Every year I marvel at the burls on this tree at the resort where we stay. It looks like there are several burls and they encircle the trunk of the tree.
In the same vicinity, there are several other trees with burls. I read that burls form when a tree is undergoing some stress. It could be from an injury, a virus, or a fungus.
The most amazing burls I saw were on this tree at the Crystal Bay Cemetery. The full-size headstone on the right of the picture will give you a sense of how big these burls are.
The Mountain Ash trees seem to have a good crop of berries this year in spite of the drought. Here is a first year White-crowned Sparrow feasting on the fruit.
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