Capital City Carvers

achieve a photosynthetic return on the investment in their construction, given the growing season stresses they confront.

Overwintering is profoundly stressful for trees. Subzero temperatures bring the risk of cellular freezing in evergreen needles, which would be lethal. To prevent freezing, evergreen conifers accumulate high concentrations of dissolved substances known as cryoprotectants that lower the freezing point of water in their cells and protect key structures, while not interfering with metabolism. Heavy loads of snow can result in broken branches, a prevailing risk of evergreens. Thin, often drooping conifer needles catch less snow than the broad leaves of deciduous trees. When deciduous trees lose branches to snowstorms, it is generally during storms on the edges of the snow season when the crowns are leafless. If you've ever wondered why deciduous trees are taking so long in spring to leaf out, missing out on some excellent growing days as a result, keep in mind that trees don't want to risk the damage that could result from a freak spring storm.

Evergreen branches are built to let snow slide off them so they don't snap under the weight. Conifer branch architecture is also adapted to shedding snow. Conifer branches generally sweep out and down from the trunk. These branches are generally more flexible than their counterparts on deciduous trees. Collecting heavy snow weighs down conifer branches until they reach an angle where it sloughs off.

No matter the species, at midlatitudes, where the snow flies in winter and growing seasons are generally mild and favorable, trees need strategies to make it through. Some recreate a crown of leaves each spring. Evergreens equip their needles and branches with features necessary to survive winter and thus live to see another spring- and, for some, many springs thereafter.

A Word About: Purpleheart

Have you ever thought about carving something using an exotic hardwood? Several abound but, for something really eye-catching, purpleheart fits the bill. The color of the wood is unusual, namely purple. In small doses it could captivate the eye. Beware though, the wood changes color over time. Small scale projects include bottle stoppers, pens, bowls, knife scales and jewelry boxes. It is sometimes used as an accent color in inlays and laminations, think multi-species cutting boards.

Purpleheart, Genus Peltogyne, encompasses more than a dozen species of hardwoods native to tropical rainforests. The Amazon River basin of Brazil and Suriname and Guyana are prime growing areas. The trees grow from 100' to 170' tall with trunk diameters up to 4'. It is not a threatened wood. Freshly harvested timber displays a dull gray purple and brown, with a creamy gray sapwood. Over time, the sapwood doesn't change, but the heartwood transforms to a rich purple, and then dark brown.

Basic Facts: Cost- moderate to high, Weight: moderate to high, Hardness: high (think hickory and pecan), Stability: very good, Durability: very good, Toxicity: Skin, eye, and respiratory irritation possible, Tool Type: power tools preferred, except for turning.

Bottom line: use power tools to carve. Carving with a knife, even a very sharp one, will lead to frustration plus sore hands, arms and shoulders, so I would advise against it. Sanding is a long, extended process.

Words to Ponder

Even when you carve, think about paint. Jean Minaudier

A mistake should be your teacher, not you attacker. A mistake is a lesson not a loss. It is a temporary, necessary detour, not a dead end. Anonymous