#beech trees

[thunderstruck9]

Anders Andersen-Lundby (Danish, 1841-1923), Tøvejr i en bøgeskov [Thaw in a Beech Forest], 1881. Oil on canvas, 150 x 250 cm. Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

[silentwhispersintheforest]

FAIRYLAND by TOMÁŠ MORKES

[motions-of-tenderness]

[galleryofart]

A Beech Wood in May near Iselingen Manor, Zealand

Artist: P.C. Skovgaard (Danish, 1817-1875)

Date: 1857

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: The National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

Description

Danish artists preferred to depict the Danish countryside in summer. Winter scenes were only rarely painted, and for long spring and autumn scenes were never seen. Artists seemed to wish to depict an unchanging world, preferring not to show changes in nature. Indeed, Skovgaard procrastinated for several years before embarking on depicting the beech forest during its brief glory in May where the leaves have just unfurled and are a delicate light green. He found his motif in South Zealand near the manor house of Iselingen. He depicted the beech forest almost like a sacred hall. The upright trunks and the tree crowns arching above the pathway create a church-like space. The forest presents a peaceful aspect; this is a place where you can safely let your children play.

[toothwalker]

Sunset walk, Surrey, UK (12 September, 2024)

[colorsoutofearth]

Path through Beech (Fagus sylvatica) woodland

Photo by Peter Lewis

[panoramicireland]

Six more of the iconic beech trees that form the tree tunnel known as the Dark Hedges are to be taken down this month.

It's possible that only 75 of the approximately 150 trees will remain, there are 86 currently but six will be removed and remedial work, if not also complete removal, will be carried out to at least another five trees.

They don't quite look like in the image here anymore with all that grass and shrubby goodness at ground level.

Since becoming famous for that tiny segment as the King's Road in Game of Thrones, traffic levels and visitors have taken their toll on the scenic beauty spot.

A few more recent images on the post here: https://panoramicireland.com/blog-ireland-guide/tree-tunnel-dark-hedges-bregagh-road-antrim-hbo-game-of-thrones-six-trees-cut-down-danger-november-2023

For over 200 years this has been one of the most scenic roads in Ireland, perhaps when the replanted beech trees mature again in several decades it can be reclaim that accolade.

[innervoiceartblog]

A chamber of ancient moss covered beech trees. Dorset, England.

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Mystical Forest, Beech trees (Fagus sylvatica), Badbury Hill, Oxfordshire, England

‘On the remains of an iron age hill fort on Badbury Hill in Oxfordshire, Badbury Clump is an area of wonderful beech woodland, carpeted in bluebells each spring. On this particular morning, thick fog had descended, creating a magical, ethereal atmosphere, and it was a wonderful experience to be present in the woods with the camera in hand. Shooting into the light, I was struck by the sense of endlessness as the beech trees eerily dissolved into the silent, misty obscurity’

Photograph: Philip Selby

British Wildlife Photography Awards

[silverfoxphil]

saw some beeches

[greenlandfairy]

Still green 💚🌿🌳

🌱🌿☘️

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."

John Muir

[lacymoonchild]

[aisling-saoirse]

Fagus Grandifolia - American Beech

The American beech is an incredibly distinct and beautiful tree. Found in Forests East-of-the-Mississippi from the southern-most regions of Canada to Louisiana (with an alleged subspecies found in Mexico). The American Beech serves an interesting habitat niche typically growing in complete shade, outdated terminology in ecological sciences refered to beech (and maple) as a climax forest species, meaning they are able to outcompete any other sapling in full shade of mature woodlands. Any decent scientist interested in ecology will reject the concept of climax species as nature does not reach a state of stability/equilibrium.

The bark itself is very thin and tight with few fissures, and extremely smooth in appearance. The tree is popular amoung disrespectful hikers as a point to carve names into the bark (which, yes, damages the tree), one can often find initials ripped into the trunk. Beech are extremely sensitive to draught, it is a moisture loving species with very shallow roots, images above are taken in a draught year. The trees hold their leaves in wintertime, its not uncommon to see ghostly orange and white leaves rusting in the winter winds. The trees also produce a large husk (forming on the last image) which contains 4 pod shaped nuts, these are edible and allegedly sweet (I've never eaten them as I always find them too late).

The horrible condition of the leaves I'm showing are indicators of disease, like other notable American trees, introduced species/diseases from abroad are quickly wiping them out (scaly bark fungus, beech leaf wilt, aphids). The added stress of the draught is making them less resistant to fighting these issues. I made this post today because I noticed about all of the Beech I encountered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania were in extremely poor or dying states. This is after years of watching them fight disease, the second year of climate change induced draughts appear to have done them in. Sad to see them go if such is their fate.

[motions-of-tenderness]

[socialpants]

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol naturally occurring in a lot of plants. It was originally derived from a beech tree, but when mass production began, birch mulch was the most common source. Hence the name birch sugar. Current sources include corn, wheat, oat straws, beech trees. Xylitol naturally occurs also in human bodies, though we're a poor source for extracting mass quantities.

All of the above just to note that while birch sugar is an older name that's making a comeback because it sounds more natural/less processed than xylitol, there's a slight chance of another name rebranding in the future. If you start seeing words like "potato sugar" or "corn sugar", best to contact manufacturer and ask what exactly do they mean, what kind of a compound are they talking about. In the EU area, the E-code for it is E967.

More on xylitol on wikipedia

[loudlylovingreview]

James Crews: Beech Trees in Spring

I want to be like the maples, letting go so easily of their leaves in the slightest autumn breeze, surrendering every piece of themselves they no longer need, and embracing bareness like a new suit they can simply step into. But I’m more like the beech trees, which cling to the husks of their leaves long into spring, refusing to give up even a scrap of who they once were until the last…