May 27, 2007
Songs of Insects
I was on the WGN radio web site checking out the latest happenings on Mike Nowak's Let's Talk Gardening Show and on his latest show he mentioned a book he received, The Songs of Insects by Lang Elliott and Wil Hershberger, published by Houghton Mifflin Company. The book has great photos of common species of crickets, katydids, locusts and cicadas and a CD of their chips, clicks, trills, rattles and buzzes.
The authors also have a new web site: Songs of Insects which has a section with the sounds of 77 species of insects
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:09 PM | Permalink |
May 27, 2007
Garden Voices Web Site
Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:09 PM | Permalink |
May 27, 2007
Manual Mowers Making a Comeback
Manual or as I used to call them push mowers are making a comeback. American Lawn Mower Company is the only domestic manufacturer of manual mowers in the United States. At one time there were 60 manufacturers. American Lawn Mower sells 350,000 mowers each year. That is 100,000 more mowers than were sold just five years ago. Reasons for the increase in sales are thought to be increasing environmental concerns and the fact that more women are mowing the lawn.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:06 PM | Permalink |
May 16, 2007
Prevent West Nile Virus
West Nile virus (WNV), which is carried by mosquitoes and can be transmitted to humans, has become a common summer time threat in northern Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments have already started the annual monitoring and testing for its presence by checking for the disease in birds. Typically, incidences increase later in the summer, but now is a good time to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites to help control the population. "Since mosquitoes that carry west nile virus do not travel far from their hatching site, it is helpful to eliminate egg-laying sites in your own backyard," says John Church, University of Illinois Extension Educator, Natural Resources, Rockford. They often only travel within one-half mile of their hatching site, so individuals can often help their situation by acting on their own property.
Homeowners can reduce favorable sites for mosquitoes' life cycle before the peak of the mosquito season. Entomologists at the University of Illinois and Purdue indicate that the entire life cycle of a mosquito can be completed in about seven to ten days. Anything that interrupts the cycle, such as reducing water availability, before it can be completed is helpful.
There are several varieties of mosquitoes in Illinois. Not all of them carry WNV. The Northern House mosquito, which carries WNV, lays eggs in standing water in places such as ditches, catch basins and other locations, such as water filled containers. Recent research information from the Illinois Department of Public Health indicates that as much as 70% of the breeding sites for the Northern House mosquito are in stormwater catch basins. Other attractive breeding sites in urbanizing areas include construction site tracks and ruts or new basement foundations that hold water. Clogged roof gutters can also provide breeding sites. Reducing the incidence of these problem sites will help reduce egg-laying and hatch.
Persons should eliminate any unnecessary water holding areas and containers, such as old tires. Sites such as wading pools, birdbaths, or pet watering dishes should be cleaned and freshened with new water often. Cutting tall grass and weeds can help reduce populations near the home, since it is a favorite hiding place during the day.
The floodwater mosquito, which is one of the most common nuisance mosquitoes, does not carry WNV. Their eggs are laid in muddy, temporary pool areas and hatch when flooded by rain or runoff water. Young mosquitoes live as larvae in water, but they are rarely found in deep water such as lakes or in flowing streams or rivers. Shallow, ponded areas are the most preferred sites. However, wetlands with a balanced diversity of wildlife can actually confine the mosquito population in that area and use it as a food source.
For individuals, remember that dark colored clothing tends to attract mosquitoes. They are often hungriest and most active at dusk and dawn, so less outside activity at that time can reduce biting. The peak biting time for the northern house mosquito is about 8:00 p.m. to midnight. Keep pets inside during those high feeding times and out of tall grassy areas, since they can also be bitten. Apply insect repellents to exposed skin when going outside and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:49 PM | Permalink |
May 16, 2007
Rain Garden for Homeowner's Program
The City of Chicago announces the 2007 Rain Garden for Homeowner's Program.
Help keep Chicago clean and green! This summer Chicago residents have an opportunity to learn how to create a rain garden and to receive rain garden plants at significantly discounted prices through a pilot Rain Garden Assistance Program, supported by the Chicago Department of Environment, Department of Water Management and the Rain Garden Network.
Workshop Sessions are July 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and plants will be distributed July 28 or 31.
Presenters: Sue Cubberly, Rain Garden Network; and Greencorps Chicago staff
Location: Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento Blvd
This workshop series is FREE and the rain garden plants will sell for $1 each. The number of plants will be determined according to size of each applicant's garden plot.
