Katherine sent a lovely photo and wrote: This is a very large tree with these beautiful flowers on it and I don’t know the name of it. I thought maybe you would. There are several around the Eastport area and I think they are just wonderful . . .
As it happens, I do know the name of the tree. It is a Catalpa (a/k/a Catawba). In fact, according to my Trees of Michigan Field Guide by the estimable Stan Tekiela, it is a Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). More important, according to Louan and Joanne, it’s the name of the tree that grows in Joanne’s yard and drops its frilly orchids all over her lawn at this time of year. Looky here–snow in June!
The tree is very tall and I am not, so I went looking for fallen blossoms to photograph. They show well against the grass and don’t mind being held.
They’re fragrant, too, unless you happen to sit on one and carry its squished self around on the outside of your pants pocket in the hot sun until it turns brown and not-fragrant. I digress. Louan and Joanne showed me how to make hats for finger puppets.
It was harder than you might think to photograph the hats. They kept fluttering in the breeze. I could pretend that I was trying for a nice motion effect, but it wouldn’t be true. I was just struggling to bond with the new little camera.
Pretty soon we’ll have something else to photograph. These trees produce seedpods that look like long bronze beans. If we were in the South we would have something even more fascinating to photograph: fishbait. According to the Wikipedia article on the subject:
The tree is the sole source of food for the Catalpa Sphinx moth (Ceratomia catalpae), the leaves being eaten by the caterpillars . . . . Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of “catawba-worms,” particularly in the southern states.
OK, so now I need to figure out whether muskies relish catalpa worms. I could plant catalpa pods this fall and grow my very own fishbait orchard. Imagine the profits that would accrue to the Writing Studio and Bait Shop.
On the other hand, we already have an infestation of tent caterpillars around here. I could probably get people to pay me to remove those from their yards. I wonder if Asian Carp are attracted to tent caterpillars. Maybe we could make some really big baitballs and . . . No, you’re right. I need a little nap. Under the catalpa tree would be nice.
Torch Lake Views 
La Mirada Bob
June 24, 2010
A great article. Our catalpa trees (Dennis and Mary) came to us from SLC some years back. The thing you did not mention is how very large the leaves are. Perhaps it is a different variety?
Now I will have to watch for those little caterpillars!
Gerry
June 25, 2010
Thank you. These leaves are pretty good-sized. I think there is a lot of variation, although they tend toward the large. Everything grows bigger in California, and everything grows especially lushly in Bonnie’s garden. Maybe you will never have the caterpillars. If you do, you’ll know what they’re good for . . .
Reggie
June 25, 2010
Giggle… I hope you had a lovely little nap under the Catalpa tree, Gerry. Those blossoms sure are very pretty and delicate looking!
Gerry
June 25, 2010
A nice long nap, and loved every minute of it. Are your ears ringing from vuvuzelas?
Reggie
June 25, 2010
Oh My Goshels, they ARE! Those things sure are loud.
Scott Thomas Photography
June 25, 2010
Snow in June…Happy Leon Day! (Noel spelled backwards as it is June 25, the calendar half way point until Christmas.) My daughter will be playing Christmas music all day. 😀
Gerry
June 25, 2010
Now that is an engaging family holiday. Glad we could supply the frilly snowscape.
Karma
June 26, 2010
Love your “finger puppet hats” – very cute!
I suspect the squished bloom not-so-fragrant story is one of experience? 😉
I love how you took Katherine’s photo and turned it into a very Gerry style post! 🙂
Gerry
June 26, 2010
I never would have thought of the finger puppet hats, but both Louan and Joanne knew all about them. As for the squishing . . . yes.
Katherine’s photo was the very inspiration for the whole rest of the post. You will notice that it came first, the better to entice people into the story. People do appreciate an excellent eye treat.
Anna
June 26, 2010
I haven’t heard of or seen a tree like this before. A treeful of orchids and what beautiful little orchids these are! Interesting post and great read!
Gerry
June 26, 2010
Thank you, Anna. They aren’t really orchids–not part of the same family at all–but they sure do look like them, don’t they!
Preston Surface
June 27, 2010
The markings on the little tree flowers look like paintings within the flower. They are absolutely beautiful.
I wonder if your tent caterpillars are the same thing as our bag worms?
Gerry
June 27, 2010
The flowers are exquisite. Such profligate beauty, drifting into heaps to be swept away and put into the compost heap. Amazing.
As for your wonderment, take a look at the University of Illinois Extension Service bulletin, Is It a Bagworm, Fall Webworm or Eastern Tent Caterpillar Eating My Tree?.
literarydatabaseteam
June 28, 2010
I’ve heard of little girls taking the blooms of morning glories, place them ‘trumpet-down’ on a table, and pretending they are dolls in long, formal gowns.
Gerry
June 28, 2010
Hi, Loreen! There is no end to the things imaginative little girls can do with flowers. I wonder if Louan has ever thought about doing some drawings on that theme? I’m going to ask her.