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Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth, or more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity can be good to an extent. It is normal for an ecosystem to be biodiverse. There should be many types of animals and different species. Unfortunately, most ecosystems are too diverse and lead to the decline in the ecosystem and extinction of many animals and plants.

For example, in the Florida Everglades Biodiversity has led to the addition of Boa Pythons, an invasive species with no predators in the area. These Huge snakes eat all the native animals and are spreading all over the Everglades, they thrive while all other animals starve or are eaten. The problem is so bad that the government pays people for killing them. These large snakes were introduced by humans who released them into the wild because their pet was getting too big. This happens all over the world, people introduce new species in a new ecosystem killing and sometimes making the native animals go extinct. Just one more example of how humans being lazy can have a huge negative effect on our environment. In conclusion Biodiversity is good to an extent and we should refrain from introducing foreign animals into new ecosystems.

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Farming

Over Farming, the action that has brought about a lot of devastating effects on the globe. Just as the terminology suggests, it is the practice of excessive farming on a piece of land to the point of degradation of the soil as well as the land itself. This generally happens when the demand for a product is very high and the farmers try to keep up with demand. This can also hurt the environment because farmers use harmful pesticides generally when producing a lot of volume. These pesticides leak into waterways and destroy the clean water source. Also with the high demand for crops will come with more wetlands and forest being destroyed for crop land.

With the increase demand for food comes the increase in demand for land, destroying many environments. For example in Florida the everglades are being destroyed more and more everyday for land for sugarcane. This will continue to happen all over the world if we don't preserve our food better or figure how to be more effective with growing. One solution is to grow up, instead of sideways such as making gardens on the top of buildings and other structures. One other way is to have more gardens at home, so that we buy less.  In conclusion we can be more efficient with our farming system and this needs to happen due to the increase in population and decrease in fertile land.

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-overcultivation.php

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Renewable Energy

Renewable energy

Energy is in high demand and as the population and technology increases we will need more energy. There are two ways of producing energy: renewable and nonrenewable, nonrenewable energy consist of burning coal and to produce heat and produce energy. This method is practical, easy, and cheap, but very bad for the environment. This method produces a lot of air pollution and increases the percentage of smog in the area. This is the most common way but hopefully in the near future it will be the least common method for producing energy.

There are many different methods of producing renewable energy the 3 most common include, nuclear, solar, wind.  Nuclear consists of using nuclear rods to produce energy this is the most dangerous as the rods when used up must be disposed off is a very complex way our a nuclear fallout could occur. The next most common is using large turbines to produce wind energy. This is very common in the midwest where there are open fields and a lot of wind. Lastly solar energy is the most common and most effective as it is very easy to operate and set up. Although these methods of producing energy may be more expensive they

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts

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Recycle for the environment

Americans are very good at producing an enormous amount of waste. We are also great at not cleaning it up correctly.  Some of the methods of removing waste include open unregulated dumping, recycling, and landfills.  Recycling is the best way to get rid of waste, although many don't do it for many reasons. Recycling is the process of converting waste into new materials, as you can imagine this takes, time effort, and money. The average person does a poor job of recycling allowing landfills to increase at an alarming rate. If we continue to not put our effort into recycling the landfills will start to contaminate waterways and we will run out of places to put this waste. 

Although there is a way to reduce waste easily, reduce, reuse, recycle. For example, next time you go grocery shopping don't use the plastic bags and use a reusable one, and if you have to  use a plastic one reuse it after you unpack those groceries. Today there is no excuse not to recycle, there are many organizations that have made it easy for the general population to recycle correctly by informing us how. They even label the plastics now and give guides how to recycle it. But there are many problems with recycled plastic, for example the quality is not very good and it is hard to reuse. This calls for innovation, there are scientists working on how to extract the plastic to a higher grade. Some are successful, adding chemicals to the plastic to make it stronger when it comes time to reuse. Overall if we all do our part and recycle the environment will be much cleaner and a better place.

https://www.google.com/search?q=invoation+in+recyling&oq=invoation+in+recyling&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3959j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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Smog

Unfortunately all these large industrial factories produce a ton of air pollution causing lots of smog. The same problem is present in Los Angeles, (not as bad), they may not have nearly as many factories but the sheer number of people and cars in such a small area makes the smog easy to form. The smog is so bad in China some find it hard to breathe and they have to wear masks in some parts of China. When inhaled, smog irritates  airways, increasing risk of serious heart and lung diseases. Many studies have shown that smog links to increased cases of lung cancer in that area. Overall smog is serious and we need to do a better job of protecting our clean air. 

