Growing Assets LLC https://growingassetsllc.com Timber and Land Services in the Southeastern U.S. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:48:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://growingassetsllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GA_favicon60px-36x36.png Growing Assets LLC https://growingassetsllc.com 32 32 Our Christmas Tree Quest https://growingassetsllc.com/community/our-christmas-tree-quest/ Fri, 12 Jul 2024 20:58:13 +0000 https://growingassetsllc.com/?p=20429

What is the Florence Christmas Tree Search?

Every December the Florence Beautification Board raises and lights a Christmas tree in the median strip on North Court Street, just south of the University of North Alabama.

It is a tradition begun in 2018 by Linda VanSandt, a former member of the board. The first year Linda selected a cedar tree on the Shell Christmas Tree Farmland, and in the years that followed the Christmas trees were donated generously by people in the community.

At the end of the 2023 holiday season the board met to see if there was a better, long-term solution for finding these trees, and someone suggested they get in touch with us, Growing Assets. After all, who would know more about trees, and finding a tree, than a forestry-consulting business with roots in north Alabama dating back to the early 1950s? We were happy to accept the challenge, and so our search for a Christmas Tree for the City of Florence was born.

Do you think you might have that special tree?  If so, let us know by posting a comment with a photo, sending us an email or just give us a call, and help Florence glow a little brighter at Christmastime.

]]> Warmer weather brings pine beetles https://growingassetsllc.com/forest-health/warmer-weather-brings-pine-beetles/ Fri, 12 Jul 2024 20:18:59 +0000 https://growingassetsllc.com/?p=20414 Here’s how to spot them

As the weather warms up, pine beetles become a problem. Although all pine trees are susceptible to an attack, those that are injured, stressed or dying are the most likely to fall prey.

The beetles themselves can be hard to spot because they are so small. In the photo, the southern pine beetle (on the left) and a black turpentine beetle (on the right) are compared to a grain of rice (middle) in someone’s palm. Photo from the Southern Forest Insect Work Conference Archives

Popcorn-like pitch tubes on an affected tree.
Photo by Jiri Hulcr, University of Florida

If a tree is infested there are some telltale signs: it will have white to reddish, brown pitch tubes on bark plates (about the size of a wad of gum), or, if the tree is of low vigor, there won’t be pitch tubes but reddish boring dust in the bark’s crevices at the base. Brown needles on some stems or an entire brown crown are other signs of a beetle infestation.

If your trees are turning brown take immediate action and get them assessed as soon as possible.

]]> May 2024 Issue https://growingassetsllc.com/newsletter/newsletter-may-2024/ Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://growingassetsllc.com/?p=20446 ]]> February 2024 Issue https://growingassetsllc.com/newsletter/newsletter-february-2024/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:06 +0000 https://growingassetsllc.com/?p=20449 ]]>