Excel Tree Expert Co, Inc 410-799-3266

08/31/2026

Development and “hundred year storms” caused Ellicott City flooding. Here’s the mitigation.

08/21/2026

Cambium and MD forest products operations

08/15/2026

Bee deaths tied to virus spread by drug resistant mites.

Between June 2024 and January 2025, a full 62% of commercial honey bee colonies in the United States died, according to an extensive survey.⁠
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As soon as scientists at the USDA caught wind of the die-offs, they sprang into action—but their efforts were slowed by a series of federal funding cuts and layoffs. 6 months later, USDA scientists finally identified a culprit.⁠
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According to a preprint posted last June, nearly all the dead colonies tested positive for bee viruses spread by parasitic mites. Alarmingly, every single one of the mites the researchers screened was resistant to amitraz, the only viable mite-specific pesticide—or miticide—of its kind left in humans’ arsenal.⁠
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Tracking the rise of miticide resistance is critical, experts say. Honey bees pollinate more than 90 commercial crops in the U.S., generate between $20 billion and $30 billion in agricultural revenue, and play a key role in keeping the U.S. food supply stable.⁠
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Learn more on : https://scim.ag/4nACitd

07/09/2026

How does lightning ‘decide’ where to go

A tree was struck by lightning near our house on Sunday, and split in two! I'm sure many of you have a similar story. But how does lightning 'decide' where to strike? Sometimes, the 'decision' starts from the ground up! Notice in the image below, the leader stroke coming off the top of the tree. 👇 Objects on the ground sometimes send a charge, or signal to the cloud above that says "hey, over here!". The charge off the object on the ground then connects with the charge in the cloud. So, it doesn't always come from above! Now ya know... 🙂⚡️

07/02/2026

Water trees to keep them alive in the heat.

07/01/2026

Heat can kill. Be careful out there.

Heat exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke - Know the symptoms and listen to your body!

WJZ Weather Steve Sosna

06/19/2026

Wonder of wonders. Plants show signs of consciousness.

New research indicates that we are not the only conscious beings on this planet…

Groundbreaking botanical research challenges human exceptionalism, suggesting that the trillions of trees and plants surrounding us possess spatial awareness, intentionality, and a form of consciousness.

Historically, humans have viewed plants as passive background scenery, but a series of compelling scientific studies is flipping this anthropocentric script. According to plant neurobiologist Dr. Stefano Mancuso, plants exhibit behaviors that closely mirror conscious animal action. In laboratory experiments, scientists observed that plants respond to anesthesia in the exact same manner as humans, with species like the Venus Flytrap becoming completely nonresponsive. Furthermore, time-lapse research shows bean plants demonstrating remarkable spatial awareness and intentionality, aiming their shoots to hook onto physical supports and even altering their growth strategy if they detect a competitor has reached a support first.

These findings suggest that consciousness is not a biological trait exclusive to organisms with brains, but rather a flexible phenomenon that can thrive in very different life forms. As trees globally migrate northward to escape warming climates—resembling animal migration patterns—researchers argue that our concept of 'mind' must expand. With over three trillion trees on Earth, recognizing plant consciousness could fundamentally reshape our ethical systems, agricultural practices, and relationship with the natural world. Instead of treating the environment as inert raw material, we may have to start viewing plant communities as active, aware partners in a shared ecosystem.

source: Lahey, S. (2026). We May Be Surrounded by Trillions of Conscious Beings, Research Suggests—And They Aren't Human. Popular Mechanics.

05/10/2026

Thoughts?

🚨The US Forest Service is covering thousands of acres in Roundup.

They are officially prioritizing timber production over ecological health.

While nature naturally rebounds after wildfires with vibrant shrubs and diverse wildlife, a yearlong investigation has uncovered a disturbing trend: the U.S. Forest Service and private logging companies are systematically spraying thousands of acres with glyphosate.

Better known as Roundup, this potent herbicide is being used to wipe out native vegetation that competes with commercially valuable timber like Douglas firs and sugar pines. The result is a series of eerily silent "dead zones" where insects, birds, and flowers have vanished, replaced by uniform rows of industrial saplings. Despite being labeled a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization, glyphosate application in California forests has quintupled over the last two decades, reaching a record 266,000 pounds in 2023.

The environmental and health implications are sparking intense local pushback from mountain communities who fear for their water sources and native species, including endangered salmon and rare foxes. Internal records suggest that chemical manufacturers may have orchestrated ghostwritten studies to downplay risks, even as federal policies now classify the herbicide as critical to national security. Critics argue that treating national forests like industrial tree farms ignores the broader ecological mission of public lands and the health of the people who live and recreate there. As wind-driven dust devils carry chemical-laden topsoil across hiking trails and residential areas, the conflict between industrial efficiency and environmental safety has reached a boiling point.

source: Halverson, N. (2026). We Are Bombarding America’s Forests With Roundup. Mother Jones.

04/07/2026

Did you plant your garden a bit too early?

⚠️🧊 FREEZE WATCH
⏰ Tuesday Night to 9 AM Wednesday Morning
🌡️ Temps in these areas will drop between 25℉ and 31℉
🌱 Plants and sensitive vegetation can die
💦 Hoses that remain connected can have water inside freeze and burst them.

‼️ This is why PLANTING AFTER MOTHERS DAY is the local recommendation.

This may not be the last freeze... even with the warm air that will return later this week.