Author: Mort Schmidt

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, June 2023

Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living In the wild, Honeylocust is one of the most recognizable trees because of its long branched thorns. In fact, the Latin species name, triacanthos, means “three thorns”. Honeylocust is very popular for landscaping, but domesticated varieties usually lack thorns and […]

Ecology, Environment, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, April 2023

My Favorite Tree Books By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living I recently wrote about my favorite tree websites and downloadable books. This month I’ll discuss my favorite printed books – books about trees made from trees. I have over a hundred of them, many of which I picked up […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Native Plant Sale

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District is holding their annual plant sale. I’ve planted over 100 trees from this source over the years and nearly all of them have thrived. Most of the trees are sold as bare-root saplings, which consist essentially of twigs with roots, packaged in bundles […]

Ecology, Sustainable Living

Favorite Tree Websites

by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Photo by Mort Schmidt I’m often asked about my favorite tree books and websites. I have a good many favorites, so this month I’ll discuss my favorite tree websites and some later month I’ll discuss my favorite tree books. I’m old school – when […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Winter Tree ID

Mort Schmidt, author of the Tree of the Month articles, will co-lead a winter tree ID walk with park ranger Scott Felker at Three Creeks Metro Park on Sunday, January 22nd at 2 PM. We’ll meet at the Confluence Area as shown in the attached map. I’d love to see […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, January 2023

Baldcypress, Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Not all conifers are evergreens. We often use the terms interchangeably, but in fact some conifers lose their needles in winter, while some broadleaf trees, such as American Holly (Ilex opaca), keep their leaves in winter. As discussed […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, November 2022

White Ash, American Ash Fraxinus americana  by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living White Ash is the stuff of baseball bats, and would be a good candidate for the ideal tree, especially when considering its wood. Harder than pine, softer than oak, ash is hard enough to wear well, but […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, October 2022

Eastern Hop Hornbeam, aka Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood Ostrya virginiana by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Eastern Hop Hornbeam is often overlooked today, but it was once an essential wood due to its considerable hardness. It’s often confused with two other understory trees, American Hornbeam – Ohio’s other “Ironwood”, and […]

Ecology

August 2022 Tree of the Month – Common Hopwood, Wafer Ash Ptelea Trifoliata By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living

This small tree is the New World’s northernmost member of the Rue (citrus) family. Once widely used for medicine, it’s too small for lumber and is useful only to wildlife and landscapers. But it’s very distinctive and interesting. The Common Hoptree’s compound leaves have alternately-arranged leaves with three leaflets, hence […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, July 2022

“Mimosa”, Persian Silk TreeAlbizia julibrissinby Martin (Mort) Schmidtfor Simply Living If you’re driving along a city street in July and notice a small tree with pink flowers, take a closer look — it might be a Persian Silk Tree, commonly known as “Mimosa”. As the name suggests, it is native to […]

Ecology, Guest Blog Post

Mistletoe Tree of the Month March 2022

By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Occasionally the Tree of the Month article will feature topics related to, but not strictly about trees. Mistletoe would be an appropriate subject for the December issue, but I wanted to release this article before I lost touch with Daniel and Gigi, who […]