Arbor Day

catalpa McIntire Park
The Spanish village of MondoƱedo held the first documented arbor plantation festival in the world organized by its mayor in 1594. The place remains as Alameda de los Remedios and it is still planted with lime and horse-chestnut trees. A humble granite marker and a bronze plate recall the event. Additionally, the small Spanish village of Villanueva de la Sierra held the first modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched in 1805 by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.–Wikipedia
stormwater
Every year for at least the last ten Charlottesville Parks and Rec staff, city leaders, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Druids and others celebrate Arbor Day, often designating a Landmark Tree. Today the event was rained out (3 inches of precip before midday). Above, Parks and Rec staff clears out a stormwater drain in McIntire Park downhill from the catalpa.
branch of the Catalpa
I didn’t get the memo that the event had been rescheduled. Missed the people but the Catalpa was there.
tree dog man
Matilda and I took a self portrait with the Catalpa. Charlottesville is recognized as a “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation. We are a tree city with a declining percentage of tree canopy. There is work to be done.

Arbor Day 2013
Arbor Day 2012
Arbor Day 2011

Slabtown

waning crescent moon
Had a week in Slabtown reacquainting with the sun moon stars night and Ixodidae.
bicycle trees
If I stayed on the bike the ticks wouldn’t be a problem, but I am on the ground a fair amount. Removed 4 attached Ixodes scapularis and
Amblyomma americanum individuals.

Questing!
The lone star tick is widely distributed across the East, Southeast, and Midwest United States. It lives in wooded areas, particularly in second-growth forests with thick underbrush, where white-tailed deer (the primary host of mature ticks) reside. Lone star ticks can also be found in ecotonal areas (transition zones between different biomes) such as those between forest and grassland ecosystems. The lone star tick uses thick underbrush or high grass to attach to its host by way of questing. Questing is an activity in which the tick climbs up a blade of grass or to the edges of leaves and stretches its front legs forward, in response to stimuli from biochemicals such as carbon dioxide or heat and vibration from movement, and mounts the passing host as it brushes against the tick’s legs. Once attached to its host, the tick is able to move around and select a preferred feeding site.–Wikipedia