Shingle Oak bud and White Ash Bud

Here is a photo of Shingle oak leader bud. Notice that they are grouped at the tip. This is typical of oaks.

Here are some photos of White Ash. Notice the year end color change.

Tentrils of Greenbriar

Here is a photo of tentrils of Bristle greenbriar. Though this might not be Bristle but Hellfeter greenbriar, because it wasn't bristly in the upper part of the vine.

Angled stem of Eastern Cottonwood

Eastern cottonwood has interesting ribbed (angled) stems. I saw
these trees growing in a flat area by power lines. This area
had to be scarified to install the power lines. The buds are
red and lay flat against the stem.

The stems have grown tall in just a few years. Cottonwood is one of the fastest growing trees

Bristly Greenbrier

Photo of Bristly greenbrier (Smilax hispida)
It climbs up other plants by tendrils. A tendril is a filifom spiral shoot that winds around anther body.

This plant does not have ornamental value but could be used as a break. You don't want to touch it without gloves.

Looking on the internet I could not find a photo of it in the wild. There is a lot of it in Missouri.

Tree Lesson

Trees are the largest plant, live a long time, have one main trunk, massive root system and extend their branches over a broad area. Trees grow in most areas except in the extreme cold or dry climate. Usually trees will grow higher than 20’.


Roots of trees are the part of the tree that grows in the dirt. They provide support, gather water and nutrients.

Tree trunk, (bole, stem) is the part of the tree supported by the roots. The trunk supports the branches.

The tree branches are supported by the trunk. the branches support the twigs which support the leaves.

Ginkgo leaf

Ginkgo leaf

Thanksgiving ride

I rode my bicycle to this pond to watch early Thanksgiving morning. I spooked up some ducks when I arrived.

Box elder maple

Box elder bud and twig.


Notice that Box elder maple has green twigs.


Here is the bark of Box elder


Here is a Box elder maple twig.

Shagbark hickory bud

Here is a Shagbark hickory bud. the loose scales are easy to spot.

Pin Oak

The Pin oak leaf has narrow lobes.


Here you can see that Pin oaks have smooth bark.

They are planted a lot as ornamentals.

Crows

I was watching a field of crows eating at Blue Valley park. Guard crows were in the trees circling the group. Most would continue walking across the grass searching for food. A few would fly over to the trees to the east. Then a few would fly back to the grass to eat.

There were more than 1000 of them.

When they were flying over to the trees they would have the tips of their wings pointed up. When they would land going west the tips were aligned with the wing.

This would go on for about 10 minutes. When I had pulled up with my truck and stopped. The crows gave me space but weren’t bothered.

Then all of a sudden all the crows were flying except 1 section of them. And it wasn’t 10 seconds before that group were on the move also.

I thought someone must be walking across the park or a couple of stray dogs were coming this way. Then I saw a red tailed hawk land in a tree to the north. The red tail shown in the sunlight.

All the crows are gone and 1 Red tailed hawk was sitting in the tree. Later another Red tailed hawk flew over and both of them flew off together.

Some of the crows might of gone to the Blue river bottoms to the east. A few crows
moved back into the trees to my east. But moved away quickly.

White Oak 234 Points

Here is a White oak tree.
I measured the circumference at141".
Height at 75'
Canopy at 73'
Total points = 234

This tree is in Hidden valley park. On the southeast side at a motorcycle rally area.

It will be interesting if I can find this tree and others I have been measuring in the summer. The photo would look completely different.

Bur Oak 241 Points

My wife (Jill)and I went hiking Saturday and we say this big Bur oak. I went back and measured it Sunday morning.
Circumference = 156"
Height = 63 '
Canopy = 88'
Total points = 241

White Oak leaves on ground

One can sometimes tell the type of tree nearby according to the preponderance of leaves on the ground.

White oak is distinct from other oaks by the narrow smooth lobes. The bark also has more of a whitish color to it.

The tree attains to a dominate position in the forest. Meaning it will be taller and thicker than the other trees in the forest around it.

Creek bank root system exposed

The creek has exposed the root system.

Buck brush in understory

Here is a photo showing preponderance of Buck Brush in the understory. They are the last plant to lose its leaves this fall.

Here is the Osage Orange tree with the bumper crop of Hedge apples.