Trees are the large portion of the foliage in our yards and landscapes, creating a beautiful mosaic of colors, shapes, and sizes. If you are interested in tree identification you have to learn some basic concepts about trees. First of all you have to know that there are two families of trees: deciduous and coniferous trees. There are many factors that separate these two families, but the most common and distinctive is the fact that deciduous trees lose their leaves during the cold winter months, and coniferous trees do not. Another way to distinguish one from the other is the size and shape of the leaf as well as the color of the leaf when they turn in the autumn months before falling for the winter. Others characteristics you have to consider are: bark, twigs, flowers, fruits and seeds.