Aceraceae - Maple Family 

Box Elder

"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 1

January 1

April 1

July 1

October 1

Spring

Box Elder drawing by  Brooke Priddy Conrad

The Box Elder in the light of a spring day

When I started writing my Journal Book called, A Year With the Trees, I began with the Box Elder Tree.  This is the tree I studied on January 1st for the Winter Box Elder tree.  I returned again on April 1st and on July 1st and October 1st.  I  visited each of the 93 trees in all four seasons.  The springtime Box Elder is my favorite tree at this time of year.  When you see the incredible light on the pale new green leaves, you will know why it is favorite.  I started this tree journey in 2010; now I have 93 incredible species that I call my tree friends.  

Find your own Box Elder Friend and get to know that tree in all its beautiful seasons. Sit with the tree and look into it's branches.  See how it changes throughout the year and see what feelings you experience as you become still and just breathe under this tree's branches.  For me, I feel Peace; and we can all use more peace everyday.  Let me know if you want to know where you can find my favorite Box Elder.  

You can find more info in this blog about the box elder by finding its name in the labels.

For the love of the trees,
Becky

Phenology -My Practice of Phenology at Priddy Woods - What is Phenology?

 My practice of Phenology at Priddy Woods

I have a practice of phenology at Priddy Woods.  At Priddy Woods I have currently 24 tree companions. I visit them every day I am at Priddy Woods.  I look into their branches and see what is happening.  I watch their leaves unfold,  the flowers bloom, the leaves change color in the fall; and I watch the leaves fall to the earth.  I am bringing awareness of the change of the seasons and how it shows up in nature and my life.  I am noticing nature's changes in the trees, the birds, the animals and myself, my family, and friends.  

I am a phenologist, I study the timing of the life cycle events in plants and animals.  However, to me, this is not just a "study", it is a practice of awareness and being grateful as well as a daily prayer that our grandchildren and their grandchildren for many generations may also witness the amazing life cycles of trees and flowers and birds and animals that share our earth with us.

What is phenology?

I quote from Natures Notebook,  You can read more at: National Phenology Network

"Phenology is the study of the timing of life cycle events in plants and animals, their recurrence, and relationship to the environment. The word comes from the Greek root word phaino, which means to show or appear.

Phenology is nature’s calendar—when cherry trees bloom, when a robin builds its nest and when leaves turn color in the fall.

Phenology is pollinators visiting open flowers to aid in reproduction, elk making mating calls, and a tadpole turning into a frog."

Brian F. Powell. CC BY 4.0

Slash Pine

 Dauphin Island, Alabama

February 3, 2023

This tree is the magnificent Slash Pine Tree.  It is a long needled pine that thrives here on the coast of Alabama.  This tree is a protector of the land and water and air.  That is why I call this tree magnificent.  It is also so beautiful with its red plated bark and the sunshine catching on its needles and lighting up the sky.

The Slash pine’s shallow roots grow together and help hold the land in place during all the storms.  Their roots clean the water that flows to this part of the country. The needles clean our air and the trees provide much needed shade for the health of our waters, land, and people.

I have attached a interesting research article on the needles of pines and iron collection on the needles from pollution. 

https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2020/10/22/u-research-shows-the-role-of-pine-needles-in-air-filtration/

I was fortunate to make my way to the sea lab on Daulphin Island.  I met Lori who works there and she told me about the Audubon trail markers that describe the Slash Pine and the Longleaf Pine.  I found that marker and the photos are included here.  

Lori is on the board of the Dauphin Island Foundation.  This foundation promotes community services and environmental conservation.  They are working on a tree project that will educate people about the ecosystem of the maritime forest on the island.  

Each part of the ecosystem is vital for the protection of the island.  Protection from land loss, wind shear, temperature fluctuations, and flooding.

Lori is now my tree sister.  She inspires me to find more tree sisters and brothers along my path of life.  Thank you Lori, for speaking for the trees, for caring, and sharing!

Speaking for the trees,

Becky 

“ Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It’s not.”  The Lorax

Fall is in the air

 I have been out in nature the past 10 days observing the signs of fall.  I am using my senses when out in nature to be more observant and aware of my surroundings.  I feel more presence in my life when I am observing and being a part of the nature around me.

I saw the light change in the past week or two from summer light to fall light?   Have you noticed it?

