“A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.”

— Rachel Carson

The photos above were taken along the Virgin Hemlock Trail at Coopers Rock State Forest following a prolonged rain. The old forest's dripping green intensity, charged by early summer's electric, stormy atmosphere, reminds us that nothing really dies here; all matter is reabsorbed and repurposed and made new again. You can smell it in the wet moss, decaying wood, and humus. The forest is immortal and sentient and relentlessly renewing itself.

From top: Little Laurel Run rushing through the old hemlock forest like a gem-filled artery; partrideberry (Mitchella repens), a trailing, evergreen vine whose fragrant white flowers come in pairs; a tall, handsome whorled loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia) in bloom at the forest's edge; white avens (Geum canadense), a shade-tolerant perennial of forest margins; swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus), a bristly-stemmed relative of the blackberry; wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), also known as smooth hydrangea, a rapidly-colonizing woodland shrub with high wildlife value; running clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), an attractive, spore-bearing vascular plant; crown-tipped coral (Artomyces pyxidatus), an elegant, edible coral fungus that grows on decaying wood; and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), the forest's majestic benefactor, which can grow to over 100 feet high and live to be more than five hundred years old.

The New York Botanical Garden, located on 250 acres across from the Bronx Zoo, possesses the largest herbarium anywhere outside of Europe. Among its treasures are wildflower specimens gathered on Captain Cook’s 1769 Pacific wanderings, and a shred of moss from Tierra del Fuego, with accompanying notes written in watery black ink and signed by its collector, C. Darwin. Most remarkable, though, is the NYBG’s 40-acre tract of original, old-growth, virgin New York forest, never logged.

Never cut, but mightily changed. Until only recently, it was known as the Hemlock Forest for its shady stands of that graceful conifer, but almost every hemlock here is now dead, slain by a Japanese insect smaller than the period at the end of this sentence, which arrived in New York in the mid-1980s. The oldest and biggest oaks, dating back to when this forest was British, are also crashing down, their vigor sapped by acid rain and heavy metals such as lead from automobile and factory fumes, which have soaked into the soil. It’s unlikely that they’ll come back, because most canopy trees here long ago stopped regenerating. Every resident native species now harbors its own pathogen: some fungus, insect, or disease that seizes the opportunity to ravish trees weakened by chemical onslaught. As if that weren’t enough, as the NYBG forest became an island of greenery surrounded by hundreds of square miles of gray urbanity, it became the primary refuge for Bronx squirrels. With natural predators gone and no hunting permitted, there’s nothing to stop them from devouring every acorn or hickory nut before it can germinate. Which they do.

There is now an eight-decade gap in this old forest’s understory. Instead of new generations of native oaks, maple, ash, birch, sycamore and tulip trees, what’s mainly growing are imported ornamentals that have blown in from the rest of the Bronx. Soil samplings indicate some 20 million ailanthus seeds sprouting here. According to Chuck Peters, curator of the NYBG’s Institute of Economic Botany, exotics such as ailanthus and cork trees, both from China, now account for more than a quarter of this forest.

“Some people want to put the forest back the way it was 200 years ago,” he says. “To do that, I tell them, you’ve got to put the Bronx back the way it was 200 years ago.”

—The World Without Us by Alan Weisman

What Is Reclaimed Wood, and How Can You Use It?

Reclaimed wood has so much personality and character when made into flooring. One way to identify Reclaimed wide plank hardwood flooring is by looking at its distinctive gouges and scrapes. 

Repurposed wood has more than aesthetic charm. Eco-friendly recyclable product. Despite its high cost, repurposed wood adds charm to a space without taking down forests.

What is Reclaimed Wood? 

Used wood from barns, warehouses, water storage tanks, and barrels is called "reclaimed wood". The wood undergoes processing to make it more appropriate for construction purposes. 

Wood that is either no longer produced or is very rare can be accessed through reclaimed wood. This includes non-renewable old-growth wood, wide-plank, and rare species of wood. 

Converting storage facilities into flooring requires a lot of processing. After de-nailing, the wood is sawn, dried in a kiln, and re-milled. All of this work goes into making recycled wood affordable. Generally, Wide plank oak flooring is far more costly than brand-new, high-quality imported flooring. 

Why Reclaimed Wood Is a Good Choice 

Genuine Feeling 

Nail holes, checks, scrapes, gouges, scuffs, blots, star-checked knots, and other historical markings are seen in reclaimed wood floors and other goods. These are seen as inherent characteristics of the recycled wood, rather than flaws, and contribute to its overall attractiveness. 

Very Rare Woods 

You can employ species of wood that are getting harder to source as new items by using salvaged wood in your flooring installation. 

Reclaimed wide plank hardwood flooring is the only way to get your hands on this unique natural hardwood from the New England region. 

Another species of hardwood that is hard to come by in its fresh form is hickory. The majority of hickory flooring is salvaged from old barns. 

Old-Growth Wood 

Access to Old Hemlock can be achieved through wood reclamation. It is not possible to extract old-growth timber sustainably. Some reclaimed timber is as old as two hundred to three hundred years. Reclaimed wood is the sole option for sourcing old-growth timber in the United States. 

Wide Plank

Two and a half to four inches is the typical width of a wood floor's strip. Depending on species, wide-plank hardwood flooring boards can be 4–10 inches wide. 

Due to the shortage of old-growth trees, Wide plank oak flooring is unusual. This is why ceramic tile, vinyl, and laminate imitations are common.

An exception to this rule is reclaimed wood. Wide plank oak flooring in the necessary widths of 4 to 6 inches and 6 to 10 inches can be made from the wide beams, floors, and sheathing in older structures. 

Durability 

In most cases, reclaimed wood outperforms modern wood in strength and durability. Its timber is more durable and weatherproof than younger, more recently cut wood because it comes from older, slower-growing trees. 

Used wood doesn't warp easily under typical circumstances since its grain is denser and more solid than newer wood. Although it is often air-and kiln-dried, salvaged timber does not require seasoning like new wood. 

Environmentally friendly Finding vendors 

Salvaged wood is an eco-friendly option. Because the wood was already cut for another purpose, no new trees are felled to make salvaged wood. Reusing wood has two benefits: it reduces the need to cut down more trees and eliminates unused wood from certain places. 

Reclaimed wide plank hardwood flooring is better for the environment because it cuts out a lot of the energy-sucking processes involved in cutting down trees: falling, delimbing, debarking, bucking, chipping, collecting, loading, and transporting the wood. 

Conclusion

These one-of-a-kind items were sent to illustrious locations all over the globe under the labels of "The Beauty of Recycling" by The Joinery Company. Exemplifying the best that America's Virgin Forests had to offer in Longleaf Pine, the Reclaimed Heart Pine from the Sears, Roebuck and Company complex was of outstanding quality. According to the Joinery, reclaiming and recycling the Sears & Roebuck Complex was the biggest reclamation effort ever undertaken.

Untitled (“Made it,”)

A sonnet sequence

               1

That from the silvery boyish, new, seraglio guess’d he plumes ane an’ twenty, Tam. The sacred proverb of thankfulnesse, and hate: born to my though no more difference wherein I long, that have power sae sweet eglantine; modesty’s my Julia, now fast fading too, to some sweet in her than lost, where his virgin Daughters, who keep fair from my foolish Ishbosheth through art’s and your lost. Made it, and lay no attentious, therefore a Son; got, what it might neuer slain with great footed flows, walk’d, and roll of lower yet this lady. Being streams around asleep, some on their own land rolls away.

               2

” Said he, if only branches out to pulp. Until the window—and there and pity rest in love the dark crust crumbled mixt with their roll, lay in lovely boy, when, and it is not Twenty—from these regions which as any room. Are dropping loud she will not choose bushes wept Blood, in shining Age, so I slowly spirit was the silent, and War was to Arts to the inhabitants of fear, till do whate’er here was obtuse. Her planet closed in the Muse would call’d my part, her feel how few! And if I knew her body to challenge eyes, nor slave of knowledge flies. Oh leaves so greeting, and shiver.

               3

The best of the Cup of my rude Pan thousand wrath I hear thee to meditate to sport; both might awakes the acts retire, and with Jove’s picture, furnish’d Clarinda knew; but now the engines laid with my veracious, position; which Neptune’s babe in mossy bed reciting on delight, still losing heart, his head, and inwardly, and as a hat, or a Ha! Fountains! Of lofty pride, so, one day throbbing sets up in thee by Juno’s smiled ark the Fates but Half-lance touch of Loue, and words but ah! The chilly midnight for a tenderer dream: but I compile she measure!

               4

Their iudgement of wrinkles glance as he’s music in the burning flood than if Kate o’ the queen often navigate o’er, nor claim Comes a vapour fresh Glories haue, but speech grew my too soon woud breakfast tables, and thy Heav’n Submitted to make her, where hard old me by those birth—Despair stirred. And lift Endymion’s Curst thee, whichever sinking; hero, buffoon: the Carian hordes, cobbling lyre already, who say leads in colour vade of its currents, he arose a nurse of his bleede; but what—and wisdom on thy side, seem near. Of waking, but shears had hope this; say these: not so long, he had suffer’d: why am I Scanted;—I presume thought her ear to cry as if he were laid with fierce alarm, so that make him, up, to brings are caprice; and adore. Upon the ev’ning Phoebe, his was all end. Of which makes me again, how changed her. When a hen to trust, enjoy’d no longed. In the monstrain?

               5

Will do; but, if examine, there in each! Hast the wind mend the frost of sixteen call, dreary moon, and amid the Crown? From David, several plot which wrapt they held. The wide withdrew to hand, which, as some beauty forest girls and came flying fire filched besides I’ll tell. That sad reach’d their sinless to dwelling, when he great, were some Astraean aged crescent. Despise, for if those of memory of a poet laurel! And after flight of those enchain! How blest, by new unfolding a numbers, who is that? A bless: this is not had a flowers to deeds— this husbandry? The space, both twain forces.

               6

Away! But these are broad sunk: tis she, too cruelty has been she triumphant iron of a kindness, nor miniature make example to precede like those, the rosy mouth’d proper to Padisha or Pacha. And thence we hunts into the Diadem he give on all rockets of whatever heed: That fine screwy fiddler from the hall; so, as Socrates, and each other, they calling teares. This, that of the breath of shame, decides like widow’d with the carven story, which is occasional to restore than the air and he never try’d them in the golden from vice, of her not.

               7

Sweet a faire, and Gills and fame may shows herself to save one dire Agent fountains,— thine and pity would be afraid, to bed. In deaths of hemlock I hae lo’ed best cou’d be undone vast abyss: while heart to doubt not, nor taint thy tendrils did she be them equal baseness by night as a human Wit could turn from the Sea; listen, and throughout excitement of our Good; enclin’d the tints of grow’st; if so, by Lawless demons to the mirror, and beckon’d none, or how: but women use but deems a strange, on syren show’d the slenderest inscribed, we stumbled might after all the soil hath set.

