Vine Flowers

I ran across these vine flowers. The above sapling was dead and unknown. That did not stop the vines. The sapling below the is growing on may have been squeezed to death.



Here is the same type of vine growing on Black walnut. Notice the bole of the tree is being squeezed and may cause death to this tree also.




Photos taken 27-May-09

Bent Tree

I found with interest this maple sapling that had been pulled down by the vines attached to it when the snag fell. Apparently vines were attached to both the sapling and the snag.


Below is a better photo showing the way the sapling is bent over because the vines were pulled down by the sapling.




This young sapling had great promise. It seemed to be growing well. But the vines did not let it grow but will kill the tree in a few years.

Our life has similar aspects to this vine problem the young sapling has. We want to worship God but at the same time keep our ties to the good life in this world.

1 John talks about loving the world and loving God. The 2 can't both coexist. We either have the Lord as our goal in life or the pleasures of the world. If we try to have both there will be a time when the cares of the world will pull us away from following God.

It is well worth the cost of following Jesus. The disciples left all to follow Jesus. Jesus asks us to follow Him with no ties to this world. 2 Tim 2:3,4 "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life so that he may please the one who has enlisted him as a solider."

Hollyhocks

Deer

I saw this deer at lunch. So I got out of the truck and walked up to where it might be. The first photo I caught the deer looking right at me. I got the next photo as it was moving away.

Field of Thistle

Unused Farm Pond

As I was headed out to the family reunion I came across this farm pond. It does not have any livestock near it. In fact there is no fencing near here. Maybe it is a farmers fishing pond. It looks like a great place to spend an afternoon.

There seems to be some duckweed starting to spread to the right.

Corn Fields

Wheat Fields of Kansas

I went to Northeast Kansas with my family to a family reunion. Instead of driving over to the meeting from our motel I decided to bicycle over there and see what photos I could get. Here is a good represenative of wheat fields. Click on the lower photo for a good closeup of wheat.

Kansas is not really flat. I rode over gentle rolling hills and a couple of big hills. I had a lot of fun riding back and forth.

What's Going on Out Here?

Tree of Heaven

Unusuall lead leaflet

Cottonwood Seeds

Cottonwood Seeds in pod.

Deer I've Seen the Past Few Days

Here is the clover that enticed the deer to come out in the open

Tall Pawpaw Trees

I had seen these trees a year ago and was going slowly down the road to recognize them again. I found them and got these photos. Their height warrants a return for a good measurement. I estimate they are 5" diameter and 25' tall and that is the max height they are supposed to get.

Mulberry Fruit

Which Dogwood?

Hiking along a park I came across this dogwood growing along the side of the woods under taller trees. I have always had trouble deciding between Roughleaf and Gray dogwoods. So I decided to compare the 2 with my books.

What is the difference between Gray Dogwood and Roughleaf Dogwood?

• Roughleaf dogwood has white flowers, while Gray Dogwood has red flowers.
• Roughleaf has red/brown older twigs, while Gray dogwood has gray twigs that are older.
• Gray dogwood has tight bark that is roughed by lenticles.
• The young twigs on Roughleaf are hairy while the Gray dogwoods are not.

So this one is Roughleaf dogwood.

Norway Maple

Walking through Union Cemetery I came across this Norway maple. First seeing it I was not sure which maple it was but the wide spread seeds were distinctive. Looking through my books and the above links I conclude its a Norway maple.

Bicycle Home 30-May-09 Hike

I arrived back at my bicycle to ride the 10 miles back home. 20 miles on the bike and 3 hours hiking in the woods with a lot of photos. It was a good day.

Asian Bush Honysuckle 30-May-09 Hike

This photo shows the preponderance of Bush Honeysuckle.

It is an invasive species and I have volunteered my time to cut it out of the local woods.

They make a tool to remove it from the wood.

This plant has a high rating for invasive growth, hardness to remove, and harmful to the environment.

They are the first to leaf out in the spring and the last to lose their leaves in the fall. They shade out other plants keeping other plants from growing in the area.

Shingle Oak and Trail 30-May-09 Hike

Coming to a drop in the trail I noticed the shinny leaves of Shingle oak.

The above photo is the way I am headed on my way out of the woods. the photo below is shooting back the way I have come.

Mulbery Tree Bark 30-May-09

Hiking further past the Crooked Chinquapin oak, I came across this horrizonal line in the bark is charateristic of Mulberry.

Swirled Chinquapin Oak 30-May-09

Coming back to my swirled tree which is a Chinquapin oak, I find that it is not long for this world. It is no surprise because I saw some tell tale signs in the bark during winter. Go to my old post here which has better photos of how the bole swirls. And here was a video of the tree.