Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaws grow in understories and along slopes and in bottom land. The leaves are 6-12” long leaves. One of the biggest leaves grown by trees in the US. They turn bright yellow in Autumn. And stay on the trees for a while. The tree normally does not attain much height. It has been said to grow up to 20 feet. I measured one at 21 feet.

The fruit is interesting and is said to be edible. Tasting somewhat like a banana.

“Picking up Pawpaws, putting them in a basket.”

Settlers used them for banana pie and banana bread. (Note some people have an allergic reaction to them.)

The buds are long brown, fuzzy and without scales.

The tree will produce suckers from roots, explaining why they occur in bunches at times. The wood is stringy, and Indians used this tree to weave fiber cloth.

The trees don't get big. This is a Pawpaw stem.

Creation in 6 24 Hour Days!

An outstanding post over at Christian Nature of the length of the days in Genesis chapter 1.

As God created the earth in 6 days and rested on the 7th, so we should rest on the 7th. If the 6 days in Genesis chapter 1 were ages and not 24 hour days then the requirement to rest one day a week would not add up.

Read her post here.

Brown-eyed Susan

Here is a photo of Brown-eyed Susan's taken in July 2011

Fox

I came across this fox at a cemetery near where I work. It was running along the fence and I whistled at it to get its attention. It stopped long enough for me to get my camera and shoot this photo.









Lamentations 5:18
Because of Mount Zion which lies desolate, foxes prowl in it.

There is not much going on in the cemetery. Therefore the fox seems to be at ease running around in the daylight.  If our life is desolate in the things of God foxes will play havoc with our life. Turn to God and let Him fill your heat with His life.

Early Morning Fog

I captured this photo on my bike ride into work this morning.

Fog is formed when the cool air from the evening reacts with warm air above the water. The cooler air mixes with it and is not able to hold the water the way warm air does. Thus fog is formed.

I sort of see fog as a type of the Holy Spirit. There is something about being with God in the morning that I see as neat and just lasts for a short time as I spend time with Him before the day gets busy.

Don't ignore the times of His presence. When the opportunity comes to spend time with Him, take it.

Dominate Bitternut Hickory

I found this Bitternut hickory tree Saturday.  (tree front and center of the photos) The reason why it's interesting to me is that the tree is dominate in the forest. So I want to watch it grow. For a Bitternut hickory to be dominate may mean the soil is not good enough to sustain better trees that would have grown faster to dominate this forest.

Circumference 30 1/4"  at 4 1/2 feet high.

This is the fastest growing hickory. It is not known to live a long time but they have at times lived up to 200 years.

The wood of this tree is the best for using for barbeque,  to acquire a hickory flavor in meat.

Slippery Elm Bark

Slippery elm bark

Life after Lightening Strike

Kentucky Coffee tree lives on, 2 years after lightening strike.




I came across this Kentucky Coffee tree on my lunch today. The tree was hit by lightening a couple of years ago. The top photo shows that one branch is still living. Below the strip of bark surviving is still getting nutrients to the tree.

I first came to this tree in May 2009. The tree had just been struck by lightening. A squirrel was laying dead next to the tree.  So the tree continues to survive. Part of its survival is based on the Park department not cutting the tree down.



Here is the link that will show my past posts on Kentucky Coffee trees.

Even when disaster strikes, let us not give up on life. There is much to enjoy. With Jesus we can be an encouragement to others.

Water Fall

There is something about water that brings peace to a willing heart. The sound of water is soothing. I enjoyed resting here on a hike with my wife.

The Bible even says God's voice sounds like water. Many waters signifies to me a water fall.

Ezekiel 43:2
and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.

Revelation 19:6
Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “ Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

Let your experience in nature direct your heart to God.

Flooded Black Willow

I decided to hike back into some woods today (31 Aug 2011)



A photo of the same area a year ago.

Here I am back at a Black willow stand of trees along the Missouri river. These trees have been in standing water for 3 months. There will be more of the same for a while.

One of the lessons I am learning from this is that we need to be able to withstand attacks against our ability to live in the spirit. Opposition will come, but will we stand in the midst of the opposition?

Each of us has the ability to withstand tests to our faith. They vary from person to person just as trees have different responses to attacks to their health.

Black willow can withstand flooding better than most trees. Prolonged flooding has been known to kill about 50% of the trees. It will be interesting to see how this stand of trees does to more than 3 months under water.

1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."