#White Fungus on Cherry Tree Bark

[headspace-hotel]

There, in the sunlit forest on a high ridgeline, was a tree I had never seen before.

I spend a lot of time looking at trees. I know my beech, sourwood, tulip poplar, sassafras and shagbark hickory. Appalachian forests have such a diverse tree community that for those who grew up in or around the ancient mountains, forests in other places feel curiously simple and flat.

Oaks: red, white, black, bur, scarlet, post, overcup, pin, chestnut, willow, chinkapin, and likely a few others I forgot. Shellbark, shagbark and pignut hickories. Sweetgum, serviceberry, hackberry, sycamore, holly, black walnut, white walnut, persimmon, Eastern redcedar, sugar maple, red maple, silver maple, striped maple, boxelder maple, black locust, stewartia, silverbell, Kentucky yellowwood, blackgum, black cherry, cucumber magnolia, umbrella magnolia, big-leaf magnolia, white pine, scrub pine, Eastern hemlock, redbud, flowering dogwood, yellow buckeye, white ash, witch hazel, pawpaw, linden, hornbeam, and I could continue, but y'all would never get free!

And yet, this tree is different.

We gather around the tree as though surrounding the feet of a prophet. Among the couple dozen of us, only a few are much younger than forty. Even one of the younger men, who smiles approvingly and compliments my sharp eye when I identify herbs along the trail, has gray streaking his beard. One older gentleman scales the steep ridge slowly, relying on a cane for support.

The older folks talk to us young folks with enthusiasm. They brighten when we can call plants and trees by name and list their virtues and importance. "You're right! That's Smilax." "Good eye!" "Do you know what this is?—Yes, Eupatorium, that's a pollinator's paradise." "Are you planning to study botany?"

The tree we have come to see is not like the tall and pillar-like oaks that surround us. It is still young, barely the diameter of a fence post. Its bark is gray and forms broad stripes like rivulets of water down smooth rock. Its smooth leaves are long, with thin pointed teeth along their edges. Some of the group carefully examine the bark down to the ground, but the tree is healthy and flourishing, for now.

This tree is among the last of its kind.

The wood of the American Chestnut was once used to craft both cradles and coffins, and thus it was known as the "cradle-to-grave tree." The tree that would hold you in entering this world and in leaving it would also sustain your body throughout your life: each tree produced a hundred pounds of edible nuts every winter, feeding humans and all the other creatures of the mountains. In the Appalachian Mountains, massive chestnut trees formed a third of the overstory of the forest, sometimes growing larger than six feet in diameter.

They are a keystone species, and this is my first time seeing one alive in the wild.

It's a sad story. But I have to tell you so you will understand.

At the turn of the 20th century, the chestnut trees of Appalachia were fundamental to life in this ecosystem, but something sinister had taken hold, accidentally imported from Asia. Cryphonectria parasitica is a pathogenic fungus that infects chestnut trees. It co-evolved with the Chinese chestnut, and therefore the Chinese chestnut is not bothered much by the fungus.

The American chestnut, unlike its Chinese sister, had no resistance whatsoever.

They showed us slides with photos of trees infected with the chestnut blight earlier. It looks like sickly orange insulation foam oozing through the bark of the trees. It looks like that orange powder that comes in boxes of Kraft mac and cheese. It looks wrong. It means death.

The chestnut plague was one of the worst ecological disasters ever to occur in this place—which is saying something. And almost no one is alive who remembers it. By the end of the 1940's, by the time my grandparents were born, approximately three to four billion American chestnut trees were dead.

The Queen of the Forest was functionally extinct. With her, at least seven moth species dependent on her as a host plant were lost forever, and no one knows how much else. She is a keystone species, and when the keystone that holds a structure in place is removed, everything falls.

Appalachia is still falling.

Now, in some places, mostly-dead trees tried to put up new sprouts. It was only a matter of time for those lingering sprouts of life.

But life, however weak, means hope.

I learned that once in a rare while, one of the surviving sprouts got lucky enough to successfully flower and produce a chestnut. And from that seed, a new tree could be grown. People searched for the still-living sprouts and gathered what few chestnuts could be produced, and began growing and breeding the trees.

Some people tried hybridizing American and Chinese chestnuts and then crossing the hybrids to produce purer American strains that might have some resistance to the disease. They did this for decades.

And yet, it wasn't enough. The hybrid trees were stronger, but not strong enough.

Extinction is inevitable. It's natural. There have been at least five mass extinctions in Earth's history, and the sixth is coming fast. Many people accepted that the American chestnut was gone forever. There had been an intensive breeding program, summoning all the natural forces of evolution to produce a tree that could survive the plague, and it wasn't enough.

This has happened to more species than can possibly be counted or mourned. And every species is forced to accept this reality.

Except one.

We are a difficult motherfucker of a species, aren't we? If every letter of the genome's book of life spelled doom for the Queen of the Forest, then we would write a new ending ourselves. Research teams worked to extract a gene from wheat and implant it in the American chestnut, in hopes of creating an American chestnut tree that could survive.

This project led to the Darling 58, the world's first genetically modified organism to be created for the purpose of release into the wild.

The Darling 58 chestnut is not immune, the presenters warned us. It does become infected with the blight. And some trees die. But some live.

And life means hope.

In isolated areas, some surviving American Chestnut trees have been discovered, most of them still very young. The researchers hope it is possible that some of these trees may have been spared not because of pure luck, but because they carry something in their genes that slows the blight in doing its deadly work, and that possibly this small bit of innate resistance can be shaped and combined with other efforts to create a tree that can live to grow old.

This long, desperate, multi-decade quest is what has brought us here. The tree before me is one such tree: a rare survivor. In this clearing, a number of other baby chestnut trees have been planted by human hands. They are hybrids of the Darling 58 and the best of the best Chinese/American hybrids. The little trees are as prepared for the blight as we can possibly make them at this time. It is still very possible that I will watch them die. Almost certainly, I will watch this tree die, the one that shades us with her young, stately limbs.

