Tuesday, June 9, 2009

A SPECIAL FRIEND, and a SPECIAL TREE


Yesterday I took BFF Sydney to the Windsor airport for the first leg of her flight back to Calgary. It was wonderful to have her here, we’ve known each other for the better part of thirty years, so there’s always a lot to cover, old and new. We did all the girl-type stuff—we talked about everything (and everybody) and shopped ’til we dropped. We sampled wine from the local winery, ate a little too well (!) slept in, birdwatched and beached-combed at Point Pelee. Yesterday she got the early connection in Toronto, and was back home in good season. Thanks, Sydney, for a great visit—and FYI, the first few fishflies arrived this morning, so your timing was impeccable!! And thanks for all my blog friends for the kind well wishes while I was away from the computer, I'll be making my rounds again today!

One place Sydney and I went to is a favorite shop in an old house near the heart of the town that carries interesting interior decorating items. Out in their large back yard they have the outdoor selection, with water gardens, big tanks of plants and fish, and lots of beautiful musical water fountains. It was just magical on a mild summer sun-dappled morning. I was admiring one of the fountains, trying to figure out what flowering plants were floating among the greenery, when the owner began telling us about the very tall tree growing beside the pond, that had dropped some of it's blossoms into the water. It’s what’s called a Tuliptree (Liriodendron tuplifera, or “tulip-bearing lily-tree”) and it's a rare resident in the Pelee area (which is a remnant of the once-vast eastern Carolinian forest). The storeowner said he knew of only three trees in Leamington. I’m not sure if he’s including the young immature (non-flowering) tree at my friends’ house. He also said the trees usually only bloom at the very top, but his is a beautiful exception, in that it was blooming all the way down to the lowest branches (still way above my head). I tried to get some shots of the lovely lime-and-orange-sherbet-colored flowers, that reveal the lotus-like lily part of the trees heritage, but was not very successful. Those of you who live further south in the east will likely be very familiar with this lovely tall tree; it’s the state tree of Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana.


14 comments:

Quiet Paths said...

I have heard of tulip trees and might have seen one in the Royal Gardens but that was long ago. Wonderful afternoons need wonderful friends to share them with - so happy you had that time.

Aleta said...

The only "tulip trees" that we have in Louisiana only bloom in the winter. They lose all of their leaves - it looks like a winter tree and before you know it - the blooms come in - it's refreshing in lavender hues!

I love these pictures. I've never seen a flowering tree like that.

And isn't it wonderful to have friends that you've known for so long, so long that they are more family than friends. What a blessing!

bobbie said...

So glad you had a wonderful visit with your friend.

I think you did a great job photographing the "tulips". I've heard of this tree but don't think I've ever seen one. Thanks for the pictures.

Great Grandma Lin said...

beautiful tulip tree-don't think I've ever seen one. glad you had a nice visit with your BFF. We need those every once in awhile.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Deb, Yes we have Tulip trees down here --but I'm not sure I've seen one that color. It's gorgeous.

Glad you had a great time with your friend.

Get some REST now!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Sylvia K said...

We have tulip trees here that I've posted several photos of and they are so magnificent! Love your shots! I'm so glad that you and Sydney had such a great time! It's always such fun to get together with old friends. Several years ago I had a chance to get together with one of my best friends from high school that I hadn't seen in nearly 40 years! It was fabulous. Have missed you though and glad to see your back!

Anonymous said...

We had one in our yard when I was child in Virginia. I don't remember seeing one since.

I miss the woods I grew up near, and I miss my BFF now that we live so far apart. Like you, I am an intermittent host or visitor - still good, but not quite the same.

Sydney said...

Loved EVERY minute!

Love you!

XOXO

SandyCarlson said...

What a wonderful time. Those trees are gorgeous.

Shelley said...

You and your friend did so many of the things I like to do!! Sounds like you had such a lovely time!!

Naturegirl said...

It is special to have a friend or friends for over 30 years..I have several and it's like family!
That tulip tree must have been some vision!! I have not seen one in person as of yet..sure would love to though!

Gemma Wiseman said...

What a wonderful experience to share with an old friend. I have never heard of a tulip tree before, so this post was fascinating!

Beth P. said...

I've seen a few tulip trees, mostly in sub-tropics though. Very special indeed! Good energy...

So glad you had a great time with you BFF. Don't we all need 1 or 2 or 3 of those 'best' friends!

Thanks for the sweet shot of your escapades and the window into you!

Rose said...

Yep, my neighbor has one. Tulip poplar--tulip tree...whatever you call it, it has beautiful blooms.