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| LOCATING CATALPAS FOR PLANT WATCHERS | |
| Published: July 08, 1997 | |
Ridge Road catalpa tree easiest to accessFrom Ann:In a recent column we discussed the mixed blessings of catalpa trees. On one hand, the tree provides quick shade, unusually lovely spring flowers, attractive fall pods, and sometimes worms for fishing. On the other hand, many people regard it as a nuisance tree because it is short-lived and messy, dropping pods, blossoms, leaves and twigs, and reseeding vigorously.We asked readers to point out mature catalpa trees in locations that are easily seen from the street. We heard about several, and saw some handsomer catalpas, but the easiest to access is on Ridge Road between Ambassador Caffery and Johnston Streets. To see it, turn right on Ridge from Johnston and continue on Ridge for approximately 100 feet. The catalpa tree will be on your right, easily identifiable by its 6-12 inch long, green seed pods. These will turn brown in fall and continue to hang through winter. Flowering will be in spring. Jimson weed, or Jamestown weed, has colorful history.From a phone call:Are you aware that angels trumpet or datura is related to jimson weed which produces a mine altering substance? I heard about a group of kids in New Orleans who use angels trumpets to "trip."ANSWER:I dont know about the kids in New Orleans, but datura has played a sinister role throughout history because of its toxic as well as narcotic properties. According to "100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names" by Diana Wells (Algonquin Books, 1997), the jimson weed, or Jamestown weed, is so named because soldiers sent to Jamestown in 1676 ate datura leaves thinking that they were salad greens. They were wildly intoxicated for 11 days, and barely escaped death.Parts of the plant have been used as poison, in some countries for legal executions. Thomas Jefferson said he avoided datura because, "I have so many grandchildren and...I think the risk overbalances the curiosity of trying it." As long as we are aware of its properties and prudent in its use, our present danger from datura is probably no worse than from many other common plants that surround us. Take scale disease seriouslyQUESTION:I have a Fleur dAmour growing as a small tree in a half whiskey barrel on my patio. It is so lovely and unusual that I watch over it like a mother hen. Two weeks ago I was horrified to discover small, hard, brown "shells" attached to the undersides of many of the leaves. A friend diagnosed the problem as scale disease and recommended removing the scale by hand, and spraying with insecticidal soap to be followed in cooler weather by spraying with dormant oil.I have done the first two, which has slowed down the spread, but the scale keeps reappearing. ANSWER:Underneath those waxy shells are the eggs of scale insects, and as they hatch, they crawl to other parts of the plant. If allowed to go unchecked, they will defoliate and sometimes kill a plant. Denyse Cummins with the Cooperative Extension Service says that hand removal and spraying with insecticidal soap are helpful, but an oil-based spray will be more effective as it will suffocate the insects. She recommends spraying now with SunSpray Ultra-Fine, a year-round pesticidal oil, following the directions on the package. Good luck! |