Tree Climbing Students to Learn from the Experts at International Tree Climbers Gathering in Oregon

Grants Pass, OR (ContentDesk) August 13, 2005 -- Recreational tree climbers from around the world will gather in mid-September to spend a few days improving their climbing skills, and a few nights sleeping high in the moonlit treetops above Oregon Caves National Monument. This is the fourth annual Tree Climbers Rendezvous, and the first event of its kind west of the Rockies.The Rendezvous is open to the public and includes tree climbing courses designed for beginning and advanced climbers. All courses are provided by certified Tree Climbers International instructors.Participants can top off their weekend with spectacular group climbs in the tall trees of the Northwest forest, with the added enticement of spending the night in the canopy cradled in New Tribe's ultra-comfortable arboreal Treeboat© hammocks.The Rendezvous this year is hosted by New Tribe, Inc. Based in Grants Pass, Oregon, New Tribe is the only manufacturer of safety and recreation gear specifically designed by and for recreational tree climbers. New Tribe chose the Oregon Caves location for its mature forest setting, its rustic Chateau accommodations, and its proximity to Siskiyou National Forest land where the tree climbing is superb.Recreational tree climbing using technical equipment has been enthusiastically enjoyed by a growing number of climbers for more than 20 years.

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New Coarse Geogrids Prevent Erosion

Chemnitz, Germany / Cambridge (ContentDesk) August 6, 2005 -- The researchers used a rope of about 13 cm in diameter in a meander-like wave pattern on a 360 acres (1.500 square meter) slope. This unusually thick rope-structure provides a rough Geogrid, providing water storage capacity, preventing rain to drain soil and to inflict erosion. These novel geotextiles have been developed at the Saxon Textile Research Institute and are produced in venture with the company VTT Vliestextilien Chemnitz and the research group for textile engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology. As textile machines able to produce ropes as thick as needed for the new coarse Geogrids had never been produced, the research group for textile engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology helped to specially develop new machines for this product. Due to its importance in road building, landscape design and prevention against erosion and flooding the research received official government support and local development grants."With each new road we seal more soil, cut trees and remove natural storage area for water.

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Digital Element Extends Its Building Nature™ Series with the Easiest, Most Powerful Plant Creation Tool

Oakland, Calif.(ContentDesk) July 7, 2005 -- Digital Element is excited about the summer of 2005. At SIGGRAPH ‘05 in Los Angeles (July 31-August 4, 2005), they are introducing three exciting new products and upgrades to their flagship tools. Verdant Plant Mechanic, Verdant for Max, Maya, and SofImage|XSI, and WorldBuilder Knowledge Module #1 will all be introduced at the show, which is the world’s largest meeting of computer graphics professionals.The newest addition to Digital Element’s Building Nature™ series is Verdant Plant Mechanic (VPM). VPM makes it easy to build plants, either realistic or fantastic, that can be used in any of Digital Element’s Building Nature™ series of products, which includes WorldBuilder, Verdant, Aurora, Aurora Sky, and Aurora Water. It provides an advanced user interface with four modes of operation: 1.   The Render Layout Mode, which opens any Verdant plant, or one of the nine included plant presets, and enables alteration of textures and any part of the geometry.2.   Plant Wizards to design custom trees and bushes in minutes.3.   The Visual Plant Modeler, which creates any plant imaginable by combining plant parts, and adding joints and textures.4.   Python plant scripts that Programmers and script professionals can easily modify.VPM includes nine sample plants.

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Greener Days Ahead: Tackling Japanese Beetles and Grubs

Toronto, ON June 1, 2005 -- Upper Canada Organic Products, based in Toronto, Ontario, is pleased to announce the arrival of the Rescue! Japanese Beetle Trap, which has been approved for use in Canada. “We are very happy to offer this product as an easy, yet effective way of reducing adult Japanese Beetle populations as well as limiting egg production,” said David Smorenburg, Owner of Upper Canada Organic Products.The Japanese Beetle is a highly destructive plant pest that has been showing up in gardens from central Canada to the east coast. Japanese Beetles have been a growing problem since the insects entered North America without their natural enemies and found both a favourable climate and an abundant food supply. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service, adult Japanese Beetles “feed on foliage and fruits of several hundred species of fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and field and vegetable crops.” They prefer to feed on the upper surface of the foliage of these plants, consuming the soft tissues between the veins and leaving a lace-like skeleton. Injured leaves eventually turn brown and die.