Air Pollution is a serious problem, and humans are to blame for our poor air quality. If you were to look at the air quality in the 1800s compared to today it would be significantly better 200 years ago. Air pollution is caused by many harmful toxins produced in factories, exhaust of cars, and many other ways. All of these put together make smog, a hazy brown soup of pollution that hangs over the skyline. It is generally more common in warmer climates as it is easier to form. It is generally easier to form in very populated areas such as China and in Los Angeles. In China smog is a very big problem as they depend on these huge factories employing most of their population. 

https://www.edf.org/health/why-smog-standards-are-important-our-health?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_b-n9v6D6QIVhJ6fCh2JbwsdEAAYASAAEgKvOfD_BwE&utm_campaign=ggad_health_pd_dmt&utm_id=1485533233&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

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Algae Blooms

 The Beaches are deteriorating and we, as a society, are ignoring it. The deterioration of the beaches affects many people. The source of these Algae Blooms are water pollution, global warming, and it is very expensive to avoid and clean. Two types of Algae Blooms occur in the US are the Red tide and Blue-green algae. The Red tide "produces a toxin Brevetoxin that causes respiratory issues for swimmers and beach-goers when the blooms are near to the shore. Toxins can also cause neurotoxic poisoning in people who eat recreationally-caught shellfish" (Stump, 2018). The Blue-green algae has similar effects. But the main difference between the two is that the Red tide is only found in the ocean while the Blue-green algae are found in both freshwater and the sea. Overall we need to prevent more Algae Blooms from surfacing because it is killing the animals and other life in the surrounding area and destroying the economy. 

Many businesses rely on a well kept attractive beach. Many restaurants near the water attract consumers based on convenience and the fantastic views of the water. “Tegan on October 2017, and by the time it dissipated some 16 months later, around February 2019, it had killed nearly 150 dolphins and hundreds of tons of fish. In the first 11 months alone, more than 400 sea turtles washed ashore, and at least 100 manatees died”(Eck,2019). As you can see in the quote the Algae Blooms kill most of the fish population, Overall the beaches are vital to Florida residents as they rely on them economically and as a stress reliever.

https://www.nrdc.org/harmful-algal-blooms

Eck,A. (2019) A year ago, toxic red tide took over Florida’s Gulf Coast. What would it take to stop it next time?: Killing red tide cells en masse can unleash their potent toxin. That means researchers need to get creative. NOVA

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Overpopulation

Earth may seem like a big planter with endless amounts of space. People have this idea we will never run out of space on Earth. They are very wrong. Overpopulation is a huge problem right now. The current population on Earth is 7.6 Billion people, and that number is multiplying. Overpopulation is directly correlated with many environmental issues, including Deforestation, over-farming, and global warming. 

There are many causes of Overpopulation, the two main ones include modern medicine allowing people to have longer life spans and a higher birth rate. Imaggaraitoijn and migration also contribute to overcrowding in certain areas. For example, in the United States, increased immigration is creating congestion in big cities such as New York City, causing increased levels of pollution. 

Overall the environmental effects of Overpopulation are harmful and can not be controlled. The more people we have, the more food will be needed, meaning that farmers will need bigger yields with the same amount of space. This kind of effect is not suitable for the environment and requires harmful chemicals.  Also, these extra people will need housing, calling for Deforestation to make room for new Homes, Business, and many other types of infrastructure required for civilization. 

In conclusion, Overpopulation will lead to an environmental crisis, and there are many more types of environmental problems that will arise, such as Global Warming and Climate Change that were not discussed in this post. This post is a call to action, we need to deal with this crisis and many others and not turn a blind eye. 

