Marcus Cooling’s Post

Knowing your habitat type and what species are native to your region is especially important to ensure that: a) you are using plants that will grow well in your garden b) you are not spreading invasive plants Find your regional habitat here: https://bit.ly/3tnbOnB Learn more about how to plant your own native plant garden here: https://bit.ly/3RcjEbO

The black spruce (Picea mariana) is well-suited for wet and soggy soil conditions. Its natural habitat in northern forests includes poorly drained, acidic peat bogs, along streams, and near swamp edges. Due to its adaptation to such environments, it has developed shallow, far-reaching roots to access water in these wet areas. The black spruce is a pyramid-shaped evergreen conifer that ranges from small to medium. It is known for its cold hardiness, able to thrive in Zone 2 climates, which experience frigid temperatures. This species can also have an impressive lifespan of up to 200 years. When fully grown, black spruce can reach heights of 30 to 40 feet, though it may vary based on growing conditions. It has an open, irregular crown, and its trunk diameter typically ranges from 6 to 18 inches. This tree is a valuable component of northern forest ecosystems, providing habitat and contributing to the overall biodiversity of the region. To know more about Black Spruce Trees → https://lnkd.in/gR3JpGuM - #PayneCountyTreeService #Stillwater #StillwaterOklahoma #STW #STWOK #treeservice #treeclimber #treeworker

Mangrove Systems of Sierra Leone. Mangrove - Land Ratio 1.47%. Sierra Leone has a total mangrove forest coverage of at least 1,049 km2. Children pose in front of coastal mangroves at low tide before beginning their daily football training. Photo: Julián Reingold ‘The children of Cockle Bay ’. Mangroves grow in northern Sierra Leone but the southern high-energy beaches are less suited to mangrove growth. Sierra Leone’s mangrove ecosystems provide habitat for numerous species of migratory and resident birdlife. Coastal communities rely on mangrove forests for timber and firewood, as well as for the rich supply of crabs, oysters, fish and shrimp. Sierra Leone has currently no UNESCO-designated sites. 

Buzzing About Columbia’s Roadside Pollinator Program / Carbon Sequestration - A major goal of the CAAP is carbon sequestration and preservation of Columbia’s flora and fauna. Pollinators and the wildflowers that they promote move us towards this goal because of the extensive root systems built by native plants. While traditional grass turf has short roots reaching only inches into the soil, native plants and wildflowers can grow roots over 15 feet deep – and these roots are what locks carbon into the soil and out of the atmosphere. https://lnkd.in/ewr2pNfP

September's Tree of the Month is the Persimmon Tree! This deciduous tree, native to the Southeast, is a medium to large size tree reaching 60 feet high. Since this tree is taller, you won't typically see it near utility maintenance zones. The Persimmon tree grows small, edible fruits that benefit wildlife. If you want to plant trees like this one, visit www.kub.org/plantsmart.