A biologist who works at this particular wildlife refuge emailed me a plant list -- more then 400 species! -- and mentioned the positive effects prescribed burning has had on restoring the land so it can host that much variety.
There's a place for everything in the natural order, even things that seem destructive to us. I had the privilege of taking a helicoptor ride over the volcano on the big island of Hawaii. The pilot showed us brand new lava fields - barren and blighted looking. Then he showed us fifty year old lava fields, full of growing things. The one hundred year old fields were jungles. Incredible.
Prescribed burning is an essential management tool for almost any native prairie (and some woodlands, too), even in eastern Pennsylvania. so that much doesn't surprise me. I was struck, though, that the wildlife refuge managers describe the areas designated for burning as "burn units" - just like a hospital!
5 comments:
Oh, I like this arabesque vining.
A place I stayed recently seemed buried in pine needles and ticks--and all I could think was how much the grounds needed a controlled burn.
This is a beautiful photograph.. as always. Thanks.
There's a place for everything in the natural order, even things that seem destructive to us. I had the privilege of taking a helicoptor ride over the volcano on the big island of Hawaii. The pilot showed us brand new lava fields - barren and blighted looking. Then he showed us fifty year old lava fields, full of growing things. The one hundred year old fields were jungles. Incredible.
Prescribed burning is an essential management tool for almost any native prairie (and some woodlands, too), even in eastern Pennsylvania. so that much doesn't surprise me. I was struck, though, that the wildlife refuge managers describe the areas designated for burning as "burn units" - just like a hospital!
I recall a similar twining plant from northern Florida. Nice contrast with the charred stump.
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