Tag Archive: Shortleaf Pine

Field Notes: Restoration Planting at the Mariners' Museum and Park

Field Notes: Restoration Planting at the Mariners’ Museum and Park

April 12, 2021 - By Meghan Mulroy-Goldman, DOF Community Forester Photography by Amanda Shields, The Mariners’ Museum and Park Right in the heart of Newport News, you will soon be able to see a shortleaf pine forest. On a perfectly sunny March day, 700 shortleaf seedlings from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (DOF) nursery found a new home at the Mariners’ Museum and Park. With an historic range covering parts of twenty-two states and... Read More

What’s Happening at Whitney State Forest?: Part Two

What’s Happening at Whitney State Forest?: Part Two

February 27, 2020 - On January 22, the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) successfully conducted a burn on the first of two units (“the Field”) at Whitney State Forest scheduled for prescribed fire in the spring of 2020. (Read What’s Happening at Whitney State Forest? Part One for additional background information.) “A prescribed fire is like a wildfire that happens backwards – meaning, the fire practitioners are able to assess the site, plan for... Read More

What's Happening at Whitney State Forest?: Part One

What’s Happening at Whitney State Forest?: Part One

January 28, 2020 - Edited from a December 2019 notice from Whitney State Forest. You may have noticed that the trail along the Shortleaf stand (see map) has been reopened and the trail around the Meadow (see map) has been widened. This is in preparation for prescribed fire that the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) hopes to accomplish this winter or early spring.  (Note: The first portion of the prescribed burn took place on... Read More

Forest Health: A Small But Mighty Pest

Forest Health: A Small But Mighty Pest

February 22, 2019 - The southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) (SPB) is a small, seemingly innocuous beetle that brings new meaning to the phrase “small but mighty.” These beetles are known as the most destructive native forest insect in the Southeastern United States. While a single adult beetle is only about 1/8 inch long, the ability to aggregate quickly means these tiny insects can overtake a pine tree’s defenses in a short period of time.... Read More

Field Notes: What’s in the Woods Today? March 6, 2018

Field Notes: What’s in the Woods Today? March 6, 2018

March 7, 2018 - Big Trees and Little Trees by Area Forester Lisa Deaton   Lately we have been recertifying trees for the Virginia Big Tree Register.  Trees on this register are checked every ten years to see if they are still alive, and if so, remeasured.  The swamp chestnut oak above is located in Mathews County.  It is 6.5 feet in diameter and 96 feet tall We have also recently encountered a number... Read More