Abstract

“I think that I shall never see . . . A poem lovely as a tree.” These first lines of Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees” reflect deeply-held values for generations of Americans. No doubt, I stand among those who place great value on trees. As a boy I climbed them, drew them, and explored kid-sized wilderness wherever I could roam in even an acre of them.

Keywords:

• prairie,
• tree,
• invasion,
• non-native,
• native,
• invasive,
• Timber Culture Act,
• windbreaks,
• farmstead,
• farm,
• Great Plains,
• Smoky Hills,
• threatened,
• environment,
• animals,
• birds,
• woodland,
• forest,
• prairie chicken,
• bobwhite quail,
• songbirds,
• fire,
• conservation