January 20, 2025

Out in the snow this morning enjoying the scenery of the season, the woods carpeted with white everywhere. It’s been this way for two weeks now, with nine inches of snow falling along with the temperatures plummeting during the two weeks, going well below what is normal for this wintery time of year. And then three inches of fluffy snow to fall upon the totally frozen styrofoam like snow, within just the past couple of days.

During my adventure into the snow I came upon one of my very favorite tree barks, Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). A tree with a most unusual bark. I guess that is what appeals to me. So many tree barks look similar to each other but this one, I know what it is immediately with no hesitation. Randomly bumpy, with ridges that make me think of a topographic map.

And that’s in winter. Spring, summer and autumn there are so many other wonderful things to love as well, more than just the bark.

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