Posts Tagged ‘American tulipwood’

Follow a Tree, November

Posted in Follow a tree, Tulip Tree, tagged , , , , , , on November 12, 2014| 4 Comments »

November 11...The leaves are full of color. In another month or less, I'll be happy to rake up piles of them. Ulp, I better see if the owners are okay with that.

November 11…The leaves of the Tulip tree are full of color. In another month or less, I’ll be happy to rake up piles of them. Hmmm, maybe I better see if the owners are okay with that.

A different view of the Tulip tree. The setting sun brings out the colors.

A different view of the Tulip tree. The setting sun brings out the colors.

Ah, there's a seed pod up there.

Ah, there’s a seed pod up there.

The seed pods are finally dried. I pulled out my pocket knife to cut it off, but it just fell into my hand.

I pulled out my pocket knife but the pod just fell into my hand.

There were precious few pods hanging in the tree...then I looked down and found lots of them on the ground already.

There were precious few pods hanging in the tree…then I looked down and found lots of them on the ground already.

November 12...I picked up as many seed pods as my bag would hold wondering what people thought of me walking with a very full doggy bag.

November 12…I picked up as many seed pods as my bag would hold wondering what people thought of me walking with a very full doggy bag.

November 12...Hoping to get the seeds to pop out, I pulled the pod open...but where are the seeds?

Hoping to get the seeds to pop out, I pulled the pod open…but where are the seeds?

Are these the seeds? I'll try planting these in the spring, but if they don't grow, I can always plant a Tulip tree twig.

Are these the seeds? I’ll try planting these in the spring, but if they don’t grow, I can always plant a Tulip tree twig.  (See gregmcswain1’s comment below)

 

I was struck by how similar the Tulip tree seed pods were to my backyard spruce tree 'pine cones.'

I was struck at how similar the Tulip tree seed pods were to my backyard spruce tree cones.    Deciduous on the left, conifer on the right.

I couldn't get enough of the colorful leaves, so I just pointed the camera upward for one more shot before leaving.

I couldn’t get enough of the colorful leaves, so I just pointed the camera upward for one more shot before leafing leaving.

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Following a Tree, October

Posted in Follow a tree, Tulip Tree, tagged , , on October 13, 2014| 9 Comments »

October 13...Tulip tree is still holding on, but more colored leaves can be seen.

October 13…Tulip tree is still holding on, but more colored leaves can be seen.  The sun is lower on the horizon as can be seen by the shadow on the left side.

The blue sky is disappearing tomorrow for a while. It's been so good to get sunshine this late in the season, but that's coming to an end soon.

The blue sky is disappearing tomorrow for a while. It’s been so good to get sunshine this late in the season, but that’s coming to an end soon.

These leaves are starting to lose their chlorophyll enabling the other colors to be visible.

These leaves are starting to lose their chlorophyll enabling the other colors to be visible.

Why do leaves change color in the autumn?

According to Garden at School, “Basically, leaves are made up of several components that affect their color.  Chlorophyll is the part of the leaf that gives it its green color, and its presence is so strong that it can cover up the color of the other components of the leaf. In the fall, trees sense that the days are becoming shorter and the weather is cooler.  As a result, it stops sending up water and energy to the leaves and so the chlorophyll dies.  Once the chlorophyll is gone, the other colors can shine through.”

A few leaves have dropped. Not enough to rake up yet, but it won't be too long. I'm actually looking forward to getting this valuable treasure for my garden.

A few leaves have dropped. Not enough to rake up yet, but it won’t be too long. I’m actually looking forward to getting this valuable treasure for my garden.

I've been 'following' this seed pod trying to be there when it opens. I'm beginning to doubt that it will open. If it does, I'd like to plant the seeds just for fun.

I’ve been ‘following’ this seed pod trying to be there when it opens. I’m beginning to doubt that it will open.  But if it does, I’d like to plant the seeds just for fun.

New leaves are still forming, so this tree is not ready to call it quits just yet.

New leaves are still forming, so this tree is not ready to call it quits just yet.

 

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Following a Tree—September

Posted in Follow a tree, Tulip Tree, tagged , , , , , on September 12, 2014| 8 Comments »

September 10, 2014...Tulip tree is starting to turn color.

September 10, 2014…Tulip tree is starting to turn color.

Yep, they are definitely changing color.

Yep, the leaves are definitely changing color. According to Portland (OR) Parks and Recreation, fall foliage color is gold-yellow.  Featured is  a tulip tree that was planted in the 1890s.

Looking up into the umbrella, even those leaves are yellowing.

Looking up into the umbrella, even these leaves are yellowing.    A member of the Magnoliaceae family, these trees are native in the US, east of the Mississippi.  The record height is 200 feet (61 meters), but many grow to over 100 feet.

The seed pod is just starting to show a little browning on the tips. I never noticed the seed pods before because they are hidden in the foliage, but because of this "tree following" project, I'm pushing leaves out of the way to find them. Luckily, the pods are within reach.

The seed pod is just starting to show a little browning on the tips. I never noticed the seed pods before because they are hidden in the foliage, but because of this “tree following” project, I’m pushing leaves out of the way to find them. Luckily, the pods are within reach.

 

According to Wikipedia… “The soft, fine-grained wood of tulip trees is known as “poplar” (short for “yellow poplar”) in the U.S., but marketed abroad as “American tulipwood” or by other names. It is very widely used where a cheap, easy-to-work and stable wood is needed. The sapwood is usually a creamy off-white color. While the heartwood is usually a pale green, it can take on streaks of red, purple, or even black; depending on the extractives content (i.e. the soil conditions where the tree was grown, etc.). It is clearly the wood of choice for use in organs, due to its ability to take a fine, smooth, precisely cut finish and so to effectively seal against pipes and valves. It is also commonly used for siding clapboards. Its wood may be compared in texture, strength, and softness to white pine.

Used for interior finish of houses, for siding, for panels of carriages, for coffin boxes, pattern timber, and wooden ware. During scarcity of the better qualities of white pine, tulip wood has taken its place to some extent, particularly when very wide boards are required.[3]

It also has a reputation for being resistant to termites, and in the Upland South (and perhaps elsewhere) house and barn sills were often made of tulip poplar beams.”

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