Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

IT was a sight to be seen - a massive bottle tree, believed to be 45 years old, was lifted into the skyline over One Mile on its way to a new home at a Yamanto park.

And according to Division 10 councillor David Pahlke this was just a practice run.

Cr Pahlke and council's parks department are planning another transplant project of a 60-year-old bottle tree in Rosewood.

Bottle trees grow up to 20m in height and the thick barrel-like trunk is 1-3.5m wide.

Cr Pahlke said the council had been approached by a resident at One Mile wanting to donate a mature bottle tree to the city if it could be removed from the front yard.

In a two-day operation this week, the tree was removed and replanted at Sarah Drive Park at Yamanto on Thursday.

Cr Pahlke said a $1.5million crane was brought in for the job, with the entire transplant project costing $12,000.

"Trees planted around the home can often grow beyond what people expect and they can affect the stumps of houses," Cr Pahlke said.

"This bottle tree is a beautiful tree and it is going to highlight the entrance to the park."

The Queensland bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) is native to a limited region of the country from central Queensland through to northern NSW.

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Bottle tree to put down roots at Yamanto park

COEUR d'ALENE - Mayor Steve Widmyer issued an apology to the Kootenai Environmental Alliance this week for a lack communication concerning tree removal on the dike road levee.

"This is a case of us spiking the ball before we got into the end zone," Widmyer told The Press on Wednesday.

The mayor said the city has been following a levee certification plan that has a three-step process for the removal of trees.

The first step, he said, was to identify the dead and diseased trees for removal. An arborist was hired by the city's engineering firm to identify those trees.

The arborist identified about 300 trees for removal in that stage, but the city still had two more steps that would involve tree removal the mayor said.

In fact, Widmyer said the city had to remove several more trees during the geo-technical analysis phase, and then again during the slope alignment process.

At the city council meeting Tuesday, the mayor explained the city began celebrating the fact that it was going to save 700 trees along the levee.

"We mis-communicated that," Widmyer said.

He said the city should have told the public that more trees were going to be removed in those stages.

"That should have been more clearly communicated to the KEA and other interested parties," he said. "In the future we will do better."

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Cd'A mayor apologizes

A large sequoia (coast redwood) tree on Canada Post property near the intersection of Winn and Gower Point roads in Gibsons is causing structural problems to the sidewalk and, Canada Post fears, to one retaining wall.

Since the tree is on private property, there is no Town of Gibsons bylaw preventing the removal of the tree. However, the Town would like to see the tree remain where it is.

Its a large tree; from what I understand it was planted during some landscaping, said Town of Gibsons director of engineering, Dave Newman. It turned into a less-than-ideal place for a tree that size. But having said that, its certainly a nice tree.

Plans are in place with no firm schedule to raise Gower Point Road in this area by about half a metre, which would solve the problems caused by the trees root structure as well as lessen the incline into their parking lot.

At this time we dont have a timeline on it, Newman said. It will be in our five-year budget coming forward, but there are several of the utilities that have to be replaced at the same time, so its a pretty large project to undertake.

In the meantime, Canada Post is concerned about tripping hazards and the integrity of the retaining wall.

The Canada Post outlet in Gibsons deferred comments to the head office. A representative from the Canada Post head office had no information relevant to the situation.

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Tree roots causing structural problems

OROVILLE, Calif. -

At least one Oroville city councilmember may face a recall because of the trees that were cut down near a cemetery earlier this month.

Bill Bynum of Save the Trees said that his group intends to notify Councilmember Dave Pittman that he is the subject of a recall because Pittman voiced publicly his support for cutting down the trees along Feather River Boulevard.

All seven of the councilmembers ultimately voted for their removal, because PG&E said the roots of the trees were too close to a main gas line and posed a threat to public safety. Many also said that if they had voted to block their removal, Oroville would be liable in the event of a gas break.

"In my heart of hearts when I make decisions, sometimes on a personal level, I have to look at the overall picture and what is best for the community," said Thil Wilcox, one of the councilmembers.

While she personally wished the trees could have been saved she said, "It was a public safety issue, and based on the information that we had that was the decision that was made."

The group must collect 25 percent of registered voters in Oroville to qualify the recall for the ballot.

