There's still a large amount of ash here although there's spots around CON where they've been hit hard. I have seeds and seedlings popping up everywhere in the front yard including my mulched bed in the front where my large rhodies are.
The Darling-58 chestnut should get federal approval this year and then we'll start seeing its availability increase over the next few years to the general public.
They were brought into E MA in the late 1890s and spread rapidly through the eastern half of New England over the next 20 years before rapidly receding due to multiple prevention measures. They had them knocked back to the Cape and the Casco Bay area in the 70s, but obviously they’re making another surge through Maine now.
It was ugly here too.
https://www.wmur.com/article/apple-trees-frost-southern-new-hampshire-6223/44080251#
https://www.wmur.com/article/labelle-winery-crop-damaged-frost-new-hampshire/43982251
They kept chewing off the tops of my seedling plants. I put water out for the robin nesting in my garage and the chippies are drinking out of it too...and surprisingly no more plants are getting destroyed. Maybe they just needed some form of hydration? lol
Still safe here. Maybe next year? My area is always wet and damp though on the north side of my hill so maybe the fungus that controls them is more prevalent here. I saw a few big ones last year that were shriveled up on the ground, but never saw any oak damage.
The spongys (gypsies) don't make tents like the eastern tent caterpillars. They're hitting 93 just south of me pretty hard this year. The oaks are starting to put out new leaves now.
Yeah my back is like a lobster after weeding and mulching around fruit trees today. I used to love the solstice in S FL this time of year with almost no shadow at solar noon.