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waterwatcher123

(238 posts)

187. Yellow birch are native to the zone where we live (transition from hardwood to boreal forest).

Sun Sep 8, 2024, 07:09 PM

Sep 8

Amazingly, these trees repel insects and live hundreds of years. I suspect most people around where we live (shores of Lake Superior in MN) would have a hard time identifying these trees given that the bark is silver colored instead of the typical white people associate with birch.

Thanks for asking about trees (nice to talk about something other than the destroyer of worlds - Donald Trump). Trees are the antithesis of that man in that they seek nothing other than a chance to grow. I kept a cup my mother gave me that had a quote about an oak tree apropos to current times. It went something like the following Hallmark quote: “ Every mighty oak was once a nut that stood its ground.” We might be nuts for believing in a better tomorrow. But, it is better to be a nut than weird.

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What is your favorite tree? It can be in your yard or not. I love the Japanese Fire Trees. I have in my yard, though [View all] debm55 Sep 7 OP

Any red maple... 3catwoman3 Sep 7 #1

Thank you 3catwoman3 They are beautiful trees. debm55 Sep 7 #3

Willow Tree... FarPoint Sep 7 #2

Thank you FarPoint I haven't seen any willow trees around here. but other places I have been, I admired their beauty. I debm55 Sep 7 #5

I am in Dayton Ohio... FarPoint Sep 7 #28

We don't have any any ponds around here. just the rivers. Bummer. I think they are beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #82

We have willows here in NYC. They like to be near water, if possible. electric_blue68 Sep 7 #67

Thank you electric_bllue68 . That's what I thought. debm55 Sep 8 #83

Tree Rollins True Dough Sep 7 #4

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. you are bad True Dough. debm55 Sep 7 #8

There's about 10% redeeming qualities in me True Dough Sep 7 #12

Ten Percent? ProfessorGAC Sep 7 #31

I'll look --only 10? I think you have more. debm55 Sep 8 #84

All right True Dough Sep 8 #119

I have a small collection of Japanese Maples that I love biophile Sep 7 #6

I agree with the native trees. My Japanese Fire trees look like crap starting in the fall. They are beautiful in the debm55 Sep 7 #13

Peach tree. Codifer Sep 7 #7

At one time we had peach and pear trees . I was told by my neighbor that to give fruit you had to have 2 of each. Yard debm55 Sep 7 #15

I am a peach fiend Easterncedar Sep 9 #202

The problem with Codifer Sep 9 #210

All true! Easterncedar Sep 9 #211

I can only imagine how grateful your neighbor was Easterncedar Sep 9 #212

Quercus michauxii rockbluff botanist Sep 7 #9

Thank you rockbluff botanist. It sounds wonderful. debm55 Sep 8 #87

Lindens---very popular in Colorado and when they bloom, oh, the fragrance is heavenly... hlthe2b Sep 7 #10

Also called basswood. Basswood honey is excellent. Ocelot II Sep 7 #52

Thank you Ocelot II. Yes, trees with a scent are my favorites. debm55 Sep 8 #89

I never knew a variety of honey was produced from them, but searching I see it available. I'll have to try... hlthe2b Sep 8 #101

TIlia americana. Native to my neck of the woods. Ocelot II Sep 8 #109

Thank you Hithe2b they sound wounderful, I like trees with a scent. We used to have a lilac tree loved it. debm55 Sep 8 #88

I love crape myrtle trees. arkielib Sep 7 #11

Thank you arkielib. I am so glad your sister survived.You have to careful of pines also as their roots do not grow deep debm55 Sep 8 #91

Maple trees, especially in autumn, when they display many colors... Jrose Sep 7 #14

Thank you Jrose I love the colors of the maple trees. They are beautiful. It's getting close to them changing. debm55 Sep 8 #92

Silver Birch n/t sarge43 Sep 7 #16

Thank you sarge43 beautiful tree. debm55 Sep 8 #93

Weeping Birch catbyte Sep 7 #17

We have one weeping birch in NYC's Fort Tryon Pk electric_blue68 Sep 7 #68

Oh what a beautiful tree, Thank you so much, catbyte. debm55 Sep 8 #94

Saguaro enid602 Sep 7 #18

Thank you enid602, When I visited AZ I was awestruck by them. Very beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #95

