The beech tree grows most abundantly in North America and Europe where the weather is more temperate. The most prevalent beech in the North Country is the American beach, which is best described as having sleek bark and slender branches with an overall very clean appearance. Beech trees are not commonly found in cities due to the pollution and carbon monoxide emissions. These emissions detract from the pure natural beauty the tree can experience when located in a less urban environment. Currently there are two diseases affecting the Beech tree, mildew and Beech Scale Disease. Mildew affects the beech tree by a common fungal infection that attaches itself to the bark and young branches straining the tree. Beech Scale Disease on the other hand is the byproduct of the Cryptococcus insect. This disease is the most destructive to the beech and greatly affects the young. This photo was taken in stone valley near Colton, NY. Snowshoeing down a trail in stone valley I came across a stand of beach trees. I photographed a close up of one of the branches and the amount of detail I caught on my small camera amazed me. The fragility of the remaining leaves on the beach instantly captivated my attention. However strong this sense of fragility is I also couldn’t stop but think thinking of how strong they were to remain on so late into winter.