Tree of the day

[Texas Ranger]

giving me the blues

[caveman]

This one is from Europe and is planted in zones 2-7 as a timber tree and as an ornamental. 

[ESFted]

Yup.  Norway is in Europe.  It's a beautiful country, but maybe they could spruce it up a bit.

[firefighter ontheside]

Norway is in Europe, but it's also in my front yard.  I was blue when my other spruce died, so I planted this one years ago.  Grows much faster.

[caveman]

Today's was Norway Spruce (Puces abides). Tomorrow's will be a domestics species. 

[Don P]

Norway spruce is one of my pet peeves right now in construction. We are importing it from Europe, Canada and have recently allowed native grown into the lumber supply. With most species if I'm given a species and grade I simply need to look that up to get the design strength values and from that the maximum spans. A #2 NS grade stamp can presently carry any of 7 different sets of strength values depending on where it comes from. I was working on a house a few weeks ago that had NS from 3 different countries. I can guarantee nobody knew what the maximum allowable spans were.

[caveman]

 

 

 

 

 Today's tree is probably familiar to most, especially if you ever eat at Cracker Barrel restaurants. I do not ever think I have been to a Cracker Barrel that did not have these planted in the yard. 

[WDH]

This tree is a poster child for doubly serrate leaves and scaly bark.

[Magicman]

It's also a poster child for continually dropping small limbs.  :-\

[ESFted]

It also has a heavy spring sap run.  The squirrels used to "tap" the one near my front door and the walk was covered with sweet sticky sap.

[Southside]

I have sawed a couple, very nice lumber. 

[Texas Ranger]

saw a paper on this some where

[firefighter ontheside]

You could build a canoe and not need the lumber.

[lxskllr]

Not sure about the canoe, but I can almost see the river.

[caveman]

Yep, today's tree is a River Birch ( Betula nigra). 

[nativewolf]

Are y'all familiar with the American Chestnut Foundation?  They're doing some good work.

Saving the American Chestnut Tree | The American Chestnut Foundation

Yes they do.  Largest nursery for testing purposes is just south of @Don P off 81 before Abingdon.  However, I wish they would release seedlings in commercial quantities.  

[caveman]

I do not
Think I have used this one previously as tree of the day.  

 

 

  

[caveman]

Delawherejoe sent some pictures of a tree that will probably be a tree of the day soon.  

 

 

  

[btulloh]

Today's tree looks like the trees I enjoy so much in the early spring.  Very colorful understory and landscape trees.  Full bloom just before the dogwoods bloom.  A little messy in the yard, but worth it.  Hard wood.

[Magicman]

Yup, today's tree makes me smile in the Springtime.  

[btulloh]

A close relative of the exotic rosewood.

[doc henderson]

I think this one reminds me of when one of my buddies gets embarrassed.  we give out the seed packets in the fall to boy scouts to plant in their yards.

[caveman]

I planted four of these bare root seedlings in my yard last winter. I was pleased to see them all produce leaves and then some kind of caterpillar I suspect came along and ate most of the leaves. They are no longer cordate  and look like they have been hole punched with 3/8" diameter holes. I hope that they make it as they would add some early color to the landscape since most of my azaleas bought the farm. 

[btulloh]

Planting seeds is rewarding.  I'm amazed by how fast they grow in the first few years.  I can't say for sure, but it seems like planting the seeds yields better results than transplanting a small seedling.

[btulloh]

Too bad about the caterpillars, caveman.  I'll send you some pods if you want.

The deer won't let me have azaleas even though they are prolific here in most yards.  I can't seem grown them big enough to survive the deer.