WITCH HAZEL: Somehow, it seems appropriate that the witch hazel
is the tree of the month of October.

The state Bureau of Forestry tells us, “The witch hazel is one
of smaller trees of the Commonwealth’s forests. The tree grows to
an average height of 10-25 feet tall and is found throughout
Pennsylvania. This slower growing tree lives in the understory and
is found on moist, rocky sites and sporadically on slopes that are
dry.”

“The witch hazel is a deciduous tree which means it drops its
leaves in the fall. The leaves are oval, 4-6 inches long and the
edges of the leaves are wavy.

“One unique trait about this tree is that it flowers in the
fall, from September through November. The flowers are bright
yellow. The mature fruit from last year bursts open during this
same timeframe and the seeds are thrown five feet or more.

“The witch hazel tree is very beneficial to wildlife. Several
animals such as deer, grouse, song birds and even beavers, eat the
seeds and buds. This tree is also know for its herbal properties
and tasty seeds. Before the settlers came to this country, Indians
ate the seeds and used the bark, leaves and twigs to soothe skin
irritations, as a tea for internal ailments, as a poultice for
reducing swelling and much more.

“One last item is the tree derives its name not from an
association with witches but from an old English word, ‘wych,’
which mean pliable crooked branch. The branches on this tree were
used by dowsers, people who used a divining rod to find water,
metals and other items. So as you are outside enjoying the fall
weather and beauty, look for the fall flowering tree, the witch
hazel.”

SAME NUMBER: A reader can beat our previous record about keeping
the same phone number through transitions in number of digits. This
number started in 1935 with the original owners of a house in
Bradford but was passed down to offspring when the house was sold
in the 1950s. These offspring moved to the Lewis Run area a few
years ago, but have kept the number – for a total of 73 years, so
far.