At least one person from your site must attend Sessions 1 and 2 (Maximum of 3 attendees per garden).
How To Apply
Application Requirements:
1. Complete Rain Garden Assistance Program Application
2. Must be a City of Chicago resident and site location
3. Proposed garden dimensions must be a minimum of 15 square feet and maximum 500 square feet
4. Include site sketch and a photo of your proposed site for review by horticulture and design professionals.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2007
Valid applications will be reviewed for consideration in the 2007 pilot program.
Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 31 will not be considered.
Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2007.
Return via mail, email, or fax to:
Chicago Center for Green Technology
Attn: Katie Rehrauer
445 N. Sacramento Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612
[Fax] 312-746-9192 or [Email] greentech@cityofchicago.org
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:17 PM | Permalink |
May 10, 2007
Leafminers in Illinois
Leafminer larvae live inside the leaves of many trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants. They feed on the mesophyll, the spongy and palisade cells between the upper and lower epidermises of the leaf. This environment within the leaf provides a moist area that is protected from at least some predators and parasites. As a result, many insect species have adapted to this lifestyle, including flies, moths, wasps, and beetles. With this being a popular way to make a living, a number of predatory and parasitic insects have also adapted to feeding on leafminers.
The adult fly, wasp, moth, or beetle inserts its eggs into or onto the leaf tissue. Many leafminer adults also lay down a pheromone, a hormone produced outside of the body, that lets other leafminer adults know that this leaf or part of the leaf is already taken. As a result, a leaf commonly contains only a single leafminer, or the leafminers tend to be located at a distance from each other in the same leaf.
The hatching larva tunnels through the leaf tissue, feeding on the mesophyll cells. In a leaf, chlorophyll is contained primarily in the mesophyll cells, causing leaves to be green. As these cells are eaten by the leafminer larva, whitish or light-colored areas appear because the remaining epidermal cells tend to be mostly transparent. With these epidermal cells being exposed to drying as the mesophyll cells are eaten away, they soon turn brown and die. Thus, recent mines are whitish and older mines are brownish, making it easy to tell whether the leafminer is still actively feeding.
Holding a mined leaf up to the light makes it easier to see the entire mine, including smaller areas that were eaten when the larva was newly hatched. If the larva is still present, one can frequently see the silhouette of the feeding larva. Also obvious will be the fecal material deposited by the larva. One drawback of being a leafminer is that you are forced to live with your feces.
Fully-grown larvae chew their way through the leaf epidermis to the leaf surface and typically drop to the soil to pupate, although some moth larvae spin a cocoon and pupate on the leaf surface. With the diversity of insects that live as leafminers, the size and appearance of emerging, full-grown larvae vary. Those of flies and wasps are typically legless and usually 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. Many fly larvae are bright yellow, pink, or red when they emerge to pupate. Moth and beetle emerging leafminer larvae are typically legless as well, but are commonly 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. The adult emerges from the pupa to attack more leaves. Leafminers typically have more than one generation per year. Some leafminer flies have several generations per year.
Because newly hatched leafminer larvae are very small, they tend to make small, narrow tunnels through the mesophyll. Some leafminer larvae continue to make narrow tunnels that meander through the leaf; they are referred to as serpentine leafminers. Their narrow, winding tunnels appear somewhat serpent like, that is, snakelike. Columbine and honeysuckle leafminers are serpentine leafminers.
Other leafminers may form slender, snakelike tunnels initially but soon turn to feeding on the mesophyll cells in a broad area, resulting in what is called a blotch mine. Birch and holly leafminers are blotch leafminers. Blotch mines are commonly bounded by leaf veins, resulting in straight-sided mines. Other blotch mines cross leaf veins and become more rounded in shape.
Although leafminer damage is obvious, it usually has little effect on plant health. Although the mesophyll that is eaten does not produce sugars for the plant, the undamaged cells in the leaf continue to produce. An exception to that is when the leafmining is so extensive that it causes leaf drop. Birch leafminer is the only one that causes leaf drop in Illinois and only in the northernmost row of counties. Farther south, the damage is noticeable but not severely damaging. Holly leafminer may produce enough aesthetic damage in southern, particularly southeastern, Illinois to warrant control but rarely causes leaf drop. In states to the east and south, holly leafminer damage can be very severe. Systemic insecticides are recommended for control of both leafminers.