Some of the people standing around me are in their 70's or 80's, and yet, they have no memory of a world where the Queen of the Forest was at her full majesty. The oldest remember the haunting shapes of the colossal dead trees looming as if in silent judgment.

I am shaken by this realization. They will not live to see the baby trees grow old. The people who began the effort to save the American chestnut devoted decades of their lives to these little trees, knowing all the while they likely never would see them grow tall. Knowing they would not see the work finished. Knowing they wouldn't be able to be there to finish it. Knowing they wouldn't be certain if it could be finished.

When the work began, the technology to complete it did not exist. In the first decades after the great old trees were dead, genetic engineering was a fantasy.

But those that came before me had to imagine that there was some hope of a future. Hope set the foundation. Now that little spark of hope is a fragile flame, and the torch is being passed to the next generation.

When a keystone is removed, everything suffers. What happens when a keystone is put back into place? The caretakers of the American chestnut hope that when the Queen is restored, all of Appalachia will become more resilient and able to adapt to climate change.

Not only that, but this experiment in changing the course of evolution is teaching us lessons and skills that may be able to help us save other species.

It's just one tree—but it's never just one tree. It's a bear successfully raising cubs, chestnut bread being served at a Cherokee festival, carbon being removed from the atmosphere and returned to the Earth, a wealth of nectar being produced for pollinators, scientific insights into how to save a species from a deadly pathogen, a baby cradle being shaped in the skilled hands of an Appalachian crafter. It's everything.

Despair is individual; hope is an ecosystem. Despair is a wall that shuts out everything; hope is seeing through a crack in that wall and catching a glimpse of a single tree, and devoting your life to chiseling through the wall towards that tree, even if you know you will never reach it yourself.

An old man points to a shaft of light through the darkness we are both in, toward a crack in the wall. "Do you see it too?" he says. I look, and on the other side I see a young forest full of sunlight, with limber, pole-size chestnut trees growing toward the canopy among the old oaks and hickories. The chestnut trees are in bloom with fuzzy spikes of creamy white, and bumblebees heavy with pollen move among them. I tell the man what I see, and he smiles.

"When I was your age, that crack was so narrow, all I could see was a single little sapling on the forest floor," he says. "I've been chipping away at it all my life. Maybe your generation will be the one to finally reach the other side."

Hope is a great work that takes a lifetime. It is the hardest thing we are asked to do, and the most essential.

I am trying to show you a glimpse of the other side. Do you see it too?

[aisling-saoirse]

Plant of the day: Black Cherry - Prunus serotina

Today I wanted to recognize a lovely early successional tree species, one of America's showiest "Cherry" species and a vigorous ecological powerhouse

Black cherry has quite the unusual range, commonly found All over the Eastern US but has multiple geographically distinctive subspecies throughout the West and Mexico. North from Minnesota to Nova Scotia south to mid Florida to east Texas, Additionally it can be found in Big Bend National Park, areas of Arizona and New Mexico. South of the border Black Cherry is found throughout the East, West, and South Sierra Madres mountains reaching as far south as Guatemala.

Black Cherry as I've encountered it grows mostly in old fields and disturbed grounds, but apparently in Mexico it occupies mountainous regions. The species is also able to live long enough to be part of some older forests as well. In terms of finding it, If you've ever driven down an Eastern-Midwest highway in May, you'll notice plenty with a stunning display of white flowers (see below). I saw them all the way out to Kansas on Route 70.

This cherry occupies weedy environments very well, usually ending up with twisted bent forms and has an incredibly high germination rate. This vigorous tree can dominate a seed bank for years (I've pulled probably thousands from my garden beds). In Europe-East Asia it is considered a problematic invasive...but here where it's native it can outcompete the worst competition.

Identifying black cherry is rather easy, it has a dark flakey semi-plated bark (below), while the stems are notably cherry like (horizontal fissures) at the stems and intact portions of bark. The heart wood is notably orangish in color and the leaves give off the cherry-like odor when crushed. Leaves are typically longish symmetrical semi-shiny, darkish green with one very visible vein and shallow serated edges. Flowers are white clusters reminiscent of horns present around late May to early June. The ripe fruit is blackish red and present around August, on a good year it's quite plentiful (and delicious).

Black cherry is a wild edible in a few forms. I personally like to snack on the sour ripe fruit and spit out the large seeds, in Mexico these fruits are referred to as cupelines! The most fruitful useage is probably making jelly from collected fruit (something I do not know how to do). Cough syrups were historically derived from the bark and are still present in popular tea flavors such as "throat coats" (awful name).

While marginally edible to us the black cherry is ecologically the most important native cherry species for wildlife. Not only is there plentiful fruit for birds and large mammals the tree is rated number three amoung supported lepidoptera species. Per Doug Tallamy and Kim Shropshire's research the Prunus genus supports [at least] 465 species of invertebrates.

In this vein a common species which inhabits these trees are eastern tent caterpillars (image from inaturalist). I bring them up only because people commonly confuse them for the spongy moth (formerly g*psy moth). But tent caterpillars live in groups and only really eat prunus species whereas spongy moths are devastating and solitary. Interestingly enough the leaves of black cherry contain enough cyanide to make these caterpillars toxic to most predators! Don't break up the tent, tent caterpillars won't kill your tree.

In terms of modern relationships with the tree, people mostly use it as a higher quality cabinetry wood. I believe this species is one of the more common cherry woods to recieve, it has a strong orange hue to its wood which lasts. People also refer this species as an aromatic wood...however having cut down multiple of these trees I hate the smell, fresh cuts are like a chemical cyanide scent...

Lastly I'll bring up causes for decline, lately I've seen a reduction in black cherry due to an introduced fungus called the black knot. This affects many cherry species and isn't always fatal but can kill a tree (hence why I cut down multiple). You can treat individuals if you spot them early by cutting infected branches and burning/burying them before they spore in spring.

