#Deciduous Conifers

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 20 November 2024

In this shady passage way these Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree) trees are being espalier trained to create a feature. Strong horizontal wires on wall really help with this process. The espaliers need to be pruned annually in late winter, tying in the leading shoots and shortening spurs (side shoots) to three or four buds.

Jill Raggett

[selwyngrimm]

The leaves continue as ever.

[hermeticbridgetroll]

I am admittedly..very bad at identifying evergreen trees. I see a pointy green bitch & I have no fucking clue who she is & just continue on with my day.

[alchemiccolored]

thoughts on midwest pine species?

if native: 👍

... im not much of a tree person.... much more of a flower/grass/shrub kinda guy. sorry :(

[cricketchirp]

Becoming Tree Wise

So here’s the deal. A friend and I were supposed to lead a tree workshop today, but the weather didn’t cooperate. I’m not complaining about the few inches of snow–it’s the sleet that came first and the rain that is now eating up some of the snow that bothers me. That said, I’m going to take you on a deep dive to meet some of the trees of Maine in their winter format. We are so fortunate to live…

[aveartz]

Hut in deep deciduous forest

[theodoreangelos]

Embroidery cushion with colourful deciduous trees Stickpolster mit bunten Laubbäumen Подушка для вышивания с разноцветными лиственными деревьями Coussin à broder avec des feuillages colorés

[bat-gee]

🦇This red-haired Gerard is a Mexican Greater Funnel-Eared bat !

Small fact:

These bats are found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. They are not found at elevations above 2,400 m (7,900 ft), though most observations of them occur at around 300 m (980 ft). They prefer dry and semi-deciduous forests. Occasionally, they are also encountered in conifer forests ! (Source)

[jadafitch]

In the eastern part of their range, Columbia silk moth caterpillars hatch from tiny eggs, laid on hackmatack (aka tamarack, aka eastern larch) trees. This deciduous conifer, common in the northeast, is the primary food source for these caterpillars. After their cocooned over-winter transformation to a moth, they no longer eat or drink. They’ve only got a couple of weeks on the wing to find a mate, and lay eggs on another larch. Late may to early July is the best time of the year to spot one of these large moths, as well as their cousins, cecropia and luna moth. So double check the side of your house if you forget to turn off the outside light this week.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 8 December 2023

This autumn I saw the cones on Pseudolarix amabilis (golden larch, false larch, golden pine) for the first time. This is a slow-growing, deciduous tree with whorls of light green, linear leaves, which turn bright golden-yellow in autumn.

Jill Raggett

[handweavers]

when i was a baby first learning to walk i would pull myself up on the windowsill at my grandparents' home. their house was located in the transitional region of ontario between the northern conifers and the southern deciduous forests near algonquin park. the room was an enclosed porch and the windows had open nets. i would look out the window to where i knew poppy was doing yard work; he'd wear these big rubber galoshes and this white sun hat he got in penang, malaysia. his irish skin was so fair it would burn easily in the sun and he always had to wear long sleeves and a wide brimmed hat when outside for long periods. i would see him across the grass and scream 'ga! ga!' at him to get his attention. he would hear me and turn and wave all big at me, full body-arm motions, and call to me: 'hey, choo-choo!' and i would scream 'ga!' in delight. choo-choo was his pet name for me. i can't remember why he gave it to me but i was always his choo-choo. 

i feel like i am a baby again screaming his name across the yard to get his attention, knowing he is out there somewhere, but i cannot find him. i scream and scream and no one is there. he never comes out in his galoshes and sun hat waving and calling his name for me. a rising panic as i weep like a child for a man who cannot answer me anymore. i scream his name at the window until i can't hold myself up and sink to the floor. my heart is that weeping toddler who cannot find ga. it is a pockets-clutching feeling, furiously patting myself down - where is he? where did i put him? where did he go? i cannot find him. i collapse into myself with fear and loneliness. i find him only in my memories now, and in them he always answers.

[applepiealopecoid]

words on trees, bushes, rural regions, and forests for your writing

thicket — a dense group of bushes or trees

grove — a small wood, orchard, or group of trees

underbrush — shrubs and small trees forming the undergrowth in a forest

undergrowth — a dense growth of shrubs and other plants, especially under trees in woodland

canebrake — a piece of ground covered with a dense growth of canes

chaparral — vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes

woodland — land covered with trees

coppice — an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubsare, or formerly were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber

hurst — a wood or wooded rise or hillock

hillock — a small hill or mound

copse — a small group of trees

bower — a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood

deciduous — (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually

coniferous — conifers are a group of cone-bearing, woody seed plants. they are most diverse in warmer areas like tropical mountains, and are also found in the wild regions of canada and russia

bosk or bosque — a thicket of bushes; a small wood

woodlot — a woodlot is a parcel of woodland or forest, typically small in size, that is capable of supporting small-scale production of forest products

pine — an evergreen coniferous tree that has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves. many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine

oak — a tree that bears acorns as fruit, and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. oaks are common in many north temperate forests and are an important source of hard and durable wood used chiefly in construction, furniture, and, formerly, shipbuilding

birch — a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark, often peeling, and bears catkins. birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth

mahogany — hard reddish-brown timber from a tropical tree, used for high-quality furniture

hinterland — the often uncharted areas beyond a coastal district or a river's banks

willow — salix, also known as willows, osiers, and sallows, is a genus of around 350 species of shrubs and trees that are usually deciduous. they are primarily found in temperate and cold regions on moist soils. the white willow is the largest species, with mature trees growing up to 25 meters tall

