Category Archives: Trees & shrubs

Eastern Red-Cedar Bark

Eastern Red-Cedar, (Juniperus virginiana) The bark of cedar on the main trunk shreds into long, thin, flat strips. Very attractive!

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Hackberry Bark

Hackberry, (Celtis occidentalis) Get in very close to a tree sometime and take a look. There is a wonderful miniature world there with lichens, moss and bugs.

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Eastern Red Cedar

Eastern Red Cedar, (Juniperus virginiana) The only common evergreen tree at the PGT is Cedar. Even though it is a very attractive tree we have killed thousands of them over the last decade. The problem is that they invade glades … Continue reading

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Osage Orange

Osage Orange, (Maclura pomifera) The fruit of the Osage Orange is big and heavy; sort of like a softball made out of lead. In Trees if Missouri Don Kurz writes “It is speculated that mastodons, one of the only animals … Continue reading

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Still some color left

Hackberry, (Celtis occidentalis) The fall color this year was disappointing but there continues to be spots of it. Here are some Hackberry leaves on the north end of Potter’s Lake. I wonder why some trees (walnuts and hickories) loose their … Continue reading

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Burning Bush

Burning Bush, (Euonymus alatus) Twenty years ago we planted Burning Bush by our house because of its great fall color. However, after years of enjoying it we have started to find new plants popping up all over the property. It … Continue reading

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American Beautyberry

American Beautyberry, (Callicarpa americana) The iridescent-purple fruits of the Beautyberry make it very attractive native shrub. We have some planted on the west side of the porch at the PGT Visitor Center. Bobwhite Quail are supposed to love the seeds. … Continue reading

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Black Walnuts

Black Walnut, (Juglans nigra) Black Walnuts are very common at the PGT in the rich bottomland soils along our creeks. Many nuts are produced every year but I tend not to eat them because they are very hard to open. … Continue reading

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Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress, (Taxodium distichum) Most trees with needle-like leaves are evergreens. One exception is Bald Cypress. The name “bald” comes from the fact that it is deciduous and looses it’s needles in the winter. Before the needles fall they briefly … Continue reading

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Hickory Nuts

Shagbark Hickory Nuts, (Carya ovata) Like much of Eastern and Central North America our forest is dominated by oaks and hickories. I have a hard time identifying hickories except for the Shagbark hickory. As it’s name implies, the bark separates … Continue reading

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