Download - Wise County Messenger

Decatur, Texas, Wednesday, October 24, 2012 ALL AROUND WISE • A PART OF THE WISE COUNTY MESSENGER 21
Outdoors
Squirrels can wreak
havoc in the treetops
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
By NEIL SPERRY
Dear Neil: Have you
ever seen cedar elm bark
scratched and peeled in
strings? Two branches have
died, apparently because of
the loss of bark. There appear
to be large areas up
in the tree where the bark
is gone. What might have
caused that kind of damage?
It sounds like squirrel
damage. They’re notorious
for peeling bark and killing
branches, most notably
in pecans and live oaks,
but you’ll see
their damage
in other
species as
well. You’ll
see 3-foot areas
high up
Gardener’s in live oaks
and pecans,
Mailbag
where all of
the leaves
suddenly turn brown in the
summer. On closer inspection,
usually with binoculars,
you can see that the
bark has been stripped as
the rodents sharpened their
teeth. Some larger beetles
will also do modest amounts
of bark scoring, but they’re
certainly not my prime suspects.
I would suggest you
hire a certified arborist to
look at the issue on-site.
Dear Neil: Is it normal
for moss rose plants to quit
flowering this early?
Yes. They bloom reliably
for several months, but
they thrive in the heat. As
temperatures begin to drop
in early to mid-fall, their
flower production sinks. It’s
time to pull them and replace
them with pansies or
other winter color.
Dear Neil: I was helping
a friend train a nice, large
crape myrtle tree the other
day, and I noticed a stub left
over from a prior year’s trimming.
It extends out from the
trunk by probably 2 inches,
and the original branch
Continued on page 22
You’re invited!
2012 ANNUAL
FALL FESTIVAL
AT GOVERNOR'S RIDGE!
Come One, Come All! Trick or Treaters Welcome!
GAMES • CANDY • FOOD • BALLOON CLOWN
Wednesday, October 31 • 6 - 8 pm
Governor's Ridge Retirement & Assisted Living
300 Devereaux in Decatur • www.governorsridge.com
Participating
Sponsors
First Texas
Solaris, Angels
Grace Hospice, Encompass
Wise Regional Behavioral
IntegraCare
Party Pit
McDonald's
Texas State Facility License # 132992
$ 500 Down Delivers
BUY
HERE!
HERE
at Wise PreOwned in Decatur
DIVORCE - No Problem!
PAST REPOSESSIONS - No Problem!
BANKRUPTCY - No Problem!
PAY
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at Wise PreOwned, Your Job is your CREDIT!
2008 Town & Country
Chrysler’s industry leading minivan
$ 129*
Week
$
12,900+TT&L W.A.C.
2009 Hyundai Accent
Gas Saver! Great for commute or student.
$ 99*
Week
$
9,900+TT&L W.A.C.
JOE DUTY’S
Halloween
Portraits
2003 F-150 Super Crew
Sharp truck. Running boards. Clean.
$ 110*
Week
$
10,900+TT&L W.A.C.
2004 Lincoln Navigator
Low miles. Extra clean. Must see.
$ 129*
Week
Bring your Ghouls and Goblins
by the Wise County Messenger,
at 115 South Trinity in Decatur
on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 7 to
9 p.m. to have their photo taken
by Joe Duty!
Over 150 Units in Stock!
Open: Monday - Friday 8-6 and Saturday 9-2
311 U. S. Hwy. 287 North in Decatur
$500 Down on select cars.
All payments are weekly.
$1,500 Cash down plus tt&l
36 months @ 18% apr WAC.
(across from Karl Klement Dodge)
940-627-5164
$
12,900+TT&L W.A.C.
*Plus Tax,
Title and License.