Sweet Color

Fairweatherpaddler at Home Grown Heaven was asking about the sweet gum tree in my last post.  The Arbor Day Foundation tells me that its Latin name is Liquidambar styraciflua, it is native to southeast United States, and that it was written about in 1542 by Cabeza de Vaca, who is well-known here as one of the first people to explore and write about Texas.

The seed balls can be very messy, but birds and squirrels love them.

The fattest squirrel I have ever seen, perched in a sweet gum, but carrying a pine cone. Main course and dessert?

Cedar Waxwings gather in a sweetgum tree.

Cedar Waxwings gather in a sweet gum tree.

But the reason I love it most is for the beautiful color combinations it produces.

The deep purple star-shaped sweet gum leaves are seen here with the yellow-green leaves of Chinese tallow tree.

The deep purple star-shaped sweet gum leaves are seen here with the yellow-green leaves of Chinese tallow tree.

Three colors, one plant.

Three colors, one plant.

Category : colors, plants
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