The Box Elder Knows

We've removed many box elders during site clearing for our food plots or while cutting shooting lanes from favored tree stand locations. The trunks rarely have to be split for firewood due to small circumference. Often twisted, the wood burns quickly and isn't especially hot.

Box elder is native to portions of Tennessee and grows commonly along the banks of streams and rivers. Box elder has a soft wood that has no commercial value, but is important for wildlife and the stabilization of stream banks where it grows.

Strum Island is covered with box elders. I've passed many an hour rocking on the front porch watching bushy-tails play and finches fight in box elders.

But I've learned to appreciate one indisputable fact about box elders: their leaves are the first to turn [although an ugly brown] and slowly start a canopy that will eventually cover the forest floor.

Before the first snow, the first frost, the first cool night justifying a fire, the first dove hunt, or even the first squirrel hunt, the box elder knows - it must first loosen its grip on its leaves for their short journey to Terra firma.

Disregard the hot days. Pay no attention to the high sun angle. Behold, the box elder knows and, today, began the end of summer by casting off its browns and yellows. The box elder knows fall is within reach. I can't wait!