Got Nature? Blog

In this edition of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces us to Nannyberry Viburnum, a native shrub found across Indiana woodlands. Learn how to identify Nannyberry by its finely serrated leaves, drooping branches, clustered fruit and seasonal changes from spring blooms to fall color. Lenny also shares where this species commonly grows and how it fits into Indiana’s natural landscapes. This video provides a helpful introduction to identifying Nannyberry Viburnum whether you’re a student, landowner, or just interested in better understanding the trees and shrubs around you.

 

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

---

In this edition of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces us to Eastern Swamp Privet, a native Indiana shrub commonly found in wetland and swampy habitats. Unlike the privets around yards, homes and towns, the Eastern Swamp Privet comes from a different genus of plants. Learn how to identify this species by its opposite arrangement, simple leaves, finely toothed margins and spurs. This video provides a helpful introduction to identifying Eastern Swamp Privet whether you’re a student, landowner, or just interested in better understanding the trees and shrubs around you.

 

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

---

In this edition of ID That Tree, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces us to Carolina Buckthorn. This native Indiana shrub features smooth gray bark, glossy leaves and colorful berries that shift from green to red to black. Learn how Carolina buckthorn differs from invasive buckthorn species, where it commonly grows in Indiana woodlands and tips for recognizing it throughout the seasons. This video provides a helpful introduction to identifying Carolina Buckthorn whether you’re a student, landowner or just interested in better understanding of the trees and shrubs around you.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

---

Purdue Landscape Report: Many homeowners have evergreens in their home landscape. Evergreens provide a landscape service that other plants cannot – they add color to our landscapes in the winter, and provide some thermal protection for animals and birds. However, if you are researching potential evergreens for your landscape, you may be confused about species names and the botanical differences between them.

Identifying evergreens is a difficult task for most people, which is why many interchange the terms “evergreen” and “pine tree,” but we can also think of spruces, firs, hemlocks, and other species. Although I encourage planting native trees, I’ll cover several native and non-native evergreen species that may be planted or encountered in Indiana.

Let’s start with the basic aspects of pine trees. Pines have needles that are wrapped together in bundles (called fascicles) of 2, 3, or 5 needles, and their cones hang down from branches. Common 2-needled pines include (from shorter to longer needles) Jack pine, Virginia pine, Scots (or Scotch) pine, Austrian pine, and Red pine. 3-needled pines are somewhat rare in Indiana. Loblolly pine is one, and has very long needles, 6-9 inches long. We have one common 5-needled pine tree, the Eastern white pine.

---

---

Purdue Landscape Report: Pollarding is a tree pruning method in which the upper branches of a tree are cut back to the same points on a regular schedule, creating a framework of knobby growth points from which new shoots emerge. The practice has been used for centuries and is especially common in landscapes where trees must be kept at a controlled height or width. Pollarding is not the same as topping, which is generally considered harmful because it removes branches without a long-term management plan. Instead, pollarding is a deliberate, repeated technique that can shape a tree into a compact, manageable form.

One of the main advantages of pollarding is size control. In urban areas, along streets, and near buildings or utility lines, trees often need to fit within tight spaces. Pollarding can reduce conflicts with overhead wires, streetlights, sidewalks, and traffic while still allowing a tree to remain in place. It can also reduce shade, which may be useful in courtyards, parking areas, and other sites where too much canopy cover is a problem. Some trees also respond by producing dense, attractive new growth, which can give them a distinctive architectural look.

Pollarding may also extend the usable life of certain trees when it is started early and maintained properly. Because the tree is kept smaller and more compact, it may be less likely to fail under wind or storm stress than a large tree with heavy limbs. In some settings, the regular cutting of new shoots can even provide a source of small-diameter wood or fodder, which helps explain why pollarding developed historically as a practical land-management method.

That said, pollarding has real drawbacks. It must be done correctly and consistently; if a tree is pollarded at the wrong age, on the wrong species, or after long neglect, the result can be stress, decay, weak regrowth, or structural problems. Not all trees tolerate the practice well, and some may decline if pollarded too aggressively. Pollarding also creates a very artificial appearance, which some people dislike. A freshly pollarded tree can look bare or severe for a time, and the repeated cuts require ongoing maintenance.

Pollarding is most strongly associated with Europe, especially Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and parts of Spain, where it has a long history in both rural and urban landscapes. Today, it is still widely seen in European cities and towns, particularly on street trees and in managed public spaces. It also appears in some parts of North America, but it remains much more culturally visible and historically rooted in Europe. In many places, it is valued both for its practical function and for the distinctive form it creates over time.

Used thoughtfully, pollarding is a useful tool rather than a universal solution. It works best when matched to the right species, the right site, and a long-term maintenance plan. For the right tree in the right place, it can be both functional and visually striking.

