As the trees are finally greening up and blooming; I have been thinking about my favorites. Top of my list is the Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘purpurea’) which sits in front of our house. Or it could be the Yellow Bird Magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana ‘Yellow Bird’) or the Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) by my patio. So many choices! I asked our staff to list their favorite trees, and found Dave’s and Shirley’s is also a beech; the Tricolor European Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘roseo-marginata’). Adam said he has to go with the majestic Red Oak (Quercus rubra), and JP picked the all season interest of the Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis-Clump form). Our horticulturalist Gary went with the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and when I see those big flowers I have to agree with him. Jonathon’s pick is similar; he picked the Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). Sean says the Paper Birch (Betula paperifera) is his favorite…I have a couple of those too! Keith has gone with the prehistoric Gingko (Gingko biloba) and Matt says Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glytostroboides) is his favorite tree. Tyler says his favorite is the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). I find it amazing that almost everyone has a different choice; all of them wonderful, and all a little bit different than the usual ash, maple or linden trees that we see so often as street trees. Whether it’s leaf color, form, bark or flowers that make them unique; I guess there really is a tree for everyone.
