Draft
If you have content for this update, please let me know at jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net.
Some of the items covered in this update include:
* Thanks for the holiday party, fundraiser, and recognition
* Thanks for the VFW hike
* Ideas about trees at the holidays
* See you in 2010 - Happy New Year!
Thanks for the holiday party - and a great end to a great year
Our festive annual fundraiser and holiday party took place Tuesday, December 1. Barb Pophal deserves special thanks for helping to organize this wonderful annual event. To all who contributed to the silent auction, raffles, and pot luck - a thank you also. A special heartfelt thank you for your recognition. Congratulations to Mary K. Evans for her recognition.
Happy New Year! See you in 2010
Plan to attend our meeting in 2010. Details to come.
Thank you for the VFW Hike - 29512 White Road, Willoughby Hills
Special thanks go to all involved in the November VFW hike in this great location in the Euclid Creek watershed. Ron Puera, FOEC member and VFW Post Commander headed up the adventure with exploration of the creeks, beaver ponds, and woods in this large and unique tract of land.
The habitat of the American beaver (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org) includes ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams bordered by stands of small trees. January-February is their breeding period. Their adult weight is 30-70 pounds. They are master dam builders.
More thoughts on our November meeting
for details about Euclid Creek projects.
Some of her work deals with determining better practices in our lawns and landscapes. Some of her recommendations come in these seven steps to watershed health:
1. Do not dump in storm drains.
2. Fertilize sparingly and caringly.
3. Properly dispose of household hazardous waste.
4. Clean up after your pet.
5. Practice good car care.
6. Landscape with native plants.
7. Conserve water.
She reminded us that "it all drains to Lake Erie." Why is flushing old medicine is dangerous? "Scientists are now finding antibiotics, hormones and other drugs in sewer lines and waterways." (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5647/dont_flush_that_old_medicine.html?cat=5)
Rain gardens help maintain watershed health
The image comes from
http://cuyahogaswcd.org/grantfunded-raingardens.htm which explains that rain gardens help maintain watershed heath, keep water clean by filtering runoff, alleviating flooding problems, and providing habitat for wildlife.

http://cuyahogaswcd.org/grantfunded-raingardens.htm
More on rain gardens and native plant use
The image of a sample rain garden with native Ohio plants comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com
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The image of a butterfly-hummingbird garden with native Ohio plants comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com
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Tips on using a living, rooted (potted or balled) tree
Here are some ideas from http://pickyourownchristmastree.org.
- Buy a healthy tree from a reputable nursery or grower. Expect to pay a higher price than for a typical Christmas tree.
- Keep the tree in a shaded area or a unheated garage until it is brought inside.
- Keep the soil in the ball or pot moist until well after it is transplanted after Christmas. A frozen ball need not be watered if the crown is shaded and protected.
- Lift and carry the tree by the ball or pot, not the top.
- Keep the tree in the house no longer than about one week.
- If possible, keep room that the tree is in cool (to help prevent it from starting to bud out)
- Have the tree's planting hole dug before the soil freezes and keep the fill dirt thawed. The hole should be 4 times the size of the root ball. If the dirt was heavy clay or poor sand, be sure to improve it with amendments (manure, grass clippings, ground leaves, compost, etc.) Evergreens like an acid soil, so don't add lime.
- Remove packing paper, sawdust and binding materials when planting the tree. Stake the tree for its first year, if possible.
More ideas on Chrismas trees
Some more about wildlife in the watershed and Ohio
The Nov. 22 issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer explained that mink appear at the Dike 14 location. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ provides the image and explains that mink is almost always found near water.
You may have seen one of these - a blue jay - recently.
You may have seen a cardinal also. The image comes from http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/ which states it is the official bird of Ohio.

The image of the Canada goose comes from Ohio.gov.
See http://ourohio.org/home-gardens/animals/other-animals/too-many-canada-geese/
which states that the Canada goose is native to Ohio and that Canada geese were not common in the state during the first half of the 20th century. Efforts by federal and state wildlife officials beginning in the 1950s brought populations of Canada geese back from near extinction. Increases in wetlands habitat and a proliferation of urban areas where hunting is not permitted has resulted in a present-day abundance of Canada geese.








According to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ the Eastern Hemlock is a popular landscape tree found in urban areas throughout the state of Ohio. However, as a native tree, it is only found in the eastern half of Ohio, primarily in Appalachia.



Photo from http://www.dike14.org/
FOEC had a booth at Lyndhurst Home Days, which took place September 11 at Lyndhurst City Park.




Wetland tours begin at 6:30 PM.


