Page 21 - North Haven Magazine Issue 12 Winter 2020

LADY SLIPPERS are native, wild orchids and are generally easy
to recognize. Of the four species in Connecticut, the Ram’s-head
lady-slipper is extinct in the state, the Showy lady’s-slipper is en-
dangered, and the Yellow lady's-slipper is rare in Connecticut, and
therefore, classified as a species of special concern. The Pink lady's
slipper as the only unlisted member of the family and it may still
be found in the woods, but should not be picked or transplanted.

These plants lead a fragile existence because they depend on a fun-
gus in the soil to break open the seed so it can grow. They are also
a favorite food for deer, and CT has a large population of deer that
enjoy nipping off the delicious and beautiful flowers. So when you
are lucky enough to see a lady’s slipper in the woods, enjoy it, pho-
tograph it, but leave it to grow in its natural setting.

ASH TREES live in every state but they are now threatened by the
spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a small, green beetle orig-
inally from Asia. Homeowners should learn to identify ash trees
on their property so they can monitor their health and observe for
signs of the borer.

Treatment is available if the tree is considered to be valuable to the
property and the owner wishes to save it. There are four EAB treat-
ment options: soil injection, trunk injection, bark spray or canopy
spray. When applied correctly, early, and while the tree is healthy,
the treatment is 85 - 95% effective. Soil and trunk injections get to
the root of the problem by targeting the borers tunneling inside the
tree. Re-treatment is necessary every 1-2 years as long as EAB is in
your area.
If the tree is already diseased, it may be best to remove it. A certified
arborist can provide information that may be helpful in reaching
this decision. The wood from ash trees must not be moved from
one area to another because it may introduce the EAB into a new
area not previously affected.

To report a possible EAB find, call the Experiment Station at 203-
974-8474 or email: [email protected].

Join the conservation effort to remove invasive plants and help pro-
tect those that are native by starting in your own yard. Contact the
Daytime Gardeners of North Haven at 203-239-1557 if you have
questions or want to assist with this effort.

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