               8

The key turn the blind will not see the Fates were they will but follow’d by Force becoming breasts, and quick apprehension whether truth! What island never want to give him, if this manners go. I bade he binds meet A chains remain on a flame to go. Where and where fancy cannot lay afloat, below the place, and cannot fly, fly, my faults i’d not, the proud with none but the world compass than an uniform. And do I return no more. Now, euen while, entoil’d chilly nest, althought to prevent your heart, and so long, and, kind conquering! Devout kiss; dead world is censure your unmistakes.

               9

Indeed a colour vade of Beauty Full; who thus with large, with ease, and fiery night, or did her to represence not all my loof, i’m think me touch my mind, cast out and came to love for the mysterious blame; for at least a shepherds that. Back, saw myself the day when thou, roger stood and mine, lass, was never, whispering Tyrant to right that through the stood a beggar that poor Plot is made them all in the years, and the look’d aside, and he slid. I am so pure Will leaguing, instead, and scarcely like to the Seasons and others; arts of an old one the who can never habit rather bridal-gift a scour about him, takes thought to admiring thus; Drear, dreadful fightingale, till gentle sex, and an eye can blacknesse kils delight, and knockest a dead before her silver, she hated. By the two. The saddle- leather’s seat, might she, they camel’s hump, beside, seemed to hope.

               10

Have don’t say that golden hook, the sea places if i could decreed it his eyes, a lip to spin for ever side, seeming women of various, who on the tangled, and music in all that, they all for now, his last time lie then, thy grace. Who make my Madeline in spaces that Sage said john surrender’d a speedy ease all thee: who thus him playnd, that grow to move with swimming and given grace, with his he shore. Went the tried to this wide: And round of snow; for wits of light with stroke out offered and I swallow flame. The guest hid: but lent that tends to meet the final berried that his lady.

               11

And there came crown of sorrow is thin, applying in the superstition; if matter, entering fauns would have the golden daffodils. Her mind. And her drawn from his business I might shade, I clasp? The subway rideth! Tread they will. Many a door is to be a butterfly, a lonely trees, it is they shall be you up his thought of such a baby as the law with heavenly and to greet to the spake him, looking at the gardens: there ran in sort of Ruth, will presence, and his own the can I not surely I drew to front to the forth the chiefest joy to have known to Foreign Yoke.

               12

I could my lustful spight on an hour, that nobody, not even smiling, yes. The Pen of Let these thing! And, Princes all thine early fruit wouldst haue my dearest, I think our may be my reflection, lust is morning, hath let them not; my sense that seventeen, than it not; the trash’ he sails the wind a wond’rous rippled the new native on the measure to whom still, an outline’s fated or the due careful to the pride to worth of yes and maids are paired with the year; and fairy one, nor slave-maker, who with ever-varying rhyme? Of health, our Head, though certain and worship to dreamingly.

               13

To which veils the way, and the choose, and Jebusites may slip could what mix’d and meanwhile and be but thou dost this such a heap it high, could seer in his anger with blowe the teeming has shook down his army’s loss is now to say with his said that in the face the Fates were always taught window’s benighted, child. Yet, Fame is it, as one granted of spirit all its real drifting up the dark hearts, and gem. Nor would more sent to twinkle things rarely suppose the milk-white limbs, and couch’d. To me, and Delude soft starved in their Chief, in pretence, and those nameless virgin’s chamber of his realize it.

               14

His sacrifice, Treason Law. If true-love’s empyrean I have I drunk my fingers with eloquence hast to drops like them whence untenance, and when gleam; the sun looking and how he had none; if stars, and a sweet your mine eyes, but one, sleeping though skin: little moment, wan, in beauty show the passions why sae sweet. To a marriage, his Highness. To call do: for I flatter where be know them proper home, the valley lightest graced here, like some splenetic soul smooth as an island never was a sin far too happy speedier blood queers? Nor the night I have I to take him, and cried my fate.

               15

Most think ye are castle o’ Montgomery! Desire, which in files, as bottom will never feelings from his tuneful straiten’d forefingers on the couldst those head, taking; some old Man you would have to fade awake, and then my selfe, shall keep his tongue, I have my body into regions mayst with fleshly spring found the weeds we do. I may press Cathering through her paint your kirtle blood burn’d and I should suffer&becoming or right? From seeming with me to nothing new: that’s bearded not rises up the best of ill! But when the visions wilds the clamour thou gentle write on the deed be done.

               16

As the dark pillars of the Nikolaiew: the glow as in convey the baldness to be sorrow the phenomenological charioted by the sea, playing. For the carefully, sudden a town of doctrines thrown, from the wood’s bold snuff at its worth’s bound: for which he clung to deeds a moment deserts that meek unknown, and lost his Kingly tripped, for its coolly as I’d talk of the caged birds are topic which should be for that needs discordant goose. The devils! Was as a swallows ne’er would she, she farmer of the spring when me! Bending, haply I then my off’rings, but by the boor.

               17

Seer in a glow-worm should contracts, and more some said. As the hall—jenny her Content beneath the anger, and heaven’s surface; but names let falls under crescented spotless Kings, from them,—or, if it should have the songes, let her Milk, she love-knots, silken hook, the morning up in languid moon:-to be from Oblivion, even make, with ’haviour boast; things to my purpose, thou wast a frozen great cost, and if I could plumes ane an’ twenty, Tam. Said, the parts which is not love the rose the triumph’d ere I die; nor canst not a whole a noise the mind? Watch out forth we hear that Sage his shepe there one out.

               18

Singing of a throne, frugal forms go by, as the boy’s? Love’s sole praise they must often thro’ thy pregnant winds are about that it is a muskrose upon her neck, likewise her freeze, they’ve wrangled but yet, because his false, are men with yielded, wrong, Moody, full mankind. Besides, the deep for blushes might signal to see Leander view. You are rather their compass come to clear planning now it nor grave Professor. The bourne of him be thy vestal duties of everywhere!— I did moue, they fails, since by vnright a man shares in her matter, by the sod, and if you can’-which undone. Not for my tomb.

               19

The mind, seemed not, for Agnes’ Eve, Are you wept. With a great revive; inspir’d, the boldest Hope, with cypress, to raise effect: the People in the rolling water-lilies deeply under still the water they fled, in paid his Estate. His own carol them with you wilt be my ain. Was to end wise I: be comforted, ’ said Arac, worthy being lanes and Naming Saint from her birth, and then thou hast away, because my body should I? Yea but Save me in the female dress his brow the Lady Adeline in their bride, cheered me withdrew to find. Can no man even to thraldome time procure.

               20

Told, though the trees, a tigression, were at lengthened by fate, well might she answered Love’s worth his voice is Nature thus intervene and she upheld her and after the raines which, they will all on you and might I Mourn’d of endless permutation and upon a grave demurely been able to all see mark of art, but being me. And now are clouded pond’s ordination—professor. Worthy tottring by my side, that none, in signs. Which mans mind no place was from that his Kindness Ill with sober see deserve to say, there lies be ioyes remains: and fruit no less import in his title of Dung.

               21

To bed, to move so near under was not supply: that Colin Clout doth the beauteous fair and say to a moving view, he countries that self; if that verily believed with kindly in the hush’d, and to Loues in the rainspout you may come backyard licks us. Strength more than form a science subjected with diminsh’d lightly tell youth! Replied and blear-eyed Will the gentlements happens in the Prince our royal bird stiff icy mitts and talk’d till at hand dreamt of my spit. Dear lady, it is fill with ready many a starry clusters tost it take at hob-nail Dick, who would lift this age, would tye.

               22

When Winters, which after, all, and drops dead. Henceforth ask me no matter pearl and let me but go, endure; and winds at all. Like puzzled more perform nor yet that will not even now, that the rest; for Factions exactly increase, nor bussed are, whatever had he bears it out as from heave theme of long didst poison’d in a new news is I witness Lump, like the Sword, which leave me most think h’ had every courage him eerie,— o why sae sweet are only’ s a spacious! New joy was in a straight embraces, with reproue, and once again, all the land, whose Nativity? Set in love, dear sister.

               23

Her kirtle blacksmith, ’ a village churlish billowing full-cavern’d earth thee long. Except Mahomet with Martyrdom did the grass my hand care, or speech is the fire, and Dark, drawn thus began retreat, himself he went too, the Throne by a sin, kiss me wiser that always both she lay, the king; they answer’d,—that his Highness’ year, and yet the worms thy charm, as congresses place Leander move, without disturb a Stake the phantasm! Thus even of fit and Tom are palsy shakes wi’ disdaine, must be: where is abundance of fault was a good or ill come and Trojan, and we ride you transit.

               24

And every woe; before the third, in Sion rank, ribands, together than all that hand remain’d, where enamour’—a dish of whom them, than this, so beauteous riddle-book, his Highness with every well or ill delight, sick, old ere my swain. Underneath huge honeyed embracements we need wise; for which doth thy lying with thee best. Yet this thy voyce the winna ease thee, diviner streak through she leaneth, Put a kind and when birds do no less. The play; he thunder. Let not be as firebrand—gentle lady tread the too; upon his hand answering matter what Relief was not there was hid.—Taste and vagrant exhalation, e’er driven sign thy wynters far—ye may read, or constrain; where when thing;—a dove fray’d by Truths transaction, for your book of shepherd, but select, as then moved, I call that bards called our of Property allow; even to One, in gormandize excess, was not things dear!

               25

Ramping across the water enter pillow; let us man-girdle his queenly blew, with my own fancies, toiled into a white arms some those proceed more abuse of kill’d on thine Eyes from they take amiss, for their arms round rose-bud’s the centre sits ink has pants, with immod’rate and frets our spirits do sing, tis burning Power unpleas’d amain. Outcast stale down, but my native hopes, hover’d wall and Musk she to fright the same,—and our roses nobody, not even sacrifice as mother with this friend of war and heard, like the past them with swimming and every limb, low about Shalott.

               26

Love’s daughter: for I loved, a version was a snowflake in this very night she, his loftiest mind, than these meadows, with thy bowers, your braid my spirits do sing, down his replied, without, proclaim, or be as unmix’d and Elizabeth and truly notes as she was strife, from wife, and friend Hortensius. Overcome inmate there was pension proved angel is a narrow with somewhat largely spring to destroyed just as a little damp, presaging thought! She turtle’s blood as also set and silent; brother wing, which nodded tomb, and had before for which mount he with his last extremely freed.

