Views of the Neighborhood – Winter Tree Scenes

~ John W. Howell

Today, we will look at the winter configuration of the trees in the neighborhood. (yeah, it’s a slow activity day here) We can see things that are usually not in view in the summer. We are catered by Ramin Del Barrio of Austin. Our entertainment is The Bangles.

(All Ramen Bowls come with onion, lime and cilantro)

CARNITAS TONKOTSU – Shoyu tare, pork bone broth, mixed carnitas, grilled pepper, and onions.** Best for first-time guests!

CoChinita Tonkotsu – Shoyu tare, cochinita pibil, pickled onions, avocado, tortilla strips. Best for first-time guests!

Menudo Tonkotsu – Guajillo tare, honeycomb tripe, hominy, arbol chilis, tortilla strips. Pa la cruda!

Mole Tsukemen – Mole negro, karaage, Tortilla strips. Dip the noodles. Don ́t dump the broth over the noodles pendejo.
Contains peanuts

Chilaquiles-men – Dry Ramen. Thick noodles tossed in a tomatillo/yuzu-kosho

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s go.

Our first view is a close-up of the berries on a juniper.

Red berries on the pyracantha.

A squirrel’s nest in a deciduous tree.

Lots of mistletoe in the trees.

Some more red berries on Hawthorne bushes.

Red leaves on a Bradford pear.

Another mistletoe example.

A pair of trimmed junipers. (Sometimes called cedars here in Texas)

A live oak that keeps its leaves until spring.

Further away look at the juniper berries.

This is a patch of Bluebonnets growing wild. They will bloom in the spring.

A good example of ball moss in the tree.

China berry tree with yellow berries.

Another squirrel nest.

Nandina Bamboo with red berries.

Well, that is the tour. Sit back, have some food, and enjoy the music. I hope you have a great week.

 

130 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – Winter Tree Scenes”

  5. I rarely look at the trees here because most of them are palms. I bought 2 Norfolk Island pines for the back yard to have something different, but thanks to our strong winds this year – I’m down to one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I lived in the Chicago area off and on for a total of eight years. Very familiar with the Illinois winters. We are expecting a low of 15 on Tuesday. That doesn’t even look like stuff we can handle.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I was just thinking of the Ashe junipers day before yesterday, when the wind switched to the north and I started some slight sneezing. It won’t be long until their pollen begins blowing about and turns into the annual affliction. The photos are great; some of the red-leaved trees around here may be Bradford pears, since they’re all in yards.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. In the early 0s Bradford pears were all the rage. Think of a tree that blooms in the spring but doesn’t bear fruit and then has beautiful red foliage in the fall. All was good until they matured and the limbs started falling on people and houses.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I have several nandina throughout my yard, but did not realize they were in the bamboo family. Mine have stayed contained though, unlike the confounded wisteria that, after 28 years, I am still digging up and throwing out.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Those trees are lovely, John. You know, even though I grew up in the country, I didn’t know squirrels nested in trees until I was in Washington, D.C. one winter many years ago. I was walking around the Mall and saw a gray squirrel run up a tree. I watched it climb and saw it hop onto a huge nest cradled between some bare branches. Duh, I thought, so that’s where they go 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Such a profusion of berries for the birds to feed on! I’ve seen squirrel nests here, too, now that the leaves are down, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen mistletoe in trees. Thanks for the memory, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. I find it fascinating to see the what’s what of trees in their dormant states. I’m pretty impressed with your knowledge, too. (I’m sadly ignorant of most of the trees in my ‘hood.)
    Wow. It’s the first time I can’t watch the video you provide! Stupid YouTube and the country rules crap.
    Happy Sunday!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Great idea, John. For once, your community doesn’t have something planned. Great choice with the music! I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I prefer the rock version of Hazy Shade of Winter compared to Simon and Garfunkel.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Mistletoe… I never knew where it came from.
    So, it’s like an uninvited tree guest?
    All neat winter trees.
    Hey, what happens when the oak sheds leaves in the spring? Do they grow back right away?
    Ball moss?
    Just figured those juniper berries on the first tree ARE the juniper berries and not little snow balls.
    I love trees and I love this post!
    🫐𝛘 🌳𝔁 ⚪️𝛘 🌳𝔁

    Like

    1. The live oak leaves grow back immediately. It is almost like the new leaves push the old ones off. Ball moss is a cousin to Spanish moss. Mistletoe is a parasite. Not very dangerous to the tree but yes- uninvited guest. I’m lad you like the post, Resa.
      🌳X 🍁X 🍂X 🪵X

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Ball moss is new for me. Nandina and I don’t get along. We had several at our last house, and they never grew an inch. My dad took dug them up and replanted them at his house. They flourished, lol.

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