Exterior Repairs Begin on Historic Buildings

Crews began work on both Christ Church and Newbury House recently. Scraping, painting and repairing rotted wood is well underway.  Both the Church and Newbury House remain open for their respective uses during the repair work.  Gerald Hanwright is helping the crews with these projects, and as can be seen below has worked on both buildings - Newbury in the photo on the left and the Church in the photo on the lower right.

Hemlock Treating Demonstration

Hemlock Bug Discovered in Rugby

Marie Tackett on the left shows the different types of chemicals that can be used to treat the hemlock trees.  Top right - Steve Logan and Kit Howes determine the diameter of a hemlock tree so they will know how much pesticide to apply. Lower left - the  group watches as Marie treats one of the trees at Kingstone Lisle.

About 15 people came to a hemlock tree-treating demonstration Saturday.  Marie Kerr Taggett, ranger and botanist with Big South Fork, did a great job of demonstrating how to measure and apply a liquid drench to the base of hemlock trees. That appears to be the easiest way to treat trees to keep them from dying from the hemlock woolly adelgid. 

Taggett also demonstrated a method for injecting chemicals directly into tree trunks, which is the preferred way of treating trees that are close to bodies of water (normally any trees closer that 10 meters to a stream for example – further if there are threatened species in the stream), but which requires a drill and a special injecting device.

Unfortunately, she confirmed that the hemlock woolly adelgid is already on some trees in Rugby, as we found evidence of it on two trees at Kingstone Lisle, Rugby’s founder’s home.  She treated those trees, but knowing that it is already in Rugby adds some urgency to the situation.  If you want to see what it looks like, go to http://www.ca.uky.edu/caps/hwa_hot_topic.asp

 Much of the demonstration showed the practical aspects of applying the drench safely, with plastic gloves, goggles, long sleeves, etc. She also addressed questions about how to buy  the chemical as economically as possible. One approach that seemed attractive to some of some of us was ordering dry packets of the chemical online and then diluting the packets in measured plastic containers that can be used to apply a measured amount on each tree based on the diameter of the tree. The dry packets are mixed with water according to instructions. If the tree is less than 24 inches in diameter, then one ounce of the liquid for each inch of diameter is poured into a trench at the base of the tree. If the tree is 24 inches in diameter or more, then double the amount is used. 

She said that the best time to apply the drench is in the fall and spring, but that it can be done any time. The key seems to be to try to time it so that there are not any huge downpour rains soon after doing the drench so the chemical has a chance to get into the roots. Also preferable is avoiding doing it when a dry spell is likely, such as the middle of summer. She said that it takes between 3 and 12 months for the drench to fully work its way up the tree. The drench is believed to be effective for 3-7 years, so retreatment will be necessary until such time as there is a more effective way to deal with the bugs, she said. 

One of the most common and least expensive chemicals for drench treatment appears to be Imidacloprid.  Hadley  Hury has done a little research and here is what he found out about ordering this chemical: “CRITERION is one of the two or three brands which Marie mentioned and which and other leading experts in the field recommend.” 

Below are three links that have information for ordering Criterion. Hadley said “The third link below is actually how I eventually purchased mine; by finding it through eBay I saved an additional four or five dollars. So long as people look for the Criterion official package (as on this eBay link), they can be assured of the authenticity.”


http://www.pestmall.com/criterion-75-water-soluble-packet-wsp.html

http://www.keystonepestsolutions.com/imidacloprid-75wsb-insecticide-criterion-75wsp-6-4-ounce-replaces-merit-75-185.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Criterion-75-WSP-4x1-6oz-bags-same-Merit-75-WSP-/330532254491”

 You can also get the drench chemical at places like Home Depot.  One easy to find product is called “Bayer Advanced.” Don Barkman said that he had just one tree to treat and he had used this product. He said it is in a blue bottle holding about a half-gallon to a gallon. You mix it with water and pour it around the tree inside the root zone. This is probably a good bit more expensive than what Hadley found online, but it may be easier for some who just have one or two specimen trees to treat.   

For people ordering the cheaper packets that Hadley discovered, it is easier to do the measurements and apply the liquid in the right amount if a well-marked container is used. The container can be found at http://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-Tritan-Wide-Mouth-Water-Bottle/dp/B00099ZUL6.  If I get one, I will let everyone know so that those of you in Rugby can borrow it if you want to use it. I may also try to get a device for measuring tree diameter. 

Hadley and I will be taking an inventory of trees on some of Historic Rugby’s land to prioritize treatment of trees on their land as money is located to pay for the chemical.  As we get into this more, we may try to organize some volunteer events to treat some of those trees. We are also encouraging the state to treat trees along the Massengale Trail and other places in the State Natural Area. All Rugby home and landowners are being encouraged to treat their own trees.

If anyone did not get to attend the demonstration, Marie is doing another one this Saturday, August 25, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Eastern at the Leatherwood Ford Gazebo at Big South Fork. Call 423-569-9778 for additional information. 

-- Rick Murphy

British Car Show in Rugby Sept. 1

Free Event with Vendors and Food

 On Saturday, September 1, Rugby will be filled with British cars and motorcycles for all to enjoy. It’s the Rugby British Car and Motorcycle Show sponsored by the Plateau British Car Club and Historic Rugby. Visitors will enjoy viewing a wide variety of British-made cars and motorcycles.

