April 17, Otsiningo Park, Binghamton, New York.
Over the years, Callery pears have taken over more and more and are now considered invasive where I live in the Southern Tier of New York. (We commonly call them Bradford pears here, but Bradford pears are just one variety of Pyrus calleryana, an Asian pear variety that was brought here in the early 1900s with the best of intentions. But we all know about good intentions, right? You can read more about Callery pears and why they have become a problem here.
Three states so far have banned their sale: our neighboring state Pennsylvania, Ohio, and South Carolina.
In a way, it's a shame, because I believe the lovely flowering trees in the following photos are Callery pears (their flowers certainly smell like their flowers - bad) and if not, I'm sure I'll be corrected. Otsiningo Park has a lot of them.
So let's take in a walk from April 17 and view the trees and the sky.
Invasive but pretty.
Finally, the sky without the trees.
Joining Yogi and other sky watching bloggers each Friday (now that Blogging from A to Z is over and I am back to my normal schedule) for #SkywatchFriday.
Yeah those trees are pretty. Interesting skies
ReplyDeleteFour-inch thorns on the Callery pear sound horrendous! Invasive n on-native species are such a problem.
ReplyDelete...I sold thousands of pear in my career, I doubt if I'll get into heaven!
ReplyDeleteVery moody clouds
ReplyDeleteSo pretty.
ReplyDeleteCallery pear trees were planted as street trees in NYC, and at one point looked beautiful when the white flowers appeared in spring. However, the have recently been affected by pear trellis rust — and some places (in Long Island, for example) have pulled them up and replanted with other species. Alas, they aren’t the first invasive tree to be planted widely — but good that the threat is being recognized and some action is being taken.
ReplyDeleteThe blossoming crabs are blooming here, too. It's such a lovely time to be alive. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty, but I have read about their invasive nature. They aren't on my state's invasive or banned plant lists, but are considered invasive and we are encouraged not to plant them.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos, as usual.
ReplyDeleteDrove over to our Civic Center today and they were taking down the pear trees at the entrance. I wish my community would ban buckthorn.
ReplyDeleteThose blooms look beautiful against the dramatic sky!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if these are the flowering pear trees meant to be decorative but have no fruit. Interesting that they've been banned in places.
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty. I suppose that's how they get a foothold in places where they then become invasive.
ReplyDeleteThe blooming trees are so pretty and the sky is so dramatic.
ReplyDeletebeautiful in white
ReplyDeleteVery dramatic sky.
ReplyDeleteAbout 30 years ago Tulsa went all in for callery trees of various kinds, mainly bradford pears. What a mistake!! They can be pretty, for a while.
ReplyDelete