We are having 19 large white pines removed from our side yard to allow more sunlight to reach the house and driveway. The remaining hardwoods - mostly red oak and beech -- will now grow straighter and bigger after the over-topping pines are gone. We have many big pines on the other side of the house, so the birds and squirrels still have their roosting and feeding habitats. The tree crew is working in the cold; the average temperature in the last 24 hours was 0 F. Tomorrow I will post photos of this operation.
Meanwhile, here are the answers to the winter bud quiz that I posted last Friday. Buds add warmth to the season, which is greatly needed at the moment. These winter buds are a sure sign that spring is on its way!
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): small, round, red buds; reddish stem
Red maple (Acer rubrum): opposite, red buds; red stem
Hobblebush (Viburnum alnifolium): opposite rust-colored, naked (no scales) buds
Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata): large, tan-gray buds with dark outer scales; stout twigs
Speckled alder (Alnus incana): male (large) and female (small) catkins (flower buds) present; also look for last year's fruits (cones)
Gray birch (Betula populifolia): typically single male bud; slender twigs
American beech (Fagus grandifolia): long, slender, pointed, copper-colored buds
Rhododendron: large, green, pointed buds
Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum): small, round, red buds; reddish stem
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