Episode 35: Smart Greening Lakehead University’s campus
In this interview, I catch up with Brad Doff and Peter Stevens. They submitted a very creative submission to TD’s Go Green Challenge. I encourage you to view their submission and vote before the March 11, 2011. deadline. http://www.tdgogreenchallenge.com/video/id/81/playid/81
They propose using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to identify the best plantable spots on campus.
Episode 34: Get financial help in planting a tree this spring
Here I catch up with Rena from the City of Thunder Bay’s Urban Forestry Program. Residents of Thunder Bay have the opportunity to get involved in the city’s spring tree plant. Sign up before the end of March 2011 at http://www.treestewardship.com/
Episode 33: Cornell University’s Cornell’s Woody Plant Database.
Check it out at: http://woodyplants.mannlib.cornell.edu/ In this episode I give a brief overview of Cornell’s Woody Plant Database. This is also the first screencast I’ve ever done.
Audio Extra: CBC Radio Interview
CBC Radio 1 Thunder Bay Interview about deer damage on our tree and shrub plantings. This one aired on 88.3 FM in Thunder Bay, Ontario on November 15, 2010 at about 7:50 AM. If you are interested in hearing the interview, here it is.
Episode 32: Deer damage
Deer, although being cute, can cause some serious damage to your tree and shrub plantings. In this episode I respond to some facebook posts related to deer damage, as well as catching up with Ken from Vanderwee’s Home and Garden Center.
Music used under a CC License: Guitar Anti-hero by Fireproof Babies
Episode 31: Tree poetry: a poet’s perspective
Here we chat with Marianne Jones, local Thunder Bay writer. We talk poetry, trees and why I don’t really get poetry. Fortunately, not “getting” poetry doesn’t need to get in the way of enjoying it. Marianne also talks about one of here favourite trees, white birch.
If you are interested in picking up a copy of Marianne’s book “Here, on the Ground” check out one of these stores.
Hull’s Family Bookstore, Villedge Art, Amazon, Friesen Press, Northern Woman’s Book Store
You can also get a copy of the book directly from Marianne by emailing her at mjones@tbaytel.net.
Episode 30: Black knot on cherry and plum
In this episode I talk a bit about a common disease infecting many trees in the Prunus genus: Black knot or Apiosporina morbosa. My buddy Vince Rutter over at Rutter Urban Forestry has set me straight. In the video, I said these trees are purple-leaf plum, but in fact they are schubert choke cherries. At least I got the genus right…
Music: Doom Doom by zorza http://ccmixter.org/files/zorza/3726
Episode 29: Old man’s beard is killing my tree.
The lichen old man’s beard is found in many parts of Northwestern Ontario. In this episode I chat about old man’s beard with my friend Brian Jones. Contrary to what you may guess, old man’s beard doesn’t kill trees, it only lives on spruce and fir branches, as an epiphyte or errr epic fight.
Episode 28: Construction Damage, Concrete Partridge and Paul
Sometimes we need to mess up a tree’s root zone in order to complete construction projects-whether those project are installing a new walkway to our gazebo, or installing a 1000 lbs partridge as a public art project. Join me and my friend Paul Wolfe at Thunder Bay’s Boulevard Lake Park as we chat about construction damage and the concrete partridge.
Episode 27: The monoculture myth
Monocultures do not typically occur after clearcutting, followed by site preparation, planting a crop tree species and then treated with herbicide. For some reason this myth is a popular one. I chat for a few minutes about this myth. For more information, drop me an email and I can email you this paper. I also want to thank Brian Jones for hanging out with me and standing behind the camera.
Do tree-level monocultures develop following Canadian boreal silviculture? Tree-level diversity tested using a new method
Abstract
Concern about forestry practices creating tree-level monoculture plantations exists. Our study investigates tree diversity responses for six early seral boreal forest plantations in Ontario, Canada, representing three conifer species; black spruce (Picea mariana), white spruce (P. glauca), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana), 14 release treatments, and 94 experimental units. Dominance-diversity curves and Simpson’s indices of diversity and evenness indicate tree alpha diversity. We propose a new method for assessing diversity, using percentage of theoretical species maximum (%TSM) which is determined by comparing post-disturbance richness (S) with a theoretical species maximum (TSM). Our results support the hypothesis that alternative vegetation release treatments generally do not reduce tree species diversity levels (%TSM) relative to untreated plots. The only %TSM (P ≤ 0.05) comparison that produced less diversity than in control plots was repeated annual treatments of Vision herbicide at one of the black spruce study sites. Our results generally support the hypothesis that tree monocultures do not develop after vegetation release. Only one out of 94 experimental units developed into a tree layer monoculture (Simpson’s reciprocal diversity index = 1). Again this was one of the repeated annual treatments of Vision herbicide at one of the black spruce study sites—a treatment which is atypical of Canadian forest management.
Keywords
Biodiversity - Boreal forestry - Conservation - Herbicide alternatives - Plantation - Rank abundance plots - Release treatment - Vegetation management
Episode 26: Fall Colour
Today is the first day of autumn, and I figured talking about fall colour would be a timely topic. Cooler evenings and shorter daylight hours are currently triggering a bunch of physiological changes in the Thunder Bay region. Did you know why leaves change colour and drop in the fall? Check out this video to find out more. You can also check out the Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report.
Episode 25: Hazard(ous) Tree(s)
Here we do a bit of a walk around on a hazardous Manitoba maple.
For a more complete list of things to be looking for, if you suspect your tree is hazardous, check out these links.
Always consult a tree care professional if you suspect your tree is hazardous.
Episode 24: Thunder Bay’s Notable Trees
Do you know where some of Thunder Bay’s most amazing trees can be found? Rena Viehbeck with the City of Thunder Bay’s Urban Forestry Program knows where to find them. About a year ago the city started their Notable Trees program. Check out this video to find out more.
Here’s more information about Thunder Bay’s Notable Trees Program.
To see approximately where we were check out Google Maps.
Episode 23: Before the slaughter and hardiness zones
Tony at Bonobo’s Foods has passion for growing trees that aren’t supposed to grow in Northwestern Ontario. Join me in this episode where we catch up with him to see his experiment in action. Chances are, most of these trees will die over the winter. Go visit Tony’s store at 493 Oliver, and if he has a few minutes he’ll show you around back. But do it quickly before these trees get hammered by old man winter.
This might be the only chance you get to see living specimens of the following trees in Thunder Bay:
- Northern and southern catalpas
- Sycamore
- Kentucky coffee tree
- Ailanthas
- Black locust
- American beech
- Black cherry
- Shagbark hickory
- Ginkgo
Check out the Canadian hardiness zone map.
At Bonobo’s, I’ve been told that they make a mean poutine made from locally produced potatoes and cheese curds, as well as some great vegetarian food.
Episode 22: Greenwood Lake Conservation Reserve
Recently my friends James and Derek, and I headed out to Greenwood Lake Conservation Preserve’s to check out the white pines, and what ever else we could find. These white pines are probably the largest in Northwestern Ontario.
For more information and directions check out these websites.
http://www.borealforest.org/greenwood/
http://greenwoodlake.legacyforest.ca/
Music used under a Creative Commons license. Techno Twang by spinmeister. http://ccmixter.org/files/spinmeister/23105
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