TREE OF THE MONTH
Hybrid Poplar (Populus Hybrids)
A spin off of the Cottonwood, this fast-growing, suckering tree can be used to quickly develop height and protection in a tree row growing up to 60ft in height in a matter of years. With this in mind it requires regulated soil moisture and is prone to breakage after maturation and several types of bug related diseases. This leaves it a somewhat short-lived tree in comparison to others but makes excellent firewood and leaves a good overwintering bug habitat due to this decay. Leaves are oval shaped with a dense and silky texture and softly rounded edges up to five inches in width and length. Bark color is dependent on age, with young trees looking grey green in tone, and older trees looking ash grey and dark grey with furrowed bark at maturity. In the spring female trees develop a flowering catkin shoot that produces brown/red flowers in the spring which turn to seedlings encased in fluffy cotton that float through the air in the summer.
Summer is just around the corner and those elderberries will be blooming soon! Try this elderberry flower milk rob from the NDSU Windbreak Cookbook!
ELDERBERRY FLOWER MILK ROB
1 qt. milk
8 clusters of elderberry flowers, snipped from stems, washed
and drained
½ lemon, seeded and pulverized in a blender (peel and all)
3 Tbsp. honey
4 Tbsp. Cognac or other brandy
Grated nutmeg to taste
Heat milk to just below a boil; do not boil. Pour milk over elderberry flowers. Add lemon, honey and Cognac. Allow to cool, but do not chill. Serve in glass punch cups and sprinkle each serving with nutmeg.
Want to know more about Elderberry shrubs and their herbal benefits? Check out this great video from author and herbalist Herbs With Rosalee to find out more!
Flora Facts
Native Plants are four times more likely than nonnative plants to attract native bees, and native plant genera support three times as many species of butterflies and moths as introduced plants do. (2011, Xerces Society)
Celebrate Earth Day!
Here at the Soil Conservation District we believe everyday is Earth Day!
Meet Max the Little Monster. He is a cute, furry green monster who is an environmental nightmare. Among other things, he leaves on all the lights, keeps his computer plugged in, blasts the TV, hoards his old toys and uses so much toilet paper it clogs the toilet until finally, his excessive ways cause a power outage. With no TV to watch, computer to play on, video games to play with, Max finds there is a whole big world outside that he can make a difference in the environment. Follow Max the Little Green Monster's journey to environmental awareness and learn tips on how Youcan become a little green monsters yourself!