Technically it may not be a "tree" but it is my favorite as well. The other morning when I was walking I in2herbs Sep 8 #147

Japanese Maple! AltairIV Sep 7 #19

Thank you AltairIV, It is a beautiful tree. debm55 Sep 8 #96

The Sweetgum in our front yard. HeartsCanHope Sep 7 #20

Thank you HeartsCanHope. While walking Dolly , We both have been hit on the head by them debm55 Sep 8 #97

I'm interested in purchasing an established Niagara Sep 7 #21

Thank you Niagara. I love the Magnoia trees and their smell. I don't think I have seen a Knock Out Rose Tree around here debm55 Sep 8 #98

I think that picture of the Knockout rose tree is deceptive. LeftInTX Sep 10 #216

I really think that is a picture of a camellia and not a Knockout Rose LeftInTX Sep 10 #218

black walnut surrealAmerican Sep 7 #22

that is my favorite. lapfog_1 Sep 7 #26

Love these trees. Had a bunch of them in my small ranch, and had to run off people from stealing the walnuts! SWBTATTReg Sep 7 #45

I like their looks, but they give off a substance from their roots Ocelot II Sep 7 #55

They are poisonous to horses, dogs, and cats Bayard Sep 7 #70

Agree. Thank you Bayard. debm55 Sep 8 #102

Thank you surrealAmerican. I was trying to figure out the names of the trees. We use to call them "monkey balls" when I debm55 Sep 8 #99

We always knew when folks had been hulling black walnuts from the stain on their forearms yellowdogintexas Sep 8 #123

I've been on a few wild food walks in Manhattan, and Queens... electric_blue68 Sep 9 #195

Mimosa, especially when they are blooming. Enter stage left Sep 7 #23

I was thinking of the one mimosa tree in one of my own neighborhoods... electric_blue68 Sep 7 #69

My neighbors across the street. bought the next lot. And had about ten of them. They were beautiful. When they died and debm55 Sep 8 #100

My cherry 🍒 tree. The birds 🐦 also love it. Polly Hennessey Sep 7 #24

These are nice too! Used to have before they all died out, the birds would flock all over them, eat them before I SWBTATTReg Sep 7 #46

Thank you SWBTATTReg. debm55 Sep 8 #117

I love cherries, too. Nt spooky3 Sep 7 #57

I love Japanese Cherry Trees when they first bloom in the spring Thank you, Polly Hennessey. debm55 Sep 8 #118

Thank you Polly Hennessey. debm55 Sep 8 #157

Bald cypress duncang Sep 7 #25

We have Montezuma and Bald Cypress here LeftInTX Sep 8 #80

Thank you duncang. Are they nativie to the South? debm55 Sep 8 #122

A lot of them duncang Sep 8 #166

I live in San Antonio. We're always in a drought, but I know they grow on land in parts of the south. LeftInTX Sep 10 #217

I love those, too! pandr32 Sep 12 #228

Sugar maple Sanity Claws Sep 7 #27

Thank you Sanity Claws We love driving up the mountains here in PA and looking at the trees. It's almost time. debm55 Sep 8 #125

Sango Kaku gademocrat7 Sep 7 #29

Love Japanese Maples, thank you gademocrat7 debm55 Sep 8 #124

I love.... CommonHumanity Sep 7 #30

You can love all trees but have a special tree that is a sight to behold for various reasons. debm55 Sep 8 #127

of course you can CommonHumanity Sep 24 #239

Reread my post at #127, I wasn;t defensive, Just said that you can love all trees but have a special type that you are debm55 Sep 24 #240

I really don't think God fills insulted by me liking a specific tree, animal, body of water. landforms. humans, birds, debm55 Sep 24 #243

Tree MoonlightHillFarm Sep 7 #32

Love the smell. Thank you , MoonlightHillFarm. debm55 Sep 8 #130

Evergreen Magnolia. cloudbase Sep 7 #33

Thank you cloudbase. It sounds wounderful. debm55 Sep 8 #129

Monkey Puzzle Tree surfered Sep 7 #34

I don't think I heard of them. We had Monkey Ball Trees in PA. Thank you . I will look it up debm55 Sep 8 #132

