When you think of wood-destroying insects, I bet you immediately think of termites. In this case, we’ve got beetles—lots of them. We have some kind of combination of Ips Engraver Bettles, Southern Pine Beetles, and/or Black Turpentine Beetles. I’ve seen two different beetles in person but haven’t taken the time to properly identify them yet. Regardless, this pine stand is
coming down whether I like it or not.
Plan B for this space might be better than the original plan. We want a fruit orchard on the property. Why not put it here? Why not make a functional fruit orchard the highlight of the driveway? That would be a great first impression as you approach the clearing through the driveway.