Hemlock is one of the more prolific varieties of pine trees in the United States, making up some 60% of the virgin forests in the Pacific Northwest and up into western Canada. The species is generally divided into two subspecies, as eastern and western hemlock trees are slightly different, with western hemlock trees growing considerably … Read more
The cypress tree, sometimes referred to as “bald cypress,” grows in the United States, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, often in swampy areas. It is also known to grow in the Mediterranean region, throughout Asia and in ancient times, in the trees also grew in the Holy Land, as evidenced by how much it … Read more
The redwood tree, otherwise known as the giant sequoia is native to California, where the great redwood forests grow to over 300 feet in height, with trunk diameters of six to twelve feet. These majestic giants have been harvested extensively throughout the 1900s, to the point where now all old growth redwood is protected. However, … Read more
Bamboo has long been used as a building material in the Far East and seen as a curiosity here in the West. That’s rapidly changing though, as people are finding more and more creative ways to use bamboo in the place of either wood or paper. Today it is possible to find bamboo “paper” towels, … Read more
Douglas fir is the hardest of all softwoods, even though it is a conifer with the distinctive needles of all conifer trees. The trees are fast-growing and can attain 150 feet in height. When the Douglas Fir tree grows in dense forests it is self-pruning, allowing the lower branches to die off. This creates wood … Read more