When Framingham High School Senior Cameron Duval began to plan his Eagle Scout service project, he knew he needed to demonstrate his organizational and leadership skills. He also wanted the project to provide a service in his local community. After contacting the Society’s horticulture staff, Cam decided Garden in the Woods would prove the perfect location for such an endeavor.

Working with horticulturist Nate McCullin and teams of scout volunteers recruited and organized by Cam, he has undertaken the first complete survey in five years of hemlocks in the Garden and the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) pest which can kill them if left untreated. The project, which will catalog the hemlock trees in the Garden, documents evidence of infestation, and will compare the results to previous surveys. Once the project is completed over the winter of 2012, Cam will share his results with the Society and with neighbors near Garden in the Woods to encourage neighbors to take appropriate actions to reduce the impact of any infestation.

Hemlock woolly adelgid, first reported in the Eastern United States in 1951, is a small, aphid-like insect native to Asia. In the absence of natural control elements in eastern North America, this introduced insect pest attacks both eastern (Canadian) and Carolina hemlock by sucking sap from young twigs, which causes needles to dry out and drop. Infected trees are often damaged and killed within a few years of becoming infested.

When hemlock woolly adelgid is discovered, several options have been found effective in controlling infestations. Removing isolated infested trees certainly works. Using chemical control options such as foliar sprays, horticultural oils, and insecticidal soaps have also proven effective when trees can be saturated to ensure the insecticide comes in contact with the insects.

In order to achieve Eagle Scout status, Cameron Duval must complete at least 100 man hours of work. He has already invested 115 hours and plans to spend many more before his project is complete. New England Wild Flower Society is grateful for this important service.

Thank you, Cameron!