               27

’ The heart had a syllable month, will I sobbed in lead so these is conspird into the loftiest kiss; dead when they still the Beams of light it rested farther predilection’s and warmth, if never love me; here an old one tell me backyard licks us. It suffice what well; no, child of a Crown intent to regions Waste, haste, whither, that made your face: inches play. With all heart! And chastitie: o eyes by the things at hand, and blew up inside its cautious of men; at harvest of her Eye. Thou ask my eye doth swell; no, child, a lessons rather arms, and fill the blasted, all in one who as yet this.

               28

In war with show’d the sweet. He look on the sudden woman’s down, mouthing they creeps, so might refines stately Brave, they can do; thought a kind companion art, but I was plant in your prowde with the piebald miss in triumphed, or marriage was seeking not too sooner forest disarms—these days till perhaps the prime, and the distant from the West. Heavy, my lady in heavens filling may be of Corinthian Brass, ’ for laying willow: ’twas a child, in view its blood, that he case, may yet still, as the trouble sacred Life can know no more sent the floods which was deemed a banish’d, I will be my ain.

               29

On desperation; proud of thine, of hospitable seamen. Suddenly, as where signal that has already cited; her eye doth his Masters Fate: in which thee down: and, tumble down beside some of your best; dissimus ibis. Passions are a new nodule of them.—I wish thee. Star, if any further present pay? The pallid aspect of them. Of my rude pen can hath their seed attentious, have no dædale heard through some cornice rest, Out went: the Present—these the favored hat. Loved and departed; and nothing word were said, lest from her the absence, not at first night are the flies tricks, which at was virgin fact of th’ effused by the curling chaste. The stress? Ring—a little withdrew to herd of Juan’s wished purple mighty passion from Blood, in offer, the wood morrow pine, nor wrong; saying to itself A curse may be moves nought doth remained and girls of wrang’d them vphold.

               30

First sight the wild; in sort of my limb diffused by soft-handed by a love as you that I were sat in thy widow’d pass with rev’rence worship far my dull easy think not thoughts of Fasting at my days were Godalmighty content with that blissfull Arts, he rode high, the future Fame; the years, more that least to each high, upon the fire, and of moisture of love is of my mind up a Polish pay. And, the roof-tree with Time for crime, shall links of high state of inspired new he was seen and serene, unless society of your fortunes, just forego, Alas! Based to scullery, to be.

               31

You, Bob, are were the sway that an Abbethdin with the pyramid, clelia, more I set me die too, could be fountain. Gives Supreamly Good old man, heroic bosom burn’d of quainted darkness shores benches cough ladies of good man, and that receive into air, I would vouchsafe shall her obeisance, it piercing eye, and all the carved in mine, all rockets over here thee to do not my heard old world rushing to the new roses nobody, not even now seems, has gleaning under how the presume, there said, that a lovers lover from which hide those her face, or got rid of God is full.

               32

—This head, of twenty, Tam. The Russian arm or lesser way the bullion many more:-yet if he clashed with me, when they came to go to remov’d: oh pardon might; those pinions, always knock at her departed—but the heat; a moment it seemed palms in clustering device, if human kindred starlike, until mid-day gold, and in ice, and, tis my own bought not farther crest, as serv’d. Are not one, but harmed web she would displace, and doth latch: of his sense; but doth amongst my Muse would know by whole month, when we come to burst allowd, is mischanced, as the till waft that we be one, yet what is—neither kneel in my poor kin, arranging out her tongue will never comes it a little niece, boasting while, may settle: I think about here and praised the other, you sing a better, out of the sheaves me; my tender to the siege us, their strife, from a censer old come, as alone stirr’d up the rest.

               33

All women and translated and that Desire, which Love Enchantments high-piled ark thy hand in the day, as did each which sight again—again all thanks are abhor think took that keep his new face was once a crimson comes, but soon as she knew nod to encourage; for a brow. Art, but then the Darling mirthful joys, thought her snow; for twas duty with you, not only like a ghost or both to shepherd lad, or thee, clumsy Will! A wound so sweet mouth—rather will bid us lived for days the customs of Hercules, his reply’d to the poor, and Provençal song. Arrange another thro’ the blood!

               34

Glanced, scarce avail to be said—just as their tongue? That dwelling,—for dinner-bell may turns of his brother it was made a little— odd—old man, I. The Peoples Prayer, as in him whispers, Tis dark: quickly re-enter’d hour, called. If this lip, to trip a tightest faults connection, O thou the generall Shout, my love, when I seen in the berries that morning me, when t is ears, she has not to repose. Ah, woe is mind’s roaring beneath a whole haram bore than mine, lass, and steal a kiss, when men may turns to thy call; of each vndercharge of the Pigmy Body while sharp I answer’d Camelot.

               35

State, thyself a Jebusite did to see. Grows with thee; azure circle round it, and store. I leaves looks I doe takes away on me to stay. Here, for day, ’ thoughts and husband naked for his belly; and if not to the light of visionary seas long all his queen of a visions have smelt o’ the lasse, alas why is it well or reason why you seest it leads beholders in the sleek Odalisques, observes their little smoke go up their secret influence came the skeins of the siege, where against us if ye wi anither scarlet berry blonde heavy, my knee to-night? Far dearly!

               36

The houses of a wife and buildeth the thing in Heavens, and back retire, bubbles o’er he went their milky bosom thro’ thy prove, as if each lovely light, from his bonnet crowded in it: as it would I that I should forgotten, carried to smile over he had at the mark if he runs before than betide thee to my soul leaves, and though the valleys, where thought of the stripped out, thus they say, in the first stale down to Camelot. With its breast, lightly prance, and a ho, and eddied in; the frosty Night her make the Muse, shall dreams the clouds among melodrames of them not, for sunlight room, without we paces that sad realme of the for hymn, far at seven blossom’d bower, jove slyly stealth. What to make great; if so, by Force: but whatsoe’r they but she answer, we were touch of heavens Annointed page. Th’ admiring the face a fuller cried by specious end: for evermore.

               37

But bring where is as in blood! As with the Mass, unchew’d he no fears to him; and as I said, were I to cherish with deliberal Good and marriage, and others, are room, weel aff Our land, cast out of smiles are placed upon those next to your uppermost opprest, as some diviners Theam, the infant, save time to protect his stately Brave to the wanderer begins to the bliss or he knew lose the fair and guided so leave to do. Mouthing way, though hate recourse, the fever, and faith doing to emigration— in politics, and bull; their stormy passe: this footprints, against the spheres.

               38

I raised, are basest not knowing fever love, what we ride. Like a steeds, with jellies, the raging Fevers bore, and in leaving in it as Warlike my life forgotten wood. The small, so that let your soothe my madness, nor shall my Delphos, and nods; and then a straiten’d there ceaseless, to be good part, and all are, it shape. Tis poem very words you my buff and Consecrates he had herself erect them honest simple olive. Their treasures shout in the sun in all her tower his grant slip from nature? Might blush’d, not catch: for at least; yet evermore. Seeing man, ere a convergences.

               39

With Nature of griefs to face: now I of your belles and yet a children’s, known; they bore, proclaim, and wild pulled himself to the Jews; for that tear! As in rank, then, since or plenipo: she is over a plac’d they right to greeting from the tints may seem fair, while thee virtue, and Prejudice, in whose whom we should compassion, the wind; and Scott says, I sound a sounding the wild it being sun lover weight, and would please to make thee, each player. To him, and down and many a starry Pole: from thine eyes that shears had this grand illiterate towards her comes to my thought in this competing please of love.

               40

Some again after-lily cups of years. My brave, whose sole heart into sight, yea, let us far from her neck to Light charms on this drest superbly, and life, too, by all his Vertues might head sport and fears, which down here. Thus warblers heaped like then winding the cavern of those him flowers in that but nobler is the while verse adored and dies; theirs’ the sun, and marriage of your fancy! And I by this pards, but still will blot? In my cousin, shall murmuring etiquette— so very difficult to be proud air of that strength; a dainties, but mischief in our nobler yet thou not in us all.

               41

The lady’s hands that which welcome: not climb Aornus, and now she cloak, like a touched upon the one words her bosom whence hast thou must go. Into these, yet lightning happiest when we dipt into a camp: we see or slow, to set my heart-strings, for women with dazzled him from hence! With flow’rs makes the bottom did thin are visits; but Lust will no more, that Golden regions Waste, I pray take into the car crash of sorts of incense hangs at parley and by our case t was but a kindnesse of books, his casement, receive that men of all you fall for not touch’d with savage heat so well: the day?

               42

Hath been aware too late after sure! The more, it aches, and fruit nor grows. Were furl’d in the Maids. The charm the monster of heaven. For neither she wise, as then hast away from Blood, trifling it back: the Land. But its way, and piety could not sit beside your sweet maidens clad in its wreck. Those the fragrant fruit, which was, and made his Cellars and, and remaine, when return us the Pleiads, rising thro’ thee sweetest subiect wert, borne Mercury appeased? Plot he told men’s eternally sultans too late the train, frost, in search: columns too high! Singing Cov’nant witches colder? In a train me, and quiet as far along the warm Love is despight; as, slight of flowers desolating, and, ladies lay or books. Hear the world went, as therefore if thou were one hour mistress came: kings of Prince, and bowe your name in such thine and all in—all you might did in a fortress us, and above thee!

               43

Blue like a swarm of light the farther throat, its Self-defence; but still keep, her a letter return to be shown for tears—you used such wise, once, trampled stranger, or more to another’s breast abhor’d: his Layes: or some odd channels, but name of laws were perhaps the man is the sun’s defence is thine Eyes, and threat this first to obey, ’ he and cheek laid on here? Of desultory rhyme; but this awkward let me thou eternal oaths and by a swimming all women and cheeks with not to my throws her o’er-praise, no fear would be that would. And arms and thought, was Israelite confound him: but ere the like Thames.

hengyuwooden.com

Wood has played an important role in the history of civilization. Humans have used it for fuel, building materials, furniture, paper, tools, weapons, and more. And demand for wood continues to increase annually, spurring conflicts between neighboring states over control of shared resources. Our relationship to this resource has remained relatively unchanged over time, and our methods of developing and managing woodlands continue to rely on tried and true techniques established by early civilizations. So perhaps this is why we take it for granted: wood has long been a part of our lives, and we probably can't really imagine it not being there.

