Rescheduled: 'Insect pests of fruit trees' to be at the Heartwood Festival on June 2nd

The rain chased away the demonstration table about 'Insect pests of fruit trees' on Arbor Day 2012, but HMEG,  Extension Master Gardeners & the Local Food Resource Hub are bringing it back for the Midway's big to do, the Heartwood Festival on Saturday, June 2nd! Anyone who got a fruit tree last fall in the HMEG give-away, or is a part of the Midway Local Food Resource Hub, or just is an aspiring home fruit tree grower will find this demo a great resource.

Stop by to learn the fairly simple ways of detecting the presence of fruit tree insects to determine when, or if any treatment may be needed. Learn to identify the Curculio, Coddling Moth, Apple Maggot fly, various leafrollers, sawfly and more. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the method stressing least harm to the environment and consumer will be the key approach taught at this demonstration to provide home growers with successful fruit crops. Various insect traps and bagging fruit methods will be demonstrated. Lots of chances to ask questions.

'Insect pests of fruit trees'  at Newell Park on Saturday, June 2nd. from 1-4pm

Find the demo at the HMEG table! 

About the instructor: Ann Aurelius has been a dedicated Ramsey County Master Gardener for 7 years. She specializes in urban food growing and has spent extensive time with the Gibbs Farm apple orchard trees--learning about the pests that love to snack on them!

This event is part of the 2012 Midway Local Food Resource Hub educational opportunities.

Urban fruit tree growers, learn more about the insect pests of fruit trees at Arbor Day 2012!

Plum curculio

Maybe you got a fruit tree last fall in the HMEG give-away?  Or maybe you are an aspiring home fruit tree grower?  Either way, HMEG has arranged a great drop-in event to learn more about care of your fruit trees. This demonstration will  be set-up at St. Paul's 2012 Arbor Day celebration. Stop by to learn the  fairly simple ways of detecting the presence of fruit tree insects to determine when, or if any treatment may be needed. Learn to identify the Curculio, Coddling Moth, Apple Maggot fly, various leafrollers, sawfly and more. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the method stressing least harm to the environment and consumer will be the key approach taught at this demonstration to provide home growers with successful fruit crops. Various insect traps and bagging fruit methods will be demonstrated. Lots of chances to ask question.

Its all at Horton Park on April 28th for the city of St. Paul’s Arbor Day celebration at Horton Park from 10 am to 1 pm.


About the instructor: Ann Aurelius has been a dedicated Ramsey County Master Gardener for 7 years. She specializes in urban food growing and has spent extensive time with the Gibbs Farm apple orchard trees--learning about the pests that love to snack on them!

This event is part of the 2012 Midway Local Food Resource Hub educational opportunities.

Arbor Day Plant and Play at Horton Park

• Looking for a reason to spend some time at a Midway park with the family?
• Ever wanted to plant a tree in a local park?
• Want to learn more about what you can do with your outdoor space?

Come out to Horton Park on April 28th for the city of St. Paul’s Arbor Day celebration at Horton Park! With the guidance, volunteers will be planting over 70 trees in Horton Park. After the planting, the Midway Frogtown Arborators will share some brass tunes. Tours of the park’s trees will be offered periodically, as well as slack line and tree climbing opportunities for the kids. In addition, Friends of Horton Park will be opening the community gardens for the season and attendees can partake in that activity too. While at the park, you can get a tattoo, press plants for a City Herbarium with Works Progress, learn about fruit tree pests and diseases from Ramsey County Master Gardeners, make a stem-dwelling native bee nest with Befriending Bumble Bees, climb a tree, listen to the Midway Frogtown Arborators, and more! The planting will start at 9:00 a.m.(you can register on site beginning at 8:30), rain or shine, and run until 10:30. The rest of the day’s events will run 10 am until 1:00 p.m. There will light refreshments provided, but visitors who plan to be there for long are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. This event is co-hosted by Friends of Horton Park, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and St. Paul’s Natural Resources. Come anytime during the event! You can pre-register to help with the planting by heading to this registration link, or if needed by contacting Andy at 651-632-2411 or Andy.Rodriguez@ci.stpaul.mn.us. For other inquiries contact steph@hmeg.org.

Location:   Hamline and Minnehaha Aves in the St. Paul Midway
Date:         Saturday April 28th
Times:       Registration for planting: 8:30am
                  Planting: 9-10:30am
                  Activities, refreshments, demonstrations and community garden opening: 10am -1pm

"Care of Young Fruit Trees" Workshops on Sept. 17th - Free

The Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply are offering two "Care of Young Fruit Trees" workshops taught by Rebecca Koetter. The classes will be held on on Saturday Sept 17th at Egg|Plant during HMEG's tree distribution day. The 45 minute sessions will be held at noon and 3:00pm. Topics to be covered will include fruit tree planting, mulching, watering, pruning (very basic), reasons for fruit sanitation, rodent protection, and product supply needs. These classes support HMEG's goal of offsetting tree canopy losses in the Midway due to emerald ash borer and help ensure good production from fruit trees that are included in this distribution.

