Snowy Chester County

The farm where we rent our cottage is nestled in Chester County, just outside of Philadelphia. For the last few days we’ve had a beautiful little snow dusting and crispy, cold temperatures. Our snowfall accumulated roughly two inches, and officially brought winter to our neck of Pennsylvania.

Yesterday’s sunrise illuminated the many oak trees which have not yet released their leaves. This phenomenon, called “leaf marcescence,” is common among oaks (Quercus), beeches (Fagus), and a few other deciduous trees. (Remember you can click on pictures to enlarge). I hope to take a drive up toward Phoenixville some time this winter so I can bring you pictures at Arboreality – there are beautiful swaths of forests (and lovely planted sycamores in town), and the blush of the young beech trees is always a warming sight in the cold of winter.

Of course, I can’t resist an excuse to share another picture of the stone silo. As an artist, I am perpetually inspired by the intermixing of farm, forest, and fauna here at my Pennsylvania home. This stone silo is one of a handful of remnants of the original farming days which once defined Chester County and the greater Brandywine Valley region. The third image is one of my favorite romantic staples in these parts: the elegant, imposing Black walnut (Juglans nigra).

Today, much of this land is being converted to suburban housing. Fortunately, the local culture allows room for a genuine interest in conservation, as demonstrated by the Open Space Preservation Department of Chester County. Last winter I had the pleasure of interviewing the Director, Mr. Bill Gladden. Check out the interview here at Arboreality, and stop by the Open Space Preservation Department website to learn more about local efforts to retain forest and farmland in the area.

Coming up at Arboreality: Christmas trees, winter planting, and green holidays.

Looking to bring a few more trees to your blog? The Festival of the Trees is a monthly blog carnival featuring trees and forests from around the blogosphere. Stop by the Festival of the Trees coordinating blog to learn how you can contribute your tree posts, or volunteer to host the festival right at your own blogging home! (An April volunteer is needed! April means Arbor Day for many in the US... what better time to host the Festival of the Trees?)

Tricolor Beech Tree: Ask and Ye Shall Receive

It’s always fun to see how folks find their way to Arboreality. Some are googling tree blog or tree blogging, but most are looking for specific tree species. One of the most popular searches year-round is for the tri-color beech tree (Fagus sylvatica, ‘Purpurea Tricolor’, formerly ‘Roseomarginata’).

The Tricolor beech tree in today’s images is a young specimen planted here at the farm. It’s having a bit of a tough time, possibly owing to the Black walnuts (Juglans nigra) towering overhead. (Black walnuts are well-known for their allelopathic qualities, and are toxic to many neighboring plants).

Tricolor beech trees usually include green, white, and pink variegation on their leaves. Other variegated beeches include the cultivars ‘Albovariegata’ and ‘Luteovariegata’. While not specific to the Tricolor beech, The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees says Fagus sylvatica “tolerates most soils, best in calcareous or deep sandy loam; hardy in cool, moist temperate regions.”

The Audubon Field Guide also mentions that “the words beech and book come from the same root, because ancient Saxons and Germans wrote on pieces of beech board.”

If you have questions, suggestions, or other thoughts on growing the Tricolor beech, be sure to share with us in the comments!

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Source information:

Little, Elbert L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

More, David and John White. 2002. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees. Portland: Timber Press. p. 341.