The forests in the Appalachians are dominated by large oaks. But sadly, they are not regenerating because of forest practices that minimize burning and hence contribute to an understory of maples that are shading out young oak seedlings. The National Forest has a program of controlled burns designed to remove the undergrowth and thereby promote the growth of young oaks. In earlier days this was accomplished by frequent burns of the forest that promoted the growth of the large oaks we enjoy today.
I just had this conversation with a friend yesterday. Ground fires are good for forests, not terrible for most creatures living there, but inconvenient and threatening to human investments, so any fire in a forest is a foe.
This is a complicated issue. While we don't like forest fires, we also don't want the continued decline in our insect population. As noted in https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/realestate/oak-trees-why-you-should-plant.html, oaks support more life forms than any other tree. Doug Tallamy has written a book on the subject: "The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees"
Your reference to the crooked Road surprised me! When I stayed in Damascus and drove to Grayson Highlands State Park, the highway had crooked road signs. That was indeed the windiest road I had ever driven! I didn’t know that whole region was referred to as the Crooked Road.
Crooked road is apt for the region's highways for certain, but the signs were lifting up the cultural tourism program known as the Crooked Road--Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. I just looked at the map. Wow. Originally I think there were maybe a dozen spots on the trail, Floyd being prominent among them. Now there are many more. I hope your travels in the region made for good memories.
The forests in the Appalachians are dominated by large oaks. But sadly, they are not regenerating because of forest practices that minimize burning and hence contribute to an understory of maples that are shading out young oak seedlings. The National Forest has a program of controlled burns designed to remove the undergrowth and thereby promote the growth of young oaks. In earlier days this was accomplished by frequent burns of the forest that promoted the growth of the large oaks we enjoy today.
I just had this conversation with a friend yesterday. Ground fires are good for forests, not terrible for most creatures living there, but inconvenient and threatening to human investments, so any fire in a forest is a foe.
This is a complicated issue. While we don't like forest fires, we also don't want the continued decline in our insect population. As noted in https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/realestate/oak-trees-why-you-should-plant.html, oaks support more life forms than any other tree. Doug Tallamy has written a book on the subject: "The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees"
I have Tallamy's book on the coffee table, a recent gift. I look forward to digging in.
Your reference to the crooked Road surprised me! When I stayed in Damascus and drove to Grayson Highlands State Park, the highway had crooked road signs. That was indeed the windiest road I had ever driven! I didn’t know that whole region was referred to as the Crooked Road.
Crooked road is apt for the region's highways for certain, but the signs were lifting up the cultural tourism program known as the Crooked Road--Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. I just looked at the map. Wow. Originally I think there were maybe a dozen spots on the trail, Floyd being prominent among them. Now there are many more. I hope your travels in the region made for good memories.