Blog

Throwback to our trip to the Hood Canal in January – here’s an impressive walnut tree that caught our eye at the McReavy House, which was built in 1890 and is reported to be the oldest standing structure on the canal. To find out more about the McReavy House restoration project and (spooky) history click here or contact Mason County Historical Society.

Took a drive up to Mount Vernon area today and got to see the champion tulip poplar tree at the corner of Snoqualmie and Cleveland streets. It is truly massive, and is estimated at about 140 years old although more research is being done to determine its exact age. However, according to the Meyer Sign blog, at least twice in its lifetime this tree was at risk. The first time was when it had severely buckled the sidewalks around it and the city wanted to remove the tree but ultimately decided to redesign the sidewalk around it. The second time was when it became infested with aphids. This would not necessarily kill the tree, but the droppings from the aphids were making a slick mess underneath the tree, generating many complaints. Rather than remove the tree, the city decided to hire professionals to inject the root system with an application which got rid of the aphids systematically. You can read more about this tree in the Meyer Sign blog “Tales from the Magic Skagit: A (Tulip Poplar) Tree Grows in Mount Vernon (Pt. 1)” and “Tales from the Magic Skagit: A (Tulip Poplar) Tree Grows in Mount Vernon (Pt. 2)”

They say you should talk to your plants to make them grow better, so we just had to share this story from our cousin Ernie in Montana: “This tree's name is Lucky. It was hit at an early age by cultivator. It was stunted with a crook in the base. Didn't grow well. One day I told my wife JoAnn I was going to cut it off . She went out, gave it a good shaking telling it to get growing or else! That was 4 years ago. It has grown from about the height of the lower branches to what it is today.”

While examining a black locust today we came across a strange looking branch. A closer look revealed that it was actually a deer antler embedded in the tree that had been gnawed on by small rodents. 

We came across this poor old pine in Ocean Shores last weekend at Ocean Beach Roasters & Bistro. The lower portion broke off during an ice storm in February of 2021, and two weeks later the upper portion broke off. Ice storms can be a tree's worst enemy for catastrophic damage. 

We made a quick trip to Lynden, WA this weekend where they sure are serious about their trees. This is a statue of Mrs. Phoebe Goodell Judson, affectionately known as the “Mother of Lynden.” Behind her is a Black walnut tree planted in her honor in 1882. Due to businessman Irwin LeCocq Sr. the rest of the downtown is lined with large pin oaks. He insisted these pin oaks be planted in the 1950s after the existing maple trees began to die and were removed. He wanted the trees replaced so that Lynden did not lose the peaceful feeling of a tree lined Front Street. 

Beaver have made their presence known near a large residential development and school in the Monroe area. Even though protective measures have been taken this tree will not survive - the beaver have chewed the cambium layer from the entire circumference of the trunk.

Amazingly, this tree is still thriving and bearing fruit! 

Here's a great example of a nurse log we found over the weekend near Stevens Pass. A nurse log is a fallen tree that provides a safe place for seeds to land, and nutrients for the seeds to grow. New trees as well as plants and fungus thrive on nurse logs, helping to create a healthy forest.

Here's a wonderful example of a habitat snag left when a tree was removed - this stump is about 10 feet tall, and will continue to provide soil stability, habitat for birds and other critters, and as the wood decays it will contribute organic matter to the soil to assist the growth of other plants. Whenever possible, habitat snags should be left in place. This one just blends right in with the surrounding vegetation, but you can see where critters have been making their homes.