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Opinion:  A Few Good Trees

By Sharon
January 10, 2012

It's a good time to take a look at the bare bones of trees now that winter is upon most of us. That's about all we can see anyway since they aren't dressed in their leafy finery at the moment. Look out your window. How many trees can you see?

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Jan 10, 2012 2:56 PM CST
Name: Brenda
Santa Clarita, CA (Zone 9b)
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Jan 10, 2012 2:58 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
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I hope people who read the article take time to read this comment thread.
What a beautiful tribute to trees.

And I understand every word you wrote, Vic!
Thank you.

I like how you mention that each different wood has its own personality and appearance, also scent. There was a sawmill near my home in the mountains and I used to be able to tell which trees were being processed when I walked past it. It's been so long I'm not sure I could still do that, but in fall I can often smell them better than at other times, just by walking in a forest.
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Jan 10, 2012 3:21 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
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Walnut is my least favorite to plane. It's stinks and it's very very dirty and stains your hands. It's much more expensive than oak and cherry too. Maybe because there is less of them than the others, I don't know.
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Jan 10, 2012 3:22 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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I am learning so much from this thread.
Sharon I did not know about the marker trees. How fascinating. I now wonder if that is why one of the huge old oak trees on the hills in City Terrace grew like it did. It fascinated me as a child because it was so different from all the other oak trees on the hills. And now that I think about it, it was pointing in the directions of a spring hidden in a gully between two hills.

Vic, I loved reading all that you described in your above posts. My husband loves his wood that he makes his flutes from. The flute he made from this piece of burled Redwood was beautiful to see as a finished flute. Since he only needs small pieces of wood, he gets them from old trees that have to be taken down, storm damaged trees, reclaimed wood, etc.
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Jan 10, 2012 3:31 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
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That is beautiful Lynn. Another by-gone wood. When Hank was a young builder, all facia and soffit boards were redwood. I don't know if you can even buy it anymore. I bet you would have to order it, at least on this side of the country.

I don't know if any of you remember Pebble from our DG days. She passed away from cancer but when she was healthy and working, she was employed at a lumber mill and sent Hank a "hunk" of wood that only grows out your way Lynn and for the life of me, I can't remember the name of the tree. I do remember it doesn't grow on this side of the country. Only up in the Washington, Oregon area. It was a beautiful piece of wood.

Making musical instruments is an art in itself. Wow!
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Jan 10, 2012 3:35 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
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I do remember Pebble, wasn't she in Turkey for awhile? Sad story there, she was so beautiful inside and out.

That is a beautiful piece of wood, Lynn. I'm still aching for one of those flutes, if only I could play it.

And yes, making those instruments is an art.
Amazing.
But then I'm always amazed with anyone who works in wood.
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Jan 10, 2012 3:46 PM CST
Name: Kathleen Tenpas
Wickwire Corners NY (Zone 5a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! The WITWIT Badge Raises cows Farmer Region: New York
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Ok, ladies, I am math impaired and can see woods out windows on all sides of the house, so you get no numbers from me! Let me just say that we are at the point that any tree has to have a specific site picked before it comes in the yard. The previous owners planted a goodly number, in mostly bad places: on the south side of the house is a plantation of evergreens that block the winter sun. On the western side are a cedar break - good wind protection and an acre of evergreens that block the sunset most of the year. They did plant a nice native rhododendron in front of the house ( I know most people think of them as shrubs, but this one is 20 feet high - tree status I'd say). I have a red bud that's more shrub than tree, the main trunk died and it has come up from the stump. It only bloomed once as a tree, I'm waiting to see what it will do as a shrub. There's a sourwood tree at the sw corner of the house, a Japanese maple and Chinese dogwood in front of the front porch (northside). I have the least Japanese looking Japanese maple on the face of the earth I think, but Stan likes it, so that's ok. There are oak trees, sugar and red maples, ash trees (just a note, ash trees do not live long anywhere, they are generally relatively shortlived, but very generous with their children and even after cut will sprout little trees from the still living roots), black walnut, apple, one new little peach tree, sycamores from Kentucky, a tulip tree, an American elm and one nasty Norway variegated maple that just won't die, some native hardwood cherry trees, red spruce, red pine, pear trees and quince, and that's just the yard,
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Jan 10, 2012 3:53 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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Kat, I'm coming to your house, or maybe Vic's when I need pure fresh oxygen, that's for sure!!!
Even that one nasty Norway variegated maple is producing oxygen Green Grin!

And I do think you've got every variety that could even think about growing up your way covered, including the KY sycamores. And aren't they so beautiful!

It's good to hear from your corner of the farm, thank you.
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Last edited by Sharon Jan 14, 2012 10:03 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 10, 2012 4:02 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
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Vic, was it Pacific Madron? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...
Another one of my favorite trees. The bark is unbelievable beautiful. It is difficult to work with because the grain tends to twist as it dries, also becomes very hard.
We use a piece of deer antler to polish it. It is a most amazing tree in all aspects.
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Jan 10, 2012 4:11 PM CST
Name: Horseshoe Griffin
Efland, NC (Zone 7a)
And in the end...a happy beginning!
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NIce article, Sharon. Glad you wrote about this topic! (Yeh, tree hugger here; heck, one of my best friends was a pine tree....)

