A while ago during a lookabout at a local preschool, I came across this tree in their backyard and had a moment of "I WANT THAT TREE".
I quickly snapped a photo of it and set about trying to figure out what it was.
The picture: [url=https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e23/Pyrokin/IMG_2118.jpg][X][/url]
A close-up: [url=https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e23/Pyrokin/IMG_2118-Copy.jpg][X][/url]
It wasn't easy, I eventually settled on the idea it was some sort of oriental cherry.
A few days ago however, I went back to see if I could get a better shot. I don't think it's a cherry anymore, I think there's a better chance of it being an apple.
The tree now: [url=https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e23/Pyrokin/IMG_2187.jpg][X][/url]
The developing fruit: [url=https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e23/Pyrokin/IMG_2191.jpg][X][/url]
Leaf close-up: [url=https://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e23/Pyrokin/IMG_2186.jpg][X][/url]
Can anyone help identifying it?
I plan on going back several times to check it out, and hopefully steal some fruit/stones to plant.
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DoubleDogFarm
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I'm not familiar with flowering quince, but the traditional fruiting quince is a very messy "tree": often there's no dominant trunk, but rather many competing branches emanating directly from the ground. It could be taken for an overlarge shrub.... Years ago, there was one in my MIL's front yard.
The quince tree's shape is largely determined (if it's a kept vs. a wild tree) by the pruning it receives from its keeper(s). They may have selected one or two of the competing "would-be" trunks and allowed it/them to develop into a standard-looking tree with a single trunk and lateral branches.
Different ideas: Although I'm not familiar with the leaf shape, the fruit suggests kumquats to me. I initially thought of loquats, but those leaves I am familiar with, and the leaves in your photos don't match up to those of the loquats I've seen in California or Florida.
Hope you settle on an ID soon! But it might need to wait until harvest, in a couple of months.... Have you considered writing a note to the owner of the tree--yes, the old-fashioned kind delivered by post--describing your interest in knowing what kind of tree it is, your admiration, etc., and wanting to know how the tree has attained such a beautiful shape? where it was acquired? and other points of interest? This might be a way of finding out directly what kind of tree it is.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
The quince tree's shape is largely determined (if it's a kept vs. a wild tree) by the pruning it receives from its keeper(s). They may have selected one or two of the competing "would-be" trunks and allowed it/them to develop into a standard-looking tree with a single trunk and lateral branches.
Different ideas: Although I'm not familiar with the leaf shape, the fruit suggests kumquats to me. I initially thought of loquats, but those leaves I am familiar with, and the leaves in your photos don't match up to those of the loquats I've seen in California or Florida.
Hope you settle on an ID soon! But it might need to wait until harvest, in a couple of months.... Have you considered writing a note to the owner of the tree--yes, the old-fashioned kind delivered by post--describing your interest in knowing what kind of tree it is, your admiration, etc., and wanting to know how the tree has attained such a beautiful shape? where it was acquired? and other points of interest? This might be a way of finding out directly what kind of tree it is.
Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9
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DoubleDogFarm
- Super Green Thumb
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- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Orchard%20Summer%202012/OrchardJuly9th2012003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Orchard%20Summer%202012/OrchardJuly9th2012004.jpg[/img]
Aromatnaya Russian Quince Planted Feb. 2003
I don't know, I think my fruiting quince is a handsome tree.
Eric
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Orchard%20Summer%202012/OrchardJuly9th2012004.jpg[/img]
Aromatnaya Russian Quince Planted Feb. 2003
I don't know, I think my fruiting quince is a handsome tree.
Eric
Believe me, yours are better taken care of, even as many as you have, than the *one* my MIL had. It was scraggly, branches all over the place. But did she want me to prune it? Oh, no.... 
Finally, the poor tree keeled over from a combination of being top-heavy and borers, which no one had noticed b/c she didn't want anyone to get "too close" to it because, you know, we might prune it or pay attention to it. Or something.
So I know what quinces can look like when they're let go wild.
Cynthia
Finally, the poor tree keeled over from a combination of being top-heavy and borers, which no one had noticed b/c she didn't want anyone to get "too close" to it because, you know, we might prune it or pay attention to it. Or something.
So I know what quinces can look like when they're let go wild.
Cynthia
Went back today to see if there were any notable changes. Nothing really, except there were a lot of the immature fruit on the ground. I'm hoping that's just because we had a lot of wind last night.
In regards to contacting the owner, I'm not exactly sure who the owner is...
The daycare I was visiting in particular was a very open place. There were actually no fences at the school, and it also shares a building and a courtyard with a community centre (folk dancing! Woo!) and the tree is very awkwardly in the blurry line of boundaries. I also have my doubts if it was a consciencious decision. My bet would be that they thought it would be a nice tree, planted it and then just left it to its own devices. The coverage of ivy (?) doesn't make anything easier.
In regards to contacting the owner, I'm not exactly sure who the owner is...
The daycare I was visiting in particular was a very open place. There were actually no fences at the school, and it also shares a building and a courtyard with a community centre (folk dancing! Woo!) and the tree is very awkwardly in the blurry line of boundaries. I also have my doubts if it was a consciencious decision. My bet would be that they thought it would be a nice tree, planted it and then just left it to its own devices. The coverage of ivy (?) doesn't make anything easier.