​Many of us feel a sense of admiration and adoration when we look upon an old or exceptionally large tree. 
 
Given many tree species live to ages well beyond human life expectancy, they can provide a connection to something larger than ourselves such as our ancestors, our moment in time, and our place in Nature.
 
It is natural to have respect for our elders as they played a part in getting us to where we are today. The same can be said for the respect we have for old trees and old-growth forests given the many benefits we receive and role they play in healthy environments and ecosystems.

An increment borer is a tool used by professionals who wish to view the annual growth rings of a tree. The tool is in essence a long metal tube with spiral teeth on the outer side, allowing it to be screwed into the trunk. Being a hollow cylinder, a “straw” or wood rod is captured inside the tube. When we remove this straw/rod, we have a cross-section of the growth rings. If you screwed into the center of the stem, you then have a rod that includes all of the growth rings. 

Not only can these rings be counted to help us determine the age of the tree, but also hold quite a bit of information that can be studied in order to help us look back in time. ​

• Dendrochronology studies the information we can read from annual growth rings and used by arborists, climate scientists, and even archeologists. Read more about this interesting field of study: What Tree Rings Tell Us About Past and Present - https://www.environmentalscience.org/dendrochronology-tree-rings-tell-us​​

​Of course we don’t always hit the center of the stem. If your borer isn’t long enough to reach center, you miss the center, or should the middle of the tree be hollow, your extracted straw will not have all of the growth rings. In these instances, we may still be able to extrapolate the estimated age of the stem through calculating the average annual growth rate of the rings you did capture.
 
Researchers, educators, and some tree fanatics will spend the money on this specialized equipment. The exact age of a tree has little impact when it comes to prescribing health related treatments, which is why this is not a standard piece of equipment used by arborists and related professions. 

Just Tell Me the Answer

Since a tree’s age is a metric that often appeals to the general public and tree enthusiasts, there is another method that can be used to estimate ages.
 
If we measure enough trees of a specific species, an average annual growth rate can be calculated for the species. Thanks to numerous research studies, this data has been used to generate growth factor values for a number of common tree species. 

​Utilizing the Gorwth Factor chart and formula above; if you have a 10” diameter silver maple, your tree is likely to be about 30 years old (3.0 growth factor x 10”dbh = 30 years age).

​Remember, this only provides an estimate based on the average growth rate of silver maple. Depending on the growing conditions it developed under, I wouldn't be surprised if this tree is 20 years or even 50 years old.

If the tree has been growing under fertile and ideal conditions, then growth rate can be greater and the tree younger in age. If the tree is growing under stressful conditions or in poor soil, then its rate of growth will be slower and an older age. (We'll look at an extreme example of this shortly!)
 
To further complicate the matter, a tree is likely to experience years of greater growth and periods of slow growth throughout its lifetime. For example, trees that have a new home built next to them where construction equipment caused soil compaction to its root zone are likely to experience a period of slowed growth.

The duration and extent of this negative impact is unknown in most cases and an example of why the formula method can only aid us in guess-timating a tree’s age.
 
These examples are not meant to cause confusion, but rather aid in understanding why there can be such great variance when estimating age solely by tree size. Such variables can be taken into consideration when we are aware of them. When considering such variables, I typically offer an estimated age range that may span 25-50 years or more.

If a ballpark estimate is good enough to satiate your curiosity, use the formula. 

Growing Older But Not Up

​If trees get larger as they age, it may stand to reason that the largest trees are likely the oldest trees and vice versa. This is not usually the case, so let's consider this example.

​The oldest known tree in Wisconsin has been estimated close to 1,300 years old. (An increment borer was used for this estimation.)

​It is an eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with a trunk only 10 inches wide (10" dbh). 
 
This tree is growing on the side of a cliff. Growing out of cracks in the rock face is not exactly the best soil conditions for any tree, yet this tree has been able to survive while putting on very little growth per year.

This demonstrates that the site conditions a tree is growing in can greatly influence its rate of growth considering an redcedar growing in ideal conditions could likely grow to a 10” diameter trunk within 50 years.
​
This is in large part why trying to guess a tree’s age simply by looking at its size can be less than precise and why some professionals decline to provide age estimates.

​Is Age Just a Number
 
I have enjoyed time amongst trees that sprouted in each of the last 4 millennia. I regularly visit a 200-250 year old bur oak, spending time in its branches thinking of all the changes it has seen in its lifetime.
 
While we may not need to know the exact age of the tree, it is neat to be able to have an idea of how old a tree may be as knowing its age often instills a sense of admiration and connects us to previous generations and our point in history.

Photos borrowed from:

• 1897 klondike gold rush https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/klondike-and-the-barbarous-relic
• 1920 Women's Right to Vote https://time.com/5876762/19th-amendment-ratified/
• 1963 MLK Jr’s I have a Dream https://www.history.com/news/i-have-a-dream-speech-mlk-facts
• 1968 Earthrise photograph https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/apollo-8-earthrise/
• 1999 Julia Butterfly Hill spent 738 days in tree https://www.historydefined.net/julia-butterfly-hill/

Cold temperatures, shortened daylight hours, and lack of greenery can fool anyone into thinking there isn’t much reason to head outside in winter. It may seem like life and Nature have hit the pause button. 
 
Don’t be fooled. There is a lot going on out there!
 
With less foliage present in the winter, there are many characteristics that become more apparent and less obscured by the sensory overload during the growing season. If you are not sure of what you are looking for, all you need to do is get out there and let your senses be the guide.

