A Couple Trees for the Devil's Strip
A trip for slippers somehow ends with a Kwanzan cherry and fringe tree planted where three old maples once stood.
This morning, though, I wasn't planning a House 173 project at all.
I went to Marshalls for slippers.
Yep. Slippers.
I didn't find any I liked, but on the way home I passed our favorite nursery and caught sight of a huge sign:
CLEARANCE ON ALL NURSERY ITEMS.
You probably already know the slippers aren't going to be important to the rest of this story.
The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself. - William Blake
Three Old Maples Once Stood Here
Briefly, the back story: When we bought our house many years ago now, there were three HUGE old maples trees in the Devil's Strip, you know, that grassy strip between the sidewalk and road. They were beautiful, but very old, weak and diseased.
As much as I hated to do it - I had the city take them down. For the past several years we thought and debated about putting in some new trees. And each year, we'd say - "yeah! lets get some in." Then another year would go by, and we just didn't get to it.
I Went Out for Slippers...
Back to today. I saw that sign at the nursery and made a hard right from the far left and pulled into the parking lot. Fifteen minutes later I was driving down the street with two trees sticking out the back of this:
It must have looked hilarious! Anyway, I picked up two trees, a Kwanzan Cherry, and a Fringe Tree.
The Kwanzan Cherry
Apparently the Kwanzan Cherry tree is the type that blooms so beautifully for the Cherry Festival in DC. So maybe one spring (hopefully) not too many years from now, this:
Will look like this:
And a Fringe Tree
Then there's the Fringe Tree. I've seen them around before but had no idea what they were called. They get really pretty flowers in the spring:
And end up looking like:
But for now she looks like this:
There's something fun about watching a tree planted with my own hands (okay, I dug the hole) grow over the years.
Many Falls Later...
UPDATE - 2026: When I originally wrote this post, both trees were little more than sticks with aspirations. All these years later, they've had plenty of time to become part of the landscape here at 173. Here's a shot of the cherry tree...
That's one of my favorite things about looking back through these old posts. A project involving paint or lumber pretty much looks the way you left it. Planting a tree is different. You do your little part in an afternoon, step back, and then turn the project over to time. This picture is looking the other direction. You may notice that you're not looking at a Fringe tree. Well, that story is told in a 2013 post titled: A Cleveland Pear Tree for the Devil's Strip.
Looking at them now, it's hard to remember that stretch between the sidewalk and street without them.
And to think, I went out for slippers.
There ya have it.
Hey, thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!
He went out for slippers.
He came home with two trees.
No slippers.
As a woman, I feel obligated to point out this is not how shopping lists work. 😂
Still, years of debating which trees to plant were apparently solved by one clearance sign.
Honestly? I've made worse impulse purchases.
At least his got taller. - Linda, Mineola
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Kwanzan cherry tree?
The Kwanzan cherry is an ornamental flowering cherry known for its showy clusters of pink double blossoms in spring.
How large does a Kwanzan cherry tree get?
Kwanzan cherries generally mature into medium-sized ornamental trees. Mature size varies with growing conditions, so adequate room should be allowed for the canopy and roots.
Can trees be planted between the sidewalk and street?
Sometimes, but the area is usually part of the public right-of-way and many municipalities regulate which trees may be planted there, their placement, and who is permitted to plant them. Local requirements should be checked before planting.
Is fall a good time to plant trees?
Yes. Fall can be an excellent planting season for many trees because cooler temperatures reduce heat stress while the soil can remain warm enough for root development before winter.
Keywords
Kwanzan cherry tree, fringe tree, fall tree planting, ornamental trees, flowering cherry tree, Chionanthus virginicus, Devil's Strip trees, sidewalk trees, fall landscaping, front yard trees, House 173