Ironwoods and trees

I don't know of many folks here in my area that love the Ironwood, in some places they are considered a pesky tree. Of course, I find it interesting in shape and form. The tree is also known as:

Hop-Hornbeam
Ostrya Virginia

This tree is not to be confused with the other Ironwood. Also called Musclewood or American Hornbeam.  Both trees live in the surrounding forests.

Here are the leaves in the winter. This is called marcescent leaves. Leaves that stay on the tree and don't fall off in the fall. Oak trees do the same things. The new buds push off the leaves in the spring. Some think that this provides better mulch for the tree. 

All I know, is that these trees are fun to look at in the winter. They are generally understory trees and are pretty abundant in forests that have been commercially logged.

The trees that are on the edge of the woods have their leaves torn off by wicked winter winds. In the winter you can see the male catkins that are produced in the summer. In the spring, the catkins spore and fertilize the female parts. 

I'm don't totally understand the whole process as this is all fairly new to me. 

If you are interested in seeing the photos and explanation, this is a good site to read:
Hop Hornbeam-Outdoor Learning.

It has taken me a few years and a new neighbor whose job is helping people with managing their forests in our county. He is a wealth of knowledge.

This spring I'll try and catch the catkins from the slippery elms, the boxelders, maples, oaks, birch, and the hop hornbeam. I'm pretty curious about how these trees 'do their' thing.

I've been working on this sort of ID project since 2010 with so many starts and stops and distractions along the way.

I can at least identify a few more trees now than in 2010.

This curlicue below is from a wild grape vine. This is part of the same vine that I made almost two whole batches of grape jelly. The second batch had to be mixed with wild apple juice I picked from the meadow trees.

I'm going to be sidetracked yet again by some nice weather. That means I'll go looking at KVR I hope to see if I can find some migrating birds in the ponds or perhaps some pussywillows.

Meanwhile, there is a NEW tougher Duckie in town!

 

Seriously Unplugged

 Well, our internet, Wifi, fiber optic phone 'stuff' has been going out intermittently the past few days.
Last night everything stopped working at 4pm ish and came back some time in the middle of the night.

I called their Help line with my cell phone last night and the nice gent on the other end had me test the power strip, plug and unplug things which were nearly impossible to unplug [either it was my poor arthritic fingers that couldn't grasp correctly or something!]. I finally got so frustrated after my cell phone beeped and said NO cell reception where I was at...

The tech called back and we tried it again. Nothing was working on his end either. He suggested a 'ticket' to send out a tech to deal with it. I said that was what I would prefer.

Our wifi and the battery pack is all owned by our phone company and their techs have always been great. They replaced it 7 years ago and I suppose the machinery is old? The nice thing is, they have to solve the issues.

We spent Friday evening with no TV. I read a book, hubby fidgeted. I made him sit on the porch with me so we could watch birds and just enjoy the weather.

Ariel had left to go home. We had a really great time together. Instead of hiking, we went to indoor flea markets that are prevelant in our area. We had fun looking at some of the totally weird stuff that people brought in to sell.

We've had two very hot days with high winds and this afternoon we will change over to rain and thunderstorms and Sunday evening we have a Winter Storm Watch with 4 to 7 inches of snow to dump on us.

If I don't visit your blog or reply to comments or any emails I get. Then our system went down again and we are Seriously Unplugged.

For now though, I am going out to enjoy the sunshine and mild morning before Mother Nature changes her mind again!

Funny photo of Charlie...he likes to carry his own leash when we go on a walk...

Peacefulness at Tainter Hollow:

Spidey web in the early morning light:

Maple Catkins. Did you know they had flowers? 

Have a great day!

Pictures of the Ugly Chair we found at one of the Flea Markets later! Can't wait for a new paint project!

Sunday Arty Stuff

I am doing a photo album of just 'tree' stuff. I'm trying once again to follow some of the local trees on our road and the forest through out the year.

It isn't just about the trees themselves but more of a study on how the trees shapes just amaze me. They are an artform all their own.

Below: Apple Blossoms

I think I like this one below a bit better...
for its artsy minimal effect

Below: Cherry Blossoms in the morning light

Abstract

Below: Cherry Blossoms in Neighbor's yard

Birch tree

Oak Tree with catkins

Most of these photos were taken in mid May. That is how far behind I am in addressing my photography. The yard and gardens sort of took over and I'm just about finished now except for planting sweet corn [I'm going to do a no till experiment that may fail miserably].  

I also have a rough spot in the yard that I'm going to dig up a bit and toss in a couple of packets of wildflower seeds.

Today looks like a good day to just chill out.

The Southeast Trails are done!

Map of the hike highlighted

in pinkish color.

 

Canada Geese

Bill watching Geese.

Another stunning shot of a Canada Goose. :-O 👀

Charlie leads the way around the Dam Trail which is segment #5. It was a rather easy hike and the weather was beautiful.

Dam Tower

We hiked back to look at pussy willows and admired this tree which had something that looked like pine cones and also had catkins growing on the same branch! The catkins were not on this tree last Sunday.

Alder Tree

Color me tickled, I figure out one more tree to identify!

Sections 2,3, and 5 finished.

This morning we woke up to a heavy snow fall. It was beautiful. By evening chore time the snow had disappeared and the sun was shining brightly.