Paper Birch are one of the more beautiful trees native to the Blue Hills Reservation. These trees reach 70 feet or so and are characterized by their peeling, multi-colored bark.
The native americans chose these trees to make their famous birch-bark canoes. They stretched the stripped bark over frames of Northern White Cedar, sewing it together with thread from Tamarack roots, and caulking the seams with pine or Balsam Fir resin. Industrious, indeed.
Be sure to only take souvenirs of birch bark from fallen logs or dead trees like the one pictured here. Stripping bark from live trees will leave a permanent scar.
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