Not Native

By "not native," I am not referring to people.  Although there is quite a bit of talk around here about the people who have lived here for generations, the rest of us considered "outsiders."  I have even seen license plates that say, "Native."  I saw one in a parking lot and when the woman got out I was tempted to say, "Gee, you don't look Cherokee at all."  But I didn't.  And that's a whole different story.

The words "not native" refer to one of my favorite little trees.  Almost all of our plants and shrubs are native to the area.  (My precious camellia being one exception.)  But one tree that gives us great joy is not only not native to western North Carolina, it isn't native to the United States.

It is the Coral Bark Maple, Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'.  This lovely little tree has great foliage in spring, summer and fall, but its most striking feature is the bark.  Always a shade of coral, the color deepens dramatically in cold weather.  Absent any leaves, it's remarkable deep coral stands out in winter.

I took these photographs yesterday during a brief respite from the downpours we had.  The sky was gray and dreary and yet this little maple glowed even without any help from the sun.

The tree grows rather slowly with maximum height of 25 feet.

It adds such gorgeous color to the winter yard.

One of my favorite little trees.

Most of the plants in our yard are holly, rhododendron, mountain laurel, witch hazel and other native shrubs and trees.  We are not purists who believe it's a shame to plant non-native varieties.  We have mostly native varieties for the simple reason that they are best adapted to our environment and less likely to require replacement.  But the Coral Bark Maple does quite well in its location and we do enjoy it in all seasons of the year.

(Sad note:  My silly camellia decided to bud out early and all the buds got frozen and dropped to the ground.  Ah well, there's always next year.  Maybe.)

They Grow Wild Here in the Mountains

What comes to mind when you hear the word "Magnolia?"  Chances are, you are visualizing Scarlett O'Hara, the characters in "Steel Magnolias" or other individuals from the deep south.  It is not likely that you are thinking of the mountains of North Carolina.  In truth, we have our own magnolias here in Western North Carolina mountains.  Scattered thoughout the forests, these lovely fragrant blossoms add an unexpected pleasure to a mountain hike.  Magnolia Fraseri, more commonly called Mountain Magnolia or Fraser Magnolia, was named for John Fraser (1750-1811).  A botanist, Fraser traveled from his native Scotland to the Appalachian Mountains collecting specimens of native flora.  The wild magnolias grow on rather spindly trees, not the stately lush green trees we see in southern yards.  But the blossoms are just as lovely.

This magnolia is growing on our property.

It has a sweet fragrance similar to the Southern Magnolia.

We are blessed to be surrounded by such a variety of trees and we especially appreciate those whose fragrance catches the breeze.  As my tee-shirt says, "Life is Good."

Things Big and Things Little

Whenever I feel a bit down (usually because of politics or the environment) I reflect on some recent wonderful days. One such day was a visit with my daughter to the North Carolina Arboretum. The Bonsai Exhibit is my very favorite. From the beginning, one feels the magic.

Many of the exhibits represent the trees that grow in certain areas of our mountains. This one beautifully reflects the trees around Mt. Mitchell.

This tiny rhododendren was getting ready to burst into full bloom.

I stood in awe of tiny trees so wonderfully shaped, looking exactly like their giant parents.

We were fortunate enough to find a gardener trimming one of the trees. Using small scissors, he is thinning the leaves.

Not everything at the arboretum is small. One of my favorite works of art is huge! A Native American stands with his hands up to the sky. The full figure bronze, titled "Oh, Great Spirit" stands more than 12 feet tall.

The figure, opening his arms to the heavens, gives us pause to reflect on our concept of god, (or nature as god) regardless of religion. Standing beneath him, we can momentarily forget the problems we are encountering.