Bright in November

Some of the last leaves standing in the city are on the Callery pear trees, Pyrus calleryana. (And by “city,” I mean NYC, in case you’re confused by my bi-metropolitan posting of late.) The Callery, especially in its Bradford variety, is a fairly common street tree here. The tree really shines this time of year, with its gloss, multi-colored leaves.The Bradford was bred to be sterile, but it also turned to be very liable to wind damage. More recent cultivars have had viable seed, which means the tree has spread to become invasive in some areas. This time of year, the starlings are eating the tiny fruits (which aren’t very pear like at all), or, as the Flatbush Gardener says: great, one invasive eating another!