Vic, glad you posted all that you and Hank do with wood, from the get-go to the end product. Quite a journey, and from a front row seat perspective. I loved reading that!

Shoe
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Jan 10, 2012 4:34 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Lynn, I do believe you hit the nail on the head. In looking at the wood under the bark, it does look like the wood. Totally cool bark by the way. It is very tight grained too. Thank you so much for that link.

Kathleen - the hard woods in your area are beyond belief stunning and huge. And SO colorful in autumn.

Sharon, yes, Pebble lived in Turkey and Washington State. She had dual citizenship as well. She was actually just visiting her sister in Washington when she became ill and stayed here. They spent much of their childhood in Turkey as their father worked there and they lived in a Turkish neighborhood in Washington. Per Pebble's request, her sister spread her ashes in her beloved Aegean Sea. She said the water there is the most perfect brilliant blue. Lovey dubby
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Jan 10, 2012 4:35 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thank you Shoe Lovey dubby Shoe has been in our shop many times Thumbs up
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Jan 10, 2012 4:59 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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It's good that we remember Pebble, she was one who seemed always to be surrounded by beauty .

Yep, Shoe, I knew you'd be right here with us.
And like you, I absolutely totally loved every word Vic wrote. It was an article in itself. If I could figure the best way to do it, I'd get it published some way for her.

I want to see that workshop too.
And smell the wood.
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Jan 10, 2012 5:13 PM CST
Name: Horseshoe Griffin
Efland, NC (Zone 7a)
And in the end...a happy beginning!
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar Charter ATP Member Garden Sages Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle I sent a postcard to Randy! I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
For our friend, Shoe. Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Birds Permaculture Container Gardener
"it was an article in itself. If I could figure the best way to do it, I'd get it published some way for her."

Yep, I felt like I was reading an article, too. A very first-hand account on a wonderful topic. And it is right in there keeping with ATP topics. Heck, just think...

... "Trees are perennials. Trees offer fruit. Some trees could be considered vegetables. More importantly, trees offer themselves as the most important vertebrae in the backbone of cultures and they have done so for thousands of years...."

And then you use your magic, Sharon, to introduce the perspective of Vic and the wisdom and craft of Hankster, and of course, the power of trees.

Shoe (always causing trouble, eh?) :>)
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Jan 10, 2012 5:17 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
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Shoe, I was thinking of the same thing.
Exact same thing.

I don't think either of us is a troublemaker.
We might stir things up occasionally though.
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Jan 10, 2012 5:19 PM CST
Name: Vicki
North Carolina
I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I sent a postcard to Randy! Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Region: United States of America
Purslane Garden Art Region: North Carolina Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
*Blush* *Blush*

Seriously though, I think if you get someone started on something they truly enjoy, they jump right on that soap box and let 'er rip Green Grin!

Of course my father always said I was vaccinated with a phonograph needle Whistling
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Jan 10, 2012 5:21 PM CST
Name: Sharon
Calvert City, KY (Zone 7a)
Charter ATP Member Houseplants Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Master Level I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Native Plants and Wildflowers Dog Lover Ferns Daylilies Irises Cat Lover
Vic, seriously though.... do you have a few good photos of some of the topics you covered?
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Jan 10, 2012 5:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mary
My little patch of paradise (Zone 7b)
Gardening dilettante, that's me!
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Sharon said:Vic, seriously though.... do you have a few good photos of some of the topics you covered?


Thumbs up Thumbs up Thumbs up
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I'm going to retire and live off of my savings. Not sure what I'll do that second week.
My yard marches to the beat of a bohemian drummer...
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Jan 10, 2012 5:38 PM CST
Name: Kathleen Tenpas
Wickwire Corners NY (Zone 5a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! The WITWIT Badge Raises cows Farmer Region: New York
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Let me cast a positive vote here for Vic's article, too. And I loved the prayer. I think Stan gets a copy of that for his woodshop.

Vic, I love our cherry wood and the maple. Stan has built me a bedroom suite and work tables for my study. Some of the wood was from our woods, some he traded a log for 'finished' lumber. He doesn't have a kiln, so that step is not in the mix yet, but he does his own planing. He had a bunch of 'buckshot' cherry that he was very ginger with, avoiding the buckshot! Our oldest granddaughter gave us a picture she had painted for Christmas and he made a frame from some of the buckshot cherry. It is a quite unique look. No pictures at this time...

Sharon, it really is quite tree-iferous around here.

Hey Shoe, between you me and Sharon, we could probably raise quite a ruckus!
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Jan 10, 2012 5:59 PM CST
Name: Lynn
Oregon City, OR (Zone 8b)
Charter ATP Member Garden Sages I helped plan and beta test the plant database. I helped beta test the Garden Planting Calendar I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Database Moderator
Forum moderator I helped beta test the first seed swap Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Master Level
I agree

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