These workshops are specifically designed for the HMEG Tree Team fall 2011 distribution, but they are free and open to anyone. No reservations required.

For those planning on planting- be sure to call Gopher One before you dig: (651) 454-0002

About the instructor: Rebecca Koetter is a Research Fellow at the UMN and a full time manager of several edible trees and shrubs at the TRE Nursery and on the St Paul U of MN campus. She works on urban forestry outreach education programs with the Department of Forest Resources in St. Paul.

What: "Care of Young Fruit Trees" classes

Where: Eggplant Urban Farm Supply, 1771 Selby Ave., St. Paul.

When: 12:00 pm (noon) & 3:00 pm

Who: Taught by Rebecca Koetter, sponsored by Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) and Egg|Plant Urban Farm Supply

You’re Invited to Get a fruit or shade TREE From the HMEG Tree Team!

As a community, we are facing losing all of our ash trees due to the Emerald ash borer (EAB). In response, the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG) Tree Team has secured sponsorship to provide trees to Hamline Midway residents at a great discount. Trees are offered first-come, first-served based on availability, limited to one tree per property. Trees cannot be planted on the boulevard. See your choices below:

Fruit Tree Species

Evans Bali Cherry, Prunus cerasus 'Evans Bali'. Zone 3-8. Ht. 15’.
Full sun. Deep, dark red fruit 1" in diameter and excellent for baking
and fresh eating. The fruit is much sweeter than other sour cherries.
Extremely hardy buds. 5-gallon container.

Northstar Cherry, Prunus ‘North Star’. Zone 4-8. Genetic dwarf, Ht.
8-10’. Self-fertile. Full sun. Red fruit with small stone, very productive
sour cherry. 5-gallon container.

Mount Royal Plum, Prunus ‘Mount Royal’. Zone 4-8. Ht. 8-12’. Full
sun. Blue, European plum. Excellent for dessert, jam and preserves.
Tasty right off the tree. 5-gallon container.

Pioneer Chinese Apricot, Prunus armeniaca 'Pioneer'. Zone 4. Ht.10-
15’. Golden-yellow fruits are sweet, firm and juicy. Trees bear young
and heavily. Its pit is edible and tastes of almond. Self-fruitful,
however yields improve with cross-pollination. 5-gallon container.

Native Shade Tree Species

Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis. Zone 3-5. H:50-75' W: 50-75'. Full sun
to part shade. Tolerates dry polluted conditions. Persistent small,
purplish berries. Yellow fall color. Very high wildlife value. 5-gallon
container.

River Birch, Betula nigra. Zone 4-8. H:50-60’ W:35-40’. Clump. Full
sun/light shade. Cinnamon-brown exfoliating bark. Yellow fall color.
High wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor. Zone 4-5. H: 50-60' W: 40-50'.
Tolerates most soils. Yellow orange fall color. Persistent leaves in
winter. Fibrous root system. Resistant to salt and soil compaction. Very
high wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Native Ornamental Tree Species

Pagoda Dogwood, Cornus alternifolia. Zone 4-7. H:15-20’ W:20-25’.
Full sun to shade. Graceful small tree has pale yellow flowers in May
with blue-black fruit. Maroon-red fall color. Branches grow in irregular
tiers, forming a somewhat horizontal, layered look to the plant. High
wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

Serviceberry, Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (native
hybrid). Zone 3-8. H:20-25’ W:10-15’. This tree has white blossoms in
spring with sweet purplish-black fruit. Brilliant red-orange fall color.
Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading branch pattern
and attractive light gray bark. High wildlife value. 5-gallon container.

All trees are only $5!

Reserve your tree by September 1st! Contact Hamline Midway Coalition at 651-646-1986 or michaeljon@hamlinemidway.org. Prepayment required. Send your name and choice of tree
along with a $5 check or cash to:

HMC at 1564 Lafond Ave., St.
Paul, MN 55104.

Recipients MUST pick up their tree on September 17 at:

Eggplant Urban Farm Supply,
1771 Selby Ave., St. Paul.
between 10:00am – 6:00pm.

Be sure to call Gopher One before you dig: (651) 454-0002!

Do you need a printable flyer with this info? See this pdf.

Major funding from the Community Organization Partnership Program and McKnight Foundation via the Hamline Midway Coalition. HMEG will gladly take donations towards future greening efforts. Cash or checks can be made to HMC. Thanks!