On a more positive note

[easyphloem]

[ QUOTE ]
All I can say is, Gerry, you must be living right to have a place like that to hike and explore with Terri.

[/ QUOTE ]


That's what I was thinking! Thanks for sharing the pictures, Gerry!




You are a positive note kind of guy.


SZ

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

Thank you and the point is well taken. Because I feel so very fortunate to live and work in the trees of my local.

 

[pancake]

[ QUOTE ]
heh tree work is starting to be like the army, only way to be brass is with the certs, yet all the brass come to the old MSGT. And ask whats this, or how do we get it done, how long you think it will take?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ever heard of Alvin C York, a fine Tennessean? You should look him up if not. Nice thread Gerry, something to dream about tonight.

 

[HÖLLENREICH]

yes son I know who SGT York is

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Thanks Roger! That's how I remember it too. I just wish it didn't snow and rain bexause I hate leaving a job incomplete! Was a great time though, eh?

 

[NeTree]

Just remember... Adolph Hitler was a published author, too.

Most thing in nature do just fine, better in fact... WITHOUT our help.

 

[DSMc]

Jerry, First let me say thank you for the fantastic pictures. Allowing people who have never seen these to catch even a glimpse is a real gift.

Sillett's work does indeed reek of a current trend in arbor academia world wide. The ideas of fracture pruning, retrenchment and veteranizing of trees has taken hold. I find this very disturbing.

Many of you who have spent time in the woods understand that man's presence does not improve things. We may not understand the need for forest fires, large scale beetle infestations, but there is a natural flow of movement throughout the forests that we cannot change.

It is in our nature to strive for betterment and also to feel that we (each individual) knows the correct way of doing that. I would suggest keeping that line of thinking to one's own life and let the forests be.

My formal education is severely lacking but I have wandered the deserts of the southwest, I have lived in the redwoods, and I have walked the tundra north of the artic circle. The only part of my life that had more of an effect on me than trees were the wild reaches of nature itself. The places I found the most fantastic had no foot prints of man and I believe in the philosophy of the American Indian, to walk and leave no trace.

Dave

 

[pancake]

[ QUOTE ]
yes son I know who SGT York is

[/ QUOTE ]

So pops, does that mean you understand that papers and patches don't make you a better man. That's called drive and ambition. To each his own. Look at Jerry's book, not everything in it is considered "by the Book" in today's standards, but I just gave a new copy of it to my Father this past weekend. Told him it was one of the best books ever on treework. Does the fact that Jerry wrote is mean he is a piss poor arborist- hell no, I would love to spend time with him picking his brain and hearing about his experiences. Who wouldn't want to know how to detonate a top out of a big tree? I know it would benefit me. As far as Sillett, I loved his book as well, great personal story. That's why it's called research, because we don't know what the answer is. He may be on to something, or not, his right to find out.

 

[cory]

[ QUOTE ]
I have wandered the deserts of the southwest, I have lived in the redwoods, and I have walked the tundra north of the artic circle.

[/ QUOTE ]

That all sounds pretty fun and interesting...were these like hikes and campouts, or something more?

 

[jim454]

I got to hang with Jerry a couple of times, had a blast, don't forget his videos, you supply the beer and brats and I'll bet he'll be there.

And Jerry, next time you come to Minnesota, I'll have a place for you on my boat.

 

[DSMc]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have wandered the deserts of the southwest, I have lived in the redwoods, and I have walked the tundra north of the artic circle.

[/ QUOTE ]

That all sounds pretty fun and interesting...were these like hikes and campouts, or something more?

[/ QUOTE ]

Something more. I was somewhat of a wild child, much to my parents' chagrin. So this for me was more of a lifestyle than a specific event.

Dave

 

[treehumper]

Coming to this thread late, firstly, thanks Gerry for the great pics. My wife is going to take me to the redwoods for my 50th. Can't wait!

Secondly, what we need is mutual respect for the paths taken by each individual. Whether it's through experience or academia, the knowledge acquired is valuable and beneficial to all.

It's never too late to gain a formal education. I had a client who after her career in nursing went back to university where she finished a degree in zoology at the age of 65.

 

[pancake]

Being a life long learner is one of the best ways to stay young, and fend off boredom.

 

[sohner]

I know I can't get around to viewing all of the big Redwoods in the forest so I thank you Jerry for showing us what you see. I always appreciate your great work. Thanks for the show..

 

[southsoundtree]

[ QUOTE ]


The Tree House Tree is an exceptional redwood in many ways. Not just for its size. But for how old it is and still growing very vigorously. The far majority of redwoods as old as it are more often in clear stages of decline. But not the Tree House.

It responded very well to the tip reduction work we done to it in 03. The tree has not dropped a major limb since, and the ones tipped back abound with new vigorous growth. The work was a qualified success. However there is yet more work to do on the north side. Though nothing a half dozen top climbers couldn't do in weekend.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for sharing those.

Regarding the tip reduction work. Would you explain what was done, how the prescription was determined, why this helped the tree, and what is expected in the longer term?

Thanks.

 

[Gerald_Beranek]

The limb tip reduction work on the Tree House was carried out to preserve the trees primary limbs. The largest, longest and heaviest. Because when a large primary limb breaks and falls they'll strip all the limbs off the tree below them. It's the natural course of events for a mature redwood. Which, natural or not, really isn't good for the tree. It needs all the foliage it can get. And while the tip reduction work on the Tree House did remove foliage itself it's long term effect by preserving the major limbs was the better of the two evils. The tree has already regained the foliage that was removed 5 years ago. It's a fuller tree now and at the same time less susceptible to future breakage.

 

[guymayor]

[ QUOTE ]
The limb tip reduction work on the Tree House was carried out to preserve the trees primary limbs....It's a fuller tree now and at the same time less susceptible to future breakage.

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you for that. I'm still not exactly clear what Sillett was proposing at ISA.

Was it all about creating more habitat for that cute salamander and her associates, the bugs and crud that infect and infest decayed trees? This seems like an ecologist's goal, like the British ecologists that took over the Veteran Tree Initiative. Remember that they define a "veteran" tree as one that fosters habitat for rot-dwellers.

This has lead to fracture pruning, which I consider an abomination, UNLESS it is part of controlled research. Other than intentional wounding, I think there is great guidance in Fay's work for arborists.

Or does Sillett see the focus on tree longevity by means such as tip reduction, anticipating natural fracturing of major limbs by intentionally and cleanly pruning minor limbs? That goal is purely in line with arboriculture as we practice it in town imo. I'd much rather see research into life extension than rot-dwellers. But if there is a plausible theory I don't know about yet that the rot-dwellers play a causal role in the immortality of trees, then by all means let's study them.

This topic is the heart of why I am an arborist.