The Washington Post Ebola in Sierra Leone

KOINADUGU, Sierra Leone His daughter had just been coaxed into an ambulance bound for the Ebola center. As Foday Kalma watched, his neighbors and relatives crowded around the vehicle, wailing that she was being driven to her death.

Kalma, 43, couldnt bear it. He had already lost his wife and mother-in-law to the disease. Suddenly, to his astonishment, 9-year-old Fatmata jumped out of the ambulance. She dashed to where he was standing with her two siblings. Thats when Kalma made a split-second decision that would rattle the regions medical establishment: He gathered his kids and bolted for the jungle.

Another family of possible Ebola carriers was on the run.

Six months after the worlds largest Ebola outbreak began, experts say one of their biggest challenges is convincing people to trust the medical system. Families still hide suspected Ebola victims or refuse to take them to health facilities. The problem exists in Liberia, but some foreign health officials say its even more daunting in Sierra Leone, where the transmission rate continues to climb even as it declines in the neighboring country.

In rural areas like Koinadugu, a district bordering Guinea, the problem is especially severe. There is no electricity or running water, let alone a modern hospital. Medicine usually means local herbs, generic malaria pills or the advice of a local healer. People whisper that disinfectant spreads the disease rather than kills it.

The influx of foreign health workers in moonsuits has terrified residents. Recently, a villager arrived at the districts Ebola isolation center and demanded that his daughter be taken away from the white people.

Another man with Ebola symptoms climbed a tree to escape a team that wanted to bring him in for treatment.

Hes going to starve out there, said John F. Koroma, one of the contact tracers who had been trying for nearly a week to bring him in.

Every day, teams of officials plunged into the jungle, searching for people exposed to Ebola who had fled medical treatment. Officially, 1,583 people have died from the disease in Sierra Leone since May. But authorities suspect entire families have perished in the wilderness, before Ebola tests were even taken. Kalma and his children could be next, officials feared.

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Stricken with Ebola, a family runs into the jungle

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly gave the age of Fatmata Kalma, who is 6 years old. This version has been corrected.

KOINADUGU, Sierra Leone His daughter had just been coaxed into an ambulance bound for the Ebola center. As Foday Kalma watched, his neighbors and relatives crowded around the vehicle, wailing that she was being driven to her death.

Kalma, 43, couldnt bear it. He had already lost his wife and mother-in-law to the disease. Suddenly, to his astonishment, 6-year-old Fatmata jumped out of the ambulance. She dashed to where he was standing with her two siblings. Thats when Kalma made a split-second decision that would rattle the regions medical establishment: He gathered his kids and bolted for the jungle.

Another family of possible Ebola carriers was on the run.

Six months after the worlds largest Ebola outbreak began, experts say one of their biggest challenges is persuading people to trust the medical system. Families still hide suspected Ebola victims or refuse to take them to health facilities. The problem exists in Liberia, but some foreign health officials say its even more daunting in Sierra Leone, where the transmission rate continues to climb even as it declines in the neighboring country.

In rural areas like Koinadugu, a district bordering Guinea, the problem is especially severe. There is no electricity or running water, let alone a modern hospital. Medicine usually means local herbs, generic malaria pills or the advice of a local healer. People whisper that disinfectant spreads the disease rather than kills it.

The influx of foreign health workers in moonsuits has terrified residents. Recently, a villager arrived at the districts Ebola isolation center and demanded that his daughter be taken away from the white people.

Another man with Ebola symptoms climbed a tree to escape a team that wanted to bring him in for treatment.

Hes going to starve out there, said John F. Koroma, one of the contact tracers who had been trying for nearly a week to bring him in.

Every day, teams of officials plunged into the jungle, searching for people exposed to Ebola who had fled medical treatment. Officially, 1,583 people have died from the disease in Sierra Leone since May. But authorities suspect entire families have perished in the wilderness, before Ebola tests were even taken. Kalma and his children could be next, officials feared.

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Stricken with Ebola, a family runs away from treatment and into the jungle

A local white fringe tree planted along the bike path is now famous as the first documented non-ash tree host of an invasive beetle that was thought to only prey upon ashes.

Also famous is the local ecologist who made the discovery thanks to perseverance and a little luck.

After scouring the village, Wright State University biology professor Don Cipollini, who lives in town, first saw the telltale signs of an emerald ash borer infestation in a white fringe tree planted along the bike path on Corry Street this summer.

