Pop quiz: What's the difference between a Red Maple and Black Oak? A Balsam Fir and Sitka Spruce? All right, here's an easier one: What's the official tree of Saskatchewan?
Fear not - most of us wouldn't know our Jack Pines from our Pitch Pines. Surely playing in the leaves at recess took more childhood prominence than listening to teacher drone on about twigs and roots.
But as this cold snap refuses to relinquish its hold on our fair country, it may be difficult to remember how that tree outside the window looked with some life on its branches. So as we all huddle indoors, waiting for the real spring to arrive, why not brush up on our arboriculture?
Vancouver-based designer Sharilyn Wright brings the outdoors in with her limited-edition posters of - you guessed it - trees. Pick from the "Beautiful Leaves of Canada" or "Beautiful Conifers of Canada." Don't let the pedestrian titles fool you, as these hand-screened posters, printed on heavy coaster board stock, are just begging to be framed.
Life-sized illustrations (including the maple leaf, of course) present every vein and ridge of various foliage in fine detail. They're conveniently labelled, making it easy to match them with the deciduous descriptions of the trees themselves.
Did you know the Speckled Alder ( Alnus rugosa) was used by the Ojibwa people to make medicines and dyes? Thank you, Ms. Wright, for doing all the legwork.
For $24, you can spruce up your home and learn a thing or two.
And if the posters aren't enough, the site also carries the "Beautiful Conifers of Canada" in book form ($25) - definitely worth leafing through.
All are available at .