Category: flora

somethingosis

q alba
I hope there is something symbiotic going on here. A silver lining to this opportunistic invasion for the oak tree. Some benefit. I assume something living emerges from these things? What?

There are hundreds of critters who call Quercus food. I arrived at Oak Grove after the banquet. Trying to figure who was at the table by the patterns of foliar destruction and what kind of poop is lying around. Then they are microscopic opportunists. Viruses, blights, bugs on bugs… Tooth and claw.

Arbor Day


Charlottesville schoolchildren measure the circumference of Quercus alba at Forest Hills Park.

CATS plaque
The Tree Stewards stressed that this tree is a survivor. Its life recently hasn’t been easy. It’s under professional care. Time will tell.


There is a saying about oaks, something to the effect of :
“They spend 100 years growing, 100 years thriving and 100 years dying.”
No telling how old these trees are. They were located on the woodland of the James Fife’s farm “Oak Lawn”. Thanks to the Fife folk for seeing beyond the timber value of these trees.


One of my few regrets in life is that I didn’t start planting trees earlier. Maybe these people will grow up without that regret.

Councilor Smith and TC chair Waters
Is there space for trees in Charlottesville? Do “ecosystem services” matter? These issues are under discussion by the Planning Commission and the City Council. Now there is a Tree Commission in the mix.

Pollard

maple
One consequence of pollarding is that pollarded trees tend to live longer than unpollarded specimens because they are maintained in a partially juvenile state, and they do not have the weight and windage of the top part of the tree.–Wikipedia

not easy being an urban tree


Pollards cut at only about a metre or so above the ground are called stubs (or stubbs). These were often used as markers in coppice or other woodland. Stubs cannot be used where the trees are browsed by animals, as the regrowing shoots are below the browse line.–Wikipedia