Site Discussions

The black locust is also a great conservation tree to prevent soil erosion in riparian zones, since it is fast-growing and puts up sprouts from a main stem is a wide circle around the tree. The flowers are beautiful and fragrant.

Loved this article. We have an old cellar hole a stones throw from our house and 130 years or more ago the parents planted a Black locust for each child born (5) in a circle near the house, and cow and sheep barn. The barn, also just a cellar hole left. Indeed, the soil is black gold around the trees and the bark is scraggly, craggy like a scary tree on Halloween, but when pulled off, extremely light in weight. They do not roam here like most invasives, but I have sawed down a few saplings once in a while. The scent from the white blooms that hang like Wisteria is heavenly. And bees crack out over the nectar, lol. Thank you for writing about one of my favorite trees. Native or not, they’re welcome on our land.

While fishing the Magalloway River recently I was shocked to see Red Oaks growing within 100’ of the shore with many young trees as well as select larger trees over 18” in diameter in the Mailbox pool area to the NE of Coos county where I have seen no oaks of any kind.

The farthest north I have seen these trees inland in New England.

Rosemary, I spend a lot of time walking beaches and am always fascinated by what the gulls are doing. I hope you do write about them and all of their antics. Common birds like gulls do often go unappreciated.

I love graphic books and grew up reading comics. I think it’s great you are doing nature oriented graphics. Adorable, funny, informative!! I’m glad it’s taken off and I’ll be looking for your books at my local library. Thanks for the interview, it was interesting.

Fascinating information about our cute chipmunk friends spreading beautiful mosses. I just wish the author would replace the non-native mugwort, non-native rose of Sharon, and invasive burning bushes with native plants that support the environment (and “H”) more!

This is amazing!  I love the idea that individuals of the same species can be so different, and therefore affect their habitat.  It just blows me away.

Hi Lynn

As you likely know Bartholomew’s Cobble, according to the National Park Service has the largest variety of native ferns in the United States. I have been volunteering there off and for 37 years. I have decided it’s time I learn the ferns. Robert, the current Ranger loaned me a copy of your book. When Janice, who has lead Fern identification walks at the Cobble arrived to walk with me she had a copy of the book for me. According to a brochure from The Trustees written by Waldo Bailey in the 60s all of the ferns listed in your book were at the Cobble. Of all the guides I have looked at I prefer yours. The silhouette pages are a good starting point. Each fern is given spore pictures and useful tips.
Thank you.

Thanks for the interesting story. I have quite a herd of squirrels that frequent my bird feeder and I enjoy sharing my retirement with them. Never ate one, although my grandfather taught me as a boy how to trap and skin muskrats in pursuit of a merit badge in Boy Scouts. Today I wouldn’t think of killing an animal for it’s hide, let alone eating it. I’m curious though, how much is eating a squirrel like eating a rat?

Thanks again for sharing your story,
Kim Pierson

We have a very small porcupine that comes on our patio to eat fallen acorns.  I had noticed it scratching one arm vigorously but we just noticed yesterday that it’s under belly is horribly dry and crusted.  It sounds like there is nothing we can do for it.

Wow! It never occurred to me that ancient languages can provide insights into environmental history. Also, silly me only learned about the prevalence of eastern pyrophilic species in the past year so it was great to learn more of the backstory.

In partial answer to your question, leatherleaf is common around acidic bogs. I’ve often seen winterberry in coastal areas of New England.

As per usual, Mr. Saul’s Week Two article is detailed and accurate.  Keep up the fine writing & research.

Wow!  What an amazing amount of information Paul and Denise hold. Hopefully someone is cataloguing their knowledge.  Also, great kudos to them for taking on the leadership roles and providing the time and energy to share their findings with everyone that would to know this.  Their work surely greatly appreciated.  Thank you Paul and Denise!

I saw one of these in a flower bed I was pruning late August. She had about 5-6 little piles of sand outside a small hole. We watched her drag/shove a small catydid into the hole. I thought I heard some chattering/chirping sounds coming from the hole. But maybe that was my imagination. Very interesting bug.

I am one of those none killing bunch, I turn away with hopes of the daddy long legs moving away, so pleased to read this info, especially because I do not look back just walk away from her/him, thank you.

I have a black racer living on the edge of my property. Saw it last year while cleaning up my yard and just today saw a long piece of discarded skin leading in to a brush pile. Also saw one the other day in the woods about a half mile from my property.

I was a friend of Billie Waterman.  He played drums in my high school rock band.  The last time I saw him was 1969 or 70 in NYC.  He took us to the Cloisters.  He was using a stick crutch on his one leg.  Later I heard he disappeared on a trek.  I miss him.  He was a good friend and I looked up to him.

  A very informative article! As I read about swamps dominated respectively by alder, buttonbush, and sweet gale, I thought of wetlands in my area that are dominated by each of those.  And there are other shrub swamps around that seem to be dominated by leatherleaf.  Do other shrubs, such as winterberry, become dominant in some shrub swamps?
 

Your garden looks amazing! Did you figure out what works best to deter the deer? We have 2 pollinator gardens at the forest where I work, but the deer seem to like everything! They even eat the plants that are supposed to be “deer-resistant”. It’s so frustrating! TIA for any help/advice.