I saw the change in the light.  The light is lower in the sky, getting light later in the morning and getting  dark earlier in the evening.  The light comes through the trees lower and with a richer golden color.

I saw a few leaves change, like the red maple tree picture in this post as well as the blush of the dogwood starting.  This is just the start of fall color change that usually does begin this time of year.

I saw acorns on the ground and walnuts falling out of walnut trees.

I saw fall wildflowers in full bloom with bees working the flowers for their honey.

I saw sunsets that made me tear up with joy over the blue mountains of the Appalachian range.

I heard the sound of leaves falling in the wind and the sound of falling walnuts and acorns.

I smelled, the rich balsam smell of fir trees in the forest as walked.  I smelled the earthy smell of the deep soil of the forest floor covered in moss and lichens and ferns and mushrooms and fallen trees from many years past.

I felt the cold chill of early autumn air.  And I felt the wind on my face, and the sun on my skin.  I felt the soft floor of the forest floor, softened by many years of leaves and moss.

I tasted the air as I breathed it in.  Amazing, clean, pure air.  It tasted whole and like how air is meant to taste.

I was in Greyson Highlands State Park in Virginia and Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee.  I hiked on the AT in Virginia and Tennessee.  A most beautiful fall is starting.

For those of you reading this, get outside and be present with nature observing with all of your senses. As you do, perhaps you can write down what you experienced.  

If you would like to share, please share with me or a friend or family member.  

I will make a point to write more frequently here.  I will be outside daily making my phenology observations and sharing when I can.

Look back here for more info on my phenology project and what exactly is phenology.  I will share where I record my observations and my phenology trail at Priddy Woods.  

Here is a very interesting and education link to the USA National Phenology Network.

Phenology Network

Until next time,

Becky Priddy 

.

Carolina Hemlock - Tsuga caroliniana

Pinaceae - Pine Family
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 76
Carolina Hemlock Tree
Tsuga caroliniana

Spring

The Carolina Hemlock

This tree lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.  https://ashevillebotanicalgardens.org/
The Carolina Hemlock splays her needles all around the twig; this is the way to distinguish it from the Eastern Hemlock, which lays his needles flat on top, like a blanket.

Summer

Carolina Hemlock that has the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid living on it.

New spring growth on another Carolina Hemlock that does not have the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid living in it's branches.  

The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is living on this Carolina Hemlock.  The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is native to Asia and came to the Southern Appalachians in the 1950's.  This adelgid lives and breeds unchecked as this species has no predator in this part of the world.  The adelgid is sucking the sap out of the hemlock trees and causing them to die.  You can tell when a Hemlock has an infestation of the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid for it has white patches of a wooly substance which is actually what the Adelgid wraps their eggs in.

There is research going on in how to stop this infestation.  There are different methods being used and studied.  You can read more at https://savehemlocksnc.org/

Fall 

The Carolina Hemlock

This Carolina Hemlock lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens. ashevillebotanicalgardens.org.

The location of this Carolina Hemlock is interesting for it is very close to a Tsuga Canadensis. Because they are so close it is easy to see the difference in the two species. The biggest difference I could see was in the size of the needles, cones, and twigs. In comparing these two trees, the Carolina Hemlock had the largest needles and cones; although there was not a great deal of difference, it was noticeable. The Eastern Hemlock twigs were slightly thicker and the sprays of needles appear to be flatter on the Eastern Hemlock and more all around the twig on the Carolina Hemlock.

Winter

This tree only lives in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. I visited this tree at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.  www.ashevillebotanicalgardens.org

The Champion Carolina Hemlock Tree

The American Forest National Champion Carolina Hemlock Tree lives in Buncombe County, North Carolina.  It is 74 feet tall and has a circumference of 128 inches.
http://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/carolina-hemlock-tsuga-caroliniana-2/

I hope to find this tree and photograph and draw it.  Check back for that soon.

My favorite Carolina Hemlock Tree

My favorite Carolina Hemlock lives at the Botanical Gardens of Asheville.

For the love of the trees,
Becky

from my journal....

Fall on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smokey Mountain National Park

Fall is in the air in Asheville, North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Cataloochee.    I took a drive on the Parkway and also camped at Cataloochee a few days ago and here are some of the beautiful sights that spoke to my soul.  If you are near the Parkway, take a trip to see nature's beauty and fill your soul with the blessings of earth!

