Category: Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum

Colonial Williamsburg Tree Arboretum

Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum / Tree Identification

 by 

The Origin, Locations, and Date of Planting of Colonial Williamsburg’s Compton Oak

This superb specimen of Compton oak (Quercus xcomptoniae) is located in Market Square, within the boundary of historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. For the benefit of non-US residents, Williamsburg was founded in 1632 by English settlers.  It became the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia in 1699 and remained so until 1780.  Tensions between the Colony and the British Crown and Government developed, fuelled particularly by British attempts to impose taxation without representation in Parliament.  This led to...

Carbon Garden / Climate Change / Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum / Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum / Deer / Farm-To-Table / Farming / Food Forest / Foraging / Gardening on the Wild Side: Working in Harmony with Nature / Larval Host Plants / Native Trees / Soil Conservation / Tree Identification / Wildlife Gardening

 by 

Secrets in the Pawpaw Patch, Quick Notes Version

  Pawpaw  Flowers Pollination Challenges Pawpaw flowers are a dull red to purple color which resembles rotting meat, and they have a putrid odor to attract the flies and beetles that pollinate them , much like native  skunk cabbage and jack-in-the pulpit. Pawpaw’s small flowers have six petals and are rarely larger than a half-dollar.  These are ‘perfect’ flowers, having both male, pollen bearing stamens and a female pistil, whose base will develop into the fruit after about five to...

climate change / Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum / Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum / Community Gardening / Conservation / Edible Plants / Farm-To-Table / Food Forest / Foraging / Gardening on the Wild Side: Working in Harmony with Nature / Larval Host Plants / Permaculture / Resource Protection / Trees / Wildlife Gardening

 by 

Secrets in the Pawpaw Patch

  If you happen to come across a pawpaw patch in the springtime, when the trees have covered themselves in small, deep red blossoms, please don’t be tempted to step closer to smell the flowers.  Admire them from afar.  Zoom in  to take a photo.  Like skunk cabbage and jack-in-the pulpit, pawpaw flowers have a putrid odor to attract the flies and beetles that pollinate them, and the dull color of their flowers resembles rotting meat. Pawpaw’s small flowers, rarely...