Sassafras Tree and Leaves

The Sassafras Tree is the only tree to have 3 to 4 different leaf shapes on the same tree.  Looking at this photo one can see quite distinctly the three-pronged leaf, the plain straight-forward leaf, and some in which there is a two-pronged leaf with one prong subordinate being either a right 'thumb' or a left 'thumb'

When North America was first being settled by Europeans - and for a few centuries - the root of this tree was used to make the first 'Root Beers'.  This is occasionally still done today for a cool refreshing drink with a great natural flavour by those in the know and willing to work a little extra for the taste. 
Very occasionally one can still find a small craft-style soft drink company that will make and distribute 'Sarsaparilla'  

I was checking out my Sarsaparilla comment after I posted this - basically I am correct but for a full description of Sarsaparilla go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarsaparilla_%28soft_drink%29

Falling Pine II

06 June 2013

A storm came in with thunder, lightning, rain and wind a few days later and this old guy finished his journey.  When thinking about forest growth from quick growing soft wood deciduous and conifer trees to so-called climax forests of mainly hard-wood deciduous trees, the demise of this pine is just part of the larger life of the forest in general.     Ce est la vie

Moon

NASA Photo

Falling Pine

 On about the fourth of June I noticed that an old dead pine had lost the battle with gravity, broken at the base, falling into the arms of supporting trees.  My chain saw was not running well and more meaningfully my growing number of years was sending me a message that perhaps I should hold off on attempting to complete the felling and clearing of this old tree in case I had to do a sudden reflexive jump for safety when it was severed - so I let it stand for nature to take its course.

Shadow Play With Sun