Ultimately the Black Cherry is the less famous cousin to the showy Asian cherry cultivars, but still holds a punch of beauty and provides incredibly high ecological value compared to most other American trees. Happy hunting!

[treedoctorusasworld]

Developing Tree Wellness: Successful Strategies for Sick Tree Treatment

A healthy and vibrant tree needs proper tree care and attention to keep stress at bay. Unwanted infestation and lack of care or nourishment can diminish health and vibrancy. So, whether the leaves, the trunk, or roots show signs of distress, your trees need help. But how to help a sick tree to retain its healthy growth?

Of course, the accurate sick tree treatment is crucial. Before getting into how to cure a sick tree, let’s find out how did your trees get sick. Also, know what to look out for as a symptom of tree sickness.

Top Reasons For Trees and Plants Getting Sick

Potential threats of diseases

Unwanted Invasions Of insects, mites, fungus, and pests

Attack of bacteria, viruses, molds, and mildews

Shifts in weather

Over-watering or under-watering

Nutrient deficiency

Excess chemical fertilization

Poor quality of soil and weeds

Indicators For Identifying Sick Trees In Your Landscape

Black Flowers Or Shoots

Do your trees have black flowers or shoots? If yes, there are chances of Fire Blight disease to your tree. However, this disease is not unusual in San Diego, California. To date, hundreds of tree and plant species in San Diego are the attraction for Fire Blight disease. Thus, you require professional sick tree treatment to restrict further damage to infected and healthy trees. Also, you can revive the health and vigor of infected trees.

Bleeding Or Seeping On Trees

If you notice bleeding or seeping on trees, it is an indication of severe infestation. Often, it is due to the collection of alcoholic slime flux on the tree or plant base. The fluid possesses an unpleasant odor. Also, it will leave dark spots on infected trunks and branches. However, you will mostly notice such issues in warm weather conditions, which is quite evident in San Diego’s summer months. Seeking immediate tree inspection and treatment of sick trees will help cure trees quickly. Moreover, you can safeguard healthy-looking trees in your yard or garden.

Pale Brown Mushrooms Or Shelves At The Tree Base

Fungal attacks will form mushrooms, plates, or shelves around the infected tree base. However, the base will turn black over time. You will notice the stunted growth of tree leaves and branches. So, enhancing the strength and healthy growth of such infected trees is crucial. It’s best to go for an Arboricultural Consultant know how to help a sick tree.

Gray Growth

Invasion of fungus and pests can lead to gray growth. Stressed Birch, Cherry, Hickory, and Maple in San Diego are the main entry points of these fungi and pests, leading to gray stunted growth. Till now, the fungal attacks have created thousands of white pores at the bottom of infected trees and plants.

Bark Peeling

It is a clear sign of disease and infestation. The bark is a shield of the tree, as it helps to counterattack all stresses. With the peeling of barks, the defensive response gets suppressed, welcoming other diseases, insects, and pests to deteriorate health and vigor. Often, it goes unnoticed until the infected tree is at high risk. Regular tree infection can help to identify such issues at the early stage. Also, the professionals will recommend how to cure sick trees.

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is always unpleasant no matter where it is found on the infected trees. You will notice a white powdery substance on leaves and branches. Humid weather conditions are ideal for powdery mildew to thrive. It will distort the leaves, leading to discoloration. For getting rid of powdery mildew, precise treatment for sick trees is crucial.

Browning Or Yellowing Of Leaves

When you notice that the leaves are turning yellow and brown, and at the same time, the tree growth is abnormally slow, it is an indication of Fusarium Wilt or Root Rot disease. Gradually all leaves will get jammed, torn, wilt, wither, and fall. However, the leaves will have blemishes, blisters, marks, or spots. Cracks and splits on barks are also signs of infestation. Over time, branches will die.

You can watch out for these signs to determine how to help a sick tree. Professional tree infection will track the symptoms and damages concealed inside the trunk and soil. Once you know the root cause of tree health care problems, it’s all a matter of diagnosing and taking prompt action. So, how will professionals retain the health of sick and infected trees? With no ado, quickly delve into what a Tree Doctor can do.

How Do You Treat A Sick Tree?

Call professional arborists instantly to safeguard healthy trees, limit the damage to infected trees, and revive the health of sick trees. They will prescribe various medications after a thorough assessment of all trees and plants in your yard or garden. It will help to curb the symptoms of infected trees. Also, they will diagnose and treat the root cause of the problem. As they have the expertise for all species, they will recommend preventive solutions to restrict the entry of unwanted invasions.

Professionals will offer balanced nutrition and supplements to enhance immunity and defensive response to pathogens. They will also perform maintenance tasks such as fertilizing, mulching, and soil aeration so that your trees will remain healthy and vigorous. Pre-emptive foliar treatments, trunk and soil injections, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial applications, etc., protect trees against the damaging effects of diseases, insects, and pests. So, why wait? Get a customized and multi-pronged treatment plan to cure stressed and vulnerable trees.

Original Source: Expert Tree Care Tips To Treat A Sick Tree

[gfloutdoors]

White Fungus on Cherry Tree Bark: Common Causes and Solutions

White Fungus on Cherry Tree Bark: Common Causes and Solutions

Although, for the most part, the many cultivars of the cherry tree are relatively resilient and resistant to disease, they do have their challenges like any other trees, especially when it comes to fungus. If you’ve noticed white fungus on your cherry tree bark, your tree likely has a fungal infection.  Along with root rot, which can happen when the surrounding soil of a tree doesn’t drain well,…

[lady-boa]

Witchy Translations

Old witchy names for herbs/roots in their modern names.

