Self-tutoring about tree identification: the tutor mentions cherry birch. Waiting last week at an office, I gazed out the window, where a tree drew my attention. The tree had a few familiar features; never had I seen them in the…

Self-tutoring about local trees: the tutor mentions the sweetgum for the second time. Back on September 15, 2015, I noted a sweetgum tree in Campbell River. Its star-shaped leaves were how I identified it. Yesterday, I saw one without leaves…

Self-tutoring about local trees: the tutor makes another observation about local dawn redwoods. I wrote a few posts about local dawn redwoods, the most recent here. It will lead interested readers back to earlier ones. Dawn redwood is deciduous here.…

Self-tutoring about dawn redwoods: the tutor shares some ideas about identifying them. In my past two posts,

Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor shares an exciting find from the field. In yesterday’s post I mention a long connection I have with dawn redwoods, despite only recently becoming acquainted. The dawn redwoods themselves have a story. Scientists discovered dawn…

Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor identifies a plant he saw. Yesterday, in a sidewalk garden, I noticed a striking plant. It had big purple flowers, perhaps 8 to 10cm across, consisting of many long filaments. The flowers reminded me of…

Self-tutoring about trees: the tutor mentions a linden he’s noticed. In the northwest corner of a local sports field is a hardwood tree, perhaps 70 ft tall. Its trunk is oval; its max diameter might be 18 inches. The bark…

Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor shares an observation about a red elder. I know of few trees that produce new blooms while their fruit is on. Yet, I (and now you, too) can witness a red elder doing so. In…

Self-tutoring about plant identification: the tutor identifies the daisy-like plant growing in the backyard. Identifying this one took some time, but I believe it’s feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). The non-pointed, lobed leaves seem to be decisive, as many plants, apparently, have…

Self-tutoring about botany: the tutor wades into the distinctions between the European gooseberry and the American one. Ribes uva-crispa is the old world gooseberry. Its berries can be an inch (2.5cm) across – its leaves, 6cm. However, its nodal spines…