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-overpopulation-impacts-the-environment-4172964

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f31ed3756a8b4cb9aa4bac6e2dbdb3cd

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Global Warming

Global Warming is the general increase in temperature of the Earth due to the Greenhouse effect of Earth's Atmosphere being destroyed caused by harmful chemicals released into the Atmosphere. Global Warming is the leading cause of environmental degradation, and every environmental problem either stems from Global Warming or attributes to it. There are a couple chemicals that aid in Global Warming, one of them includes Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Dioxide is a small part of the Atmosphere. It can be released naturally in forest fires, volcano eruptions, and lastly, respiration. But due to the excess amounts produced from unnatural actions like deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, the ozone is being weekend and allowing too much of the sun's harmful rays through. Another chemical that aids in Global Warming is Nitrous oxide; this is mainly produced by Agricultural fertilizers.  As the need for better and bigger crops arises due to population size, increasing the need for better fertilizers are called for. This means more harmful chemicals will be in these fertilizers damaging the environment more. 

In conclusion, as the more Greenhouse gasses are released in excess into the Atmosphere, it will be harder and harder for the Earth to radiate the extra heat back into space. The consequences for Global Warming are detrimental, including a rise in average temperature across the globe; this can lead to the destruction of animal habitats and the extinction of individual animals. Other dealy effects include sea levels rising, more, longer, and more prolonged Hurricanes, Droughts. Lastly, we could lose all the ice. Overall Global Warming is something we as a whole need to focus on and combat to help the environment prosper.

https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

https://www.123rf.com/photo_8114995_broken-ozone-layer.html

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Water Pollution

Water pollution is defined as the presence of harmful toxins in the water, making it Unnatural.  To me, this is one of the worst and most important biological factors. Humans are to blame for water pollution as we are the primary source of pollution. Whether it be direct or indirect, we aid in the deterioration of our natural water sources. There are many types of water pollution, but the most common include Surface water, Groundwater, Oil and Chemical production, Thermal, Agricultural. 

Our primary source of fresh drinking water, for the time being, is from either Groundwater or Surface-water. But before we can drink the water, it must be purified. The water purification process is not an easy one and can be very expensive when a lot of chemicals are present in the water.  An example of how water pollution can lead to the inability to get clean drinking water is when Toledo, a city in Ohio, was unable to get drinking water from Lake Erie due to Blue-Green algae blooms. These blooms are caused by excess fertilizer from yards and farms seeping into the lake as runoff.

As you can see, water is significant. Humans can not survive more than 3 days without clean drinking water. If we as a society ignore water pollution and continue to allow people to illegally dump chemicals into our freshwater lakes, we will see a decline in clean drinking water and see more epidemics like the one in Toledo and Flint. In conclusion, we should continue to monitor our water pollution to ensure that the people of the future have clean drinking water. 

image by Stijn Luca

Toledo Blade https://www.toledoblade.com/local/environment/2019/09/10/Algae-problem-inspires-technology-innovators-from-across-America-to-meet-at-UT/stories/20190910118

http://www.bpihomeowner.org/blog/what-water-pollution-and-why-should-we-care-0?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1pXl5Nuk6AIV4oNaBR1YYgLZEAAYASAAEgIG_PD_BwE

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Permaculture

Permaclute, is a new topic to me. I originally discovered it in my biology class, it is a very interesting topic. Permaclutre is a design that uses principles centered on whole ecosystem  thinking and  utilizing this thinking  patterns observed in natural ecosystems.  People use Permaculture in many ways and fields such as agriculture, rewilding, and community resilience. In class I was directed to make a permaculture, in this design, we attempted to feed 8 households with a little bit over 15 acres of land. Most agree with the statement that you can usually feed around four people per acre, meaning we should be able to feed 8 households or around 30 people comfortably. Feeding around 30 people was still challenging for us because this was our first time developing a permaculture. Overall the objective was to develop a mini-ecosystem that could successfully thrive in Ohio and feed around 30 people. We as a group went through the process of creating a permaculture. This includes thinking about how much land we need to use for crop and livestock, what type of crops and livestock. This can be very difficult because the ohio are is not the best place to grow certain crops like pineapple, but great for crops such as corn.. We learned it was easy to design and plan, but we also understood that managing the place and planting different types of crops and cultivating the land would be very difficult. I  have  first-hand experience as I worked on a farm and saw how hard and was to maintain and grow the crops. We included many different types of plants, bushes, animals, and plenty of other food sources for our residents so that they have a variety of food options and aren't eating the same thing. Overall I think it easy to develop a permaculture but hard to maintain it, it does have many upsides if maintained well.

