Paulownia Trees

What, I hear you ask, is a Paulownia tree. The following is taken from an Australian web site.

Paulownia timber is light in weight and colour, yet it is strong, dries easily, has a beautiful grain, does not warp, crack or deform easily. The wood is easy to work with and suitable for the manufacture of furniture, plywood, moldings, doors and many other uses. The leaves and flowers are rich in nitrogen and therefore serve as good fertiliser and fodder. The flowers are colourful and beautiful in spring and the trees
are green and shady in summer. It is fascinating to observe a young Paulownia seedling grow into a tall 'pole' in just a few short months.

In the summer months, given good growing conditions, the plant can reach up to 6 metres or 20 feet high and sometimes higher, depending on the Paulownia Tree species used. It is a known fact, that the tree can reach its fully mature stage in just 8-10 years and can produce up to 1 cubic metre of timber in that time.

Just across the river from home there is a big plantation of these beautiful trees. They are a cash crop. At this time of year they have lovely lilac coloured blossom so we got permission to go into the plantation to take photographs.




Beautiful blossom.


Long avenues.


Alex and Nana looking for a teddy bears picnic......


.....in the woods......


......and they found one of them.






The photographer being photographed.