Sycamore with Tobacco Barns

Not an elegant blip, but there's a lot to it. We're in Hadley, just across the river from Northampton. I pass this tree often--it's solitary and somehow assertive, not fitting with those around it. The dark clouds in the background fit that mood.

Having returned from France, I recognize the tree now as a sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis), which is closely related to the plane trees which are ubiquitous in many parts of Europe (two blips from our stay are here and here, showing the patchy, peeling bark which is characteristic of all of these trees).

There are three tobacco barns in the image. The one directly to the left of the tree appears in two past blips--here is a closeup of tobacco being hung,while this one shows the tobacco hanging, with more information on tobacco as a crop. The two low red (windowless) buildings in the distance are also tobacco barns (though they may not still be in use).