Well, I wonder if instead of power lines, he now has wind turbines to look at? I do appreciate your use of language and photography in the article, glad to subscribe. Thanks
I've been watching the trees and vegetation here in south central Texas change for over 20 years now. The trees are dying from excessive heat and alternating drought and flash flood events. Climate change in the form of overheating has been occurring for over twenty years now. This is based on my perspective as a Native Texan and someone who's spent a lifetime ourdoors. If anyone who's been around awhile observes our trees, especially the older oaks of all species, it's obvious they're under great stress. Additionally, the pecan trees and many others. They're dying outright, or looking pretty peaked. Many are covered in ball moss and other growths. These are indications of unhealthy trees, no matter what anyone says. My huge old post oaks are losing their bark, drying out and dying. En mass. My speculation is that the trees in Austin, are breaking under the weight of the ice, because the trees are too dry. We've had ice storms before and never experienced such extreme energy disruptions. Though, i also believe that the issues described in the article here also are a large part of the problem. But, our trees are dying, our environment is changing. It's too late to stop it. The question now is what can society do to ameliorate the effects of global warming?
I think that's what happened to my live and post oaks, too, Karen. We live west of the Balcones Escarpment and we just don't get rain like we used to, and haven't for about twenty years. My trees are dry and dying on the inside, and you only need to look at the interior of the limbs after they've fallen to see the problem. Sometimes there is just wood dust inside the bark. Add a little ice weight, and they break. I spent the night listening to 8-10 branches crack loose with the sound of a firecracker or gunfire.
Yes, exactly. I'm outside Seguin and the biggest, oldest trees are the most affected. They ultimately just fall apart after slowly losing limbs for a couple of years and having reduced volumes of leaves at their tops. And, as you said, when the limbs fall, they're completely dried out, some literally composed of wood dust. In San Antonio, where I was living till last year, entire swaths of live oaks are affected and it's not oak wilt. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it relative to this latest freeze and in general. We're losing our trees and it's a silent plague. I'm heart-broken.
The COA executives and the Mayor and his bunch want to find someone to lay blame on and the City Manager is easy prey. Listening to the meandering and uniformative "Press Conferences" made it clear, at least to me, that there many to blame, especially the Austin Energy GM. I personally don't believe the City Manager should be fired, but if City Manager Cronk is fired, he should be joined by others. We need more "Clendennings" to inspire us to speak up and fight what's going on in our state and local politics.
Well, I wonder if instead of power lines, he now has wind turbines to look at? I do appreciate your use of language and photography in the article, glad to subscribe. Thanks
I've been watching the trees and vegetation here in south central Texas change for over 20 years now. The trees are dying from excessive heat and alternating drought and flash flood events. Climate change in the form of overheating has been occurring for over twenty years now. This is based on my perspective as a Native Texan and someone who's spent a lifetime ourdoors. If anyone who's been around awhile observes our trees, especially the older oaks of all species, it's obvious they're under great stress. Additionally, the pecan trees and many others. They're dying outright, or looking pretty peaked. Many are covered in ball moss and other growths. These are indications of unhealthy trees, no matter what anyone says. My huge old post oaks are losing their bark, drying out and dying. En mass. My speculation is that the trees in Austin, are breaking under the weight of the ice, because the trees are too dry. We've had ice storms before and never experienced such extreme energy disruptions. Though, i also believe that the issues described in the article here also are a large part of the problem. But, our trees are dying, our environment is changing. It's too late to stop it. The question now is what can society do to ameliorate the effects of global warming?
I think that's what happened to my live and post oaks, too, Karen. We live west of the Balcones Escarpment and we just don't get rain like we used to, and haven't for about twenty years. My trees are dry and dying on the inside, and you only need to look at the interior of the limbs after they've fallen to see the problem. Sometimes there is just wood dust inside the bark. Add a little ice weight, and they break. I spent the night listening to 8-10 branches crack loose with the sound of a firecracker or gunfire.
Yes, exactly. I'm outside Seguin and the biggest, oldest trees are the most affected. They ultimately just fall apart after slowly losing limbs for a couple of years and having reduced volumes of leaves at their tops. And, as you said, when the limbs fall, they're completely dried out, some literally composed of wood dust. In San Antonio, where I was living till last year, entire swaths of live oaks are affected and it's not oak wilt. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it relative to this latest freeze and in general. We're losing our trees and it's a silent plague. I'm heart-broken.
The COA executives and the Mayor and his bunch want to find someone to lay blame on and the City Manager is easy prey. Listening to the meandering and uniformative "Press Conferences" made it clear, at least to me, that there many to blame, especially the Austin Energy GM. I personally don't believe the City Manager should be fired, but if City Manager Cronk is fired, he should be joined by others. We need more "Clendennings" to inspire us to speak up and fight what's going on in our state and local politics.