Regeneration, and a Plan Moving Forward

Back in late March 2021, a violent tornado devastated a large swath of Coweta County, Ga. Those of us who live here will never forget how this changed the landscape, and for some of us, how it totally upended our lives. The point of this essay isn't to diminish the negative impacts of said disaster; rather, I simply want to point how nature "heals" and even thrives after such an event. I also want us to seize this moment to reshape our community in new and exciting ways by replanting with a greater variety of plants.

The Taoist principle of yin and yang has always appealed to me. I believe that in nature, there is no distinction between "good and bad", for everything is both. Violent natural cataclysm results in new opportunities. Even when all life is seemingly obliterated, a new cycle begins and gives rise to a whole chain of biological succession that wouldn't have happened otherwise. Nature unleashed!

When I walk on the LINC trail outside of Newnan, I go through a forest that was devastated by the tornado. Initially, I was floored by the sheer volume of uprooted trees, but as I continue to observe the area over time, I see an explosion of regeneration that offers new abundance. Blackberries and muscadine grapes have especially proliferated from all the extra sunlight. This extreme "thinning" of the forest results in an increase in productivity and overall diversity. The forest will eventually return to its pre-tornado state, but in the meantime, new habitats will come and go, all adding to the complexity of the forest.

Yet it is important to acknowledge what we have lost. Many old mature trees were taken down, some perhaps hundreds of years old. And it will take decades before the forest resembles what it used to be. But nothing in nature is permanent, and we must see the goodness in the changes... see the beauty in regeneration.

In Newnan, many streets and homes have lost countless beautiful trees. But just as in the wild, there are new possibilities here too. We can seize this opportunity to replant with better species, increasing the overall beauty and biodiversity of our city. I've noticed many of the trees lost were water oaks and pecans. These brittle, yet fast-growing species aren't ideal for urban landscapes because of their tendency to break apart. I'd suggest we replant with a larger variety of species. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to remake Newnan into a sanctuary for tree diversity.

Of course, many of us will be reluctant to plant trees, given that they were the source of so much destruction. But I hope we won't let our fears inhibit us from replanting. Trees are not only beautiful, but they also offer us much-needed shade. Cities without trees are hot and uninviting places. Imagine the historic streets of Savannah without its majestic live oaks. The value trees add to our cities far outweighs any potential negative impacts.

Yet it is my hope that we take our time and not rush to plant the same tired overused species we find at Lowes and Home Depot. Great care and energy should be devoted to sourcing a diverse selection of species. Native species should be prioritized, yet there are countless non-invasive exotics that should also be considered. I've jotted down a quick list of the species I'd like to see planted:

Sassafras

Cotinus

Quercus laurifolia

Quercus michauxii

Quercus oglethorpensis

Quercus glauca

Fraxinus americana

Euscaphis japonica

Castanea mollissima

Hickory species

Evergreen Magnolia species

all Osmanthus

Camellia species

I could go on and on... It may be hard to find some of the more unusual species. I'd suggest mail order nurseries, like Woodlanders, NatureHills, Rarefind, CountyLine, etc... A project like this will require a lot of work and guidance, but I think emphasizing diversity would enhance our community for decades to come!