The Emerald Ash Borer

This has been a very sad couple of days around our home for a number of reasons (putting the elections results aside). We have had to endure the systematic destruction of all our Ash trees over the past year. Finally, yesterday, we watched the chopping and the removal of ten trees in our front yard. We are tree lovers. This was a hard thing to watch. Here are some pictures of the two sides of the front yard before and during. The leaves are gone so the full effect is not so noticeable in the images. Trust me though…it is very noticeable and painful to our family. Our home is surrounded by woods with many different types of trees; sadly, many of them Ash, which are now or will soon be standing fire wood.

Not sure what you know of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Briefly FYI: It was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. However, the larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, and disrupt the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Rumor had it that Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in Asia. Since 2002, it has killed more than 40 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone (now 40 million and 10), with tens of millions more lost in surrounding states.

Here is a less distressing image to leave you with-yes it is the “Mysterious Mister M” and our little Teddy Boo (my name for him-when he is being nice).

Heavy-hearted and until next week, Mary