Bringing in natural elements into home decor, adds not only interest, but texture, color and sometimes surprise. Birch trees are one of my most favorite trees. Used often in the landscapes where I grew up, they could grow to impressive size, and with their thin arching branches, it could create a ready made place in the shade. Their leaves turned a glorious shade of yellow in the fall, and their bark, like many crepe myrtles, add incredible beauty to the winter landscape. So when a birch tree parishes, why not bring some of it into the home? Below are ways to utilize the beautiful and uniquely colored trunks and branches in the home.
I always hope that a tree lives out it’s normal life, or is managed in a sustainable way. When birch wood is available, it makes beautiful furniture, floors, cabinetry as well as useful and decorative items. Let’s look at how you can use available birch in interesting ways in your homes decor.
I am going to finish up here, because as I write there is a fast approaching severe thunderstorm. Here’s hoping it goes by without any damage. Thanks for stopping by. Laters, charisse
“Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them”. ~Bill Vaughn
When planting birches, put in a small cluster. They grow best as a community or family — not as a solo tree.
You are so right. Their impact can certainly be experienced more when planted as you said. When I was a youngster growing up in the Finger Lakes area, the River Birch was frequently planted as a specimen tree and they were pretty impressive. They were all multi trunked, and huge and I loved their weeping form. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
This was a fun post! White Birch is so beautiful. We have a River Birch in our back yard. I have seen the Birch candle holders in stores. They may be faux tho?
How I wish we had the white birch here in the south. I do have a beautiful river birch in my yard though. Surprisingly, the river birch isn’t popular here. “They are too messy” is the comment I hear most. Growing up on Long Island, we had a fireplace that my parents never used, but my dad always had logs of white birch on the grate because it looked pretty.
Birch can can be a bit messy, but all trees have some disadvantage, seed pods, acorns (ugh), roots, but their loveliness makes a bit of raking work it. River Birch can be subject to aphids, but not too often. I think many people make the mistake of planting it too close to the house. If planted as a specimen tree it is not as likely to be considered problematic.Hope you are staying cool!
I’m thinking about going out and cutting down a tree!!
Noooo, Noooo. Drive around and find one already dead!LOL. Here in this part of Virginia Birch trees are rarely seen, even in commercial landscapes. Not sure why. I grew them in NC in our landscape and miss them.