A fondness for trees...

[bighomer]

I'm a shade tree kinda feller my on self, but with 100+ heat indexes l ain't leaving the ac.

[Mumbleypeg]

When we think of trees most of us think of the big shade trees like oak, ash, elm, maple and such. But some of my favorites are the smaller understory trees that are 10 to 20 feet tall at most. Many of them are colorful in multiple seasons and provide food and habitat for all manner of birds and wildlife. Here's some that are growing in the creek bottoms and fence rows on my place. It's difficult to get pictures of the fruit on most of them because as soon as it's ripe the critters eat it.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

More.

Ken

[FRJ]

Good pictures, Ken.

[tongueriver]

I love trees; they are very important to me. California groves are on my bucket list. We live in a semi-arid zone and trees take it slow and easy here for the most part. On the tenth day of the tenth month of 2010 I planted ten burr oak acorns. They all came up some 16 months later and I pulled all but one. It is now about eight feet tall and vigorous, but ya know, they grow slow...
They say the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and the next best time is NOW. Besides trees, I also love WOOD. All things beautiful made from wood including knife handles. I am working on some walking sticks, with possibly indifferent success, but it does keep me off the street. I also recycle every scrap of paper and cardboard.

[Quick Steel]

Keu you have a spectacular variety. Beautiful.

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks Joe and QS! It's always interesting to see what's blooming or fruiting when I'm out and about. Most of the fruit isn't edible for humans but I try every fall to get some persimmons before the critters get them all. The possums and coons get most of them though. I just identified the gum bully tree recently after trying for several years to determine what it is. Have several interesting vines too but that's a subject for another thread.

Cal, a foot a year is about right for a burr oak in my experience. I planted one in my yard about 35 years ago. It's now 35-40 feet tall with a spread at least that wide. I can't even come close to reaching all the way around the trunk at shoulder height. Mine never gets any more than rain water so if you water yours regularly it might grow faster than mine has.

Ken

[blademaker]

Ive slept under this tree a few nights

[tongueriver]

I try every fall to get some persimmons before the critters get them all. The possums and coons get most of them though. Ken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUfbE69JJyI

[Mumbleypeg]

Enjoyed that one Cal! Some pretty fair slide guitar too.

Ken

[Camillus]

Some of God's best creations are trees, supplying shelter for animals, fruits and nuts, wood to produce amazing things, yes I love trees....

Camillus

[313 Mike]

Great shots fellas, glad to see I am not the only one here that appreciates a beautiful tree! I snapped this pic last evening while sneaking a peek out the back door at work as the sun was setting...

[Quick Steel]

Camillus: All fine shots. However, the 2nd photo under the canopy is something altogether special. I suggest blowing it up and having it framed. It is striking and beautiful.

[Camillus]

Thank you QS,
I have admired trees since I was a little boy,
I fell over 50' through my neighbors tree and lived to tell about it.
I also am a photographer and have put these pictures on Canvas Art Prints.

Camillus

[TripleF]

Amazing Camillus!! Amazing!

[Mumbleypeg]

Let’s wake up this old thread! I noticed this today about dusk-thirty while on my walk from the shop to the house. Forty foot tall American Elm in its winter glory. Click to enlarge for best effect.

Ken

[New_Windsor_NY]

Let’s.....

GREAT picture, Ken!
You even captured the UFO (near the upper left corner).

[eveled]

I like trees a lot. Big heathy trees are awesome.

But i’ve always been fascinated by what I call tortured trees. These are trees that have been forced to grow around or through things or otherwise have been manipulated either by chance or on purpose. I’m especially fascinated by how they can fuse back together. I’m constantly taking pictures of ones I find.

When I bought my house I started braiding trees together and watching them grow over the years. Not all of these are mine,

[eveled]

My two favorite trees at the back of my property were a mystery to me for a long time. Two clumps of dozens dead trees about 2” wide with some small living ones.

Turns out they are American Chestnut trees that have been killed by blight. I say killed because they no longer grow to adulthood, but the root balls are still very much alive and keep sending up new shoots.

Two truly tortured trees. Clumps like these are hard to find remnants of what used to be a very common tree.

[Quick Steel]

Ken, thank you for renewing this thread. Many interesting trees guys.

[Quick Steel]

I call this first photo "Ornaments."

The birds spend a lot of time in this area I cut out by the feeders. They flee here if a predator approaches.

This I think of as our mighty oak.

I call this one "Entwined Light."

[

[Waukonda]

Wow! What a great thread! I have been with AAPK 2 1/2 years and have never seen this, right up my alley, love this stuff, thanks for bringing it back!

[Mumbleypeg]

GREAT picture, Ken!
You even captured the UFO (near the upper left corner).

Thanks Skip! Must have been a speck of lint or something on the lense. If it was a real UFO I’d still be trying to catch up to it!

Ken

[Unk]

Some tree pics from my place. It has mostly Cedar Elm, Live Oaks, and Texas Ash trees. A few Cedar (Juniper) trees, as well as Red Bud trees, Mexican Buckeye trees and Chittumwood trees.

[jmh58]

A little something different..
John