Counting Trees

If there are 1000 trees an acre, then there ia a tree every 6.6 sq feet.

If I walk a mile through the woods and count trees 25' on either side of me how many trees do I count?

So I would sample an area of 5280' (the distance of a mile) by 50' wide.

5280' X 50' figures to be 6.06 of an acre.
1000 X 6.06 = 6,060 trees.

This was a math problem I figured out today.

New Growth on White Oak

I found some new growth on White oak in a local cemetery.

Persimmon / Diospyros virginiana

Persimmon trees are usually found scattered amoungst hardwoods.

The tree, when the conditions are right, multiply rapidly. Open fields provide a ripe enviorment for producing groves. I found my first grove of Persimmon as I was heading back from my hike last week.

It is in a former field that is reverting back to forest. Much of the undergrowth is invasive bush honeysuckle from Asia. The many Persimmon continue to thrive here. I took a video showing the preponderance of the tree. I am not sure how old they are but there are many trees, over 100 I would guess. I don't know if this has any importance, but there was a Black walnut tree in the middle of the Persimmon grove.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?

symbol=DIVI5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_persimmon

Natural Arch

On June 6th 1804 the Lewis and Clark expadition named this spot the "Split Rock" Click on the above photo to read the history of this area.

Katy Trail Canopy

This canopy was common while I rode the trail. The shade was welcomed as the sun was still giving off summer heat.

Standing Rock Katy Trail

Standing Rock. Click the photo below to read the history and science of this rock.

Photos taken last September on the Katy Trail.

Find Shingle Oak by Gall

Hiking in the woods I was taking a 250 degree line from a well know (to me) Basswood clump. I was not finding much and sat down at the top of a gentle ridge. I noticed to my right a Shingle oak with the gouty oak gall problem. These galls can build up over time leading to branch die back and tree decline.

Galls are formed by different insects wasps being one of the. Of the 800 wasps that form galls on trees 731 attack oaks.




With these photos taken I then went over to double check if in fact this tree was a Shingle oak. The only leaves on the ground were Shingle oak. They keep their leaves on all winter so they have not been on the ground for long.

Red and White Tulips

While driving at work I came across these tulips. I had to catch them, for they don't last long.

Red Bud Tree in Spring

Chinquapin Malaise

Here is a photo of Chinquapin malaise. I don't know the true name of the disease, but it seems only to attack Chimquapins. A knob on the tree bowl with many small twigs coming out of it.

Here is the white oak pattern bark on this Chinquapin.



The 3 photos below I took in Feb 08 show the problem as well.

Silppery Elm Seeds

I ID this tree as Slippery elm because of the slight notch of the seed sac at the apex.
I found these elm seeds today on my lunch hike. The tree on the right in the photo below is the elm.

I noticed that this was an elm tree but the bark did not resemble an American elm. When I got home and consulted my tree ID books the verdict was Slippery elm.

Wangari Maathai & her Strugle for Forestry

"I am re-reading the Bible, and I start with Genesis,” she said. “The first thing I see is that God made everything before man and woman. In his wisdom, he knew that if he made us first, we would die. What he made first does not need what he made last, but what he made last needs what came first.”
Wangari Maathai

Taking Root is a film about her work.
Synopsis of the film.

Maathai Changes Kenya's Political Landscape with Simple Act of Planting Trees

The Green Belt Movement.

PDF actoin guide.

More info and links

Twirled Bitternut Hickory

This Bitternut hickory had a vine growing around it. The vine is gone and the tree continues to grow.

Crooked Branch

I liked this branch. I have never seen/noticed an old grape vine. But I am wondering if this could be one of those.

Tulips

Reverse Photos

I stood by these trees in the center and shot the clump of trees below. But when I got to the clump of trees below to shoot the trees I first stood at I was not sure if I was looking at the right trees. Any way I went to a different vantage point and shot back to the orriginal trees.

I am not sure if I got the right ones or not. So it is an excuse to go back and check again if I got it right. I took a compas reading of the photos and I will need to go back to the original spot to see if it points to the rock outcropping I was standing on. It made for an interesting lunch break.




The larger tree in the center gives a good view of the buds because the branch is low on the uphill side. My poor camera (or my inability to operate it) does not focus well on close ups. I may be looking for a better camera again.

Changing White Oak Bark

This is a good example of changing White oak bark. The mature bark forms below.

Leaning Witness Tree South of Pond

The tree of interest is in the center background of both photos. It is leaning over with branches going straight up.

The above photo was taken 11-April-2009.
The photo below was taken last December.




I am now going back to places I was at last winter and revisiting them again this spring. One it is fun to retrace my steps and 2 I want to add to what I observed the first time. Sometimes I will be limited by time so there will not be much that I can add, other times I will have plenty of time and I can observe the area more completely. I don't think there can ever be an end to what I can observe in an area. I think it would be possible to spend a whole lifetime studying one hillside.

The depth that nature offers is infinite. God is the same way. He is the one who designed nature to rebound to most disasters. The resiliency of nature shows the flexableness of God. Though we have gone our own way, God still calls us to turn back to Him. Don't think that you have gone beyone what God can forgive. It is for the sinners that He came. Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Northern Red Oak

Here is the largest Northern Red oak I have measured. In measuring I broke my tape so the circumference was not measured. I just measured the diameter. Some day I will come back and check the circumference. I was wondering how I was going to get the tape around the tree. If you look at the base the tree is on a fairly seep hill. So by breaking the tape I never found out how I was going to measure the circumference. I had that tape for 7 years, and it was not that expensive.

I knitted 2 photos together to get this one. I am not experienced at this but I guess it came out OK. My daughter gave me some help!

Height 111'
Canopy 66' and 56'
Diameter 47"
Points 273.7

Tree Grows out of Barrel

Tree grows out of old barrel.

What man makes does not last, but what God makes remains. Therefore only what we do for Christ, has a chance of lasting. What we do for ourselves without Christ won't last.

Jesus Lives / Spring Tree Flowers

Jesus Has Risen

1 Corinthians 15:19,20 "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep."

Box Elder ID

Here are some photos of Box elder maple that are instructive in IDing the tree.

This is the bark of a youngish tree. Notice the green twig to the left. Box elder is the only maple with green twigs.

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This photo of seeds is instructive in that the wings of the seeds come closer together than other maples. Other maples seeds are further spread apart.

I found these photos in a bottom land area where I was looking for good photos of tree bark of trees that thrive here.

One thing to remember is that Box elder will thrive in areas that flood often. The ground I was walking on to get these photos was flooded 2 years ago. My guess was the time under water was about a month. The depth was from knee deep to chest deep.