Sad that we humans take out our political prejudices against particular plants: “Political feeling was so strong in the old Jeffersonian days that these poplars were condemned by the Federalists on account of Jefferson having been instrumental in introducing them..."
Lombardy poplars do have aggressive root systems -so take care when deciding where to plant them.
I am enjoying their autumn coloring on Orcas Island!
Love Orcas!!! We humans will jump on whatever takes the headlines. Like our inclination to go out and buy whatever dog breed has just won the annual Best of Show. We seem to have no resistance to this!!
I've never been a fan of Lombardy poplars, but I understand their usefulness, especially as fast-growing windbreaks for orchards, as you see them planted in and above the Columbia Gorge. Sadly, they're short-lived, so a lot of those old orchard windbreak plantings are literally falling apart in the wind, they branches and trunks unwieldy missiles in the gusts.
If you're planting them as a windbreak, you probably wouldn't want to cut it down for firewood unless you're planting a rotation to replace those original ones. :)
If anyone wants to learn more about Lombardy poplars (or poplars/cottonwoods in general), read long-time Seattle area resident and UW professor (sadly recently deceased) Reinhardt Stettler’s excellent book, “Cottonwood and the River of Time”! So many more fun facts about poplars! (Spoiler alert! One has to do with the Mona Lisa!)
Lombardy Poplars do talk to our human inclination for straight lines and order. Even plain old poplars do this. But the Lombardy always looks so properly turned-out. For me, a person who dreams in long highly active dreams, one of my favorite dreams was the building of a treehouse in a Lombardy Poplar!!! The dream was full of details of the views I could take in and the tricky bits of getting the materials to build the treehouse up through the branches. It was a lovely dream! I have little idea of why I should have dreamt it? But it is my 'Lombardy Poplar dream' :-).
This article really caught my attention. One of my favorite history research projexts was the remains of the Longacres Racetrack. Yes there are still ruins of it and some of the track hanging in there.
One of the features of the track was the Poplars planted around the track. If you look for photos of it in it's heyday you will probably see them lined up tall and proud.
If you do go to see the ruins; park in the Sounder parking lot, go under the railroad and then walk south. At that end of the remaining track you will see the stumps and a few remaining original poplars. But don't despair!! Their children are everywhere and even the old trees have babies growing from them too.
Check it out sometime and also enjoy the 1000 feet of green wall that still exists. More on my blog at Batgurrl.net - Ruins of Longacres
Love that you ended this piece by reminding us that where there is a Lombardy poplar, there were people who planted it! The word “poplar” is thought to be related to the Latin word “populus” for “people” because the trees were planted in public spaces for people and also (this one is my favorite) because the fluttering of the leaves sounded like crowds of people clapping. Very fitting that it was one of the first tasks of the US president to plant them throughout the country’s new capitol, an anchor for a new idea of civilization.
(Also an interesting side-note that blew me away: even though they were selected and named in Italy, they are thought to actually originate from Northern Iran!)
Sad that we humans take out our political prejudices against particular plants: “Political feeling was so strong in the old Jeffersonian days that these poplars were condemned by the Federalists on account of Jefferson having been instrumental in introducing them..."
Lombardy poplars do have aggressive root systems -so take care when deciding where to plant them.
I am enjoying their autumn coloring on Orcas Island!
Yeah, we seem to love to politicize the world every chance we get.
Love Orcas!!! We humans will jump on whatever takes the headlines. Like our inclination to go out and buy whatever dog breed has just won the annual Best of Show. We seem to have no resistance to this!!
I've never been a fan of Lombardy poplars, but I understand their usefulness, especially as fast-growing windbreaks for orchards, as you see them planted in and above the Columbia Gorge. Sadly, they're short-lived, so a lot of those old orchard windbreak plantings are literally falling apart in the wind, they branches and trunks unwieldy missiles in the gusts.
Yes, they do grow fast, which is why some people liked to plant them as they would very quickly be suitable to cut down for fire wood!
If you're planting them as a windbreak, you probably wouldn't want to cut it down for firewood unless you're planting a rotation to replace those original ones. :)
If anyone wants to learn more about Lombardy poplars (or poplars/cottonwoods in general), read long-time Seattle area resident and UW professor (sadly recently deceased) Reinhardt Stettler’s excellent book, “Cottonwood and the River of Time”! So many more fun facts about poplars! (Spoiler alert! One has to do with the Mona Lisa!)
Carri, Thanks for sharing. I'll have to track it down. David
Lombardy Poplars do talk to our human inclination for straight lines and order. Even plain old poplars do this. But the Lombardy always looks so properly turned-out. For me, a person who dreams in long highly active dreams, one of my favorite dreams was the building of a treehouse in a Lombardy Poplar!!! The dream was full of details of the views I could take in and the tricky bits of getting the materials to build the treehouse up through the branches. It was a lovely dream! I have little idea of why I should have dreamt it? But it is my 'Lombardy Poplar dream' :-).
Outstanding. Sounds a lot better than some of my dreams, such as going back to high school!!!
This article really caught my attention. One of my favorite history research projexts was the remains of the Longacres Racetrack. Yes there are still ruins of it and some of the track hanging in there.
One of the features of the track was the Poplars planted around the track. If you look for photos of it in it's heyday you will probably see them lined up tall and proud.
If you do go to see the ruins; park in the Sounder parking lot, go under the railroad and then walk south. At that end of the remaining track you will see the stumps and a few remaining original poplars. But don't despair!! Their children are everywhere and even the old trees have babies growing from them too.
Check it out sometime and also enjoy the 1000 feet of green wall that still exists. More on my blog at Batgurrl.net - Ruins of Longacres
Thanks for sharing this info. Sounds like I need to check it out.
Love that you ended this piece by reminding us that where there is a Lombardy poplar, there were people who planted it! The word “poplar” is thought to be related to the Latin word “populus” for “people” because the trees were planted in public spaces for people and also (this one is my favorite) because the fluttering of the leaves sounded like crowds of people clapping. Very fitting that it was one of the first tasks of the US president to plant them throughout the country’s new capitol, an anchor for a new idea of civilization.
(Also an interesting side-note that blew me away: even though they were selected and named in Italy, they are thought to actually originate from Northern Iran!)
And, you haven't read Taha's wonderful book Street Trees of Seattle, everyone needs to.
Reading your excerpt about Mt. St. Helens is a beautiful way to start the day; thank you very much David.
Rigidity, orderliness, straightness — welcome and in design, I say. Visual exuberance!
I’ll have to look for those trees my next time by that piece of property.