John Muir once said, “Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” Isn’t this a remarkable way to look at the endless opportunities to adventure in any given woods, in any given direction? You’re limited only by your imagination. This would be as positive an approach as anyone could take to any woods.
On the other hand, William Blake states, “The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green object which stands in their way.”
“Arboreal” animals would be those who spend most of their time in trees.. They would include raccoons, possums, sloth, and koalas. Monkeys ate obviously tree dwellers. With ancestry back to the apes, is it realistic to think man’s close relationship with trees could be our “genetic memory?”
“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we have for destruction.” – Rachel Carson
Our world is going through major climatic and cultural changes. Our goals are geared toward consuming more than we put back. This is a short-sighted plan.
There are two main ways that trees destruct. One is biotic (from living sources) and abiotic (from non-living sources). Biotic causes would include insects, animals, and fungi. Abiotic would be lightning, chemical spills, vehicles, chain saws, etc.
Insects can be leaf eaters,wood borers and/or transmitters of disease. Vehicle collision can be a car wreck, bulldozer scrape, bulldozer change of grade or cutting timber for paper, lumber, veneer, etc.
Housing development in Southern Ohio usually impacts the existing trees on site. It seems unlikely that the existing trees are at the correct grade to suit house, utilities, drive and lawn.
Logging harvest is either select cut, diameter limit cut, or clear cut. All have their place but all need the proper follow-up also. Logging harvests will usually resemble 25 – 50 year intervals. A lot can happen in that time and much of that depends upon how the last timber cut was handled.
“Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees and then names the streets after them.” – Bill Vaughn
Unfortunately, this seems to be common practice. As long as they keep making people, they will need more houses and lumber. The other side of that coin is the demand for new trees for shade, privacy, fruit, and ornamental bloom.
As the construction comes, so goes the topsoil. In order too grow lawn, shrubs, or trees, good soil must be brought in. Between lawn, trees, soil, or shrubs, this is where a landscape contractor or nurseryman comes into the picture. It’s like saying, “When one door closes; another door opens.”
This takes us “full circle” to our opening statement from John Muir, “Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”
This is originally intended for application to explorers and naturalists in the wild but as things have evolved, it may apply to developers and landscapers also.
May the forest be with you.
Dudley Wooten is the owner/operator of Wooten’s Landscaping and Nursery and can be contacted at 740-820-8210.