BIRCH TREES

Birch trees are such beautiful trees. They are grown locally and in many countries around the world. Native Canadians made canoes, bowls and wigwams from this prolific tree due to the light weight and flexibility. Unlike most trees its bark is white and can be peeled in layers. A little research revealed the Hughes H-4 Hercules is made mostly from birch wood and that's why it is called " The Spruce Goose." Many homes have a birch as the front yard tree. When moving to our current home, we planted one with four distinctive trunks. Unfortunately, it became diseased and eventually died. Do you have a beautiful birch on your property?

THE MAPLE LEAF

This time of year brings out the glory of the colours in our trees. It is such a beautiful time to drive and find a single tree or small woodlots with trees in radiant colours. Children like to collect the leaves and schools often make projects about fall and the leaves. One tree that is so indicative of this adventure is the Maple Tree.
A book written by Daniel Tignes- Canadian Forest Trees Essences gives much detail on all the trees in our country. For now I would like to reflect on the one leaf.

The Maple Leaf is such a Canadian symbol. After a little research to determine that I knew all the varieties of Maple trees in Canada, I discovered there are 129 species in the world. I always thought it was just a Canadian and North America tree. Several species actually grow in Canada- Red Maple, Mountain Maple, Manitoba Maple, Silver Maple, Big Leaf Maple, Douglas Maple and of course the Sugar Maple. As a deciduous tree the Maple sheds its leaves in the fall and renews in the Spring. The Red Maple on our flag is recognized around the world. Maple syrup from the sap of the Sugar Maple was adapted from the Native population by the white man and is a major industry now in Eastern Canada and the US. Pancakes always taste better with some Maple syrup on them. Of course the Toronto Maple Leafs- my local team- who eventually will win another Stanley Cup and hopefully in my lifetime uses the leaf motif. Every Canadian Traveller will have a little maple leaf somewhere on their person to let the world know we are Canadian. But I wonder when the Maple Leaf started to become such a symbol for us? When there was the debate to create a new flag in 1965 and the winner was the flag we have today, the red maple was a popular choice. Our Olympic atheletes proudly display it. Canada Day has them in abundance. Gardeners like to plant a Maple Tree and of course suffer the consequences of raking copious leaves in the Fall. It would be hard to imagine Canada without a Maple Leaf. If we decided to create another symbol, could you imagine what it could be? I can not. For now, I would love to sing that childhood song, rarely heard today- The Maple Leaf Forever!