Beth Whipple is a master gardener, in Portage County, Ohio, which is part of the Ohio State University Extension Program. Through the program she has been learning many new and exciting things and is happy to share her knowledge. She and her husband, Frank, live on an acre and a half where they care for over eighty trees, woody ornamentals, and perennials. Beth hones and shares her skills, both at home, and in the community. Growing up Beth learned to fix and repair things, this combined with her artistic abilities has allowed her to develop and share techniques to repair and upcycle items.
Spotted Lanternfly and the Tree of Heaven Spotted lanternflies are in many of our counties and states. If allowed to spread further, this pest could seriously impact the country’s grape, orchard, and logging industries. The Tree of Heaven is the preferred host of spotted lanternfly. Learn why both the insect and tree are invasive and what we can do to help stop the spread, expanding our knowledge so we can be better stewards of land and mother earth, whenever we are. Adults Only. Sankofa: Friday, July 14
Repair Your Pots and Garden Statues Do you have pots which have broken, or you want to change the color? Do you have a favorite lawn ornament or statue which broke? All is not lost. Learn how to fix your things and give them new life. We will also look at how to maintain your beauties throughout the years. Upcycle, recycle, and save the earth – be stewards. Supplies will also be available so you may design your own personalized pot, for your home or camp, if you want. $5.00 cost for supplies. Adults only. Sankofa: Saturday, July 15
Pruning Your Trees and Woody Ornamentals. We will examine proper pruning techniques for tree and woody ornamentals. Pruning has been called “one of the best, worst maintenance practices”. The process creates wounds, which have a major impact on plant processes. Improper cutting on a tree and/or ornamental may cause severe damage or even death. To prune properly, it is important to understand both the proper techniques and how the trees and ornamentals respond to pruning. We are all tree hugging hippies, so let’s learn how to really love and hug our trees and ornamentals. Adults Only. Sirius Rising: Monday, July 17
How to Properly Plant Trees and Woody Ornamentals Trees are the largest, oldest living organism on the planet and can live long, healthy lives with some assistance. We often place trees in less-than-favorable growing locations which don’t allow natural development and maturity. We should consider many factors when choosing a location and properly planting our trees and ornamentals. Even tree hugging hippies can make mistakes, so let us look at everything you need to consider to be a more informed tree hugger and steward of the land. Adults Only. Sirius Rising, Wednesday, July 19.
Help My Tree is Sick How can you tell if your tree is sick? Have you wondered about trees at Brushwood, or in parks and cities. Often, there are some clear signs that something is wrong, such as yellowing or spotted leaves. But sometimes it’s not that obvious until branches break off, or the tree starts to lean. Once you know the common signs something is wrong with your tree, you’ll have a better idea how to deal with the problem. Hug those trees and help them heal before it is too late. Adults Only. Sirius Rising, Friday, July 21