Dead Fish Trees

[debka_notion]

It's Dead Fish Tree season again. They're out in force, and in bloom, and the scent manages to get to even my fairly obtuse nose. Campus is Full of other lovely flowers: I forget how many there are, during the rest of the year, but there are tulips and daffodils and two magnolia trees by the library, and lilacs that are about to bloom, and what looks and smells like a crab-apple tree by East... But, like everywhere else, there are also a large number of Bradford Pears- aka, Dead Fish Trees (because they smell like dead fish. Honestly. THe ones with the white flowers with the circular petals...) I don't see the point of these trees: sure, they're pretty, but so are lots of other trees that don't smell bad. And they're Everywhere: the campus, along one of the main streets at home, along random streets around here... I don't see why the world is obsessed with Bradford Pears. They don't even give any fruit... (Yes, I know this is a good thing from a governmental perspective: less clean-up required.) I don't know- I guess they must be really cheap or something. But still- PU.

THat said, this means that it's about time to hang paper fish again in the near future. Keep your ears peeled for a day (well, night) and time... Same tree as last year.

Comments

[hannahlin.livejournal.com]

Philly (and Penn's campus in particular) is overrun with pukeberry trees (aka fruit-bearing ginkos). It isn't their season right now, but I'm fairly sure I'd prefer dead-fish-scented trees to ones that smell like vomit.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

THe ginkgos that I've encountered do fruit, and unless the fruit are broken open, don't smell... But yeah- I can see the pain. The dead fish smell is generally tolerable. But it's still annoying when there are so many nicer trees available. At least gingos are funny looking....

[nuqotw.livejournal.com]

In fact, just off campus, West Philly sports fish trees, which are thankfully past their fishy stage.

[qianian.livejournal.com]

eew. Idon't think the arboretum here does that.

[sovay]

But, like everywhere else, there are also a large number of Bradford Pears- aka, Dead Fish Trees (because they smell like dead fish. Honestly.

I have these on my street! (See various entries in my livejournal where I complain.) I've been trying to figure out, taxonomically, what they are. Thank you.

I did not, however, have a ceremony for hanging paper fish in their branches. Maybe once I've survived finals, I will try it. Are there particular ritual sayings that go along with the paper fish, or just general propitiation to keep these trees from multiplying?

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

One cuts paper fish, and hangs them from either the tail or nose with string. If one has time, one may also draw x's for eyes. I have yet to devise any ritual sayings. Should you find any particularly efficacious or pleasing ones, please let me know. It's still a ritual in the building...

[nuqotw.livejournal.com]

Yhi ratzon milphanekha shnafal haetzim m'kavod hadagim.

(Which is my poor attempt to render: "May it be Your Will that the trees will fall from the weight of the fish.")

[nuqotw.livejournal.com]

I believe they are a type of pear tree, except they don't produces actual edible pears. We were near some once, and I remarked how gross they were, and if I recall correctly this is how my mother identified them.

[nuqotw.livejournal.com]

Heh, pears. I didn't read very carefully....

[chinchillama.livejournal.com]

I'm so in! Keep me posted

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

Wishing you and yours a merry Fishmas.

[thevortex.livejournal.com]

Merry Fishmas indeed! And, once again, I miss the hanging of the fish. I shall need to drop in at some point and admire the handiwork.

*snicker*

The Vortex

[nuqotw.livejournal.com]

Please hang a fish in my name. Call him `Gefilte'.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Shall do.

Dead Fish Trees

[keggieg.livejournal.com]

Maya, how did this not come up before? I've spent the past week complaining about the dead fish trees and how ridiculous it is that they are planted everywhere. At my high school, the main entrance had about 10 of them...and the way it was structured, the air was very stagnant right at the entrance...so every time you walked into school you were hit with the stench of these awful trees. Stupid trees! And stupid landscapers for using those trees! And I will be more than happy to join you for hanging fish.

Re: Dead Fish Trees

[keggieg.livejournal.com]

By the way, if you walk through the Fellows Garden (the tree-lined path near the hill with the Louis Brandeis statue) it smells really pretty. It's like they wanted to please our noses just before/after they assaulted our noses with the stinky trees.