Burl Ives eh? Wow. You really dug one up there Mr. Mike. My noggin is grey enough but I must say those memory synapses have not been accessed since childhood. Amazing what sticks in there. Apparently Burl made an impression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLr1AYRBS0A
There used to be tons of elm trees in Michigan but when I was young Dutch Elm Disease (DED) killed most of them. I remember it happening. The tree canopy was destroyed in many neighborhoods, leaving streets empty and barren of shade. Though I was young I remember seeing many dead trees. Really sad. I Googled it, and American elm was one species devastated. It killed something like 77 million trees worldwide 1970. Due to it's stately nature and open canopy it was a favorite street tree in Michigan and it's loss changed the gestalt of many neighborhoods.
Imagine this minus the trees.
That's what happened.
"DED (Dutch Elm Disease) is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma ulmi (formerly Ceratocystis ulmi) that was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1930s. The American elm, Ulmus americana, is extremely susceptible and the disease has killed hundreds of thousands of elms across the U.S.... The disease is still a threat today, but fortunately, several resistant American elm and hybrid elm selections are available or being developed."
Interestingly, DED does not kill the roots, and many elms not physically dug up for removal still survive decades later. Roots sprout suckers which die, but the roots continue. Gotta hand it to the elms for that survival mechanism. Hopefully that will work for the elm, and someday it can return to it's original glory.
Apparently your "stump" Mr. Mike is still alive and producing beautiful burl wood. How cool is that. Gotta hand it to the elm trees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLr1AYRBS0A
There used to be tons of elm trees in Michigan but when I was young Dutch Elm Disease (DED) killed most of them. I remember it happening. The tree canopy was destroyed in many neighborhoods, leaving streets empty and barren of shade. Though I was young I remember seeing many dead trees. Really sad. I Googled it, and American elm was one species devastated. It killed something like 77 million trees worldwide 1970. Due to it's stately nature and open canopy it was a favorite street tree in Michigan and it's loss changed the gestalt of many neighborhoods.
Imagine this minus the trees.
"DED (Dutch Elm Disease) is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma ulmi (formerly Ceratocystis ulmi) that was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1930s. The American elm, Ulmus americana, is extremely susceptible and the disease has killed hundreds of thousands of elms across the U.S.... The disease is still a threat today, but fortunately, several resistant American elm and hybrid elm selections are available or being developed."
Interestingly, DED does not kill the roots, and many elms not physically dug up for removal still survive decades later. Roots sprout suckers which die, but the roots continue. Gotta hand it to the elms for that survival mechanism. Hopefully that will work for the elm, and someday it can return to it's original glory.
Apparently your "stump" Mr. Mike is still alive and producing beautiful burl wood. How cool is that. Gotta hand it to the elm trees.