Monday, July 16, 2007

Catawba-Catalpa

I walked this morning in the cemetery.
There were no clouds to study.
I turned to the trees.
This is a Catawba Tree also spelled Catalpa.
It blooms in the spring.
The seed pods are sometimes called Indian beans.
It is a beautiful shade tree and the leaves are host to the sphinx moth or hawk moth.
There are fifty-six species of sphinx moths recorded in my state.
My Missouri Butterflies and Moths book says the Tersa Sphinx larva feed on the leaves.
I shall keep an eye for the moths.
They also are beautiful.

My walk each morning is good for my body and my mind.
My spirit soars as I plant my feet firmly.
I found my exercise bliss.

4 comments:

Sprite said...

*****

Dearest Sherry,

Oh this is wonderful. I adore the Catalpa Tree. I am so excited to know that they host the Sphinx Moths.

I am thrilled to see photographs when they come forth of these marvelous creatures.

I have spent many an hour underneath a Catalpa tree, resting and writing.

I am also incredibly fond of the Sycamore tree, as we have several on our family farm in the Ozarks.

They bring back many memories and offer a sense of wisdom and graceful aging.

Thank you so much for this lovely post.

Much Love~

*sprite

Q said...

Dear Sprite,
I so hope to see some Sphinx Moths this year. I too think they are incredible.
The Catalpa Tree is a magnificent
tree.
Do you think my five loped leaf tree is a Sycamore? I can not seem to be able to id it. This tree does offer a sence of graceful aging.
The old growth trees give me great comfort too.
Thank you for walking with me each day.
I think of you when I am with the trees.
Sherry

Sprite said...

*****

Dear Sherry,

I don't think so- on the picture you have on the 5 lobed leaf. I think the bark would already be white, but don't know when that starts to happen on the Sycamore.

The tree looks like an Old Silver Maple to me, the leaves match too.

What do you think?

*sprite

Q said...

Hi Sprite,
I will wait until Fall and see. I also will look on the back of the leaves next time I walk by five-lopped leaf tree.
Thanks honey,
Sherry