Are Bumps on Trunks Bad for Trees?

By Nancy Penrose

As you appreciate the fully grown leaves on your trees in the summer, you may notice bulges growing on tree trunks. What are those bumps and are they bad for your trees? Well, to answer the first question, those bulges are called burls and the cause of the burls on your specific tree isn’t easy to pinpoint without looking at it. However, they sometimes develop due to bacteria, fungi and insects, while other trees have a genetic predisposition to producing burls.

Are burls bad for my trees?

Normally they pose no threat to trees. Sometimes, although it is rare, a burl can interrupt the vascular system of the tree. We recommend finding the reason why the burls appeared to make sure there isn’t a health threat to the tree.

Can I remove burls from my trees?

Removing burls from trees poses a high risk for your tree. Not only would it leave a wound on your tree’s trunk, it could also lead to an infection. We recommend not removing burls to maintain the health of the tree.

The best thing to do is to find why the burls appeared. Due to the fact that burls are a product of insect or fungi damage, it is important to make sure there aren’t any signs of an insect infection or something similar. If you see small holes in the trunk and branches, give us a call at (866) 313-2333 and we will help!

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (https://bigtreesupply.com/), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at https://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to privacytree.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108.

Brite Smiles Releases a Newsletter Showing the Benefits of Having Healthy Teeth in the Summer

APPLE VALLEY, MN – Brite Smiles Dental Care (https://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com/) , in Apple Valley, released a newsletter to the public showing the benefits of having healthy teeth in the summer.

Due to the fun and relaxed nature of the summer months, it is natural for people to smile a lot. Unhealthy teeth can make one feel uncomfortable or shy, which was the main reason behind Brite Smiles’ newsletter, as their purpose is to have patients feel confident and happy with their smile.

The folks at Brite Smiles stated, “Show off your smile this summer while you’re out having fun with friends and family, eating corn on the cob, and going out on summer picnics! Don’t let painful teeth spoil your vacation or leisure time. Our doctors are available – call us today!”

A patient at Brite Smiles, Kristi T. mentioned: “I've been going exclusively to Brite Smiles for the past couple of years. The dentists and hygienists are wonderful. They are thorough yet gentle. I drive from Saint Paul to Burnsville to go here and they are the only people I trust with my teeth!”

Dr. Dennis Simmons graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976, receiving the Class Honor in prosthetics – dentures partial and full. Since then, he has participated in over 3,000 hours of continuing education courses, focusing primarily on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants and implant-supported restorations, orthodontics, extractions, crown/bridge, root canals, bite and TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. For his studies, he has been honored with the status of “Diplomate” from the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the International Osseous (bone) Integration Society. For more information on dental services from Brite Smiles Dental Care, visit https://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com/, or call 952-891-8484.

Squishy Mail Sent to Alpaca Herd Owners

Fiber Artist and Spinster Ameda Holmes Sends Handspun Yarn to Epic Alpacas

FARMERSVILLE, TX - Ameda Holmes of AmedaDesigns (https://amedadesigns.blogspot.com/) sends thirteen skeins of yarn spun during July to Epic Alpacas. Weighing just over three pounds, and totaling 2,424 yards of 3 ply yarn, this was the result of several processes done by hand in traditional methods.

Ameda received a large box in June from the owners of Epic Alpacas in California (http://epicalpacas.com/) that contained fiber from three animals in their herd. "Mithrandir","Iron Belle", and "Ceilidh" are all first quality examples of the grey animals that Epic Alpacas have been specializing in breeding.

Before this fiber could be spun into yarn it needed to be prepared.

First it was run through a bench picker to open up the fiber and allow some of the dust and any vegetable matter trapped in the fiber to fall out.

Then it was washed with a mild detergent without any agitation that could cause felting, and laid on racks to dry.

Finally, it was brushed into mats referred to as batts, and then it was ready to spin.

Ameda decided to spin each animal's fiber as an individual yarn and combine them into a 3 ply yarn for the owner's half of this batch of fiber. From July 7 to July 13, she spun 6 bobbins of yarn and had 6 skeins completed that she could show off at a meeting on the 14th.

These skeins totaled 1,224 yards of 3 ply yarn, and weighed 1.47 pounds.

From July 15 to July 27, another seven skeins were spun and plied, resulting in the total of 2,424 yards and 3.18 pounds. What makes this total more extraordinary is the fact that each of the three plies in the finished yarn were individually spun before plying, resulting in a grand total of spinning and plying of 9,696 yards, or 5.51 miles.

Ameda Holmes is an artist and fiber artist currently based near Farmersville, TX. She works in multiple media, as her offerings on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/str/amedadesigns) amply demonstrate.

She started knitting at the age of five, and added skills and experience with many media over the decades. Spinning wasn't added until 1980 (https://amedadesigns.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-spinsters-genesis.html), but her basic intent has always been to create beautiful things every day.

The Epic Alpacas project is just one installment in a year-long project to spin 60 miles of yarn this year. As of this writing she has completed 36 miles of spinning and plying, and will be writing her experiences in an ebook to be entitled "60 Years - 60 Miles - A Spinster's Journey".

Ameda can be contacted by email at amedadesigns@gmail.com, found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AmedaDesigns/, and her items can be found for purchase on eBay at (https://www.ebay.com/str/amedadesigns)

Why Now is the Best Time to Have Masonry Repairs Done by Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps ( http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com/), in Eden Prairie, is explaining to the public why now is the best time for homeowners to get masonry repairs done.

