Thanks John. I'm glad you saw some tī kōuka. If you make it to the South Island sometime you may get a chance to see another type which I'm writing about soon.
I'm sorry that your Douglas firs are suffering as well. Do you know the name of the disease?
Thanks Melanie. Recently a friend and I were looking at a tī kōuka that wasn't looking very well and trying to remember the details of sudden decline from the 1980s - without success. So I was very glad to have your post give me the details of the affliction.
Thanks Dave - I'm glad the article was timely. I'm lucky that there are still some big trees to enjoy around Wellington, it's so sad to think they are all gone up north.
I love The Lorax too! It’s also my favorite of the Dr Seuss books. I read it to my students every year. I’m so glad to know there really are trees that resemble the truffula trees, but sorry to hear they’re in danger. It’s never a good idea when a Dr Seuss book comes to life.
Thanks, Melanie. I saw "Dr Seuss trees" in New Zealand. It's good to know what they were!
I'm sorry your trees are suffering so much. Our Doug firs, which you wrote about last week, are also suffering from insect borne bacterial infections.
Thanks John. I'm glad you saw some tī kōuka. If you make it to the South Island sometime you may get a chance to see another type which I'm writing about soon.
I'm sorry that your Douglas firs are suffering as well. Do you know the name of the disease?
There are several. One is Rabdocline fungus which causes needle cast disease. https://www.fs.usda.gov/foresthealth/docs/fidls/FIDL-190-RhabdoclineNeedleCast.pdf
Another is Coniferiporia sulphurascens, again a fungus, that causes laminated root rot https://apps.fs.usda.gov/r6_decaid/views/laminated_root_rot.html
And then there's bacterial gall disease, and wood borers, and bark beetles.
Tough being a tree these days.
For a dose of cuteness, here's a common resident of our Doug firs, a Douglas Squirrel: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/douglas-s-squirrel.htm
Always nicknamed Doug, obv.
Alas, although cuter than a gray squirrel, it wouldn't be any better for your native birds.
That is super cute. Squirrels are awesome, as long as they are where they belong.
Thanks Melanie. Recently a friend and I were looking at a tī kōuka that wasn't looking very well and trying to remember the details of sudden decline from the 1980s - without success. So I was very glad to have your post give me the details of the affliction.
Thanks Dave - I'm glad the article was timely. I'm lucky that there are still some big trees to enjoy around Wellington, it's so sad to think they are all gone up north.
I love The Lorax too! It’s also my favorite of the Dr Seuss books. I read it to my students every year. I’m so glad to know there really are trees that resemble the truffula trees, but sorry to hear they’re in danger. It’s never a good idea when a Dr Seuss book comes to life.
Such a wonderful book. Yes, our poor trees, it's so sad how many have been lost.