Tuesday's Trees- Chinaberry

If you have Chinaberry, Melia azedarach trees in your area, this is the time of year where you KNOW they are in your area.  The yellow berries hanging in clusters at the ends of the stems really stand out.  I saw these trees in Virginia and wasn't sure what they were. (this was well before my quest for tree knowledge)  The first fall we lived here I noticed a tree along a two-lane numbered road (not really a highway, more of a rural road) that had a few yellow berries.  I made note of the area so on the return trip I looked more closely at that tree.  Sure enough!! It was a Chinaberry.  Since then I have seen others closer to home.

This tree is not native to the United States nor North America.  It is a native to Asia, from India to China.  It is a member of the Mahogany family and goes by many names- Bead tree (see those berries?), Umbrella tree,  and Persian lilac.  It is a lovely shaped tree, rounded oval crown, similar to an umbrella (see name above) and doesn't get too tall, only about 40 feet at maturity.  

The bark is brown-gray on young trees and has pale gray ridges with orange furrows on the mature tree.   The two trees (above and below) are along the same street.  Both have been cut back rather severely.  The trees are twisted and not really nicely formed.  They do show the mature bark.   I was driving -- slowly-- when I took these pictures, so they are a little blurry. 

The leaves are bipinnate, 7- 10 inches long.  The individual leaflets are small, about 2 inches, and sharply toothed.  ALL PARTS of the tree are poisonous.  It is not only harmful to humans but wildlife as well.  According to Floridata website, birds eating too many of these berries can render them paralyzed.  

Other sites offer medicinal uses for parts of this tree, one against the herpes simplex virus according to IFAS.   Some states have this tree on the invasive list, Texas for one, and Florida does not.  It is termed a weedy tree.   

Spring flowers are a delicate purple appearing in May - June.  The flowers are said to be fragrant.  I will have to check that out next spring.  The star shaped flowers are lovely.

All those little blooms are future yellow berries. 

I was happy to find an uncut specimen along our travels in the Upstate.  You can see the form of the tree is indeed an umbrella/ oval crown.  Again, a drive-by photo, I wasn't driving this time but the speed limit was 50 MPH and there was someone coming up behind us.  Charlie loves these 'slow down so I can take a picture' times.  

Thanks for coming along for another Tuesday's Trees.  My sources (besides the ones above) are Alien Plant Working Group, VA Tech,  Forestry Department, and Duke.  

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Window Views and Ants

It is fall and the colors are outstanding.  I love the views from our dining room window.  We live in an Oak-Hickory forest and in the fall the view just sparkles.   This is the view of the lot next door to us.  This summer I saw a deer walking down through the woods, heading to the lake for a drink.  The bird activity is just wonderful.  (Except for Great Backyard Bird Count day when they all hide)  

The late afternoon sunlight shines through the forest, love the angle of the sun this time of year.   On the windowsill you see a pair of binoculars....they are well used!!

Gardening is usually nicer in the fall here in South Carolina because the weather is better.  Unfortunately for me, I found a nest of fire ants.  We planted a new bed at the front gate of our housing area.  Moving a little bit of mulch the next day to cover a bare spot of soil, I picked up a handful of ants.  Note to self --wear your gloves and look before you pick up anything!!!

We made a trip to the doctor and I have meds to take care of getting my hand back to normal.  Will have to wait a few more days to get back into my garden, don't want the blistered bites to pop and get worse.  

The tree post from last week will be up probably tomorrow.  Benedryl makes my head a little fuzzy so I haven't finished writing it.   Be sure to check previous tree posts as fall pictures are added.  

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

Grasses and Blooms in October

We continue to have some gorgeous days in October.  The garden is still growing, fall is the best time to plant and transplant in our area.  My native grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem,  have started to reseed a little and I am happy to move the babies to spots that need filled in.

These grasses were planted along the driveway to help slow water runoff.  Some of the grasses have done very well, others, not so much.   I love the no care attitude with these grasses.  I have a soaker hose that sits on the top of the ridge where I have some trees and shrubs planted, but these grasses are on their own, subject to whatever Mother Nature has to offer. 

Another native grass I have in the yard is Panicum virgatum, 'Dallas Blues'.  The idea initially was to put this blue grass along the side of the yard where I have Callitropsis glabra 'Blue Ice' and Cupressus arizonica 'Carolina Sapphire', repeating the blue color.  Well, as you can see in the photo below, it got lost.  

I decided to move them from along the right side of the yard to the left side, up on the ridge.   We had a tree go down last year, almost on the property line.  It doesn't bother me so I am leaving it down.  There had been a redtwig dogwood shrub in this open spot, it didn't do well (that is code for it died).  

Adding the three blue Panicum was a good idea, they will do well with minimal care....less water needs than the shrub.  Here they stand out better, showing off their great blue color.

Also along the driveway, closer to the Bluestem grasses, is a little gully.  In that gully is where I found the Cranefly Orchid, Tipularia discolor, growing a couple years ago.   I looked for the blooms this fall, none were found.  I thought perhaps the plant had disappeared, but look what I found the other day.

 The winter foliage of the orchid emerging through the pinestraw!  Hooray.


Some more happy findings-- my Snail flower Vigna cararalla is blooming, oh so fragrant!!  I got this plant from Julie at Growing Days.  It took so long for it to bloom, I thought it may never happen.  So happy it bloomed!!  It is an heirloom vine, seeds from Monticello, a lovely vine grown by Jefferson.  It is a tender perennial in the South, crossing my fingers it makes it through the winter for another year!!

 

The cooler temperatures have spurred my Janet rose to bloom again.  Love the hint of yellow/coral in the center of this delicate pink bloom.

The buds are so pale pink with a hint of peachy yellow.

Wonder how long I will continue to have blooms?  Wow.

 Another fall bloomer is the Mexican Sage, Salvia leucantha.  Love these purple blooms on long stalks!!  There are four of these subshrubs in the yard, each full of blooms. 

The Gerbera daisies are coming back into bloom again.  Really had wanted red ones, these are more tomato soup red.

Finally, the Coca-cola box I got from my mom is planted with succulents and ajuga, making a nice addition to the area where my planted Croc is .  It is really dry in this area and there are some tunnels -- voles?  Maybe, who knows, but they do leave the Euphorbia alone.  This is  Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'.

How is your fall garden?


©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.