Lockerly Newsletter August 2016
Sunday Evening Thoughts from the President

Let me take just a few sentences to introduce myself.  I am Rodger Flotta and have been associated with Lockerly Arboretum since 2002.  I own Abbey View Farm, a wholesale plant nursery in Greensboro GA.  It was through the nursery business and the Lockerly plant sale that I came in contact with your Executive Director (ED) and several of our energetic volunteers so very many years ago. I will admit to having a soft spot for Lockerly and our mission.   I was invited to join the Board of Trustees in 2013 and as a longtime supporter and professional acquaintance of Mr. Garner I readily accepted.  Little did I know that circumstances would change so drastically.  I was again asked to step in and became President in 2014. 

Many changes have occurred in the short time I have been on the Board.  I accept changes as the normal flow of any organization.  The one constant throughout all of this is our founder, Mr. E. J. Grassmann's, vision so poignantly articulated in his correspondence of over 50 years ago.  I would encourage you to take a  few minutes to look them over when you are at the Arboretum.  The one I like is hanging on the conference room wall of the Administration Building.  I will continue to use these words from Mr. Grassmann to lead this organization forward.  We are always looking for new ideas to enhance Mr. Grassmann's vision and I would encourage any and all to participate in that conversation.

Just a couple of words about recent successes for our organization.  As you know the Woods Museum is open and will soon have its second display available for viewing. Washington EMC has generously approved a grant for $1000 which along with 20 other donors completes the fund raising effort to install water in our classroom. We will begin that construction shortly. We are moving forward in applying to rejoin the American Conifer Society Reference Garden Program.  Our volunteer program will soon be back in full swing for the fall.

I need to make sure that every volunteer, donor, docent and supporter of Lockerly understands just how important you are.  We cannot continue to increase our outreach to different groups without your support. I cannot thank you enough.  I don't get to spend as much time at Lockerly as I would like but that seems to be changing, at least for the foreseeable future. I look forward to being able to thank each of you personally.

As you know from our announcement from last week our ED has resigned.  I can assure you that the Board of Trustees are diligently working to find a new Director who will embrace Mr. Grassmann's vision and help lead Lockerly into the future.

We appreciate your support of Lockerly and look forward to sharing our future together.

Rodger Flotta, President
Lockerly Arboretum Foundation
Board of Trustees
Something New at Lockerly
 

Donation boxes will soon be installed at Lockerly. The boxes were fabricated by students at the Central Georgia Technical College in Putnam County as a class project.  We supplied the materials for six donation boxes and they supplied the labor. The new boxes will be placed near the parking lot and bathrooms at the arboretum.  Boxes will also be installed at the Worley Center near the pavilion and the education building.  So keep a watchful eye out for these new additions coming soon.
                                                                                                                                          

Pictured left to right: Dr. Harriett Whipple, Trustee; Rodger Flotta, President, Lockerly Trustees; Dick Mueller, Trustee; Bill Durden, Washington, EMC; Sandy Mercer, Trustee; Greg Eilers, Education Director; Marsh Letson, Trustee; Kathy Chandler, Trustee

Classroom Improvements

Thanks to a grant from Washington Electric Foundation, our goal of $3500 has been reached. The Operation Round Up grant was awarded on August 2nd.  Bill Durden of Washington EMC was on hand to present the check to Lockerly's Education Director, Greg Eilers, and members of the Board of Trustees.  The $1000 grant and the $2500 raised through private donations  from more than 20 individual donors,  will provide the necessary funds to install three sinks in the classroom of the Education building here at Lockerly Arboretum. We are very thankful for all of the supporters and contributors who have made the much needed classroom improvements a reality.
August Gardening Tips
Debbie Foster
Lockerly Horticulture Director 

Ants farm aphids to collect honeydew.
Have you ever wondered why ants climb trees? Most ants don't live in trees so they don't have any reason to be up there. So why do ants climb trees?
 
Aphids and soft scale insects produce an abundance of honeydew as they feed on trees. Honeydew is a sweet, sticky liquid produced by insects that ingest large quantities of plant sap. Scale insects can cause considerable damage to trees. High scale populations can remove more food than the tree produces forcing the plant to survive on reserved energy that is gradually depleted. Over time this can weaken the tree causing limbs to die and potentially kill the tree. Honeydew can also lead to sooty mold that covers the leaves interfering with photosynthesis which further weakens the tree.
 
Ants love to feed on honeydew. To protect their food source, ants will "farm" aphids and scale insects in trees. Ants will protect scales and aphids from natural predators and move pests to better food sources or more favorable microclimates to maximize honeydew production. Predators such as lacewing larvae, ladybug larvae and parasitic wasps are natural enemies of aphid and scale insects. Aphids and scales are often well controlled by beneficial predators and parasites, except when these natural enemies are disrupted by ants. Controlling the ants, may be enough to bring about gradual control of aphids and scales as natural enemies become more abundant.
 
Ants can be controlled by using Tanglefoot (a sticky substance that creates a physical barrier). Do not apply Tanglefoot directly to the tree trunk as it may damage the plant. Apply it to a strip of fabric or duct tape (sticky side out) wrapped around the trunk. If the ants persist, you can use baits or apply pesticides to the base of the plant. These strategies target the ants while limiting exposure to natural enemies.
 
Bottom Left: Tomato Hornworm 
Top Left: Hornworm Pupae
Top Right: Hornworm Adult Moth
Another plant pest that is often controlled by natural enemies are hornworms. Tomato hornworms feed on tomato, eggplant, pepper, and potato. The larvae are pale green with 8 V shaped white and black markings and are 3.5 to 4 inches long when fully mature. A black projection or "horn" on the last abdominal segment gives the caterpillar the name "hornworm." The larvae are defoliators, usually consuming the entire leaf rather than chewing holes in them. Their color makes them hard to find, as they blend in with the stems and foliage.


To read the rest of this article click here. This article also contains information about finding a certified arborist.
                                                                 
October Events

Scarecrows in the Arboretum! 
Come join the fun as we kick off a new tradition at Lockerly. Everyone is welcome to participate. 

Scarecrows entered into the contest will be on exhibit throughout the arboretum during the month of October.  All entries must be submitted by September 26, 2016.  Visitors and Exhibitors may cast their votes for "Best in Show" and  "Best in Class".  

Family Fun Day  
On Saturday, October 8 from 10:00 to 2:00 Lockerly's Education Director, staff and volunteers will offer a variety of hands-on learning activities for children and adults. For more information, watch our website www.lockerly.org and follow us on facebook.

Summer Hours

Please feel free to take an early morning stroll or have an afternoon picnic here at Lockerly. Our summer hours through Labor Day weekend are Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30. We will be closed on the weekends but Saturday hours will resume on September 10th.

To escape the heat, try walking the nature trail that follows a stream from the office down to the pond. The trail is shaded by tall trees with picturesque views and bridges that cross the stream in several places. 

We appreciate our sponsors



Lockerly Arboretum  1534 Irwinton Road, Milledgeville, GA   478.452.2112  
visit us online lockerly.org   email: [email protected]
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