Axis mundi

We went to an old-grove forest today. Details soon!

Constellations

Managed forest

Back to Holmes Educational State Forest, this time for the longer Demonstration Trail. Even availing myself of an official shortcut, it took two and a half hours. There was enough of a climb to get you

into the clouds. There's no explanation of what's being demonstrated - a managed forest, I suppose - but at one point I suddenly came upon a very recent controlled burn. The rain brought out the smell of soot.

The chief target, it seems, were the eastern white pines which had been cultivated here before it became a state forest, their toasted wraiths hovering as a mixed hardwood forest is helped to return.

hickory!

Educational forest

We're surrounded here by every kind of forest, from National Forest (and Park) to Arboretum to various State Forests, some Recreational and this one, Holmes Educational State Forest - educational about trees, their uses (to us), forest management. The trees are none of them very old, so there's plenty of light for spring epehemerals.

Trilliums!

Daily rounds...

(Yes, these are the pignut hickory buds I've been following!)