This handful of white poplars always makes me happy.
For the longest time I thought they were birches. White bark = birches, right? But the more I became acquainted with this little stand of trees, the more I doubted my simple arboricultural judgement. Today I encountered a family riding bikes along the trail and we talked (from 6 feet apart). They informed me these are white, or silver, poplar trees — populus alba.
"The name Populus refers to the fact that the trees were often planted around public meeting places in Roman times."
Britannica.com
My research tells me that poplars are a fast growing, short lived, softwood tree seldom used for appearance. It’s a utility wood used for pallets, crates and plywood, seldom used for appearance. Nonetheless, I love the way the brilliant white trunks reach up from the underbrush into the clear blue sky.
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