Friday Finds & Random 5 Friday

 

If you've been with me very long, you know how I love nature and you know I love seedpods. This week I found one I have never seen before...the seedpod of the Goldenrain Tree. It reminds me of a Chinese lantern with it's three paper thin sides. These seedpods (according to a little research) start out as green and then ripen from orange to pink in autumn. I understand the Goldenrain tree is most beautiful in the fall when it has large clusters of yellow flowers. I will definitely be going back to check it out this fall.

 

Just in case you want to know....

The Goldenrain Tree was introduced to the west from China by Jesuit missionary, Pierre d’Incarville in 1747. The tree reached America by 1809 when Thomas Jefferson germinated seeds sent to him by a French friend.

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.



 

I'm sad to report that Nancy, at A Rural Journal, who hosted Random 5 Fridays has decided to close her blog. I will miss her and her beautiful captures of rural living. I've decided to continue with five random facts each Friday, because I've enjoyed it so.

 

 

This week my sister and I spent a morning at Wildwood, a botanical and preforming arts park. My random facts are all from their lovely gardens.

 

Fact  #1

Simple, ordinary rocks can be beautiful, even simple slate. It has just recently rained, A LOT, so the dirt and pollen had been washed off the rocks bringing out their beautiful colors.

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Fact  #2

Dogwood trees can grow very high. We decided to follow the Ruth Allen Dogwood Nature Trail. It was the perfect time to see the hundreds of Dogwood trees in full bloom. I was a little disappointed though because these trees were tall, the tallest Dogwoods I've ever seen. The only way to get a picture of the blossoms was to point the camera up. When I did shoot up I could only see the underneath of the blossoms, the sun was too bright, and the scene was a little too busy for me. I didn't give up though. I was sure there had to be some short trees somewhere on this trail

 

Fact #3

If you had old knees, it's easier to go up steps than down! You see those steps? That means hills and hills meant that we were able to get  on a higher level and we could see the trees much better. We were both getting cricks in our necks looking up at the Dogwoods.

 

 

 

 

Fact #4

The Rhododendron bushes are beginning to bloom and this hillside is full of them. I can't wait to go back and see them in full bloom!

 

 

Fact #5

Yellow and red are beautiful together. In one section there are several tulip beds; beds full of gorgeous red tulips.  What was so fun, and it really made me smile, was that in each bed was a single yellow tulip. Every single yellow tulip stood much taller than the red ones.  They seemed to shout...I may be the only one, but I'm bigger than you are!

 

We finally found some Dogwood trees that were smaller and we were able to take close-up pictures of the blossoms. If you'll come back Sunday for my Sunday Sundries post I'll show you some of them.

 

I hope you're enjoying your Good Friday and have a wonderful Easter weekend!