Bark — it’s not just for beavers

Looking out the kitchen window I can see a grove of English elm trees. They were planted many years ago by my neighbor and have become a stately group of large trees with a nice shape. Their crowns provide excellent shade in the summer and they seldom are damaged by storms.

At this time of year, however, a strange color can be seen on several branches. A bright whitish yellow is visible on some of...