tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post1309551540601289793..comments2024-01-30T03:16:18.674-08:00Comments on Vestal Grove: Buckthorn KillsStephen Packardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-31798197261630406762012-11-04T08:37:20.486-08:002012-11-04T08:37:20.486-08:00Thanks for the good comments. One point I was tryi...Thanks for the good comments. One point I was trying to make, that I may have left obscure, is that there is a complex set of relationships among causes and symptoms. While I think of buckthorn as a symptom of lack of fire, it creates its own stresses. For an ill person, a fever may be "just" a symptom of some infection, but too high a fever can kill you even if the infection would be cured by your body's defenses, if they had time to do their work. Stephen Packardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811489977185760340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-80308499217802242932012-11-02T18:58:29.586-07:002012-11-02T18:58:29.586-07:00Thanks for this great description of the restorati...Thanks for this great description of the restoration. It gives me hope.Mary Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14527583337440902287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-73686725965164546662012-10-21T18:09:02.593-07:002012-10-21T18:09:02.593-07:00Stephen,
Since you have amphibians to consider fo...Stephen,<br /><br />Since you have amphibians to consider for your management plans, the results of the following study many interest you.<br /><br />http://www.bios.niu.edu/rking/lab/eco_restoration.html<br /><br />Buckthorn is directly impacting the ability of your amphibians to reproduce.<br /><br />James Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30877168.post-34173006722485624482012-10-21T16:42:37.446-07:002012-10-21T16:42:37.446-07:00Stephen, The aspect of buckthorn that makes it wo...Stephen, The aspect of buckthorn that makes it worse than Maples and shade tolerant species of oaks is the fuel quality and leaf retention. The litter under buckthorn either does not burn or burns poorly. In addition to Buckthorn leaves being a very poor quality fuel, the fact that buckthorn retains its leaves so late in the year means it shades the fuel. The prevention of sunlight incidenting on the fuel keeps the fuel from drying properly during prime burn season.<br /><br />In contrast, the leaves of maples, basswood, and red oak will burn well. Regular burning prevents these species from regenerating shifting the balance back to the oaks. Thinning of these species on South or West facing slopes is often done to speed this natural shift. However, in ravines, on the east side of water courses, or east facing slopes fire intensity is reduced and these native species do have their place.<br /><br />James Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com