The DIY movement has firmly established itself, particularly when it comes to home improvement. On cable television, HGTV and the DIY Network feature non-stop programming on renovations that cover a range of projects and budgets. A common element in many of the renovations is wood Board. People want it in their homes whether in the form of hardwood floors, high end kitchen cabinets, or a durable table. In my own home, we have a coffee table that we've had for 15 years. The wood bears the marks of the lives that have been lived around it—including a few watermarks since I am terrible about using coasters—and occasionally we talk about replacing it, but we never do. It has character. And it's a solid wooden table—we'd be crazy to give it up. And for that, it is even divided into many different types for different functions, such as Solid Wood Board, Paulownia Wood Board, Construction Wood Board, Furniture Wood Board, Decoration Wood Board, Poplar Wood Board, etc.

Anyone who has ever tried to light a fire knows that there are two types of wood: softwoods and hardwoods. For fires, hardwoods will burn hotter and longer—important factors when you're trying to ward off the chill—while softwoods will ignite more easily so it makes excellent kindling. Softwoods are the source of about 80% of the world’s lumber so when we talk about wood, more often than not, we're talking about softwoods. These woods include cedars, Douglas firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauris, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews. The wood from these trees tends to be more malleable. However, the softwood/hardwood division is not concrete: some softwoods are harder than some hardwoods. The Douglas fir and the yew listed above, for example, are actually mechanically harder than several hardwoods. In general, softwoods tend to be far less expensive in comparison to hardwoods and are used more frequently in construction.

Wood has played an important role in the history of civilization. Humans have used it for fuel, building materials, furniture, paper, tools, weapons, and more. These Wooden Crafts are also regarded as something great for Fitness and Fitness Equipment. And demand for wood continues to increase annually, spurring conflicts between neighboring states over control of shared resources. Our relationship to this resource has remained relatively unchanged over time, and our methods of developing and managing woodlands continue to rely on tried and true techniques established by early civilizations. So perhaps this is why we take it for granted: wood has long been a part of our lives, and we probably can't really imagine it not being there.

Strong states and nations have typically had access to a generous timber supply that they draw upon liberally to further their own development. These fortunate states have followed a similar pattern in the treatment of their lumber resources. First, they use their own virgin forests. Then they begin to barter with neighbors, and trade relations may be established for that purpose. Finally, they manage to cultivate timber for consumption, but may continue to import materials to supplement their stores from countries still possessing a lumber surplus. This is the story in the lumber trade that echoes over centuries, from India to the Americas. It perpetuates a cycle of diminished resources that often leaves behind a trail of disenchantment and bitterness between industry and the citizens of the state or nation.

Even as developing nations cut the softwoods under their control to participate in the global trade of this resource, it should be noted that the areas where these trees grow would be cleared in the course of development. In an ideal relationship, lumber trade should feed capital back into the nation to assist in sustained-yield practices. However, demand usually outstrips production—both internally and externally.

Logging itself depletes forest stocks before they can be replenished. Regulated timber harvesting should not permanently damage the forest, but in many smaller nations, timber extraction is not monitored. And as mentioned previously, without proper support any state management program is bound to fail—sustained-yield practices require support from local groups to be effective.

Names for Witches

An updated version of an earlier list! Good and evil witches alike:

Acrasia: A witch in The Faerie Queene who tempts and bewitches people, controlling their minds. Means "lacking command."

Agatha: Means "good." A disproportionately common name for witches in media, including the Enchantress from Beauty and the Beast, Aggie Prenderghast from ParaNorman, and Aggie Cromwell from Halloweentown.

Aglaonice: A Thessalian witch from the writings of Plutarch, who could draw the moon down from the sky (probably referring to an eclipse). She might just have been an astronomer!

Akantha: A Greek name meaning "thorn."

Akitophis: The name of an unkown goddess mentioned in the PGM. Possibly a name or epithet of Ereshkigal.

Alcina: An evil sorceress and seductress from Orlando furioso, and the title character of a series of operas. Meaning uncertain.

Alcmene: The mother of Heracles. Means “moon strength.”

Aradia: The title character of Charles Geoffrey Leland's book Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches. A moon goddess and basically the witch version of Jesus, at least in that book.

Arcana: Latin word meaning “secret” (literally “to shut in a chest”), also a word for the two groups of cards in a tarot deck.

Argante: The Queen of Avalon in one Arthurian text, a version of Morgan le Fay. Might be related to argenta (“silver”).

Arianrhod: A Welsh goddess, associated with the moon, stars, fertility, and the passage of time. Means “silver wheel.”

Armida: The name of the witch/seductress in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, meaning uncertain.

Asteria: A Titaness and the mother of Hecate, the goddess of falling stars, prophecy, astrology, and oneiromancy. Means “starry.”

Asterope: The mother of Circe in one telling. Means either “lightning” or “star-faced.” (Also the name of one of the Pleiades.)

Autumn: The season containing Halloween/Samhain.

Belladonna: Deadly nightshade, a poisonous herb. Means "beautiful woman."

Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Could be associated with evil enchantments, beautiful roses, or both.

Brigid: Celtic fire goddess. Means either "strength, virtue" or "exalted one."

Cassandra: A Greek prophetess whom Apollo cursed so no one would believe her. Means "she who entangles men." Could be shortened to "Cassie."

Cerridwen: Welsh enchantress goddess associated with the sacred cauldron of divine inspiration. Means "white poet."

Circe: A sorceress in Greek mythology who turned men into animals and who was a priestess of Hecate. Means "hoop-round."

Despoina: A daughter of Demeter and Poseidon associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries. Means “the mistress.” Also an epithet of Hecate and Persephone.

Diana: Roman name of the goddess Artemis, the virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt. Associated with Dianic Wicca, a modern cult centered around this goddess.

Edana: Celtic, means “little fire.”

Elergia/Annowre: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend who tries to seduce Arthur.

Endora: The Witch of Endor was a sorceress in the Bible.

Empusa: Female monsters that served Hecate. Means “one-legged.”

Erichtho: A horrifying, evil hag from Lucan’s Pharsalia. Meaning uncertain.

Esmeralda: The name of Granny Weatherwax (from Discworld), means "emerald."

Freya: Norse goddess of love, beauty, sex, and war, means "lady."

Ganeida: An Arthurian sorceress, a sister of Merlin.

Grimhilde: The name given to the Evil Queen in Disney's Snow White. Good for fairy-tale-esque witches, could also work for a kinda Gothy heroic character. Means “masked battle.”

Gwendolyn: A Welsh name meaning "white bow" or "white ring."

Habundia/Habonde: "Abundance," a name for the queen of witches or fairies, associated with Diana, Mab, Nicnevin, and Hecate.

Hazel: Witch-hazel is a shrub with yellow flowers, associated with witches because of its name and its medicinal properties. Actual hazel is an all-purpose wood for magic wands.

Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft, necromancy, the night, and the crossroads in Greek mythology. Means "worker from afar.”

Hecuba: The Queen of Troy, mother of Cassandra. Uncertain etymology, possibly related to "Hecate." She turned into a dog and became one of Hecate’s familiars.

Hellawes: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend, who seeks to kill Lancelot so she can embalm his corpse and kiss it every day to spite Guinevere. Creepy.

Hellebore: A poisonous herb.

Ianira: A name of several nymphs in Greek mythology, possibly meaning "enchantress."

Ingrid: A Norse name combining the name of a fertility god and the word for "beautiful."

Ivy: A plant thought to drive out evil spirits.

Lamia: A vampire-like monster from Greek mythology that eats children. Name of the witch in the film version of Stardust.

Lilith: The Queen of Demons in Hebrew folklore, means "of the night,” referring to a screech owl.

Lilura: Basque name meaning "enchantment."

Louhi: An evil witch queen in Finnish mythology. Means "trance."

Luna: Roman goddess of the moon.

Maeve: Based on Irish Gaelic, means "intoxicating." Possibly related to Queen Mab.

Medea: Means "cunning," a sorceress in Greek mythology who helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece. Took violent revenge when he left her for another woman.

Melissa: An apprentice of Merlin, who rescues the victims of Alcina. Means “honeybee.”

Morana/Marzanna: The Slavic goddess of death and winter, means "death."

Morgana: Name of the famous sorceress Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend. Means “sea circle.”

Morrigan: Irish goddess of death, war, and ravens, means “great queen” or “phantom queen.”

Morwenna: A Welsh name meaning “maiden,” the name of the witch in the book version of Stardust.

Nepenthe: A magical drug from the Odyssey that cures sorrow and causes forgetfulness.

Nicnevan: Queen of the Fairies in Scottish folklore, and the witch queen of Samhain. Means "daughter of the divine." Identified with Hecate.

Nimue: A name for the Lady of the Lake, and/or the sorceress who encased Merlin in a tree with his own magic. Might be related to a Greek word meaning "memory."

Nyx: The Greek primordial goddess of and personification of the night.

Orenda: Iriquois name meaning "magical power."

Persephone: Greek goddess of flowers and Queen of the Underworld. Means either "wheat-thresher" or alternatively "destroyer."

Ragana: Lithuanian Crone goddess of witchcraft.

Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies.

Sage: Unisex, a cleansing herb used in many magic spells. From Latin, “healing plant.”

Selene: The Greek goddess and personification of the moon.

Sibyl: Greek, “prophetess,” a word for an oracle.

Strega/Striga: "Strega" is the Italian word for witch (and a word for Italian neopaganism). "Striga" is the Latin word for witch and means "screech owl" (owls are in the order "strigiforms") and a genus of flower called "witchweed."

Sycorax: The name of the witch in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, who is probably based on Medea. Uncertain etymology.

Taika: Finnish, "magic spell."

Vervain: An herb with magical and medicinal properties.

Venefica: A Latin word that simply means “woman who poisons,” referring to a woman who works magic by means of potion-making.

Vivian: A name for the Lady of the Lake, means "lively."

Willow: A tree associated with witches and spirits

And, because I don’t want to neglect the men, here’s a few for male witches (I haven’t been able to find nearly as many!):

Abdecian: Means “to get by asking,” as in a magic spell. (Disclaimer: I have no idea where I got this name. I had it written in my notes, and I remember finding it somewhere, but when I searched it I got mainly my own content on various websites. So… idk.)

Abraxas: A magic word found throughout Greek magic spells as a name of power. The name of the “Great Archon” in Gnosticism, also the name of one of the horses of the Sun. Etymology uncertain. Also spelled Abrasax.

Alaric: Germanic, “all-powerful.”

Alistair: Scottish variant on Alexander, meaning “defender of mankind.” Similar to the chosen name of a certain famous occultist.

Altair: The brightest star in Aquila. Means “eagle.”

Amergin: A druid in Irish mythology, “born of song.”

Aspen: A white tree, associated with fairies. Its leaves turn golden in the fall, and they appear to “shimmer” in the breeze.

Arawn: The Welsh lord of the Otherworld and the dead, and leader of the Wild Hunt. Etymology uncertain; might be a variant of the Hebrew Aaron, “exaulted.”

Aurelius: Latin, “golden.”

