By Jenna P. Jones, The Trussville Tree Commission, Special to the Tribune
Tones of orange, pink, and blue rise above the distant ridge outside our eastern window. Here comes the sun. Good morning April! Spring is on the brink of her 9th day. Against the negative space of the early morning sky, skeletal profiles of deciduous trees resemble candelabras. The deciduous trees have barely broken bud, so their trunks and branches are still stark and distinct. (Trees begin to break bud/wake up in response to temperature and increased daylight.) A few trees are a bit thicker in stature or girth, and these would be the evergreens. These profiles can be loosely identified with an educated guess from a distance. Outlined on the horizon, there is oak, sweetgum, maple, possibly hickory, and of course, pine. Move in closer, and one can hone in the particular genus, species, variety, etc., by clues on the bark or winter remnants of leaves and fruit on the ground. (ex. hickory nuts). But it’s early in the morning, and for now, I’m happy at a distance calling a pine a pine. Details can be addressed later. As April transitions, buds will continue to push; and leaves/blooms will be other significant clues to identification. All of this to say, any time is a good time to become acquainted with your neighborhood trees. And it’s good to address them by name.
So what’s the point of tree identification? Well, if your occupation/education revolves around it, ID may not be an option. Full-blown taxonomy is an important tool. However, there are more casual approaches to learning the names of trees, and resources* are now abundant: field handbooks, informal tree walks, formal classes, botanical gardens, online research, and now the popular ID apps available on our phones. There are many resources for children, as well. Becoming acquainted with your neighborhood trees at a leisurely pace will surely awaken the student in you. Choose your pace. It’s fun! (And if Latin is your pleasure, go for it.)
One casual approach would be to choose a tree in your neighborhood or park that appeals to you, particularly through all seasons. No matter your choice of resource, observation and curiosity are your handiest tools: observe the bark, the leaves, the branch profile, the blooms & fruit, etc. – through all seasons. Take pics and notes. Ask questions: “Why is this tree thriving in one location and not in another? Does this tree support or host other life such as lichen, resurrection fern, birds, pollinators, etc.? Is this gingko a male or female? Do the leaf shapes resemble stars, mittens, ovals, etc.?”
Years ago, as newlyweds, our first apartment on the campus of Auburn was on Redbud Lane. Granted, I doubt the question, “Where are the redbuds on Redbud Lane?” ever occurred to me. Fast forward decades, and the question is still relevant: why are cities intent on naming so many streets after trees? (Trussville is no exception: Magnolia, Oak, Black Walnut, Hemlock, and Dogwood, to name a few.) Hopefully, this was an act of aspiration and not a eulogy! Redbud Lane in Auburn is gone, but ironically, redbuds now randomly volunteer in our current neighborhood. So naturally, I feel a tug to follow my own advice and allow observation and curiosity to lead the way: “Here’s to you, Fabaccae Cercis Canadensis L Eastern redbud! May I just call you redbud? Even though your buds look deep purple to me!”
*a few resources: Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (a key to native trees); The BBG Library at the Gardens and Trussville Public Library, esp. children’s books; National Audubon Society Field Guide to Eastern Trees; Apps: Picture This & LeafSnap; Tree Walks @ Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Aldridge Gardens (and in the works: local Tree Walks