Saturday: statement of need

[OT from cottage renovations]

in the winter when the leaves come down the extent of our infestation becomes apparent.  so far, at least, it is localised to a few hot spots and hasn't yet taken over completely. 

the working parties are very likely to get a good start, but I'm sure there will be more left to do. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

---

West Woods

looking up

Hedera helix

to give an idea of the size of the ivy trunk, the coin in the L image above is a US quarter. 

---

the woods are also feeling a human impact. 

the ritual significance, if any, of this impaled shrunken head is unknown. 

Saturday: field, tree and sky

[OT from cottage renovations]
[first image crossposted to photogrove]

the Grove is not just known for its trees, it is defined by them.  our East and West woods are zoned for forest and the almost all of the land, in public and private ownership alike, is wooded. 

a contrast from this pattern is provided by the fields to our E.  we're still battling in court for part of the upper field to be set aside and protected as a legacy open space preserve and buffer against the development and highway construction that awaits the lower fields. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

---

Upper Field

even on first acquaintance the upper field's one large tree is striking.  it has the ill fortune to have grown upon the portion of the field for which development is inevitable.  the developers always tells us "such an impressive tree, of course it will be spared" but all the site plans I've ever seen show its spot cleared and built upon. 

watch what they do, not what they say

---

why is the field so important to the Grove? 

our treeline is impressive in its own right but when seen across the field it takes on an ancillary role to the skyscape above, providing a balance of the majestic and the humbling to our beautiful setting.