Ailanthus

I thought these were sumacs, but then samaras came out, so I realized they were ailanthus. I still think the ones on the other side of the path are sumacs.

Shedding sycamores

The sycamore trees are shedding their bark.  At Peebles Island yesterday, chunks of bark were falling like rain off the sycamore tree at the start of the path.  

Today at work, many of the branches on the sycamores were stripped of bark.

The bark that was missing from the trees could be seen on the ground below the trees.

Autumn in July

Autumn leaves already?!  It seems like the leaves only just emerged.

Another Sunday at Peebles Island

As I often do, I spent a Sunday afternoon at Peebles Island.  There I saw sumac and

mulberries.

There is a tree near the start of the path that has a hollow.  I wonder what animals make use of it.

I don't know what this one is.  There is so much still to be learned.

Underside of a tree

Some cottonwoods were right at the edge of the Old Champlain Canal, leaning over it.  Apparently this one leaned over so far that it fell right in.

View from beneath the trees

Today I lay on the grass beside the river and gazed up at the trees.  To my left were pines.

Directly above was an ash.