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Last Friday Happy Hour

December 2022, home of Tim & Annette Rivera

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Early Spring

Early Spring has a subdued appearance this year. That shrubs and small trees along the creek suffered freeze damage is no surprise – that many of the native varieties appear to have weathered the storm is reassuring (thanks to Mitch Deshotels for this photo).
 
Redbuds are now flowering, and Mexican Plum trees, while delayed, appear to be producing healthy numbers of blooms. Tiny buds are visible on several Eve’s Necklace trees along the greenbelt. Live Oaks everywhere in Dallas have lost leaves, but some arborists note that they may recover.
 
Non-native shrubs such as wax leaf ligustrum may not recover fully. Since they tend to shade or crowd out natives, this may be a positive development in the long run. That many of these same shrubs provided food for an irruption of Robins during the freeze is evidence of the complexity of our natural environment.
 
An avian irruption refers to the sudden appearance of unusually large numbers of a species, possibly due to a surge in population following an unusually abundant food crop in their breeding habitat; or to their appearance in locales where they normally do not appear. Thanks to neighbor Heather for pointing this out.
 
With best wishes to all on restoration of home landscapes and gardens, one can also find along the creek a springtime just starting to arrive.
 
Vince Punaro, Creek Committee
 
    
Click on images for a larger view.

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Answers to Tree Quiz

Clue No. Tree Photo Tree Name
1 D. Honey Locust
2 E. Chinese Parasol
3 A. American Elm
4 G. (2 photos) Burr Oak
5 B. Sycamore
6 H. (2 photos) Bald Cypress or Pond Cypress
7 F. Black Willow
8 C. Eve’s Necklace
9 I. Osage Orange / Bois D’Arc
10 J. Catalpa (“Cigar Tree”)

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Friendly Tree Quiz 2021

Tree A

Joe’s Creek and the Northaven Park lands are graced with a variety of native and non-native trees and shrubs. Identification can be challenging in winter due to the absence of foliage; however, several species have distinctive bark or other features that offer excellent clues. With the aid of descriptions drawn from Texas Trees, A Friendly Guide, by Paul W. Cox and Patty Leslie, one can learn to recognize many of these species, and also learn how earlier generations of Texans valued and used trees in their daily lives. In the spirit of this excellent guide, below is a friendly (and potentially rewarding) quiz that one can take from an armchair observation point while the weather is not so friendly!

And just to kick it off, let the Author’s eloquent description identify this first tree (Tree A) for you:
 
“The overall form of open grown American Elms is often likened to a fountain or column of water.” (So the correct match for Clue No3 is Tree A, American Elm.) 
 
NPNA Friendly Tree Quiz 2021
 
Search the photos below to match with these clues to identification, then find the tree’s name from the list provided. All are known to grow in the park or along the creek and greenbelt.
 

Bonus: A brand new copy of the book will be awarded to the first NPNA neighbor to correctly identify all 10 photos. See the end of this post for the winner and a link to the answers.

  1. This tree’s protective measures – in theory developed during the Pleistocene era against megafauna (like the Mastadon) – prove less effective in the current day against foraging deer in parts of its range. 
  2. Although its non-native, and can be invasive, this tree was sometimes a landscape choice for its large 3 lobed leaves, 12 inches in width, that provide substantial shade.
  3. The distinctive shape of the crown of this large native is more evident in the winter.
  4. Among the oaks, this variety features a coarse bark and strong branch structure. An excellent landscape choice.
  5. The smooth bark of this tree is one of its most distinctive features.
  6. Branching patterns are one key to distinguishing between two varieties of this tree, since the foliage and bark are very similar.
  7. A natural along the creek bed, this tree is easily identified by its foliage which can turn bright yellow in the fall. In winter, look for the furrowed bark, which forms deep flakes on old trees, and its relatively low branches.
  8. Only ringtail cats typically eat the berries of this small tree, which may explain why they remain on the branches here in fall and winter.
  9. A distinctive color in the coarse bark is a good clue to this tree’s common name.
  10. The pods of this tree, which also is host to a caterpillar sought after for fishing, can be used to weave small baskets – although youngsters of a prior century had another use, which gave the tree one of its common, or nicknames.

Click on each photo for a larger view.

Tree B

Tree C

Tree D

Tree E

Tree F

Tree G – Bark

Tree G – Structure

Tree H – Bark

Tree H – Structure

Tree I

Tree J

 

 

 

Native and Non-native varieties that can be found in the Park & along the Creek:
Southern Catalpa
Cedar Elm
Chinaberry
Chinese Parasol
Red Oak
American Elm
Chinese Tallow
Japanese Ligustrum		 Chinkapin Oak
Bois d’Arc
Gum Bumelia
Burr Oak
Black Walnut
Crepe Myrtle
Honey Locust
Bald Cypress		 Black Willow
Hackberry
Sycamore
Eve’s Necklace
Mexican Buckeye
Juniper
SoapBerry
Pond Cypress

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Friendly Tree Quiz: Todd England. Thanks to all who attempted the quiz. View the answers here.