Because leafminers typically have several generations per year, removing and destroying mined leaves while the larvae are still inside can reduce the number of mined leaves later in the season. Leaves that still have whitish mines should still contain the larvae; the larvae have usually already left the mines if the mines are brown.
Author: Phil Nixon, University of Illinois Extension, Entomologist
Posted by Ron Wolford at 10:55 PM | Permalink |
May 9, 2007
Bagworms in Northern Illinois
Well, it is that time of year, which you have been nervously anticipating–dealing with bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), primarily in the southern and central portions of Illinois. However, once considered an insect pest only south of I-80, bagworms have now been found consistently the past several years north of I-80 and near the Wisconsin border. Is this due to global warming or the mild winters? We can only speculate at this time. What is important is that bagworms are here! I tend to have a more positive attitude regarding bagworms and think that they give trees and shrubs a "special appeal"–making them look like Christmas trees.
Newly hatched caterpillars are very difficult to detect because they typically blend in with plant foliage. Additionally, although we won't admit it, as we get older our eyesight tends to diminish, which also makes it difficult to detect bagworms. In the spring, caterpillars climb to the tops of trees and hang out on 1- to 3-foot strands of silk. These strands eventually get caught on wind currents and detach, becoming streamers that allow the caterpillars to remain aloft for hundreds of feet to several miles, depending on wind speed (or velocity) and the occurrence of updrafts. This process is often referred to as ballooning. The caterpillars float through the air until the silk catches onto a plant or other object. It is important to note that caterpillars can balloon from nearby or even distant trees. Young caterpillars are small and cause only minimal damage to foliage. They feed on the epidermal and mesophyll layers, creating light areas on leaves. In general, it is recommended to avoid spraying any insecticides for at least 2 weeks after egg hatch to allow adequate time for the caterpillars to complete the ballooning process, settle down, and initiate feeding. An insecticide application during this time maximizes control of bagworms resulting in higher mortality levels. A second application is typically required a week or two later.
A female bagworm still hanging on a tree from last year contains from 500 to 1,000 eggs. Newly hatched caterpillars emerge from the bottom of the bags in late May or early June, depending on geographic location. Each caterpillar creates a small silk bag, or case, covered with material from the host plant it has fed upon. Caterpillars remain in the bag for the remainder of their life. Young (early-instar) caterpillars are 1/8 to inch in length and initially feed on the epidermal tissue on one side and the mesophyll layer, causing leaves to appear white before turning brown. Young caterpillars typically initiate feeding at the top of trees and shrubs. Why do you think they do this?
The older or mature caterpillars are 3/4 to 1 inch long and consume entire needles or leaves, primarily stripping the branches at the top of the tree. As the caterpillars mature, and the nutrient quality of the host declines, they migrate downward, feeding on lower foliage. Entire branches of conifers may die if stripped of foliage by the caterpillars. A severe bagworm infestation can completely defoliate a host plant, which may result in death of branches or the entire plant. This is especially true of evergreens, which don't normally produce a flush of new growth following defoliation by bagworms. In contrast, deciduous trees and shrubs typically produce new growth and are thus able to survive an infestation of bagworms. In general, bagworm caterpillars feed for about 3 months. On certain host plant species, female bags are located at the top, whereas male bags are distributed near the bottom of the plant canopy. This arrangement allows the females to effectively disperse pheromones, which attracts the winged males and increases the possibility for mating and fertilization of the eggs ("Sex in the Tree," as opposed to "Sex in the City").
In late summer (around mid- to late August), caterpillars develop into a pupal stage inside the bags. Bagworms take about 7 to 10 days to change from a pupa to adult; however, this is dependent on temperature. The males, which are "ugly" black moths with clear wings, emerge through the bottom of the bag and disperse to mate with females. Females never develop into adult moths because they lack eyes, wings, legs, and antennae. The females remain inside the bag, producing eggs before dying. The eggs are the overwintering stage of this insect, and there is one generation per year in Illinois.
Handpicking and destroying bags from fall through mid-spring is very effective in removing the overwintering eggs before they hatch. Bags can be placed into a plastic container with soapy water or into a sealed Ziploc bag and then disposed of. We don't recommend placing the bags in a container with kerosene and then lighting it!
