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06/08/2026

I know the genus Kalmia from mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), which makes its way north, to me. I was beyond excited to encounter sand myrtle (Kalmia buxifolia), this wonderful member of the same genus, at high elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains. From the photos I’ve seen, this shrub and all the shrubs around it, were superblooming. The handsome foliage resembles boxwood, hence the specific epithet, and the flowers almost resemble Spiraea. This was my favorite find of the day. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

06/07/2026

This week’s Tree ID Quiz is here 🌳 Quiz 16

Test your tree identification skills as we explore a new location and examine a new group of tree species each week. Learn to identify trees by their bark, leaves, buds, branching patterns, fruit, flowers, and overall form.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, naturalists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, plant enthusiasts, and anyone interested in botany and tree identification.

Follow weekly to improve your botanical observation skills and expand the number of trees you can confidently identify in the wild.

Comment your answers below and save this post to practice later.

06/06/2026

Here are this week’s answers to the Tree ID Quiz 🌳 Quiz 15

Each week we explore a new location and study different tree species to improve your tree identification and botanical observation skills. Compare your guesses, learn key identification features, and continue building your knowledge of trees and plant science.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, naturalists, and anyone passionate about trees and nature education.

Follow weekly to learn more tree species and strengthen your ability to identify trees in every season.

How many did you get correct?

06/05/2026

Wesselman Woods is the largest urban old-growth forest in the United States. This 190 acre preserve in southern Indiana is a magnificent reminder of what a forest can look like without human devastation. Here, we run through some of the trees I encountered while exploring Wesselman Woods, during my three days of teaching. I forgot to film a few trees, namely pin oak (Quercus palustris), shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria), and swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii). Enjoy!

06/04/2026

There are no lilacs native to the Americas, yet two species can commonly be found in cultivation. The more commonplace of the two is a shrub called common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). This ubiquitous shrub is known for its edible fragrant spring-blooming white and purple flowers. Its close relative is quite different in a number of ways. Here we look at Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata). Unlike common lilac, this is a tree with dark lenticellate bark that flowers in summer with misty, cotton candy-like large white blooms. Though still less common in the average homeowner’s garden, Japanese tree lilac has rapidly risen to prominence. This tree was previously found nearly exclusively in botanical gardens and other more refined plantings, and is now planted commonly in parking lots, on streets, and difficult sites all over, where bulletproof trees are needed. In my recent drives south, I’ve seen entire car parks and malls furnished exclusively with this tree. From what I have read and heard, Japanese tree lilac is not commonly invasive, however, in my personal experience I have seen it growing several places where I am certain it wasn’t planted. Will this be the next Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana)? I doubt it. But there are always dangers in planting non-native trees, and this tree’s sudden prominence in landscape plantings means we will surely learn a lot more, soon. I am covering it now, for you, so you will know what it is as you begin seeing it more!

06/03/2026

I love this tree. Despite not technically being native to almost any of the eastern US, Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is a ubiquitous tree in many of our disturbed landscapes. Catalpa is an effective colonizer following disturbance whose small, sliver-like native distribution, has broadly increased, from human development and destruction. Here, we observe it’s stunning and particular characteristics. This is a difficult tree to mix up with anything else, and i still remember so clearly the first time I saw one. About 10 years ago, before I could identify a single tree, I remember the large, elephant ear-like leaves of a lone tree in a cemetery. Years later, I realized what it was. If you’ve never seen this tree in bloom, go find it! There may still be time!

06/02/2026

Have you ever seen cotton floating through the air in late spring?
My time in southern Indiana coincided with the seed dispersal of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides). This event sheds light on the meaning of their name. Eastern cottonwood, common all throughout the eastern US, epitomizes the tendency shared among members of the willow family, Salicaceae, to release their seeds by wind, carried within a cottony mass. Though not unique to cottonwood, the resemblance of this seed’s airy enclosure has led to its famous common name.

06/01/2026

Many have been jump-scared by the telial horns produced by rusts on eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana). There is nothing simple about a rust. Rusts are pathogenic fungi with plant hosts, and in my forest pathology education, I’ve spent many hours studying and understanding their complexity and beauty! Texture aside, they are wonderful to behold and absolutely dazzling! Rusts in the genus Gymnosporangium infect two different hosts from two different plant families: Cypress family (Cupressaceae) and Rose family (Rosaceae). Each species of fungus within the genus has a slightly different host preference. In addition to having two different hosts, from completely unrelated families, these rusts often have four different types of spore producing structure! We do not go into detail here, but discuss practical considerations of rusts! If you want a more in-depth discussion, I believe I have a 16-minute video on my YouTube (), discussing the details of the famous white pine blister rust life cycle. What do you think of this wild organism? Like it or hate it? :)

05/31/2026

This week’s Tree ID Quiz is here 🌳 Quiz 15

Test your tree identification skills as we explore a new location and examine a new group of tree species each week. Learn to identify trees by their bark, leaves, buds, branching patterns, fruit, flowers, and overall form.

Perfect for arborists, botanists, naturalists, ecologists, gardeners, horticulturists, foresters, plant enthusiasts, and anyone interested in botany and tree identification.

Follow weekly to improve your botanical observation skills and expand the number of trees you can confidently identify in the wild.

Comment your answers below and save this post to practice later.

I visited The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, in Lexington, for a few hours, on my way from the Cumberlan...
05/30/2026

I visited The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, in Lexington, for a few hours, on my way from the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky, to Mammoth Cave. However, I didn’t set foot in Lexington, besides the planet fitness and Arboretum (I’ll have to return to explore). Here are a few of my photos from the couple hours I spent at the arboretum!

1-2. Impossible not to open with Kentucky yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) when showcasing the trees at the state arboretum. Kentucky’s state tree is tulip tree (a very worthy tree for such a title, as many other states also share it), but if it were up to me, yellowwood would take its place.

3. The stunning purple margins on the inside of the cone scales of a Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) cone.

4-7. The flowers of yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava). Notice, their stamens (the long spindly bits with swollen ends) remain enclosed inside the corolla (petals) of each floret!

8-11. The flowers of Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra). Notice, the stamens are extruded from, or extending past the corolla! This difference in the flowers between yellow and Ohio buckeye is helpful if you’re new to telling them apart (when you don’t have access to the fruits, as would be the case in spring, when flowers are blooming!). As I head West across Kentucky, I leave yellow buckeye territory, towards the larger area of Ohio buckeye territory! Here’s the confluence (planted) at the botanical garden.

12. Willow oak (Quercus phellos), with its gorgeous shiny leaves, entire margins, and conspicuous single, apical bristle tip (a red oak!).

13. Black tulpelo (Nyssa sylvatica) flower preparing to bloom!

14. American snowbell (Styrax americanus) in bloom. The native bottomland area at the botanical garden is a wonderful place to espy some exciting native woodies.

15. American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) leaf in silhouette. I like taking black and white silhouette photos primarily for what they communicate about trees (aesthetics are secondary). The features of this leaf are so stark!

Hope you enjoy!

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