Sunday, June 19, 2005

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge


Flooding at Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge Kansas  

Great egrant
Other birds I IDed were:
chipping sparrow
Baltimore oriole
Red winged black bird
Bob white blue bird
Red tailed hawk
Killdeer




 

I rested in the hammock in the afternoon. It was a great day.

Friday, June 17, 2005


Mimosa flower 

Monday, June 13, 2005

Gray dogwood invading a pasture


Gray dogwood

I first started hiking at this park in the late 80’s I think it was about 1986 or 87. At that time there was a couple of pastures that I hiked through to get to a forest lookout. The lookout was built by the Missouri Conservation Commission and I have enjoyed the panoramic view of the forest below in the different seasons.

It was close in and no one goes there. I have only seen a few people at that lookout in 18 years that I have hiked there. It is a good place to go for solitude.

Through the years I have noticed trees invading the pasture. At first it was just a few. As the years went on there were more and more trees coming into the pasture. Now the pasture is full of trees and is becoming a forest.

The trees that invade a pasture are not your normal trees you would see in a Missouri
forest. They are what is called primary, invasive, pioneer trees.


Gray dogwood invading pasture

Most of trees in this field are Gray dogwood.

Gray dogwood is a favorite forage plant for deer. It provides cover for birds.
It is a good tree to plant in damaged land such as strip mines and highway corridors.
It will sprout a new stem from its root system. A

Gray dogwood links

Gray dogwood links

Gray dogwood

For a pasture to remain it needs management. Especially in a forested area. If cattle are
not grazing mowing will keep the trees out or burning will stop the growth of trees. But if
the pasture is left alone then it will revert back to its natural state.

Society is like this pasture. If it is to remain useful as a pasture it needs management.

Friday, June 10, 2005




Windstorm 

Rising Missouri river


Recent rains have raised the Missouri river. Posted by Hello

Eastern cottonwood and trees along the Missouri river. A good stabilizing tree. Cuttings from trees 3 foot sections can be stuck in stream banks to stabilize the soil.

I would like to find out what type of willow is also growing there and plan to go
back later when the river drops.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Rough-leaved dogwood


Rough-leaved dogwood Posted by Hello


Cornus drummondii
Common name:
roughleaf dogwod

[PDF] Cornus drummondii Roughleaf Dogwood




Leaves when crushed give off an oder somewhat like sour milk.
This tree is one of the hardiest of the dogwoods and can withstand the hot and cold of the midwest weather.

Upper surface of leaves are rough hairy.

It is difficult to keep out of pastures.. It spreads by sending up sprouts from one tree to grow a new stem.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005


Pawpaw trees and a mighty Bur oak Posted by Hello