Monday, December 1, 2014

Camperdown Elms and A Giveaway


Camperdown Elm with sticky leaf foliage

Camperdown Elm trees are mutants. 

Unable to reproduce, they have to be grown on stock such as Scottish Elm. Very slow growing, but hardy enough to endure cold winters. Not as tall as a regular elm, the branches hold many knobs and knots for a foothold, a great place for a child to play.

When the deciduous foliage drops its sticky leaves, all sorts of mangled and tangled branch formations are exposed. Some call it an upside-down tree.

The first mutant Camperdown Elm...

...was discovered on the Camperdown Estate in Dundee, Scotland, in the late 1830s. The
Camperdown Estate
Dundee, Scotland
Dutch name is the English version of Kamperduin, a village in North Holland. The Dundee Camperdown Estate’s original owner Adam Duncan defeated a Dutch fleet near there in the Battle of Camperdown. Thus the name for his place and the region. And eventually the strange elm.

The story goes that a gardener found the first sprawling root and instead of digging it up, let it grow. Every Camperdown Elm tree in the world has been grafted from that original one.

I became fascinated with these trees because of the ones grafted at the University of Idaho campus, about an hour from where I live.  Their umbrella shape breadth and medium sized height when leafed out make them wonderful hiding places for children. And lovers.

In the winter, their striking gnarled limbs look more like woody roots spread out than branches.  At last
Camperdown Elm gnarled limbs
count, about a hundred or so exist in the United States.
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In my new novel just released this past week, a Camperdown Elm grows in the small town of Road’s End, Idaho. One of the characters, Cole Cahill, brought a cutting from his hometown of Dundee, Scotland.

An upside-down tree,” he called it, and always with a curse.  “Things are not what they seem,” he often chided. At other times, he admonished his granddaughter Reba when things went wrong, “Get used to it, girl.  Life’s topsy turvy and pulled inside out, just when you least expect it."
Camperdown Elm twisted limbs

He proved it by dying of a sudden heart attack beside an axe imbedded in the tree’s trunk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Questions for Giveaway...

Have you ever heard of a Camperdown Elm? Ever seen one?
What is the most special tree to you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janet with her three sons:
From left: Aaron, Michael, Russell
Janet Chester Bly has written and co-written thirty-two books with her late husband, award-winning western author Stephen Bly. She and her three sons completed Stephen’s last novel for him, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot. Read about the story here: http://www.blybooks.com/category/finishing-dads-novel/.

Wind in the Wires
A Trails of Reba Cahill Novel
Janet Chester Bly
Newly released Wind in the Wires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill, is her first solo adult novel. It’s a contemporary western mystery. It’s a road adventure with a touch of romance. It’s Cowgirl Lit. One of the commenters on this post will receive a free paperback (U.S. or Canada only) or PDF copy. Paperback & eBook: http://amzn.to/1tnpHpr
More info: http://www.BlyBooks.com/blog/




18 comments:

  1. I have never heard of camperdown elm trees. I think I have seen them before. My favorite memory of a tree was a Magnolia tree. We use to climb one in our backyard. My mom hated that.

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    1. Virginia: I love magnolias too! Never climbed one though.

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  2. I have never heard of a Camperdown Elm but gosh you have peaked my interest and I want to know the rest of the story. I want to know more about Cole Cahill and what happens with Reba. I loved all the oaks, maple, poplar growing up in Rockford, IL . . . the Forest City! But my favorite was the Birch trees because you could pull the bark off. In 4th grade we spent the whole year learning about all the Indians (Native Americans) in our region . . .I really began my love for history then. Now I love to see His story in history. I am so sorry for your loss of your precious husband Stephan. I started reading fiction about 20 years ago and one of my first series was The Code of the West! I just fell in love with all the characters and fun dialogue. Very special. Praying for you and your "boys" this Christmas season especially.

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    1. Chris: Thanks so much for your note! Rockford sounds like a beautiful place! So glad you've enjoyed my husband's novels. Greatly appreciate your prayers!

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    2. Greetings, Chris: Congrats! You are the winner of a copy of Wind in the Wires. Please email me at janet(at)blybooks(dot)com and let me know if you want paperback (if so, send your snail mail address) or would like a PDF copy attachment for your digital reader. Blessings, Janet

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  3. I've never heard of this tree before. Although I believe I have seen one at some point in my childhood. Weeping Willows are also a perfect place for children to play. Their drooping branches make it a great place for a tea party.
    Cindy Huff

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    1. We had a weeping willow in our front yard while growing up. Loved the drooping branches!

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  4. I've not heard of these trees before. I love sugar maples, mostly because of their fiery red and orange fall colors. But then there's the wonderful experience of driving down a shady country road on a hot summer day and smelling the pines....it's so distinctive.

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    1. Greetings, Connie: I've got lots of Ponderosa pines in my yard here in north-central Idaho. Love the scents in summer too...right now they've got a layer of snow.

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  5. I haven't heard of the tree either. We do have a tree - the Hedge Apple that branches differently, some branchs go out & then down to the ground before reaching for the sky. It also bares not edible, knobby green fruit about the size of a large orange. As a child I loved the Mulberry, I thought it was such a sweet treat to sneak :)

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    1. Deanna: Thanks for sharing about your Hedge Apple. And Mulberry!

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  6. I'd not heard of this kind of tree before. I'd have to say my favorite tree is a Willow. "Grandmother Willow" is usually a sign that potable water is nearby. You can hide beneath her. My other fav is the white birch as it means that the earth is healing after fire.

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    1. Greetings, Andrea: Loved your willow and white birch comments...

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  7. I have never heard of a Camperdown Elm! They sure look interesting. My favorite tree is a Babyobab (sp?) in Maui, Hawaii. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Sharon: I have been to Maui many years ago. Can't remember if I saw one of those trees or not. I'll have to look it up...

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  8. I'm joining the ranks of haven't heard of the the Camperdown Elm trees before and doubt I've seen one. I grew up with the New Mexico mesquite and really like them. My second favorite tree is a Willow. Great post!

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    1. Greetings, Linda: I enjoy mesquite when visiting New Mexico. So many have mentioned willows. They are unique.

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  9. Thanks for the wonderful post. I'd never heard of this tree, although I've grown Egyptian onions which some people call Upside-Down Onions because the top bulblets all have weird roots on them. We also call them Winter onions because they are proficient self-seeders.

    As a Scot, I'll keep an eye out for the Camperdown Elm in my genealogy travels.

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