12 Months of Trees
January: Saucer Magnolia, soulangeana.
This tree is my all-time favorite. Perhaps because January is my birthday month. These trees bloom as soon as the first wave of heat hits Whittier. Their blooms resemble teacups and saucers, pink and violet on the outside and white on the inside. I like to call them the tulip trees.
February: The Evergreen Pear Tree, pyrus kawakamii.
Bark like dragon skin and blooms like snow, this multi-seasonal tree looks gorgeous in spring and striking in fall. When the wind blows, the popcorn-like blooms flutter off the branches. In the late fall, the leaves turn astonishing colors. I like to call them the snow trees.
March: Camellia, camellia; White Redbud, Cercis canadensis; Navel Orange, citrus sinensis
There are just too many trees to choose from in March, so I put several here. The Camilla tree blooms early, and various flower colors brighten their glossy green foliage. The Eastern Redbud (a whitebud is pictured here) is so picturesque this time of year. Its counter partner, the redbud, has reddish-pink flowers and dark red heart-shaped leaves.
We cannot forget the citrus trees this time of year, which are popping with delicious-smelling blooms and buzzing with bees. While the blooms often hide behind their leaves, you can't miss the smell.
April: Pink Trumpet Tree, tabebuia heptaphylla.
These trees could be nicknamed the cotton candy trees. The pink color on them is breathtaking; however, at any other time of the year, you wouldn't notice them. They also come in an electric yellow version that will just about hurt your eyes to look at.
May: Hong King Orchid Tree, bauhinia blakeana
Several streets in Uptown Whittier have this as their street tree, and the view down these streets this time of year is stunning. They look like hallways decorated for a wedding. Each flower on the tree is exquisite. It would make a beautiful painting. These trees also come in more vibrant shades of pink and white. I often call these trees butterfly trees because their leaves are butterfly-shaped.
June: Jacaranda, jacaranda mimosifolia.
These trees have a lovely scented purple flower that falls on the Whittier streets, and when the cars drive over them make a gentle popping sound. Though rather leggy, when these trees line both sides of the street, they create a hazy purple tunnel.
July: Golden Medallion Tree, cassia leptophylla
As their name suggests, these trees have medallions of golden flowers. I think the flowers look like round balls on long stems.
August: Crape Myrtle, lagerstroemia indica
When the heat of summer roles around, I’m thankful for the Crape Myrtle. It is such a beautiful pop of color when the hot sun bakes the asphalt streets of Whittier and all the other trees seem dirty from lack of rain. The colors of these trees sometimes seem electric.
September: Pink Silk Floss Tree, ceiba speciosa
This native to South America is used as a street tree down Painter Avenue in Whittier, CA. Its trunk is armored with huge thorns. It blooms at a most peculiar time of year. And in the spring, its football-shaped pods set loose tuffs of soft billowy silk. It’s a show-stopper several times a year.
October: Chinese Golden rain Tree,koelreuteria paniculata; Chinese Flame Tree, koelreuteria bipinnata
I often confuse these two trees because they both have chains of yellow flowers this time of year. However, the Golden rain tree doesn’t get the salmon-colored pods that the Flame Tree gets. These trees line several streets in Whittier.
November: Sweetgum, liquidambar
Does anyone actually call these trees Sweetgum? I’ve always referred to them as liquidambars. While they turn every shade of purple, yellow, orange, and red this time of year, the most remarkable thing about them is that some trees turn colors and then, instead of dropping their leaves, they re-green all over again. Remarkable!
December: Chinese Pistache, pistacia chinesis; Maidenhair Tree, ginkgo biloba
The Chinese Pistache may or may not look this fabulous this time of year. It all depends on the weather. If we get a heat wave or if it cools too quickly, we miss the show. But some years, when the weather is just right. We get this beautiful display of color.
Finally, this year of trees wouldn’t be complete without putting the Ginkgo tree in the limelight. These stunning trees wow me every year. While I’ve yet to see them line entire streets in Whittier, I do catch glimpses of them in people’s front and backyards.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of Whittier Trees!
Oh yes, those trees are so beautiful there.
I love this. Trees are a wonderful reminder of God’s incredible creativity and His love for color. I remember driving down Granada when the jacarandas were blooming and driving close to the curb to pop the blossoms. The boys encouraged it, but I enjoyed it too.