5

As we have been around the house we are now starting to come back towards the front. We start to see trees such as Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) & American Beech (Fagus grandifolia). Here we start to see differing soil types, within only a matter of feet. The red oak as well as many trees showcased here are tollerant to many different soil types. . American beech favors a well-watered, but also well-drained spot and is intolerant of urban pollution, salt, and soil compaction. It also casts heavy shade and is an extremely thirsty tree with high moisture requirements compared to oaks, so it has a dense, shallow root system. Balsam fir are actually a great product of seasonal work during this time as its almost the holidays. The leaf "tips" are cut off and used for wreaths and other holiday ornaments. "tipping" is hard work, but personally I find it handy to make a few extra bucks. The red oak, as I previously mentioned I tend to like the red colors, produce beautiful vibrant shades of red during the fall, which is why I included it.