Common ash tree deserves more attentionWritten by George Ellison
“How many thousand-thousand of untold white ash trees are the
respected companions of our doorways, kindliest trees in the
clearing beyond the cabin? No one can say. But this is a tree
whose grave and lofty character makes it a lifelong friend.
White ash has no easy, pretty charms like dogwood and redbud; it
makes no over-dramatic gestures like weeping willow and Lombardy
poplar. It has never been seen through sentimental eyes, like
the elm and the white birch. Strong, tall, cleanly, benignant,
the ash tree with self-respecting surety waits, until you have
sufficiently admired all the more obvious beauties of the
forest, for you to discover at last its unadorned greatness.” —
Donald Culross Peattie, A Natural History of Trees It’s
generally overlooked, but I think ash is a pretty tree,
especially when it’s fruiting. The winged seeds that appear in
dense clusters on the branches below the leaves are called
samaras (SAM-a-ras). Here in Western Nor