Pink/White Weed Flower

This could be the Gray Bindweed flower.





Psam 119:16
"Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope."

Fallen Am. Sycamore Bark

Hiking along the above trail back where I came I noticed this American sycamore bark. As I turned around sure enough there was a tree that it fell from. The bark flakes off easily.

American sycamore obviously does not have bark that will protect it from fire. These trees will die quickly in a fire the bark is thin and does not provide any resistance to fire.

Fast growth without fire protection. But if there was a fire the tree would establish itself again quickly in the area.

God is a consuming fire to those who have not prepared themselves for His coming. And he refines us as gold and silver are refined in the furnace of affliction.

Let us not be like a tree whose bark falls of quickly but one that is able to endure the fire of trouble and comes out shinning with the glory of God.

Shaded Understory

Interesting light shinning through the understory.


Sunlight, rain and dew remains on the leaves long after a rain. In the open moisture evaporates, but in forests the bright sunlight is blocked. This shade provides protection from the hot oppressive summer heat. Under the forest cover it is still damp. This morning I hiked into these woods.

Walking with God will at times be a protection from the oppression of the worlds problems. Our trust that flows from believing the Scriptures brings peace and contentment.

Clasping Coneflower

Clasping Coneflower


With a change of heart comes a delight to do the will of God. Without a change of heart it is drudgery.
Psalm 40:8
"I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart."

White Oak in Draw Revisited

I went back to the bent White oak in a draw today. It rained last night and the brush was still wet. Getting wet didn't bother me because of the summer heat. The early morning hike beat the heat. I sat down on a log in the mud flat creek. It wasn't muddy as the dirt is hard packed and water runs off immediately. Thought about how forests will influence nature because of the respiration that is taking place as trees let off water to stay cool.

God responds to our prayers of faith. Just as a forest has an influence on nature, we influence God by our faith in Him.

2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and from throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. . ."


Here is the tree I came across Christmas morning.

Below is the same White oak in early November, for comparison.

Red Maple

I went back to the Red maple I took photos of in the fall and got some summer shots.





Below are the photos I took of this tree last fall. and posted on November 19th.





Does not the beauty and change of nature point to a magnificent God? He is so grand and his works are marvelous. Let all that shines in nature give glory to God.

Tree of Heaven Seeds

Psalm 37:16
"Better is the little of the righteous,
Than the abundance of many wicked."

White Oak problems from Tiny Wasp

There is a report that tiny wasps are causing a problem in White oaks in Missouri. They are called Jumping oak gall wasps. Eggs are laid on young leaves in the spring. This pockmarks the leaves. This type of outbreak can last up to 2 years. This usually does not have a long term effect on the tree.

Bark Contrast Between Ohio Buckeye & Red Bud

This is an interesting contrast between Ohio buckeye bark in the foreground and Red bud in the background.


Here is the leaf of Ohio buckeye.


Ezekiel 17:22-24
"Thus says the Lord GOD, "I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. "On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. "All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it."

Stick Tight Flowers

Here is the flower of stick tights.


Ezekiel 15:1-6
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? “Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? “If it has been put into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for anything? “Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything! “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

Hackberry Disease

I find this disease on Hackberry most of the time.


Ezekiel 18:31,32
"Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. Therefore, repent and live."

Queen Ann's Lace

Also known as wild carrot





Ezekiel 3:15,16
"Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the river Chebar at Telabib, and I sat there seven days. . . At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me."

DAISY FLEABANE

Daisy Fleabane


Song of Solomon 2:12
"The flowers have already appeared in the land;The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land."

Plains coreopsis

Plains coreopsis



Isaiah 40:18
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

Chicory

This photo is close to Chicory. Found in open field that is being turned into local plants.



Matthew 6:28,29
"Any why are you worried about clothing?
Observe how the lilies of the field grow;
they do not toil nor do they spin.
Yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory
clothed himself like one of these.

Thistle

Common wildflower in the land I roam in a thistle.


Matthew 10 16
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

Black Willow on Lake Edge

Here are some Black willow trees on the up stream side of a lake.

Psalm 119:162
"I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil."

Post Oak Along Forest Edge

Hiking along this forest edge I encountered some Post oak.




Psalm 119:31
"I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord,
do mot put me to shame!"

Wallace State Park Lake

Nice reflection early July morning.

Speaking of Jesus

Hebrews 1:3
"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"

Eaten American Scycamore Leaf

.
Interesting bug pattern.

Psalm 119:18
"Open my eyes,
that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law."

Red Bud Malaise

Red bud malaise of the tree cracking and bending over seen often in the woods.

Here these seem to be wood pecker holes of a downed Red bud tree.


Again the remains of Red bud malaise.



Exodus 15:13"In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation."

Eastern White Pine

An Eastern white pine. Notice the tree below has a leader shooting up. Each spray of branches represents a years growth.



Psalm 65:10
You water its furrows abundantly,You settle its ridges,You soften it with showers,You bless its growth.

Park Scene

The blue spruce in the middle of the photo sets off this park scene.


Psalm 119:11
"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You."

Basswood and Paw Paw Trees

Above is a canopy of Basswood and below is Paw Paw saplings in the understory. The trees in the background that are winding around each other are Basswood trees.




Psalm 119:2
"How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart."