Tree Damage

As many of you know..  Association for Better Community Schools (ABCS) and Norchester Garden Club have provided many of the new trees for the park as well as creating and maintaining the garden. The last group of 7 trees donated by ABCS cost $1400.00 and the park staff have done a great job of planting and caring for them.  There is, however, a problem with one or more of the "Fitness Trainers" who exercise with their customers in the park in recent days. These pictures were taken the morning of May 28, 2015.

This fine young tree is in a prominent location by the monument.  It looks fine from this direction.    But closer inspection shows the very severe damage to the bark on the other side. 

The damage is caused by these fitness groups placing exercise bands around the base of the tree, which they then stretch and "saw" back and forth as part of an exercise routine.   The trainer has been told to stop this practice by the park staff.

A related problem is the use of the park benches (donated at $1000 each) for stepping up and down on, etc.  The composition slats in the benches do break. 

If you see such practices... please: 

1.. Say something to the individuals involved.. ask them to stop. You can also tell them that exercise equipment/stations are on order for this park so that such folks will have a proper place and means for their workouts.

2..  If you feel uncomfortable confronting such behavior, please inform park staff immediately as they are usually present. 

3..   If park staff are absent or not readily available, please call the Pct #4 constable number 281-376-3472 and request an officer stop by.  The park is part of their area of responsibility.

Little can be done for such damage, and with half the circumference of the trunk being damaged.. it is somewhat unlikely that this tree will survive. The best that can be done is to clean up the damaged area and let it try to heal by itself.  It is not recommended that a sealant of any kind be placed on such a wound. 

Here is a link to what A&M has to say.. HERE

Monarch Butterfly Look-Alikes

Four Fast Facts about Monarch Butterflies

1. Monarchs know the right direction to migrate even though they have never made the journey before. They have a sun compass, with receptors in their antennae—and use an internal magnetic compass on overcast days.
2. Milkweed is the one and only host plant for monarch caterpillars.
3. Monarch populations have dropped 90 percent in the past 20 years due to massive habitat destruction and pesticides.
4. The grassland prairies that run through the middle of our country provide one of the most crucial monarch habitat corridors in the world.

Learn how to tell monarchs apart from viceroy and queen butterflies.

An orange, black and white butterfly alights on a milkweed blooming in your garden. But is it a monarch butterfly? Or is it a viceroy or queen butterfly? Do you know how to tell the difference?

Don’t be fooled! Learn how to distinguish monarchs from their look-alikes by taking our Monarch ID Quiz by   Clicking Here

Flag Time Once Again

Norchester looks particularly nice on these "flag days" the band provides.