Town of Basalt Public Gardens & Community Forestry

Study Finds Cause For Sudden Aspen Decline

2012-01-09T10:36:00.009-07:00

Photo: National Park Service

Informative Links

US Forest Service - Aspen Decline

KSL-TV ~ Salt Lake

Why Birds' Feet Don't Freeze

2011-12-17T20:59:00.002-07:00

A dark-eyed Junco ~ Mike Hamilton

Mountains And Forests ~ Roots to our Future

2011-12-05T12:15:00.019-07:00

View of Mt.Daly from Cottonwood Pass

Photo: Lisa DiNardo 9-24-11

December 11, 2011 ~ International Mountain Day

Indoor Farmers Market ~ Willits Basalt

2011-12-02T09:32:00.003-07:00

The Garden of Eva

2011-11-27T11:06:00.012-07:00

Eva and Jessica look at the raised beds. (Photo: Bruce Gellerman)

Chef Didi Emmons

Catch The Rain

2011-11-12T22:20:00.023-07:00

Texas rainwater expert Billy Kniffen

beside one of the tanks that feed his home.

Harvesting Rainwater

1,500 Year Old Giant Sequoia Falls on California Coast

2011-11-06T08:44:00.005-07:00

Photo: Sequoia National Forest

Unusual Tribal Alliance Saves Forest and Tradition

2011-10-30T10:33:00.007-06:00

Beverly Ogle’s great grandmother (right) raised all her children in

Humbug Valley, California ~ Photo:Beverly Ogle

Danny Manning, Assistant Fire Chief of Greenville Rancheria,

Photo:Lisa Morehouse

The Living Bridges of Cherrapunji, India

2011-10-29T10:13:00.028-06:00

The Story

Photos: Atlas Obscura’s Wonderful Post

More Living Bridge Images

British Columbia: Mountain Pine Beetle Jumps Tree Species, Spreading Its Reach ~Double Click Here

2011-05-09T19:38:00.009-06:00

The Insatiable Beetle

Photo: Eamon MacMahon

Edible Flowers

2011-03-18T14:10:00.006-06:00

Double click on document, then again to magnify.

The Journal of The American Public Gardens Association

Volume 25, No 3 ~ 2010

The Edible Landscape

2011-03-18T13:33:00.018-06:00

Double click on document, then again to magnify.

The Journal of The American Public Gardens Association

Volume 25, No 3 ~ 2010

The Beautiful but Deadly Emerald Ash Borer

2011-03-07T12:44:00.004-07:00

Beetle Decimating Environment in North America | Indian Country Today Media Network.com

“Ashzilla” by Marty Two Bulls

Topping Trees: Don't Do It and Here's Why

2010-10-16T13:46:00.127-06:00

Sycamore Tree

PROPER TREE CARE ~ LINKS

International Society of Arboriculture

Plant Amnesty - 5 Reasons To Stop Topping Trees
Urban Tree Foundation

Plant Science at the Denver Botanic Gardens: "Committed to documenting, studying and preserving fragile plant life".

2010-05-16T08:11:00.006-06:00

Pruning Trees Properly :)

2009-03-26T15:19:00.081-06:00

Pruning Objectives and Damage Caused by Improper Pruning

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa

Basalt Town Hall, Photo: Lisa DiNardo 9-22-11

WHY: Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches, improve trunk and branch structure and access pruning: limbing up for pedestrian or vehicular access.

WHEN: Live branches are best pruned in the dormant season or following a flush of growth after the leaves harden and turn dark green. However, if pruning is necessary follow these precautions; root growth is slowed temporarily when live branches are removed in summer and since most root growth occurs during the growing season removing large numbers of live branches during the summer is ill advised unless your objective is to slow growth. Light pruning (less than 10%) can be performed safely on most species at any time. Some research suggests that pruning during the summer results in less stem decay than dormant-season pruning (ISA,1994). However, more research needs to be done before suggesting summer as the best time to prune.

HOW: Pruning should be done with an understanding of how the tree responds to each cut. Improper pruning can cause damage that will last for the life of the tree, or worse, shorten the tree's life. Always make the cut to the outside of the branch bark ridge (raised area of bark tissue in the union of two branches or two stems or in the union of branch and stem) or stem bark ridge (raised bark in the union of two stems). The branch collar (a swelling at the base of a branch where it joins the trunk or larger branch resulting from overlapping trunk and branch tissue) contains trunk or parent branch tissue and should not be damaged or removed. Do not cut the collar. For larger branches, its weight should first be reduced. This is done by making an undercut about 12 to 18 inches from the limb’s point of attachment. Make a second cut from the top, directly above or a few inches farther out on the limb. Doing so removes the limb, leaving the 12- to 18-inch stub. Remove the stub by cutting back to the branch collar. This technique reduces the possibility of tearing the bark.

