I like this picture for both the tree and for the sky in the background. This is a tulip poplar tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) located in our newly discovered territory. It's a large tree and suffered some branch die back because of the drought of last summer. The branches were knocked down recently in one of our storms. The tulip poplar is Tennessee's state tree and is easily identified by the tulip shaped leaves and it's yellow-orange flowers. According to the Tennessee Government website the tulip poplar was adopted in 1947 and was chosen because it grows from one end of the state to the other. The other reason given was because the early settlers of Tennessee used the tulip poplar to build their homes, barns and other buildings. A pretty important tree in the founding of our state!Labels: random thoughts, trees