Birch trees can symbolize new beginnings and a cleansing of the past according to Native American folklore.
We are fortunate to have these beautiful trees in our area as they’re only native to the northern part of North America (and the colder the climate, the longer they live, which will be interesting to observe as our climate changes). Paper birch or white birch, Betula papyrifera, is named for its bark, which is thin and peels like paper, becoming whiter with age. Native Americans highly valued this tree as the flexible, waterproof bark was used for lining the exteriors of canoes and houses and making baskets and maps among other things.
Faunal Associations: Many animals rely on paper birch saplings, leaves, buds, seeds, and sap as a food source: moose, white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, grouse, porcupines, beavers and many birds and small mammals. It’s a favorite tree of yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Form & Function: We appreciate the bright yellow color of its simple leaves in fall and the catkins that can remain on the tree throughout winter (slim, cylindrical flower clusters). Birches are wind-pollinated when they’re flowering. The fruit matures in the fall and consists of many tiny, winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts (modified leaves). The light seeds can drop between the fall and spring; blowing in the wind or along the snow to new areas.
White birch is an adaptable pioneer species, so it’s one of the first trees to reforest an area after a disturbance, such as a wildfire. Perhaps that’s why it symbolizes new beginnings…
So raise a glass of birch beer and cheers to a fresh start in the new year!
(originally featured as January 2020 Flora & Fauna Friday)
