| Campanula and Veronicastrum against the golden leaves of Calalpa bignonoiodes ‘Aur
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| The same garden from beneath the fretwork of the branches |
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| A basketload of May/June blooms on the species of this North American native tree |
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| Now, in close-up |
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| And from a distance
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in an east-end Toronto parkette |
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| Helen and Sarah and a catalpa tree, circa 1962 |
13 comments
I love the picture of you two from days of yore. Catalpas were widely planted in my city, too, and played a part in my childhood. I even tried to smoke an "Indian cigar" – silly girl!
Thanks, Ilona. When we were kids, we thought "catalpa" sounded Italian (the tree is called "catawba" in some regions). I was surprised to learn that it's a native North American tree, although not native to Ontario. At least, not since the latest ice age. There are a few catalpa trees in Toronto with extra-thin bean pods that persist all winter. They fringes they make are actually quite decorative.
Delicacy . . . and exuberance.
Exactly what called to me on this drab February day.
A favorite tree, especially the golden-leaved one!
The golden leaf one is a beauty. And even the species is so generous with flowers.
Nice to see a fully grown golden Catalpa. I've got one in my garden that I keep coppiced. Makes for great foliage in the border. Hope I can continue to keep it under control.
Do you find that coppicing makes the leaves extra-large? That's what happens with the pollarded versions in my neighbourhood and, if memory serves, the lopped-back trees don't flower. Is that your experience?
Yes, coppicing makes for larger leaves, and since Catalpa flowers on old wood, no flowers.
Hi Helen,
aren't the flowers so unusual and exotic-looking for a big-@ss tree? (reminds me a little of bearded iris/moth orchid.)
My kids are fond of using the seedpods as variations of whips or lashes on dear old dad, lol…
Van Dusen Botanical Garden looks like a beautiful place! Catalpa trees are pretty common down here in NC but I haven't seen any specimens as full and distinguished-looking as the ones you've shown.
A comment from a reader Jay who left his email address (I don't want him to be inundated by junk mail by publishing it):
Hi Helen, do you know a specific location where I can see a catalpa tree in Toronto (maybe two).
Here is the content of my emailed reply to him:
Hi, Jay,
The catalpa tree I photographed for the blog is in the Love Crescent parkette in the (upper-ish) Beach area of Toronto. Here’s the map:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=337280ac0d554410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=1309a5dc09311410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&marker=136
I’m sure there are others elsewhere in the city, too