"Arf ! Arf !" ?? I expect you think I am barking mad. Well, I am, in a sense. When did you last look closely at the bark of a tree? It's amazing what you see when you do. Here is a little collection of bark photos, to demonstrate the point.
Have you ever had to hug a tree? When I was teaching, each year I used took my class on a week long residential visit where we had to take part in various activities. One of the less scary ones was to hug a tree. You were blindfolded and taken to a tree which you had to get to know intimately using just touch. After a while you were taken away from your tree, spun round a few times and the blindfold was removed. You then had to find your tree! The children were really good at it!
Ah, so you are a proper "Tree-hugger" then, Sue! Not the stereotypical one though. Talking of schools... my daughters went to Velmead Junior School, right next to the common I wrote about. The kids there study the cattle and their effect on the heathland, and they maintain (certainly used to) a "Future Forest" of trees which they planted years ago.
Sorry for the off topic but.. I wonder, do you in England extract the sap from birches in early spring? In Poland it is an old practice but it's more and more common nowadays. This sap has a lot of health benefits. A few years ago in spring when I extracted for the first time about 3 liters of sap from the biggest birch in my garden I spread the hole in the tree with a special antibacterial healing tree ointment and I hugged it thanking for its sap. When I hugged it, I felt full of energy! From that moment I always hug trees or lean against them - it's a very nice feeling.
Hi Dewberry; No, I have not heard of anyone here in the UK extracting Birch-sap. Will you be blogging about how you use the sap? (Can you ferment it and make an alcoholic drink?)
Yes, I will show it on my blog. I usually do it shortly before March equinox. I usually drink the fresh sap - the more fresh it is the more healthy it is. I know that people mix the fresh sap with, for example, black currant syrup or a rose hip infusion. The birch sap tastes like water with a little sugar in it. I don't know if it's possible to make an alcoholic drink of it, but I will find out and write about it.
I often check out all the bark on the trees here. There's some amazing patterns, colours and textures especially when the weather heats up and they start to lose the bark due to lack of water. Have a great weekend. :D
My little trees are still new but I like to stroke the bark when I am in the garden. Makes me sound mad I know.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had to hug a tree? When I was teaching, each year I used took my class on a week long residential visit where we had to take part in various activities. One of the less scary ones was to hug a tree. You were blindfolded and taken to a tree which you had to get to know intimately using just touch. After a while you were taken away from your tree, spun round a few times and the blindfold was removed. You then had to find your tree! The children were really good at it!
ReplyDeleteAh, so you are a proper "Tree-hugger" then, Sue! Not the stereotypical one though. Talking of schools... my daughters went to Velmead Junior School, right next to the common I wrote about. The kids there study the cattle and their effect on the heathland, and they maintain (certainly used to) a "Future Forest" of trees which they planted years ago.
DeleteSorry for the off topic but.. I wonder, do you in England extract the sap from birches in early spring? In Poland it is an old practice but it's more and more common nowadays. This sap has a lot of health benefits. A few years ago in spring when I extracted for the first time about 3 liters of sap from the biggest birch in my garden I spread the hole in the tree with a special antibacterial healing tree ointment and I hugged it thanking for its sap. When I hugged it, I felt full of energy! From that moment I always hug trees or lean against them - it's a very nice feeling.
ReplyDeleteHi Dewberry; No, I have not heard of anyone here in the UK extracting Birch-sap. Will you be blogging about how you use the sap? (Can you ferment it and make an alcoholic drink?)
DeleteYes, I will show it on my blog. I usually do it shortly before March equinox. I usually drink the fresh sap - the more fresh it is the more healthy it is. I know that people mix the fresh sap with, for example, black currant syrup or a rose hip infusion. The birch sap tastes like water with a little sugar in it. I don't know if it's possible to make an alcoholic drink of it, but I will find out and write about it.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is possible to make wine! I've found many recipes, check for example:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/feb/01/how-to-make-birch-sap-wine
I bet it tastes good :)
Bark is Nature's way of creating awesome texture! Wouldn't a tree be uninteresting without bark of some sort. Love your photos.
ReplyDeleteWe have a plant that fruits on the bark of a tree ;).
ReplyDeleteThe peeling one is my favorite, I always think of cinnamon sticks (or very tiny people writing on scrolls).
ReplyDeleteHey I'm barking mad too Mark! Always have been ;D
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the photos here today.
I often check out all the bark on the trees here. There's some amazing patterns, colours and textures especially when the weather heats up and they start to lose the bark due to lack of water.
Have a great weekend. :D
We don't have white birch trees here in Georgia and I sure do miss them.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics. I love textures. I think it is a great shame that many people never take a closer look at things, they miss so much!
ReplyDelete