At our lovely Lake Davidson Nature Preserve there is a stand of American Beech trees(Fagus Grandifolia). This tree is native to the east in the United States and southern Canada. It grows to 60 to 80 feet and has a rounded crown. The leaves are oval with a tip and saw-toothed edges. Beech trees produce a nut that is favored by wildlife. The bark is smooth and light colored. These trees prefer fertile, well drained soil. Early settlers recognized their presence as a sign of good potential farmland. You won’t have trouble recognizing these trees in the winter because of their tendency to hang on to their leaves. You’ll notice this if you visit Lake Davidson Nature Preserve in the next weeks before the new spring leaves develop. The the winter leaves are a light gold color as you can see from the attached pictures. The combination of the smooth bark of the trunks, the gold of the leaves, the blue sky and Lake Davidson makes for a lovely sight on a winter day. This weekend would be a great time to visit and you can also participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Sit down on one of the benches and enjoy nature!
Link to good information about the American Beech.