trees this time

[ellenkushner]

I'm in the home stretch of revisions on The Privilege of the Sword, and I need arboreal advice: can someone recommend a tree that buds early and is strong enough to bear the weight of a teenager?

I've used quince because I like the feel of it, but I have no idea when quince bud, or if they get big enough to climb.

So we had a brief dispute about which alley it was, and then we recognized the quince tree limb sticking out over the back wall of the house – it was definitely quince, I could tell, now that it was showing signs of budding [DO QUINCE BUD EARLY? DOES ANYTHING ELSE LARGISH?] – so we knew we were in the right place. We did clever things with the rope and the quince, and then it was really pretty easy for us to skimble up and over the wall with hardly any whitewash on our legs.

It was a smallish garden, nicely laid out with little stone paths running between bushes and herbs that had been cut back for the winter, and patches covered with straw that would probably be flowers or strawberries. The back room of the house had tall windows that gave onto the garden. The tall bushes against the wall gave us a perfect spot for hiding, and a perfect view of the room and its occupant.

This takes place around March, I guess. The climate is European, not New England: I've seen forsythia budding in Paris in mid-January, and English daffodils in full-bloom by April.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Comments

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I'd use a cherry tree rather than a quince, or I'd have the character remark on how unusual it was to find a quince tree that could be climbed without pain. They're short, shrubby, messy trees with prickery bits all over ready to stab you when you least expect it, rather like pear trees. They could get tall enough to climb and be strong enough to climb, unlike the flowering ornamental quince bushes grown all over the US, but they'd be a mazy pain in the butt for the climber.

They could have flowers at any mild time of the year, like cherry trees; they're not day-length dependent.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Hi, Kate! Now I must go look at pictures of quinces that are not ornamental. I rather like the idea of my kids getting all scraped up in something like a pear tree. What a thing is horticulture!

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

I was unclear. The quince tree is not particularly like the pear tree (although of course they're related because they, along with apples and cherries, are really just roses when you get down to it [here Kate demonstrate her lumper rather than splitter tendency]), except that both have a tendency to put out sharp spurs, the prickery bits to which I referred. They're not quite thorns, exactly, more like short pointy branches, but close enough when they're stabbing into you.

My quince have flower buds and blossoms year round, but they're not even in the same genus as the tree quince, so this doesn't mean anything. I merely mention it to rub in how much more salubrious the climate is in Seattle than in New England.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Ouch! in, oh, so many ways....

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

European, not New England?

from what I remember of Paris in late February, plane trees were definitely budding. Not much else was... or perhaps the constant cold drizzle blinded me to it.

If it's that much warmer than New England, perhaps USDA gardening zone 6 would be a good clue? New Jersey rather than Boston's zone 5. Probably there's a web-searchable gardening calendar out there that says when things bud? Maybe White Flower Farm, although they don't do so many trees.

And I LOVE "skimble." First cousin to Eloise's "skibble!"

It's very convenient that they have bushes against the wall rather than espaliered fruit trees, too.

I'm having a hard time being patient for this!

[(Anonymous)]

You and me both!!

Once I've got the final draft in and passed, I'll definitely figure out a way to post some sneak previews of Good Parts hither and yon. I do have a website. And so does Bantam.

(I'm glad you liked "skimble," too! Yes to Eloise. I'm finding all sorts of weird influences on this novel. I'm actually keeping notes. I'll either publish them on my website sometime, or bury them full fathom five . . . we'll see.)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

(oops - that was me, forgetting to log in)

[loup_noir]

I wouldn't go with quinces. Mine are wimpy and all the old ones I've seen aren't much stouter.

Apple trees bud early as do cherries. They smell nice, too.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes!

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

Chestnut trees are found in Europe, grow quite large, and not only have amazing blooms but then later the falling nuts can break car windshields if you part beneath them. They are terrific trees for climbing and building tree forts in.
Magnolia is also a sturdy tree that blooms early and late, depending on the variety.
Hawthorne have amazingly fragrant flowers but are thorny.
Perhaps a Witch Hazel of some sort? Many are small but some get quite large and they are very early blooming and fragrant. They bloom before the forsythia here in the PNW.
Perhaps a regular hazelnut tree would do. They also grow to a good size.

