This is a tree that may show up in your neighborhood as a volunteer. It is a great food source for birds. You might even have an old pencil made from this tree. The photo is from Bob’s back yard.
Our sources for this episode include:
Step outside and stay awhile
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It’s not often that I get to correct the nature guys, so here goes. The “cedar” out west that is used for pencils is incense cedar (Calodedrus decurrens) rather than the western red-cedar. It is the go-to wood for pencils because, in the same way that you were describing the eastern red-cedar, it sharpens easily without splintering.
And, as I’m sure you know, just as the eastern red-cedar is not a true cedar, neither is this tree. Neither of them is in the genus Cedrus.
Keep up the good work. And merry Christmas to you both.
Thanks for taking the time to set us straight!