A day in the woods is not a day wasted.
 |
| The last side of the stand that needs refurb |
 |
| A stump in the orchard after treatment |
I went out to the orchards with four tasks.
- Plant three pear trees and armor them against mice, rabbits and deer
- Work on stumps where I want to mow: Shave close to ground with chainsaw, drill and treat with potassium nitrate
- Take measurements on the last side of the deer blind that needs to be refurbished
- Verify the zero on (another) rifle and fire a handgun a few times
I have been feeling a bit under the weather. The lymph-nodes under my chin were swollen and I have been feeling lethargic. Standard low-level viral challenge kind of symptoms. I didn't feel sick, just lacking ambition.
I was feeling pretty good after those three chores and decided to take a walk in the woods.
 |
| Target for rifle in background. A new deer scrape in foreground. |
 |
| I suspect this is an invasive alien species. It looks like a honeysuckle (Lonicera maackia) except for the alternating leaves. |
 |
| Close-up of one of the branches with distinctive, white buds. I will appreciate it if anybody can give me a solid ID on this species. |
 |
| A random tree-stand in a Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) |
 |
| A viburnum growing in muck soil. |
 |
| A large deer scrape in soft, muck soil. |
 |
| American bittersweet (red berries) |
 |
| Looking down a swale that floods in the spring. |
I was curious to see what was growing in the swamps. The Emerald Ash Borer wiped out the ash. Some are coming back from the roots. There are a lot of Swamp White Oak seedlings. In the wetter areas there were far more Cow-Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) than I expected.
The very wettest places were dominated by Silver Maple.
And after my walk in the woods...
If filled the back of the truck with firewood. In this case, I cut a downed Black Walnut into 15" lengths and chucked them in the back of the truck. The trunk of the tree was suspended above the ground by the side-branches that had speared into the ground.
I am pretty sure that the 600 pounds (give or take a little bit) of firewood I brought back was more energy than the four gallons of gas I burned to-and-from the orchards.
Normally, we leave the woods walking out during deer season to allow the deer to stay at ease and avoid scents. This year, due to our earlier sloth, we are awarded doing 'lane clearing' after we finish our hunt. Just a bit at a time and we are making progress. No gas engines, electric saw, loppers, machete for cactus and shovel for road holes are the tools.
ReplyDeleteDay in the woods is NOT wasted. A lot of peace of mind. A sunrise - sunset is spectacular to watch and all of this provided free from our Creator.
Putting stairs instead of a ladder on my deer stand was the best upgrade I've ever made.
ReplyDeleteBlack walnut for firewood. Aside from branches and shattered bits wow. I was paid serious money for stumpage and clean up rights when such a tree fell during a storm. They even backfilled the hole the tree roots left.
ReplyDeleteAs an apple tree owner and gardener, I find that deer are seldom bothered by my scent. Indeed, I easily harvest a deer when the freezer needs refilling. My deer stand is my porch.