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Baobab Tree

 The majestic Baobab tree is a thing of beauty and a very iconic African tree do to its odd shape. It dates back to around prehistoric times is when the Tree was first developed. The Tree is native to Africa, located in the savanna, it loved the dry, hot temperatures. The Tree is a succulent meaning that it absorbs water in the trunk during the rainy season to survive during the dry season. Baobab trees grow in 32 African countries. They can live for up to 5,000 years and reach up to 150 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Baobab trees can provide shelter, food, and water for animals and humans, which is why many savannah communities have made their homes near Baobab trees. Did you know that they even have there own unique fruit?

According to the Aduna "In fact, every part of the baobab tree is valuable - the bark can be turned into rope and clothing, the seeds can be used to make cosmetic oils, the leaves are edible, the trunks can store water, and the fruit is extraordinarily rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Women in Africa have turned to the baobab fruit as a natural source of health and beauty for centuries." This means that the trees are an essential part of African culture and need to be preserved for as long as possible. This Tree really fascinates me because of its effectiveness in harsh weather environments. Overall this is a great tree and should be more widely known.\

https://aduna.com/blogs/learn/the-baobab-tree

https://www.google.com/search?q=baoabab+tree&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&oq=baoabab+tree&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3484j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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The local Tree

The Hackberry Tree is a tree that I found while doing one of the labs early this year, Pat told me what the Tree was because I was clueless. I instantly became intrigued with the Tree and the small berries that grew from the branches. He explained how the Tree was a common deciduous tree found in Northern America that grows in many different environments. Although you may think you have seen one or recognize it, you may be wrong. This is because it is often confused with the American Elm as the two are very similar. 

The Hackberry is commonly used for shade in Urban areas due to its durability and large size. This makes it a great tree to plant near the house or in the yard to keep ac cost down and keep the house cooler. The Hackberry can also be used for firewood; unfortunately, the wood is too soft to be used for furniture, making it not very economically desired. Another reason the Hackberry makes a great tree to plant in the yard is the insanely fast growth rate, it usually grows anywhere from 30 to 50 feet in residential areas. But it can grow up to 100 in the forest and more open spaces. 

One other fantastic feature of the Hackberry is that it grows edible berries, which change from a light orange to a dark purple when ready to harvest. These edible berries are consumed by birds, which help germinate the seeds. Humans can also eat the berries and are compared to dates in taste. There is also a lot of history behind the Hackberry Tree, the Native Americans, as a source of food, for medicinal purposes and, for special ceremonies. The bark of the Tree was boiled down and used medicinally. Overall I'm pleased that Pat helped me discover the Tree and I'm thrilled to know about it.

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?itemID=845

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdUoQyOhrze8rP8cQRjnrvRdLF-qj-DrzJD8nw1cvlcbiAunLCug&s

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The Japanese Maple

The Japanese Maple is a real iniquity tree; its main attraction is its purple to red leaves in the fall. This is what attracted me to the aesthetically pleasing Tree. It is found in Ohio and can be found in other northern areas, it can be in hotter areas because the leaves will die early. This would be caused severe damage to the Maple and probably kill it. The Japanese Maple can grow anywhere from 8 to 30 feet in length, making it a perfect tree to plant in yards for shade and aesthetics. 

Most Japanese Maples grow relatively slow, taking up to a foot per year, meaning if you want a more enormous tree, you may want to invest in a more mature tree. These Maples are generally easy to plant the best time of year is during the fall, you can also find success during the spring as well, a general rule of thumb is just don't plant them during the winter where there is a threat of frost. The Japanese Maple is not very picky with the soil they need for optimal growth, but they prefer moist, dark soil. You will need to water them often as they need lots of water to grow big and strong. You will also want to use a low nitrogen fertilizer to ensure the growth is steady. 

Lastly, they are great Trees for your gardens because they don't catch many diseases or attract pests. This is a tree that I would love to grow in my garden if I didn't live in Florida, I love the color of the trees up here in Ohio. I think that the Japanese Maple would be a great addition to people's gardens due to the fantastic color change in the leaves during the fall. Lastly, these trees are great for Ohio because it grabs culture from Japan and brings it to the United States. 