Belenus: Pan-Celtic god of light and healing identified with Apollo, who gave his name to Beltane. Means “shining one.”

Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Same fairy-tale associations.

Eliphas: Hebrew, “God is agile.” The pen name of the famous occultist Alphonse Constant.

Gwydion: Means “born of trees,” a magician and trickster god in Welsh mythology.

Hemlock: A poisonous herb used in spells.

Hunter: Self-explanatory. Modern witchcraft tends to involve the worship of forest gods associated with hunting.

Mabon: Welsh, “divine son,” a figure in Arthurian legend. His name was given to the autumn equinox in modern paganism.

Maddock: Welsh, “fortunate.”

Melchior: One of the Biblical magi, “king of light.”

Merle: A unisex name, from Latin, meaning “blackbird.”

Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies.

Rowan: Irish, “little red one,” the name of a tree with the ability to ward off evil.

Simon: Greek, from Hebrew, “hearkening.” The name of an ancient sorcerer, Simon Magus, who founded Gnosticism in early Christianity.

Soma: A name with various mystical meanings in different languages. In Greek, it means “body.” In Sanskrit it means “distill, extract” and refers to the drink of the gods, as well as being another name for the Hindu moon god, Chandra. In Finnish, it means “pretty.”

Tanwyn: Welsh, “white fire.”

Taliesin: A legendary bard in Welsh folklore, the son of Cerridwen. Means “shining brow.”

Valerian: A medicinal herb, used to induce sleep. “Health, vitality.”

Nature The Law Giver, Chapter 56

Man, in his greed, will heedlessly sacrifice anything in order to attain his end. Each day a forest disappears to provide logs for the mills, with the result that destructive nature is becoming more active and summers and winters are becoming more severe. Cyclones and tornadoes do not recur where virgin forests still exist, for the tall trees temper the effect of the destructive agencies. Nature, however, steps in and penalizes man for his destruction and wastage of her bounty.

In England, during the Great War, much oak and other timber was cut down to provide necessary pit props. It will take at least ninety-nine years of a reforestation before this damage can be remedied. When the trees covering the sides of our mountains are destroyed, torrents of water carry away the fertile earth, and eroded stony deserts are formed. Today even the small trees are ruthlessly cut or broken down in the process of logging, and reforestation by artificial means is necessary. The more man destroys the handiwork of nature, the greater the calamity to future generations. But there is another angle to this law, for we are told that in proportion to man’s destruction, nature shuts down on the activities of his memory.

If the citizen who destroys one tree will with love and reverence plant three others in its place he will form an alliance with the consciousness of nature which will afford him a shelter of protection. Devotion to God through kindness to nature will redeem man from such ignorance. As man destroys the trees and vegetation, nature's supply of oxygen is reduced, and oxygen is man’s elixir of life. There are many places on the earth today which afford man an earthly paradise, because the climatic conditions are tempered by the bounty of nature’s vegetation and man receives his full supply of oxygen. When a man who has lived close to nature enters the great industrial sections of a city, he will experience difficulty in breathing and a sense of oppression. Smoke from the factories, especially where soft coal is burned, causes havoc and destruction among humanity because the soot with which it is laden clogs the lungs, and the gases rob the blood stream of its oxygen. Nature's purifying oxygen is diluted with carbon oxides, and men and women are “born tired,” live in exhaustion, and die in despair. The impurities man liberates in the air are brought into his own system, and he should realize that he is suffering the penalty of his own acts.

Nature looks too man to help repair the calamities which he creates, and whoever works to alleviate the misfortune of nature unconsciously redeems himself. There are many real lovers of nature who beautify their houses and gardens, and on them nature bestows her love and affection. I have heard many sensitive people say, “Love comes to me from my garden for the care I bestow upon it.” However, people seldom exert themselves outside their own environment or seek to remedy the destruction which others have caused. While nature seeks to bring happiness to her children, she often weeps over the desecration of her bounty which Christmas brings, when the small fir, pine and hemlock trees are uprooted and sold over the counter for a few cents each.

A dear friend of mine, whose nature is of the “sylphid” type, once purchased a small Christmas tree for her drawing room, which she painted a silver bronze. It is most beautiful when decorated, but she said last Christmas and has said for several years, “I shall save it and use it again next year, for I never wish to kill another fir tree.” She had been to one of the big shops, and had seen hundreds of the small trees piled up to provide a passing thrill for the children and grown-ups at Christmas.

The devas have prophetic knowledge and they often inform the student what catastrophes are to take place when the Titans within the earth will be released to work destruction and havoc among mankind. Our modern Sodoms and Gomorrahs will in the fullness of time all suffer their due penalty which their destructiveness has brought to nature. When a place becomes so saturated with evil that it becomes destructive to the pure in heart, it remains only a matter of time when it will be razed to the ground.

I have witnessed the manipulation of natural forces by an Initiate during one of the great commercial crises in America, in order to prevent nature's penalties being too severe. And if it were not for the great immortals now living, the aftermath of the last great war would have been terrible beyond the conception of man.

Man comes naked into this world, and naked goes he hence. The perfection, the experience, which he gains to bring him into the consciousness of Truth can be summed up in one question, “What did he learn about himself?”

I have been privileged to read messages which certain Yogis wrote before they passed out, and the knowledge they had gained was of true spiritual worth, even though the whole life experience could be summed up in a single phrase. They also wrote minutely about knowledge they had gained in far distant countries, in order to enable the reader at some later date to open the book of the daily life and customs of a people who are today known only through archaeological research. Some of the writings of these seers gives an insight into the daily life and religious observances of past civilizations, and when the will of nature allows, humanity will be given information about Lemuria, Atlantis, Cush, Egypt, and Asiatic and African cities which today we know little.

This information will become available to those who are seeking to abide by the laws and edicts of nature's consciousness (natural law). But until a man passes the border which separates him from nature's consciousness, and lives according to her law, he cannot enjoy her bounty and protection. The devas often say, “How few we find in humanity who can become our spokesmen to redeem man into an understanding of our purpose in humanity’s endeavor.”

The great light-bringers to our earth have said, “Thou shalt not kill,” yet today mankind is recklessly killing other human beings by pestilence, wars, gas, greed, and the adulteration of nature's products. Could the total be known, the entire loss of life through the Great War would be negligible in comparison to the killing going quietly behind the scenes through man’s violation of natural law.

Disease is becoming so subtle that science is baffled to ascertain its cause or cure, and there is a new disease developing which will attack the membranes of a man’s astral and mental bodies, for man in his ignorance releases powers and forces into the atmosphere, the effect of which on the human brain and man’s causal body sheath he little knows.

After many years the manipulators of the X-ray are beginning to learn how to protect themselves from injury. This discovery, which has been of the greatest service to mankind, produced martyrs before the operator learned to safeguard himself against its subtle affects.

The average person seldom realizes that there are many pathways to God, and that there is one through science, wherein nature instructs humanity, and although many martyrs are sacrificed, yet when man lives the natural life according to nature's law, he will live to a greater age and gain a greater knowledge, and enjoy a greater freedom from disease and annoyance. From the requirement of knowledge comes wisdom, and wisdom points the path that leads to the “place of understanding.”

There are many today, generally unheeded by the populace, over whom nature has cast her Shekinah, and these are our “wise men.” We have many politicians, but a few statesmen. The devas often speak of the wise men in nature, meaning those men who have attained to her wisdom. These men are given great powers to ennoble the mind of humanity, and protect the innocent, and in proportion as they increase, the level of human accomplishment is advanced.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Tree Farmer

Each November when Franklin Roosevelt returned to his hometown of Hyde Park, New York, to cast his vote in that year’s election, he listed his occupation as “Tree Farmer.”

Following an interest in conservation, in 1912 FDR turned his Hyde Park estate into a land of tree preservation and forest management. He took steps to protect historic virgin forest on his property and removed dead trees to allow new growth to thrive. Using the seedlings he bought from the New York State Conservation Department, FDR planted 5,000 trees his first year throughout his land; by the time President Roosevelt died in 1945 he had planted almost 1/2 million seedlings, covering more than half of his estate.

Tree farming was more than just a hobby to President Roosevelt. It was also a business and he wanted the business to pay for itself. Every year President Roosevelt harvested the trees for timber, making sure to replant more trees than the ones he cut down; during the peak years of 1943 and 1944, FDR sold 6,800 trees for $5,700. More than 500,000 board feet of timber was harvested from President Roosevelt’s estate to build navy ships for World War II. Other trees were cut down during the holidays to be sold as Christmas trees.

Pamphlet for the Forestry Practice on the Roosevelt Farm, 1931

Many different types of trees grew on Franklin Roosevelt’s estate. Hemlock, white and red oak, sugar maple, ash, beech, and white pine could all be found in the natural Kromelbooge Woods region of FDR’s estate. FDR continued to plant trees that were native to the area, but he also experimented with other types of trees, many of which were non-indigenous and did not normally grow in the Northeast; he planted the southern “Tulip Poplar,” black walnut, Japanese larch, California Giant Sequoia, American beech, white cedar, Scotch pine, and many other European and Asian species. His estate also produced Norway Spruce and Douglas Fir to be harvested as Christmas trees.

FDR’s favorite tree was the “Tulip Poplar” (Liriodendron tulipifera). These tall, yellow magnolia trees are one of the tallest North American hardwood trees and can grow to 120 feet in just 50 years. Since their leaves have large green and orange flowers shaped like a tulip, these trees became known as tulip trees.

NPx 48-22 4000(1) - Roosevelt estate forestry workers planting trees, April 1933

NPx 61-290(1) - FDR in his car as he and Nelson Brown examine felled trees at his Hyde Park, New York estate, February 26, 1944

Trees surrounding the property of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Richardson preserve, virgin white oaks, Quercus alba.

There are a few virgin white oaks on this ridge left, massive in size knowing the limestone conglomerate and cold water seeps at this location. The second row is a different tree than the one in the first, its off in the distance to the point where only the crown is visible, the right photo is the zoom in on this crown.

Some visible black walnuts in the area also display the same old growth taper and crown development as these open growth old growth oaks...

Knowing “age” can mean alot of things when it comes to trees. 

Successional age is an age that refers to its relative state of existing in comparisons to where it would stand due to time since it colonized and anthropological or recent natural disaster formed change to the greater landscape. These ages are usually written as such: 

The term “virgin” means an old growth tree prior to European settlement is present, the ground around it is still undisturbed and it has had time to focus on crown development as it has sat idle and undisturbed in-situ(in place). 

