Staghorn Press

What’s medium in stature, falls apart at the slightest of disturbances, and occasionally reeks to high heaven? We’ll give you one guess - and no, it isn’t your Aunt Phyllis. That’s right! It’s the star of this edition of What’s That Street Tree, the Callery Pear tree. Named for its nerdy European importer, Joseph-Marie Callery, the Callery Pear is native to China and Vietnam, but over the last 2 centuries has become a grossly overused ornamental throughout much of North America (particularly along East Coast). While its vibrant fall color and profusion of white blossoms in spring seem like the most notable characteristics, this tree has gained true infamy from the noxious semen-like odor its flowers emit. This particular characteristic has helped earn the pear tree nicknames such as “The Sperm Tree” and “Cum Tree”. The Callery Pear was originally championed as an ornamental and street tree due to its resistance to disease and environmental stress along with its show stopping beauty in Spring and Autumn. However, pretty much everyone in the vicinity of a Pear has probably witnessed the ridiculously weak nature of the tree’s wood (see below), and so, they have begun to fall out of favor. 

RECOGNIZE THESE GUYS? 

STINK ALERT.

A MID-SUMMER GENTLE BREEZE BLEW THROUGH AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. HEY, PIGGY, DON'T BUILD YOUR HOUSE OUT OF THESE STICKS.

THESE ARE THEIR FRUITS. DON'T EAT THEM - THEY'RE ROCK HARD AND DON'T TASTE ANYTHING LIKE PEARS. 

As you may have gathered, we LOVE Autumn, and this year we’ve taken special care to schedule numerous outdoor activities for optimal leaf-peeping during this particularly gorgeous weather. Last week was our second annual Romp in the Park - this time in Prospect Park - and we took photo-taking and nature-posing to the next level. Plus, there was a bounty of waterfowl (another favorite). Behold:

HANNAH FOUND THIS GORGEOUS LEAF (SWEET GUM, LIQUIDAMBAR STYRACIFLUA) RIGHT OFF THE BAT! WE KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE THINGS WERE GOING TO BE GOOOOOD. AND THEY WERE. 

BREATHTAKING. 

SPEAKING OF BREATHTAKING, KAT FOUND THIS LUSCIOUS PATCH OF DAINTY WHITE WOOD ASTER AND JUST HAD TO SIT AMONGST IT FOR A HOT MINUTE. A SPRIG OF THE WOOD ASTER MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ENDED UP NESTLED IN HER BOSOM. 

CHECK THIS SHIT OUT. THE GENTLEMAN WITHIN EARSHOT OF US ASKING ALOUD "WHAT IS THIS?" INFORMED US THAT IT IS AN OSAGE ORANGE FROM THE OSAGE ORANGE TREE. WE GOOGLED IT AND HE WAS RIGHT. THEY ARE LARGE, GREEN...

... AND SMELL FAINTLY OF CITRUS. 

THE GROW ON A NICE, KNOBBY TREE TOO. DO NOTE THAT THE "ORANGES" ARE LITERALLY DROPPING LIKE FLIES THESE DAYS AND WILL LIKELY CAUSE A CONCUSSION IF YOU GET KNOCKED ON THE NOGGIN. 

THE DELIGHTFUL LITTLE WHISPIES ARE THE AUTUMN BLOOMS OF WITCH HAZEL (HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA). THE DON'T SMELL AS GOOD THEY LOOK LIKE THEY WOULD. 

MMMM. LOOK AT THOSE DIVINE COPPERY HUES. LOOK AT THEM.

LOOKS LIKE HANNAH SPOTTED A SPOOKY BIRD-OF-PREY. THAT WITCH HAZEL BEHIND HER ISN'T WORRIED A BIT- JUST LOOKING GREAT. 

HEY THERE, MARSHLAND.

YUMMMMM...VELVEETA TREE. 

MEET FRANKLIN EBENEZER THWING. WE PROMISED YOU WATERFOWL, AND WE DELIVERED. 

KAT AND FRANKLIN EBENEZER ENJOY A LIVELY DISCUSSION ON THE ALLEGORICAL UNDERTONES IN GAME OF THRONES. 

HANNAH HELPS SPREAD SOME SOLIDAGO SEEDS.

THIS OUTSTANDING TREE SPECIMEN HAS BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE STAGHORN DESIGN STUDIO AUTUMN COLOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2014. 

A MIX OF COLORS REMINISCENT OF A BAG OF TROPICAL SKITTLES. OUTRAGEOUS.

GREAT JOB BEING A PORTAL INTO THE UNKNOWN, PROSPECT PARK.

THIS AREA WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASANT - CHECK OUT THOSE MASSIVE LONDON PLANE TREES (PLATANUS X ACERIFOLIA)

LOTS OF AUTUMN FINERY IN THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED AREA AT THE SOUTH END OF THE PARK. 

LITTLE BLUE STEM (SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM) NAILING IT. 

STRAIGHT UP AUTUMN FINERY. MAPLE STYLE. 

AUTUMNAL SKY. 

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