My friend Steve Nicholson and I have had a good natured debate this summer as to whether this is a white ash or a black ash.
Steve believes it's a black ash because it grows right at the lake shore with its roots submerged at high water. His argument is bolstered by the notation in my tree identification book that the black ash, but not the white ash, is native to this part of Ontario.
I believe this could be a white ash. The bark pattern certainly supports my thinking, and I don't find any characteristics that fully refute that possibility.
Many years ago a friend told me a sure fire way to determine which was which. It had to do with the way buds sprouted on the limbs.
" White is tight. Black is slack."
It made sense at the time. Darned if I know now. It's a ravishingly brilliant and beautiful tree, but I don't know whether it's black or white.