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"We envision a common land ethic that recognizes the importance of open space and protecting key natural resources to maintain our community's rural character."

This newsletter is TPC's first since I became president of the organization in August. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ted Rolfs, my predecessor, for his hard work and leadership in the journey toward realizing the vision, set out above, which he first articulated. Rest assured, though, that we have not let Ted off the hook. He continues to toil away as a Board member and as an active member of our Conservation Committee.

TPC's vision is also a product of our consultation with many of you as we developed our Strategic Plan in 2003. We plan to continue our pursuit of this vision, primarily by accepting easements on land that restrict development and purchasing development rights. We wok with landowners who share our vision by helping them find ways to meet their individual conservation goals while providing significant public benefit.

Because of the significant resources required, however, we can realize our vision and the associated benefit to all of us, only if the vision is shared by you. Significant resources are needed on an ongoing basis to maintain and monitor the development restrictions on conservation properties, and of course ever more resources are needed to acquire or restrict increasingly valuable development rights.

We thank those of you who have shared our vision through your time and treasure, and look forward to continuing the journey.

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Tall Pines Conservancy has begun reaching out to area schools. Dan Burkwald, TPC Board Member and Commissioner of the North Lake Management District who oversees the committee for water quality and environmental issues, was instrumental in initiating the Oconomowoc River cleanup with the NLMD and University Lake School. Jim Muehl the NLMD Committee head planned the project with ULS school personnel and recruited the students to remove logs and tree branches from the river. The ULS students are studying about water this year and the cleanup work gives them hands-on experience. They hope to continue the Oconomowoc River cleanup effort year to year removing debris and rearranging fallen trees to help the flow of water while slowing the movement of silt. Agricultural runoff has mixed both fertilizer and animal waste into the Oconomowoc River 's flow. Man-made dams for a closed grain mill and a small electricity utility have created silt filled millponds that worry individuals living down stream. Restoration and preservation for the river which contains more than 30 species of fish in it is advancing with the help of the NLMD, area schools and the Conservancy. If you're interested in helping with the restoration and cleanup effort, please contact us at 262-369-0500.

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Tall Pines closed its first purchase of development rights (PDR) in December. Purchasing development rights on a property is an effective way to preserve an environmentally sensitive piece of land, without having to purchase it out right. A PDR is most often utilized when the owner of the property wishes to remain on the land, but needs some current financial payout from it. The cost to purchase development rights is usually below the full market value for the property since the owner retains his ownership of the land and the righ5 to maintain a homestead on it.

The Tall Pines PDR covers 43 acres of the Kieckhefer property just outside the Harland village limits, off Hwy K, in the town of Merton . In this transaction Tall Pines acquired a Conservation Easement restricting development on the 43 acre parcel, which includes an important environmental corridor. The Kieckhefer family will be able to maintain their current home on the property with restriction on improvements and expansion. The Conservation easement placed on the land runs in perpetuity, restricting the development rights of any future owners as well.

TPC also has an option to purchase additional development rights, over 11 years, covering the 22 acres of open space adjoining the 43 acre parcel to the east.

A good portion of the Kieckhefer land is designated as an environmental corridor and is also included as an important open space property in the county's land use plan. As such it is a high priority for conservation and very deserving of our efforts to keep it in its present state. With development moving in all around us, such parcels become ever more important for preserving the natural habitats, settings and water resources which make our community so unique.

But we need your help.

Tall Pines financed the PDR on the 43 acre parcel with a combination of donations from individuals and a loan. We need your help to repay the loan and to finance the purchase of the additional development rights covered by our option. Please contact the Tall Pines office to find out how you can participate.

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Growing up in Stone Bank gave me the opportunity to either watch or participate in the 4 th of July parade for 30+ years. I have vivid memories of my friends and me decorating our bikes with streamers, flags, and playing cards in the spokes for the cool noise that we hoped they'd make. Back then we had several categories in our blink-and-you'll-miss-it parade: bicycles, dogs, kids dressed in patriotic wear (it seemed that we always had a Betsy Ross and an Uncle Sam), and possibly a tractor or other piece of farm equipment. My friends and I paraded down Hwy K in our red, white and blue, brimming with pride and recognizing nearly every face that smiled back at us.

This past June, with feelings of nostalgia stirring, I wanted a parade entry to say something of value. I felt that Tall Pines Conservancy would send an important message to our community as well as getting some much needed exposure. My husband John and daughter Katie were in support of the idea and eager to help. Within days, John purchased a hay wagon solely for the parade, and we had scouted out and purchased our flags and candy. Herb and Mary Rasmussen of Sandy Bottom Nature Center generously agreed to loan the beautiful, airy Tamarack trees which are native of Wisconsin . Tall Pines supplied the t-shirts and signage. Katie, John and I decorated our float, putting on the final touches in the rain that Fourth of July morning. A special thank you to the parents and children who sat on hay bales waving Old Glory and smiling to the crowd presented before us.

Our organization should take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to educate the public about the important work that we're doing. I thank the board members of Tall Pines Conservancy for allowing me to create an entry for a small town parade that has a very special place in my heart.

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Have you been noticing early fall color in the trees? This is symptom of our summer rainfall being 50% below normal and the temperatures being above normal. While the early change may be pleasing to the eye, you will need to take extra precautions to ensure that the drought does not cause more harm to your trees than it already has.

Just like people, trees get stressed out too. When a tree has gone through drought conditions or a summer with lack of rainfall, it is under great stress. The symptoms of the stress may appear quickly or take up to two years to reveal any signs of a problem. The stress of the drought may not kill the tree but it will make it susceptible to problems such as insects and diseases.

"My tree doesn't seem to be complaining. How do I know if it is stressed?" you may ask. Woody plants such as trees and shrubs show drought symptoms through dull green needles or leaves. Their foliage may also wilt or droop and show fall color earlier than normal. Rolled leaf margins in deciduous trees may deceivingly appear to have disease or insect problems, while the damage is actually due to drought.

"Yes, my tree is stressed! What shall I do?" To help a tree through drought conditions, the best thing you can do is to water it properly. If you've neglected it so far, it's not too late to start now because it will need tender care right up until hard frost sets in.

A tree one inch in diameter needs ten gallons of water per week. This water must be applied deeply and thoroughly, for shallow watering discourages the roots from growing deep in search of water. The resulting shallow root systems will be more susceptible to drought and stress and more likely to blow down in a windstorm. You should water in early morning, evening, or even at night, to reduce evaporation and ensure that the plant can use as much of the water as possible. If you water during the heat of the day, the sunlight passes through the water droplets and is magnified, causing burns of the leaves that resemble fungus.

As a guideline, a small tree, less than three inches in diameter, should be watered every two weeks. A medium sized tree should be watered every three weeks, and a large once a month. So, give your trees a break from their stressful summers: Practice good watering habits right up until the ground freezes for the winter.

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