There are many trees like the Japanese Maple in Japan, and I think it is impressive that we can use the culture to shape our gardens. Overall this a tree that deserves more recognition for its beauty and the ability to be taken care of very quickly. I would not be surprised to see more of these Japanese maples to be planted.

https://www.gardendesign.com/japanese-maple/

https://www.google.com/search?q=japanese+maple&safe=active&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=tY91Ui2Cp_ZLqM%253A%252Chmktg-fKJzdqFM%252C%252Fm%252F065dyw&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kT7--e6vWcwdhvjMhcNvovlzxFRJQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiH6oDp4tTlAhUSEawKHQU-DakQ_B0wIHoECAgQAw&biw=1300&bih=605#imgrc=Gc-zYbGcuwehNM:&vet=1

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The American Crabapple

https://www.google.com/search?q=crabapple+tree+ohio&safe=strict&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu5aG74tTlAhVLL6wKHTdSBdQQ_AUIEigB&biw=1300&bih=605#imgrc=ThlESF6p1ryDRM:The American Crabapple is a common tree found in Ohio, it is a growing species of Tree and is spreading like wildfire. The Tree is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye, it has white to pink blossoms. The Crabapple or fruit of the Tree is very bitter by itself, but when mixed with sugar, it can make a perfect jam or jelly. The Crabapple also makes a very pleasant smell when it blooms. 

The American Crabapple can reach anywhere from 25 feet to 35 feet, meaning it is the size of an average tree. The American Crabapple is very easy to identify because of the leave shape, which is alternate and ovate and serrated. During the fall, the leaves will change from green to bright yellow. The fruit is also very different from many other fruits on fruit-bearing trees. The Crabapples look like small grapes hanging from the branches of the trees. The last identifier of the Crabapple Tree is the large dense bark, which has twigs and thorns on it. Unlike most trees, the mature bark of the Crabapple is fused into grey swirls of other bark. Another positive quality of the American Crabapple is it is effortless to grow, the Crabapple can adapt to many soil types, rich or dry, and many weather temperatures. I was first drawn to the Crabapple when I saw a pink tree. 

Being from Florida, I have never seen a pink tree before, it was a thing of beauty. I saw this Tree on the way to Columbus from school about a week ago. It immediately caught my eye, I quickly looked it up on my phone and discovered the Tree. It is my new favorite Tree in Ohio, passing the buckeye. I really want to try the crabapple jam or jelly and even the bitter Crabapple by itself. 

I can see many northern people having these trees in their yard, as it is very appealing to the eye. Although there are many complications when growing the Crabapple, this includes it being susceptible to many diseases and pests. This is unfortunate, and the main reason many people don't grow them is because when dead, they are very hideous. But if the Tree is kept well, it can be easy to grow and look very good in a yard.

 https://www.google.com/search?q=crabapple+tree+ohio&safe=strict&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiu5aG74tTlAhVLL6wKHTdSBdQQ_AUIEigB&biw=1300&bih=605#imgrc=ThlESF6p1ryDRM:

http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/americancrabapple##targetText=Crabapple%2C%20American&targetText=American%20Crabapple%2C%20also%20known%20as,States%2C%20especially%20the%20Midwestern%20States.

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The Giant Tree

The Giant Sequoia or Sierra Redwood is a coniferous evergreen tree, and it is considered one of the most giant Tree of all; it is also considered the most giant living thing. They can grow up to 8500 feet with stumps that date back to 4000 years ago, that's a lot of rings! It is very uniformly shaped leaves that stay very close to the branches, they are also very narrow and long. During the winter, the leaves will begin to bud and start to grow very compact cones, they take a very long time to mature, two whole seasons.

These Trees are generally found in California, which means they are fire resant. According to Britannica, "The largest giant sequoia specimen is the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park. That Tree measures 31 meters (101.5 feet) in circumference at its base, is 83 meters (272.4 feet) tall, and has a total estimated weight of 6,167 tons". You would think that these vast trees must have very durable and strong wood, this would be the complete opposite as their wood is low quality. Meaning that they are generally not cut down for there firewood. Due to their uniqueness, organizations are attempting to preserve them and protect the giant Tree.

 The Sequoia has a pervasive and unique history. As we have written evidence that the gain trees were first discovered in 1833 in the California forest. These trees used to be in abundance before every mill would cut them down and use them for wood. Which is very unfortunate because the yield of usable timber was minimal. What wood they could use would be used to help make small poles and were used in vineyards. Due to its large size in the latter half of the 19th century, rich European castle lords would plant these giant trees to flex their wealth. This also explains why these trees can be found out of the natural habitat of California. 

