Mystery wood #2

[Frank Parker]

Here is the second wood I just got, lets see if we can figure this one out. This wood is quite hard because I had to touch up the chain on my chain saw several times while cutting this log. I suspect this one and the other one were ornamentols because they were in the front yard of a house in the middle of town.
Frank

[John Hart]

I'm clueless Frank. But then, that's my normal state.

[Chris Barton]

Hi Frank,

Like John, I don't have a guess but, given that it's CA it could be anything from a exhotic from South America or Africa, or it could be a little known local tree. One thing you might try is finding another like it in the same yard and asking the owner. Most often trees are plants in groups...

[Paul Douglass]

I bet if you took your wood to the local county extension agent or the local parks care type people they could tell you.

[Ernie Nyvall]

I would say that for it to be ornamental, it needs a little shaping and sanding... maybe some lacquer too.

Ernie

[Dick Strauss]

Frank,
I just noticed where you live. Isn't Lake County the pear capital of the world? Is there any chance that one of your pieces is pear wood?

I used to date someone from your neck of the woods...

[Frank Parker]

All the pear trees around here are in orchards so far as I've seen and I've never seen a pear tree that was almost 3' on the base. I gave a piece to one of my club members he's going to get out the microscope and the books and see if he can figure it out.
As for pear capitol they keep ripping out the orchards and putting houses or grapes, This is wine country after all.
Frank

[Frank Parker]

On this one my friend with the microscope came up with either Black willow or it could be Sweet Gum. I do know there are a lot of sweet gums in town, what do you think.
Frank

[Bob D.]

If you had a leaf that would help determine the species.