Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:26:38 -0400
From: Kira Dirlik
Subject: Continuing Tree Saga
As I continue to observe the elms, I see that it is something entirely different from the dropping leaf skeletons going on. A different predator from the past two years. The leaves are slowly being completely consumed, not skeletonized. And I also noticed that under the elms is my Hamamelis tree, about 10 feet tall. The tips of about 10% of the leaves were rolled up like a carpet, and inside were little green caterpillars (now no longer of this world) and a few grown ones out and eating the leaves all up…. green inchworms.
And this morning I went down to see what is happening with my chestnuts, which are growing quite tall but still all branches reachable, except for the huge one which isn’t getting noticeable damage way up there. However, the others had FIVE different species of caterpillars, chomping away. RIP. I don’t see any flowers on ANY of the chestnuts, but maybe they will come out later, at least on the big one. And on the way back to my house, I heard that “mystery rain”, and looked up and one limb of a tulip poplar was almost denuded, looking just like the elm branches. But there are a lot of things dropping right now. I guess they are tree “flowers” of many kinds. So all these little things falling onto the dry leaves make these tiny sounds.
Thanks to all who have been writing to me, and to the Chatlist. I really love these exchanges much more than the “trash the merchant” and “my politician can beat up your politician” kinds of posts.
Kira