PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Peeling bark can be very pretty. I have friends who don't get the appeal, so to speak, and think any tree or shrub with exfoliating bark, as it's known, looks diseased or messy.

“The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.” — Ralph W. Sockman “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats. “You learn ...

So often we choose a tree because of its flowers, leaves, fall color or its fruit. Often, we forget about the bark. However, on many trees, the bark is the most interesting part of the tree. This can ...

Once leaves drop from trees, splitting, peeling, bleached or oozing bark may become more noticeable. The cause can range from normal bark development to environmental causes or disease. If tree bark ...

"They’d probably rather replace it with a non-native ornamental that’ll kill itself when it gets too big and its branches ...

A number of conifers are candidates for the Official Evergreen of Winter, but among the leaf-shedding shade trees there is just one superstar, the birch tree with its peeling snow-white bark. Birches ...

Trees add value and beauty to the landscape, and can provide shade, protection and much more. When they’re afflicted with unknown ailments, there’s natural reason for concern. Here are some questions ...

* What it is: A small-home-friendly version of our native river birch tree that's more compact and not as fast-growing as the species. Has the same cinnamon-colored peeling bark and yellow fall ...

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 ...

The winter landscape may seem a bit bland at first glance. But if you look closely, you’ll find that quite a few plants have interesting bark that is actually easier to appreciate without the ...

Here it is, the season of same-old-same-old: same old freezing rain, same old snow, same old chill winds, gray skies and barren, shivering timbers. In most parts of the country, it is the season of ...