Client Update. Christmas holiday season 2025
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and happy holidays!
It's hard to believe that we've come to the end of another year. Where did 2025 go? In fact, where have the past 2 decades gone as 2025 was the 21st year since I founded Arbor Doctor.
As I write this we are attempting to wrap up our early winter dormant oil applications, fall tree planting, and air knife services as conditions permit. One of the coldest and snowiest early winter periods on record has certainly hampered those efforts but we will have plenty of opportunity to finish these. Some of this will continue into the winter as conditions allow.
2026 Scheduled Services and Prepay Opportunities
At the beginning of 2026, as we do every year, we will be mailing out letters detailing what services you are scheduled for in 2026. This will include an option to prepay for services. This is an option that some people like to take advantage of but it is not a requirement. If you wish to make any changes or additions in your service schedule, you must notify us. We do not automatically cancel out service schedules at the end of a calendar year.
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Box Tree Moth
The Box(wood) Tree (shrub) Moth (BTM) contnued to expand its territory in 2025, causing considerable damage to boxwoods in eastern Cincinnati suburbs, as far west as West Chester and Amberly Village but also in Mason, Symnes Township, Montgomery, Loveland, Indian Hill, Mariemont, and Milford. A BTM was found in a trap in Fort Thomas, KY as well. We have no reason to think that this infestation will stop spreading. If you are east of Interstate 75, we should be treating for BTM. West of Interstate 75 may be needed this year depending on how we see BTM spreading. BTM defoliates and kills boxwoods. At least three topical treatments per year are required for control. Many of you already have programs which will address BTM. If you are unsure, let us know and we will review your program and make recommendation. In general, an eartly spring, mid-spring, and summer treatment should be scheduled. An early fall treatment may be helpful as well.
Other happenings and highlights
Also during the winter we will be doing site visits where we visit some of your properties, inventory plants, and conduct field training with our team members. This is a free service where we can take a closer look at your plants and learn as a team in preparation for the coming 2025 season. If there are specific things that you would like us to give attention to during this winter period, please let us know.
It was yet another very busy year for us here at Arbor Doctor. We welcomed a number of new clients to our established and growing client base. There is never an end to the variety of new and varied plant health care challenges. New pathogens are always showing up and weather is always changing and varied. We had some very hot and dry summer periods, as well as some wet periods. We had more September drought but that was more short lived since October rainfall was normal and November rainfall was above normal.
One of the highlights of my year was the opportunity to attend the international conference of the International Society of Arboriculture in Christchurch, New Zealand in October. You can read more about that adventure at the following links:
Destination New Zealand 2025. Attending the international ISA conference and visiting Australia and New Zealand
Arbor Doctor takes to a camel
Here are blog articles posted over the past couple months:
Peachy Time to Deal with Leaf Curl
Don’t forget the Oaks!
Governor DeWine has a ‘Real’ Christmas Tree for 2025
Rockefeller Greenhouse. A ‘Free’ Cleveland Christmas Display
Plant of the Week - November 29th 2025 - Christmas Poinsettia
From Tree Thief to Holiday Tradition: The Story of Mistletoe
Stress and Decline in Woody Plants (ID-50)
Tree Planting Guide
Where did all the Water Go? SEICHE!
December 2025 Regional Weather Summary
December 14, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
December 7, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
November 2025 Regional Weather Summary
November 30, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
November 23, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
November 16, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
November 9, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
November 2, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update
October 2025 Regional Weather Summary
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Peace, Joy, Merriment. It's that special time of year. The most wonderful time of the year. I'm all for that, but I'm also just as in favor of recognizing the true meaning of this time of the year. A meaning which goes a whole lot deeper and speaks to each one of us.
For over a decade, one of my favorite bands has been a band called Skillet. Skillet is a Christian rock band, perhaps a bit too hard for some of you, but they for decades have remained solidly grounded in their faith and have lived that out in a way that you seldom see in either the music industry or in our society in general. In November, they released their first ever Christmas single, their take on O come O come, Emmanuel. When you look at the words of the song, it is not really so much a Christmas song as it is an Advent song, Advent being the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Jesse
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
God is with us
He's with us now
O come, o come Emmanuel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
God is with us
He's with us now
Oh, our God is Emmanuel
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an ancient Christian hymn expressing longing for the Messiah (Emmanuel means "God with us"), and Skillet's version applies this yearning in part through heavy rock, representing the deep need for Christ's peace in a dark world to show hope amidst suffering.
The song comes from 15th-century Latin, a prayer anticipating the birth of Jesus, traditionally sung during Advent (the four weeks before Christmas). It calls Christ by different names (Rod of Jesse, Key of David) that signify His role in saving His people from sin and death. The lyrics plead for Emmanuel to come and "ransom captive Israel" (humanity) from exile and darkness, promising His return brings victory.
Skillet uses their signature hard rock sound to convey the intensity and lament of waiting for the Prince of Peace in a broken world, not just a gentle Christmas tune. Lead singer John Cooper explained the heavier sound reflects the real-world struggles and evil, contrasting it with the hope of Christ's eventual triumph.
In essence, Skillet's "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" translates the hymn's deep, ancient cry for salvation into a modern, passionate plea for Christ to come, reflecting both the darkness of the world and the power of faith.
According to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews website, “The story of Hanukkah is the victory of light over darkness.” Jesus was Jewish and His story of bringing God’s light to a dark world is similar to the story of Hanukkah. Jesus, in fact, is recorded, as a Jew, to have observed this celebration.
2025 has seen a lot of darkness, be it the antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, the politically and religiously motivated assassinations of Charlie Kirk and Ella Cook (at Brown University), among many others, or the tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife. At this time of the year, when we get so many messages of an idyllic Christmas or holiday, I think it is important to remember that the message of these holidays is not one of a perfect world, but rather of a very broken world in need of a savior, one which was very broken thousands of years ago and remains so today. There is nothing new under the sun, as we read in Ecclesiastes.
Into this darkness shines the light of the living God, in the form of candles which remained lit for eight days and, ultimately, in the form of Emanuel who came to bring us His light and His salvation in this otherwise dark and troubling world.
God is with us
He's with us now
Oh, our God is Emmanuel.
Have a blessed Hannukah and Christmas season, and prayers for peace and joy in the new year.
At this time of the year, as Christians come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, I'm reminded that I am truly blessed to be doing something as a profession that I love and have a passion for and to be providing a service of stewardship to you, my client.
Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to care for your trees and your landscapes and I wish you a blessed holiday season and New year.
As always, feel free to call our Director of Operations Camille Rechel at 513-661-2673 with any questions.
Sincerely,
Ronald E. Rothhaas, Jr.
Principal, Arbor Doctor, LLC.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist®, OH-5177B
ISA TRAQ, ISA PPQ, ASCA TPAQ
Member ASCA, ISA, OCISA, IAA, KAA, NALP, ONLA
(513) 661-2673
