I believe a road trip to New Orleans is in my future...!

[Zebco Kid]

Hello All,

My wife arrived in New Orleans this morning.

She wrote me a note, "Seeing oak trees with your eyes today."

Oh my...I feel a road trip coming on! Any folks enjoyed climbing these beauties?

 

[Chris Schultz]

Always wanted to winter in New Orleans. If I could do tree work and boat in Colorado spring, summer, and fall, migrate to N.O for the winters…. That’s my dream.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Tree climbing isn't allowed in city parks.

Seven Sisters Oak - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SeanRuel]

Im sure there are many live oak to climb around there though! Beautiful trees, haven't had the chance to work any yet but high on the list!

 

[Rusticus]

We have some similar old coastal live oaks in south Texas that I've been privileged to work with. Just picking ball moss out of them is great training for the new guys. It's the kind of tree you call dibs on when you pull up to it.

 

[moss]

Yes, just a week ago, in this vid in the Rec Forum https://www.treebuzz.com/forum/thre...e-florida-tree-climber-rendezvous-2022.46641/

Not my first ride in Spanish moss covered live oaks, fantastic trees, this is Florida recently:

These are wild live oaks in the South Carolina coastal forest, much more vertical than the open grown ones in parks and on old plantation grounds Forest Live oak grove

-AJ

 

[Winchman]

There are five good-size live oaks in my front yard and several close by that I have permission to climb in. They're good for limb-walking.

This one is currently occupied.

 

[Zebco Kid]

With a raked and swept forest floor, too! Very nice Winchman. I envy your situation.

 

[moss]

We have some similar old coastal live oaks in south Texas that I've been privileged to work with. Just picking ball moss out of them is great training for the new guys. It's the kind of tree you call dibs on when you pull up to it.

Is ball moss mistletoe? Thx!
-AJ

 

[Winchman]

Ball moss (L) is quite different in appearance from mistletoe (R).

I've seen lots of mistletoe, but I don't recall ever seeing or hearing about ball moss.

 

[moss]

Ball moss (L) is quite different in appearance from mistletoe (R).
View attachment 81537
I've seen lots of mistletoe, but I don't recall ever seeing or hearing about ball moss.

Aha! I think I saw “ball moss” recently in Florida, it appears to be an epiphyte sharing the canopy with Spanish moss. Yeah, mistletoe is very different, seems somewhat parasitic, southern climbers can fill in the knowledge gaps I’m sure!
-AJ

 

[Rusticus]

Is ball moss mistletoe? Thx!
-AJ

Ball moss looks like a wad of hair that hangs out in dense canopy. I've also seen it on fence posts and power lines. Not parasitic, but does stymie leaf growth and gets heavy in the rain when it's bad. It's an interesting plant. My step father used to sit on his window sill as an indoor plant...but he's a Yankee, so who knows.

 

[oldoakman]

You hit it moss. Mistletoe is a parasite and ball moss is an epiphyte.

Careful with yankee remarks mr. Rusticus.

 

[Winchman]

More reading, more info:

"Mistletoe is a photosynthetic plant that grows on trees and stays green through the winter. Some consider it to be a parasite, because it is “rooted” into the tree from which it absorbs moisture and nutrients. The genus name, Phoradendron, is Greek for "thief of the tree." Others consider mistletoe to be an epiphyte. Epiphytes grow on other plants with very little effect on the "host" plant and produce their own food via photosynthesis. Apparently, the mistletoe does both."

From: https://www.hsu.edu/pages/academics...al-sciences/arkansas-nature-trivia/mistletoe/