People’s choice awards will be given for the cars and cycles chosen as favorites by visitors. Car and cycle owners will enjoy showing off their collections and talking to Rugby guests. In addition to the show, vendors and food will be available along with regular tours of historic buildings. Guests can enjoy a delicious barbeque plate or sample some of the specialties at the Harrow Road Café. Spectator admission to the show is free.

For more information or lodging reservations, phone Historic Rugby toll-free at (888) 214-3400 or at (423) 628-2441 or email rugbylegacy@highland.net  

Welcoming Historic Rugby’s New Director

Reception Saturday, Aug. 25

Just a reminder that Historic Rugby's Board of Directors and a number of folks in the community cordially invite you to attend a reception in honor of Mike Harris, who recently became Interim Executive Director of Historic Rugby. Everyone is invited. Saturday, August 25, at the home of Harry and Jody Hester, 138 Cumberland  Avenue in Rugby’s Beacon Hill. 5:30 to 6:30 p m. EST. Light refreshments will be offered. Due to limited parking, it is suggested that those who are able park at the Church and walk the short distance to the Hester home.

 

BIRTHDAYS

August 27 - Polly Allen and  Jessica Neary

CALENDAR

Rugby is in the Eastern time zone, just barely.

Saturday, August 25 - Reception for Mike Harris – 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The home of Jody and Harry Hester in Beacon Hill. Saturday, August 25  - Debbie Harris will host Rugby Book Group Saturday evening, August 25, at 7:00 p.m., for our second anniversary meeting. The book selection is Jim Webb's Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America. http://www.amazon.com/Born-Fighting-Scots-Irish-Shaped-America/dp/0767916891/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342999248&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Born+Fghting Saturday, September 29 - Historic Rugby Pilgrimage – This building tour is the only time this year that some of some of Rugby’s private homes will be open. Guests will visit private historic and new period homes, historic museum buildings and lodgings. Come enjoy Morris dancing, music and period demonstrations.

Ongoing Activities

Quilters’ Group - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2–4 p.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House behind Christ Church

Rugby Yoga – Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. Eastern, at the Friendly House.

Christ Church Episcopal -- Sunday morning services, 11 a.m. Eastern, year round; all are welcomed.


Historic Rugby Workshops

White Oak Basketry Workshop -September 14-16
This very popular 3-day workshop teaches the art of White Oak basketry from tree selection, splits, rims and handles to weaving a beautiful traditional basket. This is an experience not to be missed even if it does require "hand strength." Fee is $130. Please make advanced reservations. For information about the instructors, go to whiteoakbaskets.com

Victorian Holiday Ornaments Workshop - September 22

Use fabric, lace, paper, ribbon and reed to create a charming Victorian ornament. At the end of the day, take home 6 to 8 ornaments, plus many creative ideas for later! This workshop will be led by a dynamic group of instructors: master basket maker Beth Hester, skilled heritage craft instructor Joyce Lantz and Jody Hester, who is known for her quilts and decorating. Hester has also helped outfit half of the village of Rugby in Victorian costumes she helped make. The cost for class is $25.

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To register for workshops, call toll-free 1-888-214-3400 or 423-628-2441. Lodging may be available at 1880 Newbury House and Rugby's cottages at a 10% discount to students. Food service is available at the Harrow Road Café.

NATURE NOTES

Flying Iridescent Jewels

By Linda Konig

I hope you've had the opportunity to watch some Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds zooming about this summer. If not, be on the lookout for them at trumpet vines, small red morning glories, cardinal flowers, etc. In other words, look for flowers that are red and tubular. This is the last month that we'll be able to enjoy watching hummingbirds to a great extent because next month they'll start to migrate farther south to Mexico or Central America.

Only the males have the bright red patch at their throats. The females aren't quite as eye-catching, but both sexes have iridescent green feathers on their heads and backs which glimmer in the sunlight. The iridescence is caused by the feathers' crystalline structures that refract the sunlight.

Hummingbirds are fun to watch at hummingbird feeders and flowers, but they don't just live on sugar water and nectar. They need some protein, too, so they also eat insects and spiders.

Speaking of spiders, have you ever seen a hummingbird nest? They're very hard to spot on the tree limbs partly because they're so tiny. They're mostly made of spider webs, plant down, and lichens. The lichens, especially, make the nest appear to blend in with the tree.
I'm amazed that they use spider webs to hold their nests together. That spider silk is amazing stuff - strong, stretchy, and sticky. How do they keep the spider webs from gumming up their beaks as they're trying to make their nests? I don't know.

The nests are usually about the size of a thimble, but because of the stretchy spider webs the nests can stretch larger as the baby birds grow. Hummingbirds also use spider webs to attach the nests to the tree limb, and so the nest sits like a saddle across the tree limb. By the way, I just learned today that it is illegal to take and keep a hummingbird nest, so we must just admire them in the wild.

For more interesting information about hummingbird nests as well as a good picture of a nest, go to www.rubythroat.org/questionsnesteggs01.html .  This is a Hilton Pond site, always good for well-written articles about various aspects of nature found in the Southeast.

This Week’s Editor: Rick Murphy and George Zepp