Rowan tree, for all of the mythology around it. nt Ilsa Sep 7 #35

Thank you llsa. Correct me if I am wrong, but are hemlock trees poisonous? debm55 Sep 8 #138

I think so, but I like their look. Ilsa Sep 8 #185

Poison hemlock and hemlock trees are not closely related. PufPuf23 Sep 12 #222

thank you very much, PufPuf23. Your post is very informative. debm55 Sep 12 #223

Been reading this thread for several days, cannot make up mind. PufPuf23 Sep 12 #225

Blue Spruce ProfessorGAC Sep 7 #36

Thank you ProfessorGAC . I agree on all three counts. debm55 Sep 8 #139

I have particular fondness for three different trees. Different Drummer Sep 7 #37

Thank you Different Drummer. All three are unique and beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #141

Osmanthus fragrans (Sweet Olive) subterranean Sep 7 #38

Thank you subterranean your description sounds wonderful. debm55 Sep 8 #142

Chinese Elm. Mosby Sep 7 #39

Thank you Mosby. debm55 Sep 8 #143

Redbud if..fish..had..wings Sep 7 #40

Thank you if..fish..had..wings. I hope it takes. debm55 Sep 8 #144

Quercus alba, white oak WestMichRad Sep 7 #41

Thank you WestMichRad. Wonderful tree. When I was a teen we lived in White Oak PA named after the trees there. debm55 Sep 8 #145

The King of All Trees: The Redwood Nictuku Sep 7 #42

Thank you Nictuku. Redwood Forest sounds wonderful. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Sep 8 #146

I love all the giant old growth evergreens! pandr32 Sep 12 #229

Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) Bob in the Land Sep 7 #43

Often referred to as a "living fossil" Zambero Sep 8 #108

Thank you, Bob in the Land. debm55 Sep 8 #149

Yellow Birch (leaves smell like spearmint). waterwatcher123 Sep 7 #44

Thank you waterwatcher123. That is interesting about the Yellow birch. I love the smell of spearment. debm55 Sep 8 #161

Yellow birch are native to the zone where we live (transition from hardwood to boreal forest). waterwatcher123 Sep 8 #187

Thank you ,waterwatcher. I have learned so much from this thread. debm55 Sep 8 #188

It was a very nice thread and chance for everyone to express a bit of appreciation for nature's splendor and diversity. waterwatcher123 Sep 9 #214

Yellow birch is a favorite of mine Easterncedar Sep 9 #208

I remember working with a plant ecologist who said some of our yellow birch trees were hundreds of years old. waterwatcher123 Sep 9 #213

Palo Rojo drmeow Sep 7 #47

Oh my that is beautiful. I have never seen anything like it. thank you drmeow. debm55 Sep 8 #162

This is the one that was in my backyard drmeow Sep 8 #174

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you, drmeow. debm55 Sep 8 #180

Crabapple because I spent so much time as a kid in my parent's crabapple applegrove Sep 7 #48

Thank you very much applegrove for sharing you memories with us. debm55 Sep 8 #160

I did too.. made jelly from the crabapples... Also nursed quite a few bee stings, as a result... hlthe2b Sep 24 #241

Canterpillars were our nemisis on that tree. Tent caterpillars. Ug! applegrove Sep 24 #242

Weeping willows make awesome hideaways Clouds Passing Sep 7 #49

Thank you Clouds Passing. that;s funny. debm55 Sep 8 #163

I have two Japanese maples in my front yard. Aristus Sep 7 #50

Thank you Aristus. They are lovely. debm55 Sep 8 #164

Catalpa. I love their orchid-like flowers in the late spring. Ocelot II Sep 7 #51

The first time I saw one, and in flowering was on a vacation in NYS... electric_blue68 Sep 7 #71

There's a big one in my front yard. Ocelot II Sep 7 #74

Oh, man - all at once! And just brown. Well, the flowers make up for it. 👍 electric_blue68 Sep 7 #75

I had one in the front yard Figarosmom Sep 8 #78

Thank you Ocelot II They are beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #169

