An unusual wind map

I was awakened by the wind, so I thought I'd share this unusual wind map. Click on the image below to see the dynamic version.

Chestnut leaves!

American chestnut leaves on March 14, 2012

I keep a few little American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) growing in pots for school visits and other demonstrations.  After two 80-degree days this week, I noticed today that one of the little chestnuts had leaves!

Trees in pots are more influenced by ambient temperatures.  The temperature extremes in regular soil are buffered, whereas potted soil can be warmed almost uniformly.  So, for the same reason that potted plants' roots are vulnerable to extreme cold, this little tree's leaves emerged as a response to warming, presumably triggered by a drop in abscisic acid and a corresponding increase in gibberellin levels.

Experiments in Spring Flooding

February 26, 2012

By inserting a modest weir and natural rocks in our smaller channel (lower left of top photo) before anticipated minor flooding, we hoped to reverse slow erosion and instead foster sediment deposit so we can add willow stakes and silver maple and sycamore seedlings.

The idea is to slow, stall or gently reverse the flow along the area vulnerable to erosion.  Before we began work, the channel-left bank (river-left or channel-left is always from the perspective of someone traveling downstream, so that means the bank on the right from the cameras perspective in these photos) had a five foot to eight-foot dropoff.

In the second photo you can see the swift flow in the center channel, with pooled water in the area of concern.

I'll share "after" photos when the water recedes.