Tag: Trees

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

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

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

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, […]

Ecology

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 […]