More of The Odds and Ends, A Friend, and Some Assistance, Please

Yesterday was a balmy day and I took advantage of it to explore a little more into the woods at the front of our property.  I didn't go too far into the woods in the summer, had enough tick bites while in Virginia. I ventured into the next lot a bit and while I was looking at some Golden Rod, I noticed some very familiar berries.  How fun to find some Callicarpa americana growing wild.  This one is about 3 feet tall and full of helmet scale.  It is the only one I found... there may be more, this time of year it is so easy to overlook a small shrub.

Along the other side property I found some Devil's Walking Stick, Aralia spinosa, with some Honeysuckle, Lonicera, wrapped around the stock.  Does anyone know how to tell native honeysuckle from Japanese honeysuckle?  Before it blooms that is, I can tell once it blooms.




Once I worked my way down to the water I was surprised to find a stand of Chasmanthus latifolium.  Guess it makes sense to find River Oats near the river....or lake...which is really a dammed river.

After walking along the water's edge I worked my way up through the backyard garden to the edge of the woods.  I found more buds on the Camellia 'Bonanza'.  Camellias are great to have in the garden this time of year.

Into the treeline of the next lot there are a number of Winged Elm, Ulmus alata.  The corky appendages on this tree are most interesting.

Happily I discovered that one of the trees along the property line is a Beech tree!  I love the long  tapered buds. 

While looking around at another Euonymus americana,  I found a little friend....

Now for the assistance..... I have a tree or tall shrub in the front up by the street.  If it had thorns this would be easier.  I think it resembles a Hawthorn, but it has no thorns.  The photos are not the best, but any help would be appreciated.  There is no evidence of blooms or berries.  The bark is smooth and light gray. 

 The leaves are obovate, serrated, and turn yellow-brown in the fall.   The nodes on the trunk are close together.  Not sure if it is multi-stemmed or there are a number of seeds that sprouted in one place.  If anyone has any ideas about what this might be --Please let me know!!!  One guess was a Serviceberry, Amelanchier...but again, I saw no sign of any berries.

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words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.