Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation named for its forests. “Pennsylvania” translates from Latin to “Penn’s Woods.” According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), forests blanket more than 60 percent (16.6 million acres) of the Commonwealth—from the deep forests of the northern tier “big woods” to the forested ridges of the south, and the woodlots and urban and community forests scattered in between.
Most of Pennsylvania’s forest lands fall into two types: mixed oak and northern hardwoods.
- Mixed oak forests cover about 54 percent of the Commonwealth—mostly in southern Pennsylvania. The mixed oak forests include northern red oak, chestnut oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, and tulip poplar.
- Northern hardwoods cover about 32 percent of Pennsylvania, mainly in the high elevations of the north. Common trees in the northern hardwoods include sugar maple, black cherry, aspen, birch, hemlock, and ash.
At Piney Hollow Wood Craft, we create our products from four Pennsylvania tree species: black walnut, cherry, maple, and oak. Here’s how these North American tree species differ.
Black Walnut Trees
An open, spreading shade tree, the black walnut tree foliage is compound leaves, each with 15–23 leaflets. The large, sturdy trunk produces beautiful hardwood, but the tree grows slowly. Nuts are encased in rough outer shells that turn from green to brown to black in fall.
Here's an interesting fact: Black walnut halls are often used to dye things like traps. Once they fall off in autumn, boil them and dip your animal trap in. After the black walnut dip, dip in wax to preserve it. This unique use of black walnut showcases the diverse applications of Pennsylvania's natural resources.
What does black walnut look like in a Piney Hollow Wood Craft plague?
The grain of the black walnut tree is very dark with a tight pore. This tree species is one of our most popular in creating plaques—especially once oiled. However, because it is dark-colored wood with white sap elements, it is not the best tree species for laser engraving because it tends to blend into the wood.
Rough Black Walnut Wood
Surfaced Black Walnut Wood
Cherry Trees
Cherry Tree Stump
One of the more common cherry tree types in Pennsylvania is black cherry. This tree species is often found on the Allegheny plateau.
What does black cherry look like in a Piney Hollow Wood Craft plague?
Black cherry has a tight wood grain with small pores, making it one of the best tree species for laser engraving.
Rough Cherry Wood
Surfaced Cherry Wood
Oak Trees
Pennsylvania oaks belong to the genus Quercus and include two main groups: Red Oak, which has bristles at the end of its leaf tips or lobes and acorns that take two years to mature, and White Oak, which lacks bristles on its leaf tips and has acorns that mature in one growing season.
- Red oak species include northern red, black, scarlet, and pin oaks.
- White oak species include white, chestnut, and swamp white oaks.
Red Oak Tree
White Oak Tree
Black Oak Tree
Shingle Oak Tree
What does oak look like in a Piney Hollow Wood Craft plague?
Oak is always a good choice for plaques. But it is not a good idea if you want something laser engraved. Oak trees have a large grain, which will disperse the laser, so it won’t burn as dark, and it doesn’t create sharp lines.
Rough Oak Wood
Surfaced Oak Wood
Maple Trees
There are over 120 species of maple trees distributed throughout the world. About fifteen species are native to the United States, of which six are found in Pennsylvania: box elder, silver maple, black maple, striped maple, mountain maple, red maple, and sugar maple.
Sugar Maple Tree
All maple trees have leaves of similar shape: a single leaf blade with the characteristic maple shape, 3–5 lobes radiating out like fingers from the palm of a hand with notches between the lobes.
What does maple look like in a Piney Hollow Wood Craft plague?
Maple trees have tight pores and, like the cherry tree, are an excellent option for laser engraving.
Rough Maple Wood
Surfaced Maple Wood
How We Process Tree Species into Products
At Piney Hollow Wood Craft, we use rough-cut lumber to create all our products. We source this lumber from local sawmills and kiln operators, promoting sustainable practices. Once received, we process it in our computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine. After it's processed, we oil the wood, preserving it and bringing out its natural grain. We do not stain any of our products. This process ensures the unique colors of each tree species are preserved, a practice that environmentalists can appreciate.
Click here to see our wood plaques.