Purple Blossom....

The pink cherry trees around Manchester Cathedral aren’t having it their own way. Over in St. Peter’s Square (part sublime sqaure, part building site at present) the purple flowering Paulownia trees are giving them a run for their money. They were planted in winter 2014 and bloomed for the first time last spring. People were delighted with the depth of the colour. They’ve settled in well, grown a little and have more flowers this year. In a couple of years time they will look spectacular. Established trees are smothered in their lilac flowers at this time of year.

Paulownia trees are from China where they are also called Princess or Empress Trees. They are fast growing and the story is that one is planted when a baby girl in born. When she gets married it is cut down and its wood is used to build furniture for her new home. Today they go to IKEA I suspect. These trees can be a pest. Where they have been imported from China they can spread as they set seed easily. This has happened in the eastern states of the USA. But I can’t see this colony of trees in heavily urbanised central Manchester getting out of hand here. But I would like to pick up some seeds and see if I could get one going in our garden. It’s been a beautifully warm and sunny day with a beautifully blue sky over the city. The extra picture is looking across the half finished square towards Manchester Art Gallery.