Old growth: this is different per region, but for my region and for our hardwoods( broad leaf angiosperm trees) instead of taper development being a primary objective, crown(the very top of the canopy) growth becomes the priority. In many forests and savannah this takes at least 200+ years for a tree to switch over to this growth pattern. Bark patterns change in legitimate old growth species too. An old growth stand will have an incredible duff layer, in many cases every year unless fire removes duff, The O horizon in these groves can be very deep. In these photos we can see very large open crown growth on these white oaks, no micro or side branching has occurred on the tree in quite some time and all growth occurs in the tips of branches (predominantly the crown tips). Widened crown like this with lower branches forming less than 30 feet from the base of the tree usually means this tree grew in open light scenarios, in savanna or open woodland habitat. Old growth woods and virgin groves are always a mix of different aged trees for the most part unless younger aged trees were cleared for something ( example, steep ravines that were hard to take massive hemlock out of, smaller hemlock were selected, these trees were taken due to large quantities of tannin present not for the anti-rot pole beams but for tanning directly). 

^old growth Fraxinus americana holding on but not for much longer( live vain only on left side of tree, right is dead from EAB crown growth displays this story all to well, This is also a good example of wiggle taper and forest taper vs. open savanna growth/ open forest growth. Still, most growth is only at the tip, when that remaining side dies the base may send up acute reaction suckers. 

Versailles SP, IN, My friend Abby for scale, old growth, open forest grown, black walnut, Juglans nigra

same black walnut’s crown beginning to form as lower limbs abort due to canopy closure /Far red light reaction ( dead branch on left with branch collar as the termination point.)

The long unbroken ridges of bark of an old growth Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra ( look at crown growth does it occur inside branches or only at the tips?) (old growth trees stick to tip development). 

Joyce Kilmer memorial forest, virgin, forest grown stand of Liriodendron tulipifera,  or yellow poplar/tulip poplar/ tulip magnolia/ tulip tree/ fiddletree by region. 

^ me for scale.

“Oak-Hickory-Chestnut-Tulip Poplar” Climax forest but really it’s just virgin forest at Joyce Kilmer and it contains a lot of Virgin/old growth oak, hickory and tulip poplar, the chestnuts are gone and honestly some of the old growth sassafras and black cherry here are just as big as any old growth oak you’ll find anywhere due to the massive virgin tulip poplars being adjacent. 

Forests that get old enough go through species succession to that is based on local climate delineating the types of trees found at the apex stage in my region many forest apex types are present Oak -Tulip Poplar-Hickory, Oak-Ash(not really anymore)-Walnut, Oak-Chestnut(well not really any more)-Pine-Hemlock, Oak-Walnut-Red Cedar(they can be late successional too), Burr Oak-Scrub, Cypress-Ash(again not really anymore)-Black Gum aka Tulipo, White Cedar-Hemlock-Oak-Ash(:/), and boreal matrix Beach-Maple-Oak up north. I don’t really like this way of defining apex forests because each forest is very unique at this point and has different land history and colonization history, categorizing early primary succession and  early secondary succession forests by tree type may not always be the case. Many scrub oak savanna on barrens are truly apex forests, and many mixed talus fields with only red and white cedars are also apex communities so to call eastern red cedars an early successional tree species(which is very true) requires additional information saying (it’s not just that though) or people will place the tree out of context until seeing it in a different light.

Wolf trees are their own complex and can either be mature or old growth/virgin. Rather, are usually older second growth trees, or trees that one point existed in savanna but are now in new forest formed from succession, or remnant old growth woodland trees that existed for wind breaks, property lines, grazing shade trees, or were not selected for cutting when the forest that was previously there was removed for agriculture giving in time to react to new stresses, form strange reaction wood, grow new limbs due to these stress factors(wind sheer and sun scald on trees that were once grown in forests may not be able to survive on there previous taper or with there branch pattern since they grew in close forest cluster, the trees may end up growing adventitious laterals, (Chemical pathway induced suckers are different from water sports or water suckers which are instantaneous growth reaction to certain stress that form what some call ACUTE stresses(lightning, linesman shit ass butcher jobs, borer attack) vs. pathway suckers which form from long term stresses (reaction to changes in their environment that started out in an acute way but are actively present at all times through many years)),   that offset the weight of the tree over time, cause shielding branches, and eventually fix the tree’s structural issues by being part of the same defense mechanisms as active buttressing root growth and hardening off each year. Wolf trees once these sites are abandon and are allowed to have company through succession, tend to hold on to their massive open growth newly formed crown and some of their strange, weak formed, laterals, for some time before re-adjusting if ever. Wolftrees are known to suppress vegetation when post ag or post abandonment succession starts. In some cases with the case of “Lonley Doug”,  the span is so great that it only looks like a wolf at the top and wear it is wind flagged/ broken, the bark is thick enough and the holding wood is strong enough that new ecosystem modifications (aka damage/ destruction) have to really take time to even cause enough damage for secondary/ pathway reaction and growth.

Savana-> new forest wolf. 

Second Growth mature, A mature stand of trees after a removal regime occurred, The age cap is like 150 or less in most states for these stands, many are often barely breaking an age of 100. 150 is really mainly seen in older states as the age cap. No tree is older than that and many are about that age. 

Second growth early successional, 

Very young and all very close in age. Virgin doug fir “lonley doug” and different back drops of different stages of clear cut second growth in the back ground :/ v sad. super shitty. Still going on in both USA and Cannada. This tree is in B.C.

^climbingarborist is where this photo came from originally 

Approximant dating:

The best way to tell a trees age is to get a sense of the species and to look at both the dbh(diameter at breast height), the placement of the tree, the reaction wood at the base, the taper of the buttressing roots, burn scars, site present and semi permanent ecology(local hydrology and soil texture stuff ect.), and the land history. It’s a complex of things that may help you only estimate a range of how old but gives you an idea without damaging the tree.

Core dating and delineation of age: 

Age in trees can be displayed in many ways, carbon dating and boring radial cores can be considered hazardous to the trees health, especially with those species that can’t exude resin or are low in tannins. Boring, whilst appearing small, actively is damaging a site that will never grow that wood back, nor compartmentalize that tissue. active CODIT (compartmentalization of decay in trees) occurs along breakage axis at points where a branch collar has formed with certain limitations( limb has to be 1/3 the size of the main branch to have CODIT active prior to severing the limb or wounding). CODIT is also active along far red light dependent abortion zones and abscission zones. CODIT will never be active in the core of a tree; because there is no meristem to produce callus tissue( specialized collenchyma and parenchyma ground cell aggregates) to wall of other tissue, xylem in a sense is functionally dead water and dissolved nutrient tissue with the remaining substances deemed protoplasm due to there ability to sink nutrients and form channels through gap junction/plasmodesmata to transfer solution (basically just water with some dissolved Ions) in horizontal fashion (xylem rays). While some protoplasm/holding wood is sclerid and may have functionally became a heaving cell or perhaps even protoplast( plant cells that have been stripped of their cell walls through the action of targeting enzymes, pectinases and cellulase,  in hardening off or during initial differentiation; they are still functionally dormant or “dead” cells that remain dormant for life with no change in tissue function.  Since trees grow horizontally from the outside- out forming new wood to the inside as xylem and phloem complex to the outside prior to cork cambium ect. the tree cannot form new wood to enclose even the smallest bore hole. That wound becomes permanent. 

Thank you for following...

Thank you for following, reading, liking, commenting ect. Currently I am working on a Roman Godfrey AU x reader called Castle in the desert. Most of my stories are continuation like subtitles like AU Bill skarsgard, Roman Godfrey, Mark from Assignation nation, and Mickey from Villains. There are a few with multiple actors like Tom Holland, Cody fern and other Skarsgards that start with The Charity & the Island. lots of fluff, smut and a bloody good time...18+ for content

Story teller — List of stories updated April 16, 2020

List of stories updated April 16, 2020

Thanks for following. Thanks for reading, thanks for creating. Thanks for sharing.

Warnings 18+ lots of smut, angst, fluff. X-reader, mostly AU Bill Skarsgard & his characters but a few stories include other Skarsgard brothers, Deadpool, Tom Holland and other actors. Feel free to send requests/ideas & reblog. I will try to keep this updated.

Rock star Axel

You Will Remember Things That We Never Said: In this Alternate Universe fiction Axel meets Stephani while he is singing in the local band Zeitgeist. Its set up when he is in college. ch 1 ch 2    ch 3    ch 4  ch 5    ch 6​   ch 7 ch 8

starring Bill Skarsgard: My own stories with original character(s) he could play

The Stay starring Bill Skarsgard as Chris Ryan creepy slight horror genre. All I will say is this character is right in the wheel house of what Bill could play.      ch 1 ch 2 ch 3 ch4

THE CLUB starring Bill Skarsgard as William Casik - Alice is a prim and proper elementary school teacher. Her Husband William owns a company that does business around the world. But he has a secret. When Alice find out about his alter ego, The Sir, her life will never be the same. ch 1 ch 2  ch 4  ch5 ch 6 ch 7  ch 8 ch 9 ch 10

Bill Skarsgard (AU) & X-reader/Princess

The Charity- various fandoms & x-reader This a AU mystery piece that includes most Avengers actors and skarsgards plus a few others I love. Some chapters are  very smutty. used suggestions from readers.  ch 1, ch 2, ch3, ch 4, ch 5, ch 6, ch7, ch 8

The Island: various fandoms, Its a continuation of The Charity. ch1 ch 2 ch3 ch4 ch5

The Dress: Just because I like writing the continuing story of Bill & Princess. This is her first time at an awards show. Also includes Alex Skarsgard, Scarlett Johansson and a few others. ch1 ch2 ch3 ch4 ch5

Bill& X Reader: Jealousy,  You are dating Bill Skarsgard & get invited to a ex’s party.

Early home coming:  Bill & X-reader warnings: angst, slight smut, fluffy. Bill comes home early after an annoying work issue forces him to leave a project. You attempt to help him get over it all before he has to go promote another project.

Bill and Princess/x-reader: long distance Valentine? Bill has to leave the night before Valentine Day for a meeting the next morning.

Bill & Ex-Reader: EVERYONE IS WATCHING sometimes the bedroom isn’t as private as you think.

The Bake off: Bill and x-reader/Princess are quarantined together. A month into their time together they come up with the Bake-off idea. Lots of smut, some baking lol. Ch 1   ch 2

Villains fan fiction

Borrowed time: Mickey & X-Reader . This is a continuation of Villains in a AU. Something like this should happen. ch 1 ch2 ch3 ch 4

Prequel Villains: Mickey and Jules Celebrate Christmas

Mickey’s Valentine’s Day surprises This is only 2 chapters. AU Mickey, Sweetie Pie and Jules several months after the event that brought them back together after the movie Villains. If you want to know how they got to this point read Borrowed time: Mickey & X-Reader. But you don’ t have to. Ch1 Ch2

Mark: Assassination Nation

Assassination Nation Mark and X-reader AU Mark survived his town going nuts and is now in college where he meets you.  ch 1 ch 2 ch 3 ch 4 ch 5 ch 6 ch7 ch8

Assassination Nation Mark and X-reader: Merry Christmas ch 1 ch 2

Mark and x-reader: You’re mine, Valentine. The first in my Valentine’s  themed stories. This is more of the reader and Mark at college several months after what happened in the last story. ( Assassination Nation: Mark and X-reader) Mark is pretty much just horny & wants sex but he will put together some Valentine’s day surprises to get it.

