Bark is effectively the skin of the tree and it overlays the wood. 
The bark itself has inner and outer layers, in older stems the inner bark is living tissue while the outer bark is dead tissue. Knowing this has made me look at trees a little more closely. 
I have always loved bark. It’s not just the visual appearance of texture, but there is something so tactile about it which makes me want to touch it even though it is usually rough and scratchy. Perhaps the needing to touch thing is connected to the skin thing: the need to touch the skin of your partner, your relative, your friend, is a way of giving and receiving comfort.
Like skin, bark can reheal itself but often with a scar or callus growth over the injured site. So no matter what nature throws at trees – frost, sun, snow, flood – they can recover. 
5 to remember
la corteza – the bark [of tree]
eficazmente – effectively
interior – inner
exterior – outer
el tallo – the stem
Notes on a Spanish Valley 
This popped up in my Reader today… kind of goes with the topic 😉
http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/wordpress-photo-challenge-monument/
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It does fit, I loved this blog. One of my favourite things about blogging is looking at photos from around the world, virtual travelling… 🙂 SD
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So affordable 😉
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Ever since watching Bob Ross (The Joy of Painting) I am fascinated by trees. Listening to him and watching him in his shows certainly improved my writing as well. He profoundly improved my perception of nature, especially regarding trees, their leaves, their bark.
Did you ever have the opportunity to touch a paining in his technique? I have a painting with a sea scene. It looks awesome and it feels awesome.
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I don’t know Bob Ross, but I know what you mean. We bought an oil painting off a street vendor in New York years ago, an abstract, and it has a panel of what looks like sandpaper [for DIY]. Texture is very important, I think. SD
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I love touching the bark of trees too (although I always have a quick glance round to see if anybody is watching me!) 🙂
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Yes, I know what you mean. 🙂 SD
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As always, the photos are so lovely, and your words accompanying – very sensual.
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Thx Shari! SD
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A bard barker, I be! 🙂 Nice to meet you! Uncle Tree
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And good to meet you too… Happy Easter! SD
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