Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Mountaineerfan on April 19, 2007, 01:04:07 am

Title: What is this tree?
Post by: Mountaineerfan on April 19, 2007, 01:04:07 am
Hey gang!  Does anyone know what this tree is?  There are several near my hives but I've been unable to identify it.
Thanks!
Sorry, the site won't let me post a pic.  Please paste this into your browser.

img237.imageshack.us/img237/7580/treefu9.jpg
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Dane Bramage on April 19, 2007, 01:23:05 am
(http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7580/treefu9.jpg)

there ya go. :)  I can't ID it for you however (sorry - no expert).

It looks similar to these pink flowered trees at one of my places:

(http://i15.tinypic.com/29zcveo.jpg)

I have no idea what they are either... but they smell great and have gorgeous blooms in the spring.

Cheers,
Dane
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: buzzbee on April 19, 2007, 07:18:57 am
This amy be a yoshino Cherry,
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 19, 2007, 07:36:54 am
This amy be a yoshino Cherry,

Looked like a cherry to me too.  Dont know exactly what kind, but that was my initial thought.

Sean
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Drone on April 19, 2007, 07:50:38 am
Well, those look like 2 different trees to me. The bottom one looks like a cherry with the clusters of small pink flowers, but look at the top one closely. It has many long, drooping flowers that are trumpet shaped.

I've seen these trees in the wild. They also have clusters of ping-pong sized seed pods.

I don't know what kind of tree it is, but they are always LOADED with honey bees!

-John
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: bluegrass on April 19, 2007, 02:20:07 pm
Hard to tell from the pics, but maybe Redbud?
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Dane Bramage on April 19, 2007, 02:41:52 pm
Hard to tell from the pics, but maybe Redbud?

I think that might be correct on mountaineerfan's tree.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e8/Eastern_Redbud.png)
Eastern Redbud
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Xylocopa_9789.JPG)

Mine might be some sort of cherry blossom (Prunus serrulata ~> ornamental, no fruit).  I've cherry fruit trees on the other side of the house.  I'll get some better photos - close ups.  It's very pretty and unusual (from my perspective) and a prolific flowering tree (pressure washer required to clear the pounds of fallen petals from the driveway, lol)
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: AndersMNelson on April 19, 2007, 02:59:25 pm
I'm pretty sure the bottom tree is a Kwanzan Cherry.  I'm not sure of the top, but you say the flowers are trumpet-like?  Could you post a macro/close-up of the flower?
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Mountaineerfan on April 19, 2007, 06:40:09 pm
Thanks everyone!
No, it's not a redbud, it's not a cherry.  Yes, they are trumpet shaped, and have a seed pod on them.  See if this helps.  It's a little blurry, as it was quite windy that day.
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/5159/flowerssg3.jpg
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: AndersMNelson on April 19, 2007, 06:58:04 pm
Princess Tree

http://www.monticello.org/gardens/inbloom/fullsearch.html?id=158&search= (http://www.monticello.org/gardens/inbloom/fullsearch.html?id=158&search=)
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Mountaineerfan on April 19, 2007, 07:05:07 pm
We may have a winner!  I've never heard of a princess tree before.  I've seen them all over the place in Tennessee and Georgia, growing wild.  Alot of people confuse it with Wisteria because they bloom near the same time, and they are both purple and clustered.  Interesting!  I think you've got it, Anders!  Thanks!
Does everyone else agree?
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: buzzbee on April 19, 2007, 10:24:25 pm
This tree can be an invasive tree I've read.
However some raise it as a fast growing lumber.
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: tillie on April 19, 2007, 10:32:12 pm
Definitely a princess tree - we have them all over Georgia.  This year their blooms and the wisteria were killed by the awful late spring freeze we had in early April.

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=145

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PATO2

Linda T
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: TwT on April 20, 2007, 08:05:43 am
I'm pretty sure the bottom tree is a Kwanzan Cherry.  I'm not sure of the top, but you say the flowers are trumpet-like?  Could you post a macro/close-up of the flower?

the bottom tree is a kawansa cherry, not sure what the top one is!!!
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Mountaineerfan on April 20, 2007, 09:02:52 am
Linda,
I enjoy your blog!  I'm up here in Alpharetta.  The tree I took a picture of is down by the Georgia Dome.  I was there on Monday taking my class to the Aquarium, and saw a bunch of these just full of blooms.  I was curious as to whether the bees were at all interested in them, as the one near my hives has not bloomed or budded yet.
Steve
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: wvbee on April 20, 2007, 09:54:06 am
I would say by the smooth bark and the flowers that the top tree is one of the Paulownia varieties.  The bottom is definitely a cherry.
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: KONASDAD on April 20, 2007, 02:57:05 pm
Princess Tree

http://www.monticello.org/gardens/inbloom/fullsearch.html?id=158&search= (http://www.monticello.org/gardens/inbloom/fullsearch.html?id=158&search=)

Its great you posted a link from Jefferson's Home, Monticello, Va. He was one of two US Presidents who kept bees. The other one is...................? Answer later this weekend if anyone cares to guess
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: AndersMNelson on April 20, 2007, 06:46:21 pm
Haha, that's somethin!  He's also the founder of my college.   8-)
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: tillie on April 20, 2007, 06:52:08 pm
didn't George Washington keep bees?  maybe because his father was mad about the cherry tree - he then went into pollinating activity???

Linda T
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: mick on April 21, 2007, 12:17:36 am
Its what we call here a Prunus.

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2000/archives/2000/in_the_garden/trees_and_palms/prunus_x_blireana
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: KONASDAD on April 24, 2007, 10:46:57 am
Linda T is correct. Washington and Jefferson kept bees. Curious as to other people of noteworthiness who have kept bees. Surprising more presidents early on did not keep bees given their frequency on the farmstead.
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: Sean Kelly on April 25, 2007, 06:18:05 pm
Famous beekeepers:

Alexander the Great, Aristotle, Ben Franklin, Brigham Young, Martha Stewart, Steve Vai.

Just google famous beekeepers.   :-D

Sean Kelly
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: reinbeau on April 26, 2007, 10:09:26 am
I wonder how much Martha has to do with the actual beekeeping.  The reason I ask is I've heard her for years about her gardening (I know she's a gardener), and about her chickens, but I've only heard her mention bees recently.

OK, I did a google.  I guess she really has been keeping bees all along!
Title: Re: What is this tree?
Post by: KONASDAD on April 26, 2007, 03:01:39 pm
Having grown up in the shadow od Phildalphia my entire life, Franklin is a larger than life icon. I grew up going to visit all of his historical sites in Philadelphia and reading many of his writings. What an amazing man. Glad to know he kept bees.