Diagnostics: Who Knows Most About the Plants?
Fall Forecast II
Basswood Leafminer Found in Southwest Ohio
Tree of the Week: Swamp White Oak
I was recently in New York City, 15 years after the 9/11 tragedy, and was reminded of that day. We were on our BYGL call back here in Ohio and Dave Dyke of OSUE, Hamilton County broke into a plant report with news that a plane, possibly a small plane had flown into the World Trade Center. We took it in and continued our reports.
Minutes later he burst in that another plane had hit the other tower and that these were large passenger planes. Now we knew something was terribly wrong and yet, like many people, we tried to continue with our scheduled activities for a while....
Shrub of the Week: Comptonia (Sweetfern)
There We Go...The Harbinger of Autumn Appears!
As I was driving along the roadways of Geauga County, I suddenly noticed the upright pillars of changing color wrapped around tree trunks. Yes, I believe that it is most likely, that autumnal color is the ONLY redeeming quality of Toxicodendron radicans, commonly known as Poison Ivy! At this time of year, the fall colors of this rash inducing woody vine, are unparalleled for their stunning reds, oranges, yellows and every color mixture in-between. It almost makes one want to go up to collect some leaves to put in a fall color collage between pieces of waxed paper to hang on the...
Small White Masses on Red Bud Stems
Tree of the Week: Kentucky Coffeetree
Trees and Lightning
Recent storms that have moved through northwest Ohio have brought some much needed rain. Some of that rain has been accompanied by lightning, high winds and even tornados. The large oak pictured with this article was strike by lightning resulting in the outward symptom a "lightning scar."
As I was searching for additional information when writing this article, I came across a FactSheet from Purdue University, Trees and Lightning. It is an excellent resource and describes the range of damage to the tree that can occur during and after a lightning strike. The...