Worried about your ash trees?
Updated information on treating trees for emerald ash borer, an insect that threatens ash trees in much of Ohio, is at http://ashalert.osu.edu, the Internet site of the Ohio State University Emerald Ash Borer Outreach Team. Click on ''Fact Sheets/Bulletins'' at the bottom of the page and then ''Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer.''
The bulletin helps homeowners determine whether they need to treat for the pest and addresses treatments available for both professionals and do-it-yourselfers.
It was co-written by entomologists from OSU, Michigan State University, Purdue University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Lawn-care seminar
Lawn and landscape maintenance professionals will gather June 18 for the Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar, sponsored by the Ohio Lawn Care Association.
The seminar will cover integrated pest management, equipment calibration for ride-on spreaders and sprayers, turf grass disease management, weed identification and control, and insect control for trees and shrubs.
Participants may also take the Ohio Department of Agriculture's pesticide applicators licensing test, but they need to schedule in advance at 800-282-1955 or http://www.ohioagriculture.gov (select ''Regulatory Programs,'' ''Pesticide & Fertilizer Regulation,'' ''Online Services'' and then ''Exam Registration'').
The seminar will be at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Cost for association members who register by Thursday is $35 for the first registrant from a company and $25 for each additional company representative. Members who register on site pay $40 each.
The costs to those who aren't members are $70 in advance and $85 on site.
Information is at http://www.ohiolawncare.org or 800-510-5296.
Pet toy ideas sought
PetSmart is picking pet owners' brains for toy ideas.
The retailer has teamed up with Edison Nation to search for innovative ideas for interactive pet toys and products that help keep pets of all types entertained while their owners are away. If your idea is selected for development, you'll receive a $2,500 advance and a percentage of product sales for up to 20 years.
Ideas can be submitted at http://www.edisonnation.com/petsmart until July 9.
Events, programs
• Plant sale, 9 a.m. today, Village Green, Broadview and Streetsboro roads, Richfield. Sponsored by the Richfield Garden Club.
• Ask the Gardener, noon to 4 p.m. today, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Lake County Master Gardeners will answer plant questions. Garden admission: $7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free. Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• National Alpaca Show, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, I-X Center, 6200 Riverside Drive, Cleveland. Sponsored by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association. Competitions, displays, sales of items made from alpaca fleece. Free admission. Parking $8. Information: http://www.ixcenter.com.
• Start a Seedling, a Twelve on Tuesdays program for seniors, noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Free with admission, which is $5.50 on Tuesdays for people 60 and older. Groups should register in advance at 216-721-1600, ext. 100.
• Warm Up Akron meetings, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mogadore branch, Akron-Summit County Public Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave. Members knit and crochet rectangles that are used to make afghans for needy people in the Akron area, and they'll teach others the skills. Information: 330-699-3252 or http://www.geocities.com/warmupakron.
• Twinsburg Garden Club meeting, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Twinsburg Senior Center in the Community Center, 10260 Ravenna Road. Program: Edible Weeds. Information: 330-425-8076, twinsburggardenclub@yahoo.com or http://www.twinsburg-garden-club.com.
• Botanical Arts for Youth: Colored Pencil Workshop, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 11 to July 2, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Appropriate for students ages 9 to 17 of all ability levels. Single-session fee: members, $16; others, $19. Series fee: members, $54; others, $65. Registration: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Open house and heirloom rose sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday, Garden of Roses of Legend and Romance, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Opportunity to tour the three-acre rose garden. Talk on low-maintenance roses at 10:30 a.m.; Ask a Rosarian session at noon. At least 42 types of roses for sale. Information: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/rosegarden or 330-263-3612.
• Vegetable gardening classes, next Saturday, Cleveland Botanical Garden's Yellow House Learning Garden, East 66th Street and Chester Avenue, Cleveland. Vegetable Gardening 101, 12:30 to 2 p.m.; Vegetable Gardening 202, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Members pay $15 for one class or $24 for both; others pay $22 for one class or $35 for both. Registration: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Country Breakfast & Seminar, 8:30 a.m. next Saturday, Malabar Farm, 4050 Bromfield Road, Monroe Township near Lucas. Author Virginia Coover will speak on the topic Home Gardening for Fun and Profit. $5, including breakfast. Information: http://www.malabarfarm.org or 419-892-2784.
• Plant sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday and June 14, outside National City Bank, West Market Street and North Portage Path, Akron. Presented by the Highland Square Garden Club. Perennials, annuals, hostas, grasses, annual vines, herbs and vegetable plants for sale.
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