SWEET THING

YOUNG LINDEN (AKA BASSWOOD) ALONG MANYPENNY AVE....

...FLOWERS, THE SWEETEST SCENTED OF ALL TEMPERATE ZONE TREES...

THE WINGED APENDAGE OF THE FLORETS

...LEAF SIMPLE, HEART SHAPED, TOOTHED

Tuesday, 8:45 AM.  70 degrees F, wind SSW, moderate with strong gusts; no day to be on the lake.  The sky is alternately sunny and filled with storm clouds, and likewise with anticipation.  We had a brutally hot and humid afternoon and evening yesterday, broken by a 2:00 AM thunderstorm and resultant scrambling to close doors and windows; it left .25" of rain in the gage, not much but something.  The morning is pleasant but very windy, and it should be a comfortable day.  The humidity has fallen to 82% and the barometer has bottomed out at 29.73" and is on the rise.
   The sweetest scented of all temperate zone tree flowers (in my opinion) are those of the linden, also called basswood in America.  A large basswood tree in flower will flood the area with a wonderful perfume and attract thousands of bees, and basswood honey is one of the best.
   The American linden, or basswood, Tilia americana, is a common tree native to the eastern deciduous forest, growing in association with sugar maple, red oak and yellow birch, among others.  The European linden, Tilia cordata, is quite similar but has much smaller leaves.  Both lindens make excellent street trees, being adaptable and relatively trouble free.  There are a number of other hardy species of Tila in the linden family (Tiliaceae), many of which make good landscape and street trees a little further south.