I am pleasantly surprised to learn that I share another personal favorite with you! I have loved Monkey Puzzle trees since I saw my first tree as a small child living in Mount Vernon in the late 1950s. I am now retired and returned to Mount Vernon for the rest of my days. That tree survives, but not in perfect form thanks to city amenities like power lines.
I have loved these trees since seeing my 1st in Pt Townsend 20 years ago. Any guesses how they got their name? Can you buy pinoneos anywhere in Seattle?
Do you know that in French they're called "le désespoir du singe" (the monkey's despair). I always thought that was because the trunk appears very thorny so it must be impossible to climb...
The timing of this article is perfect. Last evening was walking North on 16th Ave SW on the way from White Center back to downtown and spotted one of these interesting trees just N of SW Thistle.
I love them! I don't think I had seen any before the one you mention on 65th and 25th. There were at least two monkey puzzle trees on Bainbridge, but city works managed to kill one when widening the sidewalk on Erickson Avenue. They replaced it with another, and killed that one too! Now there is only one on Bainbridge that I know of, on Winslow Way across from Winslow Green.
Another Araucaria people might be familiar with is the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), often seen as a houseplant and Christmas tree. I think it's too cold for them to grow outside here, but they do in more southern climes.
Pinch? Ha! We Punch!!! The first person to see a Monkey Tree (sans Puzzle) says, “Monkey Tree, No return.”, then punches the other person in the arm. I got Mary at the arboretum on Saturday and she immediately saw a 2nd one and got me back. If I see one while out walking, I text it to her along with MTNR for a electronic punch. I have soooo soooo many MT pics in my phone now.
There's a magnificent line of these trees at the legislative campus in Olympia. I love to gaze at their stately columnar trunks but I'm a bit afraid to use the sidewalk beside them because their occasional fallen branches look so lethal.
I am pleasantly surprised to learn that I share another personal favorite with you! I have loved Monkey Puzzle trees since I saw my first tree as a small child living in Mount Vernon in the late 1950s. I am now retired and returned to Mount Vernon for the rest of my days. That tree survives, but not in perfect form thanks to city amenities like power lines.
I have loved these trees since seeing my 1st in Pt Townsend 20 years ago. Any guesses how they got their name? Can you buy pinoneos anywhere in Seattle?
Do you know that in French they're called "le désespoir du singe" (the monkey's despair). I always thought that was because the trunk appears very thorny so it must be impossible to climb...
The timing of this article is perfect. Last evening was walking North on 16th Ave SW on the way from White Center back to downtown and spotted one of these interesting trees just N of SW Thistle.
I love them! I don't think I had seen any before the one you mention on 65th and 25th. There were at least two monkey puzzle trees on Bainbridge, but city works managed to kill one when widening the sidewalk on Erickson Avenue. They replaced it with another, and killed that one too! Now there is only one on Bainbridge that I know of, on Winslow Way across from Winslow Green.
David, thanks for this. I’ve always liked the Monkey trees but didn’t know the puzzle part! Like knowing the Menzies connection too!
Another Araucaria people might be familiar with is the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), often seen as a houseplant and Christmas tree. I think it's too cold for them to grow outside here, but they do in more southern climes.
Pinch? Ha! We Punch!!! The first person to see a Monkey Tree (sans Puzzle) says, “Monkey Tree, No return.”, then punches the other person in the arm. I got Mary at the arboretum on Saturday and she immediately saw a 2nd one and got me back. If I see one while out walking, I text it to her along with MTNR for a electronic punch. I have soooo soooo many MT pics in my phone now.
There's a magnificent line of these trees at the legislative campus in Olympia. I love to gaze at their stately columnar trunks but I'm a bit afraid to use the sidewalk beside them because their occasional fallen branches look so lethal.