Tags
botany, common northeastern trees, drawings, field guide, guide to trees, nature, tree identification, trees
When my sister and I had both just moved to the northeastern United States a few years ago, she requested a guide to the unfamiliar trees around her. So I drew her this *extremely* goofy guide and although the artwork is pretty terrible, I thought someone on the internet might also enjoy it. Keep in my that my sister is a lawyer, so I did not aim it toward a botanist, but rather someone who knows very little about plants.
Caution: The jokes herein are terribly corny (even though corn is a grass and not a tree!). Some might even qualify as “groaners”. Read at your own risk.
(PS If you’d like a pdf, just send me an email! I’m more than happy to share)
(PPS If you like this one, you might also like my amateurish guide to northeastern birds here.)
Red and White oaks
Maples and Sweet Gum
Sycamore and Tulip tree
Poplars and Willows
Alders and Witch Hazel
Ashes and Paw Paws
Dogwoods and Sassafras
Magnolias and Mulberries
Elms, beeches, and Lindens
Hickory and Horse Chestnut
Black Walnuts and Black Locust
Catalpa and Redbud
Black Birch and Paper Birch
Very cute squirrels.
Thanks! They are useful heuristic tools.
As a lawyer, handicapped by my upbringing in west Texas where there were no trees, I found your tutorial helpful. But we planted a maple tree in our back yard last year, and now I’m worried it is going to drop either not-moons or helicopter seeds. And I know that cottonwoods and aspens are different trees. Are you trying to say they are both in the poplar family, or that poplar is another word for cottonwood? I thought poplars were tall and skinny, and cottonwoods aren’t. Or are you saying they all have the same shaped leaf? Ohhh, the horror of the extent of my ignorance!
Sorry that I was not clear! Poplars include anything in the Populus genus, which includes both cottonwoods and aspens (close cousins). The leaf shape is fairly well conserved in Populus, but of course there is some variation. In the Northeast, the only two common natives are the Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and the Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides). I hope that helps!
Also, the not-moons belong to the Sweet Gums, while the Helicopters are Maples, I don’t know if that was clear in the guide.
Thank you. I might not have read closely enough; I was having difficulty reading some of the text. Thank you for the clarification. I think I have a flame maple and we didn’t see any helicopters last year, so maybe we won’t ever. But, it was just a baby! We have many aspens in our back yard though; they’re my favorite tree.
I am VERY impressed with your field guide. I have one done by extension 4-H and it is no where close to yours! You have great detail, super facts, good descriptions, and clever drawings. I have a fondness for trees and have done a number of posts about trees and their IDs. That being said, I learned a little with your posting. Birch, beech and elms get me confused sometimes. The most prominent birch in our area is River Birch. Have Winged Elms that are easy to recognize, Slippery Elm…not so easy. Is it an Elm or an Ostrya ? Great posting!!!
Thank you so much! I’m very flattered that you like it.
Slippery Elm is an Ulmus (elm) but the easiest way to ID it is to peel a strip of bark off of a twig because it has a mucilaginous quality to it that is very distinctive.
Will put that in my fun fact bag. I think you should publish your field book, should have said that last night.
That’s a compliment too! I’m pretty sure the artwork is not good enough, haha! Also, I have no idea where I would send it. Thanks though, it certainly makes me feel good that you think so.
I believe it is good enough. I just got a facebook message from another Master Gardener who also liked the idea of publishing it. She teaches a few classes to elementary school kids on ecology. If nothing else, you could send the pictures to Shutterfly and have a single paperback book done. … then offer it up to folks through your blog. I have done hardback books on Shutterfly, pretty easy.
Well…I don’t know anything about it, but would you like me to send you a pdf of the book?
I would love a pdf of your field guide. you send me your mailing address and I will get a copy printed up for you. That is how cool I think this is!!
ps- shared this on Facebook as you have a link to do so…I really like this posting.
Thank you!!!
Pingback: Backyard Bird Primer: Common Songs of the Northeastern US « standingoutinmyfield
Pingback: Benji the Little Red Fox « standingoutinmyfield