Editor's note: Once a month, the OSU Extension master gardener's office of Franklin County profiles a plant that occurs naturally in central Ohio. As the growing season fades, we bid adieu to many of ...

EASY TO IDENTIFY: River birch or Betula nigra is native to the southern US and is commonly found in the flood plains and swamp areas. “It’s beautiful, the summer month of June, and the sun shines most ...

“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.” — Benjamin Franklin. “The cost of freedom is always high, but ...

Walking along the banks of a river, through a young forest, or along a city street, there is a tree that stands out from the rest. At first glance it might appear to be just another paper birch, but ...

Dear Master Gardener: Our river birch is being severely defoliated by some type of insect. We haven’t seen the insects because the tree canopy is too high, but birds have been all over the tree, so we ...

Few shade trees are as distinctive in the home landscape as birch trees. Their unique bark characteristics, distinctive growth form and graceful delicate foliage are reason alone to feature one or ...