September 4, 2006
Bulb Planting at the Lurie Garden
September 24-26Please join us for this one-of-a kind event!! Meet Dutch horticulture experts Piet Oudolf, Franz and Jacqueline when they come to Millennium Park in September to supervise the planting of their new spring bulb design for the Lurie Garden. Over 75,000 bulbs have been generously donated to Chicago by the International Bulb Center.
We are looking for hands-on volunteers to help plant bulbs on September 24, 25 and 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (2 shifts per day 8-12 and 12-4). On-site training and refreshments will be provided. In addition, we are recruiting information volunteers to staff our bulb information booth (all three days) and family activity tent (Sunday only). In addition to getting an inside look at the execution of this exciting project, all volunteers will be invited to a private wrap-up party with our honored guests on Tuesday in the Lurie Garden.
If you can commit to at least one shift or have any questions, please email Kathy Bernreuter at kathy.bernreuter@cityofchicago.org. Please specify your availability and if you are interested in volunteering as a planter or as a public information provider. We look forward to having you join us in creating what will sure to be a spectacular spring bulb display for Millennium Park!
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:26 PM | Permalink |
September 3, 2006
Emerald Ash Borer Update
The emerald ash borer has recently been found in Kane County, Evanston and Winnetka. The borer is about one-half inch long and appears brown in shade and under bright light is dark green in color. Millions of ash trees in Michigan have been devastated. This pest is a very serious threat to the 178 million ash trees in Illinois.
This is a very, very dangerous pest of ash trees," said James Appleby, a professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and a scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey. "Ash trees in the state already are in a state of decline from other factors, so it is important that people look for symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation, which represents an additional and real threat. If these borers are out there, we need to find them so we can take action to contain them."
The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, a native of eastern Asia, was identified in Michigan, as well as some areas of Ohio and Canada. Some counties in Michigan are under quarantine to prevent the transportation of ash trees, branches, logs and firewood. Millions of trees in Michigan have died or are dying from infestation. Scientists believe the insect has been present for as many as 10 years, possibly introduced in ash wood used in shipping, Appleby said. The accidental movement of infested firewood into Illinois could be the source of our current outbreaks.
The 178 million ash trees in Illinois represent about 9 percent of Illinois forestland. The total does not include trees in urban plantings or in nurseries. Drought, poor growing sites, lilac borers and native ash borers, and diseases, such as ash yellows, already are damaging many Illinois ash trees. All ash species are at risk from the new threat.
Signs of infestation, Appleby said, are D-shaped holes about one-eighth inch in diameter on large branches and trunks and numerous ash sprouts at the base of dead trees.
Adult emerald ash borers are commonly seen during sunny mid-summer days, feeding on leaves and crawling along branches and trunks of the trees. During June and July, they deposit eggs in the crevices of tree bark; about 10 days later, the larvae emerge and feed under the bark. Full-grown larvae, which are cream-colored and are about three-fourths of an inch long, spend the winter under the bark and in the sapwood.
Borer-infested trees may go undetected until symptoms such as upper tree canopy dieback occurs and the D-shaped emergence holes are seen on trunks and branches. Depending on tree size, symptoms may not show for a couple of years. In some trees a vertical bark split may occur on the trunk. If the bark is removed at such sites, S-shaped tunnels dug by the borer, known as serpentine larval galleries, can be exposed.
The emerald ash borer, Appleby said, easily can be confused with the brilliant green tiger beetle, a native insect often seen on the ground in open areas.
Source: Jim Barlow, University of Illinois News Bureau
Emerald Ash Borer Information
Illinois Department of Agriculture
USDA Forest Service
Information about Borer in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
Photos of Adult Borer, Larvae and Damage
http://www.news.uiuc.edu/news/03/08ashborerphotos.html
Emerald Ash Borer Life Cycle
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/Poster_2.pdf
How to Identify an Ash Tree
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E2892Ash.pdf
Other Ash Tree Problems
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/champaign/homeowners/030830.html
Emerald Ash Borer Education Group Video
http://www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/pestinfo/ashborer.htm
Posted by Ron Wolford at 2:21 AM | Permalink |
September 2, 2006
Fall Volunteer Opportunities at Kilbourn Park
General support of gardens and greenhouse volunteers requested this fall on Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Wednesdays, Noon - 8 p.m., Thursdays, 1 - 3 p.m., and Saturdays, Noon - 3 p.m. Volunteers can work anytime during these hours. Please note, there is a strong volunteer team for Wednesdays. During this fall, I will be leading after school programming from 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Volunteers coming during this time will be directed by a note board. Call or e-mail to let me know when you can come!
Preschool Programming
Thursdays 8 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
10 week program
Preschool programming starts Thursday, September 28 and will run through December 7.
I am looking for 1-2 volunteers who enjoy working with toddlers to engage them in the natural world. There are two groups (3 year olds) and (4-5 year olds) and a 1 hour program is scheduled for each.
Volunteers interested in this position please call, Kirsten Akre, at 773-685-3359 or e-mail me, for more information or to set up an interview. Volunteers selected for this program will be required to complete the Chicago Park District Volunteer Application and Background Check.
Thanks to Master Gardeners for your tremendous support of the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse!
Kirsten Akre
Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse
773-685-3359
kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistric
Posted by Ron Wolford at 1:00 AM | Permalink |
September 2, 2006
Fall Organic Gardening Series
Six week series, Saturdays, September 30 - November 4 from 10 a.m. - Noon. Cost: $60, pre-register at Kilbourn Park Greenhouse or call the greenhouse to get on the registration list.
Instructors include:
Mike Flynn from Green Quest
Bill Shores, grower for celebrity chef Rick Bayless and instructor for Master Composters
Laury Lewis, Chicago Master Gardener and Mayor Daley Garden of the Year Winner for 2005
Kirsten Akre, Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse
Contact: Kirsten Akre, phone: 773-685-3359 or kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistric
Posted by Ron Wolford at 12:41 AM | Permalink |
September 1, 2006
Kilbourn Park Harvest Festival
Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
3501 N. Kilbourn, just south of Addison, between Cicero and Milwaukee. Stoplight now at Kilbourn and Addison.
Free and fun for the entire family. Come hear fellow Master Gardeners lead demonstrations and tastings on Preserving your Garden's Herbs, Composting, and Making Fried Green Tomatoes! If you have any tomato questions the Tomato Lady, Aggie Nehmzow will be there to talk tomato!
If you haven't stopped by the greenhouse yet, this is a great opportunity to see what is happening at this Chicago Park District Organic Greenhouse.
Want to help with this event? Call Kirsten at 773-685-3359 to find out how you could help. Set-up days are Wednesday, September 6 from Noon - 8 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Contact: Kirsten Akre, phone: 773-685-3359 or kirsten.akre@chicagoparkdistric
Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:03 PM | Permalink |
