What is that purple box hanging in that tree?

Have you seen this purple box? Do you know what it is? If you guessed a trap used for detecting the Emerald Ash Borer, you are right! The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has found it's way into Virginia.
EAB is already responsible for the death of millions of ash trees. First found in Michigan in 2002 this metallic green insect has wreaked havoc across thirteen states and parts of Canada. EAB was found in Fairfax, VA several years ago. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been monitoring for the pest and fortunately have yet to find any significant moves. However, the EAB is a clever little bug and has figured out that it is easier to travel with unsuspecting humans than to fly from tree to tree. That is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not transport firewood 1) from any of the quarantined counties (check VDOF website for list or google EAB in VA) and 2) for long distances. I know paying for firewood in a park or forest is ridiculous when you can bring it yourself, but trust me, spreading EAB will cost much more.

So why do I care that this bug kills ash trees? What are they good for anyways? Well ash is most famously used for America's favorite past time, that's right, baseball. Ash is the best wood out there for baseball bats, dense and elastic. You might also find out that your electric guitar is made from ash (that could explain why they are so hard to break on stage). Ash also plays an important role in the forest as a common riparian species. Riparian species are found near waterways and can act as huge filters for sediment and chemicals trying to reach the water. Ash make great yard trees as they are both beautiful and provide excellent shade.

Back to the traps now. I had an opportunity to participate in the monitoring for this insect through the Society of American Foresters. I have placed two traps at Holliday Lake State Park and two at Bear Creek Lake State Park. I will be checking these traps in late June and then again in August before taking them down. I certainly hope that I don't find anything.

What is that purple box hanging in that tree?

Have you seen this purple box? Do you know what it is? If you guessed a trap used for detecting the Emerald Ash Borer, you are right! The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has found it's way into Virginia.
EAB is already responsible for the death of millions of ash trees. First found in Michigan in 2002 this metallic green insect has wreaked havoc across thirteen states and parts of Canada. EAB was found in Fairfax, VA several years ago. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been monitoring for the pest and fortunately have yet to find any significant moves. However, the EAB is a clever little bug and has figured out that it is easier to travel with unsuspecting humans than to fly from tree to tree. That is why it is VERY IMPORTANT that you do not transport firewood 1) from any of the quarantined counties (check VDOF website for list or google EAB in VA) and 2) for long distances. I know paying for firewood in a park or forest is ridiculous when you can bring it yourself, but trust me, spreading EAB will cost much more.

So why do I care that this bug kills ash trees? What are they good for anyways? Well ash is most famously used for America's favorite past time, that's right, baseball. Ash is the best wood out there for baseball bats, dense and elastic. You might also find out that your electric guitar is made from ash (that could explain why they are so hard to break on stage). Ash also plays an important role in the forest as a common riparian species. Riparian species are found near waterways and can act as huge filters for sediment and chemicals trying to reach the water. Ash make great yard trees as they are both beautiful and provide excellent shade.

Back to the traps now. I had an opportunity to participate in the monitoring for this insect through the Society of American Foresters. I have placed two traps at Holliday Lake State Park and two at Bear Creek Lake State Park. I will be checking these traps in late June and then again in August before taking them down. I certainly hope that I don't find anything.

Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest

The trail saga at Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest continues. I finally finished flagging the last of the potential new trail and have begun to look at looping options. The trail is roughly 4.75 linear miles (however the terrain is rolling which should add more actual mileage) and has 17 stream crossings. While implementing this trail will be difficult, it is my hope to have it completed and ready to open by Spring 2011 (maybe April).

This trail passes through a variety of scenery from hardwoods, various life stages of pine, soggy bottomland, clearcuts, and wildlife meadows. While on the trail today I saw at least 5 turkeys, a large black snake, and lots and lots of bear scat. I will hopefully have some pictures downloaded soon as I also saw a bird's nest nestled in the tall grass, dogwoods in bloom, rhododendron in bloom, and a sphinx moth. I also ran into some VDOF hoodlum's preparing to put in fire lines around a clearcut area adjacent to the trail. They will then burn this area in preparation for a new generation of Loblolly pine seedlings. It's amazing what you might see when you are out enjoying Virginia's forests!

Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest

The trail saga at Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest continues. I finally finished flagging the last of the potential new trail and have begun to look at looping options. The trail is roughly 4.75 linear miles (however the terrain is rolling which should add more actual mileage) and has 17 stream crossings. While implementing this trail will be difficult, it is my hope to have it completed and ready to open by Spring 2011 (maybe April).

This trail passes through a variety of scenery from hardwoods, various life stages of pine, soggy bottomland, clearcuts, and wildlife meadows. While on the trail today I saw at least 5 turkeys, a large black snake, and lots and lots of bear scat. I will hopefully have some pictures downloaded soon as I also saw a bird's nest nestled in the tall grass, dogwoods in bloom, rhododendron in bloom, and a sphinx moth. I also ran into some VDOF hoodlum's preparing to put in fire lines around a clearcut area adjacent to the trail. They will then burn this area in preparation for a new generation of Loblolly pine seedlings. It's amazing what you might see when you are out enjoying Virginia's forests!

Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest

At just under 19,808 acres, Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest is the largest forest in the state forest system. It offers a variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and geocaching. Soon even more users will be able to enjoy this gem of a forest.

A large multiuse parking lot is under construction just west of the intersection of Andersonville Road and Francisco Road. This parking area is approximately 2.5 acres in size and will eventually allow for parking by hikers, bikers, and horse trailers. The gravel base for the parking lot is nearly complete. Eventually the parking lot will include an informational kiosk, picnic shelter, horse corral, a mounting block, hitching posts, and a non-potable water source. The parking lot will be situated conveniently to allow access to the Orchard Trail, Walker Trail, and Carter-Taylor multiple use trail.

This project will hopefully be completed during the summer of 2010. Please come out and enjoy the new facility and check out the trails while you are in the area. Within the forest you will also find Holliday Lake State Park and the Holliday Lake 4-H Center. It is just a short jaunt down Route 24 to the historic Appomattox National Battlefield where General's Lee and Grant met to sign the surrender agreement for the civil war.