SIGHT
 
Fall leaf color is one of the more noticeable aspects of trees that people enjoy. One study estimated a 30-billion-dollar annual contribution to the tourism industries of the 24 states in the eastern U.S. alone. 
 
While the fall color change can be enjoyed through the windshield, there are many more details to enjoy when you slow down and spend time in the presence of a tree. 
 
Branches twist and wind their way to openings where their leaves can capture sunlight. This winding nature of the branches leads to an artistic framework. The abstract patterns can be enjoyed from a number of angles and perspectives, such as when winter leaf drop exposes the branching structure of deciduous trees.

​​Bark color and textures vary greatly between species. River birch’s bark layers peel and curl along the trunk, revealing salmon colored inner bark. This attractive coloration and unique look make it a popular tree in landscapes. It may take on added winter interest if you do a little reading on a potentially useful characteristic of birch bark. Birch bark contains a compound that repels water, keeping the tissue dry. It is also flammable. A perfect combination when needing to start a campfire.

I particularly enjoy the texture, colors, and patterns of sycamore bark. The flaking bark leaves behind an evolving camouflage pattern formed as the green, gray, and tan papery layers exfoliate to reveal bright white inner bark on stems. ​

​In late winter, as we begin to anticipate the coming spring weather, the tiny leaf buds begin to swell and provide an early hint of the colorful season to come. This slight coloration is seen in the tops of the trees, contrasting against the brown and gray branches and blue skies. As winter draws to a close, we can enjoy the hint of red atop silver and red maples as well as the vibrant yellow cast along weeping willow twigs..

​TOUCH
 
In Wisconsin we are fortunate to have northern white cedars. They make my personal top-ten list of favorite tree barks!
 
As northern white cedars age, their bark shreds into thin linear strips that run up and down the trunk. It has a slightly spongy feel in the outer layers of bark if you press into it with your fingertips and feels soft to the touch as you run your fingers along. 
 
There are numerous areas where we can get out and enjoy northern white cedar across Wisconsin, with one of my favorite areas being Newport State Park in Door County. Closer to my home in Waukesha County, Retzer Nature Center has a few groves of cedars around the park, one of which forms the centerpiece of the parking lot. 
 
Even your feet will notice the soft, cushiony feel of the leaf litter blanketing the ground under a grove of northern white cedar.
 
You can enjoy their bark at any time of year, but spending time with them in winter has far greater impact for me as they maintain their green foliage through the winter. Immersing myself in a canopy of green when brown and gray dominate the winter color spectrum is like a breath of fresh air. 

​SMELL
 
I can seldom pass on the opportunity to bend down and smell a flower in bloom. Some have little to no fragrance. Some are enjoyable and others might not be so pleasant. Regardless, the experience of stopping to smell the flowers pulls me into the present moment.
 
Even with the lack of flowers in the winter months, there are a few trees that I have a hard time passing by without taking in their pleasant fragrance. Some may have soothing effects and others I find energizing.

SOUND
​
I enjoy the distinct crunching sounds underfoot during a winter hike. Whether the trail is lined with fallen oak leaves or covered in freshly fallen snow, neither of these unique sounds were something I experienced while growing up in Puerto Rico and southern Florida.
 
Another one of the sounds I go in search of in winter leads me to stands of eastern white pine. Not only does the foliage dampen the stark sounds from traffic and other noise pollution sources, the fine and feathery texture of the needles emit a soothing “whoosh” as the breeze passes through. 
 
Pair this calming sound with the soft texture of the needles and pleasant aroma and you may be able to understand why sitting on a branch near the top of an eastern white pine is one of my favorite places to be!

Black or sweet birch is known for its wintergreen taste, black cherry for its somewhat cherry or almond-like taste, and sassafras has flavors of spiced fruit. Since some of these species may also contain low levels of toxic compounds when ingested, you may opt for the alternative experience of scraping the bark of fresh twigs to reveal the aroma. Sassafras has a fruity aroma like that of Froot Loops!

Using the sense of taste should be approached with caution. Even if a particular plant is known to be edible, it may still contain toxic compounds, certain people may have a sensitivity, or there may be similar looking plants that may be toxic. ​

SENSORY JOURNEY

While we may spend more time indoors during the winter months, there are plenty reasons to get out and enjoy the season. If not just to get out in the sunshine or bathe in the green colors of pines, spruces, and other evergreens, I'm also drawn outside to witness the unique aspects visible in winter and appreciate the different experience they provide.

Acknowledging and engaging in the changing of the seasons helps to build layers of memories, can strgengthen your emoitonal attachment to a place, and grow your appreciation of life.

Through this past year, the vast majority of climbers returned to the ground with a sense of accomplishment, feeling of pride, boost in self-confidence, and a big smile on their face.  

We met parents who were supportive of their children, speaking with words of love and encouragement. There were participants who overcame their trepidation and ended up excelling and enjoying their time above the ground. A number of children and young adults had the exciting opportunity to participate in an activity alongside their parents and grandparents. 

With so many fantastic memories and wonderful people, I was tempted to put together a year-end video recap of the year. We were able to capture many nice images of climbers, but there are too many for us to make a video with a realistic time length. 

In this period of reflection, I am inspired to share your pictures in a series of videos related to our experiences with trees and tree climbing.  

Inspired by Robert Fulgham's book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten... and our interactions together, I created this video to share a few of the lessons trees have taught me throughout my journey thus far. ​

Your day in the trees may have been captured in this video. If not, I hope you will keep an eye out in the coming months as I cycle through as many of the images as I can in upcoming videos. Other images will grace our website pages and posts on Facebook and Instagram.