The reddish gray-brown bark of the red oak tree with its darker vertical markings is one of the key features to identifying the tree in winter. (Clay Wollney) Leaves are the most useful and frequently ...

The winter landscape may seem a bit bland at first glance. But if you look closely, you’ll find that quite a few plants have interesting bark that is actually easier to appreciate without the ...

A walk in the woods this time of year is different. It’s quiet and monochromatic. Other than the crunch of your shoes on frozen ground, there isn’t as much to see or hear as a forest in spring or ...

Trees are nearly always selected for their flowers, foliage, or form. Yet, at this time of year, there is an often overlooked arboreal feature that may achieve sudden prominence in the garden. In ...

When we think of bark on a tree, we tend to compare it to the skin of a human. The primary function of both bark and skin is to protect the material within and beneath it. In Grade 7, we learned that ...

Autumn’s fiery-colored leaves have fallen, so now let’s look for more subtle beauty in trees and shrubs. Like a developing photographic image, the textures and colors of bark come into view in the ...