Sunday, January 18, 2009

birches



15 comments:

MojoMan said...

I love the white of the birch bark on the dark green spruce background. Gray birch, right?

While we're on the subject of trees...In that moonrise (moonset?) title photo of yours...Is that sad-looking weeping tree an elm?

barefoot gardener said...

I love birch trees!

In the winter they seem an extension of the snowy ground, spring and summer brings their bark into startling contrast against the vibrantly green leaves, and then in fall....well, everything is beautiful in fall.

They somehow manage to be stately, elegant, young, and fun-loving all at once.

Thanks for sharing the pics...

Anonymous said...

Here's a seemingly counter-intuitive factoid: we can't grow paper birches in my region because the winters here aren't cold enuf!

The reason this makes sense is that by having comparatively mild winters, a certain boring insect (one who bores into wood, not one who is dull at a party) can survive and kill the young birches.

A said...

Looks like home. :)

And I am glad.

Beautiful. Thanks.

Madcap said...

It always surprises me how much our bits of the world resemble each other, even though we're so far apart.

Deb said...

MojoMan- I think these are paper birch. But I will soon have a copy of a new guide, Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota, which should enhance my knowledge of the woods here greatly.

That is indeed an elm, a lovely weepy looking one at that. I hope it doesn't get Dutch elm disease, like all my childhood elms died of.

Barefoot Gardener- You have summed up in a few words all that is wonderful about birch trees. Thank you.

Pablo- I was just musing to myself as I took the pictures, wondering why they are only a fixture here in the north.

I haven't been in a bloggy festive mood lately, but I just might submit this one to Festival of the Trees.

Forest Wisdom- Looks like home to me too. These pictures were all taken along my driveway. I am grateful.

Madcap- Are you experiencing healing warm (for winter) temperatures there? I always pictured your world as more open prairie, but maybe we are a similar biome.

Deb said...

MojoMan- I forgot to say, that is moonrise, looking northeast.

tsiya said...

Wow, still looks too cold up there!

Erica said...

I love birch trees, they are one of my favorite trees!

Jayne said...

I love the birch and these photos are beautiful Deb. :c)

R.Powers said...

I can't believe the temps I keep hearing about up there in your neck of the woods.
Brrrrr... that picture is icy beautiful.

R.Powers said...

Beautiful scenes. I can't believe how cold your winter has been.

Deb said...

tsiya- Still feels too cold up here. High in the twenties today, but still feeling chilly.

Erica- I have heard you can tap them like sugar maples and make syrup or beer from the sap. I may have to try that...

Jayne- Thank you. I don't suppose you have any birches around there!

FC- Nice double comment. :) We're enjoying a bit of a January thaw now.

RuthieJ said...

I love your birch pictures Deb. Too bad you couldn't get Stan to come and pose on a branch for you.

Deb said...

RuthieJ- I didn't blog it yet, but Stan is a regular visitor again since I put out a tray of premium nut mix feed. Him and the blue jays.