Back to business...
The Hallowe'en tree I'm talking about isn't from the mind of Ray Bradbury but from the pages of a plant catalog I was flipping through. I hate those things, I try to throw them away as soon as I see them in the mail but this one snuck past me. They make me spend money. They make me spend lots of money on plants in an already crowded yard. All the pretty pictures of flowers and trees in full glorious bloom entice me, seducing me to grab my credit card while a make a list of what I want like some greedy child at Christmas time.
"Delicate, heart-shaped foliage keeps changing; leaves emerge bronze to reddish purple, turn blue-green in summer and yellow to apricot in fall. Big surprise comes last—sweet, spicy aroma that’s compared to ginger cookies, caramel and cotton candy!"They had me at heart-shaped foliage. Can you imagine a tree like this in a yard haunt?! A tree that smells like the essence of fall?! Of course, I know that this picture is probably of a 50 year old specimen grown in an arboretum and what I get will be more or less a little twig with some spindly roots on it but what the hey, this seems to be truly a Hallowe'en fanatic's tree.
I'll keep posted on the progress...I ordered two :)
Direct link to Gurney's page for this tree.
8 comments:
Goodness... I am SO sorry for your loss, Mr M. :(
All green thumbs know how balancing and healing gardening can be!
The Katsura is a truly magnificent beast- that's a LOT of bang for the planting buck. Can't wait to hear how you make out! :)
My own front garden features a double pink ornamental weeping cherry. Wonderful sprays of flowers mid spring, lush foliage during summer, and come halloweem she's a creepy claw-like thing. No scent, though- bummer.
As for mail order material, we picked up a pair of Musa Basjoo (hardy Japanese fibre bananas) last year- all of a couple of squashed leaves in an envelope arrived... but they grew over 7 feet in the first season, and stand-in for palms in our tiki themed backyard. Good luck with your twigs!
My best to you both,
Elise.
Sorry to hear of your father-in-law's passing.
And I totally feel your pain regarding seed catalogs. They arrive in the mail and I immediately begin making a list . . . of plants I have no room for. But this one sounds intriguing. :)
A most enticing tree.... please do keep us posted.
Garden catalogs & garden centers are my Achilles Heel!
First, let me say I'm very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are indeed with you and your family right now.
Also, wonderful photo. I love The Hallowe'en Tree, and thank you for sharing this with us.
Condolences on your father in law's passing.
I love seed catalogues. I have no yard to plant stuff in, so I'm safe. For now.
I planted a young Katsura sapling in my front yard when I first bought my house 4+ years ago (why yes, I did buy right at the top of the market, thank you!) and I can tell you its a fast-growing tree.
I was just as tall as the tree when I planted it, now its a good several feet taller than I am.
Absolutely beautiful, though with some of the hot summers we've had the new foliage at the top has burned. Not a problem, though, as it quickly grows back.
I prune it each fall and the new growth comes out a bright red and burgundy. Definitely a tree worth getting.
Rich
Just got my trees two days ago and planted them. I can't wait for them to come out with all the good things y'all told me about them! Thanks!
Darn you!!!
I think....could my local nursery possibly have one in stock? No, that would be silly - safe to go in just browse and sound all important as I ask the sales person about this obscure tree.
Turns out, not so obscure. They have one....in stock....he brought it to me.
It is waiting in my yard for me to plant it...soon - because the ghost of the other dead plants in my garden are warning him that I have a bad reputation....I think that crying I hear in the wee hours is him.....
...you are evil....in that good kinda way!!
Cheers!
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