CTPA Updates - CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association)

Remembrance and Honor – a Healing Garden at the Veteran’s Home in Rocky Hill

October 12, 2017 by

CTPA is very pleased to announce the groundbreaking for the Veteran’s Home and Hospital Healing Garden at the Connecticut Veteran’s Home in Rocky Hill. When completed, there will be 5 Connecticut-native shade trees planted, along with 5 benches to rest on and several small gardens within the larger garden. Tying these features together is a walkway, slightly less than 300 feet long, constructed in a loop and wide enough for 2 wheelchairs to pass by each other.

The garden is being constructed for the veterans that are recovering on the property and their families. The Home and Hospital Healing Garden is on the lawn next to the Sgt. John L. Levitow Veteran’s Healthcare Center, a 125 bed long-term care facility at the Veteran’s Home. Many of the vets who make use of the Healthcare Center are disabled, and so wheelchair access and level ground are a must. The lawn in which this new garden is located, however, gives way to a slope and a spectacular view down a valley that reaches eventually to the Connecticut River.

This whole project has been the brainchild of CTPA President Bud Neal. Bud has persevered for more than 3 years, seeing the project through changes of administration, rumors of relocation of the center, and stories of potential construction on the garden site. Throughout, Bud has kept this idea alive, alongside his dedication to the veterans.

The number “5” is significant to this garden. The 5 benches are connected to the 5 wars fought since the mid-20^th century, from which there are still veterans alive. The 5 trees represent the 5 branches of the service (army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard). When the mature, the branches of the trees will touch, providing shelter to the veterans and their family members who will sit on the benches and appreciate the view down the valley.

The idea itself can be said to be five-star. From early on, Bud has been assisted in the planning of the Healing Garden by CTPA member and Master Gardener Sandy Ingellis. It is Sandy who is guiding the location of the benches, the layout of the smaller gardens and the overall sense to be provided by the garden.

On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, groundbreaking on this project occurred, when O&G industries began construction of the walkway. In the course of his own military service, Bud happened to cross paths with another soldier, Ray Oneglia. Mr. Oneglia’s grandfather was co-founder of O&G Industries in Torrington and Ray is now Vice-Chairman of the Board at the company. When Bud shared his idea with Mr. Oneglia, Ray shared Bud’s enthusiasm and personally gave his go ahead to the donation of O&G’s services to the construction of the walkway. This first phase of the project will be completed very soon – probably by the end of next week.

Sandy is predicting full completion of the Healing Garden by Veteran’s Day, 2018. It is hoped that the first tree will be in place by Veteran’s Day of this year, at which time the official groundbreaking of this project will be acknowledged. The remainder of the trees should be planted and a more formal dedication may be made by Memorial Day next year.

Meanwhile, Bud is simply thrilled that a dream is becoming a reality. Bud deflects all credit back to the spirit of sacrifice among the veterans.

Other groups and individuals, such as the Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut, have expressed their support for this project. Anyone wishing to know more about this project or discuss how they may be able to offer their support are invited to contact the CTPA Office.

Bud and Sandy consult the plans for the Healing Garden.

The walkway underway, as it will connect to the Levitow Healthcare Center.

A view down the valley from the future Healing Garden.

A more comprehensive view of the site of the Garden.

A view of the work through existing trees onsite.

Looking up the hill towards the future Healing Garden.

The CTPA crew – Sandy, Cathy and Bud.

Coffee break – the crew from CTPA and from O&G Industries.

Arboriculture 101 Registration

October 4, 2017 by

Registration for the Winter 2018 Session of Arboriculture 101 is now open. This series of classes will begin with the first class on Wednesday, January 3rd. All attendees must register before the start of this class. Also, please note, this session of Arboriculture 101 tends to fill quickly. There is a limit to the number of students that can be accepted into the course.

Details are available through the and the Arboriculture 101 web page.

If anyone would like further information, they should contact the CTPA office by e

Hands-on Night during the Winter 2015 class at Arboriculture 101.

mail or at 203-484-2512.

Request for wood samples for FFA Forestry Career Development Event

October 2, 2017 by

Connecticut FFA Forestry Contest (Click here for letter to Members)

Fellow members of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association:

For several years, my colleagues and I have been assisting with an FFA Forestry Career Development Event for regional high school agriscience students. It is a fun event for students to practice their tree and equipment identification skills, tree measurements, map interpretation, tree pathogens, and chainsaw troubleshooting skills.

