A winter walk at a Smart Feller client site.

We would like to show you a property that’s gotten the full Smart Feller Tree Works care, from before the home was constructed to after.

It’s been a joy to collaborate with our clients on this during the past year. From the beginning they were committed to working with the land rather than just clearing it, and we helped them to preserve as many trees as possible. We strategized on how to minimize damage to existing trees, introduce new native trees and plants, and sustain the pre-existing forest ecology on the property. The result is a house that seems to have been planted in the middle of a forest.

Above: When a dying cherry tree had to be removed, we cut and installed pads from its trunk to create a path.

Below: Keep walking with us, there’s lots more. :)

Find out more about Smart Feller Tree Works landscape and construction consulting here.

Our clients wanted to keep the forest intact and experience it. We put down this mulch path for their wanders.

Checking in on one of several Dogwoods we planted on the site.

Rather than clearing the lot, the existing trees flourish and fall, integrating the law of the forest into the backyard.

Some branches we placed more intentionally with TJ Dutton as we planted (can you tell we have a lot of fun)?

Witch hazel in the backyard.

A spar left to become a home for animals and insects and maybe a bat box in the future.

Oh the sound of wind in these White Pines (Pinus strobus) and Pitch Pines (Pinus rigida) bordering the back of the property.

A glimpse of the driveway. We installed geocells to avoid digging and hitting tree roots. Behind the camera is the white oak and the front of the house. We trenched in the front space, avoiding the lateral roots of the oak, working with Jade Mountain Builders to give the tree as much soil space as possible.

Trees above, trees below (and fungi, too).

A dead Red Oak was in the forest before construction started; we left the trunk standing a safe distance from any structures as a habitat spar. This property sports three habitat spars from dead or decayed trees.

A young Beech does its winter thing.

A young rare Franklinia tree (Franklinia altamaha). Franklinia trees have been extinct in the wild since 1803, which means that all existing Franklinia derive from seeds saved and grown in Philadelphia by John Bartram in 1773.

Signs of a raccoon friend!

Beautiful fungi.

Back to planting. This will be a small grove of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina). We will be back to show you more in the spring!

Aerial Rescue Training Day

It may look strange: a group of arborists hoisting a dummy into the trees in winter sunshine.

But this is an important ritual for all at Smart Feller Tree Works. We hoist the dummy up and practice an awful scenario that all arborists prepare for: What would we do if an arborist or a rogue tree climber meets an accident in the tree, and another person must get that person to the ground, safely?

It’s not as unlikely as it sounds. When such a scenario occurs, the Fire Department often calls a local arborist in to help. We all train for the swiftest safest rescue of a fellow arborist or a rogue climber.

Our training this year was led by arborist and contract climber Maria Tranguch. Maria provided fresh ideas, troubleshooting, and advice to all of us, both experienced and new on the team.

Photographs by David Eichner