One Water Partnership in the Jones Falls

Watch this short video and see what congregations throughout the Jones Falls Watershed are doing to protect our environment. Nice surprise at the end for Episcopalians!

Emerald Ash Borer Information Network

EAB Information Network web site - "This Website is part of a multinational effort to bring you the latest information about emerald ash borer.' Very comprehensive. It includes materials for school children.


Emerald Ash Borer - 

This photo shows the size of the Emerald Ash Borer and the typical "D"-shaped entry holes. Considering the devastation this insect is causing it is not very large.

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake - July 2017 Newsletter

Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake - July 2017 Newsletter

What to do with all those leaves?

Fall(ing) Leaves

What do we do with them? 

Crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkins (and pumpkin flavored things) as far as the eye can see… Fall is finally here!  While most people think fondly of fall foliage, it’s what comes shortly after that can cause major headaches (and backaches).  Raking and disposing of the leaves!

Who doesn’t remember the joy of being a kid and spending autumn afternoons jumping in to freshly raked piles of leaves your parents made? Now as an adult our job isn’t jumping, but rather the raking.  The big question that lingers is, what to do with all those vibrant leaves that were hanging on to your trees branches, just last week?
  

The important thing to remember is that even though we are in a City, the natural cycle of leaves is to fall, decompose into the soil and become organic matter.  The lack of “soil” and the high amount of impervious surface prevents this cycle.  So what to do? 

• If you have a lawn, ideally you can mow them in to your grass and keep the cycle intact.
• Shredded leaves make excellent mulch for garden beds, flowerbeds, or trees.  Helping prevent weeds as well as breaking down and adding nutrients to the soil.
• Add them to/start a compost pile! Most things added are high in nitrogen (coffee grinds, egg shells, fruits & veggies)
• Make leaf mold (soil conditioner) by wetting the leaves, adding a little bit of nitrogen-rich material (compost) in a black plastic bag.  Shake up, add a few slices to let in oxygen and let sit for six months.  This can be done with out bag, just takes much longer.
• Halloween/ Fall decorations!  Stuff a scarecrow, or some of those orange plastic bags with the jack-o-lantern faces printed on the front. Lots of crafts can be done for Thanksgiving centerpieces using fall leaves.

If none of these things are possible, Baltimore City’s DPW has you covered with leaf and yard waste collection, which started last Monday.  Leaf Collection Season is from Oct. 17-Jan. 9.  Citizens must call 311 before 6PMon Sunday, to schedule a special Monday collection (of up to 20 bags).  Additionally you can put 5 bags of leaves/yard waste can be put out on your regularly scheduled trash collection day.  You may also take your bags to any Citizen Drop-off Center. Yard waste collected by DPW goes to Baltimore's energy-from-waste facility, the Baltimore Wheelabrator.

by Charles Murphy, TreeBaltimore Operations Manager

Shrubaganza: The Path to An Exciting Mixed Border

Come see Stephanie Cohen, "the perennial diva," speak about creating mixed perennial borders!

St. Bartholomew's Church, 4711 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229, 6:30 PM in our Parish House

"Flowering shrubs should be part of the perennial border both for structure and style. The best shrubs have lovely flowers, good form, foliage that adds to the garden in three seasons, including those that have superior fall color. I have tried to pick those that have low maintenance and easy requirements. Very few of the shrubs are water guzzlers or those that require life support systems to flourish. As gardens and gardeners mature we want the best possible choices. I have picked both natives and non-natives that fit the bill. I am known for being opinionated and funny so don't be surprised by what I say!"
     Stephanie Cohen
     "The Perennial Diva"

Stephanie is featured in American Gardener Magazine the Sept/Oct 2016 current issue.
3 of Stephanie's books will be available for purchase:

• The Perennial Gardeners Design Primer
• Fallscaping
• The Nonstop garden.

We have a suggested donation of $5 to offset fees for this speaker.

Re-planting the church entrance

On Monday, November 1, Jack Lattimore, Bryan MacKay, Sharon Selleck (and Sharon's sister from Florida, Pat Fernandez) re-planted the right front entrance to the church. Invasive, non-native plants were replaced with natives Heuchara villosa 'Autumn Bride' (Alumroot) and Ilex glabra 'Shamrock.' (Inkberry). The use of native plants means less maintenance and higher wildlife value.

After we prepared the planting bed we spread the mulch.

Then we laid out the plants.

 

 Installation went quickly!

A job well done.

Fall Progress

On Friday, October 21, a few of St. B's landscapers made progress on 3 fronts:

• Edmondson Avenue steps - Thanks to the work of Jean Black we are weeding and generally spiffing up the 2 exterior stone stairways from Edmondson Ave. onto St. B's campus. The stairways are made of beautiful Butler quartzite stone and are fine examples of the stone mason's craft. At the present time they could use the help of a good stone mason to make them more serviceable, but thanks to Jean's work at least they are now weed free and provide a more inviting, walkable entry to St. B's. 

Before Jean at work

A job well done!

• Church entrance - With the help of Sharon Selleck, Bryan Mackay, and Jack Lattimore, the landscape bed at the right side of the church entrance is being renovated to more closely follow the Oheme Master Plan. Non-native species such as Gooseneck Loosetrife (Lysimachia clethroides) and Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum) are being replaced with a cultivar of Alumroot (Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride') and a compact Inkberry (Ilex glabra 'Shamrock').
• Trees for Sacred Places - Bryan and Jack were able to lay out a number of locations for the trees that will be planted on Saturday, November 5.

Additional landscape volunteers are always welcome. Your work is always appreciated!

Please join us for the tree planting on Saturday, November 5. We start the day with a hearty breakfast at 8:30 am in the Parish House. At 9:30 we move outside to plant 60 native tree saplings. Our plan is to be done by 11:30 am. Bring a friend! 

Planting native landscapes is one of the best ways we can care for God's creation - earth, our island home.