Not the tree of knowledge from the Bible, but the word Beech is from where the word book is derived. Early book manuscripts in Europe used the thin bark of the European Beech as writing paper. In America our native American Beech graces our forests. The same thin smooth bark has called many to carve their initials, or love, or hunting stories such as one Daniel Boone in many of these trees. The outline of older trees look as though they are cast out of molten pewter. The leaves after changing colors to finally a pleasing tan can hold on until the next set appears in the spring giving even more character to these trees. They are found in many places but seem to prefer a hillside to grace us with their imposing structures. The tree in the picture is one of the two largest I have found in Northern Iredell county and is on the property of our good friend Mabel Stack.
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