Author Topic: Longleaf Pine (Read 5386 times)

DanG · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2010, 09:48:15 pm »

Interesting, interesting!! I find it ironic that Ron found this gem of wisdom in the Times-Union, which is the major newspaper in Jacksonville, where Tom lives. Now, Tom says, and I've seen it myself, J'ville/Duval County is doing everything it can to stifle Forestry in favor of development. In stark contrast, RynSmith introduced the name, "TallTimbers" into this conversation, which is a truly honest and forthright private organization in my neighborhood. TT not only conducts studies and educational programs on their own site, they are intensly involved in public education. During the burn season, there are TV and radio ads all over our area, sponsored by TT, educating the public on the benefits of fire to the forest. It has had an amazingly positive effect on public attitude, and we do not hear a lot of complaining about the smoke, or the imagined destruction of trees. The average man on the street around here is aware of the beneficial relationship between wiregrass and the longleaf pine tree, chiefly because of the efforts of this fine PRIVATE organization.

As many of you know, Tom and I are very close friends, and we spend hours every week talking on the phone, when we cannot get face to face. A lot of what we talk about is the difference between his area of Florida and mine. It is like being in two separate countries! In his little corner of the World, forestry is all but dead, and in mine, it is flourishing like nowhere I know of, at least in these depressed times. It seems that every other truck you meet on the local roads is a log truck! The Tree Farmer program seems to be going great guns here too, if the appearance of new signs is any indication. I credit public education, and the regional political climate with this stark difference, and Tall Timbers with walking point on this stewardship patrol.

As WDH has pointed out before, I'm smack-dab in the middle of Longleaf country, and I'm happy to report that the effort to restore Longleaf as the king of the pine world appears to be going very well.

Tom · « **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2010, 11:01:46 pm »

After much searching, I found the article that Ron listed. It came from a note, written on the 8th (yesterday) and was referring to a burning program in S.E. Georgia, around Brunswick. It's a long way from Jacksonville, but the egotistical local news media considers it part of jacksonville's metro news area. What the heck! Seventy-five miles to the north is local news?

We can find out that Po Dunk California is having a rain storm and we aren't told that there was a breakout from the County Prison Yesterday? I'm sorry, my curmudgeoness is showing again.

Thanks Ron. It really is good news. I wish we had some positive burning press in Jacksonville.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #22 on:** January 10, 2010, 05:24:13 am »

Light her up Tom. We'll get all kinds of press then. Something about a fire and also a little something about prison.

Okay, maybe it ain't so funny but you left the barn door wide open.

Don K · « **Reply #23 on:** January 10, 2010, 09:47:59 am »

We planted 15 acres of long leaf in 2000. the soil conditions were such that they didn't stay in the grass stage long. What did happen though is part of it was overgrown by briars and undesirable hardwoods and really slowed those down. In the winter of 2001my dad and I attacked these few acres in the bottom with brush saws and they really took off. That next winter we burned the whole 15 acres and have burned once since. We missed a burn 2 yrs ago and know it looks rough. A lot of other pines have sprouted on the back side and have killed back the long leaf. They do not thrive with a lot of competition when young. Grass will choke them back if allowed to take over. Most of Daddy's LL are now 15 - 20 ft tall. I will get some pics later.

Don

Magicman · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2010, 04:21:10 pm »

I talked with my Forester and also a Plumb Creek guy yesterday at the Forestry Ass'n Director's meeting. They told me to "light them up". The first good "burn day" I'll have some smoke going. I'll take some pictures, because I want to document every activity with these Long Leaf pines on my tree farm.

WDH · « **Reply #25 on:** January 29, 2010, 10:31:34 pm »

I look forward to see your control burn. I need to burn some too this season. Loblolly however, not longleaf, and they are 24 years old. Amazing to think that I planted them 24 years ago

.

Whats time to a tree???

Magicman · « **Reply #26 on:** March 20, 2010, 12:33:14 pm »

Today was the day......to burn....

The burn begins

Finishing up with my Son and Grandson

A scorched little Longleaf Pine seedling

Clark · « **Reply #27 on:** March 20, 2010, 02:10:30 pm »

Great pictures Magicman! I've always found the early development of LL to be very interesting. You are going to get pictures of them when they take off in the next year or two, right?

Clark

WDH · « **Reply #28 on:** March 20, 2010, 08:25:06 pm »

Not many good days to burn this year. It is good that you could get it done.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #29 on:** March 21, 2010, 03:29:19 am »

Yesterday folks were burning grass up this way to, but not to release trees. It's the spring fever.

The potato fields near here are like dry powder on top, no frost. Still snow around, but going fast.

fishpharmer · « **Reply #30 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:39:23 am »

MM, getting the family together for something as simple as a controlled burn makes for a pleasant day. Glad it went well. It should be a nice green by April 3

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #31 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:57:49 am »

Fishfarmer, your up early on a Sunday.

Gotta feed them fish I suppose.

fishpharmer · « **Reply #32 on:** March 21, 2010, 05:06:43 am »

FF is the next best thing to sleep.

Rain and maybe thunder woke me. Fish eat better in the afternoon and evening. MM's, thread on burning made me think of some burning I need to do as well.

Magicman · « **Reply #33 on:** June 30, 2010, 08:26:03 pm »

On March 20, we burned my little Long Leaf plantation to release my seedlings from the "grass stage". Well, they all didn't release, but some of them did. It was a bit late and some areas had started to green up and didn't burn very well. I'll get them earlier next year.

June 30. 2010. Some of them are really taking off.

WDH · « **Reply #34 on:** July 01, 2010, 08:20:15 am »

I was asking the Director of the Longleaf Alliance about how soon you could burn planted longleaf, and she said, "There is nothing bad about fire to a longleaf pine."

Magicman · « **Reply #35 on:** August 28, 2010, 04:14:06 pm »

This is the same tree that is shown in Reply #33. This tree has grown a foot in two months.

August 28, 2010.

Buck · « **Reply #36 on:** August 28, 2010, 06:31:46 pm »

wish all mine was longleaf

Magicman · « **Reply #37 on:** August 28, 2010, 07:33:16 pm »

I only have 60-75 Longleaf Pines. I planted them on my Grandparent's old housesite as a memorial to them. My main pine plantations are Loblolly.

Smoothing up the housesite and getting ready to plant Longleaf Pines.

WDH · « **Reply #38 on:** August 28, 2010, 07:48:40 pm »

That is a great pic of the longleaf seedling going phototrophic!

Magicman · « **Reply #39 on:** August 28, 2010, 07:58:43 pm »

The picture in the first post on this thread is of the same tree.

Taken January 6, 2010.

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Author Topic: Longleaf Pine (Read 5386 times)