Bradford Pears and Spring

Spring is almost here. Bradford Pears signal the onset of spring in the Dallas area. These trees are a favorite because they are fast growing and are beautiful when they are in bloom. Their leaves are small but abundant and they make a great shade tree in the Texas heat. We planted two of them in the back to shade our house from the afternoon sun. They are also notorious for splitting in high winds. A couple of years ago a spring storm came through with high circular winds. I walked to the back of the house to look outside and one of the trees was split in three sections. One section on our patio roof, one on our house and the other still defiantly standing. It was a very large tree as it had been there for over 20 years.

Bradford Pears in Bloom

Workers slowly cut it down working from top to bottom. When they had it cut to a stump about 4 feet tall they split the stump down the middle. They asked me to come and take a look at what they found inside the tree. Right in the middle of the stump was a golf ball. They cut it out along with it's nest in the wood. Here is my little conversation piece.

Watch where you hit your Titleist please!