We have gorgeous, gnarly, stately old oak trees lining important boulevards and scattered across New Orleans, our state, and the south. We also suffer from an invasion of formosan subterranean termites, gifted to us in the 1940's most likely from a ship at port from Asia. The formosans are much more aggressive than our native variety. Formosan termite colonies cause millions of dollars in damage every year to homes built of wood. Termites hollow out the Oaks and cause them certain deterioration and death. Colonies consist of one to four million foraging termites and can extend their "foraging galleries" to over 300 feet in length, connecting multiple feeding sites. There are treatments, and sometimes they work at containing and killing colonies. I don't know what I would do if there were no more oak trees to walk under and gaze into. They are so magical in any weather condition but my favorite viewing is when they are engulfed in fog.
In my home state of Arizona, I clearly remember a period of my childhood where nearly every tree in the neighborhood was whitewashed to stop the beatles from digging into the tree trunks. The majority took a hit from them including the ones in my front yard. It's devastating to see that house today with no trees. But while we're tree crushing, can I just say that the Quaking Aspens and Birch trees in Northern Arizona were my respite. They literally sang in the wind. The Birch and its patchy white bark made everything feel new again and the Quaking Aspens took the job of adding colors so precise it was like standing in a forest of crayons. Now, here in upstate New York, I grumble at my Acorn tree when my lawn mower hits one, pinging around the blades, smashing its hollowed out corpse that long ago dropped in a previous Autumn. But then I remember how it's a respite for the birds I love, the Bluejays and Finches and the occasional Cardinal, and I grin the stupidest grin when I think of the chipmunks stuffing their cheeks with a bounty of acorns. And I remember the soft, cool shade it provided my Blackie on his last day on this earth as we laid together under its umbrella of leaves. I sit there in the Autumn evenings to remember him now. It's funny how trees root us while simultaneously rooting themselves.
That was so pleasant and heartening to read. We recently had to move back to the Midwest after being in upsate NY and VT for over a decade. I so miss the stewardship and love and respect for the land in most folks up there. I know it's present here, but its much harder to find. Thank you for this, it takes me back to my beloved northern forest that are now in my bones forever. Keep those Ash trees! I know you will, and I pray they keep you too.
I read E.B. White's essay "Homecoming" tonight--for the very first time--after reading "Ash Passion" earlier today. Your feelings of Vermont in the 21st century so closely remind me of his feelings of Maine in the mid-20th century, and this particular work even discusses the various harbingers of tree illnesses. Every once in a blue moon, the universe astounds me. And I don't even believe in such things.
Link Followed and I would like to acknowledge the NULHEGAN ABENAKI TRIBE AT NULHEGAN~MEMPHREMAGOG elders past present and emerging as the custodians of the country .
I don't have a car so I've just been identifying trees in my neighborhood and parks. I've been looking for an ash tree and I just found one a few blocks away just a couple months ago. I didn't know they could be saved! I'm literally wearing your lion of Albion shirt today and yesterday I did a deep dive in to my surname roots (they are mutual exclusive phenomena, I wear this shirt a lot). Turns out I'm Northumbrian/border clan post norman invasion aristocracy stock (direct lineage). It's not a flex, and I'm not impressed. The normans were horrid. I'm trying to reach back past that in my lineage to a time where my ancestors had a more of a healthy connection to the land and nature, but it's hard because that history/pre-history has all but been washed out by christian colonizing mythologies of grandeur. And I'm not trying to romanticize ancient history either, just trying to reach back to move forward more wisely. My ancestors carried that mythology trash over here and its honestly - it's a damn curse. I wish I could resurrect my ancestors to force them to make this shit right. But I guess it's just up to us to fix the mess that was made. I just wish more people payed attention to all of this stuff like you do. I'm still holding out for hope tho.
We recently learned on a faculty walk that the beautiful hemlock stands up in the woods behind our school could likely be gone within 10 years. An invasive insect is also creeping north towards them with the increase of warmer temperatures. It is challenging and important work to stay both hopeful and connected to the surrounding land...
