Planting For Survival

In recent times with our dubious economy many people are interested in returning to growing and producing things themselves that they can eat. Fruits and vegetables growing has increased with home and landowners whether they have 40 acres or just a half acre. Fruit and vegetables must be pollinated so many have also taken up bee keeping for the pollinators and the benefit of the honey also. Honey bees are having their problems and we have no clear solution in site. 

I was set up selling my plants and trees at one of our local farmers markets last year suggesting to a gentleman he might like to plant one of my Swamp White Oak trees, he said " Im not planting anything I can't eat". Well, he caught me at the wrong time! Now I fully support growing and doing any thing in the dirt that will produce food for you or anyone else period. But saying that a tree is not important to your well being because it does not directly feed you is bad judgment. First of all Oaks are a cornerstone species to life. Over 5000 species of insects, 58 species of reptiles, 105 species of mammals and 150 species of birds rely on Oaks for their life cycles. Of that 5000 species of insects many of them are pollinators such as butterflies. Which by their pollination of the flowers on your vegetable and fruit plants WILL feed you and your family. Oaks also produce shade, help with water runoff and soil conservation, are valuable for lumber, leaves are valuable for mulch, acorns can be used to feed livestock. Just because something doesn't look like a food source look again. It might be a big key in our very survival.

Bark

Winter after the holiday season is over can be a long, dismal and depressing time of year for some depending on where you live and how severe of a winter you have.  Winter can be an eye opening time of discovery, opening up views that are blocked that we do not see or notice in the other seasons of the year.

The bark of our trees can offer special characteristics that may be hidden from plain view except in winter.  Platanus occidentalis our American Sycamore is one of our showiest native trees when it comes to bark. Most Sycamores only have a good showing of bark on the upper portion of the tree, this blocks the view except in the months that foliage is in the way. American Sycamore is one of our fastest growing and largest growing trees in the eastern United States . It is also tolerant of some soil compaction and periodic flooding. Winter is when its glory shines. Brighten your winter days and go locate a Sycamore, it will lift your spirits.

A Better Tree, Swamp White Oak

Sometimes a common name does not give proper respect to the plant that is tagged with it, other times it shows its hardiness. Many plant Maples for shade trees and that is fine, but we really need to be planting Oaks. There are around 600 species of Oaks in the world. They are a keysetone species in every habitat they are present. Many types and species of wildlife depend on Oaks to survive. White Oak lumber has played a very important part in this nations growth and progress from ship building, barrels, furniture the list goes on..

In the southeast if you visit a nursery or garden center you will not find a large selection of Oak species to pick from. Usually you may only find one or two at best. Willow Oak, Quercus phellos has been the most popular species to plant as a shade tree. It is fast growing and transplants fairly easy. The latter is a problem with many Oak species including White Oak, Quercus Alba. Willow Oak is anchored to the ground very well. But, the small narrow leaves are very hard to clean up. Their shape and size enable them to get into every conceivable crack and crevice on a property. Larger leaves would be a plus. Also cold hardiness limits the range of Willow Oak colder than zone 6. I started evaluating all Oak species that were native in my area of North Carolina that I would feel very comfortable growing in the nursery and offering to the public, none quiet fit what I was looking for. Then I discovered Quercus bicolor, Swamp white oak.

Swamp white oak is mainly a tree of the the northeastern and midwestern states. There are small scattered populations in Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. In North Carolina they are found in the central and northeastern counties, also listed in Guilford and Davie County. It is a very fast growing tree that has a great root system enabling it to tolerate wet mucky and compacted soils with occasional flooding, as well as drought conditions. It is recommended for planting far past its native range even into Colorado, by cities where it rains far less than in most of its native habitat. Its limb structure can handle wind, snow and ice perhaps better than any other Oak. As a wildlife tree its acorns are preferred above many. They were a favorite of Iroquois native Americans for their sweet taste. As an ornamental tree it is not a slouch. It is very fast growing. The bicolor in its botanical name refers to the white undersides of the foliage which help elevate its appeal. The trees canopy is outstanding. The bark is more scaly than regular white oak and a bit darker. Its younger limbs have peeling bark similar to a birch. The fall color can range from yellow to tan, to red. In my seedlings I have seen all the above.

Perhaps the greatest compliment thay can be given a tree is where someone plants it. Swamp white oaks, over 400 of them in all were selected and planted at the World Trade Center memorial at ground zero in New York City. They are the only thing that has been planted at the memorial besides one surviving Callery Pear. That is a story in itself. I dont know what you may think but I do not believe they would choose a trash tree or a weak tree for that site. In choosing shade trees to plant with beauty and strength, capable of living 300 years or more, choose wisely, choose Swamp white.oak, Quercus bicolor.

Failure To Ourselves And Those Who Follow

This post is and isnt just about native plants and trees, it is my observation and my belief. We all who are over 40 and some younger have failed to show the next generation and the next the importance of planting and preserving trees and other vegetation for our own survival and our planets environmental well being. We are killing ourselves.

The (lifestyle) that are society has embraced does not promote any outside activities other than sports and most of that is as spectators. Family interaction on the lawn including planting flowers and trees has been replaced by the next trip to Target or Walmart. Those in rural areas of our County who own large tracts of hard wood forested land are being forced through local taxes to cut and sell their timber to replant pines or turn the once forested property into crop production. Local governments no longer want tracts of land to be idle.

Trees are important sources of building material and our society and many professions depend on building including landscaping. But the one thing we have not stressed in the GREEN movement, in our school science classes, to our Hunters and Fisherman and to the rest of our society is that every species of native trees and plants have certain types of wildlife whether they be animals or insects that depend on that type of plant or tree to survive. Many butterflies and moths depend on one species of trees or shrubs as a larvae food source and without it they cannot exist. Every species has its importance, we are all connected and all in a chain. When the chain is broken it effects smaller species at first then gradually works it way up to the larger ones. Trees and understory plants protect our water quality which in a world of 7 billion people should concern someone! But that is a rant all by itself.

Large landscape trees have risen sharply in costs in the last several years. Also most consumers have no way of transporting or handling or planting large size trees. Start small in a couple years a tree you purchased for under $25 and planted yourself can be worth over ten times that. With minimal care and common sense most small trees grow very fast the first several years and have less transplant shock. Our nursery is starting several varieties of native trees both small and a few large shade tree types to offer in small packages with good root systems that can be carried home and planted without too much of a problem. You just have to wait a couple years then your small investment value has grown tremendously. Plant with your children, and plant various species to benefit many things as well to improve the looks of your landscape. With the amounts of trees we are losing on private land rising we cannot plant enough. Teach your children that dirt is a good thing and how important the green things are we all take for granted.