Beech Trees
What do you think of when you hear mention of beech trees? For some of you, their famous beechnuts may come to mind. Others may recall a beech tree from their childhood filled with such engravings as "Bill + Mary 1967," the smooth, light-colored bark of beech trees being a prime target for sylvan graffiti mongers.
But neither of those two things come to mind for me, first and foremost, when I think about beech trees. What I love about them is the way they extend the fall foliage season. Like oak trees, beech trees retain their leaves for a much longer time than do most trees here in New England.
A grove of beech trees in the forest can be an enchanting sight in fall. Eventually, their golden fall foliage fades to a tan color -- but it's still better than what most other trees are offering at the same time! Better suited to be specimens on typical lawns are the smaller tricolor beech trees.
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Comments
In addition to birch,the beech is one of my favorite trees.
Yes because of the bark they are indeed prime targets for engraving.There is one in one of our local parks that has the engraving M.R.1943.
Those initials were carved when WWII was still raging.
Another thing i love is that most varities have a branching structure ideal for climbing.At 44 years old i’m a little old for climbing but i like to relive my boyhood now and than.
Scotty,
Great point about the branching structure of beech trees being conducive to climbing. I bet even I could climb one! And for those not interested at all in climbing, that branching structure is pleasing simply to behold, too.
Haha I love Scott’s post. Haven’t climbed trees in ages, but why not start now with a beech! However, I find photographing trees a little more captivating than climbing them :-/ So I’d go with Scott’s “behold.”
Ahh, you’re right. Beech trees are something to admire in the fall time.
Something I just thought of; I’ve never eaten a beechnut. There seems to be several websites with beechnut recipes. What does a beechnut taste like?
It’s been years since I tasted a beechnut. I don’t remember the taste as being anything extraordinary.