Poetry, Romance & Majesty: Celebrating The Beauty of Trees on Arbor Day…
The Romantic & Melancholy Weeping Willow – Salix babylonica
Today is Arbor Day, and although media attention and private conversation may be focused on a different occasion  —I’m referring to the Royal Wedding, of course— I find trees an equally romantic topic. After all, how many lovers have been wooed beneath the boughs of beautiful trees? How many sweet treats and first kisses have been shared on apple-blossom strewn picnic blankets? Could there possibly be a lovelier setting for an intimate rendezvous?
Orchard Blossoms by Tim Geiss
It’s hard to imagine a romantic garden setting without tree-lined paths, shady limbs, leafy branches and sun-dappled terraces filtered by brilliantly colored foliage. In honor of Arbor Day, many communities will be planting trees this weekend. Interested in participating? Visit the Arbor Day Foundation website (by clicking here) for information on how you can get involved with your local community and celebrate this wonderful tradition by planting a tree…
White pine (Pinus strobus), Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Spruce (Picea rubens) at Forest’s Edge in Twilight
Rope Swing in the River Trees
North American native conifers (Tsuga canadensis and Pinus strobus) in Evening Fog
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The Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit organization, not affiliated with The Gardener’s Eden.
Orchard Blossoms Photo: Special thanks to Tim Geiss at Poltergeiss
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4 Replies to “Poetry, Romance & Majesty: Celebrating The Beauty of Trees on Arbor Day…”
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Love the way trees were brought indoors for the wedding.
Don’t love the way the Arbor Day Foundation continues to give away ten free trees when one signs up for membership. I have been handed at least three of these packs of baby trees, and asked to plant them. It’s difficult to find the space for so many trees (in a suburban or urban setting in particular), and I’m guessing most of them eventually perish. I wish the Arbor Day Foundation would stop this practice. If they really have to send trees to their death, why not send only one?
Sorry for a rant at this lovely time of year, but as a lover of trees I am made sad by this situation.
Polly
@ Polly, I agree on the trees and the wedding! As for the Arbor Day Foundation’s practice of giving out trees… I would suggest that you let them know how you feel about the practice. It’s important for large organizations to get feedback from their members. No one wants to kill seedling trees!
I’m not a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, nor am I in any way connected to the organization or promoting membership. I included the page as they are a non-profit and they are organizing tree planting activities this weekend –which I wholeheartedly support. The Arbor Day Foundation is a good resource for finding local community events related to tree planting.
As for the issues you mention regarding their tree-distribution practices, I would definitely urge you to write to them, as they won’t see your message here.
Good luck! ;) Michaela
Thanks for another thoughtful reply. I have written to the ADF, suggesting they send a picture instead of the real thing. I should probably try again.
You’ve asked your readers what they’d like you to write about. Have you covered the topic of root-bound plants? Once again I’ve purchased a shrub (plastic container)that had roots so tight I couldn’t free them by scratching the surface of the root ball. Experts suggest removing the plant from the container at the nursery to check for this condition, but in practice this is often hard to do. I guess the question that nags at me is this: what happens to that solid cylinder of roots once a plant is in the ground? Will the life span of the plant be compromised?
Thanks as well for all the fabulous photos you’ve posted in the past few weeks. Polly
Hi Polly, Root bound plants are, in my opinion, evidence of over-worked nursery staff! Yes, to answer your question, the life-span of a root-bound perennial, shrub or tree will be compromised if it is plopped in the planting hole without loosening the roots with tools —including pruners and/or cultivating tines— and in some extreme cases, shaking off the soil and root-pruning, then top pruning. I did touch on this subject awhile back in this post on fall planting and shopping sales (click here). Some give-aways of root-bound plants are large top growth in a small pot, a heavy pot with bulging sides near the top, exposed hair-roots at the surface, sparse foliage or yellowing leaves. If you can’t stick your finger between the soil and the side of the pot… That would be a strong indicator of a pot-bound plant. I will try to post again on this subject soon. In meantime, visit that post and if you have any questions, just post a comment there. M