And vanilla-like fragrance! Easterncedar Sep 9 #209

Gingko Trees Marigold Sep 7 #53

Only the male ones. The females produce a fruit Ocelot II Sep 7 #56

Hahahahaha Marigold Sep 7 #58

Yes, actually. Ocelot II Sep 7 #60

Oh, how well (unfortunately!) I know! In my second childhood neighborhood, our park... electric_blue68 Sep 7 #73

Thank you Marigold. I remember a neighbor had a Gingko Tree in their yard. Very unique leaf shape. debm55 Sep 8 #170

An oak tree I transplanted 25 years ago. OAITW r.2.0 Sep 7 #54

Thank you OAITW r.2,0 That oak is huge. debm55 Sep 8 #168

Here's a good pic of my tree... OAITW r.2.0 Sep 12 #227

Thank you beautiful tree and setting, debm55 Sep 13 #232

Live Oak first. I'm an old southern boy. The Redwoods are amazing trees. Lochloosa Sep 7 #59

Thank you lochloosa, That is beautiful debm55 Sep 8 #172

Quaking Aspen MN2theMax Sep 7 #61

Thank you , that sounds so lovely. debm55 Sep 8 #173

Jacarandas with blue flowers Batshit_Bruin_CA Sep 7 #62

Thank you Batshit_Bruin_CA that must be like living in paradise. debm55 Sep 8 #175

Dogwoods Wicked Blue Sep 7 #63

Thank you Wicked Blue. we do have dogwoods around here. Beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #176

Aspen madamesilverspurs Sep 7 #64

Thank you madamesilverspurs. That sounds so romantic with the leaves and their fall colors. debm55 Sep 8 #179

Eastern Redbud happybird Sep 7 #65

I agree maccafan Sep 8 #171

Thank you happybird. Your yard must be beautiful in the early spring. debm55 Sep 8 #183

Crab apple, or flowering cherry trees bc of the beautiful flowers each Spring. Otherwise, I guess... electric_blue68 Sep 7 #66

electric_blue, is there any particular reason why you believe that you Niagara Sep 12 #220

Traveling itself is not really a problem. I don't have extra much money at all... electric_blue68 Sep 12 #221

I understand financial difficulties. This year has been financially difficult for me... Niagara Sep 13 #231

Aspen and Blue Spruce (and they look great planted close together) Bayard Sep 7 #72

Thank you Bayard. Your yard sounds beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #159

Lots of pretty flowering threes Figarosmom Sep 7 #76

Thank you Figarosmom. I agree with both. debm55 Sep 8 #181

Sequoia sempervirons WheelWalker Sep 7 #77

Love the sequoia. Thank you WheelWalker. debm55 Sep 8 #121

Weeping cedar samplegirl Sep 8 #79

Thank you samplegirl , I love them so special and beautiful debm55 Sep 8 #120

There was an almost virgin patch of woods within walking distance when I was young doc03 Sep 8 #81

There is a protected area of never-forested white and red pines Ocelot II Sep 8 #90

Thank you Ocelot II beautiful tree. debm55 Sep 12 #224

Thank you very much, for sharing those memories with us. debm55 Sep 8 #116

Plumeria in any color parkia00 Sep 8 #85

Thank you parkia00. it sounds beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #106

Maples 🍁 Rebl2 Sep 8 #86

Thank you RebI2. Love them in the fall. debm55 Sep 8 #103

My family tree. OLDMDDEM Sep 8 #104

HAHAHAHA, Is that a real tree or are you pulling our legs????? debm55 Sep 8 #110

Just my family. No real tree. OLDMDDEM Sep 8 #111

Coast Redwood Zambero Sep 8 #105

Thank you Zambero , I always wanted to see one. debm55 Sep 8 #115

You're welcome! Zambero Sep 8 #150

Thank you.for the information. debm55 Sep 8 #152

My Moringa in the front. Arne Sep 8 #107

Thank you Arne. debm55 Sep 8 #114

Happy Trees underpants Sep 8 #112

HAHAHAHAHHAHAH. I got my kid to eat broccoli by telling him they were tiny trees. debm55 Sep 8 #113