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Neem Tree and Neem Tree Oil

Robyn Mueller

The Neem Tree Information about Neem Oil The National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a sister agency to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has created a database of national and international research journals called MedLine. It includes more than 150 documents on neem. To search for neem and a specific question, type neem AND disorder, i.e., neem AND parasites or neem AND antiviral.

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Why Buy a Candig Mini Digger?

Lee Coleman

Candig Mini Diggers are the right choice for Landscapers, Builders, Hobby Farmers, or anyone doing small building works on a regular basis. If you need the competitive edge for your digging needs, including anything from footings for retaining walls, to planting trees or installing water lines. The Candig CD11 model tows easily with a small car, quad, or even pushed by hand. At only 840 pounds, the ultra mini excavator causes little damage to surrounding lawns or other sensitive areas. At the same time, you will be pleased with the 2600 pounds of break-out force generated by the 5.5 horse power Honda engine. Four free accessories add great value and versatility to your investment.

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The Basics of Starting a Lawn Business & Landscape Business

Kevin Whiteside

My goal is to bring lawn and landscape professionals great information, advice, tips,and strategies. I love this business and want to see others learn, grow, and be successful. You have picked a great field to be in. The SERVICE Industry. The service industry can survive in tough times alot easier while other business such as retail have rent, employees, or big expenses.

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5 Reasons for Firewood to Get Your Attention in Early Spring

Susan Penney

As the weather hints of warmth and the spring buds appear on trees, firewood may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But early spring is the ideal time to buy or gather your firewood for your fireplace or woodstove. Why? Here are 5 good reasons:

1. Firewood needs at least six months to season. If you want your firewood ready for the cool days of next fall, now’s the time to be getting it.
2. Insects living under the bark are dormant in early spring. When you store firewood now for use next fall or winter, any insects will likely die before you bring the firewood into your home.
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Look To Trees To Help You Keep Balanced And Focussed While Achieving Your Dreams

Ofa Morgan

Do you remember looking up through the branches of a beautiful, leafy tree, on a warm sunny day? How the sunlight filtering through the lush greeness, seemed to take on an almost magical quality? And do you recall how this golden sunlight and the softly swaying branches almost seemed to be the physical enactment of a song, a whispering melody, just beyond the reach of your ears? Trees, strong and sturdy, with roots deeply entrenched in the ground, while all the time reaching for the heavens or stretching out, giving shelter and protection to all who need it. Which sort of tree are you more drawn to? Are you more like a tall tree that directs its energy upward, always focussing on the next goal and not really given to taking time to relax? Or do you have more in common with the shade giver, reaching out and wanting to experience all that life has to offer you? Perhaps at different points in your life, you're either one or the other, sometimes concentrating hard on accomplishing set targets, allowing no distractions until you've reached them. And then maybe, during other times, you're more laid back and in no particular hurry to get to any one particular place. You just want to enjoy and savour all of life, reach out and communicate. The ideal is to be able to harness the benefits of both these ways.

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Porkyfarms.com Growers of Fine Christmas Trees and Landscape Evergreens, Hardwoods and Shrubs.

Porkyfarms.com is located in northwest lower Michigan between Torch and Intermediate lakes. They are growers of fine Christmas trees and landscape evergreens, hardwoods and shrubs. They have 30,000 trees to choose from. Many of their trees are grown in root control bags. Cedar, Blue and Black Hill Spruce, White, Mugho, Austrian, Japanese Black and Scotch Pine, Fraser, Canaan and Douglas Fir.

