Site Discussions

Some of my favourites are our northern orchids. A small white one called pogonia is flowering at this time in the understory of pine woods.

I think the giant silk moths are doomed unless they can adapt to resist the parasites released ignorantly by the department of natural resources to control the gypsy moth by introducing a generalist parasite fly. Wherever those flys occur naturally the native silkies must have evolved a resistance to them somehow. As a child I noticed some species of silkies were less affected by the parasites although it’s very apparent that all of them are now threatened. If some intervention is not undertaken, I fear the giant silk moths will vanish into history.

I have noticed that two separate bushes in my garden have been left like skeletons, as I took a closer look they have hundreds of deep green and black caterpillars. I am looking forward to see them change.

Can anyone tell me when this might happen as I don’t want to miss it. I’m sure it will be beautiful, I would like to film it.

I would be interested in obtaining information regarding delayed mowing in Texas.  If you have any suggestions, I’d greatly appreciate them.  I’m trying to convince my development to wait longer to mow down open fields.  Thank youl

Can anyone help? I have a theory I am working on. I have a piece of land with a few small young oaks mixed. I want to know if it would help them grow better, in the winter, if (per tree), about 16ft away dug a hole down 6 ft, then 2 ft diameter hole horizontally past the tree about 6 ft, then put a U shaped pipe in it, and back filled the holes with gravel, so that I can plum warm water under the tree to help keep them warm in the winter. My idea is that I could “remove” the frost line, and the gravel would also help keep water from sitting under the tree and flooding it / them. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks y’all.

Thanks David. What a fun story.

I’ve camped amidst the detritus of logging camps—old buckets, boots, saw blades, pots, etc. As I sit there in the wilderness, I try to imagine what it looked like as a bustling logging camp during its heyday. Love these photos—brought back memories of hikes in the mountains along the old logging RR lines. Thanks for sharing them.

Hi, interesting article. This morning while I was working on an old house, I could hear Pileated’s yammering close up in the woods.I know all the woodpeckers. The drumming was not loud and hollow sounding, that would come from an adult. But definitely from one of those. Question, do you think that it was from a young one drilling on a tree? Or is it too early for them to be fledged? Anyway, I sure love to see them as they do their thing!! Thank you, Gary E. Greene

Nice article.  A few years back while hiking the Long Trail I stopped at one of the shelters to rest before cooking supper.  As I layed there I had the feeling something was watching me. I looked of my shoulder and a garter snake was on a waist high piece of blocking only a foot or so away with it’s tongue flicking to get my scent.  He stayed while I cooked my meal.  I held my flavor packet to him so he could scent it. He acted similar to a family pet with his show of interest. Thanks for the interesting work.

Bob, the seedlings were donated by the American Chestnut Foundation. Check out their website to learn more. Chris, I don’t have an official answer—maybe someone else does—but I know that historically the tree grew naturally over on the Taconics side of the Valley of Vermont at least as high as 2,000 feet in elevation. I think red oak in southwestern VT might be something of an indicator. If it’s a good oak site, it’s probably a good chestnut site and there may have been chestnuts there historically.

How high an elevation could you go with a Chestnut tree?

I have two in my yard in Montpelier that I bought from East Hill Nursery. They were selected from local stock in Berlin that is still doing well. The one I planted five years ago is now 20’ tall and bore a nut last year. The other, 4 years old, is coming along nicely too. Both flower profusely and the flowers are gorgeous!

Great article. I found it because we have a nesting pair of goshawks on my grandmother’s land in South Wheelock.  Their nest is apparently right next to our main walking trail.  One attacked our neighbor and cut open her head.  Yesterday the big one kept buzzing within a few feet of us while we worked on the spring. I am afraid one of the kids will be attacked next.

Any advice for making their nesting area less desirable? There is plenty more woods away from the trail. I need this pair to relocate.

Encouraging news and a great way to start my weekend.

This is really good news. When I was a kid growing up by a creek in Van Buren County, Cummingsville, Tn., there was a big chestnut tree just up the hill from the creek, and each year, we would eat the nuts from the tree.  I suppose that was about the time the blight came through. We moved away while the tree was still alive.  I went back some years later, to see what looked like a lighting struck tree. Other than the poem about the blacksmith under the chestnut tree, that was the only chestnut tree I was ever aware of.  But I am glad they might be making a come back.  And I hope I live long enough to see some of them. Thanks to these people who are planting them up in Vermont.  May it be…

Where did the Chestnut seedlings come from? I’d like to try a planting on our property in SE Minnesota.

Would this same drive cause birds to tear up window screens? Never had a problem before, but a friend had a bird destroy a dinner plate size area of a window screen in the south side of her house.

Another pitch pine fan. Everyday on my bus ride home, I admire these gnarled but graceful trees, evoking wilderness and calm. By cover of night I dug up a smallish tree from the nearby woods, about 4 feet tall. I dug around it, then pulled, bringing the taproot with it. I planted it a couple of days ago, when the heat just started to kick in. Wonder a) if it will survive, b) if it will grow at a moderately fast rate. Thanks.

My house was framed with Garland Mill lumber purchased from Tom Southworth in the late 1970’s. Every time I look at the timbers, I think of that wonderful old mill and its wondeful owners and operators.

Bruce Kirmmse

I see a mud nest about six inches high near a creek water flow area near a grass field in country type setting. Is that a red winged blackbird nest or robin or walking type bird nest? Or is it for snakes because it is dug in ground about 1 1/2 inches wide?