For those who remember the funky blue tree on the Swarthmore campus, guess what? It's gone. The Chinese maackia (Maackia chinensis) actually died more than two years ago, just before a major perennial plant conference. No time to whack it, so rather than risk embarrassment in front of the learned conference-goers, the Scott Arboretum decided to paint the tree bright blue.
The tree became something of a conversation piece. Some people thought it was fun; others hated it. Not long ago, the tree's time came. Today there's a metal cage or sculpture (you be the judge) painted the same blue as the old tree with a Jasminum officinale 'Fiona sunrise' inside.
I'm sure the jasmine vine looks and smells great in summer. But I do miss the tree. It was a whimsical touch in a place that's often very serious. I always looked for it when I visited, being in the half of the world's population who thought it was fun.
Speaking of color, here's something else striking on campus. This is a Magnolia grandiflora or Southern magnolia with glossy green leaves and a cinnamon-hued underside. The top of the leaf is slippery, the bottom rough, and we pondered why Nature would create two such different sides to a leaf. Does it have something to do with water or sunlight?
Outstanding tree, known for its considerable height and heft and best of all, huge white summer flowers that smell like citrus. A neighbor has one of these by her front sidewalk and she says people jam on their brakes to ask its name. I've no doubt. You can smell its heavenly fragrance as you're walking along, as good a reason as I've ever heard to take a walk.
