01/31/2026
It’s winter. It’s cold, and there are 10 million reasons to stay indoors. And yet, a little time in the woods is often exactly what we need to shake off any stagnation we’ve built over the past few months.
If you want a good reason to go outside, consider looking closely at tree twigs.
Why twigs? Well, if you want to learn how to identify trees, it’s not a bad idea to study twig characteristics.
But wait. Why learn how to identify trees at all? If you want to read your surroundings more effectively and develop a deeper relationship to wild places, learning the names of trees can help.
Winter is actually a good time to practice this skill. Pictured here are buds and twigs of 16 trees (among hundreds) that grow in eastern North America. Notice how colors, shapes, sizes, and textures vary between species. Studying these details can turn you into a wild tree enthusiast, which just might inspire you to go outside on a day that gives you 10 million reasons to stay indoors.
Got any favorite twigs?