What's New
Gov. Walker has proclaimed May 19-25 Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week – to draw Wisconsin citizens' attention to the role they can play in the battle. This particular week was chosen nationwide because Memorial Day weekend May 25-27 is the beginning of the summer tourism season, when the risk is high for people to inadvertently move EAB and other pests to new areas on firewood.
Emerald ash borer, already known to infest 13 Wisconsin counties, threatens cityscapes and forests with its tree-killing ways. But it's still possible to slow its spread. People can help slow the spread of EAB and learn more about the pest by:
- Following all quarantine guidelines. For most people, that means not moving firewood out of the quarantine counties listed below.
- Buying firewood near camp sites instead of bringing it from home, or buying it from a state-certified firewood vendor. The list of vendors is at http://datcp.wi.gov/uploads/Plants/pdf/CertifiedFirewoodDealers.pdf.
- Learning about the signs of EAB infestation. Visit www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
- Report ash trees that show signs of infestation by calling the EAB hotline toll-free at 1-800-462-2803 or emailing DATCPemeraldashborer@wi.gov.
Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum
Geranium maculatum is a pretty flowering plant native to eastern North America. In addition to filling natural woodland openings, this herbaceous perennial works well in informal gardens as well, offering loose clusters of pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Learn more about wild geranium in this article...
Callery pear, Pyrus calleryana
Callery pear can be an attractive addition to the landscape in the right situation. This small introduced ornamental tree does have some drawbacks, including the potential to become invasive in some climates. Learn more about this species and its cultivars to decide whether it is appropriate for your situation or not in this article...
Nicotiana langsdorffii
Here's a quick-growing annual that produces lots of pendant chartreuse flowers on branched flower stems at the top of the plant. This makes it a great filler among other herbaceous plants, and the soft green color makes it a perfect buffer between clashing colors. To learn more about Nicotiana langsdorffii, read this article...
