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Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.

Winston Churchill

Birch

I've never figured out why birch grows where it does. There are scattered birches in the Balsam Poplar forest, but we have one spot the is predominately river birch. At least when you count trees. By weight the poplar and the paper birch have them beat. I'm not sure if this is a stable situation or if it's another, more subtle transition event. Trees do teach me patience.

River birch is scrawnier than paper birch. But it has a lovely dark coloured bark. I'd like to propagate it. Maybe this summer, I;ll catch some seed. (Birch seed is not viable for long after it scatters to the wind.) Even if I'm not successful I may try transplanting a small one into the yard, and see what it does when it gets a decent amount of sunlight.

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Sherwood's Forests is located about 75 km southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. Please refer to the map on our Contact page for directions.