Saturday, 9:00 AM. 60 degrees, wind W, light. The channel is wrinkled, the sky is partly cloudy, as the barometer predicts.The paper birch, Betula papyrifera, is a true icon of the north woods, and as such is grown throughout the Midwest and beyond. Its peeling white bark is very decorative, and it is a pleasing tree in all seasons, particularly in fall, when its leaves turn a stunning golden bronze. It is a popular landscape tree, but should be considered an accent plant rather than an anchor in the landscape, as it is notoriously sort lived and is prone to pest problems, particularly the bronze birch borer, which girdles branches, starting at the top and eventually killing the entire tree. The borer can be combated with systemic pesticides, but it is seldom worth the monetary and environmental cost. Birch are pioneer plants of the northern forests and want moist but well drained soil conditions and like to have their roots shaded. If you plant them remember that shrubs, ferns and other things planted around them will provide root cooling and protection, as will proper mulching. The best landscape practice is to use paper birch with caution and the knowledge that may be ephemeral in nature.
It is a nice cool summer day, the kind that entices visitors to come here from the hot, oppressive, cities.
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