WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This was a pretty cool tree we got to prune near Rondout in Ulster County. It was one of the largest trees we’ve done. Some time ago, it was “let go” & sprouted some large branches or “suckers.” These “suckers” shaded out the lowerContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? If you’re a skier or snowshoer, this winter (so far) has been a bust. But this unusually warmer January has been great for maple sugaring. My 18 buckets gave 47 gallons of sap in one day last week. That means on average, these tapsContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Well, this year marks the earliest time I’ve tapped maple trees. Trees were tapped January 1st and sap boiled on the 2nd. I’ve tapped before in January (several times), but not this early. The 10-Day forecast is looking pretty “maply” too with highs inContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Last week I was waiting around for my wife to get her Starbucks fix and saw this poor tree on the ground. This tree serves as an unfortunately perfect example of a root-bound planting gone wrong. You can see–by its roots–the original shape ofContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I was away in Florida. I forgot to mention this peculiar tree I’ve never seen before that caught my eye. From afar, it kind of looks fake, but it is certainly real. Although it resembles a spruceContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Seen quite a few fishers this year while hunting. I know they’re around but haven’t had the privilege of seeing one in a few years. This year has been chock full with red fox, coyote, and fisher for me. I cannot recall ever seeingContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Haven’t been in the woods much lately. Instead, I feel like a fish out of water down here in Florida for the week. Being here, I realize just how much of a “northerner” I really am. Beards & boots are rare here & forContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? One of our members found this bark spud in a swamp located in western Delaware County. It probably dates back to sometime in the mid-19th Century. Bark spuds were used to debark or peel hemlock bark in the late spring to early summer. BarkContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Gun season has begun in our part of New York State. I’ve been seeing bucks chasing does all over the place. Some of these bucks are colliding with bullets from hunters and others into front bumpers of drivers. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing more deerContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On this wet fall day, I’m stuck inside and thinking ahead. The “season” or forest activity right now for me is hunting. The next one following that is maple sugaring which normally occurs in February & March. And that got me thinking back toContinue Reading