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Black Walnut Trees Produce A Natural Insecticide

Marilyn Pokorney

The black walnut tree manufactures a substance that is a natural insecticide according to experts at the Texas State University in Austin. American black walnut tress contain a tannic acid chemists call juglone. The reddish yellow substance leaches from leaves, and some believe exudes from roots, or transfers from branches and foliage to the roots. Tree physiologists agree that roots of other plants that come in contact with those black walnut tree roots die--even other black walnut seedlings. Juglone is sometimes washed out of the still green walnuts during late summer or even autumn rains.

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Concerning Mulch - PART TWO

Tammy Clayton

Copyright © 2005 The use of shredded wood mulch exists for reasons unknown to many of us. It is true and a good point that the mulch does in fact control erosion in a new planting prior to the roots taking hold of the soil. The wood mulch does retain more moisture and insulate the roots from extreme temperatures. Therefore the addition of a mulch is in deed beneficial for a newly installed shrub and tree landscape. The truth is folks have been successfully growing landscapes and gardens for centuries prior to this modern innovation commonly known as shredded mulch.

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Concerning Mulch - PART ONE

Tammy Clayton

Copyright © 2005 "I don’t want any weeds to have to deal with."The infamous statement uttered by millions. That is a pretty tall order to attempt to fill. Over the years, I have discovered that many people believe the fallacy that rock mulch over plastic or landscape cloth will render their planting free of weeds forever and ever. Covering up the soil equals no weeds?In truth this is an absolutely not possible. After fighting weeds on hundreds of acres over decades of weeks, I can assure you it is just not possible.

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Plan Before You Plant

Jean Fritz

It’s winter, and as you gaze out your picture window, all you see is a 50 square foot patch of bare dirt. After a foray through the top 10 plant catalogues armed with a major credit card and your vivid imagination, that space is crowded with shrubs, bedding plants, bulbs and foliage, all competing for light, water and nutrients. You’ve created a plant riot.Planning is vital to creating a noteworthy garden, and winter is the best time to sit down with pencil, paper and reference books. A good garden plan can save time, money and heartache.SET YOUR SIGHTS ON YOUR SITEWhere is your future garden located? Is it visible to the entire neighborhood, or to your eyes only? Does it receive full sun, or is it shaded part of the day? What is the soil type? All of these factors need to be considered during your planning phase, and will help you screen out your plant choices.DO YOU HAVE A PURPOSE IN MIND?Your site may also help determine the garden’s purpose. I have two beds within 5 feet of my kitchen door, so they are dedicated to herbs and salad fixings (I can come home from work, pick dinner, go inside and eat.) If your garden is surrounded by a privacy fence, you could consider installing a wildflower plot, or a garden designed with birds and butterflies in mind.

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Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum Opens to Protect Endangered Species

In a land known for protecting trees and the environment, a new museum now serves to preserve the legacy of the evergreen's distant cousin... the aluminum Christmas tree. The Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum and Research Center (ATOM) will display over thirty vintage aluminum trees from the 1950's and 1960's. Numerous color wheels and revolving tree stands from the era will be interspersed with artifacts from the aluminum trees' glory years. The Brevard Museum's Curator, Stephen Jackson, says "I am very pleased that Brevard College's Porter Center will host the display of this unique museum...

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How to Choose the Perfect Artificial Christmas Tree and Christmas Decorations

With the advent of artificial Christmas trees in a myriad of sizes and styles, decorating for the holidays has evolved into an often intimidating task. Is there a straightforward approach to choosing the perfect artificial Christmas tree? Yes, according to Diane Ladley of collectiblestoday.com, a popular internet shopping site offering premium-quality artificial Christmas trees from Roman, Inc. "First and foremost," says Ladley, "consider safety and quality. Second, decide upon a theme for your Christmas decor, and make your Christmas tree the centerpiece."In today's market, Christmas trees from reputable manufacturers will have a number of safety features. Flame resistant components are a must and, in the case of pre-lit Christmas trees, UL® approval is mandatory.High-quality construction and ease of use are also important.

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