One way we are hoping to elevate the tree id component of the exam is to have tree section samples in addition to our leaf and twig samples, and I am reaching out to ask for your assistance. Would you be able to provide a few pieces of wood (with bark), for this event? Ideally, something around the size one might use as a firewood stick would be great (12” long, 4-6” diameter wide).

If you are able to do so, I would be happy to speak with you in order to coordinate tree species (I am hoping to get about 50 different species throughout Connecticut) and make arrangements to pick up the samples.

Sincerely,
J.P.

Joseph P. Barsky,

Department of Forestry and Horticulture,

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

joseph.barsky@ct.gov

(203) 974-8540

CTPA Holds EAB Workshop and Training

October 1, 2017 by

The CTPA recently held its annual Emerald Ash Borer workshop and training session. This September 21^st meeting was held the furthest east of any of these workshops. It was held at the Middlesex County Extension Center in Haddam, and included a field trip to Haddam Meadows State Park.

45 people register to attend this meeting, including arborists, tree wardens, tree workers and visitors from USDA APHIS. These attendees heard talks from Dr. Claire Rutledge and Dr. Rich Cowles of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, and Eric Chamberlain of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

In the afternoon, the group traveled to Haddam Meadows, to see the impact of the insect more directly, including a chance to see exit holes left by the adults, bark flecking, bird pecks and, with the help of a draw knife, both galleries and the larvae themselves. The degree of decline and defoliation of individual trees were discussed, with demonstrations of treatment methods given by representatives from Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements, Arborjet and Bioforest Technologies, Inc. These presenters discussed the different pest treatment formulations they use, the differences in their mode of action and effects, and how to best use their products in landscape situations.

For many in attendance, the highlight of the day came when they returned to the Extension Center and had the opportunity to peel infested ash bolts for themselves, finding and collecting larvae that, preserved in alcohol, they could take back to their offices if in-state.

This workshop is notable in that it is the furthest east that CTPA has put on one of these educational events. The emerald ash borer continues its flight across the state, with all towns in New Haven and Middlesex Counties having reported EAB finds, most towns in Hartford, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties and strong headway in New London, Tolland and Windham Counties. (See EAB map).

It is the goal of CTPA and of those who collaborated with the Association on this workshop to encourage all people responsible for trees to be aware of this insect and the problems that it is causing now, as it will eventually be causing these problems everywhere in the state. This includes arborists, tree wardens and tree workers, and also landscapers and property owners.

The CTPA wishes to thank the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, the University of Connecticut Extension program, USDA APHIS, DEEP Parks and DEEP Forestry, for their generous participation in and contributions to this workshop. The Association also thanks Bud Neal, Claire Rutledge, Sandy Ingellis and Cathy Dvorsky, for the commitment and energy they put into making this event happen.

Take that, EAB!

Claire in front of the workshop

Bud and Claire, with an infested ash tree

Looking for EAB larvae

An a-peeling job

BioForest demonstration with Bear LeVangie

ArborJet demonstration with Rob Gorden

Rainbow Treecare demonstration with Rich Cartier

SPANISH Electrical Hazard Awareness – 2017

September 15, 2017 by

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association presents: SPANISH Electrical Hazard Awareness Program, November 29, 2017

Norwalk City Hall, Community Room, 125 East Avenue (Room 128), Norwalk, CT – Please carpool if possible, parking is limited.

Hours: 8am – 4pm

Cost: $135.00 members and $155.00 non-members (includes lunch)

This workshop will be given in Spanish to attendees to make them aware of the hazards all tree care workers face when they work around energized electrical conductors. This awareness is an essential part of basic tree care safety. It is recommended that all people who work in tree care take an EHAP course.

This one day workshop will be led by Leo Roldan, Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Worker Specialist, Certified Aerial Lift Specialist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional and TCIA EHAP instructor. Mr. Roldan will make use of the Spanish EHAP Workbook and Manual published by the Tree Care Industry Association. All attendees will receive this publication. Training on the equipment that makes up the electrical distribution system will also be provided. Knowing what each piece is and what it does is an important part of being safe around electrical conductors.

Electrical Hazard Awareness Program – 2017

September 15, 2017 by

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association

presents: an Electrical Hazard Awareness Program Workshop, Thursday, October 26, 2017 at the Eversource Campus, Berlin, CT.

Cost: $135.00 for members and $155.00 for non-members.

This workshop will make attendees aware of the hazards all tree care workers face when they work around energized electrical conductors.

