Hackberry

A berry from a Hackberry tree that remains in the winter.

Winter Close up Cattails

Isaiah 35:7

 The scorched land will become a pool

            And the thirsty ground springs of water;

            In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,

            Grass becomes reeds and rushes.

Winter Beauty

Winter plants have their beauty.

Seeds

Photo of a head of grass.

2 Corinthians 9:10 

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;"

Mark 4:30-32

"And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

January Plants

Even the Eastern Red Cedar has a brown tint in January. 

White Oak Comparrison

These 2 white oaks (the 2 large trees on either side of the hiking trail.) are almost the same size in circumference. The one on the right is 92 7/8" and the one on the left is 89 1/8".  The one on the right is healthier and I propose it will grow at a faster rate than the one on left. Why?

Look at a close up of the bark of the White oak on the left. The bark has remained in a more juvinle state because of the growth on the bark.

The bark is the protection of the tree.

It is the same in our life with Christ. If we protect ourselves from the influences of the world we will grow much faster than if we fail to protect.

And how can we protect ourselves spiritually?  Guard your mind!

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Winter Sunset

Sunset on January 6th 2015 at 6:37 PM

6 Jan 15 6:37 PM
Sunset from my back yard.

Canon EOS Rebel T3
f/6.3
1/640 sec
ISO 6400
-1.7 step
55 mm

Hackberry Bark

Hackberry bark.

And the Lord will continually guide you,

And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water.

Isaiah 58:11

Wolf Tree in Younger Forest

Hiking among the rocks we enjoyed the winter woods that blocked the cold wind blowing.

In our hike the other day ( December 16th 2014)  we came across this larger Chinquapin Oak. We measured it because it was larger than the other trees in this forest.

Circumference of 135.25 "

Height of 100.5 '

and a Canopy of 68 ' and 61 '

Total points of: 227

This tree will be easy to find because it is not far in the woods after a clearing as we walk on a chip seal gravel trail. The day was windy and 30 degrees and overcast. The tree sort of resembles a wolf tree. This tree may have been in an open field and then the woods were allowed to grow up later.

Lord let there be a place for people to grow in their knowledge of you, among the mature Christians who understand how to nurture others in their Christian walk.

Mocking Bird

Saw this Mocking bird on a cold December day. A sign of life in the brush.

Lord let us be alive in the midst of hardship like this Mocking bird. 

Large Cottonwood

We measured this large E. Cottonwood tree today.

Circumference: 20' 5" I measured above the burl, which was 6' high.

Height: 109'

Canopy 75

Giving a total point value of 373.

Notice the tape is not level, but you want to measure it as the stem of the tree leans.

The large burl hindered my measuring at the correct height or 4' 6". But this tree has some history. The tree may have been 2 trees and then grew into one tree. There is a crack in the bole of the tree that may break away at some point.

I had just brought my 50 mm lens and could not get a clear shot of the tree with it. Therefore the stitching. Such a gloomy day would not make for much of a good photo. The 50 mm lesns has more settings to adjust for low light and that is why I brought it. I really enjoy my wide angle lens, which I failed to bring with me. It gives me a lot of latitude in where I could take a photo from. But I didn't think there was any hope of taking any half way decent photo.

Jill, my wife was worried about me falling in the river. There was a lot of room to get around the tree. I wasn't worried at all.

Ash Sapling

Hiking along a trail Friday there were many Ash saplings along the edge of the trail. These were probably Green Ash.

Speaking of Jesus in the future; "A bruised reed he will not break. And a dimly burning wick H will not extinguish. He will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3

Red Wild Flower

"If you give yourself to the hungry 

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, 

Then you light will rise in darkness 

and your gloom will become like midday."

Isaiah 58:10

Wild Flower

Common Mullein

The Common Mullein has dried up. Looking forward to next year.

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever."

Grape Vine

This vine starts near the tree and ends up in the branches.

Don't let problems spring up near you. Root out the problems before they get into your life.

Micah 5:14 "I will root out your Asheirm from among you,
and destroy your cities."

American Sycamore Root Foot print

Notice the large base the roots are making.

The circumference on this tree is 167 3/4" which is 53 in diameter.

Jeremiah 17:8

"For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit."

Ash Tree

Here is an ash tree still unaffected by the dreaded emerald ash borer. I am using this tree as a guide to locate my plot of Persimmon trees that I will be looking at in the future. I will also watch the growth and health of this tree.

The tree has measurements of:

height - 47'

circuference - 31.375"

Canopy - 31' 33'

Total points - 86

Jeremiah 6:1

"Flee for safety, O sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem! Now blow a trumpet in Tekoa And raise a signal over Beth-haccerem; For evil looks down from the north, And a great destruction."

Woods Trail

Hiking Friday brought expectation to us as we were looking for an old Persimmon trees patch. Hiking is a wonderful way to enjoy life and nature. As we hiked, not only were we looking forward to getting to the Persimmon, but we also were enjoying just being out in nature.

Psalm 25:10 "All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."

CALICO ASTER

Saturday's hike brought us to the woods edge where we encountered Calico Aster wild flower. The above photo shows them growing along the ground and close ups below.

Song of Solomon 2:12

"The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land."