Post Oak 30-May-09 Hike

After leaving the Ash trees blowing in the wind I came upon my Post oak trees that I found a couple of years ago. I don't see many Post oaks and it is fun to see them.

The leaf makes a destinctive cross that is easily reconized. Post oak is in the white oak group. Not seeing many around here makes it better when I find one.

The 2 Post oaks at ground level. I later realized that a third tree next to these 2 was also a Post oak. It had darker bark and for that reason I ignored it.

This photo above shows a good view of the distintive cross the lobes make.

When I see these leaves I think of the cross that Jesus died on. It was probably made out of rough cut wood like a railroad tie. Jesus was nailed to this cross, not with the nails we use today but more like railroad spikes. He was laid down on the cross and held there while the spikes were dirven into his hands/arms and feet. Then the cross was hoisted upward and set into something that held it verticly.

Driving the stakes into His hands and feet was very painful and standing the cross upright caused a jolt that must of sent pain through all of Jesus body. Jesus didn't have to do this! He could have stayed in heaven and enjoyed life there. Jesus gave up that life, and chose a life with us that was hard and ended in tragady. Jesus went through that for us.

He wanted to give us a way out of our life of sin.

Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The wage of sin is death. Eternal death in hell. Jesus wanted to keep us from going there and paid the ultimate price for us. Don't ignore this gift but accept it with joy. Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him. There is pleasure in sin but its end is bitter. Turn to Jesus and you will have life.

John 1:12
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."

Future Ash Tree Attack 30-May-09 Hike

While I was sitting by the Hornbeam tree I Looked through the canopy and saw an ash tree blowing back and forth in the wind. It seemed to be vibrant and enjoying life. Little does it know that a devastating bug is coming to destroy all ash trees. The Emerald Ash borer kills all ash trees in its path. There is no known cure and detection when it happens seems to be too late to stop it. I just read an article from Minnesota stating that its 900,000,000 ash trees are at risk. Another article said Indiana's 140,000,000 ash trees are at risk.

Our life can be seen in trees at times. Life is good and left to ourselves we may turn away from God to live according to our wants, called sin. There was no cure for this and man was destined to receive judgement of hell. When Jesus came and died and shed his blood for our sin, we now have hope of eternal life unlike the Ash trees that are destined to destruction.

How do we get this life? By calling on the name of Jesus and repenting of our sin to serve God. Jesus wants us to choose life in Him but we are too busy playing. The judgement for sin is coming and it is not a playing matter. Look to Jesus for help. It is only in Jesus that we have help for the wages of sin.

John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. "

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 10:9

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana 30-May-09 Hike

Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana
I stopped and rested against a Hornbeam tree. The tree has shreddy bark. It doesn't grow very large. The leaves resemble an elm, the end buds are false. (false end buds are not located at the tip of the twig) The bud scales of elm are arranged in 2 vertical rows while the bud scales of Hornbeam are not in rows.

This tree is more noticeable in the winter than the summer. I guess that is because I am looking at the bark more in the winter than the summer. Peterson's Guide book gives the diameter from 6”-12” but I have never seen a 6” Hornbeam tree.

The Trees of Missouri guide calls Ostrya virginiana a Eastern Hophornbeam and American Hornbeam is Carpinus caroliniana but this must be a mistake because all the internet sites call the Ostrya virginiana a Hornbeam. Anyway this is why there is a scientific nomenclature.

Hickory 30-May-09 Hike

I came 2 trees on either side of the trail. On the right is an Osage orange. On the left is a tight barked tree showing me its a hickory. But what kind is it?

Mockernut or Pignut?


Mockernut has large end buds and stout hairy twigs. Looking at the tree with my binoculars it seems the twigs are not stout and the end buds are not large. So that makes it a Pignut? But then again it may be a Bitternut hickory because I could not see any end buds at all.

American Basswood 30-May-09 HIke

Walking further down the trail I heard thge call of a Red tailed hawk. I glanced up and looked through a hole in the canopy. I saw the hawk perched above looking at me. I reached for my camera and it was gone.

