Don't forget that this is the season to prune your oak trees.  It must be in the winter to prevent Oak Wilt or the spread of Oak Wilt Disease.  Telephone us and we will be happy to give you an estimate for pruning your oaks. Make sure you don't miss the correct time of year for the health of your oaks.

Jeff has always been involved in Safety Training.  In the 1980's Jeff was in the U.S. Navy.  He was a Search & Rescue Diver trained in Jackson, Florida.  Many times he performed rescues from ships and helicopters.

We did an Aerial Rescue Scenario on March 7, 2010. 

Our Scenario was removal, where the climber injured himself with the chainsaw, so spurs were permitted.  First time we used this scenario.  Jeff, Rick and Rob performed the aerial Rescue.

Victorian Gardens attended the EHAP program in Lansing this past week.  Required training.  Jeff, Rob and Jontan attended.  Rick Davis from EN Davis went with them.  It is a program designed to inform tree care companies about the electrical hazards for themselves and the crew members.  

Tim Mautz will be coming at the end of February to instruct us on First Aid and CPR.  It is time for renewal.  This is required right along with the EHAP program.  We will also be staging an aerial rescue, which is an additional requirement for EHAP.

Tim does a great job!

 If you are in need of First Aid/CPR training,

do not hesitate to telephone him.

Did you find us.  There we are - Jeff is pointing at you.  Rob is standing next to Jeff.  This was during our Aerial Rescue Training with two CTSPs.  Kristian Schultz was one of the CTSPs and Paul Michaels was the other CTSP.  We are also in TCIA's CTSP training brochure. 

We had this photo taken at the Pet Supplies in White Lake, MI.  Northern Lights Photography did a great job.  With this crew it took 2 hours.  They were so patient.  And the results were fantastic.

Lieben is 5 months old.  She is a black, plush-coat German Shepherd.  She now weighs 60lbs. and is almost as tall as VeeGee.  She is a joy to have in our Shepherd Pack.  And, like the other Shepherds, she sleeps on the bed.  We have got to get a bigger bed.  Two people and three Shepherds makes a full size bed pretty crowded.

The Arboriculture Society of Michigan has selected Victorian Gardens to receive the 2009 ASM Corporate Award.  Victorian Gardens was selected to receive this award as a business that provides financial support to the arboriculture industry through sponsorships of meetings and workshops, provide volunteers and/or in kind services for arboriculture projects, and facilitate education for the industry and their employees.

We are thrilled to receive this award and would like to thank ASM Board Members for considering us for this award.

As many of you know, Wesley and Meagan have left for Iowa.  All of us at the Arboricultural Society of Michigan wish them the best.  Therefore, a new MTCC Chair was elected by the board.  Dawn Thierbach (me) is the new Chair.  All volunteers are welcome.  We need Judges, Technicians, Climbers and Runners.  Contact Nancy Carpenter at ASM (517-337-4999) or Dawn Thierbach at Victorian Gardens (810-338-6531).  ASM, the Michigan Chapter of International Society of Arborists, would like to extend an invitation to everyone to join them at the Michigan Tree Climber's Championship.  The event will be at Oakland University on August 21, 2010.  It is free to come and watch!!!  Bring the family - everyone is welcome.

You can still reach us at the same telephone numbers.

We have a new email address:

 vicgartree@aol.com

Marshall Baeckeroot from Oakland Community College asked Jeff to come and teach the Fundamentals of General Tree Work course for one night (June 16, 2009).  We had a great time.  There were eight students in attendance.

We really enjoyed ourselves.  The students were full of enthusiasm and loads of fun.  Thank you Marshall for the opportunity to use our knowledge to help others.

Jeff's brother died on December 2, 2008.  Jack will be missed by all!

Dawn finished the Oakland Community College Fall 2009 semester with A's in Nursery Practices, Flowering Annuals and Perennials and Landscape Construction - Irrigation.  She is on the Dean's List.

The Oakland Community College Winter 2010 Semester, I am enrolled in Greenhouse Management, Landscape Design, Advanced Field Project, Physical Education and Michigan History.

After this semester, I will have three classes left to attend and then will have my Associates Degree in Landscape Horticulture.  I should have my Associates Degree by December 2010.

Jeff is working on his reports for the RCA (Registered Consulting Arborist).  The last report is finished.  Now we are just waiting for the results.  If all goes well, Jeff will be a Registered Consulting Arborist in March or April.  Jeff has also started his training for CTSP.  He is in the beginning stages now.

Rob and the MIOSHA Level I Certification.  Rob finished the Level I MIOSHA Certification.  He is the first in the ASM organization to complete this certification.

Rob will be attending MIOSHA Level 2 Classes soon.

Jeff, Dawn and Molly at Jack's Memorial Service.

Jack is Jeff's brother.