redwood — sequoioideae, also known as redwoods, are a subfamily of coniferous trees in the cupressaceae family. they are the tallest trees in the world and can live for thousands of years

elm — ulmus, or elms, are a genus of deciduous and semi-deciduous trees found across most of the northern hemisphere. they are known for their broad shade and vase-like shape

magnolia — a tree or shrub with large, typically creamy-pink, waxyflowers. magnolias are widely grown as ornamental trees

greenwood — a wood or forest in leaf (regarded as the typical scene of medieval outlaw life)

boskage — massed trees or shrubs

countryside — the land and scenery of a rural area

country — districts, areas, and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital

backwoods — remote uncleared forest land

outskirts — the outer parts of a town or city

wildwood — an uncultivated wood or forest that has been allowed to grow naturally

sticks — an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities

[sol-icide]

‘Lunar didn’t know what to expect when Monty activated the portal to Sun’s dimension. Magic was so rarely used in their world now, so he had done little exploring of other realities—that was more the gator’s domain. He took one last glance around before Monty could usher him and Earth through the portal.

The wooden cottage he called home rested in the center of a floating island, bordered by a deciduous forest and streams of water that cascaded into the vast nothingness below. Several other islands floated nearby, some small and slowly unraveling, others much larger than the one that homed the cottage. This reality still held some semblance of life; the day and night cycle was not completely disrupted, so the wildlife around them continued to survive. That’s how most dimensions looked now—the better off ones, at least.

So when Lunar saw the swirls of violet and mauve pooling in the portal, he knew Sun’s dimension was far worse than his own. Upon stepping into the new reality, his senses were overwhelmed by the scent of water-soaked pine and conifer, but it was the excess of negative energy in the air that made him nauseous. It stuck to him like a wet blanket he couldn’t shake off.

To steady himself, Lunar seized Earth’s hand, who assured him with a firm squeeze. He couldn’t tell whether a storm had passed or was just beginning, judging by the darkened clouds circling overhead. The sky itself was split in two: one half held a burning sun, its flames so vividly tinged with reactive magic that even the creatures below could feel their intensity; the other half hosted a violet ocean speckled with stars. Tendrils of purple energy whipped through the sky, coiling around rocky islands—similar to those in Lunar’s dimension—suffocating any life they might have held. A heavy fog stalked beneath Lunar’s ankles, coating the hilly terrain ahead. If not for the lantern Earth was holding, he would have easily missed the gravel path that snaked up the tallest hill, leading to an almost castle-like mansion.

“I don’t think I have to say this, but I will.” Monty lowered his eyes at Lunar. There was a tenderness behind them despite his solemn gaze. “The magic here is too unstable for us to add anything else to the mix. So keep that lightning of yours under wraps, kid.”

“Monty,” Earth softly interjected. “He knows.”

Lunar returned Monty’s steady look. “I thought we were past treating me like a ticking time bomb.”

“Hey, come on now. You know that’s not what I said–”

“Can we just go?” Lunar looked away from the gator animatronic. “Please.”

The walk up the hill was silent save for the scraping of shoes on gravel. The path grew narrower as the mansion loomed closer, giving way to moss covered stones. Lunar tightened his grip on Earth’s hand as his stride faltered. The negative magic clinging to him made his body feel sluggish and heavy. He tried to focus on the soft clinking of Earth’s lantern beside him, but the farther they ascended the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The tension between the three animatronics lingered in the air.

“Do you guys feel that?” Lunar shivered involuntarily. “It’s like the whole place is alive...”

“And watching us,” Monty added, his broad shoulders tensing. “Yeah. I feel it.”

The air grew thicker, the fog denser, until even the light from Earth’s lantern struggled to cut through the gloom. The dark silhouette of the mansion was sharp against the dual-colored sky, its windows like hollow eyes that followed their every step. Despite the blazing sun to their left, the world seemed to darken as they reached the base of the mansion’s towering doors. Lunar paused, taking in the sheer size of the structure. It felt ancient, as if it had stood there for centuries, watching as dimensions rose and fell around it. Monty stepped forward, thumping the brass door knocker against the hard wood. Lunar’s eyes followed the gator’s motions with bated breath. He braced himself for the person he was about to face.’

A little excerpt from the first chapter! 👀 what do y’all think?

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Fossil Friday: Glossopteris

This is Glossopteris, a fossil tree from the Late Permian Period. Technically, the name only scientifically refers to he leaves but for our purposes, we're going to refer to the whole tree. This is an important fossil because it is found on multiple continents that used to make up the supercontinent Gondwana.

More than 70 species in this genus have been found in India alone if that is any indicator to this being a good fossil for evidence of continental drift.

The dark green indicates where this fossil as been found within those continents.

The environment that these trees grew in has been interpreted as similar to Bald Cypress: very wet, swampy conditions. As the whole tree has not been found, many speculations as to what the trees looked like have been made. We do know that they had broad leaves and were possibly deciduous.

They did appear to have softwood interiors similar to Arcaria conifers. The trunks had a maximum width of almost 3ft (80 cm) and could possibly reach heights of 98ft (30 m).

Tune in Sunday at 6pm as I attempt one more time to have a discussion with colleagues about some recent news in paleo and geo in a livestream right here on Tumblr as well as my other social media (Youtube, Tiktok, FB, and Insta). If all else fails, have questions prepared and I will answer questions put my way. Fossilize you later!