These massive trees still fascinate people to this day, as in California they make a lot of money at these parks and bring a lot of tourism. These giant trees bring people from all over the world; you can even drive through the stump of these giant Redwoods in your car. This would be so cool, I would love to go see these massive trees in person. My friend Tomas said he went to a forest full of them! He even got to drive through the stump of the Redwoods. I heard that people have to climb the Redwood to cut down branches and do maintenance on the trees. Imagine climbing up that high that would take hours to reach the branch.

https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/trees/giantsequoia/history/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/giant-sequoia

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The Pretty Red Leaves

The Red Oak is definitely my favorite Tree in Ohio, it has very many redeeming qualities, one of them includes being up to 80 feet in height, and pretty red leaves. The leaves change from a dark green in the summer to a bright red in the fall, this was the main thing that attracted me, as I am from Florida and don't see the leaves change colors. I think the Red Oak is the prettiest Tree I have ever seen. Another feature that makes the Red Oak stand out from other Oaks is the leaf on the Tree are pointed compress to round like most other species. Also, unlike other Oaks, the leaves are much more significant, growing anywhere from 10 inches long and 7 inches wide. 

Another interesting fact about the Red Oak is even though it is classified as a Deciduous Tree ( a tree that leaves fall to the ground in winter) after the leaves die and turn brown, they will stay on the Tree through winter. Instead of the fall in spring until new buds start to appear, this saves energy and adds to its uniqueness. 

One other feature of the Red oak is it is used for timber, and it is very important to the timber community. This is due to the Red Oak being able to grow faster than other Trees and being larger than other Trees. The type of soil the Red Oak prefers is the wet, rich soil, and it can not grow in dry-clay like soils. This means that the Red Oaks are found all over the MidWest and Northeast United States. Overall I have fallen in love with these trees. I think they are beautiful and have many refreshing redeeming qualities. It is also lovely to see a different kind of Tree rather than the same Palm Tree all the time.                              

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/interesting-red-oak-leaf-76555.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=Red+oak&safe=active&sa=X&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&biw=1300&bih=605&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=XBZl0oZMtSULrM%253A%252CO2hUcmklgo6FsM%252C%252Fm%252F0hlsd&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTHIavc5vDsErAamF_LA0cc1FvQmw&ved=2ahUKEwjJ87TR4dTlAhVtmK0KHU6mDFgQ_B0wGHoECAoQAw#imgrc=XBZl0oZMtSULrM:

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Ironwood and There Thick Leafs

The Black Ironwood, another common Tree found in South Florida, is very popular due to it being able to handle hurricane-like winds, which you will see many times during the year in South Florida. The Black Ironwood can grow up to 30 feet in length, it also has oval leaves that disperse a pleasant smell when flowered. The Ironwood also grows very slowly due to its thick bark; it actually has the densest bark of all Trees in South Florida. The density of the bark also allows it to resist termites and disease. 

You can see Ironwood wood in wooden utensils, and you can even be seen in Boats. That makes these Trees very pricey as the Ironwood Bark is in very high demand. The Tree itself is also costly and wanted by many because you don't have to replant it when hurricane season starts like many other trees that can't survive during this time of the year. The Ironwood has particular growing conditions, it likes sandy or rocky soils with lots of sunlight. 

The slow growth, the weird soil conditions, and the excess amounts of sunlight make this Tree very hard to grow. The specific growing conditions are the main reason that the Ironwood is mostly found in South Florida. The fruit of the Ironwood, the blackberry, can be harvested in late summer are very sweet and can be consumed by animals and humans. The blackberries flower in clusters like most of the species of Woods.

 This plant is very special to me because I have plenty in my yard, again it is adorable not to have to worry about it falling on the house during a hurricane. I also love the taste of the blackberries; they are lovely and are very good in smoothies. Furthermore, the leaves make excellent natural air fresheners for rooms, cars, and even shoes. Lastly, the best feature is the durable, dense wood, it allows for many cool trinkets.

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170203/news/170209549/

IRonwood&safe=active&rlz=1CAHKDC_enUS863&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=qvbXLQz-IKhQjM%253A%252Cqj0lvrdl1fnsHM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQU1GjcbJDCBc64YisWv0boZiSSBA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiF_uKX4dTlAhUMP60KHTj9CggQ9QEwAHoECAoQAw&biw=1300&bih=605#imgrc=qvbXLQz-IKhQjM: