The Spring Romance of Trees
It starts in cooler spring weather, before bees and butterflies emerge to lazily drift about spreading pollen among plants. This curious mating of certain deciduous trees yields furry spindles, balls and cones on the tips of branches in a variety of interesting colors — yellow-green, red, mahogany or reddish brown.
The protrusions eventually fall to the ground, and most people take their beauty for granted, sweeping them from walkways, decks, patios and car roofs.
Called catkins, the tiny blossoms are loaded with pollen and ovum, so allergy sufferers may not find them quite so pleasing. Catkins rely on wind and gravity to do their romantic bidding, not birds or bees, said Clem Hamilton, director of research for Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “From the tree’s perspective, they want to get reproducing as soon as possible. Many of these trees, such as walnuts and hazelnuts, have very elaborate fruits.”
The word catkin refers to the object’s resemblance to a cat’s furry tail. For instance, the furry gray buds that grow on pussy willows are considered catkins, although some horticulturists disagree as to which species actually produce catkins, according to the Arboretum’s spokesman, Marty Cusack.
About half of all deciduous trees produce catkins sometime between March and June. In Illinois, those trees include European alder, white ash, trembling aspen, box elder, eastern cottonwood, American elm, hazelnut, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, white oak, sycamore, black walnut and black willow.
The catkins of alders, ironwoods and some maples appear before their corresponding leaves emerge, while oak and sycamore catkins form at the same time as young leaves.
For a better look, visit the Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre outdoor museum for living trees. Staff at the visitor center information desk can help you locate various tree species producing catkins this month.
You can also go online and visit mortonarb.org. Click on the Plant Information selection at the bottom of the home page. Select Plant Collection Catalog, then the Plant Name option. Type the name of the tree with a space after the name. Once you’ve found your tree, click on one of the listed trees of that variety, and you’ll get a number corresponding to a location on a plat map of the Arboretum.
— Susan DeGrane
Kick the Habit For Kitty’s Sake
SMOKERS LIVING in Cook County may still be bristling over the $1 per pack cigarette tax that became effective this spring, but if they decide to cut back or quit altogether, others in their households — particularly pets — may benefit.
That’s because environmental tobacco smoke, better known as second-hand smoke, may be especially harmful to cats.
A Tufts University study found a strong correlation between tobacco smoke and oral cancer in cats. One explanation may be that because cats constantly groom themselves, those living in smoking households ingest carcinogens deposited on their fur.
And cats exposed to secondhand smoke exhibited a slightly increased risk of developing malignant lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes, according to a study conducted by University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dogs living with smokers don’t seem to fare that well either. A Colorado State University study found slightly higher incidences of nasal cavity tumors and lung cancer.
— CC
Super snacks
CRACK THE SHELL, swallow the seed, save your heart. Of all the commonly eaten nuts and seeds, sunflower kernels boast the highest concentration of a class of plant chemicals shown to reduce cholesterol levels and improve heart health, according to a new study from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Analyzing 27 types of nuts and seeds, chemists found that sunflower kernels and pistachios were the most phytosterol-rich among those typically eaten as snack foods. (Sesame seed and wheat germ were ranked highest overall, but neither is frequently consumed as an individual food.)
Los Angeles-based dietitian Matt Ruscigno, R.D., recommends snacking on a quarter-cup serving of nuts and seeds at least five times a week. “They’re an excellent source of protein, micronutrients, vitamin E, and essentially fatty acids,” he says. “And their culinary use is extremely versatile — from stir-fries to sauces and even desserts, nuts and seeds can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet.”
Even though the study ranked walnuts and peanuts among the lowest in phytosterol content, each possesses other healthful properties, notes study author Katherine M. Phillips, Ph.D. “For example, walnuts are found to be very high in antioxidants,” Phillips says. “This highlights the importance of not making food choices based on one single component.”
