November Interview with IL Dept of Ag

Welcome to Spring Grove Nursery in November! This month we feature a great interview with Mark Cinnamon from the IL Dept of Ag. Mark is the Program Manager for the Plant Regulatory Office Nursery Division. He talks with Becky in the field about the role the IL Dept of Ag plays in the nursery industry & our communities. Mark shares an update on Emerald Ash Borer in our state along with some great tips on how to get informed and be prepared. Thank you Mark for stopping by! For more info on Emerald Ash Borer, visit their website at www.illinoiseab.com or check out our website at www.SpringGroveNursery.com

The IL Dept of Ag put up a helpful website at www.illinoiseab.com to help the public with issues regarding EAB. We have also put together many useful resources to help communitites & indivduals make educated decisions in regards to how to handle EAB.  Here are some great links:

• Tree Diversity Planting Guidelines - Shade Tree Alternatives to Ash.  This document was created here a the nursery to help customers select good shade tree alternatives to Ash in the landscape.  We promote planting a diverse selection of trees in any project & this resource can be helpful in the decision process. Shade Tree Alternatives to Ash PDF File
• American Nurseryman Article “Ash Alternatives” – Terrific article recently published by Jeff Iles from Iowa State. We are growing several of the trees he included in his recommended list.
  www.amerinursery.com/content/pdf/alternativestoash.pdf
• Society of Municipal Arborists Position Paper on EAB – They recently put together a useful document for communities to reference as they prepare a EAB Management plan for their community www.urban-forestry.com

At the nursery, we are happy to help customers with EAB related issues.  From questions about management plans, diagnosis, and replanting guidelines - we will get you the expertise needed to make informed decisions.  Please feel free to give us a call anytime with questions!

It's Fall at Spring Grove Nursery!

Welcome to Spring Grove Nursery in October 2012! Join Jamie in the field as he gives you an inside look at fall digging. Fall is a great time to visit the nursery - stop by anytime!

Really?

400 Trees Cut Down to Create Path for Space Shuttle Endeavour

Here is a story we heard about from ACT (Alliance for Community Trees). It's unbeliveable...

Los Angeles, CA (September 4, 2012) – To arrive at its final resting place at the California Science Center (CSC) after landing at LAX, Endeavour will travel its final 12 miles through the city streets of South L.A.  To clear a path for the 170,000-pound, five-story tall and 78-foot wide shuttle requires the removal of 400 shade trees along the route. While the CSC has agreed to replant twice as many trees, these will be small, young trees that won’t provide much shade or other benefits for many years—and likely depreciate property values. There are mixed feelings all around.

Other alternatives to moving Endeavor—helicopter airlift, taking the shuttle apart, and even the use of freeways—all proved not feasible.  In addition to taking down older pine, ficus, magnolia, and other trees, power lines will be raised and traffic signals removed.

CSC is expected to spend $500,000 to improve the city’s landscape. City officials and CSC hope the historic significance of the event and housing the shuttle will offset the tree loss.  In its 25 missions spanning nearly two decades, Endeavour circled the Earth more than 4,600 times, spending 299 days in space.

The October 12^th arrival of Endeavour and its journey to CSC’s Exposition Park will culminate with a two-day parade, an overnight slumber party in Inglewood, and other celebrations.  Tree planting is expected to begin a few weeks after the event.

Resident feelings are mixed. Watch this video for commentary from citizens of South L.A.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

September 2012 at Spring Grove Nursery

Check out our new September Video for a look at trees featured on our fall Field Direct Specials as well as a sneak peak at some new tree varieties now ready at the nursery. Jamie & Becky take viewers on a tour around the field to look at some great tree varieties ready to go this fall!

August 2012 at Spring Grove Nursery

Join Jamie & Becky in the field this month as they show what's been going on in the nursery all summer. With the drought, Jamie shows our watering process in the field on new trees. He also demonstrates how we inventory & count our trees. Thanks for watching!