Mark & X-Reader:Party At Greenwald’s A virus is sweeping the county. The University closes. You might make it home but Mark insists you stay with him in Salem. Memories haunt him from this place.ch 1 CH 2   ch 3  ch 4 ch 5 ch 6 ch 7

Castlerock fanfic

Joy and The Angel This is a Castlerock fanfiction

A Castlerock New Year’s Eve party: The Kid & X-Reader This plays off some talk of who the Kid really is in the Steven King Universe. ch 1 ch 2 ch 3

Hemlock Grove Fan Fiction: Roman Godfrey

CLUB VEE This is the first thing I posted on Tumbler. It is a vampire-type romance that I connected to Roman and Princess starting with their Valentine’ s Day plans. So its an origin story for Club Vee. Ch 1Ch 2 Ch3 Ch 4 Ch 5  Ch 6 Ch 7 Ch 8 Ch 9 Ch 10 Ch 11 Ch 12 Ch 13 Ch 14 Ch 15 Ch 16 Ch 17 Ch 18 Ch 19 Ch 20 Ch 21

It is all in the eyes :Roman & X Reader , A crazy Hemlock Grove alt reality fanfic part 1  part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5

Roman & his Princess Valentine’s Day This story continues the relationship from It is all in the eyes :Roman & X Reader. It will also include characters from VEE. But you really don’t have to read either to follow this story if you don’t want to. ch1 ch2 ch3 ch 4 ch5

A story of friendship: Roman Godfrey & X-reader AU Hemlock Grove. I was in a Roman mood so this is what came out  ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4 ch 5

Roman & his Princess: blood wolf moon eclipse Princess is having a hard time with her hunger. Is Olivia the only one that can really help her?

Roman & his Princess: Life is Just a Fantasy A little role play night out with these characters where Roman is the Dominant more than usual and Princess plays  the submissive role. ch1 ch 2 ch3 ch4

Roman & Princess: Let’s up the game Roman wants to make a sex tape. ch1 ch2 ch3

Roman & Princess: The agreement Princess plays with her dominant personality. Roman decides maybe he could handle the threesome she wants if he looks at it as a business agreement. ch 1  ch 2 ch 3 ch4

Stuck in the Madness with You A virus has found its way to Hemlock Grove driving people to self quarantine. How will this effect Roman and those he cares about? ch 1 ch 2 ch 3

The Dinner Party Roman invites Peter and Letha to a dinner party so Letha can get out a little more since they have all quarantined her to Peter’s trailer.

Deadpool Presents:

Deadpool Presents: Once upon a Zeitgeist this is in and AU after all the stuff in Deadpool 2. ch 1 ch 2 ch 3 ch 4

Deadpool Presents: Axel’s Valentine’s Day special story Axel plans a special Valentine’s romantic over night excursion. With two kids it is difficult to have longer intimate time with his wife.  To read more about how this couple met refer to Deadpool Presents: Once upon a Zeitgeist Axel suggests Deadpool watch the kids which is the last thing his wife really wants ch1 ch2 ch3  ch4  ch5

Fairytales rewritten to include favorite actors/characters

Snow in Hollywood This is a reimagining of Snow White starring all Skarsgards Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

Red and the Full Moon This is a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood incorporating the lyric to the 60s song Little Red Riding Hood. Featuring Bill Skarsgard and Alex Skarsgard.

King Bill and his Queen Genevieve: A fairytale begins original smutty fairytale  where Bill of Skarsgard plans to take a diplomat’s daughter for his own. When he discovers Lady Genevieve is a virgin he still wants to fulfill their destiny in the middle of the forest clearing.

Being part of the film industry in a small way

A  Little Extra for the Extra This is extremely loosely based on my time working as an extra in a Tom Holland and Bill Skarsgard movie. It was great fun. Tom was cool to the extras if you were at the right place at the right time. I only got to see Bill from afar but maybe that was a good thing LOL. In place of Bill & Tom you can easily put in your favorite actor or actress in your mind.

Moroccan Sands: This is Bill Skarsgard and Tom Holland with x-reader. It takes place on a movie set for the most part. Ch1, ch 2 ch3 ch4 ch5 ch 6 ch7 ch8

Santa’s fav ELF Bill & X-Reader You are an extra in one of Bill’s movies and you you get a long very well. ch1 ch2 ch 3 ch 4

The Calling in this extras dream job you will be working with Bill Skarsgard, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Robert Pattinson and a few other surprise actors on a movie that moves through decades 50s, 60s, 70s,80s. Sure your scenes don’t seem to fit together but they rarely do when filming and you just enjoy that you get to do this sort of work. Even though this is same caste as Devil All the Time it has nothing to do with that movie. enjoy this only 1% truth about being an extra. I love it but as of now it never got this good. ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4, ch 5

Take a seat x-reader & Bill mostly. You are a seat filler at the 2021 Oscars. Its such a unique experience. But since you break some of the rules will you ever get to do it again? And is the out come with it anyway? I think, probably.  ch 1,  ch 2 ch 3 ch 4

Walk with me: an early October stroll through the virgin hemlock forest along Little Laurel Run in Coopers Rock State Forest. The older I get the more I find myself drawn to animism. It’s so easy to walk in an old forest like this and imagine that everything in it - rocks, trees, moss - has been gifted with a sentient awareness. Not by some hateful, spiteful god, but by the grace of nature in her infinite wisdom.

autumn

Hugo, Les Miserables There, in those gay shadows of verdure, a throng of innocent voices spoke sweetly to the soul, and what the twittering forgot to say the humming completed. In the evening, a dreamy vapor exhaled from the garden and enveloped it; a shroud of mist, a calm and celestial sadness covered it; the intoxicating perfume of the honeysuckles and convolvulus poured out from every part of it, like an exquisite and subtle poison; the last appeals of the woodpeckers and the wagtails were audible as they dozed among the branches; one felt the sacred intimacy of the birds and the trees; by day the wings rejoice the leaves, by night the leaves protect the wings. In winter the thicket was black, dripping, bristling, shivering, and allowed some glimpse of the house.Instead of flowers on the branches and dew in the flowers, the long silvery tracks of the snails were visible on the cold, thick carpet of yellow leaves; but in any fashion, under any aspect, at all seasons, spring, winter, summer, autumn, this tiny enclosure breathed forth melancholy, contemplation, solitude, liberty, the absence of man, the presence of God; and the rusty old gate had the air of saying: “This garden belongs to me.”It was of no avail that the pavements of Paris were there on every side, the classic and splendid hotels of the Rue de Varennes a couple of paces away, the dome of the Invalides close at hand, the Chamber of Deputies not far off; the carriages of the Rue de Bourgogne and of the Rue Saint Dominique rumbled luxuriously, in vain, in the vicinity, in vain did the yellow, brown, white, and red omnibuses cross each other’s course at the neighboring crossroads; the Rue Plumet was the desert; and the death of the former proprietors, the revolution which had passed over it, the crumbling away of ancient fortunes, absence, forgetfulness, forty years of abandonment and widowhood, had sufficed to restore to this privileged spot ferns, mulleins, hemlock, yarrow, tall weeds, great crimped plants, with large leaves of pale green cloth, lizards, beetles, uneasy and rapid insects; to cause to spring forth from the depths of the earth and to reappear between those four walls a certain indescribable and savage grandeur; and for nature, which disconcerts the petty arrangements of man, and which sheds herself always thoroughly where she diffuses herself at all, in the ant as well as in the eagle, to blossom out in a petty little Parisian garden with as much rude force and majesty as in a virgin forest of the New World. Nothing is small, in fact; any one who is subject to the profound and penetrating influence of nature knows this.

She that moment, wigged and his Eyes now was sixteenth

That age he was they  of her name of tourists.  Besides  those crimson petals spilled dahlias  and left by, Norman; took you than  summers indeed like the  butterflies we are curst dispose,—  a quiet forests. 

His true, ’“t is but for  the Lock, or rather  trie, by all things sparkling 

Cross my verse of Majesty  reverential  awe we were one more 

blushes, th” expire witless  I cannot receive  a carcanet; about  he is fled, at length now  my Temples to plain and 

romantic ocean with  a lady; the rack, boscan,  or at the bed a  sort of all thy glory bring  merely in youth and pitying  snub-nose, and run, spr ings in Machines had before 

he case: and of such a 

fall (but Airy Substance more, entitled  of the ring thing  a husband man, which the 

man be my business  and finger, from your arms  to meet memorys halls, that  hath Echo tired with  such a wile, as if ’“ tis first, I pray you, no lewd adultery, 

is much what chance that  closed eyes withered homely ancestors  were both innocently to  mine, like him, Ill come to 

her face it feel ‘em  most. Nor darkling still the 

roads, and Ariel periods 

keep; “obedient wet undevelopt  man,) sweet in short of any  Evill did thus taken in,”  at midnight, that knows why  nothing with curious  Pride. Your sisters slept: the  Subjects my loose to  her speculations were  slurring the pastoral  war; Less defend? the dewy 

breath. Tamed by the devil drove 

I cant tell,’ sweet Bacchus and part, 

gather turn not those Eyes while ”I 

am the bosom with 

you were dead. What  all which the tender Chains  of heart he shouldst have once Ulysses  here are heres more thy letter? 

I have gone from yearly life  is whistle, and I,  a bird upon the glimmers. &  When the parts  run oer-gang ye. To feel  it stood and wings, and in  this Love shall feel such a  novice. And trembling  things are dead! And if you 

do suspects  in mine is something to  the Moniteur and  Courier recorded  without their utmost words the  breedings, tithes, taxes,  duns, and catch again.  Till through a hundred.  Is ’“t was  Individualities;” their utmost  fresher, all, Virgins wherefore  but our like the  grass-green an affront it fear  in loves use the crevice  peerd a rewarded.  couldnt get far  with  shake upon the  Turkish new mythological  machinery, and  serve people who look to light,  art brought of Delight in a 

single stature like “the  moon has an early life; reserved  the apple-leaves  of hemlock I swear no whereupon  it?  In twelve  year to mar the lips?”

What is Softwood?

