Trees along Shoal creek.
December was a tough month for trees in our part of the country, a major ice storm that left 1.5 inches of ice on trees and added some more a few days later devastated large areas. The woods are full of sculptures created by the weight that could not be held. Today I drove over for a hike in one of my favorite places Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center south of Joplin MO. I wanted to see the effect the ice had on the trails there. As I drove over I noticed stands of trees along the road looked like the old World War One photographs of areas that had been shredded by artillery. Any tree that happened to survive and was along a power line was lopped off several feet below the line by crews. I was surprised and pleased that the glades had not been quite as decimated, although there was extensive damage to many trees.
This limb from a Sycamore was at least 18 inches in diameter. Sycamores seemed to be pretty hard hit, but oaks were as well.
These trees show how the top branches of some trees were just stripped by the weight of the ice. Crews from the area had cleared the hiking paths.
This oak limb was impaled into the round and left a rather disturbing looking sculpture. I think that this summer will tell the tale. Those that lost protection down to the heartwood will be stressed by invading disease and insects. Hopefully most of the others will recover.
Trees along Shoal creek.
December was a tough month for trees in our part of the country, a major ice storm that left 1.5 inches of ice on trees and added some more a few days later devastated large areas. The woods are full of sculptures created by the weight that could not be held. Today I drove over for a hike in one of my favorite places Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center south of Joplin MO. I wanted to see the effect the ice had on the trails there. As I drove over I noticed stands of trees along the road looked like the old World War One photographs of areas that had been shredded by artillery. Any tree that happened to survive and was along a power line was lopped off several feet below the line by crews. I was surprised and pleased that the glades had not been quite as decimated, although there was extensive damage to many trees.
This limb from a Sycamore was at least 18 inches in diameter. Sycamores seemed to be pretty hard hit, but oaks were as well.
These trees show how the top branches of some trees were just stripped by the weight of the ice. Crews from the area had cleared the hiking paths.
This oak limb was impaled into the round and left a rather disturbing looking sculpture. I think that this summer will tell the tale. Those that lost protection down to the heartwood will be stressed by invading disease and insects. Hopefully most of the others will recover.
1 comment:
Nature is powerful as evidenced by your shots. Its hard to see the old stands ravaged by the ice but you have some good shots there.
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