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Every year, green cicadas pop up in late spring and early summer and start “singing.” Of course, to us, it sounds a whole lot more like screaming! The shed skins of cicadas (which we always thought look a little like cicada ghosts) will litter the sides of houses and trunks of trees. And then, just as suddenly as the screaming started, it’ll stop, and the cicadas will be gone until next spring. But this year, things are going to be a little different, because 2021 marks the return of Brood X. The name sounds a bit intimidating, but it’s really just the Roman Numeral for 10. Brood X is the 10th generation of a line of 17-year periodical cicadas. What does that mean? To understand, we’ll have to take a look at the life cycle of cicadas. The Life Cycle of CicadasAdult cicadas vibrate their tymbal organs, which are membranes on both sides of their abdomen, in order to attract other cicadas in the area. This vibration creates the roar we associate with cicada breeding season, and can easily approach 100 decibels. That’s about as much sound as a leaf blower or chain saw! Once enough cicadas have gathered together, males will begin courting females with courtship calls. Females express their return interest by an audible flick of their wings, adding even more noise to the chorus. After mating, the female cicada will find a small, thin branch or twig to lay her eggs. Using a rigid appendage on her abdomen, the cicada gouges a line into the wood where she then deposits batches of 20 to 30 eggs. The average female can lay around 600 eggs, which means she can do this upwards of 30 times! Fertilized eggs will develop in their nests for about 6 to 10 weeks before hatching. You’re probably familiar with the idea that many bug species start their lives out as larvae. Cicadas, on the other hand, have what’s called a gradual metamorphosis. So, instead of larvae, they’re called nymphs. Freshly-emerged cicada nymphs drop to the ground immediately after vacating their eggs, and then burrow into the ground within a few minutes. They’ll settle about a foot or so beneath the surface and attach themselves quickly to a food source. Nymphs usually prefer the small roots of trees, but are also known to attack the roots of grasses and other herbaceous plants as well. Using their sucking mouth, they pierce the root and draw out xylem fluid (water and nutrients transported between plant cells). Cicada nymphs will shed their skin a few times underground, and then once more above ground before their exoskeleton hardens and they are officially adults, where they repeat the cycle over again. What makes Brood X different?The cicadas we see annually are green in color, and relatively reasonable in number. You see them around, and they sure make a lot of noise, but they aren’t exactly overwhelming. Brood X, on the other hand, is made up of periodical cicadas. They are brown to black in color, with yellowish wings. “Periodical” is used to describe species that go dormant between generations. In the case of cicadas, there are two types: 13-year periodical and 17-year periodical. The nymphs of periodical cicada species hide underground for 13 or 17 years at a time before re-emerging as adults to breed. Brood X is the newest generation of 17-year periodical cicadas. The parents of this generation mated and laid their eggs in 2004. In the last 17 years, the nymphs have been feeding and shedding about a foot underground. This May, over a trillion Brood X nymphs are expected to pop out of the ground and shed their skin one final time before spreading their wings and beginning their adult lives. The Danger to Your TreesWith trillions of cicadas emerging, at least half of them female, and each female capable of filling over 30 nests… that’s a lot of gouges in a lot of trees. The cuts needed for a cicada to lay her eggs are pretty shallow and not very long, but they can still do some damage. There’s also concern that the open wounds may allow pests a to get a foothold into your tree, or bacteria an entry point to infect. As cicadas prefer to lay their eggs in small, thin branches, they usually pick young twigs near the end of their main branch. Though the injury isn’t that big, it’s more than enough to kill off the twig. Older, well-established trees can handle the death of some twigs just fine. The dead ends usually drop off in the weeks following the cicada laying her eggs. In some cases, the twigs recover, though the location of the nest will probably be structurally weaker than the rest of the branch. Younger and smaller trees, on the other hand, may be in genuine danger from Brood X. Plant nurseries, orchards, strawberry and blueberry farms, and even landscaping trees planted in parking lots and along city streets are all likely to be targeted by this new generation. What can you do?So how can you protect your trees from the onslaught of egg-laying cicadas? The popular answer is to spray a lot of pesticide. Unfortunately, most pesticides will do nothing to discourage female cicadas from a potential nesting site. Any pesticide strong enough to deter them will likely end up hurting your tree in the process. The tried-and-true solution for protecting young trees from cicadas is mesh barriers. 1.0-centimeter mesh, to be exact. Studies have shown that trees protected with 2.5-cm mesh were just as damaged as trees not protected at all. Basically, that means you need pretty tightly-woven mesh to keep cicadas out. If the gaps between threads are more than a single centimeter, the pesky bugs will worm their way in and go about their egg-laying like normal. Looking for more information? Check out the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences article. