All about acacias

Sat, 04 Feb 2006 00:51:22 GMT

One of the earliest trees to bloom here in the Santa Clara Valley is the acacia. Actually, I should be more specific, as there are hundreds of trees and shrubs in the Acacia genus, and not all of them closely resemble one another. Specifically, we have the Bailey acacia (Acacia baileyana), also called Cootamundra Wattle or Golden Mimosa Tree.

The Bailey acacias start producing fragrant cascades of little yellow "pompom" flowers in January, and this year was no different. However, this year, I was determined to get a good photo of one in bloom! And I did -- in Los Gatos, where they seem to be especially common. (Click the photo above for an up-close-and-personal view of the foliage and flowers.)

I remember someone once called the Bailey acacia "an outlaw tree" because it grows so fast, both from seeds and from suckers, that a few trees can overrun an area. Between that, and the fact that acacias grow well even under rather poor conditions, the complainer probably thought the behavior was too similar to that of weeds! I think he/she also found the trees unattractive except when in bloom.

I don't agree with any of this. There are plenty of dry, exposed embankments, hillsides and abandoned areas that would be ugly and barren -- not to mention subject to erosion -- without trees like the acacia, which can also grow as large multi-trunked "shrub-trees." They grow fast, are drought tolerant and are rarely bothered by pests; sounds good to me! (These attributes also describe Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima, which truly is considered an invasive "weed tree," although even it is not without its merits. It's also the title character of Betty Smith's classic 1943 novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.)

At any rate, Bailey acacia blossoms are one of the most cheerful shades of yellow I've seen, and I generally don't even care for yellow. You can spot an acacia from far away when it's blooming, not only from the bright color but also from the profuse, cascading nature of the "puffballs." Even when it's done blooming, it's interesting: the foliage is a blue-gray-green color and has a delicate feathery shape like that of the mimosa or silk tree, Albizia julibrissin. (It's no surprise, as the two trees are in the same family: Fabaceae, formerly called Leguminosae. Some people say the trees are in the Mimosaceae family, but I use the most current Sunset Western Garden Book as my authority.)

It's unfortunate that most members of the Acacia genus live only 20 to 40 years on average, but their fast growth, hardy nature and beautiful blossoms are the trade-off. I would even go as far as to consider the acacia something of a "nurse tree." This term is typically used for fast-growing, short-lived trees planted near or around the sapling trees you actually desire.

The "nurses" help stabilize the soil, control weeds and reduce wind. Some nurse trees, strategically planted, can also provide just the right amount of shade on the foliage and trunks of tender young saplings that might otherwise suffer from sunscald or burn. Acacias have another nurse-like benefit: as with many leguminous trees, their root nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that actually help enrich the soil.

Alders, incidentally, also make good nurse trees, for all of the reasons above. (White alder, alnus rhombifolia, is among the most common and fastest growing, and is very tolerant of heat and wind). Alders also have the nitrogen-fixing effect, although they are not in the legume family. They do require significantly more water than most nurse trees, however; when alders are used in landscaping, they need good irrigation!

And now the acacia attribute everyone has been waiting for me to address: the allergy issue! Yes, I do agree with the tree's detractors about that. Apparently the pollen causes nasal allergy symptoms and asthma flare-ups in more than a few people. For some, it even causes a skin rash.

I have mild asthma and allergies myself, so I empathize with what it's like to be uncomfortable and irritated by an allergen. However, I have no problem with acacias. But you probably already figured that out, seeing as I was surrounded by them when taking my photos!

Welcome to Earthly Delights!

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 23:27:19 GMT

It's said people write best about what they know. It's also said that people surround themselves with what they love. These may be cliché, but in the case of this gardening column, they're also true.

I've always loved the plant kingdom. I wasn't born with a green thumb, but perhaps a green pointer finger—my mom says I always pointed at flowers as a baby. As a child I remember wedging lima beans between wet blotter paper rolled inside a glass jar, watching them germinate and feeling fascination and awe.

I feel the same today, whether I'm sprouting acorns, sowing a swath of wildflowers, rooting strawberry runners, making jade plant cuttings or just watching a transplanted sapling grow into a sturdy tree. The way some folks collect novels, I collect field guides and gardening books. The way some folks read the dictionary, I read the Sunset Western Garden Book, which many West Coast greenthumbs have nicknamed—and rightly so—their "Bible."

I'm not a horticulturist, arborist, nursery owner or Master Gardener, but true to my second cliché, I seem to be surrounded by them. Between what they've taught me, and what I've learned—and continue to learn—in both theory and practice, I could talk happily for days. But I'll have to settle for writing happily in my column, Earthly Delights!

NOTE: For legal reasons, I must mention that forthcoming columns may have appeared, in full or in part, in past issues of one or more of the seven community newspapers published by Times Media, Inc. The greatest number appeared in the Blossom Valley Times and Santa Teresa Times, of which I was the editor for nearly 1.5 years.

I'm now strictly a freelance writer, editor and photographer; I do various creative projects for newspapers, magazines and websites. I also used to provide the Times with Earthly Delights even after I passed the editor's hat to a colleague and left the office for my expanding freelance work. Unfortunately, I was recently told the Times no longer has the space or finances to run my column. This may change in the future, but there are no guarantees. I understand their reasons, and I hope things improve (no community newspaper group seems to be doing well in the Bay Area!)

However, I don't wish to see the end of Earthly Delights. I love it too much, and too many other people have said they miss the information, advice and photos it provides. Hence, I've decided to take it online! I promise to post at least one full, complete column per month here, and perhaps more frequently. (It ran on a monthly basis in the papers). In between actual columns, I'll also post information about upcoming Bay Area and/or South Bay events of interest to garden enthusiasts and greenthumbs.

Currently I have a "free" account here at Live Journal, which means I cannot customize my blog as much as I'd like. I also have other limitations, such as how many photos I can host here. Due to my current financial limitations (I must supplement my freelancing with a part-time job out of my field), I can't really justify upgrading to a paid Live Journal account. The free version at least allows me to publish my column publicly. However, being the idealist I am, I hope to eventually have advertisers or sponsors who might pay me for the time and research it takes to write and photograph my column, now that no publishing entity does. *humble smile*

In the meantime, thank you for reading this long-winded introduction, and please stay tuned. My first column is on its way. Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome!

- Shari

(a tiny sample - in size and in number - of my photography!)