Hemlock woolly adelgid: new discoveries

It’s all up and down the hollow. We’ve probably had it for a couple of years, but were too much in denial about the possibility to look for it closely. It’s easy to overlook in the early stages of an infestation, as you can see.

What does this mean for Plummer’s Hollow? Among other things, that some of the last really nice areas, spared from the tender mercies of loggers back in the late 70s, 80s and early 90s (before we consolidated ownership) will lose one of their main “climax” species. The deep hollow will no longer be as dark a place. And meanwhile, up on the drier slopes of Laurel Ridge, the mountain laurel is dying from a mysterious blight…

–Dave

UPDATE: Marcia wrote about her discovery here.