(ND Ag Connection) – Joe Zeleznik, a forester with NDSU Extension, explores the potential of North Dakota trees to communicate through diaries or annual reports, shedding light on their thoughts and potential communication methods.

Most trees report the same old tales: they’ve grown, faced dry days, and been bugged by pests, but some have unique stories to share.

In Moorhead, Minnesota, an ash tree struggles with freezing February, sleepiness, and inactivity, often causing city workers to cut its branches. The worst part is dealing with the emerald ash borer, a pest nightmare for trees.

The young apple tree in Emmons County, waking up after winter, finds its stem turned into a snack by rabbits, indicating a poor start to the year. The maple tree in Crosby is experiencing “iron chlorosis,” a condition where it is pale and weak due to insufficient iron absorption from the soil, a condition shared by its red oak and river birch companions. Summer doesn’t provide relief for everyone, as an oak tree in Rugby spent summer wishing for a cool drink of water.

A honeylocust tree in Grand Forks may boast about its rapid growth due to homeowners’ unwavering watering and feeding, but if it doesn’t take a break and toughen up before winter, it may face difficulties.

A new apple tree in Emmons County is preparing for autumn, grateful for the plastic shield the landowners have placed around its stem to protect it from winter rabbits.

Trees don’t write diaries or annual reports, but they share stories based on real experiences they face each year. These stories remind them of the challenges they face, such as weather, bugs, and human care. The hope is that we can improve our care for these leafy friends next year.