All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Here we are, a new spring has sprung. The natural world has come out of its winter slumber and is expanding all around. Yet for many of us our world has become smaller and more constrained. We are forced to move inward and to limit our physical interactions as we struggle to understand a new threat. We do this to serve the greater good of our species, our community and our world. This experience of being restricted in movement is new and challenging for many of us. Accepting this change can be...
Here it is the middle of July and the grass is still green. Thunderstorms have been rolling through and the branches of healthy trees are full of leaves. Things are likely to change as we move into August, with continued heat and sun. Often trees will start to shed their excess “solar cells” or leaves that don’t produce enough energy and consume too much water. In the arborist world we call this “compensatory leaf drop” and it is very common to see at the end of summer as trees adjust to make t...
Each moment is a new one and every growing season is unique. Here we are, two weeks into June in Colorado and it’s a remarkable season so far. We experienced the coldest May in 24 years. Most everyone is aware of the record snow pack up in the mountains this spring. Arapahoe Basin has 25 runs still open and ski and snowboard bums across the Front Range have broken out their Speedos and bathing suits for some late season spring skiing action photos. If you are seeing some funky symptoms on your t...
This planet is a wonderful teacher. Explore anything in nature closely and you will find all sorts of intriguing lessons to ponder. A couple months ago I shared the story of the largest and oldest tree in the world, Pando. A single clonal organism of Aspen that is a small forest in itself. Pando reminds us of the concept of diversity, especially as it relates to trees and natural ecosystems. Pando is a clone and has no genetic diversity. Overgrazing of young sprouts by cattle and deer has...
How do you know it’s spring in Colorado? The days have become longer, flower buds are opening and snow is on the ground. After we experience those first few days over 70 degrees, a tense expectation can linger in the air. “OK, when is it going to snow?” It turns out the “bomb cyclone” wasn’t too bad this time. Maybe we can all breathe a sigh of relief? For many of us the slow greening of the land and the awakening of dormant plants in the spring beckons us to get outside. It also happens to...
There is a stout little tree that dots the landscapes throughout our region. It’s native territory spans from Utah and Wyoming south through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and even into parts of Texas. Vast expanses of land in the Southwest are covered by its sparse forests. It’s a hardy survivor. We often find it used in the landscape as a low screen tree, functioning to block the wind or create privacy in a backyard. This stout little evergreen has a vast history that’s been deeply inter...
I often hear the statement, “Aspen don’t live very long,” when having discussions about trees on the Front Range, especially when people have an opportunity to plant a new tree. The notion that aspen are a short-lived tree sparks a number of thoughts and questions and really a curiosity about these organisms many people regard as short-lived. If you happen to be a tree geek (aka arborist), you probably know that the oldest and largest recognized single living organism on this planet is a colon...
Looking out the kitchen window I can see a grove of English elm trees. They were planted many years ago by my neighbor and have become a stately group of large trees with a nice shape. Their crowns provide excellent shade in the summer and they seldom are damaged by storms. At this time of year, however, a strange color can be seen on several branches. A bright whitish yellow is visible on some of the smaller branches. Walking up and looking more closely at these branches, I can see that the yel...
Looking out the kitchen window I can see a grove of English elm trees. They were planted many years ago by my neighbor and have become a stately group of large trees with a nice shape. Their crowns provide excellent shade in the summer and they seldom are damaged by storms. At this time of year, however, a strange color can be seen on several branches. A bright whitish yellow is visible on some of the smaller branches. Walking up and looking more closely at these branches, I can see that the yel...
December is here, nights are getting longer and the first official day of winter, Dec. 21, is right around the corner. The familiar sights and scents of evergreen plants are in the air, especially at the entryways and insides of our homes. Evergreen wreaths hanging on doors, Christmas trees strapped to the roofs of cars. This time of year is a great opportunity for many of us to connect with nature, whether it is appreciating the scent from a wreath of cut branches, pruning some branches off...
I look out and see patches of snow still frozen hiding in the northern shadows of plants and homes. We’ve been covered up several times in the last month by a wintery white layer of snow and even a little freezing rain. Ahhhhh…. a collective sigh of relief, seeing the mountains covered in white, knowing that we’ve been given the gift of moisture, a precious thing on the high plains. I’m grateful for that snow. Perhaps the El Nino phenomenon will settle in and bring us an abundance of precipi...
The first cold snap this fall found many of us appreciating the warmth inside our homes and offices, during the cold, damp weather. Many of us find ourselves waiting with “bated breath” and crossed fingers this time of year, hoping that our trees will be spared from an early snow or severe deep freeze. Perhaps you found yourself on the phone in a last-minute plea to have your irrigation system blown out ahead of freezing temps. Luckily, for now, we were spared that heavy branch breaking sno...