*Warning: A good chunk of these are poisonous*

Adders Fork- Adders tongue Adders tongue- Dogstooth Violet Ass's Foot or Bull's Foot - Coltsfoot Bat Flower - Tacca Bat's Wings - Holly Bat's Wool- Moss Bear's Foot- Lady's Mantle Beggar's Buttons -Burdock Beggar's Tick- Cockhold Bird's Eye- Germander Speedwell Bird's Foot- Fenugreek Black Maidenhair- Black Spleenwort Black Sampson- Echinacea Black Snake Root- Black Cohosh Blind Eyes- Poppy Blood- Elder Sap or another tree sap Blood from a Head- Lupine Blood from a Shoulder- Bear's Breeches Blood of Ares- Purslane Blood of Kronos- Cedar Blood of Hephaistos- Wormwood Blood of Hestia- Chamomile Blood of a Goose- Mulberry Tree's Milk Blood of a Titan- Wild Lettuce Blood of an Eye- Tamarisk Gall Blood Leather- Reindeer Moss/Rock Tripe/Caribou Lichen Bloodroot- Tormentil Bloodwort- Yarrow Bloody Butcher- Valerian Bloody Finger- Foxglove Bone of an Ibis- Buckthorn Brains- Congealed Gum from a Cherry Tree Bread and Cheese Tree- Hawthorne. Whitethorn, Hazels Broom- Gorse Bull's Blood or Seed of Horus- Horehound Bull's Foot- Coltsfoot Burning Bush- Fraxinella, White Dittany Butcher's Broom- Irish Tops Buttons- Tansy Calf's Snout- Snapdragon Candelmas Maiden- Snowdrop Capon's Tail- Valerian Cat's Foot- Canada Snake Root and/or Ground Ivy Cheeses- Marsh Mallow Cherry Pie- Heliotrope Chocolate Flower- Wild Geranium Church Steeples- Agrimony Clear-Eye- Clary Sage Click- Goosegrass Clot- Great Mullein Corpse Candles- Mullein Corpse Plant- Indian Pipe Courtesy- Summer Wind Crocodile Dung- Black Earth Crow Corn- Ague Root Crow Foot- Wild Geranium Crowdy Kit- Figwort Crown for a King- Wormwood Cuckoo's Bread- Common Plantain Cucumber Tree- Magnolia Cuddy's Lungs- Great Mullein Dead Man Ash- Mandrake root poppet Death Angel- Agaric Death Flower- Yarrow Devil's Apple- Datura Devils Dung- Asafoetida Devil's Eye- Henbane, Periwinkle Devil's Flower- Bachelor's Buttons Devil's Guts- Dodder Devil's Milk- Celandine Devil's Nettle- Yarrow Devil's Oatmeal- Parsley Devil's Plaything- Yarrow Dew of the Sea- Rosemary Dog Fennel- Anthemis Dog Grass- Agropyrum Dog's Mouth- Snap Dragon Dog`s Tail- Cynosurus Dog's Tongue- Conoglossum Officinale Dog`s Tooth Violet- Erythronium Dove's Foot- Wild Geranium Dragon Wort- Bistort Dragon Bushes- Toadflax Dragon's Blood- Calamus Dragon's Scales- Bistort Leaves Duck's Foot- May Apple Eagle- Wild Garlic Ear of an Ass- Comfrey Ear of a Goat- St. John's Wort Earth Smoke- Fumitory Elf leaf- Lavender, Rosemary Elf's Wort (Elfwort)- Elecampane Enchanter's Plant- Vervain Englishman's Foot- Common Plantain Erba Santa Maria- Spearmint Everlasting Friendship- Goosegrass Eye of the Day- Common Daisy Eye of Newt- Wild Mustard Seed Eye of the Star- Horehound Eye Root- Goldenseal Eyes- Aster, Daisy, Eyebright Fairies Eggs- Molukka Fairie's Finger- Foxglove Fairies Horses- Ragwort Fairy Bells- Sorrel, Wood Fairy Cup- Cowslip Fairy Smoke- Indian Pipe Fat from a Head- Spurge Felon Herb- Mugwort Filwort- Centory or Feverwort Five Fingers- Cinquefoil Flesh and Blood- Tormentil Fox's Clote- Burdock Frog bit- Hydrocharis Frog fruit- Phyla Frog Orchid- Coeloglossum Frog's Foot- Bulbous Buttercup Frog`s Lettuce- Groenlandia From the Belly- Earth-apple From the Foot- Houseleek From the Loins- Chamomile Gazel's Hooves- Quickset, Albespyne Goat's Foot- Ash Weed Goat's Leaf- Honeysuckle God's Hair- Hart's Tongue Fern Golden Star- Avens Gosling Wing- Goosegrass Graveyard Dust- Mullein Great Ox-eye - Ox-eye Daisy Hag's Taper- Great Mullein Hagthorn- Hawthorn Hairs of a Baboon- Dill Seed Hair- Maidenhair Fern Hair of Venus- Maidenhair Fern Hare's Beard- Great Mullein Hare's Foot- Avens Hawk's Heart- Heart of Wormwood Heart- Walnut Heart of Osmund- Royal Fern Herb of Grace- Vervain Hind's Tongue- Hart's Tongue Fern Holy Herb- Yerba Santa Holy Rope- Hemp Agrimony Hook and Arm- Yerba Santa Horse Hoof- Coltsfoot Horse Tongue- Hart's Tongue Fern Hundred Eyes- Periwinkle Indian Dye- Goldenseal Innocence- Bluets Jacob's Staff- Great Mullein Jew's Ear- Fungus on Elder or Elm John's Bread- Carob Joy of the Mountain- Marjoram Jupiter's Foot- Houseleek Jupiter's Staff- Great Mullein