We have gorgeous, gnarly, stately old oak trees lining important boulevards and scattered across New Orleans, our state, and the south. We also suffer from an invasion of formosan subterranean termites, gifted to us in the 1940's most likely from a ship at port from Asia. The formosans are much more aggressive than our native variety. Formosan termite colonies cause millions of dollars in damage every year to homes built of wood. Termites hollow out the Oaks and cause them certain deterioration and death. Colonies consist of one to four million foraging termites and can extend their "foraging galleries" to over 300 feet in length, connecting multiple feeding sites. There are treatments, and sometimes they work at containing and killing colonies. I don't know what I would do if there were no more oak trees to walk under and gaze into. They are so magical in any weather condition but my favorite viewing is when they are engulfed in fog.
In my home state of Arizona, I clearly remember a period of my childhood where nearly every tree in the neighborhood was whitewashed to stop the beatles from digging into the tree trunks. The majority took a hit from them including the ones in my front yard. It's devastating to see that house today with no trees. But while we're tree crushing, can I just say that the Quaking Aspens and Birch trees in Northern Arizona were my respite. They literally sang in the wind. The Birch and its patchy white bark made everything feel new again and the Quaking Aspens took the job of adding colors so precise it was like standing in a forest of crayons. Now, here in upstate New York, I grumble at my Acorn tree when my lawn mower hits one, pinging around the blades, smashing its hollowed out corpse that long ago dropped in a previous Autumn. But then I remember how it's a respite for the birds I love, the Bluejays and Finches and the occasional Cardinal, and I grin the stupidest grin when I think of the chipmunks stuffing their cheeks with a bounty of acorns. And I remember the soft, cool shade it provided my Blackie on his last day on this earth as we laid together under its umbrella of leaves. I sit there in the Autumn evenings to remember him now. It's funny how trees root us while simultaneously rooting themselves.
That was so pleasant and heartening to read. We recently had to move back to the Midwest after being in upsate NY and VT for over a decade. I so miss the stewardship and love and respect for the land in most folks up there. I know it's present here, but its much harder to find. Thank you for this, it takes me back to my beloved northern forest that are now in my bones forever. Keep those Ash trees! I know you will, and I pray they keep you too.
Somehow I am both turned on and crying
I read E.B. White's essay "Homecoming" tonight--for the very first time--after reading "Ash Passion" earlier today. Your feelings of Vermont in the 21st century so closely remind me of his feelings of Maine in the mid-20th century, and this particular work even discusses the various harbingers of tree illnesses. Every once in a blue moon, the universe astounds me. And I don't even believe in such things.
Link Followed and I would like to acknowledge the NULHEGAN ABENAKI TRIBE AT NULHEGAN~MEMPHREMAGOG elders past present and emerging as the custodians of the country .
I was born in and currently live in Michigan and the Ash borer has been devastating. So much of my childhood forests have been decimated.
Tree love is real.
I don't have a car so I've just been identifying trees in my neighborhood and parks. I've been looking for an ash tree and I just found one a few blocks away just a couple months ago. I didn't know they could be saved! I'm literally wearing your lion of Albion shirt today and yesterday I did a deep dive in to my surname roots (they are mutual exclusive phenomena, I wear this shirt a lot). Turns out I'm Northumbrian/border clan post norman invasion aristocracy stock (direct lineage). It's not a flex, and I'm not impressed. The normans were horrid. I'm trying to reach back past that in my lineage to a time where my ancestors had a more of a healthy connection to the land and nature, but it's hard because that history/pre-history has all but been washed out by christian colonizing mythologies of grandeur. And I'm not trying to romanticize ancient history either, just trying to reach back to move forward more wisely. My ancestors carried that mythology trash over here and its honestly - it's a damn curse. I wish I could resurrect my ancestors to force them to make this shit right. But I guess it's just up to us to fix the mess that was made. I just wish more people payed attention to all of this stuff like you do. I'm still holding out for hope tho.
We recently learned on a faculty walk that the beautiful hemlock stands up in the woods behind our school could likely be gone within 10 years. An invasive insect is also creeping north towards them with the increase of warmer temperatures. It is challenging and important work to stay both hopeful and connected to the surrounding land...