August 2009
Small, green, and scary!
The Emerald Ash Borer is no laughing matter; in fact, it’s downright frightening. Its infestation of ash trees has been devastating to many states, and it now has moved into several Pennsylvania counties. State and federal agencies and organizations are working to educate the public about one of the core actions citizens can take to prevent the spread of these hitching insects—Don’t Move Firewood! To infuse humor into this very unfunny topic, a series of public education videos were developed. For your amusement –and education—visit this website and click on the video link www.dontmovefirewood.org.
The big picture
Hey kids! Let your outdoor photos become part of a painting by one of the world’s greatest wildlife artists, Robert Bateman, in the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s online mosaic project. Your favorite picture of a cool nature moment can join thousands of others and become part of the “big picture.” Take a camera on vacation with you or tote one along on your next grand adventure. Show the world that kids love nature, too! To add your photo, go here.
Plans to grow by
Need some guidance on planning that garden? Check out our new native garden templates designed by Landscape Architect Debbie Kirkpatrick. Go here to see colorful, easy-to-use plan and elevation views for sunny-dry and shady-moist gardens. Be on the lookout for additional templates – coming soon to the iConservePA web site.
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Congratulations to Winifred Wentz from Dillsburg, the winner of a monthly drawing from the SEEDS subscription list. Ms. Wentz receives a copy of It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth Friendly Living.
Congratulations, too, to Autumn Thomas from Newtown, the monthly Plant, Post, and Win drawing winner of the book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Her photos can be seen here.
Sign up if you received this e-mail from a friend and would like to add yourself to the Seeds mailing list.
iConservePA is a program of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Edward G. Rendell, Governor.
PAiCon of the month
Meet Tami from Schuylkill Haven who is planning a “green” wedding to satisfy her own eco-consciousness and to let her friends and family know that green can be beautiful, elegant, and inexpensive! Become a PAiCon like Tami. It’s not just inexpensive, it’s free!
Did you know?
Audubon At Home now has over 2,000 acres enrolled in the Bird Habitat Recognition program; more than 200 properties in 32 counties across Pennsylvania! The program recognizes homeowners for taking certain steps to promote habitat for birds, such as planting native species. To find out how your yard rates, visit here and click on the “residential” link (step 2) on the right.
Spotlight on…
Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation - a nonprofit organization working for the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. With 88 local chapters and 20,000 members, the PA Chapter has spent more than $4.6 million on wild turkey conservation projects and events since 1985.
© 2007 Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources