I know there are a few people here in the know, comments?

A mysterious disease is striking American beech trees

I think it’s going to be a bigger problem then most people realize. The problem is the horticulturalist can not detect the pathogen that is causing the disease. It seems to pretty wide spread across upper Midwest and Canada.

I planted one a couple summers ago, knowing it might not live long, but out there somewhere, there might be a beech or a thousand with innate resistance.

ZaraSp00k: "I know there are a few people here in the know, comments?
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/mysterious-disease-striking-american-beech-trees?utm_campaign=news_daily_2019-11-14&et_rid=322178674&et_cid=3074180

for whatever reason, the add a link doesn't seem to be working "

A mysterious disease is striking American beech trees
There ya go Sp00k.

butthead

Looks like their westernmost range is in eastern Wisconsin.

Terrible News. I hope beeches don't follow the American chestnut into near oblivion.

Invasive species are currently changing/destroying American wildlands faster than climate change. They are the big understated story of environmental decline, worldwide.

One thing I am wondering is that the Middle East used to be forested in some areas that are now desert. I was taught that overuse and climate change caused this, but I have to wonder, being that this area was the cross-roads to the world, if invasive species was also a cause.

The ash tree I have looks like it is OK, but there are now 5 known infected trees in the city I live. Of the three oak trees I had in my yard only one remains, oak wilt. The birch trees draw Japanese beetles which don’t kill the trees, but the grubs have decimated the grass underneath. I have some Norway Maple which does the same for the grass for a different reason, the dense foliage doesn’t let light through. I also have some Amur Maple that are essentially a weed, the squirrels seem to like the seeds in February though. These last two trees I bought from the county! Can I get away with pleading ignorance? The county should have known better than to sell invasive species to the public.
If it weren’t for the fact I’ll probably sell in less than 5 years I’d replace them all, if only I could do it over again.

ZaraSp00k: " These last two trees I bought from the county! Can I get away with pleading ignorance? The county should have known better than to sell invasive species to the public.
"

From my experience a HUGE number of people--even those working in natural resources--cannot see the big picture, and don't understand the extent of change/damage to the natural environment at all scales.

At the county level, nursery sales are probably just another "job" for most folks.

Well what do you know. In 1819 when Colonel Leavenworth and Major Forsyth came upriver to establish Fort Snelling, a large beech tree grew on Gray Cloud Island. Being so unique to the area, it was known as Medicine Wood to the natives, and considered supernatural.

arctic: "Terrible News. I hope beeches don't follow the American chestnut into near oblivion.


Invasive species are currently changing/destroying American wildlands faster than climate change. They are the big understated story of environmental decline, worldwide."

I have healthy chestnuts in my forest, Arctic. There is a disease-immune strain that's fully indigenous, as opposed to the Asian chestnut, which is similar. If anyone wants the link to the nursery that sells this blight-proof strain, let me know.

That's great! American Chestnuts were once the premier eastern tree. They do not grow in my part of the world.

American Chestnut Restoration

For an excellent treatment of this issue, check out the book "In winter's Kitchen" by Minneapolis author Beth Dooley. Yes this is a real issue.

arctic: "That's great! American Chestnuts were once the premier eastern tree. They do not grow in my part of the world.

American Chestnut Restoration "

It's said that one of every four deciduous trees between the east coast and the Mississippi was a chestnut. Deer hunters are also planting chestnuts because their nuts are 10% protein with little tannin, so they're tasty and nutritious.