Cranberries may help curb plaque buildup and keep your smile cavity-free, according to lab tests from the University of Rochester Medical Center. Just as the sweet-tart fruit helps prevent urinary tract infections by stopping bacteria from sticking to the bladder, cranberries appear to stave off tooth decay by keeping the microbe Streptococcus mutans from clinging to tooth surfaces. When those bacteria stick to the teeth, says study author Hyun Koo, D.D.S., Ph.D., they end up secreting acids that result in cavities.
The study authors have yet to identify the anti-cavity compounds within cranberries, but Koo hopes that the isolated compounds could be used as cavity-fighting ingredients in toothpaste or mouth wash. While 100 percent pure cranberry juice concentrates lack the cavity-causing added sugar found in most blends, the juice’s natural acidity may lead to tooth decay, Koo warns.
That four-cup-a-day habit might be worth keeping up. In a Journal of Nutrition study, premenopausal women who drank four or more cups of regular coffee daily had a 40 percent lower risk of breast cancer when compared to non-coffee-drinkers. Researchers surveyed 1,932 women with breast cancer and 1,895 without breast cancer, finding that breast cancer risk did not decrease among those who regularly drank black tea or decaf coffee.
Java may also jack-up your protection against type-2 diabetes, according to a 2003 study from the Harvard School of Public Health. And although research on the link between coffee drinking and heart disease has produced conflicting results, the American Heart Association states, drinking one to two cups daily doesn’t appear to increase heart disease risk.
But tea lovers shouldn’t trade in their bags for beans just yet. “Both black and green tea are an important source of antioxidant polyphenols that are suspected to yield health benefits,” says study author Gregory P. Beehler.
— Elizabeth Barker
Keep Chicago Beautiful
WHEN IT COMES TO STAYING CLEAN, one of the most important lessons an adult can teach a child is the proper disposal of trash. Local teachers can instill this lesson with a lot more depth, thanks to Joyce Kagan Charmatz, president of Keep Chicago Beautiful.
Eighteen years ago, Charmatz, a former teacher in New York, founded the local affiliate of the national Keep America Beautiful group.
Part of the local program is Waste in Place, a four-hour training program for elementary school teachers. It includes 35 learning activities centering on litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, composting and the use of waste in the production of energy. Teachers who attend the workshop can gain four continuing education credits.
The City of Chicago’s Center for Green Technology will host a Waste in Place workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6, at 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. Call 312-746-9642 or e-mail.
— CC
Students Pilot Alt. Energy Program
FOR MOST STUDENTS, the junior and senior years of high school revolve around part-time jobs, getting into college, and trying to stay on the cutting edge of cool.
The students involved with The CASE project, or Colloquium for Alternative Sources of Energy at Northside College Preparatory High School, 5501 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, however, are taking on a task much larger than your average high school assignment: Saving the planet, one small project at a time.
The CASE project is a group of eco-friendly students determined to find ways of decreasing dependence on traditional energy sources by identifying and using alternative sources.
Through the Northside Prep colloquium, which takes place for three hours every Wednesday, the CASE projects have flourished for the last two years in an environment filled with eager minds ready to take on the challenges of raising awareness for their program.
The three divisions of the project, finance, research and development, and public relations, are responsible for securing grants and funding, reaching out to potential corporate partners and sponsors, and educating the student body and local community on the benefits of alternative energy sources.
Under the direction of such teachers as Mike Coy, and professional advisors and parents, the CASE group has so far been able to secure a donation of enough solar thermal panels to heat the high school’s 3,280 square-foot indoor swimming pool. When completed, the addition of solar heating to the school will be of tremendous economic benefit. The expected average annual savings is around $11,563 and 14,824 therms of natural gas.
Although student-run, CASE operates much like any professional organization. Now in its second year, it is working toward securing its status as a 501c(3) non-profit business.
Currently, the students of CASE are working on organizing an advisory board of politicians, lawyers and other professionals who could assist them in getting funding and support from the community.