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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Classic City Arborists is a family-owned business started right here in our very own Athens, Georgia. We’re proud to bleed red and black (go Dawgs!), and our Athens heritage is just as much a part of our company as our honest work ethic and loyal customers. As you probably know, Athens is an old town with lots of rich history. This city is made of relics from years past that stand alive and well today, like the Arch on UGA campus and most of downtown. But there’s some history of Athens that isn’t locked away in buildings or structures. Some of our city’s legacy lives in its trees. Tree That Owns ItselfIf you’ve lived in Athens for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of the Tree That Owns Itself. This once-massive white oak stood on the corner of Dearing Street and South Finley Street. A faded plaque at its base explained that this tree was deeded itself by former owner, Colonel William H. Jackson. According to legend (and a newspaper article or two), Col. Jackson grew up by this tree, and loved it dearly. So much so, in fact, that in his will, that left the tree and all land 8 feet in all directions to the tree itself. At the time, this presented something of a legal conundrum. How can a tree own itself? But the City of Athens, after some time, officially recognized the tree’s right. Unfortunately, the Tree That Owns Itself was damaged during an ice storm in 1907. After many years of erosion near its base, root rot, and other conditions, the 100-foot-tall oak fell to the ground. It was replaced in 1964 by one of its seedlings that had been cultivated by Captain Jack Watson. Thus, the Son of the Tree That Owns Itself legally inherited itself and all land 8 feet in every direction from its base. Spec Towns OakThe Spec Towns Oak is named after Olympic track and field star Spec Towns. After winning a gold medal in the high hurdles, Towns’ athletic director Herman Stegeman presented him with an oak from the Black Forest in Berlin. This oak was planted behind the North Stands of Sanford Stadium and stood for just over 30 years. However, in 1967, the stadium was expanded. The Spec Towns Oak was moved elsewhere on campus, but the team in charge failed to dig a hole large enough for the tree’s root system. To solve this, they cut back the roots until everything fit. Unfortunately, this led to the tree’s death not long after. The late Dean of Men, Mr. William Tate, got into contact with Berlin and managed to have a replacement tree from the Black Forest brought to campus. That tree also died, for unknown reasons (usually attributed to problems surviving the international trip). But as luck would have it, an acorn of this replacement tree was saved, and planted successfully. So now, the Son of the Half-Brother of the Specs Town Oak survives on the south end of the Spec Towns Track. The Pecan Tree Courtyard at the Georgia Center for Continuing EducationYou might not find this one on a list of historic landmarks for our city, but we certainly think it’s worth a visit. The Georgia Center for Continuing Education features a wildly popular restaurant with courtyard seating centered around a large pecan tree. Pecan trees are known for their stunning foliage displays (and of course, their delicious pecans), and many believe this tree and the view it provides has contributed to the restaurant’s success over the years. The Tree RoomThe Tree Room, located at 159 Oneta Street, is known for the large mulberry tree growing inside it. In the 1960s, some kind of fire or other incident left most of the space exposed to nature, with much of the inside charred or burned. For many decades, it stood empty, and it was during this period that the mulberry tree began to grow. Over time, the building was used for a variety of purposes: a squat house for travelers, a dumping ground for a neighboring concrete plant, and even a playground for local children. Now, the building has been transformed into an event space owned by Athenians Ashely and Doug Booher, who discovered the building and tree as children and grew to love it. Most of the original architecture still stands, with accommodations made in the name of safety and design. The name “the Tree Room” comes from the toddler of one of the Booher’s friends, and is proudly used by the public to refer to this stunning natural display. UGA ArboretumIf you’re looking for more beautiful trees to look at, then you should definitely pay a visit to the University of Georgia’s Arboretum. Where is the Arboretum, you ask? Across the entire campus! The founders of UGA didn’t want to dedicated any one location as an arboretum, because they didn’t want it to be inaccessible to anyone in town. Instead, they treated the entire campus as an arboretum, planting a wild range of species all over. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. You’ve probably heard before that there is a Cherry Blossom tree festival in Japan every year – but did you know there’s an International Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated right here in the United States? In fact, the Cherry Blossom capital of the world is in Macon, Georgia! What Makes Cherry Blossoms So Special?Cherry trees bloom once every spring, but the flowers only last for about a week before the petals begin to fall from the trees. From start to finish, any given cherry tree will have blooms for a mere ten days on average. Despite the short-lived nature of their beauty (or perhaps because of it), cherry trees have been an important symbol in Japanese culture and identity for centuries. Called Sakura in Japanese, cherry trees were originally used to determine harvest times, as their blooming is heavily dependent on the weather. This