King's Crown- Black Haw

Knight's Milfoil- Yarrow

Kronos' Blood- Cedar King's Crown Black Haw Knight's Milfoil- Yarrow Lad's Love- Southernwood Lady's Glove- Foxglove  Lady's Mantle- Nine Hooks Lady's Meat- May Flower blossom Lady's Slipper- American Valerian Lady's Tresses- Spira Root Lamb's Ears- Betony Lion's Ear- Motherwort Lion's Hairs- Turnip leaves Lion's Tooth- Dandelion aka Priest's Crown Lizard's Tail- Breast Weed Little Dragon- Tarragon Love in Idleness- Pansy Love Leaves- Burdock Love Lies Bleeding- Amaranth or Anemone Love Man- Goosegrass Love Parsley- Lovage Love Root- Orris Root Man's Bile- Turnip Sap Man's Health- Ginseng Maiden's Hair- Maidenhair Fern Maiden's Ruin- Southernwood Master of the Woods- Woodruff May- Black Haw May Lily- Lily of the Valley May Rose- Black Haw Maypops- Passion Flower Mistress of the Night- Tuberose Mother's Heart- Shepheard's Purse Mouse's Ear- Hawk Weed Mouse's Tail- Common Stonecrop Mutton Chops- Goosegrass Newt`s Tail- Saururus Nose Bleed- Yarrow Old-Maid's-Nightcap- Wild Geranium Old Man- Mugwort Old Man's Flannel- Great Mullein Old Man's Pepper- Yarrow Old Woman- Wormwood Oliver- Olive Organ Tea- Pennyroyal Paddock Pipes- Horsetail Pantagruelian- Marijuana Password- Primrose Peter's Staff- Great Mullein Pig's Tail- Leopard's Bane Poor Man's Treacle- Garlic Poor Man- Weatherglass Pimpernel Priest's Crown- Dandelion leaves Pucha-pat- Patchouli Queen of the Meadow- Meadowsweet Queen of the Meadow Root- Gravelroot Queen of the Night- Vanilla Cactus Queen's Delight- Silverleaf Queen's Root- Stilengia Rabbit's Foot- Field Clover Ram's Head- American Valerian Red Cockscomb- Amaranth Ring-o-Bells- Bluebells Robin-Run-in-the-Grass- Goosegrass Scaldhead- Blackberry See Bright- Clary Sage Semen of Ammon- Houseleek Semen of Ares- Clover Semen of Helios- White Hellebore Semen of Herakles- Mustard-rocket Semen of Hermes- Dill Semen of Hephaistos- Fleabane Seed of Horus- Horehound Serpent's Tongue- Adder's Tongue Seven Barks- Hydrangea Seven Year's Love- Yarrow Shameface- Wild Geranium Shepherd's Heart- Shepherd's Purse Silver Bells- Black Haw Skin of a Man- Fern Skull- Skullcap Mushroom Snake's Blood- Hematite Stone Snake's Friend- Indian Paintbrush Snake's Head- Balmony Snake's Milk- Blooming Splurge Snake's Tongue- Adder's Tongue Fern Snake/ Snakeweed- Bistort Snow Drop- Bulbous Violet Soapwort- Comfrey or Daisy Sorcerer's Violet- Periwinkle Sparrow's Tongue- Knotweed Spider Lily- Spiderwort Squirrel's Ear- White Plantain St. John's Herb- Hemp Agrimony (This is not St. John's Wort) St. John's Plant- Mugwort Stag's Horn- Club Moss Star Flower- Borage Star of the Earth- Avens Starweed- Chickweed Sweethearts- Goosegrass Swine's Snout- Dandelion Leaves Tanner's Bark- Common Oak Tarragon- Mugwort Tartar Root- Ginseng Tears of a Baboon- Dill Juice Titan's Blood- Wild Lettuce Thor's Helper- Rowan Thousand Weed- Yarrow Thunder Plant- House Leek Toad- Toadflax Toe Of Frog- Bulbous Buttercup Leaves Tongue of dog- Hound's Tongue Tooth or Teeth- Pinecone(s) Torches- Great Mullein Tree of Heaven- Chinese Sumach Unicorn's Horn- False Unicorn Unicorn Root- Ague Root Wax Dolls- Fumitory Weazel Snout- Yellow Dead Nettles/Yellow Archangel Weed- Ox-Eye Daisy White- Ox-eye Daisy White Man's Foot- Common Plantain White Wood- White Cinnamon Witch Bells- Foxglove Witch Herb- Mugwort Witch's Asprin- White Willow/Willow Bark Witch's Brier- Brier Hips Witch's Hair- Dodder Witch's Thimble- Datura Witchbane- Rowan Wolf Claw- Club Moss Wolf Foot- Bugle Weed Wolf's Hat- Wolfsbane Wolf's Milk- Euphorbia Worms- Gnarled, thin roots of a local tree

[mmwm]

The Atlantic White Cedar Swamp in Bradford, NH, is a good example of an inland cedar swamp (others in NH are Cooper Cedar Woods in New Durham and Loverens Mill Preserve in Antrim; I haven’t been to either). These inland swamps, located more than 30 miles from the coast and at an elevation higher than 500 ft., are known for their quite acidic (pH 3.4 to 4.8) and usually wet soil. At the end of the swamp trail (mostly boardwalk) is the Bradford Bog, which is really a fen — a medium-level fen system, to be exact. There’s a short observation tower from which to view the bog and the surrounding hills.

view from atop observation deck

*

I’ve visited the swamp and bog four times, in August of 2014, May of 2015, October of 2016, and just this past weekend, when the snow was about 18 inches deep, or more. We parked on the narrowly plowed edge of E. Washington Rd., then when we left we saw that there was a large plowed parking area a hundred yards or so farther up the road that we could have used if we had seen it. There was no plowed path into the trail but the kiosk was visible over the snow mound; with snowshoes on, it was easy to clamber over the snow and onto the trail, which was fairly well packed down by others who’d used it before us (we saw only one family in the 2 hours or so we spent here).

*

What’s nice about winter, snow, and snowshoeing is that you can travel off-trail in these wet bogs, swamps, and lowlands, without damaging the delicate plants or risking being sucked into eternal mummification beneath the mossy hummocks, dark standing water, and/or peat moss. We took a couple of side trails that are often too wet to walk, and once we reached the bog at the end of the trail, we were able to trek all through it, which is not possible or advisable at other times of the year.

