A vehicle rolled down our driveway and hit a 24’ tall ponderosa. The circumference at the base of the Ponderosa is 25 inches, so a diameter of approximately 8 inches. The impact of the vehicle sheared about 4 feet off the top of the tree and left the tree with a slant of about 30°. We have straightened the tree and are bracing it to another tree so it is once again standing tall. We are hopeful the tree survives, but are wondering if there are any things we can do like extra nutrients or anything else to increase the tree’s chance of survival.

I uploaded a couple of pictures and the screen went blank. I will try again. I found this stone in my driveway. It seems to have a core or stalk of some kind of plant impressed on it... Or is it a fossil of the plant itself? The ridges extend to the sides of the stone, as well as being on both "ends."

We have a female oriole that is overwintering in our backyard. We have been feeding her suet, berry and bug seed mixture, and have two heated birdbaths that she shares with the other birds. We have researched how to provide for her. Is there anything else that you can think of?

We have a neighbor that has about 10 trees down that we think have bugs in them. Is there anyone that would come out to talk to them to tell them to get rid of the trees?

My husband and i have noted the near total absence of gray squirrels in our home in Campton. While we are saving money on black oil sunflower seeds, we miss seeing these little acrobats and their antics, and never minded "subsidizing" them with some food. Is there some disease killing them off? Last winter I noted one squirrel at our feeder who appeared to have mange. I woud appreciate any information you may have on these little backyard mammals. Thank you!

Hi, is there a way to treat apple scab without impacting pollinators? I have a few mature crabapple trees that get scab. We were planning on treating them with a fungicide this spring. However, we’ve also installed a big front yard garden around these trees that attract hundreds of pollinators. I’ve just read fungicides can impact the overall health of pollinators. So I’m wondering if there’s a way to treat scab without impacting the life or health of pollinators or the soil. Thanks, Liz

I have one year old Spanish lavender plants. I have not trimmed yet. Is March optimal time to trim them back by 1/3?

Hi, we live in Portland and would like to plant a dwarf Japanese maple in a bed behind our house. I’m hoping for advice on varieties that would be better with a little more heat as the spot we have picked out is in front of a south facing wall side of the house that can reflect a decent amount of heat in the summer. Previously we had a hydrangea planted here and it was plenty healthy although the leaves would get a little scorched during the hottest parts of the year. The window it will be in front of is about 5’ high and we are hoping to prune/train it to stay under the window which is the only reason we are looking at dwarf varieties, but maybe I don’t have the best understanding of how maples are classified. Any varieties that you can recommend? I’ll be hoping to find one for local pickup at a nursery in the Portland area ideally.

Hi, Is this native spiderwort? Is it ohiensis or virginiana or can they cross? The stem of the flower doesn’t seem hairy. Thanks!