Since we are the subject of trees... I will let you in on a little family secret...well not really a secret as much as a tradition.
Since I was in Kindergarten my folks have always had birch trees in their front yard. In fact they used to shade my room in the summer when I was little. There were three of them growing together at the corner of the front porch.
I never really paid much attention to them at any of the houses we lived in. That is until I became a gardener myself and got the 'gardener's winter blues' the lack of color in the winter was always depressing.
One of the few highlights, one of the few plants that looked almost as good in winter as in summer were my mom's birch trees. The white bark, with black clefts that is continually shedding its bark like a snake shedding its skin is always of great interest.
Their lacy canopy is lovely and not to overpowering when leafed out....but the bark is the star in my book!
The only serious drawback I have with them is that it is hard to keep little kids from wanting to peel all that lovely bark off!!!
As I was reading my 'Western Garden Book' it read that Birches need ample water along with a regular feeding program. It also stated that the European White Birch is probably the most frequently planted deciduous tree in the West. I know it is in my folk's yard!
