A Favorite Autumn Tree

 

The Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is one of my favorite trees due to the brilliant colors of its leaves in autumn. While the Chinese Pistache is not a native tree - it is native to central and western China - it is almost perfect for the rather temperate conditions here in the North Bay. It isn't picky about the soil, is hardy and also very drought tolerant. Deer leave it alone while birds love to flit in it. It is often used as a street tree and many of them are found in my neighborhood.

13 years ago I planted a young Chinese Pistache in my front yard. Since I didn't do the greatest job planting it, it is a bit crooked - and you know, I love crooked trees. Here it is seen from our upstairs bathroom window.

It still needs a lot of time to grow into such a majestic tree like the one in the next photo, probably the most beautiful tree in our street.

It always looks as if there are two Chinese Pistaches in the image, but the thick tree trunk you can see behind the "speed limit 25" sign belongs to an old oak.

I love to stop under the tree and look up. Recently I spotted a Cooper's Hawk in this tree who wanted to catch a squirrel. That squirrel was running up and down the branches and really taunting the hawk, until the bird finally had enough and flew away.

The colors of the leaves are particularly brilliant when backlit.

I am drawn to the shape of this Chinese Pistache. They must have cut off the branch to the right because it was probably hanging too low in the neighbor's driveway.

They are wonderful shade trees. I wish I had a big one in my backyard instead of the Privet that was planted probably when the house was built.

Look at this foliage - isn't it fiery?

Another perfectly shaped tree that I often pass on my after-lunch walks.

I'm not sure that these trees count for Nicole's Friday Face Off. So I better come up with a "real" face. I was digging in my archives because I remembered that Kaefer went as "autumn" at Halloween during her high school sophomore year. She had made her costume herself - lots of gluing those leaves was involved and I had to tie her in (the leaves close in the back crosswise with some strong ribbon). She always loved to make her own Halloween costumes and match her hair to it.

I again apologize for not being around much. The shop is busy and I can hardly catch up. It probably will be like this until about two weeks or so before Christmas.