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Tree supporters plan recall of Oroville councilmember

VALDOSTA, GA -- The City of Valdosta was honored on Feb. 19 by the Georgia Department of Forestry as a Tree City USA community for its 29th consecutive year. The award was given at the annual Arbor Day event, sponsored by the Valdosta Tree Commission. The event was held on the front lawn of the Health Sciences and Business Administration building of Valdosta State University, which was also honored at the ceremony as a Tree Campus USA for its third consecutive year.

Valdosta received the Tree City USA award for meeting four standards including designating a Tree Commission, passing a tree care ordinance, establishing a comprehensive community forestry program, and proclaiming and hosting an Arbor Day celebration. This award further demonstrates the city's management in the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees in Valdosta's urban forest.

Of the 536 cities in the state of Georgia, only 138 cities have been designated Tree City USA communities-and only eight of the 138 cities have held the honor 29 consecutive years or more. Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson, who accepted the Tree City USA designation on behalf of the city of Valdosta, said the designation is a significant accomplishment that shows the long-term commitment that Valdosta has made to the investment of its trees and natural resources.

Hanson thanked the Valdosta Tree Commission, the city's Engineering Department and its certified arborist for preserving and maintaining a sustainable and green future of which citizens can be proud. He also cited examples of recent projects-such as Gornto Extension and the Chamber Centennial Tree Project-which are beautiful thoroughfares with appropriate trees and landscaping that will continue to be admired for 20 years or more.

"I'm proud of our long-standing commitment to the planting of trees, to the maintenance of our urban forest and to basically be committed to environmental stewardship, so that in the future our city will be green and sustainable and attractive for generations to come," said Hanson. "That only happens through commitment, partnership and relationships."

On behalf of the mayor, who could not be in attendance at the event, Hanson presented the Valdosta Tree Commission with a proclamation in support of its beautification programs and continued commitment to our environment.

The Tree City USA program was established by the Arbor Day Foundation, along with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, to improve community forestry. There are more than 3,400 Tree City USA communities across the nation, representing 135 million citizens.

The Engineering Department staff hosted an event at W.G. Nunn earlier in the day, in which the elementary school students planted a tree to add to their campus canopy. On Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m., Valwood students will participate in planting a tree in front of the Valdosta Municipal Court. For more information about tree planting activities in the city, contact the Engineering Department at (229) 259-3530.

Originally posted here:
Arbor Day Honors Citys 29th Year as a Tree City USA Community

MASTER GARDENER: Mescal Bean and combating nematodes

Q. I remember seeing a really nice flowering tree called Mescal Bean when I visited the UCR Botanic Garden. What can you tell me about it and where can I get one?

A. Mescal Bean, Sophora secundiflora, may be considered a large shrub or small tree. It grows slowly and may ultimately reach 25 feet in height. It tends to be evergreen in our climate and has small divided leaves and a graceful appearance. Mescal Bean blooms in early spring with six-inch clusters of violet-colored flowers that have a sweet fragrance that reminds me of grape juice. Following flowering, seed pods may form that contain red beans. These beans are poisonous, so it is recommended that the pods be removed before they mature.

Mescal Bean, sometimes called Texas Mountain Laurel, tolerates hot locations and poor soil as long as it has good drainage. Although it is frequently sold in native plant nurseries and offered as a low water-use plant, it does require some water. Because it is very slow-growing, you might want to consider purchasing the largest size you can afford. Most good nurseries can order one for you if they dont have them in stock.

Q. I read your article in the OC Register regarding nematodes and tomatoes. Is it true that planting marigolds with the tomatoes can control nematodes in the soil?

A. Sorry, but that wont work. Many years ago, research conducted at the University of Georgia, and confirmed at other universities, too, indicated that rootknot nematodes may be controlled by growing French marigolds as a dense, solid ground cover for at least 90 days. No other plants can be allowed to grow among the marigolds or the treatment will be ineffective, as the nematodes will take refuge in them. After the marigolds are removed, other plants may be grown in the area. The soil should remain free of nematodes for about one year. They found the most effective cultivars were Goldie, Petite Gold, Petite Harmony, and Tangerine. Other cultivars found to be effective are Nemagold, Petite Blanc, Queen Sophia and Tangerine. Some of these cultivars are available locally as seed and others can be found in popular seed catalogs or online. You also may find other varieties that individual seed companies have labeled as being effective against nematodes. Be careful to avoid the signet marigolds, Tagates signata or T. tenuifolia as these particular marigolds are actually hosts of root knot marigolds.

