Don't you hate it when people come by and strew popcorn all over your sidewalk and lawn!! I mean.......really........don't folks have anything better to do!!
Oh, but you aren't a bit fooled.........you know this littered scene is evidence of a Catalpa tree lurking overhead......right?!
This seemingly out-of-place-for-Iowa flowering tree has been shading my car each morning this week while I'm helping at Vacation Bible School.
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When I was a little bitty kid we had two big, tall Catalpa trees in our front yard, but by the time I was six or so, the trees had been cut down.........'cuz they were too "messy", according to my parents. The tree shown in these photos is very tall, too, and you can see the oddly large leaves-----large for a tree here in the north, anyway. It also boasts curly branches here and there. All in all, its quite a unique and interesting tree......but, I'm happy its not in my yard!!
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Happy Thursday! (Only one more day of VBS.......hooray!!.......OK, I'll admit it...... its been enjoyable, but I'm truly ready for it to be over with.)
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11 comments:
It really does look like popcorn. That's too funny.
It may look like popcorn, but the blossoms smell like hominy -- to me, at least. Since I like hominy, I always enjoyed being near one of these trees while it was in blossom. I don't see as many (Catalpa trees) as I used to; perhaps other people have taken them down because they are "messy."
We live next door to a Cottonwood tree. I am always amazed how such a tall, beautiful tree could make such a neighborhood mess and ruin my pool filter EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
I love catalpa trees. I know where one in in the nearest town but none of them grown on my place.
Have you noticed the trees that go to seed big time, maples with the little helicopter seeds and ash with the tiny circles and cotton woods have just been insanely heavy with seeds this year. I was tempted to SHOVEL my sidewalk because the seeds were drifting up against the house.
Almost looks like .... snow! Heh! I wouldn't mind this kind of snow!!
It is a beautiful tree, isn't it?!
Hi, Ruth, Pat, caution, Russell,
Thanks for commenting!
I did happen to pick up a handful of the Catalpa blossoms off the ground this morning, and took a whiff.....it is faintly sweet and pleasant.
Actually, most of the blossoms have fallen off the tree now.....just since Tuesday, when I took the photos.
I never gave a thought to how stuff falling from trees could mess up pool filters, but that surely would be an annoying problem.
And, yes, that is true what Mary mentioned, about the heavy crop of seeds certain trees are having this year. I wonder what would cause that to occur?
We have been selling worms (or catapilers) from the Catalpa trees for about 30 years. They are the best catfish bait there is. They brind 10 cents each and are frozen in zip lock freezer bags with 25 to a bag. $ 2.50 a bag.We have about 30 trees and we do have the blooms to contend with each year. The worms come off when they are mature and go in the ground. this is when you harvest them. At the crack of dawn they march down the trees like soldiers in formation . They are in a hurry to get in the ground before the birds wake and come for them. We used to use our catalpa money for vacation each year. Sometimes #1,500 or more. Freeze them in fruit fresh and water to help keep the color.
Hi, Doris!
Thanks for dropping in! Your comment is most interesting.....I have never heard of such a thing.....Catalpa tree worms! When do they descend from the tree.....does it happen on just one day?
If you have never had any on your trees, you would have to find a tree with the worms on it to get them started. I don't know if they would raise in your area or climate, but they do here in NE Texas and also in La. Your winters may be too cold for the moth to survive underground till the next season.Some years we have very few on our trees and other years quite a lot.
Never heard of "Catalpa tree " . They are pretty albeit maybe messy! Better than Cottonwoods...it would seem!
Hi, doris and w.o.w.!
Yes, I would guess, too, that our winters are much colder than your area, meaning the worms could not live here. Probably the Catalpa tree is more of a southern tree, anyway.
There are lots of big landmark cottonwood trees in Iowa, although none on our farm.....but, I know they are messy, too.
Thanks for stopping by!!
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