Woodsman, Spare That Tree!
The impact that the emerald ash borer (EAB) has had on our forests and landscapes is painfully obvious, even to a casual observer. This tiny bug is responsible for many of the dead spots you…
Like Life, Nature Finds a Way
Canada geese are a pretty common site in Great Parks. Lots of lakes and greenspace provide a perfect spot for these large gray-bodied birds to raise their young. But the geese aren’t completely protected, and…
A Little Team Spirit Goes a Long Way
My first full-time position with Great Parks was in Landscape Operations way back in 1984. Even after many, many years in park and golf course maintenance, I can still say with total honesty (and a…
Speaker for the Trees
For some it may be difficult to remember the exact moment that shaped their career choice, but for me it was in the third grade. It was during a reading of Dr. Seuss’s book The…
From WWII to Y2K
What do World War II and Y2K have in common? Not much you say? Well, think again! Next time you step in the door at your workplace, take a look at the people around you.…
Small Signs of Spring
Last week at Embshoff Woods Nature Preserve, I saw it! A first sign of spring: yellow wild flowers blooming in the warm February sunshine. What a great surprise for fellow Operations employee Eric Estridge and me. We…
What Do You Do?
Working maintenance in the parks and recreation field, I am always amazed at some of the questions I get from others as I describe the work that I do. At times there are some very…
Working Together Against EAB
Have you noticed any small emerald green beetles flying around? You are likely seeing the emerald ash borer (EAB), a non-native, invasive insect pest. These insects, whose adults begin emerging in mid-May, are infesting native…