Eastern Hophornbeam

Here is a close up of the bud of this tree and the shredded bark below.

This tree has wood that is harder than Osage Orange. I cut some Osage Orange about 1994. Those 2 logs are still sitting in my back yard and are not rotting at all. The Hophornbeam tree would make excellent fence posts or tool handles. The only tree that has harder wood is the Flowering Dogwood.

The withered leaf below shows the serrated edge that looks similar to elm leafs also beech trees.

Just as the wood of the Eastern Hophornbeam is hard, Christian can show strength against adversity with reliance upon the Lord and the promises He gives us to live in a fallen world.

Here is a link to other posts on this tree.