Fall Evening on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Sunset in October.

Fall Evening on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Sunset in October

Flowering Dogwood, 

Mountain Ash, Sorbus americana

Mountain Ash, Sorbus americana

Mountain Ash, Sorbus americana

Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica

Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica

Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica

Finding the signs of Fall

On my walk today, I was looking for signs of Fall.  I encourage everyone to go outside and look for at least ten signs of Fall.  Please write to me and tell me what you find.  While you are looking for the signs of Fall, use all of your senses; get into the moment and really listen, smell, look, feel, and taste.  Here are the signs of fall that I experienced.

1st sign of fall, yellowing leaves on the Yellow Birch tree.

Yellow Birch

2nd sign of fall, red berries on the dogwood trees.

Dogwood Tree

3rd sign of fall, yellow leaves on the Frasier Magnolia tree

Fraser Magnolia

4th sign of fall, Basswood leaves getting lacey holes in the leaves.

Basswood Tree leaves

5th sign of fall, Devils Walking Stick tree changing colors.

Devil's walking stick changing colors

6th sign of fall, Dahlias are in bloom.

Dahlia in bloom

7th sign of fall, Yellow fall wildflowers are everywhere.

8th sign of fall, A big blue Carolina sky.

My 9th sign of fall, listening to the fall insects singing.

My 10th sign of fall, was the feel of coolness in the air.

You know life happens every day, time ticks by second by second.  We get so busy at work and school and home.  Take time from your day and notice what is happening around you in nature.
Parents, I challenge you to take your kids outside and sit with them on the earth, walk in the woods, walk down the street in your neighborhood.  Get outside and notice what is happening all around you. Ask your kids to notice ten changes that are happening in nature as our season is changing to fall.

Write to me and tell me the changes you observe.
Celerylady@gmail.com

Box Elder - Acer negundo

Aceraceae - Maple Family 
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 1

Spring

Box Elder drawing by  Brooke Priddy Conrad

The Box Elder in the light of a spring day

Summer

The Box Elder tree has a compound leaf with three to five leaflets per leaf. The leaflets have coarse teeth. The twigs are green and hairless. They grow in pairs in an opposite arrangement. The flowers are like stacks of samaras, and are quite beautiful.

Fall 

Box Elder leaves in September

Box Elder on October 1st at Carrier Park in Asheville, NC

Winter

Box Elder, Acer negundo
photo by Robert Priddy

 The Box Elder is so beautiful this time of year with the samaras still holding on in the winter sunlight.  If you happen to be out on a winter's day walk in West Asheville by the river, be on the lookout for this Box Elder tree.

Winter Tree Identification is quite challenging and fun.  I have so much fun knowing what the trees are in the winter.  The trees I do not recognize, I will get out my books and computer and figure it out. 

The Winter Box Elder can be identified by looking at the twigs and bark. 
On the twig, leaf scars meet in a raised point and you will see the leaf scars circling the stem.

Twigs are greenish to purple and slender and hairless.  They grow opposite each other on the branches.

The bark will be smooth while the tree is young.  The tree will develop bark that is gray brown with interlacing ridges and furrows.

Buds are covered in whitish hairs.  The terminal bud is pointed, reddish, woolly.

Epicormic branches can be seen sticking out on the trunk; they are usually green.  These are little random branches that just stick out on the trunk.

Here is my drawing/interpretation of a Box Elder Twig.  

Box Elder Twig
Rebecca Priddy

The Champion Box Elder trees

There are 3 champion Box Elder trees listed in the North Carolina forest service champion tree program.  One of them is the Murphy, North Carolina.  It is 66 feet tall with a circumference of 147 inches.  
https://www.ncforestservice.gov/urban/tree_detail.asp?Tree_ID=664

My favorite Box Elder Tree

My favorite Box Elder lives in West Asheville on the walk by the river near Carrier Park.  I think the Box Elder may be one of the most photogenic trees I have ever photographed.

Plant a Box Elder Tree

The Box Elder tree is one of the host plants for the Cecropia silkmoth, the largest moth in America.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyalophora_cecropia_01.jpg

This tree is a masterpiece of art. The seeds are eaten by wildlife. The sap makes syrup. The branches are great for climbing. The samaras are beautiful. The shade to sit under and read is just perfect.

For the love of the trees,
Becky