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 […]
Tag: Trees
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Tree of the Month, December 2022
One of the tallest conifers in the northeastern US, this useful, native tree has a fascinating history.
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 […]
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 […]
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.
Tree of the Month May 2022 Boxelder (Acer negundo)
by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Boxelder is the Rodney Dangerfield of Ohio maples; It don’t get no respect. Unlike the October 2021 Tree of the Month, Sugar Maple, Boxelder’s weed-like growth and weak wood make it unloved for landscaping or lumber. Boxelder can be tapped for maple syrup, […]
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 […]
White Oak (Quercus alba): February (2022) Tree of the Month
Fascinating information about the great White Oak trees, by Mort Schmidt.
Tree of the Month, Dec 2021 American Holly (Ilex opaca)
by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Holly has long been associated with the holiday seasons. In fact, the name “Holly” is derived from the word “holy” because of this association. Holly is primarily a southeastern tree, but its natural range does extend into the southernmost counties of Ohio. Left […]
Tree of the Month November 2021: Ohio Buckeye Aesculus Glabra
By Martin (Mort) Schmidt, for Simply Living The Ohio State University’s famous football coach, Woody Hayes, described the Buckeye as “a worthless nut”. And so it is. Nor does the wood have much value. But in November, as we’re winding up the football season, what better tree to honor than […]
October Tree of the Month: Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) by Mort Schmidt
Thanks to Mort Schmidt for this wonderful description of the Sugar Maple tree and its many uses.
September Tree of the Month: TREE OF HEAVEN
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus Altissimus)by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living The latest Tree of the Month is a bad seed, if you’ll pardon the expression. If you’re someone who’s drawn to exotic beauties who are known troublemakers, Ailanthus altissima is the tree for you. Tree of heaven is native to China, […]
August Tree of the Month: Eastern Cottonwood
Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Cottonwood has alternate, simple leaves. In trees with alternate leaves (and branches), which describes most Ohio hardwoods, the leaves and branches are not attached directly across from each other, as shown in the image below. Simple leaves are distributed more […]