newest member
To kick off the year, a new addition has joined us at the site: a specimen tree that was greatly anticipated after picking her out over a year ago at the vivaio (plant nursery). I’d been looking forward to this day for a long time and just a few days into this new year, it finally arrived.
The interior courtyard - what will soon be a cube of glass panels - sticks into the living room from the outside, and already had been prepared with a large 1m2 hole in the center of it. Above this space is the other hole which was prepared in the roof for the tree to be able to exit through the ceiling.
Just after Christmas I’d gone to check that the tree was ready for delivery and then realized that there wasn’t ever any drainage attached to the hole, so quickly scheduled the builders to come in and complete the tubing. On a very foggy morning they dug a deep trench from the courtyard through the back part of the land, installed the drainage pipes and replaced the land.
The next day the landscapers arrived with the tree and I was there bright and early to watch the installation as it was something I’d looked forward to for so long. I went to the roof and removed the temporary metal covering which had been placed there for security. After they drove the tree down the muddy slope in a small caterpillar, they prepared the hole with earth then it took about 20 minutes of maneuvering to first slide the top of the tree through the opening of the ceiling then carefully lowering her down into the hole.
It was a perfect fit! Both the width of the part that exits the top, and the height which shows about a meter out from the roof. I really don’t think another tree would have fit better and I’m so happy with the result. They said it was a great time to plant it now during the dormancy period; and so after a good initial water, it will be okay to remain maintenance-free until the spring. Then they will check and guarantee the first flower and that the plant has taken to its new home, after which it should be good to go as a beautiful new addition to the space - and one that changes with the seasons.
NOTES:
It’s a lagerstroemia indica (crepe myrtle) which has been pruned in this narrow shape. I mainly was drawn to it for the sculptural form which will be seen in the house, and yet not block the view, and the flowering foliage towards the top which will give a nice pop of color both inside as well as on top of the roof. Besides this, however, I do think it’s a nice homage to my southern roots.It will flower in a dark pink blossom and should bloom from June through autumn.
Now I’m just deciding on her name…