Last month Cipollinis lucky discovery of a dead adult male beetle in a log of the same tree led the U.S. Department of Agriculture to officially confirm the white fringe tree as a host. Previously, it was thought that the emerald ash borer could only reproduce in and kill ash trees.

Who would have thought that whats off of the bike trail in Yellow Springs could change possibly federal policy? Cipollini said in a recent interview.

Cipollinis revelation, soon to be published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, has alarmed everyone from nursery owners to entomologists to policymakers. Not only might the white fringe tree be driven to extinction in Ohio where the native species is already threatened, but the spread of the emerald ash borer into warmer southern climes, where white fringe trees are more common in the wild, means the invasive beetle will bring even more devastation as it marches south.

The implications of Cipollinis discovery are profound. The white fringe tree, which grows wild along the Ohio River and is becoming a popular ornamental elsewhere in Ohio, may soon become quarantined by the federal government, effectively removing it from the nursery trade. His finding also opens the door to the potential that other species related to the ash, such as wild and cultivated olive trees, may be under threat from the emerald ash borer.

While some scientists are holding out hope that Cipollinis findings are an anomaly (even though he has found evidence of white fringe tree infestation elsewhere in the Dayton and Cincinnati area), most are responding with a mixture of fear and dread.

Everything we think we knew about the emerald ash borer may not be right, Cipollini said. This finding changes our view of what emerald ash borer can do. Now people are thinking Whats next?

Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer was unknown in this country until 2002, when it was discovered killing trees in southeastern Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.

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Scientist finds new ash borer host

Question: I would like to add a plumbago shrub to my flower bed. Is it better to plant it now or wait until spring?

Answer: Take just a little risk and plant the plumbago now. Fall is a good time to add new trees, shrubs and perennials to the landscape. Plumbagos are a bit cold sensitive, often exiting winter with some outer stem damage. The lower stems normally survive and regrow attractive new plants. If you are in a very cold area, you might wait until spring to do the planting otherwise a plumbago shrub added at this time should root into the surrounding soil and be ready to make new growth by spring.

Q: My amaryllis have grown dense and need dividing. The tops are still green. When can I dig them up?

A: Amaryllis don't seem to mind when you do the dividing. University studies suggest when they are dug during the fall and given a short rest, they flower better in late winter or spring. At this late date, why not dig the bulbs, trim the tops back to within 6 inches of the bulbs and replant? This transplanting process should give them the rest they need and maybe encourage more flowers for spring.

Q: Our hibiscus bloomed a lot this year but has grown rangy here in Orlando. When is the best time to prune the plant?

A: Central Florida winters are too unpredictable to do much pruning at this time. You can remove extremely lanky or out-of-bounds shoots during fall but it might be best to delay major pruning of hibiscus until mid-February. Enjoy the late-season blooms at this time and when pruning time arrives, remove cold-damaged portions and reshape the plants as needed. Do remove some of the oldest stems to give new growths a chance to regrow your plant.

Q: The lemons on our tree are turning a brownish color on one side. What could be the reason and are they edible?

A: While these are probably not fruits you are planning to share with friends, the lemons are edible. Barely visible rust mites likely discolored the sunny sides as they sucked juices from the rinds. The same mites can affect oranges, tangerines and other citrus fruits. Usually the mites start to build their populations in late spring. This is one reason gardeners often apply a horticultural oil labeled for citrus in June or July. The populations can rebuild during fall and another treatment following label instructions may be needed.

Q: I recently harvested the summer sweet potato crop and have baked a few of the roots. They have a bland taste. Why?

A: First-dug sweet potatoes are likely to be a big disappointment at the dinner table. The orange-colored roots need to go through a curing process to become moist and develop their sweet taste. Keep the newly-dug sweet potatoes in a warm, humid location for a week or two. Then store them in a cool spot for about six weeks before use. This curing process helps heal the wounds caused at digging and promotes the formation of sugars within the roots.

Link:
Worth the risk: Put plumbago in ground now

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

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LM - HOLD: Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

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Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

Last week, the U.S. Forest Service released a report evaluating the effectiveness of fuel treatments during the Mountain Fire in July 2013.

The primary goal of the report was to assess the effect of the treatments on the fires behavior and intensity and their ability to improve fire suppression efforts near communities.

