Woodcraft

by Tim Burris, Mariton Preserve Manager

Besides wetland wildflowers, I love looking at roots, stumps and logs that have been preserved in the waters of the Adirondack ponds where we canoe.  They have interesting artistic shapes.  Although they abound along the shores of these little ponds, they are all unique and intriguing.

Knotty teeth

This hollow log is particularly interesting.  This is a pine tree that fell into the pond.  You are seeing the “roots” of the tree’s branches looking like teeth in the gaping maw of some swamp monster.  They are  much harder and rot resistant than the rest of the wood in the tree.  These would be knots that you see in pine lumber.  It is so interesting to see the internal structure of the tree in this way.

Finally, I just liked the lacework of this dead cedar branch against the purple blossoms of the Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata).