This is what the garden in Laguna looks like under the sweet gum trees. Also known as liquidambar they are some of my favorite trees in this garden because they convey the changing of the season so clearly here. I don't even mind their spiky little seed pods because the trees are planted where the pods don't bother anyone when they fall to the ground. By dropping all their leaves they let the sunlight in during the winter months, then you know it is time for the weather to warm up when you spot the bright green leaves that seem to fill out overnight in the spring. During the summer their full canopy is a welcome shade in this area.
Liquidambars come in different hybrids that result in different leaf color in the fall. Some are red, burgundy and some are yellow. There is one in our SJC neighborhood that must have been grafted because it has all different color fall leaves on the different sections of the tree. I am planning on planting one or more in my SJC garden because I do love them.
6 comments:
That is a funny play on the latin name of this lovely tree. Love it! It is great it works for real world talks about the tree.
What a beautiful path of gold they weave through your garden. I have one in my yard and it has amazing fall color.
Tina, it is liguidambar, you are correct, I always call it liquid amber because it is how I remember the name. Shouldn't have confused people!
You didn't confuse anyone Sheila-definitely not me. I loved it! And many people refer to it as you did, I had just never heard of it that way and it was too cool. Thanks for teaching me something new today:)
Do you have Goldfinch in your area? Around here, sweet gum is a favorite food of the Goldfinch.
Cameron
It's a beautiful effect with the other plants growing up through the leaves.
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