WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Went for a hike the other day back in the woods and stumbled upon some white oak branches on the forest floor. Branches had been cut from above by a hungry black bear that was after the acorns. Once the branches laid on theContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Went for a walk last week up Peekamoose Mountain & amongst the sea of northern hardwoods (maple, beech, ash, hemlock), I saw this huge red oak tree growing in the state wilderness area. This oak must date back to when the proverbial “mountain air”Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Went for a hike last week near Peekamoose Mountain & saw great examples of “pit & mound” topography in the making. Maybe you’ve noticed before that some areas in the woods display a pit & mound topography; It almost looks like someone excavated thereContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Tree failure in Sullivan County! Last May, parts of Sullivan County–especially near Forestburgh–experienced some significant wind damage. In most instances, white pine trees “failed”, split apart or uprooted onto peoples’ homes or wiped out acres of white pine stands. Some areas were literally “clear-cut”Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Last week, I was between Callicoon Center & Roscoe, Sullivan County & noticed the remnants of a massive (isolated) hail storm that occurred back in June. Leaves had been completely shredded and lots of insurance claims from property damage too. These same trees areContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On my way back home a week or so ago, I noticed an apple tree about 200 yards from the road I’ve seen a hundred times before. But this time, my eye wanted to focus on something that was different about it. There wasContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? After 8 years, I’m proud to present mulberry to the East Branch Delaware. I hope it remains for decades to come. Back in 2010, I planted 2 ‘Northrop’ red mulberry trees near Margaretville. These trees were grown initially in St. Lawrence County, NY & areContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Recently I went away to the North Shore of Massachusetts. I heard a familiar sound I haven’t heard in about 10 years; The sound of raindrops in the forest on a sunny day. Obviously no rain, but instead falling leaf particles from munching caterpillars busyContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I was burning a large brush-pile over the weekend & witnessed something bizarre. As I was raking the un-burned brush towards the interior where the flames were, I noticed a garter snake. Instead of slithering away from me into the surrounding high weeds, heContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Installed a Canopy Bird Feeder on my own property near the driveway. For CFA, we put these up for members high up in a tree and attached to a far outstretching branch to make it harder for bears & squirrels to steal seed from.Continue Reading