I used to believe that I was too old to plant a tree and watch it grow to maturity; that was before I moved to the desert nearly four years ago. Everything planted here seems to be in speed-mode and one needs a machete or someone to arrive monthly to tame the yard. I love this tree aka as Brachychiton populneus. This particular tree was foreign to me and once I saw the leaves I had to have one, after all I had to give up the maple trees that I had the privilege of tending to for a decade. Not only were the pots too heavy to cart here, but the delicate maple trees wouldn't have survived the brutal temps.
Last week brown crispy leaves dropped from the tree at an alarming rate, we're talking covering the ground. I was so distraught that a dear friend googled possible reasons that calmed my worries to a low roar. This is the tree that has blown over when the winds hit 60mph and has been re-staked so many times that I had the gardener on speed dial. We finally felt confident that we had solved the problem with a guy-line literally anchored into the earth. And now the fast-growing tree was losing leaves, how dare the tree be so temperamental and ungrateful about all of the attention I've give it.
Yesterday I noticed new growth sprouting at the ends of the branches. Okay, so the old was making room for the new, but in the middle of summer when the temps haven't fallen below 100 in months I did think that perhaps the tree had decided to surrender.
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2 comments:
It is a beautiful tree! Our old oak tree, more than 50 years, will lose leaves every year in the summer. By the fall, it is the first to have none. We've been told it's healthy and we have no idea why it loses it's leaves.
Loved all of your photos!!
Very interesting story - I didn't know that. Also, lovely shots - especially that first one - looks like the giant beanstalk from 'Jack & The Beanstalk' !
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