Usually, you don’t get this view of the observation tower, taken from in the bog:

There was some animal fur in the bog snow:

Views around the bog in winter and in other seasons:

view in October

*

view in May

view in October

closer October view

*

view in May

*

And as doors to the next world go, a bog ain’t a bad choice. It’s not quite water and it’s not quite land – it’s an in-between place.” ― Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

*

The downside to visiting in winter is that you can see only a few of the species common to this community: the Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) of course, as well as red spruce (Picea rubens), black spruce (Picea mariana), balsam fir (Abies balsamea), eastern larch (Larix laricina), sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia), rhodora (Rhododendron canadense), some lichen. And of course, no butterflies or other insects were out.

Rhodora:

Rhodora flowerheads

Rhodora bud

And Rhodora in the spring:

rhodora, seen in May

Black Spruce:

black spruce

black spruce cones

Lichens:

Larches:

larches, spruce against sky

And larches at other times:

larch tree, seen in October

larch branch, seen in August

Atlantic White Cedar:

Atlantic White Cedar with sign

And a non-snow shot of the trunks, with mosses:

white cedar trunks, with mosses, seen in August

*

Off the main swamp trail, I also found some stands of speckled alder (Alnus incana) growing, as well as winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and cherry birch (Betula lenta), and some polypore fungi on a white birch snag:

birch polypore

Alder:

speckled alder buds

speckled alder cones

  Winterberry:

Cherry birch – the bark smells strongly of wintergreen!:

cherry birch bud

cherry birch bark

*

In other seasons, you might see (those in bold are pictured below) black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), three-seeded sedge (Carex trisperma), bluebead lily aka Clintonia (Clintonia borealis), creeping snowberry (Gaultheria hispidula),  wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), bog cotton (Eriophorum angustifolium or the tawny variety, E. virginicum ), pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea), pink lady slippers (Cypripedium acaule), painted trillum (Trillium undulatum), spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), star flower (Trientalis borealis), three-leaved goldthread (Coptis trifolia), Indian cucumber root (Medeola virginiana) …

Vaccinium corymbosum (northern highbush blueberry) flowers, seen in May

Clintonia in bloom, seen in May

wintergreen, seen in October

mass of wintergreen, seen in October

bunchberry, seen in August

  lots of bog cotton, seen in August

pitcher plants, seen in August

Lady slippers and star flowers, seen in May

painted trillium, seen in May

spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), seen in August

three-leaved goldthread (Coptis trifolia) in bloom, seen in May

Indian cucumber root, seen in May

and many kinds of mosses, ferns, and fungi:

Clavulina fusiformus (coral fungi), seen in August

taffy-like Clavulina fusiformus (coral fungus), seen in August

blurry Trichoglossum hirsutum (Black Earth Tongue fungus), seen in August

unidentified red curly fungi, seen in August

underside of a likely Lactarius fungus, seen in August

yellow jelly fungi, seen in October

fern, seen in May

moss along boardwalk, seen in August

mossy stump with fungi, seen in August

*

“In a swamp, as in meditation, you begin to glimpse how elusive, how inherently insubstantial, how fleeting our thoughts are, our identities. There is magic in this moist world, in how the mind lets go, slips into sleepy water, … how it seeps across dreams, smears them into the upright world, rots the wood of treasure chests, welcomes the body home.” ― Barbara Hurd, Stirring the Mud: On Swamps, Bogs, and Human Imagination

*

For More Info:

Inland White Cedar Swamp, Natural Communities of NH, at NH Division of Forests and Lands

Map and info at Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust

The Ecology of Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands:  A Community Profile, 1989 report of the Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior. 125 pp PDF

Atlantic white-cedar: Ecology and Best Management Practices Manual, by Kristin A. Mylecraine and George L. Zimmermann, Dept of Environmental Protection, New Jersey, 2000. 19 pp PDF.

*

As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible but more mysterious. – Albert Schweitzer, “Paris Notes”

    Field Trip: Atlantic White Cedar Swamp and Bog The Atlantic White Cedar Swamp in Bradford, NH, is a good example of an inland cedar swamp (others in NH are 

[musings-of-a-witch]

Entry 1

What is a home?

I used to think a home existed between four walls, with stone and dirt underfoot, built with something like brick, rock, wood. I’ve lived in the same home for almost twenty two years, select a few dotted places that I chose to go to college up north, or scurry like a happy-go-lucky, fresh out of high school kid into the city. A home was constructed, never consecrated, and could be switched relatively easily. I never gave much thought to it, because no matter where I went, I always ended up at the same place.

On a cul-de-sac, in a white and gray stone three-story, with a dogwood and pine tree out front and mourning glory vine winded around a full-length wood gate and fence. The walls of my room are the same - cracked paint, slightly gray, once matching bedspreads and holding posters gifted to me by friends. I remember moving into the house, making fairy houses in the backyard on the Summer Solstice, learning each tree by name and each grass blade by touch. I found a four leaf clover once. We have a toad that lives by the front porch, and grackles that enjoy feasting on the front yard worms. My mother planted hydrangea, echinacea, lamb’s ear, rosebushes, and milkweed for the monarchs that came in the summer. Three statues sit across from the front door - a toad, a rabbit, and an owl. Two brooms sit by the front door, where cracked columns hold up a shaky outstretch of roof. 

We planted a weeping cherry in the front yard when my grandpa died. It only lived around ten years before the fungus in it’s trunk sapped the life out of it. Now we use it to hang our hammock. Sometimes, mourning doves make a nest in between the mottled branches. The cardinals peek at us through the upper branches, and I wonder how tall it would have gotten if it had lived. My mother used to place donuts and coffee in the tree when we wanted to honor what it represented, and we took pictures with it every year as we grew. I don’t think I could bear to leave the house behind if it was alive. 

