A Forest Sounds Like a Ship at Sea:

Birch: symbol for a fresh start

Day 22: Remote Residency at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Ireland, 7/18/22 to 8/13/22,  Maria Driscoll McMahon checking in from New York State

Birch trees found at Cornelius' clearing, Ridgebury, Pa. 

Beth, meaning birch, is the first letter in the Ogham alphabet and the first month in the Celtic Tree Calendar.

My research tells me that the birch tree - a tree with bark of many layers - is a hardy tree that has the ability to persevere in soils where other trees cannot grow.  This is why the Ancient Irish considered it to be the symbol of new beginnings.  Birch trees can even grow in the Arctic tundra or in areas that have been damaged by fire.  For this reason, they are known as "pioneer trees," and are frequently found at old ruins or in marginal lands.  They capture carbon from the sky and when the leaves shed in the autumn, the soil is enriched. The fortification of the soil year after year eventually renders the soil viable for dominant species - such as oak - to get established. 

Birch trees live from 40 to 100 years in general and are also prolific! They produce a lot of seeds which can float on the wind for long distances. 

Birch trees have black streaks on their trunks to facilitate the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and their internal tissues. These black streaks are scientifically known as lenticels and are porous tissue with large intercellular spaces. Lenticels promote exchange of water vapour, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Lenticels are directly proportional to growth of birch trees.

The trees support a diverse range of wildlife which will feed on the shoots and leaves. 

While Ireland boasts two species of birch tree - the Silver and Downy Birch - there are several varieties of birch trees in the United States.  I've represented some of these species below as seen in Ithaca and Cortland, NY, and Ridgebury, Pa., with Irish specimens at the end.  I am just beginning to learn how to identify different varieties without the help of accession tags or from people with much more expertise than I have, but there are several challenges even for experienced arborists; 1) the canopy is frequently so high that leaf structure and shape can be hard to discern; 2) there is considerable variation within the same species; 3) even the same tree will change appearance with age. If I am not sure of any species of tree here, I will just label it as "birch."

Birch Catkins, Photo by Margaret Manning, Skibbereen based artist

Many thanks to Margaret Manning for the photograph she took of  the Birch  catkin as it grows in Ireland.  See the Post from FRIDAY, 5 - Day 18 - Irish trees in Ireland! devoted entirely to Margaret's photography and poetry. 

Yellow birch with impressive exposed roots found at Lime Hollow Nature Center near Dryden and Cortland, NY

Clockwise from top left: white birch, white birch, river birch, grey birch
at the F.R. Newman Arboretum at Cornell University 

Birch trees found at the clearing in Ridgebury, Pa. 

Birch tree found at the clearing in Ridgebury, Pa.

Birch tree found at the clearing in Ridgebury, Pa.

Black birch at the clearing in Ridgebury, Pa.

Birch trees of Ireland - Silver and Downy

Counter Clockwise from top left: Michael Foley; Birch and Lichen; Tomies Wood Birch Stand, Killarney; Birch Trees, Ireland Img. 44388

There are two types of birch in Ireland, downy and silver. The most usual is the downy birch, which like silver birch is a delicate tree with fine branches and small leaves.

Birch is typically associated with the Sperrins, growing in peat at the edge of bogs, and on the light sand and gravel soils. It makes a good ornamental garden tree, as it does not grow too large. Like alder, its seeds are popular with small seed-eating birds such as siskin and redpoll.

In early times toghers or walkways, usually across bog land were made from birch. Nowadays, it is more commonly used in making plywood.

The Birch Tree in Celtic mythology (ireland-calling.com)

Which trees have catkins and how to ID them - Woodland Trust

Birch Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark - Identification (With Pictures) (leafyplace.com)

(11) Ireland's Native Trees - EPISODE 4 BIRCH - YouTube

Why Do Birch Trees Have Black Streaks on Their Trunk? (homeeon.com)

The Wisdom of Trees by Jane Gifford (goodreads.com)