Regarding Ban on Phosphorus Containing Fertilizer
The Wisconsin State Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 197 relating to restrictions on the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other lawn fertilizers on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 10:00 AM in 300 Southeast of the State Capitol.
Senate Bill 197 - click 'Senate Bill 197' at top of page
For public hearing announcement
Governor Doyle Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration - Drought
Governor Doyle has asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to declare 52 drought-stricken counties disaster areas as farmers feel the affects of lack of rain and hot temperatures in recent weeks and officials reported low soil moisture. The Governor also issued an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency due to current drought conditions.
Doyle Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration
Oak Trees Showing Signs of Deadly Fungal Disease
The first signs of oak wilt, a tree-killing fungal disease, are now appearing in infected trees. Oak wilt occurs in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin and affects trees in both the red oak and white oak groups.
"The first symptoms of oak wilt are branches with wilted leaves and leaves on the ground in summer when you wouldn't expect to see them," said Kyoko Scanlon, a forest pathologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "These are not the brown, dry leaves you see in the fall. These are partially green to bronze-green and are not completely dry."
Kathy Gonzalez
Photo by WDNR
Welcome Kathy Gonzalez - SC Regional Urban Forestry Assistant
Please welcome Kathy Gonzalez, DNR regional urban forestry assistant for the south central region. Kathy fills the position previously held by Michael LaBissoniere.
Kathy has always been interested in people's relationship to the land. She received a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Texas-Austin and a masters' degree in Community Forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kathy spent much of her college years leading ecotourism trips for youth to Latin America, always working with community-based projects. In graduate school, she joined UW-Cooperative Extension to support Forest Landowner Conferences across the northern Wisconsin region. After graduating, Kathy spent two years in Puerto Rico, serving as a technical advisor for the U.S.F.S., International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Most recently, she served as the Interim Natural Areas Coordinator at Friends of Troy Gardens, on the north side of Madison.
Kathy will be working with Jeff Roe out of the DNR south central region service center in Fitchburg. She can be contacted at (608) 275-3227 or Kathryn.Gonzalez@Wisconsin.gov.
Madison Surveys Its Urban Forest
The City of Madison has never had an official tree inventory but under the leadership of City Forester, Marla Eddy and with support of a WDNR urban forestry grant, Madison has begun the process. Eddy believes this is an important undertaking and will be a useful management tool, aid in disease and pest management, and lets citizens easily gather information and report problems.
Madison Begins Street Tree Inventory
Horticulture Center at Boerner Botanical Gardens
UW-Extension is offering a new resource for homeowners with yard and garden questions: the Horticulture Center at Boerner Botanical Gardens.
Opened in May, the Horticulture Center is a program of UW-Extension in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties in partnership with Milwaukee County Parks and Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens. The center is located in the Lower Level of the Education & Visitor Center at Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive in Hales Corners. Access to the Horticulture Center is free.
Until September 15, the Horticulture Center is open to visitors on Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. During special diagnostic hours-Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.-homeowners may bring in samples of insect and disease problems for examination by Master Gardener Volunteers serving as Plant Health Advisors.
Beginning September 15, the Horticulture Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Horticulture Center is not currently staffed to answer telephone inquiries. Homeowners who need answers by phone can contact the horticulture help line at their local county UW-Extension office.
WI EAB Update - #5
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Department of Natural Resources and University of Wisconsin Extension have joined forces to battle the emerald ash borer. Periodic updates regarding agency activity are distributed. Please note, the purpose of this update is to communicate what the agencies are doing on the EAB front, not everything that's happening in the state.
EAB Federal Quarantine Map - Updated
The latest EAB federal quarantine map including Pennsylvania.
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - 8/15/07
Topics covered this month:
Insects:
- Barklice
- EAB
- Elm Sawfly
- Gypsy Moth
- Jack Pine Budworm on Red Pine
- Japanese Beetles
- Linden Wart Gall Midge
- Pear Sawfly on Cherry
- Sirex Woodwasp in Michigan
- Spruce Budworm
Other:
- Drought conditions
- Firewood Rule Webpage
- New Forest Health Employee starting in Rhinelander
- Forest Health Webpage address update
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
Job Opportunity - Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum, one of the world's finest outdoor living museums of plants, is inviting applications and nominations for a Director of Research position and a Forest Ecologist position. The job opportunities are posted on TreeLink's JobLink.
NUCFAC Grant Pre-Proposals
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) is accepting pre-proposals for the 2008 Challenge Cost-Share Grants. Approximately $1 million in grants will be awarded for urban and community forestry projects that have a national or widespread significance in their impact or application. Grant funds are made available through the USDA.
NUCFAC 2008 Challenge Cost-Sharing Grants
Tree Risk Assessment and EAB - DNR Workshops
Hazard tree assessment and how it relates to emerald ash borer management strategies will be the focus of Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry workshops held throughout Wisconsin during September. The one-day program will consist of indoor instruction on basic tree risk assessment principles and how they could be applied to ash management in light of EAB followed by outdoors, hands-on instruction and demonstration.
New Technologies for Canopy and Species Mapping
Learn about new technologies for canopy and species mapping with an emphasis on emerald ash borer planning at a workshop offered in Mequon, Wisconsin on September 6, 2007.
Tree Rigging & Removal Course
Mike Wendt, ISA certified arborist and instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College will be instructing the course designed for arborists with or without climbing skills. The course presents a unique opportunity for students to practice rigging and removal techniques in a safe, no-rush environment. Students will become proficient in using chainsaws, ropes, lowering devices, blocks, and more. Students will also develop the ability to assess and implement removal strategies and techniques based on site conditions and hazards. 75% of class time is spent in the field analyzing and performing removals.
The course (Hort-190-001) will meet Fridays between August 31 and Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is approximately $200.00. For additional information contact Mike Wendt (262-238-2332) or wendtm@matc.edu. Space is limited to a maximum of 12 students only.
More Conferences and Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest Website.
About the Insider
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is intended as a quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin.
Items that cannot wait for our quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear here.
The Insider is produced biweekly by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Past issues will be archived on the UF pages on the WDNR web site.
We are happy to accept your suggestions and contributions. Send them to the editor, at Laura.Wyatt@Wisconsin.gov. Or call her: 608/267-0568.
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