Fall Color In Mountains Of Utah!

The Wasatch Mountains are bursting with fall color right now.  If you get a chance to hike or drive in  the mountains of Northern Utah, you will see amazing trees with vibrant leaves.  Some of the wild  native trees and shrubs that paint our mountainsides and canyons are quaking aspens, rocky mountain maples, box elders, cottonwoods, water birch, scrub oak and three-leaf sumac.  I hope you find an opportunity to go to the high country this week - before it's over!

Fall Color in Utah Mountains

Quaking Aspens in Fall - Pure Gold!

Hiking in Utah in October

Flowering Dogwood Grows In Utah!

There are several varieties of Flowering Dogwood that will grow in Utah - Cornus florida and Cornus kousa, to name two.  In other climates, these spring bloomers can grow to be 20 or 30 feet tall.  In Utah, however, they seem to stay much smaller.  I have only ever seen them reach 10 or 15 feet in height.  They are gorgeous when they flower and are a great addition to the spring garden.    Flowering Dogwoods should be planted as a focal point near a walkway or outside a window where their delicate flowers can be enjoyed in late April and early May.

Flowering Dogwood growing in Salt Lake City, Utah

Flowering Dogwood growing in Utah

Utah Peaches

September is peach season in Utah.  The Wasatch Front has excellent growing conditions for peaches.  Fortunately for us, there are local farmers growing many delicious varieties.  You can do a lot of great things with peaches;  jams, pies, chutney, salsa, etc.   But sometimes the best thing is to just eat them fresh.

Fresh Utah Peaches

When Should I Prune My Fruit Trees In Utah?

The best time to prune fruit trees in Utah is in the spring before they flower - early March.  But don't worry - if you haven't done your pruning yet, it's not too late.  You can prune fruit trees while they are in bloom.  Please don't prune off more than 1/3 of the tree in a season.  Also, resist the urge to "limb-up" a fruit tree (cutting off all of the lower branches).  The pruning happens all over the tree; on the top, the sides and in the middle.  It is easier and safer to reach the fruit during harvest time if some of the lower branches are left on the tree.  Here is a link to an extensive article  on pruning fruit trees from the experts at Utah State University.

some beautifully pruned fruit trees in Utah

Catalpa Trees In Utah

Our Catalpa tree has almost finished blooming.  It has been spectacular this year!  Loaded with fragrant flowers, it has attracted bees, butterflies and moths like crazy.  One night recently there were two  Western Screech Owls flying around in it and I wonder if they were eating the moths that were there for the flowers.  Here is a post about Catalpa trees.

Catalpa flowers are fragrant!

Catalpa flowers attract bees, butterflies and moths!

Catalpa tree blooming in Utah!

Bristlecone Pine - Drought-tolerant Tree for Utah!

Some friends of mine recently moved to Tooele County and they are looking for trees and shrubs that will thrive in the saline soils and harsh conditions there.  We found out that Bristlecone Pine will grow well there, even at lower elevations (4,000 - 4,500 ft. above sea level).  Apparently other high-elevation (above 7,000 ft. above sea level) conifers struggle, like Limber Pine and Firs.
So I have been thinking about Bristlecone Pines for the last several days and looking them up on the internet.
I was driving around my neighborhood in the Salt Lake Valley, and was happily surprised to find a Bristlecone Pine thriving in a neighbors yard!  Here are some pictures.  And here is a link to info on Bristlecone Pines.  It is a very handsome specimen!

Bristlecone Pine - Utah Native

Bristlecone Pine - native, hardy and drought-tolerant in Utah

Bristlecone Pine - white resin spots on needles

Hawthorn - Small Waterwise Tree For Utah Landscapes

The Hawthorn trees bloom in May in Utah and they are truly spectacular!  Covered with cascades of tiny red, pink or white flowers (depending on the species), they herald the beginning of the summer season.  Hawthorns (Crataegus) are waterwise (they will need some water during the hot times of summer), winter hardy and tolerant of harsh conditions.  They are not fussy about soil.  Reaching a maximum height of only about 20 feet, Hawthorns are a great choice for urban plantings; parking strips and small yards - or mass plantings in large spaces.  In the fall and winter months, the berries of the Hawthorn provide a food source for birds, especially thrushes and waxwings - and their spring flowers provide food for butterflies and moths.  Hawthorn is native to temperate areas all over the Northern hemisphere.  Check out this interesting folklore about the Hawthorn.

Hawthorn Fruits 

Hawthorn in Fall

Hawthorn Tree in Sandy Utah

Hawthorn Flowers in May - Utah

Burr Oak: Large Waterwise Tree For Utah

Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) - native to Eastern and Midwestern North America - is a good choice for a large waterwise tree for Utah urban landscapes.  While it is not a native to the Intermountain West,  it does well in our climate and in the various soil conditions that can be found in Utah.  Here is a link from Utah State University Cooperative Extension Service that tells all about Burr Oak!

