Managed Forest update Ontario

When the loggers had to go back to the lower sections of pines to thin that area they widened the trail going back there to make way for their huge machines. In doing so they cut a number of mature ash trees which they then put aside for me to deal with and use for future wood stove fuel.
I just recently finally got around to collecting them and hauling them out to the area where I block, split and stack any dead or damaged hardwood removed. These ash were not dead when cut so will need to dry out more before they are ready for burning but it may be a while before we get them blocked anyway!

As near as I can figure there is around 12 or 15 cord in this pile which is around two years burning for us as I do supplement my heating with some use of our propane furnace.

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Spring arrives and finally the large piles of snow have mostly gone so was able to walk part way back to see how many trees or big branches were down across the trails in the hardwood section. I was quite surprised to not see that many given the heavy snow loads and strong winds this winter but I have yet to see the 10 acres or so back past the pond where the snow was still laying fairly heavily.
The melt did however reveal the pile of logs I blocked but did not split last fall, and I did spot some more hardwood logs that the Loggers left after widening the trail to get their huge equipment back to get at the pines.
Just about another month now and the Trilliums and Trout Lillies will be brightening the walk back, hopefully a bit warmer than we are today where we are again below freezing out with minus 8 forecast for tomorrow before a promised warm up. Really hoping for a lot of plant and deciduous regrowth under those pines but much clearing of pine trash tobe done before we can walk any distance in that section.

More to come once the wild leeks emerge ahead of the wild flowers ......
 
Do you have Lady Slipper Orchids in your woods? I just learned they are in Canada. I had them in the N. Ga Mountains and loved to see them each Spring.
 
We have the Showy Orchid, have not seen any Lady Slipper but I know they are in the area and there is a lot of trails to wander and there are dozens of wild flowers out back there for quite a short time.
 
I just looked the Showy up. I'll be flipped, we had those in the states too. It's crazy the wide range of climate the wild orchids can withstand.

I'm guessing they're protected the same as the Lady Slippers.
 
As I await those wild Leeks to pop up through I worry about how much trail clean up this old fellow will be able to get done this year and so have been seeking a little help in that department in return for a free camping spot for the season.
Have had an Ad in a local flyer for a while now but without any responses, given the cost of a seasonal trailer site I was hoping to find a nature enthusiast willing to help out a little. So far no takers but early days yet as season does not start here for another month yet.
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"April showers bring May flowers" is a traditional English proverb, with roots dating back to a 1610 poem”
Well I dont know about showers but we just got 24 hours of steady rain totaling around nearly 40mm whilst my cousin just a few miles further north got over 60mm. That should get rid if the last of the snow piles that only a couple of weeks ago were over head height where it slid off the barn roof and was still lining the drive where pushed aside all winter.

Meanwhile Shadow has taken to asking to go out and then standing there as I hold the door open and looking back at me saying 'but its raining out there' and changing his mind. Eventually he decides he HAS to go out and then is quite happy to wander around outside in the rain for ½ hr or more so that when he does come back in I had a VERY Soggy Doggy! Naturally he then decides he needs some extra loving and want to climb on my lap, have a large long haired collie trying ones lap on for size is always 'interesting' but a wet one is not so much fun.......

Have the spring itch and have the desire (if not the energy) to get out and start the trails clean up but looking like its going to be a week or two yet till thing dry up enough.
 
Just a couple of days ago the wild Leeks and Trout Lilly were barely showing but now are starting to leaf out so it wont be long before the woodland flowers will be starting to show. I worry about how much trail clean up this old fellow will be able to get done this year however I am getting out between rain showers with the camera and LOOKING at all those jobs!

Much of my 30 acres is left to nature but I do like to keep the many trails clear of debris so that folks, peculiarly myself, can walk back there without stumbling over logs and branches. I also hate to leave good burning wood laying whilst I have a perfectly good wood stove just across the room from my winter resting place, biggest problem is that they dont come cut n stacked.


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You're greening up nicely there from what you were just a couple of weeks ago.

I was going to ask if the trails are a must for visitors but it sounds like they're not. That it's for you to navigate safely.
 
robin416 said:
I was going to ask if the trails are a must for visitors but it sounds like they're not. That it's for you to navigate safely.
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For many years I conducted spring and fall tours for groups of the local Field Naturalists and others but in the last couple of years between the effort to keep the trails in decent shape and never knowing if the old bones are going to tolerate a lengthy walk without frequent rests that has fallen by the wayside.
Not only did I get great pleasure in sharing my woodland with fellow nature lovers but I learned an enormous amount from a number of visitors that were far more knowledgeable than I.
Now if I could only remember even half what I learned over the last 20 years.
 
I get it. I really do but my approach to it is, I can't do it all in one day anymore so I take it in chunks. I don't let what was over ride my pleasure for what is today.
 
With the rain finally stopped I set up the log splitter and started splitting the huge Ash blocks cut from the trees dropped 18 months ago to make way for the loggers to get into the pine plantation. Having been sitting all winter blocked but not split I figured they would be dried out some, that is not the case, they are quite green yet and will be going to the back of the pile for use late this season or possibly the next.
I am fairly sure there is quite a bit of dead dry standing timber back there just waiting to be felled, hauled out. blocked, cut , split and stacked for this year ....I am just not sure it will be me doing that!
It did make me realise that I do not have to rush to deal with the few smaller ash left cut but left lay on the side of the trail back however!
 
How huge?

It's been pretty wet and the logging was done when the season was moving into Winter so I would think the wood wouldn't have that much chance to dry out. At least you can set them aside for burning later.
 
How huge ..... well let me put it this way they are bigger around than the blocked length of 16" which is huge for a fellow of my age that has to lift them on to the splitter. After the first split the half a log is quite enough thank you!
That said I did get one small load (abt 25cu ft) split n stacked and that just about did me in, must be getting old or something but did manage to get the empty wagon back to the wood pile ready for the next round. Did NOT fire up the tractor and start splitting however, perhaps tomorrow..........

Do have to go for that long walk back in the hardwood section to see how much dead dry standing and fallen Ash and Maple is awaiting my attention back there but not today. It is however sunny n +20 so do wish my knees n back was up to it, my son will be off on the weekend so WE can go back and I can point out all the stuff that needs doing eh!

The old man in the Klondike Hills......
 
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