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Category: Roadside Plant Finds

Nurse Log, Trees Growing Out of a Tree

The other day while eating at my favorite lunch spot I noticed a decaying hemlock with deciduous seedlings growing out of it, a nurse log.

Nurse logs are rotting logs that support tree seedlings. As the old tree decays it creates a seedbed for tree seedlings. The decomposing wood stays moist and provides organic matter for seedlings to grow.

There were Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) seedlings growing out of a Hemlock log (Tsuga canadensis).

Look through the opening in the brush to find the hemlock trunk on the right behind the stump.

The yellow birch parent grows about 80 feet away.

This nurse log is resting on a rocky ledge while we are in the middle of a drought. The yellow birch seedlings are thriving and show no signs of stress.

Below is a great video about nurse logs for more information.

Next time you’re walking through the forest and see a tree growing on a tree, or a nurse log, take a moment to appreciate the glory of nature.

August 23, 2022
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) Tough as Nails

Yesterday I pulled the car over to take a photo of a grouping of grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum). The temperature was in the low 40’s and by the minute the weather changed from overcast to partial sun, to rain showers, to snow showers. The grape hyacinth loved it.

When I was a kid we had grape hyacinth growing in the yard under spruce trees. It was a dry, shady spot and they would reliably bloom every spring. They never formed a clump but getting anything to bloom under those trees was a miracle. Once the bloom was done you forgot they were there.

I’ve never planted grape hyacinth because to me it’s an outdated plant, like yews and pachysandra. However, we should choose plants with the best chance of success where they’re planted while not becoming invasive.

How many plants thrive on the side of a cut in a ledge?

If you want early-spring color and have a dry spot with full to partial sun try Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum). There are plenty of grape hyacinth cultivars available that range in color from whites to shades of lavender and there’s even a double flowering grape hyacinth.

April 11, 2020
White Fringetree – Chionanthus virginicus

Last week while driving I spotted the beauty above, a White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) in full bloom. The tree was a sight to behold.

I took this picture the first week of June in Zone 6a. Bloom time is in line with the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), possibly starting a little earlier.

Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia says the White Fringetree grows 12 to 20 feet high and wide in Zones 4 to 9. Dirr recommends it as a woodland or understory naturalizing plant. I agree. I’d love to see it on the edge of the woods with a high canopy above.

The Missouri Botanical Garden White Fringetree writeup says there are both male and female plants with male plants having showier flowers. This tree is male.

I’ve only planted White Fringetree once in my career and while the flower was beautiful the tree seemed to linger and never thrived. I spotted dead branches on this tree though the branches that are alive seem perfectly healthy.

While some dead branches may be a drawback I recommend White Fringetree. I would relegate it to the edge of the woods and not in a prominent spot in the landscape. Know that you’re going to have to periodically clean the tree out, especially in Connecticut.

If you look at the base of this tree you can see a lot of sucker growth. That’s a sign of a stressed tree. I have to give credit to the person who planted it, you can see the root flare. Nice job!

The White Fringetree is great for collectors, and possibly naturalizing, here in Connecticut.

I started looking for White Fringetrees online and found White Fringetree Seedlings at Garden Hills Nursery. I’m impressed with the variety of trees Garden Hills offers, be careful if you’re a collector and visit their website.

Have you ever grown White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) ? What do you think of it?

June 9, 2019
An Evening Walk – The Road not Taken

Last night I went for the best walk I’ve had in a while. We’ve had high heat, high humidity and a ton of rain the last couple weeks which hasn’t encouraged walks.

I started around 5:00 PM without much of an idea where I was headed.

At one corner left would take me home in half an hour or right in two hours. I went right.

I haven’t felt so calm and at peace in months as I did last night.

Robert Frost wrote “The Road Not Taken” about a similar situation.

I enjoy getting lost in the details of houses and landscapes as I walk by. You never know what you’ll see.

The picture at the top of the post is an old mill-pond. There’s a guy on a canoe or kayak somewhere in there. The pond is on a seldom traveled dirt road where it’s always calm and quiet.

Walking through a different neighborhood I stumbled on a giant boulder or ledge. I’m not sure which. If I were standing in front of that rock my head would be in the shadow.

Near the rock a Caterpillar D5N sits waiting for work. It’s a BIG machine.

I stumbled on a Callicarpa closer to home.

This picture, taken in early August, shows Callicarpa blooms. Purple berries will be coming soon. If anyone knows the species please let me know.

The picture below was a surprise. I walked by a hidden stream and glanced over to see a Cardinal Flower in full bloom. Cardinal Flower is a native in Connecticut but I rarely see it in the wild. I don’t know if this plant grew on its own or planted/tossed in the stream.

We’ve had a lot of rain the last couple weeks and that stream is normally a trickle this time of the year.

This post reminded me of The Road Not Taken by Bruce Hornsby, on of my favorite musicians.

Thanks for joining me on my walk. I look forward to sharing more pictures with you soon.

August 6, 2018
My New Favorite Park

For the last week and a half I’ve visited a small park in town. The park starts level by the road but quickly drops off to a small rolling river below.

I’ve gotten in the habit of getting a bacon, egg and cheese and stopping at the park to eat my breakfast. It’s on the way to where I’m working.

My breakfast nook.

The path entering the park.

The real treat comes at the bottom of the hill when you get to the river. It’s a great place to collect your thoughts.

If you look through the crystal clear water you can see the ledge beneath. There’s no mud, just coarse sand below.

Looking up the river you can see the hemlocks that flank it. What a peaceful place.

I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

The old foundation of some sort of building. It’s been a long time since that building served any purpose.

It’s neat how this maple tree grows even though the dirt washed away around its roots. I wouldn’t be surprised if something lives under that tree.

This yellow birch started life growing between two boulders and continues to thrive.

If you live in Newtown, CT you can find the park about a half mile up from where 34 meets 110. You have to look hard or you’ll miss the little parking lot. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the river.

Here’s an article about the Halfway River Open Space.

October 28, 2017
Yellow Flower on Side of Road

Last week while driving through Newtown, CT I stumbled on this yellow flower. From a distance it looks like a dandelion. It’s definitely not.

I took this picture March 25 when Daffodils are just starting to bloom. We’re a long way off from leaves on trees.

I checked the US Wildflowers Database and had no luck finding it.

I’d like to thank Lydia, from the comments below, who told me the plant is Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).

March 28, 2016
Pumpkins in the Landscape

Yesterday I visited a landscape planted last week. While photographing the landscape I noticed the oddest site.

Nestled between a Siberian Carpet (Microbiota decussata) and PJM Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘PJM’) was a thriving pumpkin seedling.

How could this happen?

The compost used to prepare the soil was the composting spot of several years of Holden family pumpkins. The moist soil and ample sun in the new landscape set the seed in motion.

Happy Halloween!

August 14, 2015
Beefsteak Tomato Roadside Stand

This week I took the kids and dog for a walk and stumbled across a tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) growing in the crack between the curb and the asphalt. A plant’s will to live is amazing. I can’t wait to return this summer for some Beefsteaks!

June 19, 2015
Wisteria – Mother Nature Trumps Man Every Time

Last week I saw a wisteria in full bloom weeping from a blasted ledge. No matter how hard I try to create beautiful landscapes mother nature can beat me without trying.

The wisteria starts at the top of the cliff and weeps like a waterfall. It’s stunning.

If you’re driving down Whitney Avenue in Trumbull, CT in early-May keep your eyes open for the wisteria on the ledge between the entrance to Indian Ledge Park and the Route 25 overpass.

The dump truck on the lower left is in the entrance to Indian Ledge Park.

May 17, 2015