Comments on: gone fishing? http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:25:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20221 Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:26:47 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20221 Wayne - Yes, a vine-like path does lead to all sorts of interesting explorations and discoveries. I'm not sure I'd want my life to be any other way. After looking at the range map for the Blue beech (American Hornbeams, Ironwood), I was thinking that you must have many of them in your region. Some references describe them as a sort of "pest species" (references from the states where I guess these are much more common). Up here, I have only seen them in a few isolated stands, although I occasionally find one growing here or there. I believe we may be very close to the northern edge of their range as I know of only two stands up this way, but of several about 30-40 miles south. I know of none to the north (not that that necessarily means that there aren't any, but just that they seem to konk out right about "here"). I love the mature trees as they are so very individual in shape. I have a few good photos of some of them somewhere in my drives -- if I come across them while sorting photos, I'll be sure to post them. Wayne - Yes, a vine-like path does lead to all sorts of interesting explorations and discoveries. I’m not sure I’d want my life to be any other way.
After looking at the range map for the Blue beech (American Hornbeams, Ironwood), I was thinking that you must have many of them in your region. Some references describe them as a sort of “pest species” (references from the states where I guess these are much more common). Up here, I have only seen them in a few isolated stands, although I occasionally find one growing here or there. I believe we may be very close to the northern edge of their range as I know of only two stands up this way, but of several about 30-40 miles south. I know of none to the north (not that that necessarily means that there aren’t any, but just that they seem to konk out right about “here”). I love the mature trees as they are so very individual in shape. I have a few good photos of some of them somewhere in my drives — if I come across them while sorting photos, I’ll be sure to post them.

]]> by: Wayne http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20201 Tue, 02 Jan 2007 10:02:08 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20201 My life as a vine - I think that as well describes mine! Not necessarily the best habit for advancement in my profession, but the twining and exploration and seeking offer a good bit more as my life moves beyond those professional aspirations. I scanned past the binomial so didn't catch the connection with blue beeches, which we tend to call American Hornbeams, or Ironwood. They're one of my favorite species down here, but as you say, grow slowly and don't mark themselves as a "great old tree" although I think some of them are. I'll have to look more closely at them. They're a major part of our hardwood understory community here. My life as a vine - I think that as well describes mine! Not necessarily the best habit for advancement in my profession, but the twining and exploration and seeking offer a good bit more as my life moves beyond those professional aspirations.

I scanned past the binomial so didn’t catch the connection with blue beeches, which we tend to call American Hornbeams, or Ironwood. They’re one of my favorite species down here, but as you say, grow slowly and don’t mark themselves as a “great old tree” although I think some of them are. I’ll have to look more closely at them. They’re a major part of our hardwood understory community here.

]]> by: burning silo http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20130 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 13:55:23 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-20130 Jimmy - Hi! Nice to see that you've dropped round for a visit. - Peter - Hope you didn't get that bad flu that's been making the rounds down this way. That would have knocked anyone out and kept them off the trails. We got some snow here a couple of days after Christmas, and we were supposed to get a lot of freezing rain last night, but it's more like rain and the snow looks to be melting away as we speak. Temperatures are supposed to be well above freezing all week, so I'm betting we're back to green lawns by Thursday or Friday. Crazy weather! - robin - The Baxter Cons. Area is a really nice spot and quite close to home. There are a lot of board walks and some new observation platforms overlooking a marsh, and also quite a nice nut tree plantation that was established some years ago. We did get snow earlier in the week - about 4 inches - but it's melting away quickly as of this morning. Very odd winter. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be mild for much of what remains as this is usually when we should be getting some of our coldest temperature, but instead, we're above freezing. - Cathy - I sometimes think that natural features inspire interesting things to contemplate. I guess there's nothing new in that though as there are a lot of examples in Buddhist teachings, etc... And yes, winter is the time of year when I seem to give more thought to such things as the meaning of life. I'm a bit prone to dark thoughts when the days are short and the snow is deep, but seem to be faring a little better in this unusually warm winter. Only another 3 months until the beginning of insect season! (While others cringe at the thought, I rejoice!). Jimmy - Hi! Nice to see that you’ve dropped round for a visit.
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Peter - Hope you didn’t get that bad flu that’s been making the rounds down this way. That would have knocked anyone out and kept them off the trails. We got some snow here a couple of days after Christmas, and we were supposed to get a lot of freezing rain last night, but it’s more like rain and the snow looks to be melting away as we speak. Temperatures are supposed to be well above freezing all week, so I’m betting we’re back to green lawns by Thursday or Friday. Crazy weather!
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robin - The Baxter Cons. Area is a really nice spot and quite close to home. There are a lot of board walks and some new observation platforms overlooking a marsh, and also quite a nice nut tree plantation that was established some years ago.
We did get snow earlier in the week - about 4 inches - but it’s melting away quickly as of this morning. Very odd winter. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be mild for much of what remains as this is usually when we should be getting some of our coldest temperature, but instead, we’re above freezing.
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Cathy - I sometimes think that natural features inspire interesting things to contemplate. I guess there’s nothing new in that though as there are a lot of examples in Buddhist teachings, etc… And yes, winter is the time of year when I seem to give more thought to such things as the meaning of life. I’m a bit prone to dark thoughts when the days are short and the snow is deep, but seem to be faring a little better in this unusually warm winter. Only another 3 months until the beginning of insect season! (While others cringe at the thought, I rejoice!).

]]> by: Cathy http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-19715 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 22:21:09 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-19715 Yes, Bev - these short days of early winter are very conducive to reflection and introspection. The trick is to try to maintain an upbeat, forward looking perspective. Like Robin, above, I loved the imagery of the vine and tree. Yes, Bev - these short days of early winter are very conducive to reflection and introspection. The trick is to try to maintain an upbeat, forward looking perspective. Like Robin, above, I loved the imagery of the vine and tree.

]]> by: robin andrea http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-19598 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 16:36:24 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2006/12/30/gone-fishing/#comment-19598 Looks like a great place for a walk, and interesting how it does not look like winter there yet. I wonder if it will ever arrive. The end of the year is such a reflective time, and yes that alone/together vine and tree analogy is a beauty. Looks like a great place for a walk, and interesting how it does not look like winter there yet. I wonder if it will ever arrive. The end of the year is such a reflective time, and yes that alone/together vine and tree analogy is a beauty.

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