I sometimes wonder if the spirits that raised me will watch over me when I leave. I place protection charms under tree roots, and kiss the bark of the pine that has only stayed steady as everything around us has changed. I do not know the lifespan of a pine, but the unchanging evergreen needles have given some level of solace to me as the trees around him - the dogwood in the back, the weeping cherry, the holly, the oak across the way - have slowly come down, leaving behind only ghosts in the form of rotted stumps and the fungi who live within them. When he dies, his roots will feed the insects and the animals that live under him, and while he lives he watches over the neighborhood, solemn, strong, stable, unlike everything else. 

I have consecrated this house with different means throughout the years, dancing over each threshold until the wood remembered the marks of my feet. I have bled, breathed, fucked, and cried in this house. I have stained each doorway with my protection and love and hung bones and echinacea stems from the hinges. 

Now, we are leaving, off to a new four walls, stone and ground underfoot, by mountains and plains and rattlesnakes. Change is good, I’ll tell myself. But I have been in the same house for almost twenty two years, and I still do not know what makes a home.

Is it the land spirits that I have fed every Tana’s Day, giving honey cake, milk, water? Is it the trees that tower over the home, guarding the land? Is it the plants my mother has painstakingly dotted over the yard to make the space safe for surrounding animals? Or is it the people inside the house - five human, three animal, and others somewhere in between?

[turfandlawncare]

Will it Kill My Tree? – Spotted Lanternfly FAQ’s

Our office has been getting lots of questions lately about the Spotted Lanternfly. Many clients want to know “Will the Spotted Lanternfly kill my tree?”

The short answer is “not immediately.” The real answer involves knowing a bit more about their life cycle and how they behave. Read up on some Frequently Asked Questions about the Spotted Lanternfly.

What is the Spotted Lanternfly?

The Spotted Lanternfly is a bug that feeds on specific trees. It’s a type of bug known as a “plant hopper” – in other words, it can fly, and moves from plant-to-plant. It feeds on plants by using its “piercing-sucking mouth-parts” (similar to a mosquito) to pull fluid underneath the bark of trees. The pest’s mobility makes control for Spotted Lanternfly a huge challenge for Tree Care and Arborist services.

Where did Spotted Lanternfly come from?

Spotted Lanternfly is a native of Southeast Asia. It is a native of China, Taiwan and Vietnam. Many experts believe it traveled here in a shipment coming from one of these countries through international commerce. It was first detected in Berks County in 2014.

Can you stop it?

Again, the answer is “no.” The best we can do is to slow the spread of this pest, and protect your landscape.

There are few natural predators for this pest here in North America. However, a study from Cornell University found that two fungi (B. major and B. bassiana) in North America seem to provide control for adults. I emailed back and forth with one of the study authors, and it is unclear at this time if the native fungi will also help control nymphs. Researchers are actively trying to determine if the bacteria only control adult populations, or if these fungi can be used to control nymphs as well. B. bassiana is commercially available in products for nursery managers, while B. major is “poorly known” at this time.

What should I be looking for?

At this point in the year, you will see the “1st instar,” or first-stage of development. They’re called “nymphs” at this point in their life cycle.  They’ll continue to look like this (black with white polka-dots) until they reach the 4th instar. The 4th instar is the last stage of their development before they become full-grown adults.

Right now, you might see them anywhere. Adults lay their eggs on just about anything. We’ve had clients reporting nymphs on decks, potted plants, and patios. You will see these nymphs feeding near where the leaves emerge from branches, or on very young trees. This is because they’re piercing-sucking mouth-parts aren’t well developed yet, and the bark is thinner on young plants and at the end of branches.

How Do I Get Rid of Spotted Lanternfly?

There are several things you can do to try and manage this pest on your your property. Some involve treatments, while others are cultural practices.

Sticky Bands

Right now, you can use what are called “sticky bands” to help control the nymph population. Basically, this involves applying something similar to a giant “glue trap” to your tree. The idea is that the nymphs crawl onto the trap, get stuck, and never further their development. You can buy these products online.

These products are falling out of favor, however. They’re so sticky they’re catching “non-target” organisms, like birds and squirrels in some cases. A decent work-around for this is to simply use some cheap duct tape and DIY your own.

Tree Identification

Knowing which trees you have on your property is critical as well. The Spotted Lanternfly is able to complete it’s life cycle on a wide host of plants. It seems to prefer Ailanthus altissima or “Tree of Heaven” for feeding and reproduction. Identifying this tree, and removing it from your property, is an important part of management. Simply cutting it down will seldom remove the problem. You should consider consulting with a professional who can help you remove this invasive plant for good.

Spotted Lanternfly feeds on other plants, too. It will feed on anything with a high sugar content in the sap. In our area, this means any time of fruit or ornamental fruit plants. This includes grape vines (cultivated or wild), maple trees, pear, apple, cherry and plum trees (fruit-bearing or ornamental), and birch trees. Knowing if you have these plants on or near your property so you can look for the Lanternfly is an important part of management. Google images of leaves and bark if you’re not sure what these trees look like so you can educate yourself!

Treatments

Now that you know about cultural management practices (removing Ailanthus trees and sticky bands), you should consider treatment options. At this time, I recommend treating only the plants in your landscape that are A) most at risk, and B) part of your outdoor living.

We thought long and hard about our treatment options. We even consulted with some university researchers about the program before offering it to the public. Our program is designed to give you the best, season-long control possible in the most environmentally responsible way possible.

Before contracting with a professional to treat your trees, ask lots of questions. Do they understand the pest’s life cycle? How many treatments are they doing? Why are they doing those treatments? Have they consulted all the available information before formulating their plan?

Will Spotted Lanternfly Kill My Tree?

Back to the original question – “Will it kill my tree?” The answer is “probably not directly.”

Damage caused by piercing-sucking mouth-parts opens the bark. There’s an open wound on the tree. This leaves the tree susceptible to other bugs and diseases.