Insecticides recommended for control of bagworms include Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Dipel or Thuricide), cyfluthrin (Tempo), trichlorfon (Dylox), and spinosad (Conserve). Insecticide applications are most effective on the young caterpillars. Older caterpillars in the bags are inch long and are more difficult to control. In addition, females tend to feed less as they prepare for reproduction, which reduces their susceptibility to insecticide sprays. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis is very efficacious on young caterpillars; however, the material must be ingested, so thorough coverage of all plant parts is essential. Spinosad (Conserve) works by contact and ingestion, and is extremely effective in controlling bagworms. Cyfluthrin (Tempo) and trichlorfon (Dylox) are typically recommended for the larger caterpillars. Again, thorough coverage of all plant parts is essential, especially the tops of trees, where bagworms commonly initiate feeding. As previously mentioned, insecticides should be applied about 2 weeks after egg hatch. This allows the caterpillars to complete the ballooning process. If insecticides are applied too early, then a second or third application may be needed. In general, it is recommended to apply insecticides in late May to early June for southern Illinois; mid- to late June for central Illinois; and late June to early July for northern Illinois. Scouting trees and shrubs 2 weeks after applying an insecticide will be helpful in determining if additional bagworms have blown in and allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of insecticide applications.
Author: Raymond Cloyd, University of Illinois Extension, Entomologist
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:35 AM | Permalink |
May 9, 2007
Control Bronze Birch Borers
It is now time to treat for bronze birch borer in southern Illinois. Treat in central Illinois around the middle of the month, and treat in northern Illinois towards the end of this month. The application of imidacloprid (Merit, Imicide, Pointer) as a bark spray or trunk injection provides effective control. Application to the soil is less effective because it takes several weeks to move through the tree, but it will still provide some control this year.
Bronze birch borer is a native species in the same genus as emerald ash borer and attacks the tree in a similar manner, except that it attacks declining birches instead of ash. Bronze birch borer attacks mostly nonnative, white-barked birches as their growth starts to slow down, typically when the trees reach 10 or more years old. It attacks younger trees that are mechanically damaged or planted in poor sites. Native white-barked birches are attacked much later in life, as they decline into old age. Whitespire, a variety of an Asian species, is resistant to the borer, but many other Asian and European varieties and species are very susceptible to attack. River birches are also resistant to attack, and Heritage is a variety of river birch commonly planted because of its light-colored bark.
Adult bronze birch borer beetles lay eggs under loose bark and in bark cracks near the top of the tree. The hatching larvae tunnel through the cambium. If the tunneling circles the stem, this girdling kills the stem beyond that point. Leaves turn brown and fall off. Early attack is recognizable as dead, leafless branches at the top of the tree. In subsequent years, the beetles attack lower and lower on the tree until the entire tree dies.
Bronze birch borer larvae are elongate, white, and flattened, with obvious beadlike segments. Fully-grown larvae are about 1 inch long. The larvae feed through the summer, overwinter as larvae, and pupate in the cambium area in spring. Although the life cycle can be completed in 1 year, a 2-year life cycle is more common. Adult beetles emerge through D-shaped holes during vanhoutte spirea bloom in mid spring. Cross-sections of adult beetles are flattened ventrally and rounded dorsally, that is, D-shaped. They are about 1/2 inch long and appear bullet-shaped from above, being quadrate in front and tapered posteriorly. As the name indicates, they are bronze in direct sunlight but appear blackish in indirect light. The adult beetles feed on the leaves of alder, poplar, and birch, but this feeding is not severe.
Author: Phil Nixon, University of Illinois Extension Entomologist
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:32 AM | Permalink |
May 7, 2007
Complete Horticulture Degree in Chicago
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), in partnership with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the Office of Continuing Education (OCE), now offers an innovative bachelor's degree completion program in horticulture for working professionals and community college students in the Chicago area. If you have thought about getting your bachelor's degree in order to advance your career opportunities, or are changing careers and want a second bachelor's degree, this may be the program for you!
Hurry! The window to apply for fall'07 transfer admission is from January 15 to March 1, 2007. (Applications may still be accepted after this date however.) Click here for more information on how to apply electronically or to download a paper application.
Program Contacts:
Northern Illinois - Greg Pierceall, Professor and Program Advisor
630-990-0740 or pierceal@uiuc.edu
Campus Contact:
Piper Hodson, Student Services Coordinator
217-25201360 Ext 45761 or nres@uiuc.edu
Program Web Site: http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/undergraduate/chicagodegree.html
Posted by Ron Wolford at 5:00 PM | Permalink |
May 7, 2007
Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
There has been a recently reported die-off of bee colonies that has been called serious in some parts of the United States; yet in other areas, beekeepers have not been affected. It has not yet been reported in Illinois, although it has been reported in several midwestern states.
