History of Trees” by Donald Culross Peattie. It was

History of Trees” by Donald Culross Peattie. It was from this publication that I learned ol George Washington’s love of the American Holly. It is now available in paperback and is a valued part of my nature library.

About George Washington’s love of Ilex opaca, Peattie wrote: “It seems that the master of Mount Vernon was devoted to this tree. For Holly has exactly that formal elegance which we should expect to please the taste of George Washington.”

Many years ago a great valley was flooded when the Fontana Dam was built in the mountains of North Carolina. Since a number oi great holly trees would be destroyed in this flooding, an enterprising gentlemen obtained permission to fell and remove the trees. He paneled a room in his house with the wood. The house is now a museum; I saw this room and it was indeed beautiful. The wood of holly is white. For that reason it is in demand for inlays where contrasts in wood color are wanted.

The American Holly, Ilex opaca, has solved a number of ecological problems. Its thick, evergreen leaves resist insect tunneling, chomping and nibbling; they are too tough. At the same time, the spiny leaves discourage mammals that would browse on it. Deer leave holly leaves alone.

At the same time, it is realistic to understand that the redness of holly berries, so delightful to us when we are starved for natural color at Christmas, are designed to attract birds who swallow them whole. The nutrients are extracted through the bird’s digestive system and five hard black seeds are ejected by the bird. Some of these, made more viable by the passage through the bird, sprout and produce seedlings.

Nature is full of surprises when we are patient and stop long enough to take a careful look. Next May, look for the tiny flowers on holly trees. Are they male or female?

John Trott, the Virginia naturalist, can be reached at: P.O. Box 59, Washington, Va. 22747.

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