Rollandvue:4th Week of June, Box Elder, Chestnut,Linden, Catalpa, Fruiting and Flowering

The chestnuts in the neighborhood are producing their catkins or snakes.  Most of these are the Asian chestnuts resistant to the devastating  blight which struck in the early twentieth century.  There may be one hybrid on the north side of Rolandvue near Bellona that has native chestnut element.  There are male and female catkins, the female more knobby, the male more hairy, as close as they are they require another tree for pollination.  Like the oaks they have a timing which prevents self-pollination.  It is air born pollen so cutting down the tree 30 yards away might make this tree sterile. They will produce the spiky balls from hell in the fall protecting the chestnut.

male and female chestnut catkins

Pictured are the samaras or seeds of the box elder at the corner of Wagner lane and Wagner. Similar to the maple seeds but in tight bunches which may stay on the tree for the winter.  "Box" from wood similar to boxwood and elder do to leaves similar to elder,but actually a maple, Acer negundo.  It is a pinnately compound leaf with 3-7 leaflets, looking a little like poison ivy when only three leaflets.  It can be tapped for sugar.  End branches sometimes remain green rather than woody.  Twigs were once used for incense.  For a few years there was a paper wasp nest in this tree, apparently built new each year, but not obvious this year.

The catalpas have been blooming, one is in the front yard at the top of Cloverlea.  The picture is from the net, missed the peak of the bloom.  The tree had in the past some medicinal uses, soft wood which could be made into utensils and bowls.  Tree is known for its large leaves.

The lindens , here from the driveway at 1009 Cloverlea, are producing their unique fruit.  As a novice I like one of a kind features.  There are numerous varieties of linden all producing this type of seed and no other tree with similar seed.  Helpful since the young linden leaves are edible.  Lindens are called lime trees in English novels, commonly planted in parks and along streets. Sometimes called  the bee tree, blossoms attract the bees.

what's that in the road? a head? Linden seeds

Linden seeds or nuts

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