Comments on clay and limestone: Marvelous Marcescence or Love Those Lingering Leav...

Thanks everyone for your comments.

2012-01-24T10:42:22.101-06:00

Thanks everyone for your comments.

My Witch Hazel holds tight onto her leaves too but...

2012-01-15T09:19:34.928-06:00

My Witch Hazel holds tight onto her leaves too but the flowers smell so marvelous that I just accept it. Once I tried to strip the leaves and they were on so tight flowers started coming off too so I left them. I love Beech Tree leaves in winter.

I have a laurel oak that does the same thing. When...

2012-01-14T13:12:36.295-06:00

I have a laurel oak that does the same thing. When its leaves drop I know for sure that spring is on its way. Thanks for the new word! I'd never heard it before.

Our wooded area is filled with some of these trees...

2012-01-13T14:46:22.978-06:00

Our wooded area is filled with some of these trees. They are the only leaves visible above ground. I like how they catch the light and glisten with ecru hues.

I have a beech hedge and I love the way it sort of...

2012-01-13T13:39:34.006-06:00

I have a beech hedge and I love the way it sort of slips into spring foliage without me noticing - one minute brown the next fresh green

My witch hazel lost it leaves ages ago and isnt in flower yet - though this is its first year and I am hoping it is OK

Loved the post, and I always enjoy the beech leave...

2012-01-12T21:22:42.423-06:00

Loved the post, and I always enjoy the beech leaves this time of year.

And good for you for finding a term for it: marcescence (geez, never heard of that nor had my gardening companion...)

Lisa

Thanks Gail for reminding me what this phenomenon ...

2012-01-12T18:13:59.145-06:00

Thanks Gail for reminding me what this phenomenon is called. We have been out walking in the woods lately and see some oaks with leaves, although not all the oaks it seems? and the alternate leafed dogwoods with leaves clinging. I knew some trees did this but couldn't remember which ones or why.

In most cases, I find marcescence unsightly, but n...

2012-01-12T17:48:42.481-06:00

In most cases, I find marcescence unsightly, but not in the case of beeches. I'd love to have a beech hedge loaded with dead leaves, whispering in the winter wind....

Well, thank you for that new word and new wrinkle ...

2012-01-12T17:13:10.605-06:00

Well, thank you for that new word and new wrinkle in my brain :-) That's what I love about gardening .... always learning something new.

Hi Gail, I have all three trees in my garden and ...

2012-01-12T10:36:46.654-06:00

Hi Gail,

I have all three trees in my garden and I love them.
My particular favourite is a copper beech hedge which I planted when I first came to the farmhouse.
I love it when the leaves rustle in the wind :)

Got to get those leaves OFF that gorgeous witch hazel :)

Thank you, Gail! I can NEVER remember that word. x...

2012-01-12T04:43:32.857-06:00

Thank you, Gail! I can NEVER remember that word. xoxo

I think the leaves are so pretty.

2012-01-11T20:43:23.627-06:00

I think the leaves are so pretty.

I love seeing these brown leaves on trees in winte...

2012-01-11T18:44:43.655-06:00

I love seeing these brown leaves on trees in winter!!

I love the word macrescense. I wrote about beech t...

2012-01-11T10:20:10.735-06:00

I love the word macrescense. I wrote about beech trees and their habit of holding on to their trees. I spoke to one tree expert and he said that it is immature beech trees that tend to hand on to their leaves. A matter of hormones. Who knew trees had hormones.

I didn't know that word and must now pay atten...

2012-01-11T09:42:03.148-06:00

I didn't know that word and must now pay attention and see if I see any trees showing that behavior. Thanks for teaching me something new and interesting!

Informative indeed. I love the curving road photo...

2012-01-11T09:39:15.136-06:00

Informative indeed. I love the curving road photo. People used to stuff mattresses and couches with spanish moss too.

I like them...and it's just another reminder t...

2012-01-11T09:08:24.704-06:00

I like them...and it's just another reminder that brown is a color too :-) Love the Witch Hazel...so very lovely!

I have a new word, marcescence...tough to spell (h...

2012-01-11T08:52:02.354-06:00

I have a new word, marcescence...tough to spell (had to look back a couple times) I love the beech we have here. There is a spot along the route we drive to Greenville that we call Sherwood Forest, it is full of beech trees.
I think the leaves staying on to protect the young buds is a great theory.

I remember hearing this word on your blog a few ye...

2012-01-11T08:34:45.064-06:00

I remember hearing this word on your blog a few years ago; for the first time I started to notice this phenomenon on certain trees in the winter. Whatever the scientific explanation, I love seeing some leaves still on the trees in the winter! Diane is a beauty with or without her leaves.

I really enjoy the leaves that remain through the ...

2012-01-11T07:23:24.309-06:00

I really enjoy the leaves that remain through the winter, especially when the sun hits them like in your first image. They give the forested areas some real visual interest.

Dear Gail, A very informative post ... you are so ...

2012-01-11T07:11:42.238-06:00

Dear Gail, A very informative post ... you are so knowledgeable! I wouldn't remove those leaves. I think they look beautiful in your photographs. P. x

I think our H. virginiana leaves drop in the winte...

2012-01-11T06:42:05.332-06:00

I think our H. virginiana leaves drop in the winter. But they were growing at our old house and I can't get over there to check right now.

The beech leaves hang on all winter so we can look...

2012-01-11T06:16:03.525-06:00

The beech leaves hang on all winter so we can look out the window to see which way the wind is blowing without having to go outside.

Thanks for explaining the word and its meaning, de...

2012-01-11T05:56:52.239-06:00

Thanks for explaining the word and its meaning, dear Gail. I had never heard it before, but have noticed the pretty reddish tan leaves still hanging on certain trees. I knew about the oaks but not the others. Diane will be beautiful with or without the leaf-cut!
xxxooo
Frances