Scouting for collectible material in the spring

[Javaman4373]

With no snow on the ground and all the weeds killed by frost, it is a good time to take the dogs for a walk and scout for trees to collect in the spring. I have been through this area of our woods before, but it is easy to miss a good prospect. Today I found an Am. hornbeam I plan to collect in March. It is not very big, so it will not be a major effort to dig it up. Plus, I don't have any of the species. This area of our woods has quite a bit of hawthorn and elm. Unfortunately the elm trunks are mostly straight and probably not worth the effort. I did find one hawthorn, that is small but interesting for me.

 

[The Barber]

I found a ton that I basically stepped over prior to winter dormancy...amazing what leaves hide when everything is green. I have a truck load taped in the woods around here that look like that that I'll be going after in the spring, mainly American beech here.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Javaman4373 , the hornbeam look interesting, and they develop into great trees. Straight trunk elms can be chopped to about 1/3 "final height" and encouraged to become brooms.
Hawthorns are always good subjects.

 

[19Mateo83]

That’s a nice trunk, I love hornbeams that size. It’s not too big that it takes a lifetime to heal cuts and not too small.