practical application led to an association of good harvest, health, and plentiful times with the pink and white flowers. Over the years, the anticipation of seeing those flowers led to gatherings, celebrations, and eventually, formal festivals. Today, cherry blossoms represent ideals of impermanence, hope, and renewal. There are countless events, parties, specialty tours, and more in Japan around cherry blossom time, and the blooming is a major tourist attraction for the country. How Did the Cherry Blossom Festival Come to America?Our nation’s Capital is littered with beautiful cherry blossom trees, making the beautiful grounds even more stunning for a few short weeks in the spring. The credit for bringing Japanese cherry blossoms to Washington DC goes to one Eliza Scidmore, a diplomat who became enamored with cherry blossoms after visiting Japan. Upon returning to America, Scidmore petitioned to have cherry blossoms planted in DC. This first appeal, in 1885, would not become successful until 1909, about 24 years later, when a renewed request reached First Lady Helen Taft. The First Lady had lived in Japan and knew the beauty of cherry blossoms, and agreed that they would be a wonderful addition to Washington. Within the year, plans were underway to plant hundreds of cherry trees along the Speedway. Before they broke ground on the project, the Japanese consul in New York heard of the plans, and suggested that the City of Tokyo donate an additional 2,000 trees to fill out the area. First Lady Taft agreed to accept the donation, and the mayor of Tokyo similarly approved of making the trees a gift to the United States. The completion of the project took a few years due to scale and a few technical problems along the way, but the fruits of that labor can be seen to this day in the beautiful cherry trees surrounding the Capital. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia
During this time, you can walk the cherry-blossom-lined streets on the Cherry Blossom Trail, a special route that passes by near-endless blooming cherry trees. Cherry trees will also be available for purchase at Carolyn Crayton Park, for just $15 each. The Different Kinds of Cherry TreesThe term “cherry tree” might seem like it refers to a specific species. But actually, there are dozens of varieties of cherry trees, all native to China and Japan. They come in many shapes and sizes, some with pale white flowers, bright pink flowers, and every shade in between. The tree that spurred the devotion in Japan is the Yoshino cherry. The Washington DC cherries are largely Yoshino, but there are many other varieties there as well. What Are the Best Cherry Trees to Grow in Georgia?If you’d like to plant your very own cherry tree, you’ll be pleased to know they are very easy to maintain. There are four main varieties that do well in the unforgiving heat of Georgia summers. All four of these varieties prefer full sun to partial shade, which means about 4 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day. They like plenty of water, but grow best in well-drained soil. Weeping Cherry Weeping cherries are often confused as a variation of the weeping willow. While their branches have a similar drooping appearance, they aren’t actually related. Weeping cherries come in different strains, with different average sizes, growth patterns, flower colors, and leaf colors. When you go to buy one, be sure to read the characteristics to make sure you’re getting your favorite. Yoshino The Yoshino cherry is the star of the International Cherry Blossom Festival. On average, these trees reach around 35 feet tall, and have light pink to pinkish-white blooms. Their leaves change to yellows and reddish-browns in the fall. Okame Okame cherry trees are more ornamental, and are a good indicator of the arrival of spring in the south. The flowers of the Okame tree are deep pink, and the branches are largely leafless. On average, they reach about 20 feet tall, and have an overall oval-like shape. In the fall, the foliage turns orange-red, and the park itself turns a glossy red-brown, giving an overall stunning fall display. Kwanzan The Kwanzan cherry tree grows larger blossoms than the other varieties. The blooms are ruffled, similar to carnations, and come in a range of pink shades. These trees can reach up to about 30 feet tall. They tend to grow out just as much as they do up, giving them a broader appearance than other cherry varieties. Do Cherry Blossom Trees Grow Cherries?This might feel like a silly question. They’re cherry trees, after all. Surely they grow cherries? The answer is yes, all cherry blossom trees do grow cherries, but not the kind you’d find at the grocery store. These cherries are small, bitter, and generally unappetizing. You can eat them if you like, but most people don’t. They are, however, a favorite of birds. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.  National Invasive Species Awareness Week (or NISAW, for short), is actually an international movement that aims to raise awareness of the dangers of invasive species all across the world. NISAW 2021, Part I starts on February 22 and goes through the 28. This week is all about spreading awareness about invasive species and promoting legislative changes at local, state, and federal levels. Part II will be May 15 through 22, and will continue these efforts, but will also include events that bring communities together to remove invasive species. In the spirit of NISAW this week, we thought we’d do our part in getting the word out on one of the biggest threats to our beloved trees. What Are Invasive Species?You may remember learning this term back in high school, but basically, invasive species are plants or animals that have been introduced to an ecosystem they aren’t native