Resources:
Tree Pruning Essentials Video, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store, Purdue Education’s resource center
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension
Indiana Invasive Species Council
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel (Invasive White Mulberry, Siberian Elm, Tree of Heaven)
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Planting Part 2: Planting a Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Selection for the “Un-natural” Environment, The Education Store
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Tree Defect Identification, The Education Store
Why Is My Tree Dying?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Ben McAllister, Urban Forestry Specialist
Forestry & Natural Resources

---

Danielle Howard has been hired as an Extension prescribed fire specialist housed with the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue

The prescribed fire specialist position, funded by the Sam Shine Foundation, aims to increase prescribed fire capacity in Indiana by coordinating, conducting, and leading prescribed fires and prescribed fire training and outreach statewide.

In this role, Howard also will support the formation of prescribed burn associations (PBAs) and the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (INPFC). She will work closely with Indiana conservation partners to develop prescribed fire training and outreach that builds capacity and support for prescribed fire on public and private land in Indiana.

“Prescribed fire is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems in Indiana, and I’m very excited to be at the forefront of increasing its use across the state,” Howard said.

Co-PIs on the supporting grant titled “Building Capacity for Prescribed Fire in Indiana” are Extension wildlife specialists Jarred Brooke and Brian MacGowan, Extension forester Lenny Farlee, natural resources training specialist Jessica Outcalt and Dr. Zhao Ma.

Howard, who previously worked in FNR as the field coordinator for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment from 2020 to 2023, comes to her new role after spending the last three years as the central region ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish, Wildlife and Nature Preserves. In that role, she managed 71 state-dedicated nature preserves and multiple privately-owned conservation easements across 26 counties in central Indiana. She also planned, prepared and implemented prescribed fire, invasive species control measures, native plantings, forest stand management and other restoration activities. She also established and sampled research plots for post-fire vegetation monitoring in Brown County State Park.

Howard also has taught Applied Ecology as an adjunct professor at Indiana University since January 2025.

In her previous stint in FNR as part of the HEE project, Howard coordinated forest management research activities, including bird surveys, overstory plots, small mammal trapping and more, conducted by various universities and partners at sites in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests.

Previously, she acted as an intermittent bird biologist for the Indiana DNR, the whooping crane outreach program assistant in Indiana for the International Crane Foundation and as a farm bill wildlife biologist for Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever.

Howard is a type II certified wildland firefighter and has certifications in prescribed fire for managers, wildlife fire chainsaws (S-212), wildlife fire pumps (S-211) and a pesticide applicator’s license for core and forests.

Howard began her new role on May 18. She will be based remotely in Bloomington, Indiana.

To view this article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources website view: Danielle Howard Hired as FNR Extension Prescribed Fire Specialist.

Resources:
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Prescribed Fire Techniques – Backing Fire, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Prescribed Fire Techniques – Flanking Fire, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Late Growing Season Prescribed Fire, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
FNR Ask The Expert: Prescribed Fire with Jarred Brooke and Mike Saunders, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Prescribed fire: 6 things to consider before you ignite, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (IPFC)
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Wildlife Management & Grassland Management, Pond and Wildlife Management, Purdue Extension
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Woodland Management Moment YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, find natural resources, forestry, wildlife, urban forestry and much more.

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

---

Entomology Weekly Review: Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) Extension would like to share a timely update from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Entomology newsletter regarding a wood-boring insect that may be encountered in hardwood logs across the state. Will Drews, Entomology staff member located in south-central Indiana (Bloomington area), recently reported activity from one of the more common round-headed borer pests found in hardwood logs: the flat-faced longhorn beetle, Graphisurus fasciatus. Will shares in the Entomology Weekly Review how to identify the borer, their habitat and if we need to be concerned.

What to Look For
On the wing recently is one of the more common round-headed borer pests I find in hardwood logs, and that is the flat-faced longhorn beetle without a common name: Graphisurus fasciatus (Photos 2 – 5).  This longhorn beetle (in the family Cerambycidae) is quite large as far as longhorn beetles go, reaching up to 0.6 inches in length, and features two long antennae (aka “horns”) characteristic of most of its family (Photo 3).

Host Trees and Habitat
As a larva, Graphisurus fasciatus feeds on a variety of hardwoods and is reported to feed on pine trees as well. I generally find G. fasciatus larvae feeding between
the bark and sapwood of black walnut (Juglans nigra), white oak (Quercus alba ) and red oak (Quercus rubra) logs (Photo 6).

