WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On my way home the other day from Sullivan County, I saw this catastrophic tree-failure over a playground. The tree split where a tight-crotch or included bark had created a weak union. If this tree were in the woods, then it would never beContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I remember going hunting with my friend in High School; He was showing me around and it seemed we ended up beneath powerlines quite a bit in pursuit of either turkeys or deer. I asked him back then, “Why are we always by powerlines?”Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? More rainy day blues. Sycamores have already dropped their leaves from leaf-diseases fueled by the overly abundance of rainy days. Now, this otherwise weeping cherry tree has been diagnosed with Phomopsis, a fungus that attacks the leaf and twig of a variety of woodyContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This cool, rainy spring has been great if you’re a leaf fungus. Casualties of leaf diseases can be seen by early leaf-drop and die-back upon sycamore trees. Noticeably bare sycamores can be seen while driving state route 28 or through most large valleys in theContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I have been watching this large ash tree across the road from CFA’s office for a few years now; It is one large ash tree. Unfortunately, strong symptoms of emerald ash borer have now revealed themselves in Arkville/Margaretville area of Delaware County as theyContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Well, it’s pretty rainy & wet out in the woods these days. Hopefully not a repeat of last year’s growing season. I guess the one good thing lots of rain is good for is mushrooms & red efts. My daughter–Metta Mae–found these little redContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I’m hoping that this year’s flowers on our grafted apple tree in front of the office actually produce this year; We’ll see. This tree was grafted about 6 years ago, and first bore flowers last year, which died soon afterwards due to frost damage.Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? We’re full-swing into the APPLE TREE GRAFTING season here @ CFA. Kind of excited about this one tree near Margaretville; Put 4 different varieties upon it, making 5 if you count the original tree. Now, I’m just hoping for good growth and that theContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? One of my favorite spring flowers just made its arrival here yesterday in Ulster County–Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.). Serviceberry is also known as shadbush, shadblow, bilberry, and Juneberry. It’s a kind of non-descript little gray tree that goes unnoticed until it flowers, making a strongContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? The Apple Tree Grafting season has now begun. Although the first day out brought snow in Ulster & Sullivan Counties, the weather quickly warmed up. The best time to graft is when the bark begins to slip or becomes pliable. Hopefully, this April willContinue Reading