Long
Cold Winter
Winter
is a fact of life in Maine. Some people enjoy it, while others simply endure
it. There has been no lack of ice, cold and snow this winter. The bad news is
that our heating costs have been high and our public works departments have
been stretched to the max. There is a silver lining though.
Extended
periods of extreme cold are exactly what is needed to help kill off invasive
insects. We are faced with an ever increasing list of invasive insects that are
threatening the trees we value so much. For instance, the Gypsy Moth and the
Spruce Budworm are a couple that are already here, and can be held in check by
cold temperatures. The Emerald Ash Borer, the Asian Longhorn Beetle and the
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are all knocking at our door. Any one of these insects
can bring mass devastation to our landscape if not kept in check. Anyone old enough
to remember the Dutch Elm Disease of the 1960s knows what I mean by mass
devastation. So, next time the temperature takes a
dip into negative numbers,
just smile knowingly and add some Maine-made wood pellets to the stove.
No comments:
Post a Comment