I did not take that picture at the top.
But it looks like the maple trees here in Wichita.
Someday I suppose I will learn how to take still pictures with my nice video camera.
Then I will learn where to upload them in my computer.
Then I will learn how to upload them from that place into the Daily Kos treasure trove of pictures, called the Image Library.
Step by step, I plan to learn, someday.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at, to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other such things that could keep us off Daily Kos. If you're not here, or anywhere else on Daily Kos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
This is our current schedule of regular IAN diary writers:
Monday: Youffraita
Tuesday: bigjacbigjacbigjac
Wednesday: Pam from Calif
Thursday: art ah zen
Friday: FloridaSNMOM
Saturday: FloridaSNDad
Sunday: loggersbrat
The little dog is named Itzl.
But for now, I simply felt the urge to post a list of the trees I have identified, as I have been taking my walks around my neighborhood, here in Wichita, Kansas.
Keep in mind, I have been learning how to identify trees since I was a teenager, for about 55 years.
When Tonia died, over two years ago, I found that taking walks, and taking note of all the trees I saw along the way, made me feel good.
Okay, here we go.
Off the top of my head:
- Oak
- Maple
- Elm
- Sycamore
- Ash
- Chestnut
- Catalpa
- Pride of India, or Golden Rain Tree
- Bradford Pear
- Crabapple
- Redbud
- Hackberry
- Sweet Gum
- Honey Locust
- Juniper
- Pine
At this point, I got out my two books of trees, to jog my memory:
- Weeping Willow
- Osage Orange
- Holly (bush)
- Mulberry
- Cottonwood (the Kansas State Tree)
- Black Walnut
- Mimosa
- Bald Cyprus
- Kentucky Coffee Tree
In this video from six months ago, I talk about the maple trees and oak trees and elm trees, and a sycamore tree, in the video:
Interesting bit of trivia:
As I understand, there are many varieties of oak, maple, elm, and ash trees.
And chestnut trees, even though I only see one kind here in Wichita.
But for many of the trees I listed, there is just the one kind, as far as I know:
- Sycamore
- Sweet Gum
- Honey Locust
- Hackberry
- Osage Orange
- Cottonwood
- Black Walnut
- Bald Cyprus
- Kentucky Coffee Tree
Seems to me that there is such a big difference, from when I tell myself, “That is an oak tree, but I truly do not know which kind, from the many, many kinds of oak trees.”
And at other times, when I tell myself, “That is a Sweet Gum tree.”
By the way, the Sweet Gum tree has pretty five-point leaves, and a fruit that I call a spikey ball.
Very distinctive.
And the Osage Orange tree has a large fruit, bigger than any navel orange, and green and bumpy (not edible).
And the Bald Cyprus has small greenery that looks like juniper or other evergreens.
But it drops all the greenery in the fall, like an oak tree!
Ha!
Okay, I could go on and on about all the oddities of all these trees.
Wait, before I quit, I need to mention the squirrels and the cottontail rabbits and the possums.
And, of course, the many cats who own the apartment complex.
I see a cat sitting on a car, and I ask it, “Do you own that car?”
The cat blinks.
Ha!
And, hugs.