Burr Oak in Murray, Utah - fall color

Burr Oak leaves in Autumn

Acorn from Burr Oak

Quaking Aspen - Not A Good Choice For The Home Landscape

Quaking Aspens (Populus tremuloides) are some of the most beautiful native trees in Utah.  Found all over the Western United States, and Canada and Mexico, Quaking Aspen add dramatic and contrasting  colors, textures and shapes to our foothills and mountains.  Because of the Aspens interesting white bark, bright green leaves and golden fall color, many gardeners choose to plant Aspens in their home landscapes. Unfortunately, at lower elevations, this can be a big mistake.  At higher elevations (above 5000 feet above sea level) they grow better.  But in the valleys of the Wasatch Front, Aspens typically suffer from a combination of diseases and pest infestations that cause them to die.  But before that happens, they often send sucker trees under the ground which will sprout new trees all over the place.  There are many better choices for a small tree in the home landscape.  Aspens are best enjoyed in the wild.

Quaking Aspens in Wasatch Mountains

A Great Shade Tree for Utah - Catalpa speciosa

Catalpa speciosa - a.k.a. Western Catalpa or Northern Catlapa - is a great choice for a medium to large sized tree for the Wasatch Front.  Catalpa is native to the midwestern United States, but it grows very well here in Utah.  It has huge, bright green leaves and fragrant flowers in early summer.   It provides dense shade.  Though it needs regular watering,  it tolerates drought conditions very well.  After a long, hot and dry summer like this one, the Catalpa's leaves are not scorched like many other trees' leaves are.  The only drawbacks with the Catalpa - and they are far outweighed by the benefits - is that the dropping flowers in early summer can make a small mess over a sidewalk or driveway, and the long, bean-like pods can also be a little messy in the fall.  Catalpa is a beautiful tree!

Catalpa sepeciosa in Salt Lake City

Japanese Maples - For Color, Texture and Interest!

Japanese Maples do well in Utah and can be a great addition to a waterwise garden, and especially to a Japanese garden.  There are several hundred varieties of Japanese Maples, varying in size, shape and color.  As a focal point or accent plant, Japanese Maples can be outstanding!  Plant them where they will get a little afternoon shade and shelter from hot summer winds.  The edges of their leaves will scorch during a hot year. Give them a good soaking every week during the hot and dry parts of summer and fall.  Japanese maples can be pruned from time to time to create interesting shapes or layers.
Good places to shop for Japanese Maples are:
Millcreek Gardens
Western Gardens
Valley Nursery

Japanese Maple in the Spring with Iris

Japanese Maples 

Japanese Maples - Brilliant Summer Color

Small Japanese Maple in Waterwise Garden:  with Miscanthus, Lavender and Roses

Japanese Maple - Accent Plant

Several Different Japanese Maples, Working Together!

Peach Harvest - Success!

Around the middle of August we finally harvested our peaches - all 17 of them - from our little tree.  The peaches were small (I have since learned that I was supposed to thin the peaches when they were small in order to make the remaining peaches bigger) but delicious!  The tiny tree breathed a sigh of relief when we removed the fruit from it's thin little branches (twigs).  Can't wait for next year!

Peach Tree - Before The Harvest

Delicious J H Hale Peaches

Tiny Peach Tree - Relief After The Harvest

Peach Tree Update

So the peach tree finally fell over from the weight of the ripening peaches.  So now it is on crutches.

Peach Tree on Crutches

This Is The Place . . .To Grow Peaches!

I planted this peach tree two years ago and it is now almost as tall as I am.  Last year it produced 2 delicious peaches.  This year it has about 19 peaches.  I've been calling it the "Charlie Brown Peach Tree" because it looks like the peaches are going to pull it right over!
Peaches do very well in Utah.  They are grown commercially on the Wasatch Front -  Brigham City is famous for it's peaches!  Visit Brigham City's Peach Days festival in September and celebrate all things peaches.

J H Hale - Excellent Freestone Peach

Apricot Jam!

Some nice folks in Sandy let me pick some apricots from their tree.  As you can see, the tree is loaded with fruit this year!  I made three batches of jam!  These little jars of Utah summer sunshine will be enjoyed all winter long!

Mimosa Silk Tree - A Waterwise Tree for Utah!

The Mimosa Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a beautiful medium size tree with an umbrella shape and pink fuzzy flowers in Summer.  It is hardy here on the Wasatch Front even though it seems like a tropical tree!  It is recommended by the knowledgable folks at Tree Utah as a good choice for a drought  tolerant tree.

Stop And Smell The Linden Trees!

This is a Linden tree in full bloom.  What a gorgeous shade tree and the perfume that it emits is amazing!  Linden trees flower in June and turn gold in the Fall.  They are slow growers, but they are hardy and resistant to disease and insects.  Excellent choice for a Utah urban landscape.