Archive for the ‘Follow a tree’ Category
The River Birch in October
Posted in Follow a tree, River Birch on October 6, 2015| 2 Comments »
Female Flowers Forming–River Birch
Posted in Follow a tree, River Birch on September 14, 2015| 4 Comments »
An August Look at the River Birch
Posted in Follow a tree, River Birch, tagged Bitula Nigra, River birch on August 13, 2015| 7 Comments »
River Birch or Himalayan Birch???
I was happy to meet Ollie who happened to be walking her dog at the same time. I explained that I was ‘following’ this tree, but was still unsure as to which species it was. She said that she was the one who had trimmed the ivy off the tree. “I know it’s a birch,” she says, “try looking up Himalayan birch” (betula utilis Jacquemontii)
I looked it up, but the Himalayan birch leaf is squarer at the base, not so wedge-shaped.
According to Washington State University, “Himalayan birch is the most widely grown of the birch species in the Pacific Northwest and is greatly prized for its distinctive white bark which makes it a welcome addition during the darker days of winter.“
Logically, since the Himalayan birch is more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, it follows that this is a Himalayan birch…but of all the Himalayan leaves that are shown on Google images, most of them are “square” at the base, and while the River Birch is native to the southeastern United States, it is tolerant in other climates too as long as it can grow in moist acidic soils. Since it was planted possibly over 40 years ago, this area was getting about 65 inches of rain a year then. It would have been moist enough for a River Birch. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
Speaking of leaves…
According to SF Gate, “River birch also is valuable as a source of erosion control and is used to reclaim areas with high soil acid caused by mining. Wildlife, such as birds and rodents, eat its seeds, and deer eat its twigs and foliage. Ruby-throated hummingbirds drink its sap.”
Any birch tree experts out there?
Follow a Tree—Looking at the River Birch in July
Posted in Follow a tree, tagged Betula nigra, catkins, Destructive tree roots, follow a tree, River birch on July 13, 2015| 2 Comments »
River Birch (Betula nigra)
The River birch can thrive in damp soil, but it can also take a certain amount of drought. Birch roots, along with willow and poplar, are among the most aggressive — and destructive — tree roots. The tree’s aggressive roots seek water, prying open cracks or joints in sewer or irrigation systems.
Note: I’m about 85% sure this tree is a River birch. The 15% uncertainty is because when I compare this River birch tree trunk to the River birch tree trunks on the internet, I don’t see any like this one. Furthermore, the catkins look slightly different too. If there are any birch tree experts out there that would like to make a correction, please feel free to do so.
The following web sites were used for River birch information…
Mystery Tree Revealed…It’s a Birch Tree
Posted in Follow a tree, Log hives, Swarms, tagged Birch, Grand kid log hive, natural beekeeping, swarm on May 13, 2015| 13 Comments »
Many thanks to Jeff Ollerton and HB for giving me the identity of this tree.
According to Wikipedia, “Betula nigra (black birch, river birch, water birch) is a species of birch native to the Eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and west to Texas.”
It grows in the East, not the West. I guess the jury is still out on the type of birch it is.
Following a Mystery Tree…What It Is Not
Posted in Follow a tree, tagged Alder tree, mystery tree, Tree following on April 13, 2015| 10 Comments »
I don’t think this is a cottonwood even though the leaves are serrated, or a Balsam Poplar, or a Cascara Buckthorn, but I guess it still could be an Alder or even a birch.
Gardening Know How says… “Alder trees (Alnus spp.) are often used in reforestation projects and to stabilize soil in wet areas, but you seldom see them in residential landscapes.”
I suppose this tree could have been started just from a bird dropping a seed, but I would really like to know what it is. Any ideas?
Tree Following a Mystery Tree
Posted in Follow a tree, tagged English ivy, Tree following on March 6, 2015| 15 Comments »
Tulip Tree Wrap-up
Posted in Follow a tree, Tulip Tree, Uncategorized, tagged American Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipfera, Tulip Tree, Tulip tree blossom, Tulip tree leaf, Tulip tree seed pod on February 8, 2015| 16 Comments »
Things I learned this year…
• The Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipfera) also called the American Tulip, Tulip Poplar, or Yellow Poplar is a member of the Magnolia family. It’s an important nectar source for bees across Tennessee, Kentucky, and much of the eastern US.
• The wood of choice for organs, panels of carriages, coffin boxes, wooden ware and because it’s resistant to termites, house and barn sills were made using tulip poplar beams.
• The wood is lightweight and was preferred by Native American tribes in the construction of canoes.
• Tea was made from the inner bark to treat fevers and indigestion.
• The bark can be chewed for an aphrodisiac.
Many thanks to Lucy Corrander at Loose and Leafy for hosting the Tree Following blog
If you have keen powers of observation, a curiosity about nature, and a camera to record tree changes, please consider following a tree.
Follow a Tree–Tulip Tree in January
Posted in Follow a tree, Tulip Tree, tagged American Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipfera, tulip poplar, tulip seed pod, tulip tree in January on January 10, 2015| 9 Comments »
Many thanks to Lucy at Loose and Leafy for hosting the Follow a Tree blog. I have learned so much about this Tulip tree that I never would have learned if there had not been a deadline.
Following a Tree, December…Raking in the Gold
Posted in Follow a tree, Music video, Tulip Tree, Videos, tagged American Tulip tree, Appalachian fiddle music, Cluck Old Hen, I Heart Bees hat, raking leaves, Steve Montana on December 6, 2014| 16 Comments »
We made short work of it…
I thought you might like to see Steve Montana playing his banjo.