NURSE LOGS

Healthy standing trees are a tribute to our natural environment. But even in their fallen state on the ground, trees perform nobly as re-generators of our forest environment.

When one of these beautiful trees falls in the forest either from storms, age or intentional human intervention it usually begins a new life as a nurse log. 

Above is a portion of a log that has become a nurse log. It has probably been lying in this spot for many years. As you can observe the tree bark is almost completely hidden with growth -- it's top growth leaving little to see of its bark near the ground.

One can be found just down the road from where I live. I will take you along to visit the fallen forest tree and all its goodness that it provides for the environment.

nurse log with beginning plant life

Here is how a nurse log begins. Eventually, over time a soil mat begins to build upon the log from decayed material. This encourages other life forms to visit and adds nutrients to the mat. 

Fungi and moss on a nurse log

Soon a diverse growth pattern can be abundantly found on the log as it works in a symbiotic way with nature. Wildlife reacts with the decaying log -- such as insects and spiders. Birds interact with the insects for food while using the decaying wood for nesting materials. 

Symbiotic relationships are active within the log community securing the survival of the dependent wild users. There are so many interactions within this one small community that I cannot really cover them all in this post.

wildflowers on nurse log

Wildflowers emerge on the log to attract insects

Brown and gray Bracket fungi

One very important wild user of the nurse log is the bracket fungi. They begin to emerge along the log's trunk or branches consuming the wood. They are more diverse in old forests than in younger managed forests or tree plantations.  (Wikipedia)

semi circular multi-colored Bracket fungi

Bracket fungi often grow in semi-circular shapes. Many develop beautiful multi-colored circles that are annual growth rings. They are dependent on trees for survival -- deforestation causes decline in their numbers and diversity. Some are near extinction. (Wikipedia)

No two nurse log communities are alike it seems. Next time on one of your trails look for a nurse log -- they are full of all kinds of natural surprises.