Tuesday, December 1, 2009

December 2009 update

Welcome to the December 2009 update
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. Thanks go to Frank Skala for the photo that shows President Fran Hogg (front, center) with some of the holiday party attendees.
IMG_1146.JPG
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 personal thanks comes for your recognition. Congratulations to Mary K. Evans, Mayor Merle Gordon of Beachwood, and Rick Gladys, service director for Lyndhurst, for their recognition.

Thank you to the Little Known String Duet with Donna Lader on guitar and Joe Abate on mandolin.

Happy New Year! See you in 2010

Plan to attend our meeting on Jan. 5, 2010 at the South Euclid Community Center.
The address is 1370 Victory Drive.

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

Our November meeting featured Claire Posius providing us with an update on Euclid Creek projects. Claire works as a watershed conservation planner at the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Here are some recommendations for helping with 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" and flushing old medicines can be dangerous. Antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs can appear in sewer lines and waterways.

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.


The image of a butterfly-hummingbird garden with native Ohio plants comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com.

The image of the dwarf goldenrod - another good choice - comes from http://ohioprairienursery.com.



Tips on using a living, rooted (potted or balled) tree

Here are some ideas from http://pickyourownchristmastree.org.


  1. Keep the tree in a shaded area or a unheated garage until it is brought inside.

  2. 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.

  3. Lift and carry the tree by the ball or pot, not the top.

  4. Keep the tree in the house no longer than about one week.

  5. If possible, keep room that the tree is in cool (to help prevent it from starting to bud out)

  6. 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.

  7. Remove packing paper, sawdust and binding materials when planting the tree. Stake the tree for its first year, if possible.
More wildlife images from Ohio watershed areas (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/)






Northern Cardinal

Canada goose

red fox