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June 2008
Here are some native groundcover, shrubs and trees to plant on your property:
Smooth alder (Alnus serrulata): Yellow catkins; multi-stemmed; needs wet soil; sun or shade.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea): White flowers in spring; edible berries; fall color; sun or shade.
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa): White flowers; multi-stemmed; berries; fall color; sun or shade; moist or dry soils.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): White flowers; multi-stemmed; interesting fruit; partial or full shade; wet or moist soils.
Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Purple flowers in spring; fixes nitrogen; partial or full shade; moist or dry soils.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): White brachts in spring; red berries; moist soils; partial or full shade.
Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana): Multi-stemmed; fragrant; medicinal; yellow flowers; wet or moist soils.
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata): Showy berries in winter; multi-stemmed; wet or moist soils.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia): White flowers; evergreen; multi-stemmed; PA state flower.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): Berries and foliage in fall; multi-stemmed; herbal uses; wet or moist soils.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): White flowers; multi-stemmed; edible berries & flowers; wet or moist soils.
Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium): White flowers; multi-stemmed; edible berries; moist or dry soils; partial or full sun.
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): White flowers; multi-stemmed; edible berries; fall colors; wet or dry soils.
Arrow-wood (Viburnum recognitum): White flowers in late spring; multi-stemmed; wet or moist soils.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia): Fall color; berries important for wilflife; considered a vine.
Maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium): White flowers; multi-stemmed; edible berries; fall color; partial or full shade.
May 2008
Use native plants. Decrease your mowing area (and have more leisure time!) by planting native flowerbeds and shrubs. Native plants require little or no maintenance, and less water, fertilizer and pesticide than grass.
April 2008
This is the time of year when lots is happening in the woods. Early spring flowers are showing their blooms. Tree buds appear and leaf-out in May. Bears awake from hibernation and begin searching for food (so take care to bring in your garbage, don’t leave food in the car, and certainly, don’t feed the bears). Does birth fawns beginning in May. Migrating waterfowl land on our lakes and ponds for brief rests. Hawks soar over ridges in rising kettles. Lakes and ponds begin their slow warm-up and aquatic life appears. Female mosquitoes emerge from over-wintering and begin laying larvae. Hemlock Farms is a unique, natural community. Find it, learn about it, enjoy it, and take care of what you have.
March 2008
New research released in December 2007 supports the link between night lights and breast cancer. Previous research reported results from mice in a lab that hypothesized the link. The recent research overlaid satellite imagery of night lights with occurrence of breast cancer, and a pattern emerged. The evidence is getting stronger that night lights interfere with production of melatonin, which is a tumor-suppressing hormone produced by a gland in our brains. Please follow the HFCA Outdoor Lighting Guidelines.
February 2008
Winter is a great time for bird watching. The smaller birds, such as nuthatches, finches, chickadees and juncos are more readily seen without the greenery. This month is the “Backyard Bird Count” when you have the opportunity to count the birds and send your sightings to a national database. See page __ for more information on this exciting event.
January 2008
Before the invention of the light bulb, humans would get an average of 10 hours of sleep per night…not now. The dark days of winter necessitate the use of lighting. Assess your outdoor lighting. Is it shining on your neighbor’s property? In their windows? Into the eyes of motorists and walkers passing by your home? HFCA Outdoor Lighting Guidelines provides guidance.
December 2007
Make plans now for spring planting season. Bare-root trees can be ordered from HFCA (see the order form in this issue of the Hemlock News.
November 2007
The most common mosquito that carries the West Nile Virus overwinters as a fertilized female. In the spring, these females emerge to deposit eggs. For now, take extra precautionary measures to avoid mosquitoes until the first frost, which ends this year’s mosquito season. Until the first frost, warm weather increases mosquito activity. Wear clothing to cover up, apply mosquito repellant, and remove standing water on your property. People over 50 years of age are at highest risk of developing severe disease.
October 2007
Replanting vegetation that was removed in the setbacks during construction is important to preserving the rural, forested nature of our community. Designing an acceptable plan means choosing trees or shrubs that fit the space on your property and are suitable to the type of soil and planting conditions.
September 2007
Blue spruce is adapted to living in the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains where the air is hot and dry, and tree canopies are often more open than the Poconos. If you must plant Blue Spruce, plant in dry soils, on south-facing slopes, and in open areas. Prune dead limbs and rake and remove fallen needles every year to prevent fungal spores from spreading from the old to new needles.
August 2007
Firewood may be infested with bad bugs or diseases. Avoid moving firewood in or out of Hemlock Farms. If you must bring in firewood, please use wood from Pennsylvania because wood (firewood or nursery stock) from out-of-state may be infested.
July 2007- No Report
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