New Moon Monday, of Saplings and Skylines
Greetings everyone! Today’s new moon brings us a welcome fresh start, appropriately on a Monday. Here is a picture of the swelling tips of a couple young saplings located along the driveway to our cottage.
When studying forest ecology at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, I learned a little about identifying deciduous trees and plants in the winter using clues other than leaves and flowers. Among these clues are things like the pattern of bud growth (e.g. alternating or opposite), lenticels (if present, vertical or horizontal orientation), bud shape and size, leaf scars, branch tip die back, winter fruiting, and other elements of growth habit more easily seen in the winter.
The only challenge is that like all other indicators of tree species, these methods are only helpful insofar as you know what you’re looking for. In this case, I haven’t got a clue as to just who these young trees are… but I do know that they are ready for springtime!
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Hello Jade,
ReplyDeleteBecause of my busy schedule I seldom visit your site. But each time I peek into your blog pages its a total revelation to me. Its an absolute trip.The photos are gorgeous.The infos are educational.
Just take a look at your February 22 postings. They are
superb and earthy shots. I just love it.
keep up the good work.
Gil
PS. The pic in my blog was captured straight or as is.
My brother (whose blog comment link I found your blog from) is a forest surveyor and knows a lot about tree identification.
ReplyDeleteIt's something I need to work on. I love trees, and I always appreciate a botanical garden where everything is properly labeled. :)
Gil, thanks for stopping by! I know you're busy creating, and I really enjoy seeing your work online. It makes me happy to know that you are enjoying the tree blog... that's what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteSpiderGirl - Thanks for visiting! It's funny, but I actually found your bro through your blog (which I really enjoy). I found your blog through Crystal's blog because she was talking about belly dancing (ahhh, the great circle of blogging). That latern parade was SO GORGEOUS!
I too have a long way to go with tree identification, but I'm getting better. For a long time I've really only known trees by sight, or by their "aura"... that sort of special feeling that is unique to each tree species. :)
I'm with you though - labels in botanical gardens are ever so helpful!