Tag Archives: tree

Walking to and from the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness, this intriguing tree caught my eye and the eyes of many others.

Catherine, Peng and I stopped and looked at it for a time. None of us had seen anything like it. The pink-purple flowers grow directly on the bark – almost like moss.

“I wonder what it is?” mused Catherine. I pulled out my BlackBerry preparing to do a search when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a small sign on the tree. “Bet that will tell us,” I said.

We walked, some of us stumbling, across the sidewalk and on to the grass where we could read the sign.

Eastern Rosebud (Judas Tree) said the inscription. That really did not tell me much. Maybe Peng and Catherine went on their way with a deeper understanding, but no insights shimmered for me. A few minutes ago, ensconced in my hotel for Compassion, Peace and Justice training day and Ecumenical Advocacy Days, I Googled and learned several things:

• The Eastern Rosebud is native to eastern North America from the southern part of Ontario to northern Florida.
• It is the state tree of Oklahoma.
• It has a number or family members scattered around the world.
• Legend says that Judas hanged himself from a species of the rosebud.
• The flowers are magenta in color – various shades of magenta.

My picture fails to do it justice – but it points to its intriguing beauty.

See you along the Trail.