Neighbourly®’s Post

What is more beautiful than a wave of pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in the gray of winter. The feathery plumes of the flower panicles are a bright cotton candy pink and purple with glints of metallic sheen when the sun passes through. Their foliage is a satin-like green and blueish color and the colors compliment each other, and the landscape in a fantastical way. The species is native to the central and eastern United States and grows naturally in open prairie or savanna like settings on thin or rocky soils. Beyond its attractiveness, pink muhly grass is a popular ornamental as it is low maintenance and very tolerant of heat, drought, humidity, and salt and can be fairly resistant to browsing by herbivores, including insects. It is also a host plant for the Orange Skipperling Butterfly and provides great habitat and natural cover for birds and wildlife. If Pink Muhly Grass isn't native to your area, there is bound to be another species of Muhlenbergia for you! Check out the BONAP for the genus to find a species right for your region: https://lnkd.in/eMZAjVma Like and follow our page, and Brinton Run Preserve for future native plant facts! #conservationmanagement #nature #conservation #landconservation #NALT #naturelovers #habitat #wildlands #nativehabitat #habitatconservation #privatelands #grownative #grownativeplants #nativeplants #plants #nativeplantsoftheunitedstates #nativeplantsruntheworld #plantconservation #southeastnativeplants #nativeplantsofnorthamerica

Ugly Doesn't Mean Unhealthy Our eagle-eyed arborists are trained to spot potential problems during tree surveys. One recent case involved a seemingly ordinary tree with a slight bulge at the base. This bulge can be a sign of internal issues, like decay, or the tree adding growth to compensate for past damage. Taking a Closer Look: Upon further inspection, we discovered several cavities at the base of the tree, confirming the presence of internal decay. But before you jump to conclusions, here's the good news: - Strength in Numbers: The tree itself remains structurally sound. The surrounding healthy wood provides ample support, allowing the tree to stand strong for many years. - A Haven for Wildlife: Hollows and cavities are vital to a healthy ecosystem. They provide essential homes for various creatures, from birds and small mammals to insects and even some reptiles. This particular tree, despite its decay, is now a valuable habitat for local wildlife. The Takeaway: Trees are incredibly resilient! While cavities can sometimes be a cause for concern, a thorough inspection by a qualified arborist can determine the overall health and stability of the tree. In this case, the decay doesn't pose a threat, and the tree continues to thrive, offering both beauty and ecological benefits. #tree #arboriculture #arb #treesurvey #sitedevelopment #homeowner

Its #wildlifewednesday time once again🐾🌿🙌 With the Butterfly Conservation #bigbutterflycount 2024 currently ongoing, lets look at one of our most common butterflies we have in the UK, and one of my personal favourites 🙂 The Small Tortioseshell🦋 It has an attractive and striking pattern and is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and in the autumn it often visits garden flowers in large numbers.🦋🌿 Male small tortoiseshells are very territorial, chasing each other, other butterflies and anything else that appears in their space. They court females by 'drumming' their antennae on the females' hindwings🦋 Even though many butterfly species in the UK have declined, this stunning little butterfly is doing well across rural and urban areas. It certainly has been the most common in my garden this summer alongside the Brimstone and Red Admiral 🦋 Instead of migrating like many butterflies, small tortoiseshell butterflies hibernate in their adult form, often in our houses and sheds. They emerge again in spring to feed on nectar and lay large amounts of green eggs on the underside of nettle leaves which they do right throughout June🌻🌱 Unfortunately due to climate change causing uncertainty in our weather across seasons and loss of habitats, butterflies are declining along with many species of moths and bees🐝 Why not make your Garden more biodiverse and attract small Tortioseshells and other butterflies so they can have somewhere to feed all year round 😁 You can learn more about the Small Tortioseshell and other species of butterflies in the UK below🙂🙌 https://lnkd.in/ewD7iANX #wildlifewednesday #wildlife #nature #butterflies #invertebrates #species #habitats #environment #conservation

According to the previous tree surveyor of this site (just 3 years ago) this area of trees is just 'Acer mix woodland' of moderate quality 🤦♂️ . Somehow they missed the ancient and veteran trees that are present, which now leaves me with a problem to solve as I prepare the arboricultural method statement for the approved development not far away.... I have to wonder if they actually got out of their car for this survey! Getting the baseline tree survey right is crucial in the planning process. I'll do my best for our client on this one and hopefully they'll procure better tree surveys in the future. #trees #arboriculture #planning #ancienttrees