As I crossed a creek I noticed a tree with deep verticle ridges. When I looked at the leaves, sure enough it was a Basswood tree. The leaves are similar to Mulberry but the bark of the 2 trees are very different.

Green Ash Sapling; 30-May-09 Hike

I decided to ride my bicycle to these woods. Combining both of my hobbies makes it doubly fun. I pulled off the road and walked my bicycle up the hill and locked it against a tree. I have never seen anyone hiking in these woods. I have seen signs of paint ball but that is far from where I am. I felt sure my bike would be safe.

I stopped to look at an Ash sapling that was leaning across the trail I was hiking down.

The leaves are stalked. (stalked means the base of the leaf comes to a narrow point before it attaches to the twig). This rules out Black ash.

The leaves were green below, this rules out White ash which has a pale color on the under surface. Also White ash has deeply notched leaf scars. These twigs did not.

The twigs are not ridged which rules out Blue ash.

The Red, Biltmore and Pumpkin ashes have hairy twigs.

Therefore it is a Green ash.


Photo of the bottom view of the green ash leaves.

Persimmon

Persimmon tree ID'ed by the blocky bark.


I found a Persimmon tree recently. It is interesting to see a branch scar so close to the ground. The top of the branch scar is only 3' off of the ground. Measuring the diameter of the tree it was 11 inches. The height only came to about 47 feet so it would not be a record tree.

Note: I am not talking about state records. I am talking about my records which I run across in my woods wanderings.

This Persimmon is not growing tall because it is under a Shingle oak.

There must be some other reason for this scar than a failed branch. That reminds me when I look at some people, I see things which don't seem right. But I don't know the reason and would do well to pray for them rather then judge them.

Shagbark Hickory

I came across some Shagbark hickory in my hike the other day. There were 7 leaflets.

The bark is shaggy though this photo does not show it well.

Catalpa Flower

Driving back at the end of the day Friday I ran across these Catalpa trees with beautiful flowers. I got out of my truck and took these photos. Catalpa is not known for its flowers but I think these are beautiful.

Eastern Red Cedar Fruit

As I was walking down the trail I realized I had measured this tree in the past, but it was not on my list of trees. I need to go back through my notes to find this tree. There seems to be an abundance of Eastern Red cedar fruit this year.

If I find the notes then I will know what month to look in to find an earlier photo. I probably came by here in the winter. It was not easy getting to this tree. I remember crawling on my hands and knees to measure it.

Only the top of the tree is in the photo. The photo quality is not the best probably because of the branches in the foreground.

The fruit is a berry like cone about 1/4 inch long blue with a white waxy coating.

Honeysuckle Overtaking Woods

Honeysuckle seems to be overrunning this section of woods.

When I got out of my work truck for lunch I was greeted by this honeysuckle growing along the ground. It headed into the woods and up into this Eastern red cedar and further up the hill by this cliffs.

Honeysuckle has a sweet fragrance which dominated these woods.

Iris Beds

I stopped at this iris garden recently. The above photo is of ground that will be planted in iris's

Honey Locust

A few days later after the visit of the Honey locust in yesterdays post I went back to observe this tree more closely. Notice the bark curls from the side. This is a common characteristic of Honey locusts.

Here is the base of the tree and it seems to me that in earlier days this was 2 trees growing side by side.

Here is new thorn growth. There is no stiffness to these thorns yet.

Old Honey Locust

This is the largest Honey locust I have found in my hiking. It looks like 2 trees grown together.

Circumferance 142.1"

Canopy 81' & 52'

Height 63.7'

Total points 227.5

Brown Thrasher

I hiked into the woods today and this bird came by to see me. It stayed in the branches nearby for at least 30 minutes. The only note I heard was like a clicking of the tongue. Peterson's calls it a harsh chack.

Revisit Slipery Elm

I came back to the Slipery elm I found last month.





The tree on the right in the photo below is the Slippery elm.

The below photo was taken in late April


I ID this tree as Slippery elm because of the slight notch of the seed sac at the apex.