Tree News

Today I was talking to Harefoot, a daily reader of Tree News. He was commenting on how much he enjoyed reading the articles, but he had one concern. This is how the conversation went: "I check your blog every day, but I've been a bit bored with it lately." Really? Do you want more content...more posts...maybe another Tree Care Handbook? "No. I'm bored from that insipid map of Atlanta quadrants." Now it is true that the Arborist Quadrant Map does not exactly meet the quality control guidelines of Tree News. It is also true that this graphic element is a bit too dry for us drought-weary Georgians. But the map does clearly and succinctly illustrate the bold numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Understand that Harefoot does not live in Atlanta and does not fully appreciate how exciting the organizational structure of the City Arborist Quadrants can be. So I politley laughed, gave an accepting nod, and quickly changed the subject.

The Arborist Division of the Atlanta City Government regularly updates a list of their city Arborists. There are four municipal field personnel, each responsible for a quadrant. They are: Area 1: Tom Coffin 404.330.6077 Area 2: Janell Bazile 404.330.6071 Area 3: Paul Lewkowicz 404.330.6882 Area 4: Michael Franklin 404.330.6079 For final inspections, contact Stanley Domengeaux 404.546.1047 The Arborist Division is esponsible for reviewing and approving all building permits and tree removal plans.

Greenspade , a horticultural and tree blog, deserves a look. Although the author is not local, Atlanta tree enthusiasts will find the site interesting. The author, Chris Welch, puts a new twist on blog presentation by organizing article titles as horticultural definitions. If my explanation leaves you puzzled, then visit Greenspade and check out the format. The photography is very good. Graphic elements are pleasing. Chris is an ISA Certified Arborist and urban horticulturalist.

Coweta County is the newest municipality in Georgia to adopt a tree ordinance. The ordinance, which passed earlier this Spring, made way for a new position in Coweta government: County Arborist. Just a little over a month ago, Roy Matthews took the helm. Roy has a strong background in both arboriculture and urban forestry. As graduate of Bowling Green State University, he began his municipal career as a City Forester for Sandusky, Ohio , a tree maintenance supervisor for Savannah, GA , a Superintendent of Parks and Grounds for the City of Beaufort, SC , Grounds Supervisor for the City of College Park , and Superintendent of Grounds at Fort_McPherson /Fort Gillem. I spoke to Roy Matthews over the phone, and asked him what he thought the main impetus was for the county to adopt a tree ordinance. "The primary concern was the rapid development of County," Roy commented, "There is no slowing of growth here, and there needed to be something to help conserve urban forest r...

The Georgia Arborist Association's annual Tree Climbing Championship nears its registration deadline, as the Saturday, March 10 event draws close. Skilled tree climbers from all over the metro Atlanta area will compete in a full day of fun and activity at the United Methodist’s Children’s Home , located at 500 South Columbia Drive in Decatur. The event begins at 7:30 AM, and could last till 5:00 PM. The event brings together tree climbing professionals, enthusiasts, and hobbyists for fellowship and friendly games. Contestants compete in five preliminary events to qualify as one of three finalists in the Masters Challenge championship. Preliminary events include: secured foot lock, belayed speed climb, aerial rescue, throw line, and work climb. The winner of the Masters challenge will be sponsored to the Southern Chapter ISA Tree Climbing Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 25-27, 2007. Prizes will be awarded to winners of each event. Tree lovers of all background...

Don't get too comfortable in your Georgia back yard, because there are sometimes snakes afoot...or a-hand. A professional arborist in Atlanta was the victim of a venomous snake attack, apparently when the reptile became defensive as it was backed into corner at the base of a tree. The incident occurred in suburban Sandy Springs, a large city just north of Atlanta. It was on a mature residential half-acre lot. The back yard was covered in ivy and blackberry bushes, which make great cover for all sorts of fauna. The arborist was pulling thick ivy off the base of a large Tulip poplar when he was bitten. The snake sunk its teeth into the knuckle of his hand, and was able to dispense enough venom to make a nasty time of it. The arborist kept his wits about him, and was able to capture the snake and give him a complimentary ride to the hospital. The snake was initially believed to be a rattlesnake, but after recovery, the arborist positively identified it as a copperhead. Copperhe...

G winnett County, GA - A Lawrenceville man nearly chipped away $2,275 when his property was mis-diagnosed as having a Southern Pine Beetle infestation. Preferring to remain anonymous, the homeowner reported that a tree removal company visited his property and told him that two of his small pines died from pine beetles. The tree removal company explained that the insects were actively munching away in his live trees, and that he was on the verge of a terrible outbreak. Before hiring the tree cutter to proactively remove all 29 of his pines, the homeowner decided to check with a Consulting Arborist first for a thorough inspection and diagnosis of the problem. Onebark , a Consulting Arborist based in Atlanta, reviewing the entire property, found no recent evidence of any Pine Beetles and gave the homeowner's landscape a clean bill of health. Apparently, the two small pines were suppressed and unhealthy, and were not part of a large scale beetle infestation. The owner was relieved ...