This is a one day workshop that includes lunch, a full day of instruction, the EHAP manual and workbook.

Emerald Ash Borer Workshop – Haddam

September 14, 2017 by

Is EAB a threat? Are you willing to bet your ash?

On September 21, 2017, The CTPA will hold a full day workshop and field tour on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This workshop will take place in Haddam and will run from 8 am to 3 pm.

Arborists, tree wardens foresters, forest practitioners, and all tree and landscape professionals are invited to attend, along with anyone with an interest in the health of our trees and forests. In the course of the day, attendees will learn about the biology of the insect and the means by which it attacks ash trees. They will also first hear about and then see in the field the indicators of an emerald ash borer infestation, and about the options available to protect ash trees from EAB.

Attendees should meet at the Middlesex Cooperative Extension – UCONN, 1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT from 8am to 3pm

The speakers include:

Dr. Ted Andreadis, Director of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, opening remarks and updates

Chris Donnelly, CT State Urban Forester, updates

Dr. Claire Rutledge, Entomologist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, speaking on the biology of EAB.

Dr. Richard Cowles, Entomologist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, speaking on how EAB affects trees and the mechanisms by which pesticides protect ask trees from EAB.

There will be a field tour that will demonstrate the use of pesticides and visits to infested trees, to see directly the effect EAB has on these trees. Peeling stations will be set up so that people have a chance to see an emerald ash borer within a tree.

Attendees should register in advance with CTPA. The cost of attending is $45 for CTPA members and $55 for non-members. Monroe residence are invited to attend and a donation of $15 to cover lunch and refreshments is requested.

CEU’s : State of CT 2,3D/5.5, Forest Practitioner/2, Tree Wardens Advanced Certified/6.5 and ISA – various.
PLEASE WALK IN AT THE DOOR TO REGISTER!

If you have any questions, please call the office at (203)484-2512 or cathy@ctpa.org

adult size

Connecticut to Host Municipal Forestry Institute

August 28, 2017 by

Each year, the Society of Municipal Arborists sponsors the Municipal Forestry Institute, or MFI. This upcoming year, through good fortune and the hard work of the Tree Wardens Association of Connecticut, the MFI will be held in Connecticut. We would like to encourage everyone with an interest in municipal trees to consider attending.

MFI is primarily a leadership academy, during which the attendees listen to talks and take part in various scenarios and exercises. These exercises help them understand individual strengths, the differences among people, and the roles the people are asked to play in various circumstances. As almost everyone in attendance is in some way affiliated with municipal forestry, all of the scenarios and topics discussed end up connecting back to trees in some manner.

The program may not work for everyone, but it seems everyone who has attended has found it well worth their while. It is intensive and immersive – you arrive on Sunday afternoon and stay at the meeting facility until Friday noon. It will take some work on your part – including some pre-work that helps to set-up the week-long Institute. But the rewards are very real – just ask anyone who has participated in a past MFI.

The 2018 MFI will be held the week of February 18-23 at the Wisdom House in Litchfield.

If interested, please take a look at the MFI announcement page. The application form is linked off of that page. I would certainly be interested in answering any questions, as would others who have attended an MFI.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and give it some thought.

Chris Donnelly
Urban Forestry Coordinator
CT DEEP Forestry
chris.donnelly@ct.gov

Bee Prepared!

August 17, 2017 by

Bee Prepared: by Emmett Shutts

While pruning a tree from an aerial lift, I bumped into a White Face Hornet nest. I wish my bucket could have moved faster to get away from the hornets! I ended up with a few stings on my arms and hands. After resting for a minute and letting the hornets calm down, I was ready to finish the tree but I didn’t have a can of wasp and hornet spray in the truck. This time of year when there are more nests and they are getting larger; make sure to keep a can of Wasp and Hornet spray in the trucks so you don’t have to leave the job to go get some.

** Be sure to ask the crew if they have any allergic reactions to stings that they know of, and be sure everyone knows where that allergy medicine is, including an epi-pen. **

Emerald Ash Borer Workshop

August 15, 2017 by

Are you willing to bet your Ash?

Learn about the Emerald Ash Borer. This workshop will include information about the EAB in CT, control methods and the latest on the county quarantines. You will see the EAB in the field and get hands on debarking experience. CEU’s are pending.

September 21, 2017 from 8am to 3pm

Middlesex Cooperative Extention Center – UCONN

1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT

Members $45.00, Non-Members $55.00 (lunch is included)