Apparently nobody told this young apple tree it didn’t have to bloom its first spring on site. The variety is William’s Pride. We planted it last November. Precocious, isn’t it?

A hard freeze is predicted tonight, so I suspect these blossoms won’t be so pretty tomorrow. The tree is a bit tall and spindly. Mosses and lichens cover its bark so thickly I can’t distinguish its natural pattern. Such is the way of trees in overgrown, neglected places. This one is struggles for its share [...]

Elm flowers aren’t that impressive, but I still get excited about this milestone of spring. Especially on a still evening when the wind isn’t fluttering the tiny parts and ruining the focus on my pictures.

This thick tangle of vines wraps around two young elm trees and extend up into the treetops. The bark is smooth, unlike wild grapevines nearby. I’m hoping when it leafs out I’ll be able to figure out what it is.

We’re calling this the volcano tree. It ‘erupted’ this afternoon while I was crossing my neighbor’s pasture to check on a couple of hot spots left from Tuesday’s fire. I heard a loud crackling and looked across the pond just in time to watch the top blow off this tree. Okay, [...]

Peeking inside the hollow base…actually, it glowed a lot brighter, but the camera’s flash changed the lighting enough to make the ash on the hot embers visible. 

Same view, no flash. 

More shadows – voila! Art! 

This big old post oak straddles a fenceline between two small pastures. Right now, the wire gate is open, allowing free egress. I love the oak’s shape, the untidy cluster of thick branches, some worn-out, damaged and nearly dead, others strong and healthy. We writers could shape interesting analogies around an oak like this.
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