Tree of the day

Today it has to be P. sylvestris in homage to the people of Scotland. I tried to put myself in a Scotsman's shoes to determine how I might've voted, but I simply lack familiarity with the issues and culture of that country. That's a shame. Well, here's a small start to correct that.

http://mandyhaggith.worldforests.org/pine.asp

Is that a pine cone in your pocket, or...?

Here's my favorite: "Scots pine timber should be cut on a waxing moon, as the sap is tidal, to ensure it is full of resin and therefore flexible and water resistent."

I'm suspicious of that one. ;)

That was a nice read Pseudo. I think VV is on to something there...lol.

I read and enjoyed the whole thing, but thanks to Resin (new nickname "Gis") for correcting the errors.

Ha, ha, thanks Resin.

sheesh...so much for the reputation of worldforests.org...if it had one before

OK, let's leave Scotland for horticulturally rich northern China and Korea. This tree plays second fiddle to its close cousin Acer griseum, but it takes first in my garden.

That second pic makes it look like the tree in the background is the trunk for the tree you're picturing. I was thinking, that's a huge trunk for such a small crown and then the eyes started working properly and I realized.

Is that triflorum or mandschuricum?
Whichever one, it's looking great.

I'll bet on Acer mandshuricum since I can't make out any exfoliation on that trunk.

But Pseudo didn't grace us with much detail of the trunk...

Fallen from grace, more like it...

I just did my best squinting. I think he has all of the trifoliate maples in his estate collection, so if that's not it, he's got it elsewhere. As they come into color, we'll get to see them all.

It's triflorum. It definitely has the best fall color of the trifoliates and is also the first to develop. Mandschuricum has started to turn, but it is such a fugly tree I'm embarrassed to show it. As you might have guessed, I moved it last spring and it's still trying to adjust to its new surroundings. The maximowiczianum has not started to turn

I once had all four trifoliates, but lost griseum following this past winter. It was in a fairly protected site, and I doubt I'll try it again. Oh, who am I kidding -- of course I'll try it again! There's a 15-20 year-old paperbark maple at a small nursery just across the border in Afton, MN, which is the largest I've seen in this area. It's in a very protected site, but still suffers significant dieback every five years or so. I can say with some confidence that A. griseum is the least hardy of the trifoliates. Hopefully that's not too controversial...