It never crossed my mind that 23 years later I would see the forest transition to mixed hardwoods. First, the large pines lost ground when the pine bark beetle had a prolific summer in the late 1990's. Left behind were gray ghost-like skeletons.
Not long after, an exotic insect, the woolly hemlock adelgid, began its assault on the Eastern hemlock. Scientists are experimenting with predatory beetles and chemical treatments as methods of control in small areas of trees. Entire forests are another story entirely.
My wake up call came after a summer storm laden with strong winds.
After the storm passed, I took a walk around the house and noticed the most puzzling thing. There were white, cotton like, fuzzy specks everywhere. In the wood siding, all over the porch, and embedded in the tiny holes of the window screens. Finally, the light bulb went off and I realized our beautiful trees were covered in this tiny insect that was literally sucking the life out of them.
In the beginning, I tried to hold onto a glimmer of hope, but this past winter, that fading glimmer was just about squashed! We had some fine, deep snows during the 2010-11 winter and I certainly got my fill of snowy hiking treks. One particular day I was walking around in the woods in front of the house. I paused for a moment taking in the sights, then turned to the left and noticed a clump of hemlocks. Sadly, they were not viable, rather....quite dead. For a brief moment I thought, "those trees are going to fall." Then I continued up the hill, made a snow angel or two and went inside.
Within 10 minutes I heard, and felt, an earthshaking crash! As I rushed to the window I quickly recognized the source; those very trees I had just stood under, had, in fact, crashed to the ground. At that moment, I was completely and totally humbled.
Some folks believe that we may witness in our lifetime the extinction of the Eastern hemlock tree. I truly hope they are wrong, but there is one thing certain - they are dying in alarming numbers and the species composition of the southern forests is changing rapidly.
I certainly do not have the ability nor power to save the trees, but as a natural dyer, have found a way to preserve a part of the Eastern hemlock. About a month ago, I began collecting the bark and wood from those trees that fell near our home.
The inner bark is a deep maroon red, while the wood is nice orange. While dyeing 100% wool skeins of yarn in the dye pot, the combination has produced a shade of golden tan in an iron pot and a cinnamon color in copper and brass pots.
After a six hour dyeing day, I looked at these warm colors and saw a unique way to preserve a part of the Eastern hemlock; a tree which once graced our mountains in abundance.
I have five skeins from this years dyeing for sale. Two skeins are two-ply, weigh about 5 oz, and contain approximately 147 yards of wool. Three skeins are three-ply, weigh about 8 oz, and contain approximately 295 yards of wool.
If you would like some of this yarn; a representation of a declining species, please contact me via email at highlandlady53@embarqmail.com.
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