Michigan Forest Life - April 22, 2025

Greetings, friends,

When I peered between the white pine branches early this morning, Venus' bright orange glow looked back (Photo 1). The sky was neither dark nor light and a brilliant moon crescent shone between other branches as I turned my head to look south.

At Sunrise Corner in Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary the moon and Venus appeared together over the neighbor's

wetlands without branches getting in the way. A lovely sunrise emerged on the horizon (Photo 2). Venus appears to the far left in Photo 2 and is reflected also on the water's surface. Zoom in!

It is good to be in the forest again.

I often marvel at trees that die in the forest. Often, one tree dies while similar trees close by thrive. A single tree picked out of many. There are three dead trees quite close to the Treehouse. One, a cherry, is amongst other healthy trees of various species (Photo 3). It is fifty yards from its nearest cherry sibling. The cherry shows evidence of insect infestation. It rubs shoulders with a dead white pine of similar height though all other surrounding trees are healthy (Photo 4). The white pine's trunk shows no sign of insect attack, though its canopy branches are too high to inspect. Before the white pine died, in fact, it mingled

branches at canopy level with a similar white pine that is still going strong. One dead. One alive.

These trees are connected below the ground surface by networks of roots and fungi that make pathways for carbon transfer and communication between trees. When insects or disease attack one tree, it often sends defense signals through its root system to trees close by, enabling the neighboring trees to put protective mechanisms in place.

Weather also can pick one tree out of many for an early death. Tornados are known for such

things. A 27" diameter white pine on the opposite side of the Treehouse has now reached

snag status (Photo 4). Seven years ago, at about 130 years of age, it was struck by lightning,

blowing patches of bark off in a line down the tree's side clear to the ground. It is one tree

in a grove of many of the same classification - height and diameter. Lightning took this one.

After the strike and injury to its outer skin - its bark - insects invaded (Photo 5). After three years the tree finally succumbed.

Nature is a wonder! One event triggers a series of things so complex that it is hard to imagine the far-reaching string of outcomes that should at least be considered indirect results.

I always stand in awe at nature's balancing mechanisms.

I wish you the wonder of a natural world and a clear sky with Venus at sunrise.

Until next time,

Dan