Need some extra greenery for your holiday decorating? There might be something useful right in your own yard. Many native and adapted landscape plants are suited to cutting. Even though this is more of a harvesting activity than an official pruning, it is a good idea to follow some guidelines.
No one wants to spoil the holiday season, but Christmas trees in the home can present a fire safety issue. A primary concern with a Christmas tree is fire danger, often brought on by the combination of electrical malfunctions and, in the case of a real tree, a drying tree. According to a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report, U.S. fire departments responded to more than 200 home structure fires annually from 2002 to 2005 that began with Christmas trees. Each year fires occurring during the holiday season injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage, according to the United States Fire Administration. Electrical failures or malfunctions were involved in nearly half of the fires, while nearly a quarter occurred because a heat source was located too close to the tree.
If you're bringing nature indoors this holiday season follow these tips for a safe season.
Put a freeze on winter fires with these fire safety tips. (1:48 minutes)
As temperatures drop and leaves fall, you may notice tufts of green which remain in the crowns of some trees. It is likely that these green tufts are not actually part of the tree at all, but are a completely different plant, mistletoe. Birds feed on the berries produced by the plant, and spread the seeds to other trees. Many tree species are hosts for mistletoe, but it is especially common in hackberries and cedar elms, here in Central Texas.
Come help the Urban Forestry Program of the Parks & Recreation Department plant native trees at Dove Springs Park on January 9, 2016. We will be planting between 40 - 60 native trees and mulching exsiting trees. Free t-shirts for all who volunteer!
Saturday, January 9th, 2016 from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Dove Springs District Park
5801 Ainez Drive, Austin, TX 78744
Wildlands is fortunate to have an incredible group of volunteers who lead interpretive hikes on parts of the BCP and WQPL not typically open to the public. Each year we recruit and train a few new guides to help lead leading hikes and telling the stories of conservation on the Wildlands. Hike Guides must be able to commit to leading six hikes per year and are required to attend an orientation, CPR and first aid training, and four training hikes.
Are you interested in becoming a hike guide? Please complete the Hike Guide Application and return it by January 7. You can find more detailed information about the volunteer hike guide position here. Please share this application with others who might be interested and email Cait.McCann@austintexas.gov with any questions. See you on a hike!
Join the Austin Nature and Science Center this December and January for Winter Break Camp! Each day will focus on a different theme such as Space!, Taking Flight, Wonderful Wildlife, and Back in Time. Plan to have fun no matter what the weather brings!
December 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and January 4th
Ages: 5-6, 7-8 and 9-11 years
Fee: $50/day for Austin residents | $58/day for non-Austin residents
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Pre-registration required.
Classes are scheduled to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on every other Friday from January 15, 2016 to March 11, 2016
January 15: Sustainability, One Texas Center
January 29: Water Conservation & Water Quality, Zilker Botanical Garden
February 12:: Plants and Soil, Zilker Botanical Garden
February 26: Edibles, Wildlife and Treating Pests, Zilker Botanical Garden
March 11: Design & Fire, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Deadline to register and pay for the entire series is January 11,, 2016 at noon. New attendees who would like to be listed on the Grow Green website will be required to attend all 5 days. New attendees may also choose to just attend individual days. Returning attendees are required to attend at least one day of training each year to stay posted.
The classes are $20 per day or $75 for the series. Many of the talks will qualify for professional CEU’s. *Please note when you register on EventBrite there is a column right before the quantity box that says the class is free. We cannot remove the word FREE from the EventBrite site, so sorry if it is confusing.
Urban trees decrease energy bills for residents, reduce maintenance costs for streets and storm water infrastructure, increase property values by making neighborhoods more beautiful, walkable, and desirable places to live, and combat the urban heat island effect. NeighborWoods has distributed over 43,000 trees since 2002 and conserved an estimated 5 million kilowatts-hour of energy! **Trees are delivered October through March.
The City of Austin's Urban Forest Grant Program, established to promote tree conservation and other projects that benefit Austin's urban forest, has funding available to help preserve and grow Austin's canopy of trees. Projects eligible for funding include tree planting and preservation, education, public service announcements, disease control, and management of invasive species.
Gather your shovels and gloves and get ready to load up on free wood mulch, courtesy of Austin Resource Recovery. Available to community members and residents*, this wood mulch is made from the yard trimmings collect curbside and is ready for use.
Rainscapes help prevent runoff and can reduce or eliminate the need for additional water for irrigation, saving customers on their water and wastewater bills. Austin Water is now accepting applications for the WaterWise Rainscape rebate. Austin Water customers, qualifying water districts, and schools in these areas may receive up to $500 ($0.30/sq. foot -- 100 sq. foot min.) for installing landscape features such as berms, terraces, swales, rain gardens, porous pavement, and infiltration trenches that direct and retain rainwater on the property.
Austinites can earn a $75 rebate on a home composting system through the City of Austin Home Composting Rebate Program. To qualify, attend a free composting class in the community or watch a class online. Then apply!