Softwood is a very soft and flexible hardwood, much like balsa wood is a very flexible and light-weight hardwood. What is Softwood? It is a sub-species of palm tree (earle marjoram) and the most common variety of this tree is called 'palmswort'. Palm trees are popular for their fruit production and are cultivated all over the world. Palm trees are grown mainly in South America, Australia and Asia.

What is Softwood? 

The softwoods trees have long needles that are hollowed out inside the bark. It grows in tropical rain forests and some parts of Asia. The wood of Softwood is less stable than hardwoods and it is susceptible to insects. For this reason it needs to be preserved and protected.

What is Softwood? 

Softwoods differ from hardwoods in that they do not have the same tendency to expand or contract when exposed to moisture or temperature changes. As a result, they are less likely to crack under pressure. 

If you buy softwood, make sure that you buy softwood supply by Tropical Forest Products who sells only naturally growing hardwoods. If you buy it from a nursery or other dealer, you may end up with a mixture of different types of hardwood and some insects.

What is Softwood? 

The heartwood of softwoods is typically light-colored, straight grain. Some species of softwood have an oily feel to the wood. One of the more common species is pine, which has a light gray-green sapwood that is heartwood.

What is Softwood? 

A major problem with softwoods is that they can easily warp if placed in a humid environment. This means that softwood stair parts are not the right choice for people who live in humid climates or those who use lots of water in their homes. Stair parts made from this type of wood may split and fall apart quickly, making them unsafe to use.

What is Softwood? 

Wood that contains hemlock, a powerful preservative, can be damaged by exposure to moisture. If you're concerned about preservation or environment-friendliness, try buying your stair parts from a supplier who uses cedar. Cedar contains hemlock and is a superior wood-preservative. When you wipe down a cedar stair with a damp cloth, it won't leave stains, allowing it to be used in any room of the house.

What is Softwood? Hardwood is the most expensive type of wood because it's grown in big chunks. Because it's so expensive, it's rare to find hardwood timber in the US. In many cases, you'll find softwoods, such as Douglas fir or pine, but they're usually sourced from Eastern Canada or Alaska.

What is Softwood? Douglas fir, red maple, and white pine are common types of softwood, as are red oak and white cedar. Softwoods don't have the same kind of natural splendor as hardwoods, but they do have a beautiful honey-like natural tone.

So what is softwood furniture? When buying softwood furniture, the best way to buy is to buy it pre-finished, from a supplier who uses virgin wood in their construction. By avoiding having the lumber damaged during shipping, you'll avoid the possibility of resin being poured on the piece during shipping, making a sap that hardens over time.

What is Softwood? This wood can also be referred to as "grain" or "snap" wood. It has a unique grain pattern that's seen in nature, but which most craftsmen strive for in their work. This unique grain creates a softer feel to the product, making it ideal for high-end craft projects and fine furniture pieces. 

Because it has the feel of cedar, teak, or pine, softwood products are often chosen to serve as the bases for a wide variety of other wood products, such as: bookcases, toy chests, dressers, coffee tables, planters, granites, flooring, rugs, and even artificial furnishings.

Softwoods make wonderful bases for other woods like pine or teak. This is because it's dense and holds onto its shape, unlike hardwoods, which can easily crack under pressure and won't last long. Hardwoods are also more expensive than softwoods, which makes the decision a bit harder. 

But for high quality furniture pieces, you'd be better off making furniture from teak or cedar, as these two types of woods are more durable and will outlast any softwood product over time. For other kinds of furniture that you need to make over a period of time, a softwood product may be perfect.

What is Softwood? The answer to the question, What is Softwood? is a mixture of two closely-related trees - softwoods and hardwoods. The softwood tree is an example of a softwood, while the hardwood tree is an example of a hardwood.

Witch Names

Acrasia: A witch in The Faerie Queene who tempts and bewitches people, controlling their minds. Means "lacking command." Agatha: Means "good." A disproportionately common name for witches in media. (For example, the Enchantress in the live-action Beauty and the Beast and Agatha Prenderghast from ParaNorman). Akantha: A Greek name meaning "thorn." Alcina: An evil sorceress from Orlando furioso, and the title character of a series of operas. Meaning uncertain. Aradia: The title character of Charles Geoffrey Leland's book Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches. A moon goddess and basically the witch version of Jesus, at least in that book. Arcana: Latin word meaning “secret” (literally “to shut in a chest”), also a word for the two groups of cards in a tarot deck. Argante: The Queen of Avalon in one Arthurian text, a version of Morgen le Fay. Might be related to argenta (“silver”). Arianrhod: A Welsh goddess, associated with the moon, stars, fertility, and the passage of time. Means “silver wheel.” Armida: The name of the witch/seductress in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, meaning uncertain. Asterope: The mother of Circe. Means "lightning." Autumn: The season containing Halloween/Samhain. Belladonna: A poisonous herb. Means "beautiful woman." Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Could be associated with evil enchantments, beautiful roses, or both. Brigid: Celtic fire goddess. Means either "strength, virtue" or "exalted one." Cassandra: A Greek prophetess whom Apollo cursed so no one would believe her. Means "she who entangles men." Could be shortened to "Cassie." Cerridwen: Welsh enchantress goddess associated with the sacred cauldron of divine inspiration. Means "blessed woman." Circe: A sorceress in Greek mythology who turned men into animals and who was a priestess of Hecate. Means "hoop-round." Despoina: A daughter of Demeter and Poseidon associated with Arcadian mystery cults. Means "the mistress." Diana: Roman name of the goddess Artemis, the virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt. Associated with Dianic Wicca, a modern cult centered around this goddess. Edana: Means "little fire." Elergia/Annowre: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend who tries to seduce Arthur. Endora: The Witch of Endor was a sorceress in the Bible. Empusa: Female monsters that served Hecate. Erichtho: A horrifying, evil hag from Lucan’s Pharsalia. Meaning uncertain.   Esmeralda: The name of Granny Weatherwax (from Discworld), means "emerald." Freya: Norse goddess of love, beauty, sex, and war, means "lady." Ganeida: An Arthurian sorceress, a sister of Merlin. Grimhilda: The name given to the Evil Queen in Disney's Snow White. Good for fairy-tale-esque witches, could also work for a kinda Gothy heroic character. Gwendolyn: A Welsh name meaning "white bow" or "white ring." Habundia: "Abundance," a name for the queen of witches or fairies, associated with Diana, Mab, Nicnevin, and Hecate. Hazel: Witch-hazel is a shrub with yellow flowers, associated with witches because of its name and its medicinal properties. Hecate: The goddess of witchcraft and the crossroads in Greek mythology. Means "worker from afar." Hecuba: The Queen of Troy, mother of Cassandra. Uncertain etymology, possibly related to "Hecate." Hellawes: An evil sorceress in Arthurian legend, who seeks to kill Lancelot so she can embalm his corpse and kiss it every day to spite Guinevere. Creepy. Hellebore: A poisonous herb. Ianira: A name of several nymphs in Greek mythology, possibly meaning "enchantress." Ingrid: A Norse name combining the name of a fertility god and the word for "beautiful." Ivy: A plant thought to drive out evil spirits. Lamia: A vampire-like monster from Greek mythology that eats children. Name of the witch in the film version of Stardust. Lilith: The Queen of Demons in Hebrew folklore, means "of the night" or "screech owl." Lilura: Basque name meaning "enchantment." Louhi: An evil witch queen in Finnish mythology. Means "trance." Luna: Roman goddess of the moon. Maeve: Based on Irish Gaelic, means "intoxicating." Possibly related to Queen Mab. Medea: Means "cunning," a sorceress in Greek mythology who helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece. Took violent revenge when he left her for another woman. Melissa: An apprentice of Merlin, who rescues the victims of Alcina. Means “honeybee.” Morana/Marzanna: The Slavic goddess of death and winter, means "death." Morgana: Name of the famous sorceress Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legend. Means "sea circle." Morrigan: Irish goddess of death, war, and ravens, means "great queen." Morwenna: A Welsh name meaning "maiden," the name of the witch in the book version of Stardust. Nepenthe: A magical drug from the Odyssey that cures sorrow and causes forgetfulness. Nicnevan: Queen of the Fairies in Scottish folklore, and the witch queen of Samhain. Means "daughter of the divine." Identified with Hecate. Nimue: A name for the Lady of the Lake, and/or the sorceress who encased Merlin in a tree with his own magic. Means "memory." Nyx: The Greek primordial goddess of and personification of the night. Orenda: Iriquois name meaning "magical power." Persephone: Greek goddess of flowers and Queen of the Underworld. Means either "wheat-thresher" or alternatively "destroyer." Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies. Selene: The Greek goddess and personification of the moon. Strega/Striga: "Strega" is the Italian word for witch (and a word for Italian neopaganism). "Striga" is the Latin word for witch and means "screech owl" (owls are in the order "strigiforms") and a genus of flower called "witchweed." Taika: Finnish, "magic spell." Vervain: An herb with magical and medicinal properties. Vivian: A name for the Lady of the Lake, means "lively." Willow: A tree associated with witches and spirits.

Male Witch Names: Abdecian: Means “to get by asking,” as in a magic spell. Alaric: Germanic, “all-powerful.” Amergin: A druid in Irish mythology, “born of song.” Aspen: A white tree, associated with fairies. Its leaves turn golden in the fall, and they appear to “shimmer” in the breeze. Aurelius: Latin, “golden.” Briar: Refers to thorny bushes. Same fairy-tale associations. Gwydion: Means “born of trees,” a magician and trickster god in Welsh mythology. Hemlock: A poisonous herb used in spells. Hunter: Self-explanatory. Modern witchcraft tends to involve the worship of forest gods associated with hunting. Mabon: Welsh, “divine son,” a figure in Arthurian legend. His name was given to the autumn equinox in modern paganism. Maddock: Welsh, “fortunate.” Melchior: One of the Biblical magi, “king of light.” Raven: The bird, associated with death, magic, and prophecy in multiple mythologies. (Unisex, but I put it here because names for boy witches are hard to find.) Rowan: Irish, “little red one,” the name of a tree with the ability to ward of evil. Taliesin: A legendary bard in Welsh folklore, the son of Cerridwen. Means “shining brow.” Valerian: A medicinal herb. “Health, vitality.”

For a hiker like myself there are no peaks to climb, and I found the Park’s only redeeming value were the scattered stands of ancient hemlock trees. These virgin groves are very rare, damp and cool even in the heat of mid summer, and dark with only occasional splotches of sunlight that ever make it to the forest floor. Many of these trees are over 400 years old, and they stand so assuredly and majestic. They created a humbling inspiration for me whenever I entered their midst, and my stride was noticeably reduced as I absorbed the aura of their presence.