“Mast” is defined as “the fruit of forest trees and shrubs” - in other words, nuts, pinecones, and seeds. “Masting” is the synchronized overproduction of that fruit. Every 3-5 years all the oak trees in a region will produce an overabundance of acorns. Pine trees have mast years every 7-10 years and 2023 is clearly one of those years! Masting is beneficial to trees as the intermittent over abundance means there are many more nuts or pinecones than the local squirrel population can possibly eat and therefore many more seeds that eventually become trees.
I assume you have read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard. We should all be so wise! :) Thank you for another delightful Substack offering.
I assume you have read "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest" by Suzanne Simard. We should all be so wise! :) Thank you for another delightful Substack offering.