GRANTHAM GARDEN CLUB
  • HOME
    • Flowers & Folklore Blog
  • ABOUT US
    • Join Us
    • Organization
    • Community Involvement
  • PROGRAM & ACTIVITY
    • 2025 Program & Activity
    • 2024 Program & Activity
    • 2023 Program & Activity
    • 2022 Program & Activity
    • 2021 Program & Actvity
    • 2020 Program & Activity
  • SCHOLARSHIP
    • 2025 Application
    • Past Recipients
  • RESOURCES
    • Gardens to Visit
    • Helpful Links
    • How-To
  • MEMBERS ONLY
    • Club Documents
    • Minutes & Treasurer Reports
    • 2025 Volunteer Teams
    • SALES & SIGNUPS >
      • 2025 Music in the Meadows
      • 2025 Civic Gardens
    • Leadership History

Fascinating Facts from Forester Dode Gladders by Terri Munson

12/9/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
Blustery wind and impending snow didn't stop a hearty group of 20 folks from attending December’s First Thursday Hike at The Fells. I learned so much great information from Dode Gladders, Forestry Field Specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension who led the walk. I remembered Dode from attending his terrific deciduous tree identification workshop for the garden club in September of 2021 so knew I was in for a great talk. 
 
Dode covered too much to explain here but I wanted to share two interesting stories. We stopped by a very strange looking tree with a dying left side and a healthy right side. Dode explained that a beech tree grew up so closely to a sugar maple that they became somewhat entwined. The beech was dying because of a multi-pronged attack. First its bark was drilled into by beech bark scales, invasive insects that have been spreading slowly from Nova Scotia since they were inadvertently introduced in the 1890s.  They can’t fly but have been walking south and have reached our area. The scales have mouths like hypodermic syringes which they use to penetrate the bark and suck out some sap. That doesn’t cause a problem to the beech tree in itself but two types of Neonectria fungi gang up to infiltrate those tiny holes and cause thousands of little infections that eventually kill the tree. As Dode explained, human diseases are mostly caused by bacteria and viruses while most tree infections are caused by fungi.
 
At a sugar maple tree, Dode pointed out a line of small round holes created by the yellow bellied sapsucker. This woodpecker pounds a line of the holes then flies off for a while giving the sap time to ooze out which attracts insects. When the woodpecker returns, it enjoys the protein rich insects followed by a sweet sap dessert.
 
The John Hay Estate at The Fells runs the First Thursday hikes all year round and is free to members. For non-members the hike is included with the cost of admission. There are different leaders and different walks each month. 
Picture
Dode pointing out holes made by yellow bellied sapsuckers
Picture
Dode taught deciduous tree identification for the garden club in September of 2021
1 Comment
Betsy Fowler
12/16/2022 09:09:53 pm

I learned more about the beech bark scales and the neonectria fungi than I knew before. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to hiking with Dode in October.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Plant Sales

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020

Grantham Garden Club, P.O. Box 1232, Grantham, NH 03753
granthamgardenclub.org

© 2025, Grantham Garden Club.  All rights reserved.