Identification Tips
There are several ways to differentiate this species from the less common but closely related Graphisurus despectus, but one of the surest ways is to examine the scutellum (aka the small shield-like plate at the top/between the elytra [wing covers]). In G. fasciatus, the scutellum has two small whitish patches of hair, not present on G. despectus (Photo 7). Another diagnostic characteristic of G. fasciatus is that it has elytra with emarginate (or notched) tips (Photo 8).

Should You Be Concerned?
This species can be alarming by its noticeable size and relative abundance but is not necessarily a major pest of concern as it does not usually bore into the sapwood and cause defects to the wood.

Stay Informed
FNR Extension encourages landowners and natural resource professionals to remain observant when working with hardwood logs and report unusual insect activity when found.

To stay up to date on forest health and insect alerts, consider subscribing to the  Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Entomology Weekly Review for regular updates on insects affecting Indiana’s forests and natural areas.

Will Drews, Nursery Inspector & Compliance Officer
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology 

Resources:
Spotted Lanternfly, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Entomology
Box Tree Moth Range is Expanding, Purdue Landscape Report
Beetle that attacks Tree-of-Heaven found in Indiana, Purdue Landscape Report, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Sawflies: Caterpillar Pests but not Caterpillars – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Prepared for Insects Waking Up? – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Case Study: Maple Tree Pests – PLR, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Invasive Species, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Playlist (Asian Bush Honeysuckle, Burning Bush, Callery Pear, Multiflora rose)
What are invasive species and why should I care?, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

---

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: On May 5, Natural Resources professionals gathered at the Davis Purdue Agricultural Center (DPAC) in Farmland, Indiana, for a forestry and wildlife management training led by Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources’ Brian MacGowan, wildlife extension specialist and extension coordinator; Don Carlson, forester; Jarred Brooke, wildlife extension specialist; and Jessica Outcalt, natural resources training specialist. The program combined classroom updates with field-based learning focused on active land stewardship, habitat management and conservation planning.

During the field tour of DPAC and Herrmann Properties, participants explored topics including native warm-season grass management using prescribed fire, Sericea lespedeza control in native grass plantings, prairie restoration, young forest management, and oak forest management for multiple objectives. Don Carlson discussed the history and management goals of DPAC, emphasizing how tree spacing, mowing and the use of crop and nurse trees influence tree establishment and growth. Jarred Brooke highlighted challenges such as rabbit damage to young trees and invasive species management. Participants learned key wildlife habitat principles, including a practical guideline for quail habitat: If a baseball tossed into the grass rolls, the habitat structure is suitable for quail; if it does not roll, the vegetation is too dense. The day concluded with updates on the NR Training Hub, prescribed fire and evaluation efforts.

If you’re interested in bringing a program like this to your area, we’d love to hear from you, submit a request at fnrextension@purdue.edu.

Emily Kring, Extension Educator
Agriculture & Natural Resources, Purdue Extension Jay County

Jessica Outcalt, Natural Resources Training Specialist
Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources

Resources:
Natural Resources Training Hub
Explore the Rich World of Oaks with Purdue FNR Extension & Partners
Forestry for the Birds Pocket Guide, The Nature Conservancy
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Community Planning for Agriculture and Natural Resources: A Guide for Local Government, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s research center
The Nature of Teaching
Help the Hellbender
Let the Sun Shine in Indiana
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, find natural resources and much more in playlists.

---

With storm season just around the corner, one topic of concern on many minds is damage to and from trees. Depending on the intensity of the storms and the condition of the trees, damage from high winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning can be quite severe. Cracked or broken branches, stem failure, and root failure are some of the main concerns, but also the risk and liability of damage to people and property.

If your tree is damaged, there are some steps to deal with the situation. First and foremost, consider the safety of yourself and others around you. Inspect the tree from a distance first looking for the following:

• Heaving of the ground indicating potential root failure
• Damage to limbs and/or the trunk of the tree
• Hanging branches can fall to the ground resulting in injury or death
• Be aware of utility and power lines. Trees can become charged by coming in contact with live wires. All utility lines should be considered energized and dangerous.

If you find your trees damaged from a storm hiring an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist to perform a risk assessment will help guide your decision of how to manage your tree. To find an arborist near you and verify credentials use the link at Find an Arborist, Trees are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). For more information, you can also view Trees and Storms: Understanding Damage, Risk and Recovery, an informational Got Nature? Blog article from Purdue Extension.

Resources:
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Caring for storm-damaged trees/How to Acidify Soil in the Yard – In the Grow, Purdue Extension
Tree Risk Management – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Why Is My Tree Dying? – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Mechanical Damage to Trees: Mowing and Maintenance Equipment – Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Trees and Electric Lines – The Education Store
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Lindsey Purcell, Executive Director
Indiana Arborist Association

---