Aspen CanonRay Sep 8 #126

CanonRay, thank you very much. They are beautiful trees. debm55 Sep 8 #156

giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Stargleamer Sep 8 #128

One of the few national parks I haven't been to that I always wished I had. Thank you Stargleamer. debm55 Sep 8 #134

I googled Japanese fire tree & they are gorgeous!! CrispyQ Sep 8 #131

thank you CrispyQ. I took my class to the Conservatory in Pittsburgh. They had a Japanesse Section with all these debm55 Sep 8 #133

Joshua sakabatou Sep 8 #135

Thank you sakabatou. I love seeing pictures of this tree. Lovely. debm55 Sep 8 #136

I have sa soft spot for the live oaks of the Crescent City TexLaProgressive Sep 8 #137

Thank you TexLaProgressive. They are beautiful, just beautiful. debm55 Sep 8 #151

No. 1.... TlalocW Sep 8 #140

Thank you TlalocW debm55 Sep 8 #148

The Mexican Lime tree in our back yard DBoon Sep 8 #153

Thank you DBoon. That sounds great. debm55 Sep 8 #154

Wow. Love lime juice! electric_blue68 Sep 9 #196

Jacaranda in full bloom. SunSeeker Sep 8 #155

Wow, SunSeeker . They are beautiful, just beautiful debm55 Sep 8 #158

Very beautiful! electric_blue68 Sep 9 #197

When I lived in Wa, it was old growth k55f5r Sep 8 #165

Oh wow. Would love to see it in person. Thank you k55f5r. debm55 Sep 8 #167

I have several wendyb-NC Sep 8 #177

Thank you wendyb-NC You have a beautiful yard. debm55 Sep 8 #182

Oh, the Elms. In NYC we lost a lot of Elms to this disease in the 60's... electric_blue68 Sep 9 #198

Yes, I remember wendyb-NC Sep 9 #204

Well, you cherish, and remember them. 🌳👍 electric_blue68 Sep 9 #207

Sassafras! femmedem Sep 8 #178

Thank you femmedem. How wonderful! Do you ever make tea from it? debm55 Sep 8 #184

I did as a kid from the sassafras that grew in our backyard. femmedem Sep 8 #186

The peach trees in markodochartaigh Sep 8 #189

Thank you very much markofochartaigh. Your post touched my heart. The trees and the events tied to them forever in your debm55 Sep 8 #191

Japanese Maples Nixie Sep 8 #190

Thank you Nixie. Mine will turn a burgundy in the fall and then the leaves will drop.There are many varieties of the debm55 Sep 8 #192

Madrone MissB Sep 8 #193

i am patial to hemlocks, but i guess yellow birch. they look like bronze at the family cottage. horse chestnut. except pansypoo53219 Sep 8 #194

A few quick tree stories... electric_blue68 Sep 9 #199

Thank you very much, electric_blue68 . You have some very interesting stories. I always though th Magnolia was a warm debm55 Sep 9 #200

There are magnolias at the white house. They're supposedly hardy to -10 degrees. (But probably more like -5) LeftInTX Sep 10 #215

Thank you LeftinTex debm55 Sep 10 #219

So many to love Easterncedar Sep 9 #201

Thank you very much Easterncedar. Your post is very interesting. We have elms around here in SW PA. Majestic trees. debm55 Sep 9 #205

Catalpa and yellow locust are beautiful too Easterncedar Sep 9 #203

Oh that Chinese Dove tree sounds wonderful. Thank you Easterceder. debm55 Sep 9 #206

American Yellowwood, cladrastis lutea RainCaster Sep 12 #226

Thank you Raincaster, Beautiful debm55 Sep 13 #233

California black oak -- Quercus kelloggii RockRaven Sep 12 #230

Thank you very much, RockRaven. Your post is very informative. debm55 Sep 13 #235

Pin Oak Emile Sep 13 #234

Thank you very much Emile. I don't think I have seen an oak like that before but the speaker says it is located in Ohio debm55 Sep 13 #236

The deer and I love our apple trees Evergreen Emerald Sep 13 #237

Thank you Evergreen Emerald. I love how the moms and their babes eat from the apple trees. So relaxing. And I really debm55 Sep 13 #238