Tag: oak

A couple (3) haikus for our oaks

Written on July 5, 2012.

Do you remember writing haiku poems in Grade School? They are short – a classic haiku is just 17 syllables, in a three line, 5-7-5 format. In Japan, where this form of poetry originated, there is almost always a reference...

How old is that oak?

Written on February 13, 2012.

When we say that we found an oak that is at least 400 years old, what do we base that conclusion on? Obviously, we would have to cut the tree down to count the rings, and unless it is already dead, we aren’t going to do that! The...

Are Oaks Like People?

Written on March 1, 2011.

The first TLC easement was accepted in 1991 from Leta & Alice Clark at the corner of Thompson Road & Route 120. The sisters wanted to be sure that their “Wildflower Preserve” was never developed, despite...

Slow down, take a cue from nature!

Written on December 15, 2010.

As I look around this time of year – leaves off the trees, flowers now brown, insects and other small creatures hidden away – I can’t help but think of the wisdom of Nature. Months ago, as the amount of daylight...

The restorative power of fire

Written on November 24, 2010.

It seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Using fire as a tool to improve the condition of natural areas. Yet, through millenia of struggle between plants, animals, and the natural forces of wind, snow and fire, a system...

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What’s Scenic About Fleming Road?

Written on September 14, 2010.

If you’ve driven on Fleming Road, you have probably thought “This is pretty” or words to that effect. But why do people react that way to some drives and not others? The hills. The trees. The curves in the...