The CASE students, while still working steadily to raise money for the installation of the solar thermal panels, have now set their sights even higher. Possible future projects include geo-thermal heating for the school and maybe a project that would use wind as an energy source.
To learn more, visit nscollegeprep.cps.k12.il.us.
— Christen DeProto
Plug in to Fuel Alternatives
IF THE RISING PRICE of gasoline has got you down, then maybe it’s time to consider some high-voltage alternatives.
Electric cars, which can be plugged into your home power source, cost about two to three cents per mile to operate, compared to a gas-powered car that costs 15 cents or more per mile. The charge lasts for about 20 to 40 miles, depending on the vehicle, so pure electric power works best for short commutes.
But electric cars offer other advantages. They are extremely quiet and clean. They also accelerate more rapidly than other cars, according to John Bende, who operates a battery-powered dragster called the “Aggravated Battery.”
“A lot of car makers tell you their cars go from 0 to 60 (miles per hour) in five to seven seconds,” Bende said. “My car goes from 0 to 60 in one second … . The funny part is, you expect to hear all this noise when it does this and it’s dead quiet.”
Bende’s stealth dragster will compete at the National Electric Drag Racing Association’s High Voltage Nationals as part of the Midwest Alternative Fuel Vehicle Expo, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 13, at the Route 66 Raceway, three miles south of I-80 on Route 53 in Joliet.
Also racing are the White Zombie, billed as “the World’s Fastest ‘Street Legal’ Electric Car,” and the Killacycle II, billed as “the World’s Fastest Electric Motor Cycle.”
But aside from the high-speed, high-voltage excitement, the expo showcases vehicles powered by human locomotion, propane, natural gas, vegetable oil, ethanol, biodiesel, solar and steam.
Some are rather curious contraptions. A wind-powered bike looks more like a giant fan on wheels. A 2002 Volkswagen burns used vegetable oil. Its conversion from turbo diesel is the work of science students from Joliet Central Township High School who compare emissions from Burger King, McDonald’s and Chinese restaurant fry oils. Still other attractions include the latest in alternative-fuel vehicles manufactured by Ford, GM, BMW and Mercedes.
If you already own an alternative fuel vehicle, you can display it at the expo or even race it on the drag strip between official events.
And if you think the expo is strictly for men, think again. “Females are responsible for 65 percent of all car purchases,” said Ted Lowe, president of the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association.
While most of us just want to get further down the road for less money, alternative fuel vehicles hold the promise of clean air and independence from foreign oil, Lowe said, adding that ethanol made from corn and biodiesel made from soy pollute far less than conventional fuels and can be produced locally.
For now, electric cars remain fairly rare. Many are the products of research labs or homegrown creations by techies such as Lowe, who has converted a Chevy F10 truck to an electric vehicle he calls “the worker bee” and uses for hauling block, brick, furniture, lumber and material for solar power installations.
The Fox Valley Electric Auto Association meets monthly at Clow International Airport, Packer Wings hangar, 130 S. Clow International Parkway in Bolingbrook. Members are always more than happy to offer advice and assistance with vehicle conversions, Lowe said. The group will meet 7 p.m. May 19.
The somewhat limited scope of electric-powered vehicles is expected to change soon with car manufacturers and others seeking alternative fuel sources.
Having established a Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team of faculty and students, the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago is working on several projects related to enhancing battery fuel-cell technology in cars.
The institute partnered with the City of Chicago to convert a hybrid SUV in the city fleet into a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle that uses lithium-ion batteries. “These are the kinds of batteries found in laptops and camcorders,” said Said Al-Hallaj, coordinator of IIT’s renewable energy programs. “One problem with making these batteries bigger is heat.”
IIT’s solution was to add a compartment containing paraffin wax to absorb the heat. “It’s a low-tech solution — that’s what I love about it,” said Al-Hallaj.
Call 815-727-RACE or visit midwestalternativefuelvehicleexpo.com. To connect with the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association, call 630-260-0424 or e-mail.
— Susan DeGrane
