Ornamental pears are the likely autumn stunners right now

Q: I was wondering if you know the name of the trees that have beautiful green and red leaves on them now. The fall colors seem much prettier this year, and those trees are outstanding. — B.H., Albuquerque

A: Running my errands this past weekend, like you, I was agog at the colorful displays our trees are putting on for us this autumn season. There are riots of color everywhere and I’m hoping many are taking the time to recognize it.

Anyway, the trees I believe you have become enamored with are a variety of ornamental pear tree. At the retail level, you can usually find two types available here in the Albuquerque area. The Bradford pear, I learned, was the original offered, soon followed by another variety, Aristocrat, soon after.

Ornamental pear trees are a treat for all seasons in my book. In the spring, they flower with brilliant white bloom clusters followed by delightful stout, glossy nearly heart-shaped oval green leaves. With good care and adequate water, though they are not a water pig, the ornamental pear grows well here in our area.

The Bradford has a more roundish oval-shaped canopy, where the Aristocrat has a more pyramidal or flame-shaped canopy. They can reach mature heights of 18- to 20-feet easily. But this time of year, weather dependent, it’s the autumn color that makes the ornamental pear a standout.

I said weather dependent, because it’s true. Since we’ve had a fairly slow cooling down of our nighttime temperatures, trees have taken that cue and begun to change their colors gradually. Since the daily amount of sunlight has lessened, that is another cue. Also, it hasn’t been really windy for weeks. Then we had that modicum of rain in early October that helped the trees start to settle with more ease. Those reasons are why the Albuquerque area has had such a riot of color with its trees this season.

As far as I know we haven’t had that snap freeze that causes the “mulberry whump” and I’ve been waiting for it anxiously.

But, I’m pretty sure that the trees you’ve noticed are ornamental pears putting on that green-red-burgundy show for you. So, instead of “diggin’ in,” keep looking around at the seasonal wonders because they won’t last much longer.

Q: I just found a bag of daffodils that I purchased on a whim in the garage. I need to know if planted now in a big pot I have, will they grow and bloom for me next year? — S.G., Albuquerque

A: Plant them! Right away! Now!

It might be a crap shoot whether they’ll have time to settle in and root out for you, but I’d go for it.

Just be sure to water the pot during the dormant season, so the bulbs don’t dry out and in turn freeze to death. Or, if your garage was cool enough, the daffodils might be “triggered” enough that you could force them indoors and have blooming daffodils in time for the Christmas holidays, certainly for New Years. But more on forcing bulbs next week.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.