WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Paul Misko recently installed this beautiful black cherry slab for CFA’s lobby in the new office. The board came from a cherry tree in Woodland Valley, Ulster County. Notice how the tree’s rings are growing fast near the middle when it was younger andContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This photo was taken back in 2023 on one of my favorite streams. It’s located in one of the most remote areas of the Catskills, yet it’s highly infected with hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA); A devastating insect brought into the US sometime in theContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Just planted this little shrub last fall. It’s a goumi (Elaeagnus multiflora) and bearing large amounts of fruit already. I’m a fan of autumn olive–a cousin of goumi–but others consider autumn olive and other Elaeagnus plants (i.e. Russian olive) to be invasive. Goumi apparentlyContinue Reading

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Found some relict American chestnut trees last week while hiking on the Shawangunk Ridge. Due to a legacy of human-caused burning on the ridge, American chestnuts aren’t uncommon there. Like oak, American chestnut has vigorous roots that resprout readily after being top-killed from cutting,Continue Reading