References
An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, Edward F. Gilman
A New Tree Biology, Alex L. Shigo
Trees Are Good - International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Resources
A New Tree Biology, Dr. Alex Shigo (Father of Modern Arboriculture)

Pruning Mature Trees, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Pruning Young Trees, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Prepared by Lisa DiNardo, Horticulturist/Certified Arborist, RM-7161A
Town of Basalt Public Gardens and Community Forestry Department

Mountain Pine Beetle ~ Land Management

2009-03-15T11:55:00.116-06:00

Management Strategies

Photo: US Department of Agriculture

Life Cycle of Bark Beetle

Graphic: csfs.colostate.edu

Egg galleries
www.ext.colostate.edu

Larvae
www.ext.colostate.edu

Pupae
Photo: David McComb, USDA Forest Service

Adult Beetle
Photo: www.ext.colostate.edu

Successful pitch
Photo: www.ext.colostate.edu

Colorado
Photo: www.fs.fed.us

Mountain Pine Beetle Impacts in Old Town Basalt, 2007 & 2008

To enlarge double click on photo

30'+ dead lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in background
Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-4-08

45'+ dead Scotch and 30'+ lodgepole pines
Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-4-08

45'+ Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
These two stately Scotch pines were once an integral part of Basalt's community forest. The pine on the left was successfully hit in 2007 and the other in 2008. Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-4-08

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-4-08

Pitch Tube
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-4-08

Pupae
Photo: Lisa DiNardo 4-9-08

Resources
Colorado State Forest Service CSFS
Colorado State University Extension CSU
For The Forest
Gilpin County Extension
Mountain Pine Beetle Images
Summit County Colorado Pine Beetle Information

Management Controls for Mountain Pine Beetle
Pheromone Treatments - Verbenone (trimethyl-bicyclo-heptenone)
Spray Treatments

Lisa DiNardo, Horticulturist/Certified Arborist, RM -7161 ATown of BasaltPublic Gardens & Community Forestry Department

Worthy of Note Plants

2009-02-22T09:27:00.216-07:00

Groundcover/Perennial
Aubrieta 'Cascade Purple' Cascade Purple Rock Cress, 3"h x 15"w, zones 4-8. Semi-evergreen groundcover ideal for front border and rock gardens. Flowers are a radiant purple and beautifully compliment spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and ornamental onion. Requires a well-drained, amended soil in a sunny or lightly shaded area. Two Rivers Road Gardens ~ Photo: Lisa DiNardo 5-12-11

Perennial

Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root - 18-24”h x 18-20”w, zones 4-8. A native of our Western Slope, Butterfly Weed prefers dry, alkaline sandy-loam soil. However, it thrives in the loamy soil in Basalt’s gardens. Flowers are orange, bloom in summer and are followed by ornamental, upright seed pods 4-5” long that open to release silky seeds that are easily adrift in the breeze. s how the common name "pleurisy root" originated. Butterfly weed has a low success rate for transplanting due to its taproot. Not to worry because it’s a self sower. Dead-head if you don’t want volunteer seedlings the following season.
Two Rivers Road Bed ~ Photo: Lisa DiNardo 8-5-09

Shrub
Amorpha canescens Leadplant, Two Rivers Road at green bridge, Basalt, 2-4’h x 3’ w: An adaptable plant with an open and spreading habit with attractive blue to violet flower which are born on several terminal spikes in summer. Prefers a sunny location with well drained soils. For more blooms, prune back in late-fall to 12-18”. Zones 4-8. As a legume, lead plant is a host to nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots. The bacteria provide the plant with nitrogen in echange for sugars that the plant produces through photosynthesis. The plants provide the bacteria with carbohydrates for energy and a stable environment for growth, while the bacteria give the plants usable nitrogen and other essential nutrients. The neighboring plants in your garden/landscape and the rest of the soil community benefit from the nitrogen and other rich compounds exuded from the nodules, and from the recycling of the nitrogen as the plant drops its leaves or decays. Photo: Lisa DiNardo 8-19-11 Two Rivers Road garden south east of the Aspenalt Lodge. Pictured here with the yellow Ozark Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa).

Groundcover /Shrub
Genista lydia Hardy Dwarf Broom, 12" h x 4' w, cheery and abundant yellow flowers in late spring cover the striking evergreen stems and mold beautifully about draping gracefully over rocks and ledges. Truly a signature plant to incorporate into the landscape. Ideal for exposed & hot hillsides and prefers a well drained soil. Zones 4-10. 7-11 bed on Two Rivers Road, Garden~ Photo: Lisa DiNardo 6-8-10

Tree of Distinction ~ Idaho Locust at Lake Christine

2009-02-09T08:46:00.102-07:00

Robinia x ambigua 'Idahoensis' Idaho Locust
This mature, multi-stemmed Idaho locust welcomes you at the entry to Basalt’s Lake Christine. A stately tree and member of the pea family features bluish, fern-like, leaves made up of rounded oval leaflets turning yellow in autumn. Foliage casts dappled shade creating pleasing silhouettes on the landscape. In late spring pendulous clusters of 6-8" pink blossoms hang gracefully from the new branches. Their sweet fragrance attracts insect pollinators while the bright pink flowers appeal to hummingbirds. Blooms in late May to early June. Idaho locust requires full sun and is drought tolerant once established. Tolerant of heat, wind and poor soils. Fruit is a 4” long pod which makes fun holiday ornaments when spray painted silver or gold. The handsome and deeply furrowed bark adds interesting texture to the landscape. Zones 3-9 Photos Lisa DiNardo 7-23-04

Welcome Plant Enthusiasts

2008-03-07T21:57:00.074-07:00

Flower and seed head of Gaillardia 'Burgundy' and the Yellow Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnaris) in the E.Valley Road & Evans Road Traffic Calming garden. Photo: Lisa DiNardo 9-21-11

Greetings,
It was recommended to me to create a blog so that my crew and I can share our work with the community. This blog will be a photographic and narrative description of how we implement the design, installation and maintenance of Basalt's public gardens, community forestry and the many quiet nooks in our parks and trails along Basalt's river corridor.

In Green,

Lisa DiNardo

Horticulturist/Certified Arborist, RM-7161A