Devonwood part 2

Devonwood Conservation Area in Windsor was hard-hit by the Emerald Ash borer.  The conservation authority cut down the dead ash trees to prevent them from falling on people.  The cut wood remains, hopefully providing habitat for some insects and small creatures.  I have never been to Devonwood in the spring, so I'm not sure what wildflowers are present there, but perhaps they will benefit from the increased sunlight.

Signs of spring were everywhere on this walk.  This long, thin bud is that of a nannyberry shrub (Vibernum lentago).  I planted one of these in my garden last year - we'll see how it does.  I'm hoping the fruits attract some birds, although humans can eat them too!  The single tree I have in my yard isn't likely to yield enough berries to make jam...

Nannyberry

These are the male catkins of a hazel (Corylus species).  This shrub produces edible hazelnuts.

Hazel

Butterflies were active in the warm subshine.  I saw 1 Mourning cloak and 2 Eastern Comma.  The 2 Eastern comma were flying around together, and both species seemed to be fighting for the best place to sun themselves on this fallen log. 

Mourning Cloak

Eastern Comma

Both of these lovelies would have spent the winter in the area as adult butterflies.  They might have found shelter in a tree cavity or behind some loose bark.  The Mourning Cloak is looking a bit worn - but I think it's amazing that they can survive the winter.

Finally, here is a very bad picture of what I'm fairly certain is a sharp shinned hawk. I counted 2 of them flying around the woods.  Sharpies and Cooper's hawks always amaze me with the way they can zip through a dense forest.

Oaks at Devonwood Conservation Area

Yesterday, I went for a walk with the Naturalized Habitat Network to Devonwood Conservation Area in Windsor.  It was a beautiful, sunny day with above normal temperatures.  Windsor hit 16 degrees Celcius!  Devonwood is a small conservation area surrounded by development.  It is home to 8 species of oaks (red, white, black, swamp white, chinquapin, pin, shumard and burr), including some very large Shumard oaks.

Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) is a member of the red oak group, preferring low, wet, poorly drained clay sites.  It often has buttressed roots and may grow to 30m in Ontario 1.  The bark is grey-brown, and appeared smoother than other oaks. 

Shumard oak bark

 

 

The Pin oak (Quercus palustris) also prefers wet soil.  Pin oak is recognizable by the tendency for lower branches arch downwards.  These branches die and eventually fall off, leaving "pins" attached to the trunk 1. 

Pin Oak

This next picture shows the pale grey, fissured bark of a mature white oak, one of my favourite trees.  White oak (Quercus alba) prefers drier sites where the soil has better drainage.  This tree at Devonwood is located on an area of slightly higher ground just next to the trail.

 White oak can be identified by the massive branches spreading from a short trunk. 

White oak wood is very strong and resistant to rot.  It was used in barn construction, and for the mast of tall ships (similar to white pine) 1, 2.  Rum, whisky, and Louisiana Tabasco sauce are aged in white oak barrels 2! This beautiful tree species can live for 500-600 years 1.

Finally, Burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa) can also tolerate the seasonal flooding that is so common in the woods of Essex County.  The bark is deeply furrowed.

I definitely want to go back to Devonwood once the trees start to flower! 

References:
1. Waldron, G. (2003). Trees of the carolinian forest: a guide to species, their ecology and uses. Ontario. Boston Mills Press.

 
2. Blouin, G. (2001). An eclectic guide to trees east of the rockies. Ontario. Boston Mills Press.