4.25.2009

Tulip Tree Fever

I've been in love with tulip trees for YEARS. This is going to sound cheesy, but literally...they take my breath away. Just ask my poor husband who has to look at every blooming tree I see and point out like a 5-year-old who's just seen Mickey Mouse for the first time. I'm telling you...I absolutely love these trees!

While living in Michigan for 8 years, I knew right where all the good tulip trees would bloom every spring and I have tons of photos of them. But since I just moved back to Ohio last June, I had yet to search and discover the places they bloomed near my new place of residence. Until today.

I was walking down my driveway to get the mail today when I looked up and across the street like I always do. Across from our house is my great-grandparent's old property which includes a massive cornfield, a barn, and a farmhouse that my grandmother was actually born in. Today, when I looked at the house, I stopped in my tracks and started squinting to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. To my surprise and delight, it was the biggest, tallest, fullest tulip tree I've ever laid my eyes on...right across the street from my house! As soon as I got the mail, I hurried back in the house, grabbed my camera, and rushed over to capture this beauty. It made my day!

See it? I was even zooming in when I took this photo, so imagine how hard it was for me to spot it with the poor vision I've got!
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A little vintage finish...
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I know these petals are going to curl up and die in a day or two, but I had to take some back to my house to put on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. Nothing says "Spring" like fresh flowers!
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"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." -Genesis 1:31

10 comments:

Erin Morgan said...

if you love tulips, as much as you love tulip trees, you should plan a trip to a couple cities just north of Seattle to view the tulip farms. Acres and acres of colorful blooms!! So beautiful this time of year!

LinAe Nichols said...

I never heard of tulip trees before - SO pretty!!!

christina said...

LinAe...are you serious?! They're all over Michigan! I can't remember what part of GR you live in, but there's a huge one on Fuller Avenue, just north of 196. Also...there are a few smaller, but super pink ones on Plymouth street in East. Go check them out...you will be amazed!

christina said...

And Erin...I've always wanted to visit Seattle!! It's one of the places I've been dying to see since I was young. Tim and I made it as far as Portland a few years ago, and were planning on heading up to Seattle for a day, but our travel plans got messed up and our trip was cut short. I was so bummed! The tulip farms sound amazing! Did you ever go to Holland's Tulip Time when you lived in MI? I'm sure it's smaller than what you're talking about...but the same kind of thing.

Gina Miller said...

That tree is gorgeous! I just told John this morning that I want one! Funny that you would post these today! God's creation is so awesome!

Monica Kaye said...

I feel the same way about dogwood trees since I grew up in Virginia. These photos are beautiful!

christina said...

Gina, you definitely should get one of those if you can! I would love to have my driveway lined with them. Wouldn't that be amazing?! The only bad thing about them is that the blooms only last a couple of weeks in the spring, and when they fall, it makes for a lot of raking!
Monica, thank you for the kind words! I understand your love for Dogwood trees...they are beautiful as well! :)

Mary said...

I was wondering what those beautiful trees were called. Tulip tree, I want one. They are so pretty and photogenic.

Anonymous said...

I love trees that bloom such beautiful flowers.I happen to live near the Cherry blossom park in essex county,if you love taking photos this is the spot to go to Branch Brook Park!! People from all over the world go there for photos. It is on my list of things to do!!

LinAe Nichols said...

Well, since I've seen your post, of course I've noticed them EVERYWHERE. Like, in every yard we drive by!! It's so funny!! I LOVE the hot pink-ish ones, they're SO pretty!!!