our trees need water

We've seen news stories about serious flooding in parts of our metro area, but that rain has been very unevenly distributed. Many storms that dropped huge amounts of rain in areas north, west or south of us left little or nothing in Beverly or Morgan Park over the last several weeks. In the last week, I've seen a few things that were vivid reminders of how dry our soil really is here in the neighborhood.

In areas that have not been watered, I've seen cracks in the bone dry soil. Recently I saw a gingko tree (a very tough species) that had lost all its leaves and was starting to grow new ones after we had 1/2" of rain. I've also seen a few young, recently planted trees that had dropped all their leaves and looked like they were dead or in very tough shape.

Other signs of drought: oak trees dropping acorns prematurely (before they reach full size and ripeness), tree leaves looking withered or starting to drop. I have seen these signs in various locations around the neighborhood this week.

Ideally, 1 inch of rain per week will keep a tree healthy. We've had a occasional heavy rain since early May, but it's usually been of a brief enough duration that we've only gotten 0.1" or 0.2" of water - nowhere near enough to make up for the long-term lack of soaking rains.

Our trees need water to stay healthy. If you don't regularly water the lawn area around your trees, please consider using a soaker hose around the base of each tree, or using a sprinkler over the root area (at least the area of the tree canopy). In weeks when we don't get at least 1" of rain, letting it soak for at least an hour is a good idea. That will help our trees catch up and stay healthy.

Trees under extreme stress become more vulnerable to health issues from disease, infestation or damage. Drought is a form of stress that we can do something about. As of today, there's no significant chance of rain in the forecast for the next several days, continuing the pattern we've been seeing for weeks.

In the more extreme weather we're seeing now, we get more heavy rains and more extended periods of heat and minimal rain. This is hard on our trees when it happens year after year. Please be kind to our trees and help them live longer, healthier lives. This makes neighborhood and our environment healthier. 

Whistler Woods workdays today and tomorrow (9/9 and 9/10)

It's great to get outdoors. Volunteers are needed this Friday 9/9 and Saturday 9/10 from 10 am to 1 pm for a habitat restoration workday - invasive species removal and seed collecting.  Light snacks and water will be available.

Hiking boots or other boots or shoes that offer good support and traction are a good idea. When you arrive, look for volunteers along the lefthand side of the main parking lot, near the end of the parking lot. If you have work gloves, bring them, otherwise gloves will be available.  

How to get there:   Whistler Woods is just east of 13400 S Halsted in Riverdale. Note that the Halsted bridge is currently closed for construction.

By bike: if you're coming from the north, ride the Major Taylor Trail south until it ends in Whistler Woods and continue to the parking lot to find the volunteers.

By car: from the north - take Ashland south past Broadway in Blue Island. Make the first left after Broadway, then left onto Jackson St. (13400S). Continue east past the light at Halsted. Whistler Woods parking lot is the first left turn after Halsted.

From I-57, exit at eastbound 127th, then turn right on Ashland, and follow the directions above.

From I-94, exit at westbound 130th.  Continue past the viaduct, right (northbound) on Indiana, then continue left on 127th. Follow the directions above.

By transit:  Pace 352 Halsted bus

seed gathering and bonfire at Whistler Woods

'tis the season for gathering and scattering seeds.  There's also tree cutting to do.  Join in the work and fun this Saturday 9/26 from 2 to 5 p.m.  When you arrive, look for volunteers along the lefthand side of the main parking lot, near the end of the parking lot.  If you have work gloves, bring them, otherwise gloves will be available. 

How to get there:  Whistler Woods is just east of 13400 S Halsted in Riverdale.

By bike: if you're coming from the north, ride the Major Taylor Trail south until it ends in Whistler Woods and continue to the parking lot to find the volunteers.

By car: take Halsted - parking lot is the first left turn after you turn onto Forestview.  Nearest exit from I-57 is 127th St. From there, take eastbound 127th, then turn right on Halsted.

By transit:  Pace 352 bus.

Questions? Call Chris, 773-746-5223. 

finishing up the planting at Whistler Woods

Last weekend a group of volunteers got many native plants in the ground at Whistler Woods. On Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 am to noon, there's another workday to complete this project.

Volunteers are needed to finish seeding, planting, and cutting around big gully draining into the Little Calumet River. These new plants will help pollinators, reduce erosion and filter all kinds of nasty runoff before it reaches the river and, ultimately, Lake Michigan, our drinking water.

When you arrive, look for volunteers along the lefthand side of the main parking lot, near the end of the parking lot.

The new arrivals include rye grasses, asters, false Solomon's seal, sedges, and more,  purchased with funding by ArcelorMittal, the steel company next door to Whistler.

How to get there:  Whistler Woods is just east of 13400 S Halsted in Riverdale.

By bike: if you're coming from the north, ride the Major Taylor Trail south until it ends in Whistler Woods and continue to the parking lot to find the volunteers.

By car: take Halsted - parking lot is the first left turn after you turn onto Forestview.  Nearest exit from I-57 is 127th St. From there, take eastbound 127th, then turn right on Halsted.

By transit:  Pace 352 bus.

Bring a trowel if you have one. Free lunch. Questions? Call Chris, 773-746-5223. 

planting day at Whistler Woods

Here come the plants! 400 baby native plants arrive at Whistler Woods Saturday, Sept. 5

Those plants need volunteers to put them in the ground. It only takes about 2 minutes to dig a hole, stick a plant in, and pat it closed. So we only need 400 people to donate 2 minutes apiece, or 200 people to donate 4 minutes, or . . . Just come.

When you arrive, look for volunteers along the lefthand side of the main parking lot between 10 am and 1 pm. 

Bring a trowel if you have one. Free lunch. Questions? Call Chris, 773-746-5223. 

The new arrivals include rye grasses, asters, false Solomon's seal, sedges, and more,  purchased with funding by ArcelorMittal, the steel company next door to Whistler.

These new plants will help pollinators, reduce erosion (which kills fish and water plants) and filter storm runoff before it reaches the river and, ultimately, Lake Michigan - our drinking water.

How to get there:  Whistler Woods is just east of 13400 S Halsted in Riverdale.

By bike: if you're coming from the north, ride the Major Taylor Trail south until it ends in Whistler Woods and continue to the parking lot to find the volunteers.

By car: take Halsted - parking lot is the first left turn after you turn onto Forestview.  Nearest exit from I-57 is 127th St. From there, take eastbound 127th, then turn right on Halsted.

By transit:  Pace 352 bus.

environmental bus tour on 7/28

I'd like to share info from the Southeast Environmental Task Force about a tour that may be of interest to those of you who are concerned about the environment in our city:

Join the Southeast Environmental Task Force for the second tour in a series of OFF THE BEATEN PATH ECO-TOURS. Let us show you why the South side was known as the the home of Mt. Trashmore. See how the years of dumping household, hazardous, and contruction waste have impacted the surrounding communities. You'll also see dumps that have been repurposed and that produce energy. Discover the natural areas that border them and see how they have become important wildlife habitat.

You’ll learn how Chicago deals with garbage, sewage and waste treatment in general. This unique narrated tour highlights the Southeast Side’s overabundance of treatment facilities – huge landfills, recycling centers, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District wastewater treatment plant and sludge drying fields, as well as several former notorious illegal dumps.

DOWN IN THE DUMPS BUS TOUR
Saturday, July 28, 2012
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
$40.00 per person, includes lunch

Comfortable coach bus departs from the Cultural Center located at Randolph and Michigan Avenues in downtown Chicago. You are welcome to bring water or snacks. Lunch will be provided at a local establishment and is included in the price. You must pre-register for this tour by using the Paypal feature provided at: setaskforce.blogspot.com

For more details, call 773-646-0436 

do you want to be a TreeKeeper?

Spring 2012 TreeKeepers classes will run on Saturdays from March 3 to April 14, 2012 at Trumbull Park, 2400 E. 105th St., Chicago 60617 in the South Deering neighborhood.   Click here to get more information and sign up.  It's a great learning experience and cool way to meet some good people, while helping to care for trees in the city.

Being a TreeKeepers has brought me to so many beautiful places that I might never have discovered if I hadn't taken the class and gone to workdays and activities since then.

she's gone away

Hopefully our surprise hummingbird visitor has finally gone south for the winter.

hummingbirds

Here's a phenomenal PBS video, using some unique new cameras and techniques to add insight into the world of hummingbirds. REALLY cool stuff! Click here to watch it full screen.

foxes in the 'hood

No, not Redd Foxx, but red fox. Tonight I was talking to my neighbors across the alley. They were telling me about the latest neighborhood wildlife sighting - in our yard. Friends of theirs near 112th & Lothair and 108th & Longwood had mentioned seeing red foxes near their houses, even a mother fox with 4 babies.

Looks like Mother Nature's response to our overabundance of rabbits. Perhaps a balance will be restored. I wouldn't mind having a few less rabbits eating my flowers next year. Time will tell...

bird party

There's a major sparrow party going on in my yard. I guess my feeder is one of the easiest food sources for these guys with most things getting covered by wet snow today. It's been a non-stop chatter-fest out there. The feeder (about 10 feet to the left of the picture) is emptying fast. Each of the little green circles contains a sparrow. At times, there are twice many in the tree and hedge. There are 8-20 birds on the feeder at any given time. They're fun to watch.

signs of spring

I've been seeing and hearing more birds while I'm walking to the train in the morning. The outdoor world is becoming a livelier place again.

snowy owls

Interesting nature article from the Evanston Review.

the urban naturalist

To read the Chicago Park District's quarterly nature newsletter, click here.

praying mantis

Last week we were taking down the trim from the front porch ceiling and discovered a bug buddy hanging over our heads.



In case you're wondering, that bug is about 4" long.

a curious garden friendship

For the last few days, I've noticed a robin hopping or walking near my veggie garden. It appeared to be sick or dying. It didn't go very far if I walked into the area and didn't fly. Yesterday it was barely moving. Two mourning doves stayed nearby, being near the robin on the ground and not going far from it if I came near, coming right back to the robin when I moved away.

This morning I went out to water the veggie garden. The robin was lying dead on the ground. The mourning doves were sitting near the body. They still weren't leaving their friend. They wouldn't go anywhere until I scooped up the robin to dispose of the body. Then they disappeared.

Project Budburst

You can help with scientific observation of plant/tree budding, flowering and leafing out. Starting now, you can note observations of budding and flowering plants in locations you see everyday. Here's the guide for the project. If you do not have regular access to plants that are on this list, you may submit observations of other species. Check out other pages on the site for more details.