Hangin' with Sueno

On an impossibly gorgeous day in mid-December, 2009 I had the wonderful opportunity to get a personal lesson in tree climbing from none other than the father of recreation tree climbing and founder of Tree Climbers International, Peter Jenkins. This is an accout of that day.

I initially contacted Peter (and his wife Patti) regarding their weekly Sunday beginer climbs. That quickly expanded to a conversation on the old growth trees in Fernbank Forest where I work... and THAT quickly branched out to tree education and ways in which TCI and Fernbank could work together to help bring the wonder and awe of trees to the public in metro-Atlanta.

Trees behind the TCI hostel


Gear room at the TCI hostel


After a quick tour of the TCI hostel, climbing trees, and his home, Peter took us to visit a large stately Willow Oak on the far north end of the city close to Peachtree-Dunwoody rd and I-285. This tree is named "Sueno".

instruction from Peter


Peter throwing (he was damn good at this- only 2 or 3 tries for each line!)


Setting up the rope- cambium saver which protects the bark (and rope?)


I'm ready.


Matt


Robby


Robby climbing


Matt's face says everything you need to know about this amazing day!


We probably spent an hour or more up in the branches of Sueno, but looking back it seems like only a fleeting moment. Life was so different only 40 feet above the ground. No people looked up. Cars continued to drive by in the mad rat race of Atlanta traffic. At least 4 different species of birds landed near us on the branches of Sueno. All while we just hung there in complete awe of our surroundings. Each push/pull up the rope gave us a new view of this tree. New lichen colors and formations, pools of water in the crotches of the tree that birds used to quench their thirst, scars from limbs of yesterday that were long gone... It was really a magical place. The sky was impossibly blue- California blue as I like to call it. The wind would rustle the bare twigs, then just as quickly die down. I can't begin to imagine what life is like at the tops of the 350+ foot tall Coastal Redwoods that Richard Preston mentions in "The Wild Trees"- that book after all is what started my whole obsession with trees.... I look forward to experiencing where this obsession will lead me next.

December in Fernbank Forest

A few days ago I had the opportunity to spend about 7 hours in the largest urban piedmont old growth forest in the world. It was amazing. I measured numerous trees with my new laser rangefinder and found the canopy to be 20-30 feet higher than previously thought in many areas. Tuliptrees topped out near 155' and there may very well be a few to 160'. Even the White Oaks were up near 140'. Really spectacular. I also traced the perennial Fernbank Creek upstream (nearly) to it's source. Many of the fern species Emily Harrison saw over 100 years ago (and consequently caused her to come up with the name "Fernbank") still line the stream in this area.


Even the front yard trees in Druid Hills are TALL- this was part of the original Fernbank Forest over 100 years ago and likely a relic from that time


lunch spot


150'+ Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)- I strongly believe there are some 160 footers in this forest too


'shrooms- it's like a rainforest with all the rain this year (75"+ in spots)



Loblolly Pine Bark


weird Beech tree trunk stuff


Fernbank Creek (perennial)


further upstream (close to the supposed spring)


Broad Beech fern

Exploring in Fernbank Forest

Last Friday was a perfect fall day. 70 degrees. Sunny. Dry. Excellent weather for a necessary afternoon excursion in Fernbank Forest.

This is a White Oak that fell from the forest, crushed the fence, then landed across Clifton road during the record rainfall this past September


I got roughly 170 rings out of only a 2 feet diameter trunk cut! Some of these were TIGHT! Must have been drought years...


Fernbank Forest, like everywhere else, is not immune to exotic plant invasions. This is a shot of a tract of large bamboo along the southeastern fenceline


And a Chinese Wisteria monoculture


Oh and of course English Ivy- this stuff really weighs down the trees and can cause them to fall. This one temporarily blocked a bridge in the forest:



BW canopy shot


I finally found a nice Starvine (Schisandra glabra) in the forest




It's just such a graceful vine with its graceful twisting flight up the tree.

Reconnecting the pipes: surgery and recovery

How do I feel about another week in the hospital? My face says it all:


Post surgery:


Beep beepin' down the hall!


Emily is texting the family (or is she updating FB?)


So to stay sane while Liza is recovering in the hospital (6 days instead of the planned 4 days..) I managed to walk around the Brookwood area. Here's some shots:

Chinkapin Oak?


Chinkapin oak shaped into a bush right in front of one as a normal tree:


R. Thomas


Nicest fall color on a Tulip Poplar I've ever seen... maybe








GA "alpenglow"


...from our room






No more ileostomy bag! Now just a pursestring hole that will heal itself

Halloween (pre-surgery) PARTY.

Halloween/Pre-surgery party:

the crowd


Finn-ja turtle


Dorothy and Jigsaw


Slash and Axel


Jigsaw and Pigface are lovers?!