September 14, 2026
In
Manitoba trees, Newsletter Articles, Newsletters, Sustainable Gardening
Snag Appeal
by Laura Reeves
In 2008, I bought 160 acres with a homestead that had been abandoned for 25 years. The old houses and barn were starting to cave-in, the grass was long and matted, and the yard was dotted with giant 100-year-old Manitoba maples. These trees were spectacular, their trunks too big to wrap my arms around. Some had large limbs that ran along the ground for a time; others were within reach of an outstretched arm – perfect for climbing. I imagined all of the stories they could tell.
Dramatically, in 2011, a wildfire raged through the farm, taking the barn, houses and shed. The heat from the burning buildings was so intense that it killed or permanently damaged trees a fair distance away. Including all but one of the giant maple trees.