I seem to have spent most of the summer talking about how scarce #butterflies have been, and I don't think I'm alone. However, today, I've got more butterflies in the garden than I think I've seen collectively throughout the whole of June, July and August. I'm most pleased about the appearance of a single small tortoiseshell, which is (alarmingly) the first I've seen in Wiltshire this year. With the effects of climatic changes including more erratic weather, we can almost certainly expect more turbulence with short and long term distribution and abundance of many species. For #pollinators this all just goes to prove how critical it is to ensure we have suitable flowering plants available, from very early spring though to early winter. Verbena is providing the lifeline in this case, and next year I'm planning to get a lot more native flowering plants in the garden. I'm bringing on a lot of black knapweed and devil's-bit scabious to add to the mix as these are fantastic later season flowering plants for our pollinators (not to mention, gorgeous!). Butterfly Conservation's #WildSpaces project (https://wild-spaces.co.uk/) is a great place to start if you want to take practical action in your own garden/space to help butterflies, and with them many other species. #climatechange #ecology

Taonga Tuesday Southern grass skink (Oligosoma aff. polychroma Clade 5) Until very recently, all the grass skinks south of about Christchurch were referred to as ‘southern grass skinks’ — a group of slinky skinkies with an affinity to the archetypal grass skink, Oligosoma polychroma (sensu stricto). Stripey southern (and eastern) populations of this “southern grass skink” are now described as a distinct species — the tussock skink (Oligosoma chionochloescens). Accordingly, grass skinks in some parts of Otago just became slightly perplexing, because we do not know exactly who is where! Southern grass skinks inhabit a variety of ecosystems, but they are most often associated with habitats that boast complex vegetation and a little bit of moisture. This includes long grasses and they really love rocky areas with lots of shrubs and places to hide from predators. Southern grass skinks can be found in the lowlands and up on our mountains (where they are tucked away under snow right now). Although southern grass skinks are relatively common in some areas, they have been issued a conservation status of “At Risk — Declining”. The Southern Lakes Sanctuary Project Area is home to tussock skinks and grass skinks (we think), but we do not fully understand their local distributions yet. In fact, we hear that the two types of grass skink might even coexist in some locations! If you see a grass skink, in the Queenstown-Lakes District, please take a photo! We would love to see. Let’s celebrate the humble, southern grass skink! #southerngrasskink #oligosoma #skinks #skink #lizards #wildlife #nature #newzealand #lizard #nativespecies #taongatuesday #beautiful #reptiles #grassskink #southernlakessanctuary #sls #wānaka #queenstown #hāwea #cardrona #whakatipu

When is the best time to call an ISA Certified Arborist®? Hint: It’s not after the tree is already dead and in need of a removal. Learn more about the best times to call an ISA Certified Arborist® when it comes to preserving your trees in our latest Arbor Ed article by ISA Certified Arborist® Mike McKee! #arborist #arboriculture #education #treepreservation #trees #treework https://lnkd.in/gErFEZKe

Arborist Questions I am always happy to talk to both associates and potential clients about their tree related queries. Some questions I have been asked recently have included: “I need to fell a tree for a client, the site is next to a Conservation Area, but not in one. I checked last year, do I need to check again before doing any work?” “I am preparing to fell a tree damaged in one of the recent storms. Can I serve a Five Day Notice?” “The Council hasn't responded to my application to prune my tree. Can I assume approval and proceed with the work?” “I am keen to get the tree pruned before the nesting season. Do I still need to get permission?” What is YOUR question? #treeexpert #treecare #treework #treeservice #treehelp #treequestions #treeconsultant #treesurvey #treereport #treeconservation #treereport #clientquestion #conservationarea #treedamage #treepruning #arborist #arboriculture

TREE PLANTING SERVICES Tree planting by an arborist involves the professional selection, placement, and installation of trees in various environments. Arborists consider factors like soil conditions, species suitability, and site characteristics to ensure successful establishment and long-term health of the trees.

Have you ever wondered what a tree condition survey consists of? Well the answer is - whatever you need it too cover. We have a whole variety of surveys that we undertake for our estate owner and land manager clients. Happily, the Arboriculture team of our Consultancy division have written this handy blog with all the info on our tree condition surveys. Read the full blog post here: https://ow.ly/kPLW50SJOiy #arboriculture #arboricultureconsultancy #treeconditionsurveys #treesurveys #estateowner #landscapemanagement