Sunday, as I was going down Main Street in Hillsboro, I was greeted by quite the sight – a Japanese Lilac Tree in full bloom (it hadn’t been in bloom Saturday; we passed it twice and I would have noticed). After completing my errand, and on my way home, I stopped to take a closer look at the tree. Actually, at that point, I wasn’t sure if it was a JLT or a Fringe Tree, as I hadn’t gotten a close look on my first
So, I parked in the driveway of PSNH. At that point I could tell it was a JLT, but I had to take a sniff. MMMM! All the goodness of lilacs in bloom! I got back in the truck and turned around in their parking lot
“Hmmm,” I thought to myself, “I wonder how these propagate. I wonder if I can take a sucker, place it in water and get it to develop roots.”
Understand that this is a tree that has made it to the final cut in what I have developed as my dreamscape for when we take down the fruit trees. It was brought to my attention in my last Landscaping class, and I found room for it in my plans. I had to sacrifice the Fringe Treethat I had decided would be placed near the center of the site (although I am still trying to figure out how to get a FT in there too). It was actually a toss-up between the two trees until I realized that the JLT blooms in June – which is a time of year when not many trees are in bloom.
With other trees and shrubs that I have selected, something will be in bloom from March (possibly even late February) into the summer. There may be a short break, then leaves will start turning for fall. After the leaves have given us their show, and fall to the ground, there will be red berries to be seen thru at least part of the winter (depending on how fast the birds eat them).
But, back to my story: So, it should come as no surprise that I parked the truck once again, went over and found a nice healthy sucker about 2 feet long, and ripped it off the tree (sorry – I didn’t have any shears with me, but I did take it in one swift tug and didn’t rip off any extra bark). I took it home, trimmed off some leaves and the base of the stem, and stuck it in water.
If all goes well, in a couple of weeks I will be the proud parent of a newly potted youngling. If not, well, I know where one JLT is, and have located 2 more (by where I am pet-sitting), so I can try several times if I have to.
Now if I can just find a few other trees and shrubs on my list . .
From what I understand (very little!), it is better to rip suckers off of a tree than it is to cut them off. Something about the psychology of the tree. When a sucker gets ripped off, the tree doesn't try to re-grow it, as the tree does with a cut sucker. Is that an old engineer's tale?
Question: Are bush cherries edible? They taste OK, to me; but, I'd hate to go to the pokey for poisoning your father.
Posted by: Cop Car | June 29, 2006 at 09:09 AM
WOW....the fringe tree is gorgeous. The Japanese lilac must pack quite a punch to be able to knock it off the list!
Posted by: buffy | July 06, 2006 at 04:10 PM
Cop Car - I am unsure what you are calling a "bush cherry". Chokecherries and pin cherries are used for jam. Other "cherries" are inedible. But, I suppose if you have already eaten some, without any ill effects, then they must be edible.
Buffy - I believe that I have found a way to have both the Fringe Tree and the Lilac Tree. Of course, until WS takes down the existing trees and terraces the hill, I don't really what I really have to work with - that is why I am calling it my "dreamscape" and not my future landscape!
Posted by: bogie | July 07, 2006 at 07:38 AM
No, I haven't eaten the bush cherries--only tasted them (as have I tasted the chokeberries--I think that they are edible?) The only questionable thing that I've eaten is the leaves of the poke weed that I mixed in with chard from the "garden". Then, after we had eaten it, I read on the web that leaves should be stewed/boiled for hours to make them edible. I had thrown them into boiling water for exactly 2 minutes--just as I do any other fresh green. HH and I are still walking about. (Of course, they were not a large proportion of our greens.)
I have a miniature Korean lilac bush that's been ther 3 or 4 years. I've been considering taking it out--from disappointment. The blossoms are not in big clusters, but in tiny clusters. Deadheading is impossible! (At least, for one with my complete lack of patience.) I'll be anxiously awaiting photos of your lilac tree when it blooms!
Posted by: Cop Car | July 07, 2006 at 08:14 AM
You deadhead lilacs?
Posted by: bogie | July 08, 2006 at 06:21 AM