COLOR EXPLODING

Golden rain trees provide burst of vivid yellow blooms

Q: Have you noticed a tree in town lately that has lots of bright yellow flowers? What type of tree is it and is it an easy one to grow? — L.L., Rio Rancho

A: The tree you’re asking about is called golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) and, yes, it’s showing off all over this time of year. The blooms worn by the golden rain have always reminded me of firework explosions. Held rather stiffly out from the branch tips, these multistemmed blooms do look like explosions of color as they cover the tree canopy completely. When the bloom is complete, the tree wears seed pods that look like paper lanterns of the barest pinky-mauve color, giving continued visual interest. The leaf color has a wee blueish hint to it that complements the bright yellow blooms, but it doesn’t make dark shade so you can grow other companion plants below and around it easily.

The golden rain is a fairly well-mannered individual, too. They can be used successfully as “street trees” and in smallish patio areas without becoming a pain. The roots aren’t known to push up sidewalks or pathways. If you want to see a bevy of them performing right now, you can find lots

Seed pods on a golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) in their early form. As they mature, they turn orange then brown and make a great addition to winter bouquets and dried arrangements.

growing happily in sidewalk plantings on both sides of Lomas Boulevard between Sixth Street and Old Town. These trees aren’t too big, as I think they might be relatively young, being maybe 15 feet tall with a canopy 8 feet wide. My research says they can get to a mature height of 25 feet, but I think that’s space dependent. I mean that, if they are planted in a smallish spot, they’ll tend to stay on the smallish size.

All of the research I’ve done teaches that, once established, this tree is considered quite water thrifty and, if they can grow on in a hot spot like the Lomas plantings, I believe that are pretty darn hardy. Requiring a good drink weekly, perhaps more when we go into our blistering hot times, the golden rain keeps a perky feathery look to it. The golden rain hails from Asia and is thought to have been first grown in this country in the early 1800s by Thomas Jefferson after he received seeds from a French compatriot.

So, if you really like the look of trees displaying their own fireworks faithfully every year, the golden rain could be just the perfect tree for you. Enjoy all that color!

Q: Do you have a few suggestions of things that I can get my dad for Father’s Day? He does like to be outdoors and is a pretty successful gardener. — F.D.S., West Side

A: First, I’d suggest keeping Dad safe from the elements. A hat with a brim is the most important thing I think of when I’m working outdoors.

Then don’t forget a kerchief to wear on his neck. I’m always surprised how sunburned the back of my neck gets when I forget this most needed piece of apparel. Nowadays, you can find kerchiefs that have “‘water holding crystals” sewn into the collar that, once dampened, puff up and help keep the neck area cooled while keeping the sun off that tender and all-too-oftenforgotten area of skin.

With the hat, consider a new bottle of sunscreen so the rest of Dad stays protected. Attach a sticky note to the bottle reminding him to apply liberally every time he heads out because you love him. Gloves, canvas aprons with pockets and well-built hand tools are always appreciated by most any gardener. Consider a combo stool/kneeler contraption, too. It makes getting up and down a little easier.

By perusing the tool sections in most garden centers, you can find lots of useful things any dad would use during his outings. If Dad is a cook, consider giving a living gift with a pot of herbs; that way, he can snip fresh flavors to add to his kitchen creations.

Those are a few of the ways I believe you could brighten Dad’s day. Hope I’ve given you some inspiration, and Happy Digging In!