to. Not all “invaders” will survive in a new environment, because they haven’t evolved or adapted to the conditions there. But sometimes, the invading species actually takes really well to their new home. Consider this: the invaders decide they really, really like eating a specific other species in this new environment. The native species in the area aren’t evolved or adapted to defend against the new threat, so their numbers suffer. Plus, since the invaders aren’t native to the area, they won’t have any natural predators to keep their numbers within reason. So, you end up with an overpopulation of the invasive species decimating the populations of native species. What Are Some Invasive Species in Georgia?Probably the most well-known invasive species in our area is kudzu. You’ve seen kudzu blanketing trees around town, covering ground along the highway, and even taking over powerlines. Kudzu is a vine native to Japan. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as a new way to control soil erosion. Kudzu is a climbing vine, and it uses existing structures to reach for more sun exposure and access to rainwater. In doing so, it blocks these resources from whatever tree or plant it’s growing on. In its natural habitat, with insects that feed upon it, kudzu is just another vine in the forest. But in the States, we don’t have those insects. Our insects actually tend to avoid kudzu. So, with nothing keeping the kudzu in check, it grows wildly in every direction, literally choking our native trees and plants. Another major invasive species in our area is the Chinese Privet. You may not have heard of it, but you’ve definitely seen it, because it’s everywhere. This shrub grows quickly into a dense thicket that blocks light and water from reaching anything beneath it. It also tends to leech nutrients from the soil around it, making the surrounding area less hospitable to native species. When we do underbrush clearing for a customer, Chinese Privet is usually one of the culprits clogging up their property. It’s difficult to get rid of, so if you suspect you’ve got some Chinese Privet spreading, give us a call so we can remove it before it becomes a problem! Other common invasive tree species in the Athens area specifically are the Chinaberry tree, Mimosa tree, Paulownia tree, and Tallow tree. How Can You Help?
If you think you have an invasive species in your yard, or are worried about the health of any of your trees, check out our guide on some simple signs that your tree is in decline. Or, contact us for a free quote! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.  With Earth Day taking center stage year after year on April 22nd, Arbor Day, celebrated on the last Friday in April, often ends up taking a back seat. But while these holidays are similar, Arbor Day has a rich history all its own that's worth remembering! So for National Arbor Day 2025, let's take a moment and learn about this important day. Where Did Arbor Day Come From?In the late 1800s, a humble newspaper editor by the name of Julius Sterling Morton left his home in Detroit for the unknowns of Nebraska. Like many other pioneers to the area, he immediately noticed the lack of trees upon arriving. This was concerning, as trees are vital to a functioning society. They're an important source of fuel and building materials, and act as windbreaks to help protect man-made structures from inclement weather. Their roots help prevent soil erosion, which is important for farming. And of course, trees play a huge role in the ecosystem, providing food and shelter for various animals and contributing to the pollinator population. And so, not long after settling in his new home, Morton began spreading the word about the importance of trees, and advocating for the community to plant as many as possible.  Eventually, Morton became the secretary of the Nebraska Territory, and he used this position to further spread his message and personally see to widespread tree planting. He came up with the idea to host a community tree-planting event, with prizes awarded to individuals who planted the most trees. He even stipulated that only trees "properly planted" would count towards winning the prize, to ensure as many trees as possible would survive to adulthood. This first Arbor Day, celebrated on April 10th, 1872, was wildly successful. By most estimates, more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska that day. The Legacy of Arbor DayNebraska continued to celebrate Arbor Day every year, thought it wouldn't become an official state holiday until 1885.
Nowadays, over 150 years later, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states, with communities far and wide coming together on this special holiday to reflect on the importance of trees, and working together to plant more. Nationally, the holiday is celebrated on the last Friday in April, but some states have a separate state Arbor Day that occurs earlier or later, depending on the best time for planting in that area. In Georgia, our state Arbor Day is actually on the third Friday in February! How Can You Celebrate Arbor Day?The traditional way to celebrate Arbor Day is by planting a tree! After all, that was the point of the first holiday.  But there are lots of other ways you can celebrate trees this Arbor Day, if planting one isn’t an option for you. Here are just a few:
AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has worked with Classic City Arborists for the last 5 years. In addition to handling administrative tasks and customer communication (she’s the voice you’ll hear on the phone!), Emily is an experienced copywriter, editor, and storyboard consultant. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio |
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24