Find Beauty in Forest Loss

The death of a tree, as with the end of the growing season, rejuvenates other life—we just have to open our eyes to see it.

Forest Unleashed

My 8-acres of forest—planted to oak, black walnut, elm and ash—has filled in with more than its share of cottonwood and box elder. Had I planted my trees in rows, I could have simply mowed the errant seedlings, but my trees were broadcast seeded and grew the old fashioned way: where they wanted.