Our trends suggest that fuel treatments can facilitate suppression activities and potentially reduce fire behavior and fire effects, depending on the fire weather or conditions, the reports authors concluded. The more recent the treatment, the more likely it reduced fire severity or aided fire suppression.

The Forest Service studied areas that had received fuels treatments such as tree removal, mechanical thinning, pile burns and prescribed area burns. The period covered started in the mid-1990s, but most of the work was accomplished in the past decade. The study also examined the effect of two previous fires in or near the Mountain Fire area.

Fuelbreaks in or near the burned area were generally beneficial. However, the authors noted that in areas where the fuelbreaks near private land were connected to treatments on agency land, they were more likely to reduce the fires effects. Where this was not the case (e.g., around much of the Bonita Vista fuelbreak), the fire burned through untreated fuels on private land.

Forest Service investigators also observed a treatment shadow where the value of fuel treatments extended beyond their boundaries. These treatment shadow benefits included diminished fire behavior when it moved to untreated areas; reduced production of embers; and eased fire containment activities.

The fire severity data indicated that areas with taller pre-fire shrub cover tended to have the potential for higher substrate (soil) and vegetation (shrubs) burn severity.

Another conclusion important to efforts on the Hill was the recognition that coordinated efforts of private landowners and the Mountain Area Safety Task Force in completing fuels reduction projects helped save homes in the communities.

Everyone on the Hill should know that this analysis supports the basic principle that both we and the fire agencies have been acting on for years: reducing fuel around homes and the community increases the safety of both, said Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council President Mike Esnard. The report has other useful lessons for land managers in the design of fuel treatments, but overall it argues for the value of consistent fuel reduction in and around the mountain communities.

The area burned during the Apache Fire in 2008 was also less receptive to the devastation of the Mountain Fire. This reinforced the principal of fire as a natural fuel treatment process.

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Local fuel treatments help during big fires: Organizations performed work prior to Mountain Fire

OurTree/Shrub care program includes insect and disease controls as well as balanced fertilization for your valuable plantings.Above ground indications of insect infestations are the visible presence of insect bodies (aphids, scale), holes in the leaves (weevils ), yellowish leaves (spider mites), browning of the leaves (leaf miners) etc. In many cases the damage occurs below ground (root weevil larvae), at night (caterpillars) or inside the plant (borers) and the only symptoms are overall weakened or yellowish appearing plants. We know how to recognize these problems and provide treatment in the early stages, to keep your plants healthy. Its a lot more effective to keep the plants healthy than to try and revive an ailing plant. The treatments we provide are targeted to those plants that have a problem or potential for problems.

Plant diseases can either be external (mildew, leaf spots) or internal, spreading systemically throughout the plant (Phytopthora, Pseudomonus). The organisms that cause plant diseases are primarily fungi, bacteria and viruses. As with our insect control, we only treat plants that have a problem or potential for problems. The disease control treatments act as barriers to infection and are best applied on a preventative basis. Most diseases spread more rapidly in moist environments. As new leaves unfurl and older leaves expand, new areas are susceptible to infection. Our programs are designed around these factors, with treatments spaced more closely together in the moist spring and farther apart during the drier summer.

We use polymer coated, granular fertilizers for your shrubs that enhance blooms and encourage strong roots and healthy shoots. The coating provides for uniform distribution of nutrients throughout the growing season. In the fall we deep root feed your trees and larger shrubs. This involves inserting a probe into the root zone to apply the fertilizers where they will be most effective.

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Tree and Shrub Care - inavalelawnandtree.com

Ambleside: Existing garden shed and patio area to be replaced by a single storey garden, at 9 Walthwaite, Chapel Stile, for Mrs Lunn; 5 x non illuminated signs, at University of Cumbria, Ambleside Campus, for University of Cumbria; demolish existing lean-to shed at back of property and rebuild to same footprint and materials, install 100kw pellet boiler with new flue in new build lean-to shed, install external fuel silo for biomass boiler, at Sawrey House Country Hotel, nr Sawrey, for D. Bulmer; reduce line of trees by 1 metre, at Gale Rig, Old Lake Road, for Mr Kit, Spencer. T1 Elm, crown raise and remove epicormic growth 2m back from building, crown reduce by 20%, at Queens Hotel, Market Place, for T. Davis.

Bootle: Construction of 1 no. Satellite dish per dwelling, at 1-14, Victory Gardens, Church Lane, for J. Lannaghan, Impact Housing Association.

