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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Corylus avellana 'Contorta' for Foliage Follow-Up

Foliage Follow-Up is hosted each month by Pam at Digging on the day after Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day to remind us of the important role that foliage plays in our gardens.

My Corylus avellana 'Contorta' (AKA Contorted Filbert, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, Contorted Hazel, and Corkscrew Hazel) is usually late to shed it's foliage but this year it's especially so.

Much of the foliage is still green.  What's up with that? 

The foliage on this plant is not it's most attractive feature and while nearly every other tree in my garden is standing naked, this one is holding on to it's summer clothes.

The silhouette of these branches is one of the joys of the winter garden, especially when the catkins elongate and dance in the wind.

This tree is a bit behind in it's winter preparations, just like it's gardener. 

Instead of being eager to see the leaves drop, I'm rather enjoying seeing green and some gold on the branches still.  Neither of us seems in too much of a hurry to get winter underway. 
What foliage is capturing your attention this month? 

15 comments:

  1. This canopy is quite the sight. If this latest cold snap doesn't make the Contorted Filbert drop it's leafs, what will? Its hard to tell from the picture exactly how big this tree is; I never imagined one larger that what I've seen growing in a pot.

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    1. It forms a canopy over a path and is about 15 feet tall now. It started with me as a one gallon pot.

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  2. How big is this? I thought it was on the smaller side but your photos make it look huge!

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    1. It's about 15 - 20 feet tall now. I'm surprised how quickly it's grown from the one gallon pot that I started in my former garden. Okay, that was 24 years ago. How time flies.

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  3. Some of the deciduous trees here have also been slower than usual to shed their leaves but I'd think your snow and rain would hurry yours along!

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    1. The snow and rain didn't do much but last night we had lows in the 20's and a strong wind. Many leaves fell!

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  4. How very strange that this tree is holding onto its leaves. I don't remember my red-flowered currant holding onto its leaves this long either, but it is still. So odd.

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    1. The current cold snap along with last night's wind have caused a lot more leaves to fall.

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  5. I'm with Loree; this looks really big. I'd like to grow this but it needs to be where I could see it in winter and I don't really have a good spot. It is not something I could easily walk out to see with snow everywhere.

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    1. I hope you can find a spot as it's a beautiful sight covered in snow!

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  6. Hi Peter, the last pic is so striking! Happy Holidays :)

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  7. Do I spy a bit of blue sky in that last shot? (it's a beauty, by the way).

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    1. There was a bit of blue sky when I took the pictures and today was very bright, clear and COLD!

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  8. Plant irony - that a tree known for its branch structure holds on to its leaves the longest.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.