river talk

Blossom abundance!

By SANDY LONG

Posted 6/23/21

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river talk

Blossom abundance!

RR photo by Sandy Long

This lovely northern catalpa tree grows just outside my dentist’s office in Milford, PA. The white blossoms and large heart-shaped leaves are attention-grabbers. Catalpas typically flower about seven years after planting and yield bean-like seed pods filled with inch-long seeds that are fringed at the ends.

RR photo by Sandy Long

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the orchid-like flowers of the catalpa are frequently visited by hummingbirds. In addition, it is the sole host of the catalpa sphinx moth and provides nourishment for bees in early summer.

RR photo by Sandy Long

Here’s an excerpt from the poem, “Mountain-Laurel” by the poet, novelist and short story writer Louisa May Alcott, born in 1832 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:.“Mountain-Laurel”.My bonnie flower, with truest joy. Thy welcome face I see,. The world grows brighter to my eyes,. And summer comes with thee.. My solitude now finds a friend,. And after each hard day,. I in my mountain garden walk,. To rest, or sing, or pray... All down the rocky slope is spread. Thy veil of rosy snow,. And in the valley by the brook,. Thy deeper blossoms grow.. The barren wilderness grows fair,. Such beauty dost thou give;. And human eyes and Nature’s heart. Rejoice that thou dost live.

Posted Wednesday, June 23, 2021 11:45 am

By SANDY LONG

Two of the blooming beauties we are blessed with here in the Upper Delaware River region that have recently launched their showy displays are the northern catalpa tree and the mountain laurel shrub. With features like star-shaped blossoms and heart-shaped leaves, these plants herald the transition from spring to summer and are truly pleasing to behold.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the catalpa tree was first cultivated in 1754, and its wood was used for fence posts and railroad ties due to its resistance to rot and the tree’s fast growth rate. The tree’s common names include cigar tree, Indian bean tree, catawba, caterpillar tree, hardy catalpa and western catalpa.

Native to the Eastern United States, mountain laurel was adopted as Pennsylvania’s state flower in 1933. A shade-tolerant stunning plant with deep evergreen foliage and blossoms ranging from white to pink, mountain laurel is also referred to as ivybush, sheep laurel, lambkill and spoonwood.

To me, the blossoms bring to mind fireworks, blooming just in time to set the stage for Fourth of July celebrations. Take a walk today to experience the seasonal evolvement of natural wonders happening now.