I recently revisited the northern red oak that I had chosen during the winter, and the changes that had occurred were pretty significant. As I approached the tree, I noticed that the snow had mainly melted away, and the ground was soft and muddy. The tree, which looked very lifeless in the winter, was now much brighter and lively.
The first thing that caught my eye were the buds that were sprouting from the branches. I also started seeing more green coming from the leaves of the trees, the leaves were coming back to life.
I also noticed that the bark had taken on a more vibrant hue. The more grayish exterior had given way to a deeper, reddish-brown color.
The tree I chose to observe and identify was the Northern Red Oak.
To distinguish between a Northern Red Oak and one of its winter lookalikes(Cottonwood), I first observed the leaves. The leaves of a Northern Red Oak have pointed lobes that curve inward, while cottonwood leaves have more rounded lobes. Additionally, their leaves have a glossy surface, while cottonwood leaves have a duller surface with a slight fuzz.
Next, I looked at the bark of the tree. The bark of a red oak is rough and has deep furrows, while the bark of a cottonwood is smoother and has a lighter color.
Finally, I observed the overall shape of the tree. Northern red oaks have a more conical shape, with a narrower trunk and branches that grow upward. Cottonwoods, on the other hand, have a more rounded shape with a broader trunk and branches that grow outwards.
By carefully analyzing these characteristics, I was able to confidently identify the tree as a northern red oak.
