Lost Wood

“There can be no purpose more enspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us.”

— E.O. Wilson – posted on One Tree Planted

I walk daily on the campus of Tidewater Community College campus. I value the trees there and for the first three years of my new identity as a Virginian, I spent time learning about tree species and even collected seeds to see whether I might grow out an offspring. I have a lovely red maple (Acer rubrum) thriving on my porch and hope to give it away for replanting to a homeowner or the city or the college.

A couple days ago, I realized that one of the Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) acorns planted two years ago, is growing with the shell broken open and a primary root emerging. This is a hardy, beautiful oak with rust red leaves in the fall. The acorns are abundant and have subtle blue stripe coloration. So, I hope to grow another native tree on my porch for giveaway where it can grow to maturity.

On the backside of the campus, on a triangular slice of urban forestland, I found a mature, towering Water Oak (Quercus nigra) is another native tree of the coastal lands especially in the Southeast coastal areas. You can spot it by its bell shaped leaf below. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_nigra#/media/File:Quercus_nigra_USDA.jpg]

In the same area, Black Walnut and Shagbark Hickory trees, and three species of pine trees flourished without traffic or grooming by tree trimming operations with limited knowledge of trees and the ecology of forest communities. I write this to lead up to my shock and sobbing at the sudden realization that in the winter and my walking that did not extend to this small wild wood, out of sight and out of mind, it was razed to the ground (thank God the water oak was left I am sure due to its size). Nothing was left of the wild wood and understory of plants and vines; rabbits and squirrels gone, and a host of birds who graced the canopies — all absent.

It was bare of life. I went to the water oak which has become a friend. I sobbed in front of it and let my deep sorrow be felt and my lament heard. Rage welled up in me at the senseless and unnecessary war we humans rage on nature, even when our city is heating up and trees provide shade. Species like the water oak help prevent flooding as our area is experiencing sea level rise from expansion of water due to an ocean hotter than at anytime in recorded history.

More than at anytime in our nation’s history, we must educate our children and youth about the basic ecology of their homeland so that they know it, value it, and will work to preserve what keeps us alive while we humans tinker with the environment to meet our needs.