Tawny Triplet

Pretty river birch awaits Spring.

I found a new trail today, oh boy! Inconspicuously tucked behind a big sprawling senior residence, the trail branched into a network of hard-packed earthen paths and offered a number of walking routes that snaked around 2 hidden lakes and dozens of ponds and wetlands interconnected by creeks and streams. What a happy find! It’s still too early to declare spring, but the snow is gone and the woodland is just beginning to come alive.

"Dear, humble birches, I love them more than any other tree. It's a good place to live." 

Anton Chekhov

This lovely cluster of river birch caught my attention as the sun shone through the thin translucent layers of peeling bark. The water-loving river birch provides attractive winter interest and grows tall and fast. It is drought, pest, and pollution resistant and will green up quickly producing winged seed pods that will make the birds happy.

The oils in a birch tree confer an unusual quality to the bark, making it both flammable and waterproof. Us it for a quick fire starter or as a durable sheet of waterproof paper.

*Factiod: According to Thomas Jefferson, birch bark is the best for taking field notes in wet conditions.