Tree Tips
Getting the most from your Firewood
September 24, 2006
By Clare NunamakerIf you're relying on firewood for heating this winter, you're probably already aware of the importance of burning seasoned (dried) wood. Basically, the drier the wood, the more heat... read more
Controls of Invasive Plants
September 17, 2006
Preventing the spread of invasive plants is easier said than done given the vast expanses of invasive plants with which we are faced. Harding grass, which grows much taller than the native grasses it replaced incre... read moreInvasive Plants
September 10, 2006
The pleasures of the tasty fruit that Himalayan blackberry produces, the sweet tropical fragrance that the blooms of French and Scot's broom emit and the rich yellow flowers of gorse that add color to the Caspar Hea... read moreLichens as Environmental Indicators
August 27, 2006
By Clare NunamakerFor some time now, lichens have been used in the monitoring of air quality. So when I recently had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Joe Hope, a consultant involved in lichen studies, I a... read more
Fire Hazard Reduction
August 20, 2006
A Tree Tips reader writes "I am the owner of a 20 acre property in the Anderson Valley which has about seventeen acres of mixed second generation redwood, Doug fir, tanoak, bay, broadleaf maple, madrone, etc. My que... read moreResources Deployment Criteria for a Wildland Fire
August 13, 2006
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) responds to over 5,600 wildland fires each year. CDF is responsible for protecting over 31 million acres of Californiaís privately owned wildlands. T... read moreThe Oaks of Mendocino County
August 6, 2006
By: Greg GiustiHow many different forest types can you think of? What comes to mind? Redwoods, pines, Douglas-fir, maybe if youíre an adventurous hiker type even the high elevation true fir forests... read more
Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
July 30, 2006
Smoke is often the only tangible reminder that wildland fires are burning and lately in some areas of the County, the smoke has been palpable. Two new fires preceded my return trip from Sacramento on Monday, July 3... read moreWhat's In A Soil Name?
July 23, 2006
You may be familiar with local forest soil names such as Bearwallow, Kibesillah, Ornbaun and/or Zeni. Soil names, also referred to as series names, are commonly used to connect to useful information such as soil de... read moreSurviving the Heat - The Noon Nap
July 16, 2006
By Clare NunamakerOne of the wonders of the natural world is how plants survive the seemingly endless hot days of summer, days when we humans head for the lake or ocean, or cloister ourselves inside... read more