During my neighborhood walks, I pass this American sycamore tree. These majestic deciduous trees grow more than 100 feet high and are usually planted as shade or specimen trees but should not be planted close to your home.

The tree is currently covered with round seed balls, similar in size to sweetgum balls on the bottom of the following photo, that will drop in the spring. Be cautious handling them.

Sycamore trees are easy to identify because of the bark that peels away. Eastern woodland native people used Sycamores to make canoes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaves that I saved and pressed last fall:

To our children we give two things,
one is roots and the other wings.

This quote is familiar to many of us. When a seed germinates, roots are the first to grow. They will anchor the new plant. A strong root system prevents wind and other disruptive forces from uprooting it. The roots also absorb the nutrients necessary for growth. Just like roots, parents nurture and provide security for their children. Our goal is to raise confident children grounded in love who can stand firm when troubles come.

Searching for specific natural items has been the focus of many of my recent posts. On your next hike, look for roots. Many can be seen above ground. Notice the shape, size, and the path they follow. Did you see any uprooted trees?

To watch roots grow, push toothpicks into a sweet potato with the narrow, rooting end pointed downward. Place the potato in a cup of water, so approximately 1/3 of the potato is submerged. Put the cup in a dark cabinet or closet. After roots appear, move the cup to a sunny window.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Colossians 2:7