Across the arid and semiarid regions of the Western U.S., drought tolerant grasses, sage, wildflowers, cacti and low shrubs adorn the open landscapes; trees, if present at all, cluster along streams and drainages. Abandoned barns, lashed by wind and storms, slowly crumble over the decades, untouched by vegetation.
Here in the Midwest and across the Eastern U.S., where precipitation is plentiful, such structures are rapidly enveloped by an assortment of vines, shrubs and trees, accelerating the barn's decomposition. Indeed, farmers and suburban home owners are in a state of war with natural vegetation throughout most of the year, mowing grass, weeding flower beds, removing invasive vines, trimming shrubs and cleaning up the "debris" from trees. Some utilize herbicides while the rest of us endure endless rounds of yard work to keep up with seed dispersal and rapid plant growth.
At our Columbia property, tree seedlings are especially problematic, taking hold wherever the grass is not dense enough to discourage their invasion; red bud, mimosa and black maple seedlings are most abundant, matched only by oaks after heavy mast seasons. While I would not mind living in a forest, others might object, especially during its gradual and "messy" development. So the yard work continues, offering exercise and conferring a healthy respect for nature's dominance; she will, of course, win in the end.
