I continue to look for the edible nut crop each year at my favorite, big, beech trees. The trees cycle anywhere from two to eight years, requiring my return to see if it is an“ on” year. What we see in beautiful beech flooring and furniture has been crafted by expert wood workers. In its rougher form it is preferred by woodstove owners because of its high density and good wood burning qualities.
Reaching a height of 80 feet and taller, the American beech is often the tallest tree in the forest. Strikes by lightning and open wounds are common. The cambium layer, located just inside the bark, keeps it vital despite the inner, non-living heartwood core that rots, resulting in a hollowedout base. It is often used by wildlife as a den site and food source.
Take a walk through any Brown County woodland and you will find the American Beech tree is a prominent member. It is associated with sugar maple, occasionally musclewood, and shrubs like viburnum and highbush cranberry. The forest complex of beech-maple is often compared to another association, oak-hickory, and the two occur in the Midwest temperate zone. They are usually close with similar understories and herbal layers. It’ s the oak-hickory grouping that is more economically valued by commercial foresters and it’ s these trees, mostly oaks, that we see loaded on logging trucks.
You might come across a beech tree with deep incisions of heart-shapes and initials during your trailside hike. It’ s the smooth, gray bark of the American beech tree that is most chosen by pocketknife carvers. When they are asked,“ Where else might you carve your initials?”—” On the sandy beach!” should be the reply. I do not condone the practice of defacing trees. This destructive practice is harmful. We all agree the beech tree with its smooth gray bark looks far more beautiful and natural without deep scars and cuts.
My annual fall ritual is to sit under some beech trees in my woods as the leaf drop continues. Leaf litter from the beech and other trees cover the mast crop that squirrels find. I suspect what they leave behind the doe and her twin fawns will find. Beech leaves turn from summer green to autumn golden, then winter tan. Winter winds will rattle leaves on the beech tree’ s branches that retain next spring’ s bud.
I’ ve always been a fan of the beech. •
Hotel & Event Center
N
Located across from the Brown County Music Center
Balcony Rooms
Coming soon:
Conference facility – up to 500
560 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge. com
Sept./ Oct. 2021 • Our Brown County 59