One of the things I love best about living on our farm is that I’m always learning new things. I may get tired and dirty here, but I never, ever get bored.
This week I learned more about my favorite trees on our property: Golden Rain Trees. Although they are lovely and green all year round, Autumn is when they come into their true glory. First they’re covered with tiny yellow flowers that give a siren call to any bee within sniffing distance. These then fall off, carpeting the ground in a sea of yellow. They’re replaced by these gorgeous fuchsia pods filled with small green seeds that later turn black.
I love the Golden Rain Trees for their shade, their colors, their beauty, and this week I learned, much to my amazement, that the seeds are edible if roasted. I cannot wait to try them in a few weeks when they are ready for gathering.
This weekend we trimmed one of our Golden Rain Trees to ensure our new cider orchard will have plenty of sunlight. I made numerous cuttings from the fallen branches and planted them to see if they will take. I’d love to have a whole new bunch of rain trees to plant around our farm.
I like how the branches provide cuttings, seeds, firewood, and even beautiful displays of gorgeous, amber sap. When I was a little girl I used to love roaming the woods and finding nuggets of jeweled sap on various trees. I would taste the different types, most rather pitchy and resinous, always hoping that they would taste as wondrous as they looked. I still think they’re beautiful, like droplets of spun glass against the rough wood.
With the big winds we’ve had this week, the Golden Rain continues to fall, covering the dirt, grass, potted plants, and even my rain-filled wheelbarrow. It makes me smile every day.
Do you have a favorite tree where you live? xo
Once upon a time I had two older brothers… sadly both are now dead. One was a fabulous gardener and in his garden was a golden rain or chain tree… my sister grew a tree from a seed from his tree in her garden and I grew a tree in mine from a seed in hers. xox
What a beautiful way to remember your brother, @liz_posmyk:disqus XO I shall think of him and you when I see ours.
My gosh, those are such gorgeous leaves! I can’t stop staring at them!
Aren’t they marvelous, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus?! I was in awe when I saw them for the first time, and remain in awe every year. 🙂
mmmm hmmmm jacarandas – ours are just coming out now. i know you really enjoyed all your traveling krista (and we enjoyed going along with you) but what a rich and varied life you’re having there now. enjoy, enjoy!
http://mlleparadis.blogspot.com
Ohhh, jacarandas are wondrous, paradis. 🙂 They grow a lot of them here in Oz as well. 🙂 I really did enjoy my traveling, and do miss it quite a lot some days, but you’re right, my life here is truly rich and endlessly interesting. I’m so very thankful for it. 🙂 XO
You have such a serene place to live in. And a nature sanctuary that seems to keep your mind relaxed and calm. You’re one lucky, girl!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Yes I love the huge fig trees in all of the parks around Sydney. They have those huge lifelike branches that look like giants limbs. everyvtime I see one it makes me feel so lucky to be alive. How amazing must your trees be too.
My childhood bedroom window looked out into the branches of a huge ancient oak tree. This has to be my favourite tree for so many reasons. “a siren call to any bee within sniffing distance” – loved that line.
Such beautiful images and all with the colours of autumn. Those golden rain trees are really beautiful. I don’t have many trees on our property but I do have a magnolia which is stunning when it flowers xx
I can certainly see why you would love the rain tree, it must be beautiful when seen in person.
Gorgeous photos. Love my weekly escaping to your blog is one of my fave things to do.
Hmm… We have a lovely old gum tree out the back, it stands so tall and proud, you can feel its story, seeing the families that have lived here. It’s nice. 🙂
What an enchanting tree! A golden rain of blossoms sounds magical, and that sap photo is absolutely stunning. One of my favourite trees in an elm a couple blocks from my house. It has two branches like arms out-stretched that are graceful and urgent in all seasons. It reminds me of Laurel escaping Apollo, the god that couldn’t take a hint 😉