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READER PHOTO! Beautiful bark

comments (6) April 4th, 2011 in blogs

Michelle Gervais, Associate Editor

17 users recommend

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Photo: Courtesy of Kathy Maras

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After leaves and overall size and shape, bark seems to be the last thing people consider when choosing a tree, but maybe it should be the first! Kathy Maras in Glen Ellyn, Illinois sent in these photos she took of a paperbark maple (Acer griseum, USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8) at the Morton Arboretum last year. Whew! Who cares about foliage when you could look at this all year long? Thanks, Kathy, fo sending these in!

What other trees have beautiful bark? Chime in below. I'll start: Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana, Zones 4-7). Love it!

Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog! Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

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READER PHOTOS: We love featuring your photos, too. If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images if possible. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.

posted in: trees, Morton

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READER PHOTO! A Gnomefest moment

Comments (6)

shirleyjean writes: Sorry, but this looks too much like a burn victim to me. Posted: 8:02 pm on April 11th

sheilaschultz writes: This kind of bark just makes me want to peel it... way too much temptation to have in my own yard! Posted: 3:28 pm on April 4th

amanda4973 writes: Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamillia) also has beautiful bark, and cooler-toned colors than the rust-colored paperbark maple. It also has a graceful, upward-reaching growth habit, which makes it a good choice for the small gardens of Seattle, where I live. It's also summer blooming, with camellia-like, white flowers. I planted this tree last year on the enthusiastic recommendation of a local nursery manager, and it's doing well in full shade, but also thrives in full sun.

There are good pictures of this tree at a blog created by Victoria Gardens in Rosendale, NY: http://theshopatvictoriagardens.blogspot.com/2009/04/car-trunk-trees-stewatia-pseudocamllia.html Posted: 10:52 am on April 4th

PeonyFan writes: This is indeed a wonderful tree with great bark. However, I was surprised to see that it is listed as hardy to zone 4. Are there any zone 4 gardeners that have actually grown this tree? Posted: 8:25 am on April 4th

SunnyDispo writes: Totally fabulous bark! I was obsessed with cherry bark for awhile, then birch bark -- now I might just have a new favorite. Posted: 7:49 am on April 4th

nattyfritters writes: crape myrtle, snakebark maple Posted: 6:27 am on April 4th

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Welcome to the Fine Gardening GARDEN PHOTO OF THE DAY blog!

Every weekday we post a new photo of a great garden, a spectacular plant, a stunning plant combination, or any number of other subjects. Think of it as your morning jolt of green.

Sign up to get new posts delivered to your inbox each morning so you'll always remember to take a look, or subscribe to our RSS feed. We look forward to sharing our garden travels with you.

If you think you have a photo that we should share on the Garden Photo of the day, email us. Send hi-res images to mgervais@taunton.com with GPOD in the subject line. We'll only respond if we plan to use your photo.