[Eastern Redbud via National Park Service]
As previously noted, I’m reinstating the Hug This Tree series. I miss it. Kicking it off with the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). I mainly picked this tree because it’s hardy to my zone, pretty, and very old, which is cool. This tree dates back to biblical times, and is sometimes known as the Judas tree.

I’ve totally been slacking about us hugging trees latey. In fact, we haven’t hugged a single tree for a very long time here at Tree Hugging Family. Sad. That said, I’m thinking I’ll recharge this series, because I like learning about new trees, and I bet you do to.
In case you’re new to Tree Hugging Family, and missed this old series entirely, here’s a recap of some of the trees we’ve hugged in the past…

Coconut Tree
Pear Tree
Paper Birch
Lilac
Lemon
Blue Jacaranda
Royal Purple Smoke
Autumn Trees
Yellow Poplar
Pomegranate
Tea Tree
The Pumpkin Tree
The Chocolate Tree
Almond
Binary Tree
Red Flowering Dogwood
Cedar
Sugar Maple
Douglas Fir
Edible Tree
Heirloom Peach Tree

THREE POP QUIZ QUESTIONS:

We’ve …read more

The Yellow Poplar, is one of those trees that makes you think of a really great park. Nice and tall, up to 200 feet, beautiful broad leaves, and it spreads nicely.

Sometimes called the “tuliptree” because of it’s lovely blooms, the Yellow Poplar is the state tree of Indiana. It has soft white wood too, but not so soft that you can’t use it – although, unused is fine. It’s beautiful left alone.

Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve seen this tree, except in photos. Maybe, but I can’t remember – it seems like I would.

The best place to learn …read more

So, I’ve decided to go with a non-edible tree today. Maybe my appetite for munchies is low, being winter and all. My appetite for trees however is hearty as usual.
Today, the beautiful (and tiny) Royal Purple Smoke Tree:

This is not a tree I know a whole lot about – but it’s a great tree. I love the bright color and it’s so unusual with it’s puffy flowers. According to Direct Gardening the Royal Purple Smoke tree, “Grows only 9-10 feet tall. In early spring the Royal Purple Smoke Tree is covered with rich, purple foliage. In mid-summer, large plumes of …read more

I promise, later today, we will have solutions to the afore mentioned car problems. However, that topic was a tad depressing. So how about a tree quiz?
Hints? Ok…
It’s edible, in limited quantities.

It’s medicinal.

It’s helpful around the house…

It’s an Aussie native and may look like a shrub – but it is a tree.

What tree are we hugging? Answers and information tomorrow.

The Sugar Maple is the official state tree of Vermont and is lovely. Tall, winding, and spread out for shade with beautiful leaves.

The Sugar Maple is considered the best source for maple sugar — read more about specific Sugar Maple characteristics. Grow Native also has some great info for Sugar Maple huggers.
NPR recently offered an alarming, but great article on the future of the Sugar Maple as global warming continues to advance. Sugar Maple trees are delicate; or I should say sensitive and while global warming is not healthy for anyone or anything on the planet it could be very …read more

I don’t know if anything looks nicer than a bright and shiny lemon tree. They have pretty leaves, flowers, and fruit. Lemon trees are thus triple threat hug worthy. Not to mention all the great dishes lemons can be used in.

The best part is that any tree hugging family can grow their own organic lemon tree!
Viva Terra has some of the most amazing eco items at their website; including a tiny Organic Dwarf Meyer Lemon tree. It grows full size lemons though so lemon dishes a plenty are good to go.

For the kids check out this giant lemon! Now that …read more

“Autumn trees” are not so specific but this is my first real autumn in years so I’m excited. Fall is my favorite season (maybe because I’m a November baby). For those of you who don’t know my bio; I grew up in Oregon, lived in Humboldt, and then…. moved to New Mexico. I’ve been in New Mexico for the last three years and just this last winter moved back to the Great Northwest.
There is no autumn in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not my kind of autumn anyhow, as in no gradual autumn. It goes from the summer blaze to winter cold …read more