News from beaver creek nursery, inc.

Beaver Creek Nursery

812-689-5595

NEWSLETTER

September 2013

September Morn'

In This Issue

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You know, this Newsletter normally is written from the garbled

up junk bouncing around in my head that finally hits the screen here in some sort of order. However, I am finding myself stuck; not only on the above photo but also on the old Neil Diamond song of the same name. So since I can't get it out of my head I figured I would just go ahead and share the thought.....not that anyone is interested but at least I can maybe move on here.

Besides, what could be better than waking up early on a September morning, walking outside in the cool, skin clinging, misty hours just as the sun is rising, with a hot cup of coffee or your "wake me up" of choice, sitting back, relaxing in your favorite place and just listening to Ma Nature opening up a brand new day. Now that's pretty darn special if anyone asks me.

So, I said it all....now on with the show!

RAIN CHECK!

Only

1.22" in August

That's only a smidgen more than August of 2012 when we were in the middle of a drought.

Sure hope you all have been SLOW soaking your trees and shrubs!!

Editorial Note:

Then on the last day of the month and depending on where you live, add .52" ( Nursery ) - 4.75" reported from Dupont, In., 3" in Switzerland County, In. area.

All data aquired and accumulated from Beaver Creek Nursery weather station

USDA Help

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ( APHIS ) is urging the public to check their trees for signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. It is most active as an adult during the month of August into September.

This very invasive insect has been responsible for the loss of over 30,000 trees in one county alone in Massachusetts not to mention those lost already in our own neighboring Illinois and Ohio.

The following is an article re-printed from an earlier Newsletter.

HEY CUTIE!!!....

asian longhorne beetle

Pictured above is the very invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle. Although the Chinese have been grabbing all the Gold in the Olympics for diving they get a "did not finish" for this little critter that they sent over here in some packing crates back in 1996.

The adult beetle is 3/4" - 1 1/2" long and is shinny black with irregular white spotting on the wing covers. The antennae are overly long, black and white striped and can be up to twice the body length on males.

It's favorite place to lay it's eggs is in Maple trees but it has also been found infesting Poplar, Willow, Black Locust, Elms and Mulberries.

It has already been found as close as Clermont County, Ohio.

Once it lays its eggs in the trunk or large limbs the larvae ( cream colored, grub like, 1-2" long ) develop and eat their way around inside the tree thus destroying it as they mature.

alb life cycle

Upon exiting the tree they leave a tell-tale 3/8" dime size, perfectly round hole as opposed to the "D-shaped hole of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Trees will exhibit symptoms similar to other types of infestations such as yellowing of leaves and branch dieback. More specific things to look for

are bleeding wounds in the trunk or large limbs, the 3/8" perfectly round exit holes and sawdust on the ground near these holes.

If you suspect that you have this nasty not-so-little bug it is imperative that you contact either myself, the local Extension Office, or Purdue University.

So, while you are out "slow soaking" your trees (as I am sure you will be...hmmm ) take a few extra seconds to inspect them for not only this guy but for any other possible insect or disease problems that may be going on. Just like us, if you catch a problem early enough a favorable treatment can be achieved at a far less expense.

Most importantly, once the ALB infests a tree there is no known cure. It can only be prevented from future infestations in other trees so take the time to check!

September "To Do's"

If you want to know all the basic things you need to be doing and/or should not be doing this month in your landscape then Click Here for a short journey back to a previous Newsletter discussion.

Or

You could start collecting seeds from your favorite flowers and vegetables to store for next Spring's gardening.

Or

since it's also that time of year
you could pick apples and and grapes and bake a homemade apple pie or put up some jelly, jam or a few dozen bottles of wine just in case it's a longer than normal winter.

And speaking of winter, I don't know if you heard but, the National Weather Service is calling for a "bitterly cold and heavy snowfall" for our area so I think the extra bottles of wine may come in handy!

Do you Hear it????

Listen Closely....

They Do....

Will You????

Once you hear it you will always remember that

distinct sound

and you

WILL

automatically

LOOK UP!!!!

So what is this "distinct" and "once heard, always remembered" sound you ask??????

It's the

Sound

of

Migrating

(NO, Not Canada Geese)

but

the

HUGE

Sandhill Crane!

The Sandhill Crane makes a

very unusual, above medium, long, rattle type sound for lack of better words and as I said, once you hear it and look up and see them, you will always recognize it.
About 75% of the world's population of Sandhill cranes start their migrations from far up into Canada and head south along a 75 mile wide "flyway" along the Platte River and Central Nebraska. But some such as the Eastern Great Sandhill spend it's summers breeding in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and migrate south to Southern Georgia and Florida. This journey takes them through parts of Ohio and Indiana with our area fortunately catching part of this flyway.

sandhill crane3

Being larger than a Canada Goose they are one of the largest birds that migrate in the U.S. At maturity, a Sandhill Crane is 3-4 feet tall, having a wingspan of 5 1/2 to 7 feet.

So the next time you hear a very strange sound in the sky during the months of September - October stop a few minutes and look up. Be vigilant though as they may be very high up soaring on the air currents to save energy.

And...you will NEVER forget that sound!

sandhill crane2

Before & After

Library

BEFORE

Tyson Library - Versailles, Indiana

After

Before

After

Before

After

and

Church

Before

Trinity United Methodist Church - Madison, Indiana

After

Both sides of the entrance walk are symmetrical in construction and so it is with the new landscaping.

Before

After

After

Each side is a duplicate of the other. A Limelight hydrangea "tree form"

with a semi-circle row of Green Gem boxwoods in front. Behind the boulder is a Dwarf red crape myrtle ( Cherry Dazzel ) which will normally bloom all summer until frost. Behind and bordering the bench are Nandina Domestica Compacta which will stay below 4' in height and being evergreen will provide multi- colors throughout the year together with red berries in winter. Varigated Liriope accent the crushed and compacted paths.

Before

After

After

Simple, Clean, Functional....and no more grass to mow!!

A Closing Thought

Words may show a man's wit,
but actions his meaning.

.....Benjamin Franklin

Beaver Creek Nursery

Southeastern Indiana's Largest

& Most Unique Nursery

812-689-5595