on Sep 16 in Landscape Design, Misc Trees, Tree Care, Tree Planting tagged Fall Color, Flowering Trees, Landscape Design, Smoketree, Tree Care, Tree Planting by Rebekah
If you should ever find yourself luxuriating in the French Riviera, and in the unlikely event you grow tired of the sand and sea, a walk in the hills will introduce you to the unique woodlands of the Mediterranean. There, among the scrubby oaks and umbrella pines you will find a familiar bush or small tree, the European smoketree – in its native environment.
There are only two species of trees in the genus Cotinus. One is the American smoketree, the other is its close relative from Europe. For both, their claim to fame is the wispy clumps of filaments that look all the world like smoke. The mirage has given rise to other names such as mist tree, cloud tree, wig tree, and Jupiter’s beard. By whatever name, the site of this tree is what Minnesota garden writer Don Engebretson has called “one of the most arresting shrubs available to…gardeners today.”
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on Sep 09 in Landscape Design, Tree Care, Tree Planting tagged Dogwood, Fall Color, Flowering Trees, Landscape Design, Tree Care, Tree Planting by Rebekah
Writer-naturalist Donald Peattie once wrote, “Lovely as it is, dogwood stoops also to be useful.”
What’s in a Name?
For all the beauty of this tree, the common name of dogwood may come from something less lovely – “dagger.” This, in turn, may actually come from its early use as a skewer, or thin piece of wood used to hold meat together. The tendency of its wood to not splinter made it popular for this purpose.
The scientific genus name, Cornus, derives from the Latin, cornu, or horn, in reference to another use of its hard wood. The species name, florida, is also from Latin, flos, meaning flowery.
Seasonal Color
The blossoms of dogwood add a welcome touch of color in early spring. If space allows, the white can be accentuated with a background of conifers. Bright autumn foliage and red berries that linger into winter add a bold stroke of color to any landscape design. Read More
on Aug 13 in Landscape Design, Tree Planting tagged Energy Saving, Summer Tree Care, Tree Based Energy Conservation by Ben
Trees properly placed around a house can save you money and help cool your house in the summer. This is according to the U.S. Forest Service Center for Urban Forest Research, but the concept is easy for everyone to understand. Go outside sometime this summer and stand in the sun for a few minutes. Then walk over to your nearest tree and stand in the shade. I bet you will notice that the shade the tree provides is much cooler than standing in full sun. This same concept can be replicated by planting trees in the right places to cast shadows on your house during different times of the day. Find out where to plant around your house and what trees are best.
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on May 05 in Tree Planting tagged Call 811 Before You Dig, Tree Planting by Khrysanne
Before reaching for that shovel to plant a tree, you need to call 811– the national number that connects you to your local call-before-you-dig center. This will allow you to get the approximate location of buried utility lines marked. A recent Common Ground Alliance (CGA) survey revealed that homeowner digging projects will be up 10 to 15 percent this year compared to 2009, with tree and shrub planting at the top of the project list.
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