Finally I have the answer I've been looking for (and identification confirmation). We have these trees scattered throughout the forest at our property in western NC. It's rare that we see one growing straight. They turn a beautiful red in early fall, and the wood is incredibly strong (it makes sense they would have been used for tool handles and sled runners, as Heather Wall mentioned).
I'm so glad I could help answer your question about the beautiful sourwoods! I love that they're usually the first trees to signal fall. They seem like free spirits to me, all crooked and going every which way!
Very cool! Having grown up in New York, the bark looks familiar so I’m sure I saw a few sourwoods around and didn’t know it. Also, the sky has been a brilliant blue in Texas too, what is UP with that?!
Interesting! So it's not just me. It seems like it's bluer in the fall, and I'm not sure it's not simply an illusion of the sky against the yellows and reds of the leaves. It's on my list to investigate!
Interesting! It's such a small tree we've never considered burning it -- does it smell sour? It does appear to be a strong wood -- apparently it was used to make tool handles and wagon sled runners.
Finally I have the answer I've been looking for (and identification confirmation). We have these trees scattered throughout the forest at our property in western NC. It's rare that we see one growing straight. They turn a beautiful red in early fall, and the wood is incredibly strong (it makes sense they would have been used for tool handles and sled runners, as Heather Wall mentioned).
I'm so glad I could help answer your question about the beautiful sourwoods! I love that they're usually the first trees to signal fall. They seem like free spirits to me, all crooked and going every which way!
Why is the sky bluer in Fall? Check out Mike Snowdon's substack Everything is Amazing. I think he might have covered that question last year.
Thank you - I will look back in his archive. I love Everything is Amazing!
Very cool! Having grown up in New York, the bark looks familiar so I’m sure I saw a few sourwoods around and didn’t know it. Also, the sky has been a brilliant blue in Texas too, what is UP with that?!
Interesting! So it's not just me. It seems like it's bluer in the fall, and I'm not sure it's not simply an illusion of the sky against the yellows and reds of the leaves. It's on my list to investigate!
You may want to consider burning some less-than-dry sourwood in a fireplace and then describe the odor emanating from the sourwood.
Interesting! It's such a small tree we've never considered burning it -- does it smell sour? It does appear to be a strong wood -- apparently it was used to make tool handles and wagon sled runners.