An American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) showing off its marcescent leaves. These Beech trees create patches through the woods of pale brown areas of leaves hanging on, waiting for spring to fall to the ground.

Marcescence occurs when deciduous trees, mainly Beech or Oak trees, let their leaves wither in the late fall but they fail to let them drop to the ground until spring.

I love to see Beech trees in winter, just after a snow. Their leaves create little pockets of what look to me like little shave ice cones.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!