Each summer for the past three years, Japanese beetles have inflicted heavy damage on the historic hawthorn tree (and others) at Wayside Park. This tree is only a few points short of being the Illinois State Champion for its species (Crataegus mollis), and it was part of the first highway beautification project in Illinois. Our Menard Trails and Greenways organization has been given permission by IDOT to try to protect the tree with insecticide this year.

Dr. Fredric Miller from the Morton Arboretum volunteered to do an experimental treatment with Acephate as a basal soil drench to see if that will prevent the damage from happening again this year. The insecticide was donated by Rainbow Treecare Scientific and the work was performed by Fred at no cost to Menard Trails and Greenways or to IDOT.

The event was well attended and in addition to Fred's treatment, Board-Certified Master Arborist Guy Meilleur from North Carolina demonstrated proper prunning of suckering roots and spoke about proper tree planting and care. Results of the experimental treatment are to come. Guy Sternberg, of Menard County Trails and Greenways, is monitoring the effects of the treatment.

Wayside Park is located in southern Menard County, Illinois at Tallula Junction (where Route 123 heads west from Route 97 toward Tallula), across from the historic Farmers Point Cemetery.