The nearly 100 year old Mountain Laurel in my yard is still going strong.
Mountain Laurel is a common hardy evergreen in Central Massachusetts. It can withstand quite cold and snowy winters in the north of the United States. The evergreen leaves of the Mountain Laurel offer excellent winter protection for birds. They give crucial shelter from wind and cold.Diverse, abundant and large lichens are excellent natural indicators of clean air. They are effective because they absorb nutrients and pollutants directly from the air. Birds find insects and spiders hiding under tree lichens. These provide them with energy when other sources of food are scarce.Mountain Laurel berries are not a favorite food of birds. However, they can provide nourishment when food supplies are limited, especially at the end of winter.Birdbaths underneath the laurel are covered in black tarps. In the spring, they will be filled again. Fresh water will be offered under the laurel, in addition to the food and protection to be found there .
Click on post title to view comments and related posts if they are not visible below.
The Mountain Laurel is native to the eastern United States, and was first recorded in America in 1624.
Mountain Laurel is in full bloom in Massachusetts this week.Cup-shaped buds open up to display tiny blossoms. These blossoms are sometimes said to look like miniature origami rice bowls .Each blossom has five fused petals that surround ten stamens. Each stamen looks like a tiny half-pulled stitch.The leaves are evergreen, providing year-round interest to the New England landscape.The purple tones of a nearby rhododendron contrast with the pinkish laurel blossoms.Mountain Laurels usually live for fifty to seventy-five years. Happily, this laurel in my yard is at least seventy years old, and is still going strong.
