Trees develop their characteristic barks as the trunk circumference grows. The dead outer bark can’t grow, and so it gives way. Beech bark (Fagus spp.) is flexible, so it stretches and expands.

Greene notes that textured wallpaper has an inherently sexy appeal, with endless possibilities for experimentation, prints, and finishes.

When we see something weird growing on tree bark, it is usually algae, lichens, moss, or fungi (or a combination of these). These can be gray, white, green, or even orange.

Examine the trunks of the trees and pay attention to the subtle differences. The color, texture, thickness and pattern of a tree’s bark are all hints. Feel the texture.

Bark textures are relatively uniform by tree species and make a great visual marker for broad tree identification. Textures are divided into at least 18 types, from smooth (beech) to spiny (locust).

Fortunately, that's when one of the most overlooked features, tree bark, comes out for its season in the spotlight. From warty to smooth, peeling to furrowed, brown to gray to red to white, tree ...

Some trees, like paperbark maple, sport bark that peels away in papery layers, while others, such as shagbark hickory, show strips of bark that curl at each end like rocking-chair runners.

Fortunately, that's when one of the most overlooked features, tree bark, comes out for its season in the spotlight. From warty to smooth, peeling to furrowed, brown to gray to red to white, tree bark ...