Austin Garden 🌿 Figbeard celebrates the Catalpa 🌿 12 plants that mosquitos loathe

NURSERY NOTES: visit the American Botanical Council in east Austin tomorrow (May 4) to celebrate HerbDay. Lots of distinguished guests will speak, including curandera / ethno-pharmacologist Dr. Rocio Alarcon (below). Free. ABC

Also on Saturday, a chance to visit several upscale houses & gardens on the ATX Outdoor Living Tour. $40 ATX 🌿 On May 11 at 9:15 a.m. Austin Davenport shares his extensive knowledge of microgreen cultivation at Zilker Botanical Garden. Bring mason jars (with lids), a colander, and a take-out container. Austin Organic Gardeners 🌿 Also on May 11, check out the Inside Austin Gardens Tour. A suburban farm, a woodland escape, an elevated garden, and the garden of Daphne Richards (Travis Co Extension Agent) are all on the tour. Advance tickets $20. (Kids under 12 free). Travis Co. Master Gardeners ❦

FATHER OF PERMACULTURE: Bill Mollison (1928-2016), is the Australian who (along with David Holmgren) created the concept of "permanent agriculture." He is the subject of this touching 23-minute documentary. In 1978 he published the groundbreaking book "Perma-culture One." Bosco ❦

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A DOZEN PLANTS TO WARD OFF MOSQUITOS: enter the world of lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, beebalm, basil and other pretty plants to discourage these unwelcome garden guests, writes Christine Yoo. Garden Design ❦

THE AUSTIN GARDEN relies entirely on support from its readers. Please consider making a donation to support this bi-monthly publication. Whether an annual or monthly donation, all are welcomed. (At the moment only 5% of readers support this publication) Many thanks in advance! PayPal link ❦

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CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER: On tour, a visit with two gardeners who turned rough land into charming gardens, a wildlife habitat, and home to chickens and donkeys. Laura Brennand, cut flower grower at La Otra Flora, shows how to grow and dry flowers. CTG ❦

Timber Tales: the Tree that Duped Industrialists

by Figbeard

BLOOMING IN THE HEART of Central Texas, behold a tree so fascinatingly entangled with American Railroad Expansionism. Meet the Catalpa tree, loved for its orchid-like flowers falling onto yards, sidewalks, and the heads of unsuspecting passersby in Spring.

MANY MONIKERS

Native to North America, Catalpa is also known by its Cherokee language name, Catawba. Also called Cigar Tree due to its large, elongated seed pods. Fishermen dub it the Fish Bait Tree because it attracts catalpa sphinx caterpillars, prized as top-notch bait.

WOOD OF RARE QUALITIES

Beyond its blooms and caterpillars, Catalpa offers another marvel—its exceptional wood. Characterized by fast growth, softness, and light weight, Catalpa wood is also remarkably resistant to rot. Thus, large dead branches linger on trees for years without falling.

USES OF CATALPA WOOD

The wood's extreme rot resistance makes it ideal for outdoor use. Whether carved into sculptures, outdoor furniture, or fence posts, Catalpa wood boasts durability and longevity, embodying the tree's spirit of endurance and adaptability.

EARLY TIES TO RAILROAD EXPANSIONISM

In the late 1870s, railroads expanded across the U.S. and investors saw potential in Catalpa lumber for railroad ties. The tree’s rapid growth and rot resistance promised a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to traditional oak and chestnut ties.

SPECULATORS BUSTED

But as rail technology advanced, dense woods that could handle heavier loads and forces were needed. Despite its virtues, Catalpa wood couldn't meet these demands, to the downfall of timber speculators betting on its success.

JUMPING THE RAILS

Though Catalpa couldn’t carry the rails, the rails carried Catalpa! Spread by wildlife along all of the new railway lines, Catalpa seeds migrated far from their Midwest origin. Today Catalpa thrives in diverse landscapes all across the U.S.

HUMAN SPIRIT IN THE HISTORY OF TREES

Our triumphs, failures, and aspirations are intimately intertwined with our stories and relationships with trees. Explore these bonds more deeply in Figbeard's inspiring tree lectures throughout the year. Join us as we dive into rich legacies of human connection in tree history and arboreal industry, mythology, and lore. ❦