WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? You may disagree, but I think this shrub is great for wildlife & humans alike despite its immigrant-status. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) has been handed a scarlet letter labeling it as “invasive.” However, its fruit can be delicious. Even better, is that it isContinue Reading
Apple trees – in many areas of the Catskills – aren’t looking so good this year. First, the apple crop was awesome last year & wild apple trees tend to “go biennial” with fruit production. Second, the Hudson Valley Lab has told me that droughty summer conditions have lead toContinue Reading
Have you ever walked through a Catskill Forest and been able to see hundreds of yards in a single direction? It’s a great sight, but signifies a completely unhealthy forest. Where is the cover for wildlife to live in? Cover can be created through our Forestry for Wildlife program by cutting theContinue Reading
Red oak trees seem to have a healthy acorn crop this year. This is important for wildlife as a food source, especially with the lack of other mast crops this year, like apple. There has been a lot of deer squirrel, chipmunk, and turkey activity in oak stands this pastContinue Reading
So this is interesting: Beech trees seem to only epicormic sprout when hinge cut, they do not appear to root sprout. This allows for the removal of the shading beech while providing cover for wildlife. There is not vigorous beech growth from the roots allowing for regeneration of other species.Continue Reading
Ohh the growth just after two years! Wildlife habitat is coming into its prime on this property with oak trees in the overstory and young oak, maple, and birch vigorously competing in the understory. I found evidence of bear, raccoon, deer, chipmunk, grey squirrel, and countless songbirds on my shortContinue Reading