Alison, that is rather cool. Provides real winter interest, that's for sure.

I'd love to plant a birch, but it's too hot and dry in the summer on the balcony for them. Nice pic!

Jim

We're about to lose a pair of beautiful old birch trees because their roots keep burrowing into the sewer lines ***WAAAHHH***

Best Wishes
Amino-X

Actually, it's rather interesting in the summer, too!

{{gwi:1257201}}

Sorry about your birches, Amino-X. There is something a little magical about them to me. There's a great Russian poem about stumpy little birches holding on to life in the far north; "splinters under the nails of frost". They admit they are somewhat of an embarrasment to the great and lorldy trees to the south, but they're hanging on, hoping some day they'll be able to stretch their limbs and grow tall as well.

I haven't read the poem in years, but it's such a vivid picture. And always makes me sympathetic to birches when I see them!