Broughton-in-Furness: Christmas tree/shrub - fell, at 2 Laurel Cottage, for D. Beresford; construction of timber fencing panels, at Wilson Park Yard, for R. Parsons.

Cleator: Confirmation of compliance with condition nos. 11 (part) and 14 (chippings and plan identifying the location of the contractors compound, site cabins and parking as required prior to demolition) on planning approval ref 7/2013/4059, at Ennerdale Bridge, Ennerdale, for J. Norton, Ennerdale Hub Ltd.

Cockermouth: Proposed roof over midden, at Field 2278, Blindcrake, for J. Hind, J. Hind & E. Jackson; replacement building to store agricultural equipment, at High East House, Embleton, for Mrs Robertson; confirmation of compliance with condition no. 8 of planning approval ref. 7/2014/2162 relating to lighting details, at Low Barkhouse, Setmurthy, for P. Lakes Distillery; replacement of Sceptic Tank with Rotating Biological Contactor and associated Control Kiosk, at Cornhow Water Treatment Works, Loweswater, nr Cockermouth, for M. Buckley.

Coniston: alterations and extensions to entrance, at University of Birmingham, The Raymond Priestley Centre, Torver, for University of Birmingham; variation of condition no. 2 of planning approval 78/2003/5317 to allow minor alterations to window and roof lights and solar hot water panels to roof, at land to rear of Kirkdale House, Tilberthwaite Avenue, for C. Hutchinson.

Elterwater: New local needs dwelling incorporating former quarry buildings, at land at Thrang Lodge, Chapel Stile, for Mr & Mrs Birkett.

Eskdale: 1) create 300m of bridlepath through Ash Hagg by scraping with an excavator and surfacing with crushed stone to a width of 1.8m, 2) provision of new gate, at land near Catherines Church, for Mrs Foots.

Grasmere: External doors and windows to be replaced with upvc, at April Cottage, Easedale Road, for Mrs Reddaway.

Grange-over-Sands: Creation of a small pond and woodland area within a grass field, at Hare Hill, Cartmel Fell, for J. Lambton, Hare Hill Farm.

Excerpt from:
Planning applications submitted by Lake District National Park Authority

24 Ways to Kill a Tree

There is a tremendous diversity of herbaceous perennial plant species being grown for both the retail and landscaping sectors of the industry. Because of the diversity in species grown, there is much more unknown about perennials production than is known. Growth regulation is of particular concern. In production settings, as well as in retail locations, herbaceous perennials grown in pots tend to stretch and become leggy or simply overgrow their pots before their scheduled market date. These plants are less marketable, and harder to maintain. Many growers resort to pruning, which is not only costly in terms of labor, but also delays plant production two to four weeks.

Seldom needs pruning - remove multiple leaders, dead and broken branches

Trees that shed their leaves annually are classified as deciduous. Before getting out your hand pruners, learn some basics about the anatomy, or supporting framework, of a deciduous tree.

The above-ground part of a tree consists of the trunk, scaffold branches, and lateral branches. The leader is the vertical stem at the top of the trunk. Scaffold branches are primary limbs that form a tree's canopy. Secondary branches that emerge from scaffold branches are laterals. Growth comes from buds at the tips of branches (terminal buds), or along branch sides (lateral buds).

Evergreen trees have leaves that persist year round, and include most conifers and some broad-leaved trees. Evergreen trees generally need less pruning than deciduous trees.

Conifers are distinguished from other plants by their needle or scale-like leaves, and their seed-bearing cones. Because conifers have dominant leaders, young trees rarely require training-type pruning. The leader is the vertical stem at the top of the trunk. If a young tree has two leaders, prune one out to prevent multiple leader development. Selective branch removal is generally unnecessary as evergreens tend to have wide angles of attachment to the trunk.

Understanding the natural "habit" or shape of shrubs will help you determine how to prune them. All shoots grow outward from their tips. Whenever tips are removed, lower buds are stimulated to grow. Buds are located at nodes, where leaves are attached to twigs and branches. Each node produces from one to three buds, depending on shrub species.

Pruning is a regular part of plant maintenance involving the selective removal of specific plant parts. Although shoots and branches are the main targets for removal, roots, flower buds, fruits and seed pods may also be pruned.

Pruning wounds plants, but plants respond differently to wounding than do animals. In plants, damaged areas are covered by callus tissue to close wounds. Simply put: animal wounds heal, plant wounds seal.

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