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Specimen Trees

By
Home Inspector with Helm Home Inspections

I commented on Tony Moores gardening blog about thinking of all four seasons when planning a garden.  I thought I would show a little of what I mean by showing a few specimen trees we have planted in our gardens.

Acer Griseum

This is an Acer Griseum or Paper Bark Maple.  The interest here is  the brown exfoliating bark and beautiful red foliage in the fall.  The bark adds year round interest in the garden.

Full Moon Maple

One of thousands of varieties of Japanese Maple, the Full Moon needs dappled shade.  Full sun will burn this spectacularly yellow green foliage.

Golden Black Locust

Coral Bark Maple, another of the Japanese Maples.  This one has bright coral colored bark that gives great interest in the Winter.

Golden Black Locust

Robinia Pseudo Acacia Aurea or Golden Black Locust.  Another yellow leaved tree, relatively fast grower, very fragrant white pea like flowers in the late Spring, deeper yellow foliage in the Fall.

Katsura

Katsura, another relatively fast grower, gorgeous Fall color, as the tree matures the foliage gives off a very fragrant vanilla like smell.

Cerisia

The main interest here is the shiny red exfoliating bark.  In the Winter, this tree really brightens up the garden.

Forest Pansy

Forest Pansy Red Bud.  Nothing needs to be said about this stunner.

Pawlonia

Pawlonia or Empress Tree. A fast grower, it has startling purple flowers in the Spring.  When the leaves emerge, they initially look like some reptilian animal.  Interesting bark.

Lirodendron

Lirodendron or Tulip Poplar.  I planted this one because it reminded me of my childhood in Ohio, where they used to be everywhere.  Interestingly shaped leaves.

Willow Oak

This Willow Oak has narrow leaves, hence the name.  It is faster growing than most oaks and is a great shade tree.  Foliage turns red in the Fall.

 

Sweet Gum, below, has interesting foliage and great ridged bark.  It is prised in the Northwest as a street tree.

Sweet Gum

Gingko Biloba

This small slow growing tree is a Gingko.  It has very distinctive leaves that turn bright yellow in the Fall.

I hope you enjoy this short pictorial on trees of interest.

Thanks for looking.

David Helm

www.helmhomeinspections.com

Posted by

David Helm, Inspector, Helm Home  Inspections Bellingham, Washington  Licensed Home  Inspector #272                                                       WSDA  Licensed Structural Pest Inspector  #69844              http://www.helmhomeinspections.com           HelmHomeInspections@yahoo.com                                                                               

Comments(5)

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Deb Short
TENNNESSEE REALTY & AUCTION LLC - Sparta, TN
really interesting,informative and beautiful pictures!
Jun 23, 2007 05:57 AM
Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro

Gorgeous pictures of trees.  I am curious though, did you plant the sweet gum? After walking barefoot on the balls that fall in our yard they are not my favorite kind of tree.

Jun 23, 2007 02:52 PM
Debbie White
Southeast Alaska Real Estate - Juneau, AK
I Sell Alaska!
Nice to know there's another gardener on here!  Thanks for the great photos, and I hope to see more!
Jun 23, 2007 03:18 PM
David Helm
Helm Home Inspections - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, Wa. Licensed Home Insp

Deb, Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Marchel, Yes I planted the Sweet Gum and all the others.  Our space is large enough, and with enough different kinds of trees, including English Walnut and Hazelnuts and 18 other fruit trees that I don't generally worry about stepping on things falling off trees.

Debbie, Thanks for looking, there will be more.

Jun 24, 2007 03:01 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Nice trees you have there.
Jun 28, 2007 04:14 AM