A Quest For Basswood (very picture heavy)

[flnder]

The holes in the hemlock look sorta like sapsucker wells

 

[Mistwalker]

very nice pictures man!!! very nice!!!

Those are some great pics Mistwalker!!!

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like the pics!

thanks dude. sure does amaze me how some of ya'll make it look so easy...
actually, the bowdrill ive gotten pretty good at(most of the time) with lots of practice but the hand drill....

He does make it look easy doesn't he?

The holes in the hemlock look sorta like sapsucker wells

We have a good many Pileated Woodpeckers here, I was wondering if maybe they were eating insects that are attacking the Hemlocks.

 

[flnder]

sapsuckers leave neat little holes that sap seeps out of,pileateds leave big chunks flying. google sapsucker wells and the pileated woodpecker tree damage under images and you will get an idea

 

[abo4ster]

hey QB, how's it going, bro?

Just wanted to add that Redbud leaves have a smooth margin as compared to the toothed margin of Basswood.

Thanks for the tip regarding Box Elder as a hand drill. I have found, however, that dead herbaceous plant stalks, for the most part (Mullein being an exception) seem to be easier on your hands, almost like a bit of a cushion effect. YMMV, of course.

Doc

Going well my friend. Hope all is well you and yours.

Makes sense about the "cushion." Price you pay for a little more durable spindle.

I know it sounds crazy, but next time I find an acceptable spindle from boxelder that is still on the tree, I am going to try the hand drill right then and there. I believe there is a chance that if I start very slow I can dry that part of the board out through friction. Should be an interesting experiment.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

I know it sounds crazy, but next time I find an acceptable spindle from boxelder that is still on the tree, I am going to try the hand drill right then and there. I believe there is a chance that if I start very slow I can dry that part of the board out through friction. Should be an interesting experiment.

I think you have a good chance of succeeding. I'm sure you're aware of Dick Baugh's technique for using damp wood?

Doc

 

[KEmSAT-Survival]

That's Basswood, Misty.
Bark like a Beech, but big old heart-shaped leaves. That's the way I was taught to remember it.
Except for when they get older and then the bark kind of resembles Poplar in some species.

 

[loki67]

There were several types of fungi out. Some I've never noticed before...and some were rather large.

These are Hemlock Varnish Shelf AKA Reishi Mushroom. Very nice! They have long history of medicinal use.
Check out the link for more info on them.
http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomreishi.html

Beautiful pictures, thank you for sharing them.

 

[P. McKinley]

Misty - If you're harvesting Basswood green, don't forget to strip off the fibrous inner bark.... some of the strongest cordage you'll find/make.

 

[Mistwalker]

sapsuckers leave neat little holes that sap seeps out of,pileateds leave big chunks flying. google sapsucker wells and the pileated woodpecker tree damage under images and you will get an idea

Yeah..I suppose I should have thought about that...I have pictures here somewhere of a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers dismantling my back porch eating Bumble Bee larvae...man do they make some holes.

That's Basswood, Misty.
Bark like a Beech, but big old heart-shaped leaves. That's the way I was taught to remember it.
Except for when they get older and then the bark kind of resembles Poplar in some species.

Thanks, I studied the photos I could find on line for days before I went looking, I was pretty sure it was but not 100% certain.

These are Hemlock Varnish Shelf AKA Reishi Mushroom. Very nice! They have long history of medicinal use.
Check out the link for more info on them.
http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomreishi.html

Beautiful pictures, thank you for sharing them.

Thanks for the link, glad you liked the pics. I couldn't get any better shots because of the tree causing the shadow. It was almost directly west of the mushroom and the sun was headed down. The log was too big to move and so I had to use the flash.

Misty - If you're harvesting Basswood green, don't forget to strip off the fibrous inner bark.... some of the strongest cordage you'll find/make.

Thanks Blue, I'll have to keep that in mind. Hmmm good cordage and good hearth board material. Great tree to remember!

.