The Lanternfly is Here!
Unfortunately,  a small colony of the spotted lanternfly was spotted in Pontiac in Oakland county!
It has been moving closer to Michigan during the last few years and so has been expected. This is not good news since the spotted lanterfly is highly invasive and very destructive. Unfortunately, typical pest management has not proven effective in other states.

What You Can Do
If you find a spotted lanternfly egg mass, nymph or adult, take one or more photos, make note of the date, time and location of the sighting, and report it online to Eyes in the Field. Photos are necessary to verify a report and to aid in identification.
And then crush nymphs and adult insects. Scrape egg masses into a plastic bag containing hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol to kill them.

The egg mass of the lanternfly looks like a splatter of mud. It can be scraped off and destroyed. The egg masses not only can be found on trees but also other surfaces such as your car or other flat surfaces.

MDARD asks Michiganders to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly, an invasive species threatening agriculture and natural resources. The Spottled Lanternfly is not harmful to humans. They do not sting or bite, but they can be very destructive to many crops, trees and plants. They can also make a mess in your yard by excreting a sticky substance that causes the growth of black sooty mold. You can read more here

Top left: First stage
Top right: As it matures it changes color
Bottom row: Mature Lanternfly

 It's the first day of April and so I would say, " Winter is offically behind us"!  The snow has melted, but the frost is still in the ground, it's chilly, its wet and muddy but winter is behind us. To me, this is exciting! Spring brings new things, long days, more sunshing. Spring brings renewal and life. I hear the black winged blackbirds calling and I also hear Longfellow, our Great Blue Herron that has arrived back each and every spring for many years now. If it indeed is not Longfellow himself, it is his offspring

I have glanced over to the gardens. As much as I would like to step into them I know I shouldn't unless I want to sink into the mud...but, from afar, I contemplate on this years plantings....more to come.

​                                               "Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of it's own"

​                                                                                                                                                - Charles Dickens

What IS A PFAS?

In 1946, DuPont introduced Teflon to the world, changing millions of people’s lives – and polluting their bodies. Today, the family of compounds including Teflon, commonly called PFAS, is found not only in pots and pans but also in the blood of people around the world, including 99 percent of Americans. PFAS chemicals pollute water, do not break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades. Some scientists call them “forever chemicals."

Below, click the link and you will find an interactive map. Click on  Michigan and search your location from there.
                                            www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/map/

                                                   Click Here To Help Stop The Spread                                           

                                                                                     
                                                                                                Berkey Water Filtration