touch grassThe art of looking closer
Start with one tree
Choose a tree you pass often. Stand back first: does its canopy spread wide or reach upwards? Notice the shape before looking for a name. A familiar tree is a good place to practice noticing.
Look at the leaves
Photograph a whole leaf where it grows. Notice its edge, the pattern of its veins, and whether leaves sit opposite each other or alternate along the stem. Take another photograph of the branch. These details help narrow an identification.
A name is a beginning
An image identification is a suggestion. Compare the visible features, and keep an uncertain discovery in your journal. You can add the name later. Leave leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit where they grow.