Northern Red Oak, Red Oak Quercus rubra (Q. Borealis in many older texts) by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Northern Red Oak is one of the Midwest’s most important trees. Oaks are host to numerous animals, provide food for rodents, bears, deer, and other animals, and are essential sources […]
Tag: tree of the month
Tree of the Month, September 2023
Hawthorn, Thornapple, Mayflower, Mayhaw Crataegus sp. by Martin (Mort) Schmidt, for Simply Living Hawthorn is a small tree with a large number of species and a larger place in culture. Three species of Hawthorn have National Champions in Ohio, but the tallest is a mere 30 feet tall. Hawthorn represents […]
Tree of the Month, August 2023
Coppicing is the ancient practice of cutting down a tree or shrub, and harvesting the growth that sprouts from the stump. Coppicing was once widely used to provide construction material, fuel, and fodder, and it’s gaining renewed interest, especially as a source of sustainable energy.
Tree of the Month, July 2023
Arborvitae, American Arborvitae, Northern White Cedar, Eastern White Cedar Thuja occidentalis by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living You have, I have, we all have Arborvitae deep within us. Read on….. Arborvitae, the Tree of Life, is a tree of paradoxes. Both revered and reviled over history, Northern White Cedar […]
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 […]
Tree of the Month, May 2023
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Once considered the ideal landscaping tree, the Callery Pear cannot legally be sold, grown, or planted in Ohio, due to its invasiveness. Callery Pear was introduced to the United States from Asia in the early 1900s. The edible Pear, […]
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 […]
September Tree of the Month 2022 Black Cherry, Rum Cherry Prunus Serotina by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living
Black Cherry wood is prized for its attractive color, but Cherry is surprisingly common in Ohioforests and most of the Eastern US. Black Cherry is not the tree used for pies and pastries, nor isit the cherry widely used in landscaping, known for its spring blossoms. But it does have […]
Tree of the Month, June 2022 American Hornbeam aka Ironwood, Blue Beech, Water Beech, Muscle Wood (Carpinus caroliniana)
Learn about the features and many uses of this hardwood tree.
April 2022 Tree of the Month: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida)
By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living One of the most beautiful trees native to Ohio is the Flowering Dogwood. Its lovely flowers withlarge white petals are a welcome harbinger of spring, even if the petals aren’t really petals. But first, another tree with white flowers makes its appearance in […]