While it isn’t winter anymore and homeowners aren’t using their fireplace as much at the moment, that doesn’t mean homeowners should neglect getting repairs and maintenance done. In fact, Summer is the best time to get any masonry repairs done; here’s why:

• Summer months allow the time needed to do certain projects, such as extending the masonry of the chimney or a fireplace remodel. Chimney inspections and cleanings take up a lot of time in the fall and winter months, making summer and spring ideal for larger repairs and projects.
• The longer you wait to get your masonry repaired, the worse it will become. If homeowners wait until fall to get their masonry repaired, the problem can be much worse than if it were to have been repaired in spring or summer.
• Warm weather is ideal to repair a masonry as most of the materials that are used to repair it take a while to cure; if temperatures are too low, it will take longer for the chimney to cure fully.

Dave Lambert, owner of Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps, says: “We offer masonry repairs in Minneapolis and the metro area. We’re family-owned and operated, we’re ethical and offer the most economical prices. Give Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps a call today!”

Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps is family owned and operated, and has over 20 years of experience in the chimney repair and cleaning field, and all of their masons and sweeps are licensed and insured. They are members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Blue Sky offers chimney cleaning in Minneapolis and the metro area. For more information on chimney services from Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps, visit http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com, or call 952-944-1744.

BigTreeSupply.com: Can Your Birch Trees Be Saved?

By Nancy Penrose


If you haven’t heard, a beetle named the bronze birch borer has been becoming pretty troublesome in parts of western and eastern Washington.
They can be found wherever birch is grown and mostly attacks the Jacquemontii Birch. Due to birch tree plantings increasing, the insect is quickly expanding. If you know your birch tree has been affected, you know you need to do something, but what exactly should you do? Can your birch tree be saved or is cutting it down the only answer? Let’s find out below.

Can my birch tree be saved?


The short answer is yes. In many cases, birch trees can be saved from the bronze birch borer. Treatment such as soil drenches, bark spray, and trunk injection are all ways you can save your birch trees from the tree disease if the treatment is applied correctly.


Should I cut my birch tree down?


We always recommend doing what you can to save a tree before you cut it down. If your birch tree has been affected, you’ll need to consider the tree’s health, what value it brings to your home, and the price of the treatment. If you find that your tree’s value is less than the cost of treatment, then cutting it down may be a good solution.

Unsure of whether your tree has been affected or not? We can help! We offer tree inspections and spray treatments for birch trees if the tree is less than 30% gone. Just contact our tree specialist at (866) 313-2333 to get started.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (https://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at https://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to http://arboristblog.com. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108.

Big Trees Inc. Replaces a Significant Hedge Between Two Properties

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (https://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company in the Seattle area, recently replaced a significant hedge between two properties that had been lost during an accident.

Big Trees was approached by a customer who had a major accident occur with their neighbor, resulting in a lost hedge between the properties. The client’s neighbor had recently run a power cord along a row of tall Arborvitae trees to get some lighting into the daughter’s playhouse. Unfortunately, the Arborvitaes caught fire and the fire spread quickly throughout the entire 65-foot long hedge. The fire was exceptionally close to both residences, but fortunately, neither home caught on fire.

The trees needed to be replaced as soon as possible and Big Trees had the inventory of trees and the crew capable of performing the work. It was decided that 31 of Big Trees’ 11’-12’ Emerald Green Arborvitaes would be the trees to work with. All of the debris from the fire was cleared, and the stumps and root material was removed from the relatively slender planting bed between the properties. The new trees were installed.

Todd Holmes, Big Trees’ Operations Manager, said: “The new trees were installed on the boundary bed, and the owners were thrilled. After the accident and thinking they would have to restart with small trees, they were thrilled to realize that their hedge could be put back in place and that the two neighbors could go back to their lives, hopefully with some better extension cords on their future projects.”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Brite Smiles Publishes a New YouTube Video

Brite Smiles Dental Care (http://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com), in Apple Valley, has just published a new YouTube video introducing the public to Brite Smiles.

Brite Smiles encourages everyone to find a dentist who is knowledgeable, trustworthy and friendly. This is one reason they created a video to introduce the public to Brite Smiles, the services they offer and the doctors who work there. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ecUbM7QAfo.

Shan I., a patient at Brite Smiles, said, “Brite Smiles is an awesome place for all of your dental needs: big or small. They all ease your fear and anxiety from the minute you make an appointment, through any procedure. All staff are kind, patient and professional. They use a team approach and discuss each patient’s needs and requirements to reach a well-rounded goal that works for you!”

Another patient, Kristi T., mentioned: “I’ve been going exclusively to Brite Smiles for the past couple of years. The dentists and hygienists are wonderful. They are thorough yet gentle. I drive from Saint Paul to Burnsville to go here and they are the only people I trust with my teeth!”

Brite Smiles founder Dr. Dennis Simmons graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976, receiving the Class Honor in prosthetics – dentures partial and full. Since then, he has participated in over 3,000 hours of continuing education courses, focusing primarily on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants and implant-supported restorations, orthodontics, extractions, crown/bridge, root canals, bite and TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. For his studies, he has been honored with the status of “Diplomate” from the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the International Osseous (bone) Integration Society. For more information on dental services from Brite Smiles Dental Care, visit http://britesmilesdentalcare.com, or call 952-891-8484.