This is a threatening situation to beekeepers, as well as those who grow and consume many fruits and vegetables that are primarily pollinated by honey bees. This situation is being called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Similar situations have been labeled in the past as Spring Dwindling, Fall Collapse, Autumn Decline, May Disease, or Disappearing Disease. The term Colony Collapse Disorder is being used instead for a variety of reasons, including that the situation is not necessarily associated with any particular time of the year and that it is not known whether a disease-causing pathogen is involved.
However, even though imidacloprid is systemic and moves through the plant, it is known to not get into the flowers of a number of plants. With bees primarily visiting flowers, there are questions as to how the bees would pick up the imidacloprid. Another question is when the honey bees pick up the imidacloprid. Many imidacloprid-treated crops finish flowering by midsummer, allowing time for seed or fruit to be produced and ripen before frost. Honey bees tend to feed in late summer and fall on late-season flowers such as goldenrod and native asters. These plants tend to be most numerous in noncrop areas where insecticides are unlikely to be applied. If the bees died earlier in the season from visiting flowering crops, beekeepers surely would have noticed this when they collected honey from the hives.
There have been media reports that this new problem may have been ongoing for 3 to 4 years. The numerous general symptoms combined with the broad timeframe become encompassing enough to include nearly any dead colony. It is important that hysteria does not overtake scientific investigation. Apparently, CCD has so far been found in bees that have been recently stressed, that is, bees that have been moved to different locations. The problem is being found primarily with migratory commercial beekeepers. In discussions of CCD characteristics, it is frequently said that hobby beekeepers are not as observant as commercial beekeepers; consequently, their colonies that recently died were simply counted as mite-afflicted or caused by a poor queen. However, many hobby beekeepers are very observant of their hives and would have readily observed symptoms as those exhibited by CCD, especially if it had been going on for several years.
A recent survey (March 14 to 19, 2007) of Ohio beekeepers found that on average there was a 72% loss of live colonies from September 2006 until March 2007. A closer breakout indicated that beekeepers with fewer than 100 colonies had an average 55% loss, those with 100 to 500 colonies averaged 67%, and those with over 500 colonies averaged 75% loss. There did not appear to be any difference by area of the state. Perhaps the reason why the percentage of loss as the size of operation increases is due to the amount of time spent by the beekeeper per colony. At one time, a 10% or less loss was considered normal, but when parasitic mites became common, that number rose to nearly 30%. The 72% is an unheard of amount.
It is difficult to determine what caused the loss of so many colonies. Fall of 2006 in most parts of Ohio had a dearth of nectar, resulting in poor diets for the honey bee colony. In some cases, the queen reduced egg-laying due to the dearth of nectar, resulting in older bees in the colony and a reduced population. Many beekeepers fed their bees, but it may not have been the proper diet. With various medications being used by the beekeeper to control mites and disease within a colony, perhaps these medications are reacting with each other and affecting the bees. As beekeepers breed bees to resist mites, perhaps they are also affecting bee longevity. There are a number of other factors that could also be related, all of which need to be considered when thinking of CCD. In the above-mentioned survey, the two most often cited reasons beekeepers believed to be the cause of their loss were starvation and small clusters. They believed both of those were brought on by the fall of 2006.
A study group called the CCD research group (comprised of university researchers, state and federal regulatory officials, Cooperative Extension educators, and industry representatives) is working to determine if the cause is related to chemicals, management, breeding stock, environmental, bee stress, or some other factor. The CCD group and Bee Alert Technology are requesting that beekeepers fill out the National Bee Loss Survey, which can be found at http://www.beesurvey.com. This survey can be filled out beekeepers with operations of any size, whether or not a loss has been suffered; the more information obtained, the better the chance of finding a cause.
If historical precedents hold true, with the arrival of the spring season, the symptoms will fade into remission. Although the situation is frustrating, no one knows the cause or the scope of this disorder. Don't panic and do question much of what you hear.
(Source: Phil Nixon; primarily modified from the CCD research group Web site and articles by James E. Tew and John Grafton in the February and March issues of the Ohio Info Bee newsletter.)
Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:29 AM | Permalink |
May 6, 2007
Chicago Master Gardener's Blogs
Gloria is a Chicago Master Gardener volunteer at the Lurie Gardens. She has a great blog called Pollinators-Welcome Blog-A Weblog to Record the Development of a Wildlife Friendly Garden at http://pollinators-welcome.blogspot.com/. Check out her latest pictures of the bulbs in the Lurie garden.
Beth Botts who works for the Tribune and is also a Chicago Master Gardener has a blog called The Chicago Gardener at http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/chicago_gardener/.
Check out her blog for a collection of gardening tips for the whole year from the monthly tips that I write for the Tribune.
If any other Master Gardeners have gardening blogs or if you know of a good gardening blog, please email the web site address to me.
Check all the Urban Hort Extension blogs and other hort info at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu
Ron Wolford
Posted by Ron Wolford at 8:34 PM | Permalink |
May 4, 2007
Chicago Rain Barrel Sale
Chicagoans can purchase a discounted Chicago Rain Barrel, while supplies last, beginning May 21, 2007. Mark your calendar!
- Rain barrels are for Chicago residents only
- Residents are limited to 1 barrel per household (per year)
- Reservations are NOT required
- When picking up a rain barrel, bring a $40 check payable to
"City of Chicago" with your current Chicago address listed on the check
- Cash is not accepted
- Pick up times and locations are listed below
- Financial assistance is available; contact us for more information
Pick up locations
You may pick up a rain barrel at these sites at the times listed below. No reservations are required.
Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 North Sacramento Blvd.
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Tues, Thurs 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Sat 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Greenmaker Building Supply, 2500 North Pulaski
Hours: Mon-Wed: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Thurs 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Fri 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Sat 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Or pick up a rain barrel at one of our Barrel Bonanza events this summer. Visit our website for more information and dates (coming soon).
Questions?
Rain barrel brochures explaining installation and maintenance will be distributed at the time of purchase. You can also make your own rain barrel. For a free fact sheet on how to make a rain barrel, call 773-233-0476.
More information at www.cityofchicago.org/Environme
Contact rainbarrel@cityofchicago.org or 312-743-WATER (743-9283).
Posted by Ron Wolford at 4:49 AM | Permalink |
May 4, 2007
May is American Wetlands Month
Over one hundred years ago, much of Illinois was covered with some type of wetland. Since then most of the natural wetlands in Illinois have been drained or otherwise destroyed.
However, there is now an increased awareness that wetlands perform very necessary functions in the environment, as well as providing an aesthetic appeal, and that there must be a balance and co-existence of wetland with other land uses. Wetlands are no longer just considered "swamps" or "wetholes".
"To continue to increase that awareness, each May, American Wetlands Month is celebrated across the country. More information about the celebration and possible activities can be found on the U. S. EPA website www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm," reports John Church, University of Illinois Extension Educator, Natural Resources, Rockford.
Wetlands are some of the most complex habitats that exist. They perform crucial biological, physical, and chemical functions that provide value to a community and its environment. Whether it is a native wetland or a restored wetland, there are many values that can be gained by its function.
Some of the functions of wetlands include surface and subsurface water storage, nutrient cycling, particulate removal, maintenance of habitat, water filtration, and groundwater recharge. The destruction of wetlands can reduce the effectiveness of these functions and cause problems in the local and wider area environmental balance. For example, the lack of wetlands to store water can increase stormwater runoff in communities causing more flooding; reducing wetland area can reduce groundwater recharge in local areas that depend on groundwater to drink; and less wetlands can mean more sediment and contaminants running off into streams or rivers.
As these issues have become more recognized, there has been an increased level of research being conducted to provide adequate field drainage and proper stormwater management, while still protecting the environment.
Individuals and communities can do their part to protect wetlands. For more information, contact University of Illinois Extension, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, or check the U.S. EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands.
Source: John Church, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, churchj@uiuc.edu
Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:31 AM | Permalink |
May 3, 2007
Garfield Park Tulip Bulb Giveaway
Garfield Park Conservatory's 3rd Annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway will take place on Saturday, May 19.
Tulip Bulb Giveaway
Saturday, May 19
9:00 a.m. until gone
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 North Central Park Ave
Chicago, IL 60624
Bulbs available on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information contact Mike Tomas, 773.638.1766 x14 or Rishona Taylor, 773.638.1766 x17
Posted by Ron Wolford at 5:35 AM | Permalink |
