By Ranger Steve Mueller

When I was a child it was an exciting and major event when our family chose a Christmas tree. We had a favorite seller that we visited each year and researched a great selection of pre-cut trees. It had to be the right height, width, fullness, and a not too tall trunk base for it to fit into the iron tree stand my grandfather had welded.

Our family event allowed everyone to express themselves. My mom wanted to make sure it wasn’t too full so that the ornaments had room to hang. Dad didn’t want him to be so wide that he took us out of the room. I wanted lots of room below for gifts. My wife recently asked if we were arguing over the final selection. I don’t remember an unpleasant conversation. We negotiated and found one that was accepted by all. Now we have cut down a tree with our 4 year old grandson.

After growing up and starting a family with Karen in Ody Brook, we started a different tradition. We have planted several Scots pines in an open sunny area to care for and care for them with good breeding. It took about 7 years before everything was ready for harvest. In the intervening years, we bought trees from a local tree dealer.

As the trees grew, the cluster of trees formed part of a natural niche for itself and for other creatures. Mouse and rabbit tracks showed evidence that the trees provided shelter. The sawfly damaged feed killed some branches and created spaces between the branches suitable for larger ornaments.

Sawflies are not flies, but they look like flies. They are part of the order Hymenoptera wasps with four wings instead of the order Diptera flies with two wings. As larvae, they resemble the caterpillars of butterflies and moths of the order Lepidoptera. The adult sawfly lays eggs en masse, so that when they hatch, they feed on and devour all the needles on a branch. Rather than using pesticides to prevent damage, we collected the larvae from the tree by hand before significant damage occurred and placed them on a large anthill as a free meal for the ants.

In the summer, this job became that of my youngest daughter when she was about 5 years old. During the years when girls and trees grew and were cultivated, girls learned to manage natural resources well. Most of Ody Creek remains wild for native plants and animals, but some portions are for personal use.

Wild species, besides rabbits, mice and sawflies, used the growing trees. Familiar buntings, American robins, and northern cardinals have chosen to build nests hidden among the thick branches. The embryonic leaves of deciduous trees do not develop from the buds as the birds weave breeding chambers in the spring for the young.

For 7-10 years, trees are important for shelter and food for wildlife. To make sure we had a sustainable harvest, I demanded that we plant two seedlings per year so that we could harvest one every Thanksgiving weekend. If all survived, we could either collect two for different parts of the house or donate one.

The freshly cut tree would be decorated and would last indoors until the New Year. Then the tree still offered years of service after the holiday season. We placed it near a bird feeder to provide winter cover and protection for the birds. I don’t know if the birds appreciated our efforts, but they used the tree for the rest of the winter.

When the springs came, we cut the branches off the tree and placed them on one of the brush piles like a slowly rotting roof which helped stop the rain seeping in. Rabbits used the maze at ground level among the brush logs and birds used the upper openings. The trunk of the Christmas tree was cut into sections and used for the campfires in the family yard where more were made.

The annual tree ritual has served wildlife for about 20 years and gives us pleasure with family ties. It helped our daughters learn about sustainable harvesting. Scots pines are unsightly when they grow large. These are non-native species that compete with native trees. Scots pine stands provide relatively barren habitat for wildlife compared to native tree stands. I recommend harvesting them while they are still small trees. Enjoy nature-related holiday traditions that build family relationships.

Natural history questions or topic suggestions can be directed to Ranger Steve (Mueller) at [email protected] – Ody Brook Nature Sanctuary, 13010 Northland Dr. Cedar Springs, MI 49319 or call 616-696-1753.

By Ranger Steve Mueller

Grow your own Christmas trees

When I was a child it was an exciting and major event when our family chose a Christmas tree. We had a favorite seller that we visited each year and researched a great selection of pre-cut trees. It had to be the right height, width, fullness, and a not too tall trunk base for it to fit into the iron tree stand my grandfather had welded.

Our family event allowed everyone to express themselves. My mom wanted to make sure it wasn’t too full so that the ornaments had room to hang. Dad didn’t want him to be so wide that he took us out of the room. I wanted lots of room below for gifts. My wife recently asked if we were arguing over the final selection. I don’t remember an unpleasant conversation. We negotiated and found one that was accepted by all. Now we have cut down a tree with our 4 year old grandson.

After growing up and starting a family with Karen in Ody Brook, we started a different tradition. We have planted several Scots pines in an open sunny area to care for and care for them with good breeding. It took about 7 years before everything was ready for harvest. In the intervening years, we bought trees from a local tree dealer.

As the trees grew, the cluster of trees formed part of a natural niche for itself and for other creatures. Mouse and rabbit tracks showed evidence that the trees provided shelter. The sawfly damaged feed killed some branches and created spaces between the branches suitable for larger ornaments.

Sawflies are not flies, but they look like flies. They are part of the order Hymenoptera wasps with four wings instead of the order Diptera flies with two wings. As larvae, they resemble the caterpillars of butterflies and moths of the order Lepidoptera. The adult sawfly lays eggs en masse, so that when they hatch, they feed on and devour all the needles on a branch. Rather than using pesticides to prevent damage, we collected the larvae from the tree by hand before significant damage occurred and placed them on a large anthill as a free meal for the ants.

In the summer, this job became that of my youngest daughter when she was about 5 years old. During the years when girls and trees grew and were cultivated, girls learned to manage natural resources well. Most of Ody Creek remains wild for native plants and animals, but some portions are for personal use.

Wild species, besides rabbits, mice and sawflies, used the growing trees. Familiar buntings, American robins, and northern cardinals have chosen to build nests hidden among the thick branches. The embryonic leaves of deciduous trees do not develop from the buds as the birds weave breeding chambers in the spring for the young.

For 7-10 years, trees are important for shelter and food for wildlife. To make sure we had a sustainable harvest, I demanded that we plant two seedlings per year so that we could harvest one every Thanksgiving weekend. If all survived, we could either collect two for different parts of the house or donate one.

The freshly cut tree would be decorated and would last indoors until the New Year. Then the tree still offered years of service after the holiday season. We placed it near a bird feeder to provide winter cover and protection for the birds. I don’t know if the birds appreciated our efforts, but they used the tree for the rest of the winter.

When the springs came, we cut the branches off the tree and placed them on one of the brush piles like a slowly rotting roof which helped stop the rain seeping in. Rabbits used the maze at ground level among the brush logs and birds used the upper openings. The trunk of the Christmas tree was cut into sections and used for the campfires in the family yard where more were made.

The annual tree ritual has served wildlife for about 20 years and gives us pleasure with family ties. It helped our daughters learn about sustainable harvesting. Scots pines are unsightly when they grow large. These are non-native species that compete with native trees. Scots pine stands provide relatively barren habitat for wildlife compared to native tree stands. I recommend harvesting them while they are still small trees. Enjoy nature-related holiday traditions that build family relationships.

Natural history questions or topic suggestions can be directed to Ranger Steve (Mueller) at [email protected] – Ody Brook Nature Sanctuary, 13010 Northland Dr. Cedar Springs, MI 49319 or call 616-696-1753.