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waterwatcher123

(238 posts)

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

Mon Sep 9, 2024, 07:52 PM

Sep 9

Paper birch, which are another amazing tree, only live about 40 years. So, the yellow birch is in a class of its own when it comes to longevity. They also seem to have an incredible ability to regenerate and continue even when the tree's demise seems imminent.

I have to admit I am a fan of trees generally. They are among some of the world's oldest living things (especially the giants like the Redwoods and Sequoias). A long time ago I worked for the City of Minneapolis where we had an annual awards ceremony for heritage trees (largest of a species or related to a historic event or person). It was great fun to see people nominate these urban trees and to describe their value to a neighborhood or community (was also a way to protect these trees).

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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