blooming trees
bulldogs' paulownia tomentosa, aka "empress trees," are in bloom again---
In China, an old custom is to plant an Empress Tree when a baby girl is born. The fast-growing tree matures when she does. When she is eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her dowry. Carving the wood of Paulownia is an art form in Japan and China. In legend, it is said that the Phoenix will only land on the Empress Tree and only when a good ruler is in power.
of course, over here, it's an invasive species
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The Enoch Olinga College (ENOCIS) is trying to carry on the paulownia tradition in Panama by developing an agricultural extension program for peoples of extreme poverty.
For more information on paulownia and its many uses you might read www.paulownianow.org
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