The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is another early bloomer in the eastern US. The blossoms can be pink, white with pink, purple, or yellow. They are sometimes called “Ann Magnolia” or “Ann Star Magnolia.” I took these photos a couple of weeks ago on a gray day at the same park where the cypress live by the lake.
With many branches still bare, the tulip tree blossoms offered a welcome splash of color.
Thursday Tree Love is hosted by Parul Thakur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.” Sarah Ban Breathnach (Brainy Quotes)
Bradford Pear Blossoms with Bumblebee
The Bradford Pear is considered an ornamental tree. Some people say they are invasive. I say they are prolific and lovely. The bees like them, too. With cross pollination, these trees can produce small berry-like fruit that is reportedly not good to eat raw. I hadn’t noticed the fruit before, but I’ll be looking for it. Bradford Pear Trees are occasionally mistaken for dogwoods that will blossom later with broader, more individualized flowers.
I took these first photos at my church. Hopefully we’ll be back in there soon. Do you see the evergreen mistletoe among the white blossoms?
This tree has been here for many years.
Bradford Pear Tree with Mistletoe
See the bees?
The next photos were taken in my neighborhood. The Bradford Pear Trees are relatively small compared the the pine trees and oaks.
This evening, a storm was forecast but never materialized.
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
― Albert Camus
This tree caught my attention on a recent walk to the little park near our home. I think this is an oak tree. In the summertime, I don’t think I would be as likely to notice her interesting trunk features or the clumps of mistletoe in the upper branches.
Waiting for Spring
~
Thursday Tree Love is hosted on the second and fourth Thursday of each month by Parul Thakur.
My husband David identified this tree as a hemlock. We pass by it often on our walks in the neighborhood, and it stands out as different from the live oaks, pines, dogwoods, magnolias, and other trees common to the area.
In my search, I have not found a photo of a hemlock with such spikey looking leaves. What I have learned is that there are many different kinds of hemlock trees and plants. Some are poisonous and some are not, but it’s always good to be careful.
“Deep Roots are not reached by the frost.” JRR Tolkien
This weathered tree stands on a giant sand dune called “Sugarloaf” at Carolina Beach State Park. You might think that with roots exposed to much weather and erosion, the tree could topple any time. The view below suggests that its roots run deep where they can anchor into the sandy soil.
These trees have withstood hurricanes for decades.
Next, is a view from the top of “Sugarloaf.”
Tidal river trees
Standing strong for many years
Deep roots reaching down
Weather has its way
While deepest roots anchored well
Leave ghostly remnants.
At the bottom of the hill are remains of trees that stood tall long ago
Maybe these were once cypress trees.
I imagine their deep roots intertwine well below the surface.
Below is another tree at the bottom of the hill, but further back from the water. Sorry I don’t know their names (feel free to guess), but I certainly admire their perseverance.
This one seems to be holding its own.
I’m excited to be part of the 100th edition of Thursday Tree Love hosted by Parul Thakur. For more tree love, visit:
This particular southern live oak lives in Airlie Gardens near the coast of North Carolina.
The grounds keepers were just starting to decorate for the holidays, but nature has already decorated with Spanish Moss catching the afternoon sunlight.
My favorite work of human art in the gardens is this bottle house which also catches the sunlight.
Thursday Tree Love is hosted by Tharul Pakur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
This live oak lives in an old cemetery in the southern US. Its far reaching branches are covered in resurrection fern. This fern grows on trees and other surfaces but it does not steal nutrients. It reproduces from spores rather than seeds and can often survive droughts during which it seems to dry up and then come back to life when water is available.
In addition to the photos, I’m sharing a video below, because it’s hard to get the whole tree in a photo.
close up
Thursday Tree Love is hosted by Parul Thakur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more tree love, and a beautiful quote from Parul, visit:
Staying home encourages me to take a closer look at nature’s abundance right outside my door. First I was drawn to this twilight sky then noticed the dogwood silhouette.
During the day, the dogwood blossoms have a translucent quality that’s hard to capture with my amateur photography skills, but I still try.
I discovered a single blossom on the ground almost under my feet.
It must have been a gift
from the tree to me and from me to you.
…
Thursday Tree Love is a photo feature hosted by Parul Thakur
