Friday 1 March 2013

Tree Swap.



I've just recently felled this Aspen. It was dying from the top, and, like all Aspens, was also throwing up suckers to a radius of about 25 miles; it HAD to come down. Aspens also have this annoying habit of producing catkins that end-up depositing a thick cottony, snow-like, carpet beneath the tree each Spring.

My original intention was to replant with a Weeping Willow, but I've now been told that there's an illness around that kills them off once they reach about 12 ft high; I've even lost one myself several years ago.

So I've now plumped for a Catalpa. You may remember that I recently found, and brought home, several small trees from the woods; one of which (the biggest) will now replace the Aspen. They become magnificent trees, and as far as I know have no bad habits other than harbouring certain harmless caterpillars.

This (below) is how I imagine it will be in a couple of year's time.


Fingers crossed.

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15 comments:

  1. I love the catalpa tree. It gives lovely shade and looks just fabulous. One of my favourite trees...

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    1. Shade, and good looks, are the two essentials for the new tree. Thanks for giving me confidence.

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  2. Wow, that is just gorgeous.

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  3. There is a big hole in my tree knowledge - I've never heard of a Catalpa - that big in a couple of years time! Dream on.

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  4. That's a beautiful tree . . . but when I saw your post headed "Tree (something)". I got excited thinking it was the tree house progress. Maybe soon? Please? x

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  5. looks like a lovely tree...we have to cut down some this year ...they are making the place too dark...but I'm always loathe to do it...needs must!

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  6. We have a few catalpa in North America...is it the same species I wonder? They are lovely trees but drive my lawn fastidious parental types crazy because the seed pods and large leaves make a "mess" of their lawn. They really have a nice form and can get very large in diameter.

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    1. I suppose there aren't many garden trees that don't have an annoying side. I just hope the beauty outweighs the annoyance.

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  7. If yours is the same species as my brother's tree, it should be a hardy bugger. You see, he lives in Minnesota where plants and trees must survive very harsh conditions. When it's in blossom, it looks as though the tree is covered in orchids.

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  8. My husband wants one of those trees. He uses the caterpillars to fish with. We used to buy them from someone in town, but the tornado destroyed all those wonderful trees; he had an orchard of them. Wishing you lots of luck with your new replacement.

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  9. What a beaut of a tree that Catalpa is!! We

    We seldom have luck plating trees. For three years we tried planting a tree that is common to our area and each year it would die. The landscaper would no longer honor the warrantee. We gave up and put a large planting pot there and fill it every spring with a lovely hibiscus.

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