DEAR SUN SPOTS: Has anyone noticed what is going on with the white pine trees? Over my 63 years they have always shed dead dry needles in the fall only. For the past several years, they also shed at least as many if not more in the spring. This year almost double the fall shed. I don’t know how long they will live doing this.

I don’t know if it’s going on statewide, but it is all over Oxford County. I have not seen anything in the media about this problem. — Bill Pollard, South Paris

ANSWER: Sun Spots found a story at the northerwoodlands.org website (http://tinyurl.com/39g56vm) about this subject. In the story, experts blame the previous summers of exceedingly wet weather, leading to the growth of fungi that are negatively affecting the trees:

“In Vermont, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation reports that at least two different needlecast diseases have been identified on symptomatic pines. One is the brown spot needle blight, caused by Scirrhia acicola. The other is white pine needlecast, caused by Canavirgella banfieldii. Both of these fungal diseases were enabled by last spring’s wet weather, when ideal conditions allowed fungal spores to infect the interior needles of the trees.”

There is also speculation that the early warmth and late frost this year may have played a part in this problem. In addition, the pine leaf adelgid has been spotted.

According to the story, if your trees are healthy, they should recover. If you still have brown needles now, your trees are not healthy and there could be mortality.

Advertisement

Another threat to the white pine was reported in the May newsletter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine. It addresses the problem of white pine blister rust. Blister rust spends much of its life living on Ribes.

Plants of the Ribes genus include currants, gooseberries, Jostaberries and Worcesterberries. According to the story, these nonnatives are not welcome in Maine, and for the last 90 years there has been an eradication program to rid the state of Ribes. However, that program has been reduced, and there is concern that blister rust could make a big comeback.

Trees will undoubtedly continue to be stressed by changing weather patterns. Vigilance is necessary. If you have concerns about your trees, you should contact a licensed forester to assess the situation.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for two brothers, Richard E Brown born in 1965 and Stanley B. Brown born in 1968. If they see this or anyone knows the where abouts or info of either, contact me. I am trying to bring the genealogy up to date and I need their information. — Beverly Brown, bev_i@hotmail.com, 539-2261

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I remember reading someone wanted a recipe for strawberry-rhubarb pie. This page is from a 1985 Country Living magazine. Perhaps this will help? — Heidi, Dryden

ANSWER: It is very kind of Heidi to try to help, but Sun Spots cannot reprint this recipe without violating Country Living’s copyright. This is a recurring problem with recipes. Readers often send Sun Spots clippings of recipes from other publications, but she cannot use them unless they are very, very old — in the case of corporate publication, 95 years old.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.