A day in the woods is not a day wasted.
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| The last side of the stand that needs refurb |
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| 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.
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| Target for rifle in background. A new deer scrape in foreground. |
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| I suspect this is an invasive alien species. It looks like a honeysuckle (Lonicera maackia) except for the alternating leaves. |
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| 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. |
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| A random tree-stand in a Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) |
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| A viburnum growing in muck soil. |
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| A large deer scrape in soft, muck soil. |
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| American bittersweet (red berries) |
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| 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.
You get a lot accomplished in a day Joe. Don't think I could keep up with you anymore. ---ken
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, I am at least 10 years younger than you are and I haven't had some of the health-challenges that you overcame. Correction, I haven't had them, YET.
DeleteI do what I can, while I can still do it.
Do the best you can and you will be better for it.---ken
DeleteLooks like Amur honeysuckle, Also called bush honeysuckle. Seeds are mildly toxic and invasive as hell.
ReplyDeleteThere was none of it aroun here when I was a kid, and now it is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteA friend's parents lost a silver maple a couple of years ago in a storm. I got as much as I wanted. It's kind of light for firewood but it makes heat. But what it makes really well is pretty lumber! It looks like vanilla ice cream, planes nicely and has a clear grain. I'm trying to figure out how to treat it so that it doesn't darken. That color is so pretty... I need a really light oil to treat it with.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get your potassium nitrate, and what does it do, once you apply it?
ReplyDeleteit's called stump remover. Available online at Walmart, Ace hardware and major box stores like Lowes.
DeleteAccelerates rotting of the stump.
I dont find that potassium nitrate to be very useful. I made a poltice of potassium nitrate sulfur and powdered charcoal but it kept catching on fire.
DeleteWere you using a bamboo cannon to fight off a large two legged lizard with your poultice?
DeleteThanks for the pictures ERJ.
ReplyDeleteSnowberry?
ReplyDeleteYep, honeysuckle. And you got a bunch done! I'd take a hard look at that ladder to the stand too!
ReplyDeleteSoliman's Seal if it favors shade. I have some that is varigated. Only grows directly north of the camellias. If in the sun Old NFO is right.
ReplyDeleteYour plant might be American gromwell.
ReplyDeleteI looked at some images on the internet and YES! I think that is it.
Deletehttps://michiganflora.net/record/580
I think there are now many online sites and apps where you can upload an image and some pattern recognition process will give a name. Seen one used for IDing ornamental flora from a phone snapshot, I should probably test them myself.
ReplyDeleteGet National Geographic "Seek" app to identify all kinds of plants.
ReplyDeleteIt says this is American Gromwell.
Cyril