Nature's Edge

	Woodland Plant List The Woodland Plant List is provided as a general resource for people interested in planting native plants in and along their woodland. Basic information is provided which will identify the type of plant, whether it requires moist or dry soils or full to part shade, and whether it is particularly susceptible to deer browse.

The Value of Trees (Posted July, 2009)

The nature preserves and woodlands around Lincolnshire are working hard to protect us from our environment. The carbon emissions and other pollutants from our homes and cars are contaminating our air. Think for a moment about the number of cars driving down the tollway each day and amount of pollution they create. The trees in our nature preserves and woodlands absorb carbon dioxide and produce clean oxygen for our benefit. They also remove other pollutants by absorbing them through stomates on their leaf surface. Just think about all of the pollution coming off of the tollway or Route 22 into our community! The 110 acre Illinois Nature Preserves along our border, stores approximately 286 tons of carbon that would otherwise filter into our air. One acre of healthy trees will offset the carbon emissions of a car driving 26,000 miles - that is more than once around the earth! The trees around your home are also working hard to filter out carbon and pollution. Did you know, trees reduce the ambient temperature through a process known as evapotranspiration and absorb rainwater with their root systems to help keep the areas around our homes dry? Trees also provide shade, housing for birds and wildlife and beauty to our landscape.

It is important to keep our trees healthy so they in turn can keep us healthy. Be sure to check your trees for stress or decline. This can come in a variety of ways, i.e. not enough water during dry periods, insect problems, broken branches or damaged bark, buckthorn infestation around their root systems, etc. Have your trees trimmed or treated for problems to limit the amount of loss. Elms in our area are dying off from Dutch Elm Disease. Ash trees may soon be hit with Emerald Ash Borer. Prepare for the loss of trees on your property by planting trees to replace those that are declining. Select species that are disease resistant and native to our area. These trees, if well cared for, will be able to grow, thrive and continue to work hard to improve our environment. We need healthy trees to keep us healthy!

It’s Tick Season! (Posted June, 2009)

The summer weather brings the ticks out and we need to be on the watch for these little bugs. There are two types of ticks in our area, the American dog tick (wood tick) and the deer tick (black-legged tick). Dog ticks are larger than the deer tick and do not carry Lyme disease. These are the most common ticks in our area. Deer ticks are much smaller - about 1/8 inch. They can be dark brown to bright red in color. They have black legs and are becoming more common. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease.

Testing in Lake County showed that 37% of the deer ticks tested showed positive for Lyme disease. Be sure to check yourself, your family members and pets frequently for ticks. If you find a tick embedded in a pet or human, take care when removing it not to squeeze it. Use a pair of tweezers, grasping the tick near the mouth parts and gently pull the tick in a steady, upward motion. Be sure to clean the area with a disinfectant. Record the date and location of the bite and watch for early symptoms of Lyme disease, i.e. a red rash that occurs at the site of the bite and/or the center of the bite area may be clear with a rash extending outwards.

To avoid ticks:

• Clear leaf litter from under trees and keep the ground clean under bird feeders.
• Keep grass near playground equipment short.
• Install a wood chip or gravel barrier between lawns and wooded or tall grass areas.
• Minimize wood piles as these are attractive to small mammals such as mice, which can carry ticks.
• Avoid tick habitat by staying on trails when in forest preserves and parks.
• Wear light colored, protective clothing.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET primarily to clothes.
• Walk in the center of trails so plants do not brush against you.
• Check yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks.
• If your pets spend time outdoors, regularly check them for ticks too.
• Prompt removal of ticks helps to prevent infection.

In order to transmit disease, a deer tick must be attached to the skin for at least 24 hours. Symptoms of Lyme disease include "bull’s eye" rash or lesions around the site of the bite (usually 7 to 14 days after the tick has consumed a blood meal), fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and/or joint aches. If you experience any of these symptoms seven days or more following a known tick bite, you should contact your physician.

For more information about ticks go to the Lake County Health Department’s Web site.

Mosquito Abatement Program (Posted June, 2009)

The Mayor and Board of Trustees want every resident to be informed of the effort the Village is putting forth regarding the Mosquito Abatement Program and the West Nile Virus. The Village has teamed up with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Control to administer our integrated program.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms of the disease initially are similar to the flu. The majority of individuals infected with the disease will never know it. The symptoms will be so mild they will go undetected. In severe cases, the disease may cause encephalitis, paralysis, coma or death. Individuals with compromised immune systems and senior citizens are at greatest risk.

The Village of Lincolnshire has contracted with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Control for a sophisticated abatement program. This integrated approach includes mosquito traps for monitoring numbers of insects, prevention of larval mosquito development in stormwater catch basins, and insect-eating fish used in detention basins. When the mosquito count elevates, the Village will provide adult mosquito control. This is the most effective method for controlling mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus once the insect matures. Even with this comprehensive program in place, the cooperation of each Lincolnshire resident is needed.

Protect yourself during daylight hours, especially at sunrise and just before and after sunset:

• Wear light colored, long-sleeved tops and long pants.
• Consider applying insect repellent that contains DEET with 14% to 25% Diethylmeta-toluamide to exposed skin (Off® or Cutter® are common brands).

Prevent mosquito breeding around your home:

• Dispose of all standing water in buckets, cans or any water-holding container outdoors.
• At least once a week empty water from bird baths and plant-pot drip trays.
• Keep roof gutters clean and free of debris.

Having an outdoor party?

• Use a fogger or spray insecticide on foliage near and around the party site just prior to the arrival of guests.
• Have insect repellent for guests in a prominent place.

If you have any questions about the Village of Lincolnshire's 2009 Mosquito Abatement Program at any time during the season, please contact the Clarke Mosquito Hotline at 800.942.2555.

Spraying for Mosquitoes (Posted June, 2009)

If you prefer that Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management notify you several hours before spraying so you may close your windows, please call Clarke Notification Service at 800.942.2555.

West Nile Virus (Posted June, 2009)

The Lake County Health Department has reactivated its West Nile Virus Hotline. The WNV hotline, 847.377.8300, provides information about West Nile Virus and allows residents to report dead bird sightings (crows and blue jays), which can indicate the virus is in the region, as well as neglected pools and other conditions conducive to mosquito breeding.

The Clark Mosquito Hotline, 800.942.2555, has also been activated to allow residents to report standing water or to be placed on its night spraying Prior Notification list.

Please report dead bird sightings to the Lake County Health Department’s WNV Hotline. This dead bird information is utilized by Clarke in coordination with the Lake County Health Department surveillance program.