Illustration: fall leaves

Here, in the Northeast, the leaves are starting to change. Hear the subtle crunching as you walk outside. Gracefully, they float down from the heavens like orange and yellow snowflakes. Although the air is crisp, the colors will soon illuminate the vista with brilliant warmth.

Do you look at the different shapes and try to identify what tree they are from? What tree is common in your area?

I made four watercolors, and then turned them into postcards. Feel free to check them out at my store.

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illustration: white oak

White Oak hardwood trees grow throughout the central and east part of North America, ranging from Texas up to Maine, also reaching up to Canada. They are described as white oak due to their bark being white-ish, in comparison to their oak cousins. Its acorn nuts provide an important food source for deer, squirrels, blue jays and turkey. A distinct identifier of the white oak is its leaf shape which has seven to nine rounded lobes.

drawing: the oak tree

Long before Henry the VIII was the King of England and long before Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous painting Mona Lisa, an oak tree began its life, 600-years ago. Generations of American Indians enjoyed the shade underneath its long branches. Even George Washington was here, during the revolutionary war.

Sadly, now, the old oak tree is dying. It is showing its age. There are steel props and support wires applied by caring people, desperately holding up its heavy branches.

The New Jersey town is understandably distraught. It is like a family member is going away and so is piece of history.

I visit the gentle giant to witness its grandeur which still stands next to a church in Basking Ridge, NJ. I am so glad I did. In own my way, I honor the amazing tree by doing a little sketch.

chestnut oak

The Chestnut Oak tree is native in eastern North America. from Mississippi to Maine. Wildlife, such as blue jays, woodpeckers, squirrels and deer rely on acorns of the oak tree as a source of their diet. The average life span of an oak tree is 60 years.

drawing: oak tree

The average life span for Oak trees is 100 to 300 years. There are over 150 species of Oak trees, including Black, Bur, Northern Pin, White and Swamp White. This drawing of mine is of the Red Oak species which characteristically turn a brilliant red during the autumn season.

Its acorns are enjoyed by White-tailed Deer, squirrels and Blue Jays.

fall leaves

I’ve collected a pile of leaves this fall season, while walking the dog.  I can’t seem to identify the round one (middle, lower row).   It is not as common as the maple and oak species, and it has a interesting pattern of veins.