• Friday-What'sUP August 29 - 09:59 am

The Michigan Nature Association is host to a number of Sanctuaries around the state of Michigan, including the one that Eric Stewart captured in these photos today. The first two are from the Upson Lake Sanctuary Trail and include a beaver dam at the lake and what Eric calls a big bole. I looked up the meaning of bole and this is what I found:

"Bole: The stem or trunk of a tree, usually thought of as being that part without limbs, the merchantable part of the stem, the bottom part of the stem.

Thanks for the info, it looks like a nice hike.

I have understood that the growth on the tree is some sort of deformity, maybe an insect or just a natural growth. I have see some wonderful wooden art, like bowls, carved from them. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will know the answer.

Amazing how beautiful mother nature is if you take the time to slow down and look at it. I like to look for different things to take pictures of. When we go to Belle Isle I am ALWAYS amazed at the size of the weeping willow trees. Then I wonder how long have they been just 'hanging around' on Belle Isle. I remember they were all over the island when we use to go there as kids. The stories some of them could tell if they could talk.

I always called them tumors, whether they are or not I have no idea. Some of them look pretty neat and that one is big!

Awww, that's just a "pregnant" tree! Interesting pictures, Eric, thank you. A nice weekend to all.

See the Wikipedia article on "Burl" as well as a Google search for the same word. These things aren't well-understood; seem to be related to stress on the tree, injury, possibly even insects or virus. I suspect the latter two as possibilities. In our little neighborhood in the dunes, there is an oak with a burl about the same size as the one in Eric's second photo. I also have several smaller trees with trunk burls. I have been lusting after the big one for years; it would make an awesome giant bowl. But, the tree remains healthy and strong.

WOW...Cool stuff and good job Dunerat! I know many a folk with not so strong self restraint!

Those things make some fabulous furniture too...if you can figure out how to do it. I've seen some phenomenal end tables/coffee tables, benches...

I built A couple guitars out of that kind of wood.
Sickler Wood products cut it up for me & it was rough to work with. Some broke up while planning but it is beautiful & rare item. I'm looking for more of that wood. There's a tree on around 10 th st N. Calumet, that I've been wishing I could cut down.

At first glance, I thought that giant tree might be a maple. Then I saw all the tiny maples growing underneath it, which pretty much confirms it. Burl wood is a favorite of wood carvers. It's very hard and tough to work with but the grains are just incredibly beautiful.
I'd also like to tip my hat to the Michigan Nature Association and also include The Nature Conservancy. You can google their names and you'll be led to some fantastic hikes in some very beautiful areas. Those two groups are responsible for helping preserve the Estivant Pines and the Horseshoe Harbor area near Copper Harbor. I'm looking forward to visiting both areas this October!