We’re calling this the volcano tree. It ‘erupted’ this afternoon while I was crossing my neighbor’s pasture to check on a couple of hot spots left from Tuesday’s fire. I heard a loud crackling and looked across the pond just in time to watch the top blow off this tree. Okay, maybe it didn’t exactly
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Peeking inside the hollow base…actually, it glowed a lot brighter, but the camera’s flash changed the lighting enough to make the ash on the hot embers visible.
This clearing is just across the creek from the house, maybe 150 feet away. It was all on fire when I arrived home from errands Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately a neighbor had already called the fire department, and they arrived right behind me. I grabbed a long-sleeved shirt and a shovel, tied my hair back, and
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This summer, the pond was surrounded by wildflowers, knee deep grass, and blackberry bushes.
Looking northeast from the tall tree stand, across my neighbor’s pasture. He lost his hay, fenceposts, a retaining wall, and a few months use of the pasture while it recovers. The cattle pastured there escaped injury.
West of the house, several acres of mature oaks border a tiny creek. That section now looks like this. The healthy trees should be fine, and I’m sure the undergrowth will recover nicely. Right now though, every step through the trees stirs up a cloud of ash.