Fund-raise-a-palooza!

Left to Right:  Carol Gaeber, Ben Monette, Donor and Hero, Gary Seagrreves

Wow what a great day at the Yard Sale last Saturday!  We got to talk with some folks about our effort at the train station and collected a nice little amount to help with the care for the pin oak.  Even more impressive was the amazing matching donation from our hero and neighbor Gary Seagreves.  The hand-made maple bookcase that Ben donated was purchased by Carol for a generous sum 

There was a lot of discussion about the tree and the treatments we will pursue.  Right now we are in a wait-and-see mode until spring to see if it is suffering from bacterial leaf scorch.  "Bacterial leaf scorch is a chronic, eventually fatal disease that is most noticeable in the early fall.   Bacterial leaf scorch is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa.  This bacterium is spread by leafhoppers and treehopper insects" (1). Not to fear, although it is not curable, it is treatable, and  if this proves to be the case we already have some sage advice and potential assistance from some of our great neighbors and friends.  Most importantly, because of community donations, we have the funds to move forward!

We also have our eye on the struggling grass area.  It looks like the well loved lawn area may have been too well loved too early on.  We are giving serious consideration to pursuing a seeding strategy that would unfortunately block off that area for some time, but we hope will establish a nice lawn area for the future.

Some have also asked about our choice of wood chip mulch so stay tuned for a little informational article on the use of that material.

(1)   Hartman, John (2007). Plant Pathology Fact Sheet: Bacterial Leaf Scorch, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.