Just some ideas...

Anon,

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Delia said Witch Hazel, too - but the only ones I know are shorter than I am, and the branches all wand-y. If you're **sure** they get big enough...!

Hazelnuts - that sounds good, too. I definitely played under those when I was a kid in France that year. I like the idea of my characters climbing one.

That's a beautiful Diana! Is it from the Luxembourg Gardens, or what?

[shelly-rae.livejournal.com]

I've seen Witch Hazels around Chicago that were trees about 20 feet or so high--about the height of a two story house. Yes, most are shrubs but they can get much bigger.

As for hazelnuts, well I find them exceptionally delicious as well as lovely.

My Diana is from Sutro Heights Park in San Francisco--the place I think of as my "home town." Folks regularly leave her offerings.
Anon,

[fa3ryg1rl.livejournal.com]

Apple trees bloom pretty early. And they have the most beautiful fragrant buds. I have one outside my window and I love it!

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

I second the idea of cherry trees; they usually bloom in early- to- mid-April in the DC area, but YYMV. (Also, I'm well past teen years, and they do indeed support one's weight.)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

The quince is my mother's garden in London is certainly big enough to be climbed, by largish adults in quest of quinces.

When does it blossom, though? March is possible, could be later: I'd put it after the ornamental cherries...

[papersky.livejournal.com]

March isn't early, March is late. Most things in southern Britain, which is about the same as northern France, are in early leaf in March, thin green scrim, and cherries would be in full blossom. Apple trees would be in blossom -- and are strong enough to climb, from personal experience. I'd make it an apple and give it some blossom, maybe just some starting blossom if it's a Spring with late frosts.

Northern European Spring is long and slow, it starts in mid-February and goes on until mid-May.

Incidentally, there is no green like the green of England in March when going to an early Eastercon from north-eastern North America. Trees, hedgerows and grass are break-your-heart green.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

You are, as always, a fount of useful knowledge.

And, Yes to its being late Feb. - I just didn't want to push my luck, but now that you have reassured me . . . .(not that actual months ever get mentioned, of course - this is Riverside, after all - if the city doesn't have a name, why should the year?).

Elm tree?

[ellen-denham.livejournal.com]

This may not be what you're after, but elms bud very early, and flower in late winter ahead of their leaves (February, March). I got this info from The Tree Key by Herbert L. Edlin which is a British book.

It happens to be on my desk because I am working on a novel concerning trees. :)

As a side note you would have no reason to remember me, but I met you at Mythcon last year in Ann Arbor. I was giving a presentation after the banquet about a fantasy ballet for which I wrote the story. I've been on the Mythopoeic Society Fantasy Award committee for a few years and have enjoyed your writing!

Re: Elm tree?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I do remember you from Mythcon, and I look forward to your tree novel!

The Judas Tree

[ebonypearl.livejournal.com]

I notice no one has mentioned the Judas Tree, also known as Redbud. It has heavy limbs that fork at opportune moments and are perfect for climbing in. It has gorgeous maroon buds in early March that lighten to a light pink. They cluster on the limbs and trunks like huge mounded chrysanthemums, and have a crunchy, sweet taste, like perfumed honey. By late March, early April, the buds are being replaced by pale green leaves so the tree is pink with a green undertone that grows stronger until the pink fades to brown and the green heart-shaped leaves take over. It has smooth bark, almost silky feeling, that is interrupted by the bud areas that are as knobbly as finger knuckles, and will catch and hold ropes very well. The Judas Tree grows up to 30' tall and has an umbrella shape.

An interesting thing about the Judas Tree is that the smaller, younger limbs are fragile and will shatter when weight is applied, but the larger limbs are incredibly sturdy and can easily handle the length and weight of a 6'3" man.

Re: The Judas Tree

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Sounds amazing! Thanks.