The rare but beautiful Princesstree (paulownia tomentosa) is in bloom now if only for a short while. Just a short drive from Mt. Washington. If you care to see one, drive down Shaler Street (crossing the overpass and one bridge) make a right at the bottom onto Woodvillle go straight until you see the Old Stone Tavern (which incidentially is for sale and I hope some historically minded individual buys it, please) at that intersection make a left onto Greentree Road and a couple of hundred feet on your right you will see one Princesstree. If you travel further uphill and look to your right where JR Automotive is located you will see a row of them in the back. The Princesstree is resplendent with its large upright clusters of fragrant light violet-colored flowers. There are no leaves until the flowers leave.
This tree was named after Princess Anna Paulowna (1795 - 1865) of the Netherlands and is a native of China. Seeds of this species were sent to the United States in 1830. If you want to be really adventurous, hidden away in the valley or ravine more grow and that area can be reached by another way off this same section of Greentree Road–both right turns toward a florist shop or Kearns Street. When you get there, look up and around. They are in a semi-circle enclosing the valley.
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