One Brief Shining Moment
The hundreds of purple plum trees that line the streets of our community have one moment in spring when they are beautiful. Just a few days of sugar pink blooms in early April.
After their short time of glory, they leaf out (dark purple leaves) and remain dark squat blobs up and down the streets. Few are in good shape.
They were planted 20 years ago, and are now at the end of their short lives. Purple plums live about 20 years. They have been unmercifully hacked at in an effort to prune them into shade trees you can walk under. They are simply too low-branched and shrubby for that. Their leaves are so dark -- perfect for a small accent tree but oppressive in long lines on both sides of the street.
Two declining sad plums in front of our house were taken down last year and others have been removed in the past couple years as they gave up the struggle. Now the homeowner's association grounds committee has a big job ahead of us -- we need to replace all these trees in the next few years.
But right now, in early April, all over the neighborhood the plums are having a brief and glorious pink moment.
Also . . . Johnny Jump Ups. They're having a moment too.
After their short time of glory, they leaf out (dark purple leaves) and remain dark squat blobs up and down the streets. Few are in good shape.
They were planted 20 years ago, and are now at the end of their short lives. Purple plums live about 20 years. They have been unmercifully hacked at in an effort to prune them into shade trees you can walk under. They are simply too low-branched and shrubby for that. Their leaves are so dark -- perfect for a small accent tree but oppressive in long lines on both sides of the street.
Two declining sad plums in front of our house were taken down last year and others have been removed in the past couple years as they gave up the struggle. Now the homeowner's association grounds committee has a big job ahead of us -- we need to replace all these trees in the next few years.
But right now, in early April, all over the neighborhood the plums are having a brief and glorious pink moment.
Also . . . Johnny Jump Ups. They're having a moment too.
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