I've always been fascinated by plant names and the stories behind them, which are usually very interesting and often downright peculiar. Take Harry Lauder's Walking Stick. What the heck is that? I never heard of this oddball tree until five years ago, when I discovered it growing in my new front yard.
Who was Harry Lauder? and what's with the walking stick? It's quite a story. And since I learned about it, the world has become divided into people who know about Harry and his walking stick and people who don't. One who knows - a man named Ed - visited with a friend from New York recently. Ed happens to be a folklorist.
We ended the evening with a walk past this curliqued tree and Ed asking what it was. When Harry Lauder's name came up, the folklorist in him must've shouted for joy. He brightened.
Before I knew it, Ed launched into a Harry Lauder ditty - might have been "Roamin' in the Gloamin' " - with a thick Scottish brogue. Wow! Was I impressed. And shocked. Wasn't expecting that! and I kind of hope the neighbors heard Ed's performance. It was almost a Harry thing to do - spontaneous and fun and silly as all get out.
Yes, Harry was quite a character, an immensely popular Scottish comedian/singer who performed while leaning on a distinctive crooked cane made of Corylus avellana 'Contorta' - the corkscrew hazelnut or contorted filbert. He cut quite a figure, and was a big star on vaudeville circuits in England, Scotland, Australia and the U.S. He came from humble beginnings but in his lifetime hobnobbed with the likes of Winston Churchill, who reportedly said Harry was the "Scotland's greatest-ever ambassador."
Harry the minstrel died in 1950. Harry the tree can get quite tall -- 10 feet or so. My Harry is a bit of a midget, sprawling more to the sides than up and down. He's a weird little thing, kind of cute in a creepy way, especially in winter.
But Harry the tree's time has come. Previous stewards have hacked it pretty hard and whether that's responsible for its feeble demeanor now or not, it's clearly not doing well. Time to come out and be replaced by something else. A native raspberry, perhaps, which will be great to look at - but in a different way.
It'll be much more pleasing to the eye. Won't be contorted. Won't be a nut. Then again, it likely won't have nearly the story that Harry Lauder did. Then again, we could make one up.
