Bushes, Trees, and Birds

 I was out on Thursday determined to find some birds or something exciting to look at.

Most of what I found was a bit dull and boring.

I was looking for any sign of birds at first. But then I noticed some things about the bushes and the trees.

I did find birds.

I mean, who cannot find crows? They are all over the place!

I heard the Redwinged Black Birds, I did! I crept around a large field edge to see if I could get a glimpse of one. 

And there he/she was. In a thicket of Prickly Ash. There was no predator that could bust through that thorny bush.

I knew from hiking here over the years, that I always heard them in the brush but never paid particular attention. Now I see why they would love this area as a nesting spot.

I decided to sit quietly in the field and see if one would eventually come out. That paid off.

There were several sparrows flitting around inside that area too. I couldn't get any decent shots of them to ID them. But they were all very talkative.

I ended up on the road where I'd seen the Bluebirds a few weeks ago and started walking along my neighbor's land. His big old birch trees grabbed my attention, their branches looked like they were pussy willows.

The photo is of lower feeder branches coming out from the tree itself.

Further down the road I saw these above me. More Birch trees, but I don't know exactly what kind.

I know that there are several types of birch, so this shouldn't have surprised me. Of course, I first thought that all birch trees should show their catkins in the same manner. But different varieties, just like different varieties of flowers will appear different.

Each year, I learn a little bit more about trees.

So this Hophornbeam gave me a bit of a brain tease.
My neighbor ID'd it as a Hophornbeam.

He ID'd this tree below as a Hophornbeam also. But they present differently.

So this confused me. But since I am not a botany person, I am going to leave these two trees as Hophornbeams of different varieties?

This tree keeps its leaves but doesn't have the 'chicken foot' winter catkins.

The leaves stick around and only fall off when the buds push them off.

See the tiny bud?

Tiny bud.....  ----->

So the more I 'investigate' these trees, the more questions I come up with.

These trees are grouped under the name of Ironwood Trees and there is apparently several kinds of them.

Hop Hornbeam, Hornbeam, Ironwood, and Musclewood are names given to these trees because of their hard wood. 

Let's not forget that these trees in the summer look like elm trees.

How confusing can that be????

Then there was evidence that the Gooseberry bushes were coming alive in the forest. I have a love hate relationship with these thorny guys. However, their flowers are cute and their berries can be picked and eaten when ripe. 
I've never tried it.

Even the invasive and horrible Multiflora Rose is trying to wake up.

In the shot below there are leaves that had budded out a few weeks ago during an intense warm spell. Those leaves dried up and now I can see new bright red ones peeking out.

The flowers to these bushes are pretty, but man those thorns are tough to get around. 

I may tie a ribbon or something around those two different Hop-Hornbeam trees and see what happens through the year. 

Seems that I enjoy watching some of the least popular trees and bushes there are.

Comparisons trees & brush

 Bittersweet May 1st in blossom

Bittersweet August 20th

Bittersweet September 20th

Bittersweet October 22nd

This was one plant I was pretty sure of. I was able to photograph it from spring to fall.

Properly dried Bittersweet is often sought after by the old timers as a Fall and Thanksgiving decoration in vases or on wreaths. Who can blame them? They are so bright and cheerful.

Here is the mystery bush that turned out to be a Hazelnut.

These are being sought after also as a alternative crop. Hazelnut coffee? The wildlife and humans both adore the nut. See? I will have to pay attention next year!

Hazelnut bush September 9th

Hazelnut bush September 24th

Hazelnut bush October 9th

Hazelnut bush October 22nd

Then there is the Dogwood. I didn't even know we had dogwood around until after I'd visited my son and he'd shown me some of his beautiful varieties in his yard. I recall looking at the blossoms in the early spring along side our road.

Dogwood Blossoms May 1st

August 20th 

October 22

Oak Tree May 1st

October 22

Another oak variety with rounded edges on the leaves.
White oak.

I think that is about it for today. I'm actually haveing some fun with trying my best to learn more about tree and how to ID them. This has evaded me most of my life.

However this summer while at my son's place, we spent quite a bit of time looking identifying trees around his home. For whatever reason, I found that really interesting.

I always start out with these exact good intentions every spring [to follow a plant from spring to fall] ... and usually forget about it. I didn't do too badly this year.

I'm looking forward to some winter ID'ing and more!

I need to get back to where I saw those Witch Hazels at KVR! That will be my goal next week!

It's about trees, I think

 A while ago I read a book that mention the interesting but odd tree or bush if you called Witch Hazel. So I started paying attention to the local trees and bushes on my walks around our gravel roads.

For the life of me I ran across one particular bush or small tree that I could not Identify. It confused me to no end. I looked up Witch Hazel as I was pretty sure that this odd plant had to be it.

I was sure until I was hiking at KVR and spotted a real Witch Hazel bush!

Those strange looking flowers gave it away. It was alongside the trail  crowded with every other imaginable plant.

Now that I know where I can find them, I will have to make sure to go back when the leaves fall and take another shot of them. 
The idea of them being so odd makes them something I'd love to have in my yard.

The other bush or small tree that I thought was the Witch Hazel was obviously not one. However I finally nailed it. No book showed it the way I was seeing it. And what plants have catkins in the fall? 

I used that to start my search and I found this to be

A Hazelnut Tree or Bush...

August photo:

Two weeks later:

I must say they really are kind of pretty. 

I've counted about 4 of these alongside one part of the gravel road. Again they are sort of hidden amongst many other trees and bushes. But I found them exotic in a way. 
They are obviously much different than oaks and maples which also line this road along with dogwoods.

And then finally on my walk Tuesday morning:

Apparently the catkins stay there all winter. They are the male part of the bush/plant and flowers will appear on the ends of the female branches come spring.

Nuts will appear in the late summer and if a person likes Hazelnuts, they have to get to them before the birds and other wild creatures do.

I know I will walk up there during one of the first frosts or snows and see if I can't get the catkins covered in white!

Another favorite of mine, Bittersweet in August:

Bittersweet October 5th:

The berries will disappear over winter.

The Dogwood in August looked like this:

Now? Just barren branches with no leaves.

I think I may have identified a pin cherry. But I am not sure quite yet. I need to do a bit more research.

I'm starting to recognize the trees and brush. This was something I never really paid attention to before. But what the heck. Learning is fun.