Flowering Trees are the Best

Trees are wonderful. Period. They give us so many resources that it's impossible not to take them for granted sometimes.

But spring allows us to appreciate them, probably because their blossoms are transient. Redbuds (Cersis canadensis) stimulate our eyes two weeks out of every fifty-two, so they never lose their luster.

Speaking of redbuds, they're the focus of my post today! There are a few really nice, big ones around where I live, so I'm going to show them off while I have the chance.

First is the one right next to my building. Most wild redbuds I see are not this tall, so that's impressive. This tree doesn't have a ton of flowers, but it still adds a nice contrast to the building and sky. It also distracts the eye from all the construction going on (see fence left).

This shot had too much backlighting for the color to be very apparent, but this angle does provide insight on the shape of redbud blooms, and this is an oft-overlooked aspect of the plant. There's a lot to interest the eye even without the bright hues.

Next are a couple of trees in the green space around which the natural resources building wraps (it's built in a C-shape around this mini-park). This first one is an average-sized specimen that seems to be flowering heavily for its size.

But here's the real king of this show. This tree is the largest (though not necessarily tallest) redbud I've ever seen. About half of its branches are done flowering, but this must have been spectacular a week ago.

Notice the grace in the curves of its trunk. I could definitely sit in this tree and read (and I would have done so today, were it not for the awful stink of the Bradford pears in this park, not pictured out of shame). This tree must be more than 25 years old. It looks healthy from what I can tell, too.

While the left side of the tree still has blooms, the rest of the branches are bearing fruit! Apparently these pods can become a nuisance, but I don't mind them.

Another interesting thing about these trees is that they can grow flowers directly from their trunks. The little, bumpy clusters of flowers are cute beyond compare, when it comes to trees. The colors of the blooms, the bark, the lichens, and the moss on this tree are lovely together as well.

What do you think when you see a redbud tree in a forest or a landscape? Do you consider its seed pods nuisances? Have you ever seen one this large (I know it's hard to determine scale from a photograph)?

Next post: other flowering trees, with a bonus of bulbs!

Plant Collection: Scott's House Part 2

I take a lot of pictures when it comes to plants, so I've broken down my trip to Scott's house into two posts to keep my post sizes reasonable. This is the second edition of plants owned by Scott's parents.

This is a foliage plant with which I am not familiar. It seems to be going crazy on its perch, which is good to see.

Let it look deep into your soul.

Next is some variety of arrowhead vine (possibly Syngonium podophyllum). Fun fact: this plant is poisonous to marsupials. Keep your wallabies away!

This big guy is a rubber plant (Ficus elastica: yes, that ficus). I had one of these when I was little. They make good additions to one's home, as long as one has room. Variegated varieties are fun too.

The blue ribbon suggests that this plant has had some balancing problems. It looks like it might topple over at any minute. Luckily, rubber plants can be pruned easily and at any time of year. (Maybe I should offer to prune this baby for Scott's parents and take a cutting...)

 

 After I photographed the rubber plant, I went outside. When I did so, I was sad to see a Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) in the yard. while the plant does have decorative flowers, they smell horrible, and this tree is so invasive that citizens are prohibited from planting it. At least it's nice to look at.

 

 

For happier news, look no further than the redbud tree, which is also flowering about this time. These are Missouri natives, and sometimes you drive through forests that look entirely pink because of them. Unfortunately, most redbuds only live 20-25 years because of disease problems (although the university has one that's at least twice that age). That said, there were some great-looking ones around Scott's neighborhood.

 

 

Here's another redbud tree! Note: this is not Scott's house. It's just nearby. Also, you can see in this picture the pods that these trees produce. Yes, they are legumes. Hooray for nitrogen fixation!

 

 

These trees are just beginning to bloom--they get much fuller as the days go on, though the blooms only last a week or two each year. Here's a close-up on those flowers.

 

 

That's it for my spring adventures at Scott's place! Are Bradford pears a problem where you live? Do you enjoy the short-lived bliss of redbud season? What kinds of houseplants do you enjoy?

 

Next post: green glory from around the grounds.