Think of it like this – a chest cold doesn’t necessarily kill you. If you leave it untreated, however, it can develop into pneumonia, and the congestion building up in your lungs is what kills you. Leaving your landscape trees untreated is like that – a chest cold. It’s not going to kill them immediately, but over time, it’ll only get worse and lead to plant death.

What a mess!

The larger concern is that it will be a mess. As it feeds, Spotted Lanternfly secretes (translation: basically poops) a sticky substance called “honeydew.” The Lanternfly feeds in such high numbers, researchers often have to wear raincoats to keep dry. It’s even been described as being “rained on.” This picture at left is of nymphs, but the adults will be much worse.

This honeydew is also the perfect breeding ground for a fungus called “black sooty mold.” You can see some of it in this picture already forming. This is basically going to make outdoor spaces underneath these trees unusable. This will be especially true in public areas without treatment, like parks.

  If you have questions about Spotted Lanternfly management at your home, business, municipality or school district, we’d love to speak with you. You may contact us here.

The post Will it Kill My Tree? – Spotted Lanternfly FAQ’s appeared first on Tomlinson Bomberger.

from Tomlinson Bomberger http://bit.ly/2Kr0rD0

[silvecon]

Disease Threats to Trees

Oak Anthracnose

Oak anthracnose is a common disease to oak trees caused by the fungus Apiognomonia quercinia. The fungus lives in the infected shoots and fallen leaves of the host tree and activates in spring time. It causes infected young leaves of all oak species to discolor, deform and potentially die. Symptoms first appear along the veins of the leaves with wet black blotches which eventually turn brown or tan in color once dried. These diseased leaves are usually seen in high humidity areas of the tree in the lower crown. This disease is not considered serious as oaks can recover from it.

Photo Credit: M. Grabowski

Tar Spot

Tar spot is commonly found on maple trees and is caused by a fungus called Rhytisma acerinum. It survives the winter on fallen leaves and activates in spring time when the spores of the fungus is carried by the wind to infect new leaves. Although, aesthetically unpleasing, it rarely threatens the overall health of the tree.

Signs of infection show in the early summer as small yellow dots, which become larger and darker over time until they look like spots of tar in late august. Tar spot does not cause serious damages to trees.

Photo Credit : A. Wilson, MSUE

  White Pine Blister Rust 

Invasive to Canada, the fungus Cronartium ribicola attacks and kills eastern white pine of all ages, with young trees more susceptible. The fungus alternates between two hosts to complete its life cycle: white pine and plants in the Ribes family (black currant, red currant and gooseberries). Infection of the tree begins during late summer and early fall when the fungus attacks a pine needle and colonizes it, allowing it to spread into the twigs and branches for the following 12 to 18 months. Three to six years later, white blisters burst through the bark, and release orange spores which are blown by the wind to infect Ribes species leaves. These blisters can cause eventual death of the tree. The infected Ribes leaves releases fungal spores in late August to October to infect new pine trees and subsequently complete its life cycle.

Photo Credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org.

 Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a foliar disease of many tree species caused by fungi that belong to the family erysiphacae. It’s appearance comes from a mass of spores covering the leaf surface making it easily carried by the wind to infect other trees. Although aesthetically unpleasing, it’s not considered a serious problem since the infection usually begins in late summer. The fungus overwinters on fallen infected leaves and buds.   

Photo Credit: Mark Turner on Getty Images

 Verticullum Wilt

Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus called Verticullium dahlia. It affects the water conducting system of the tree, resulting in its death, usually one branch at a time. It enters the tree through the roots or wounds where it spreads to other parts of the tree. Symptoms are branch die-back and wilting of the leaves.

Some of the susceptible tree species include: ash, buckeye, catalpa, cherry, Kentucky coffee tree, elm, hawthorn, Japanese lilac, black locust, magnolia, maple, service berry and tulip tree. Resistant trees include: ginkgo, apple, hackberry, hickory, katsura, linden, honey locust, oak, plane tree, sycamore, poplar, willow and all evergreens,

By: Intern S. Quezada

 Read more:

Verticullum

White Pine Blister Rust

Oak Anthracnose

Tar Spots

Powdery Mildew

[littlelostpriestess]

Muse Aesthetic Tag (Faern’ya)

BOLD any which apply to your muse! Remember to REPOST! Feel free to add to the list!

tagged by: @enigmaticinvisiblezebra​

tagging: anyone who wants to do it (since anyone who I KNOW is following me has already been tagged by someone else)

[ COLORS ]

red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. maroon.

[ ELEMENTS ]

fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops.

[ BODY ]

claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. Lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. canine. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. normal height . muscular. beards. piercings. tattoos. tendrils.

[ WEAPONS ]

fists. sword. dagger. spear. arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staves. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. kitchenware. crossbows, scythe

[ MATERIALS ]

gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. jade. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay.stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. kevlar, vellum, parchment,

[ NATURE ]

grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. pansies. lavender. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. ocean. river. lake. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. palm trees, herbs, fungus,

[ ANIMALS ]

lions. tigers. wolves. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs .foxes. bunnies. praying mantises. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. phoenixes. griffins. unicorns. pegasi. centaurs. mermaids. nagas/lamias. dragons. rats. doves. otters. zebras, rothe,

[ FOODS/DRINKS ]

sugar. salt. candy. sun chips. bubblegum. wine. champagne. vodka. hard liquor. beer. ale. cider. coffee. tea. spices. herbs. apple. cream cheese bagel. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. pasta. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. vanilla. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. ambrosia. soup. cheese. meat pie. milk. bourbon, sporebread

[ HOBBIES ]

music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books.magazines. cds. records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. violin. guitar. cello. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. hiking. woodwinds. brass. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. surfing. climbing. running. parkour. spinning. walking. magic.

[ STYLE ]

lingerie. armor. cape. dress. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. rings. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. ball cap. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sun glasses. visor. eye contacts. makeup. cane. suit. leather pants. plaid.

[ MISC ]

balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. diary. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. anger. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. assistants. co-workers. allies. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. dreaming. nightmares. daydreaming.