The University of California Integrated Pest Management Program recommends keeping your plants as healthy as possible by growing them in well-amended and well-irrigated soil. This will not reduce the number of nematodes in the soil but strong, healthy plants are better able to withstand the damage caused by root knot nematodes. They have a number of other suggestions including fallowing and crop rotation, soil solarization, and managing planting dates. For those gardeners who would like to read more about nematodes and the tactics you can use to combat them, go to ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7489.html.

Ottillia Toots Bier has been a UC Cooperative Extension master gardener since 1980. Send comments and questions to features@pe.com.

Contact the writer: features@pe.com

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MASTER GARDENER: Mescal Bean and combating nematodes

Very Nice Jacksonville Condo
Very upscale condo on the 1st floor. Masterfully designed tile work through out. brand new stainless steel appliances, tiled patio with water view. Close to amenity center.

By: Jacqueline Lee - Realty Connection Assoc, Inc

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Very Nice Jacksonville Condo - Video

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REMOVING MOULD: It's not the best job in the world, but somebody's got to do it.

I renovated my bathroom about eight years ago and put expensive marble tile on the wall above the bath. I now have some blackmouldgrowing in the cracks between the top of the bathtub and the tiles. I have triedmould-removal cleaners, bleach, and other products, with only limited success.Any ideas how to remove this? I would hate to try to take off the tiles.

The experts say that while a low level of mould will have little effect on most people, if you are allergic to mould or you suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, the presence of mould can be particularly bothersome.

Exposure to indoor mould also has been shown to exacerbate asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

I use one of those environmentally friendly tub and tile cleaners because a family member is somewhat sensitive to the heavy-duty stuff .

You say, "Growing in the cracks." Are you referring to the grout lines or the caulking that delineates the edge of the tub and the start of tiles on the wall?

You can remove the caulk, clean with detergent (the academy suggested vinegar but no proportions, and I have never used it or a bleach-water mixture), and then use a mould-resistant replacement caulk.

This work is something you'd have to do yourself, since it is not cost-effective for most professionals.

If the mould is under the tile, then you would have to have it removed, which would be an expensive and messy prospect.

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How to remove mould from bathroom tiles

Created: 02/19/2015 11:32 AM WHEC.com

Firefighters say a frozen sprinkler system caused flooding inside a Batavia business.

Crews were called to Batavia Enclosures around 6 a.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, crews say they found about four inches of water on the warehouse floor. We're told a city DPW worker dug out the main shut off valve from several feet of snow and turned the water off.

Batavia firefighters say this is the second time this week they've been called for a frozen sprinkler system. If there is one in your home or business, we're told portable heaters can help keep those pipes from freezing.

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Originally posted here:
Frozen sprinkler system causes flooding inside Batavia business

Frozen sprinkler pipes at Stop and Shop and Ridgefield High School on Monday and again on Wednesday, and a malfunctioning water valve at the Prospector Theater on Saturday, sent the fire department scrambling around town to systems being affected by the recent cold weather.

Because of the cold weather, some peoples pipes are freezing and may break since ice expands when frozen, said Fire Chief Kevin Tappe on Tuesday. We have seen a couple of issues regarding frozen or broken fire sprinkler system pipes lately.

At Stop and Shop, fire crews found a broken sprinkler head outside the bottle return area. It was the same exact head that broke last winter, Chief Tappe said.

Stop & Shop had their sprinkler company repair the pipe, he added. The sprinkler system was shut off for a short period while the work was being done.

The sprinkler pipe in the front lobby of the high school also froze Monday when kids were not in school.

Chief Tappe said the system was shut down while repairs were being made.

He added that if a required sprinkler system is incapacitated or shut down for more than four hours, the business must close or hire off duty firefighters to provide a fire watch.

The number of firefighters required is determined by the fire marshal based upon square footage and occupancy, he explained.

Chief Tappe said the Prospector didnt suffer from a frozen sprinkler pipe, rather a relief valve on the fire sprinkler system had malfunctioned allowing water to escape.

The management decided to shut off the sprinkler system until repairs could be made, he said. They also chose not to close the business and hired two firefighters for seven hours on Saturday, 14 hours on Sunday and another four hours on Monday until repairs could be made and the system restored.

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Frozen sprinkler pipes send fire crews scrambling