Winter Cover Crop

My wife planted some Rye grass in the garden to replenish the soil over the winter. They also will hold the soil aginst erosion from rain.

Rye will bring up nitrogen and other nutrients and deposit them in the leaves. When the grass is turned over these nutrients will be mixed in the soil.

What is the cover crop in the spiritual realm? The soil is our heart. The seed is the word of God. As we allow God's word to direct us and give us peace, we are ready for the future where we can do work for the Lord.

Daffodils Coming UP

Daffodils are coming up.

These flowers can withstand snow and freezing.

Lord I look to you to bring your warmth to my life. From Your care and guidance I may show life to others.

Wind Fall

A blow down has knocked over a smaller tree. Looking closely you can see the stump of the tree is under tension. If you tried to cut the tree under tension the tree would snap before it was completely cut through. A dangerous situation.

 At times we are hurt by others. Sometimes it is not intended but we feel hurt none the less. If we would yield our pride and forgive them, whether they deserve it or not, this will bring us out of a dangerous place.

 Colossians 3:12-13 "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

 Father, I don't want to hold animosity toward others. I forgive all.

Persimmon Tree

Found this Persimmon tree downhill from other trees we were looking at. This type of tree grows tall with very short branches.

Such small branches for this height. But this is normal. I'm wondering how much fruit can be produced by this tree. I was thinking, is our purpose as Christians to be noticed by our growth or to produce fruit for the kingdom. Let us not seek the glory from others but seek the fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Tree Measurements
Height was 61'
Circumference 25 3/4"
Canopy Spread 13 X 13 feet
Total points  90

Tree Scar

 The above photo was taken 2/19/18 The lower photo was taken 1/29/14 Notice a trail has been put in between these 2 dates. The length of the crack was 2' 3 3/8" below and 3' 4" above.

Why do cracks appear in tree trunks?

The more perpendicular a branch is to the tree trunk the better its strength is and won't be torn in a storm.

Wind storms can pull a tree apart as the branches are buffeted.

If there is a warm period that causes the tree to move fluid up the xylem then it freezes again this might  rupture the outer bark by the expanding of the fluid when it freezes.

If the tree grows quicker than the bark can keep up, this might cause the cracking.

If the heart wood of the tree is not exposed then the tree will remain healthy. If the heart wood is exposed, wood decaying organism will get in there and create more problems.

Heart wood is the inner part of the tree that is darker.

I don't know if any of these reasons are what is happening here, but I am glad to have found this tree.

Just as bark protects the tree our relationship with Christ protects us. There may be problems we face but if our heart remains with Jesus we remain all right.

Lost Reference

Looking for this sapling we had measured in January 2014, the reference point was gone. There was an old sign showing the park boundary. I guess the park had been expanded and workers had taken the sign down. I had made a note of a scar on a tree that was near by. So by criss-crossing the woods I came upon it and from there I was able to find this sapling.

The tree had not grown that much in 4 years. I looked and the tree seems to have an opening in the canopy giving it the opportunity for further growth. This is probably why I chose this tree 4 years ago. It is a healthy tree and I look forward to seeing good growth in the years to come.


Bitternut Hickory      2014          2018
Height                           27              29
Circumference             8 1/4"          8 5/8"
Canopy                         9 x 11         9 x 12
Total Points                   38                  40


We can lose our way at times in life. When we choose the right place to grow problems won't stop our advance.

Psalm 25:4,5 "Make me know Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

For You I wait all the day."

Thank you Father, though the Your guidelines may not seem to work at certain points, I trust in You to make a way.

Winter Woods

Summer woods are thick and full of foliage. In the winter these same woods are barren and forlorn looking. They wait for the Spring which brings the sun and warmth. Change is coming, it is just  a matter of time.

Our life can change as well, if we wait for God and act on His directions.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

Hanging Branch

Hiked by this blow down with some branches still poised to fall on the trail. After another wind storm or more rot these branches will fall on the trail. I don't worry about this as I go under because I am only there for maybe 5 seconds. But at some point they will fall. So I am aware and if there was bad weather I would avoid this.

Life can be dangerous and we should be aware of the dangers.

I look to God to protect me from danger and am comforted by the promises He has given me.

Father, I thank You for the sureness of Your protection in my life.

Psalm 91:1-2 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!”

Tree Scar

This is an American Basswood tree. There is a stems joined at the base of the tree. This is normal for Am. Basswood trees. Often there are multiple stems.

The strange scar caused me to be interested in this tree. What caused this scar to look like this? Usually scars come from dead branches that fall off. This scar does not look like this was the case.

It could be that there was a branch rubbing from one stem on the other stem. Over time they grew together and some event killed that branch and it fell off, causing the strange scar.

Acts 14:22 "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”"

Tree injuries are not good and will hinder the tree by allowing disease and pests to gain access to the tree. The trees bark will grow over the injury over time. Often that is not fast enough.

We have ability to bounce back from injury with the help of the Lord. In fact it is the problems of life that allows us to see into the eternal realm if we have eyes to see. Not that it is God's will, but God will use what comes against us for our gain.

Oak Sapling

In the progression of an oak forest the trees that replace the oaks usually are not oaks. Trees that are more tolerant of shade will grow up under the oaks and they are not as valuable.

I look for oak saplings in my hikes through the woods and I chose this one yesterday.
Height 13'     Circumference 4 5/8"     Canopy 6' & 6'  Total points 19

Another reason I look for oaks and saplings to measure is they grow a lot more than large trees.

I will come back in the Spring to see if I can identify this oak.

The forest changes over time if it is not managed and cared for. Christians will not have their kids become believers if they are not taught and shown the life of Christ. Many will turn from Christ because of reasoning or peer pressure. Instead of just saying what the Bible says, tell what God did for you. A testimony has more power than repeating doctrines without a testimony.

Wildlife Habitat

Here is an old rotted tree that is still useful as habitat. At some point this tree could just be pushed over. It once was a large tree. You can see the trees in the background are much smaller. They are from a younger generation.

Some people would say retirees are washed up and not useful anymore. They can be useful when they are recognized. The wisdom of the past can be learned from. They can remember all the things God did for them and give Him glory.


Psalm 143:5 "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands."

Broken Top Chinquapin Oak

An interesting broken top tree. This tree has had a broken top for as long as I remember. Many fisherman use this tree as shade while they fish.

God can use us even with a broken past. It is not our past but the vibrancy of life now that makes a difference if we will be useful or not.

Father, thank you for the grace you extend to me as I serve others in Your name. In Jesus name let it happen as You said.

Wind

Wind may blow, but is hard to tell where it comes from.

Sometimes it is gentle and other times vicious. I feel more alive when it blows in my face. When wind is still, life seems to be waiting.

When the temperature is cold wind can be dangerous. When the temperature is hot wind can bring a little bit of refreshment.

Wind can bring power by turning a windmill or pushing a sailboat. Wind can be destructive with a tornado or hurricane.

Wind brings the rain as clouds move in. Without rain life couldn't exist. Wind will bring the life giving rain and God will bring the life giving direction if we will agree to listen.

God speaks at times like a soft breeze. Reading the Bible and listening for God, brings enlightenment and peace.