Catalpa bloom, Potter Hill

Ordinarily, I'd have written about the Catalpa tree and its marvelous flowers a week or two ago when, as part of our annual visit to White Flower Farm for the yard sale, we would drive by large stretches of the stately plants in full, magnificent bloom, and I'd highlight the floral spectacular in this or other editorial venues. But the yard sale was cancelled and even had we gone for old times' sake, I fear that there probably wouldn't have been much in the Catalpa department to write about; in general, it's been a pretty off year for the genus Catalpa. There are two U.S. species found in our area, and I think this one is the Southern Catalpa, C. bignonioides. But whatever their precise identity, none of our locals put on much of a flower show. This one, however, which I found close to home, hadn't read the play book. It was just later than usual.