Planting Year 1, Plant ID Apps, and Craneridge Without Trees (?!)

We’re back for the second installment of “Woodlands (almost) Weekly!” We’d love to hear your ideas for future topics. Learn more about our Woodlands & Habitat efforts.

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Planting Year 1: the BIG Experiment
Woodlands Committee Chair, Gwen Alegre, recently ventured into native planting around her home. This is a beneficial thing to do for the longevity of our natural neighborhood. Gwen started in October 2020 by planting Red Oak acorns in pots, which sprouted this spring. She now has five thriving Red Oak seedlings.

In February 2021, Gwen experimented with “winter sowing” (10 min. overview video). SURPRISE! In April and May, many of the seeds sprouted. The seedlings were then transplanted into elevated beds where they grew like crazy with this summer’s rain and heat. Seeds included two kinds of milkweed, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, anise hyssop, dogbane, blue-star, and shrubby St. John’s wort. Gwen also planted Shasta Daisy seeds that Amanda Bowen shared with some folks this summer.

Waiting for cooler temps in October, the young plants were transplanted into new gardens, and they are now thriving. Check out the pics below. All this from less than $20 for seeds! And recently, Gwen planted eight white oak acorns. A Craneridge tree nursery in the works?

We Need Help for 2022! The Woodlands Committee is looking for Stewards who can do a number of things (big and small) around Craneridge’s woodlands and creeks. We’re also looking for a core group of neighbors to cut trees on common property. Interested? Complete this form.

The Craneridge Woodlands Committee is wrapping up our first year of “Branching Out,” and we wanted to share what we’re up to. We’ll continue The Woodlands (almost) Weekly on a regular basis. We’ll include upcoming events, tips, and resources. Plus, we’ll continue to share updates on our Committee’s progress! Learn about our Woodlands & Habitat efforts here and learn even more!

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Add your email address below, and you’ll receive updates as soon as they’re published. BONUS! You’ll also get timely updates on all Craneridge events and happenings. Of course, you can unsubscribe at anytime.

What’s the latest at the “Triangle?”
The Woodlands Committee continues to work on the area near the corner of Ridge Trail and Woodstock. On Sunday, Sept. 26, we planted more pollinator perennials. Our “baby” plantings are developing roots now so they can take off in the spring. Early next year, we’ll also plant ground cover to fill in the gaps. A big thank you to Jen Parsons, Matt Boyle and his family, Maggie and Zech Boyle, for lending a hand for the latest round of planting. Another thanks to Alan Miano and Sam Lewandowski who continue to care for our garden.

Upcoming event! Identify Invasive “Bad Bugs”
Our wooded neighborhood is at risk for serious impacts from Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and Beech Bark Disease similar to the devastation we’ve seen from Emerald Ash Borer. Join Nate Morey, Region 9 DEC Forester for a Zoom webinar on how to identify these bad bugs and then what to do. Wed, Nov. 10, at 7 pm. RSVP to Jen Parsons to receive Zoom link prior to event.

What’s next for the Woodlands Committee?
As we move into our slower months, the Woodlands Committee will take a close look at our first year “lessons learned” (many!) and update our long-term strategy. Our 2022 planning will also begin. Our big focus for next year will be building a detailed plan for implementing recommendations from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). We also plan to launch fun programs for kids!

We’ll need help for 2022! We’ll be looking for Stewards who can do a number of things (big and small) around Craneridge’s Woodlands. Interested?

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