Getting philosophical

[Terrierman]

I've driven past this tree thousands of times.  And never truly noticed it until yesterday and for some reason I saw it as a representation of the many twists, turns and unexpected happenings that life gives us, shaping us along the way.  I will never see that tree the same way again.

[Terrierman]

I drove past it again twice today and appreciated it still.

[fishinwrench]

I myself have been flexed to near my breaking point....

Lived through it, but will always carry the scars. 👍

[fishinwrench]

The trees remaining on my land are philosophical as hell.  

[Terrierman]

Survivors they are.  They remember that day, it shows.

I have a leaf from the Linden that survived the Oklahoma City bombing.  Trees with a history fascinate me.

[ness]

Was just reminded today by a friend about this one: 

https://www.nps.gov/articles/mcbaine-burr-oak-lewis-and-clark-national-historic-trail.htm

Need to go see it the next time we're riding the Katy Trail down that way.

[fishinwrench]

I've always heard that counting the rings of a tree trunk will tell you the age, but I cut down a black cherry tree that first sprouted up after the tornado in '06.  It was an odd looking "weed" so I just let it grow.   When I cut it, it had 50-60 rings.   I know for absolute certain that it's only  15-16 years old.......So what gives?    

It appears to me that it gained a ring every season (about 4 per year).

[BilletHead]

      

10 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I've always heard that counting the rings of a tree trunk will tell you the age, but I cut down a black cherry tree that first sprouted up after the tornado in '06.  It was an odd looking "weed" so I just let it grow.   When I cut it, it had 50-60 rings.   I know for absolute certain that it's only  15-16 years old.......So what gives?    

           If I remember right it may look like separate rings but there is a summer growth and a winter growth in each ring. Could you have possibility been counting one year as two? Still doesn't make up the difference in time you are saying but food for thought.  I know when I was building self-bows using a draw knife chasing a ring you would go through the pithy quick summer growth and stop and follow the winter ring,

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, ness said:

Was just reminded today by a friend about this one: 

https://www.nps.gov/articles/mcbaine-burr-oak-lewis-and-clark-national-historic-trail.htm

Need to go see it the next time we're riding the Katy Trail down that way.

You should try and get to Burr Oak brewery on the east side of Columbia next time you are by the Burr oak.

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

      

           If I remember right it may look like separate rings but there is a summer growth and a winter growth in each ring. Could you have possibility been counting one year as two? Still doesn't make up the difference in time you are saying but food for thought.  I know when I was building self-bows using a draw knife chasing a ring you would go through the pithy quick summer growth and stop and follow the winter ring,

          Stand corrected @fishinwrench. The more opened thick cell pithy stuff is the quick spring growth while the dense thin is the rest of the growing season. A light /dark seasonal growth each year.