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