Thank you, Sharon, for another delightful and informative story.

Lynn, if you could find one, I bet it would grow there.

I so enjoyed this tale. I can just see you streaking down the mountain with one side of your hair hanging loose & bouncing backwards & forward with your running steps; the gingham ribbon in the other side slipping with the pounding motion. An intent but joyous expression upon your face and your breath coming fast, partly from excitement, partly from exertion. I imagine you were envisioning Aunt Betts reaction to your news. And you were soooooo ready to share the thrill of discovery with Aunt Bett who would be as thrilled as you were and proud of you too.

If at all possible to grow the Fringe tree on our property I will. I will have to see though as your story says it grows in damp places & I may not be able to grow it.

Thanks Sharon for sharing yourself with us.

PS - Lynn --- please take a photo of those fringe trees all in a line when they are in bloom this coming year & share it with us.

Thank you Sharon, for another wonderful story. Like Ann I can just imagine the excitement in your voice at finding your beloved Aunt Bett a fringe tree to help make her better. She was a lucky lady to have had you around, as we all are.

I have a fringe tree. Maybe 20 years old. For the first five years, every spring I told Russ it was dead, as it's marginally hardy here. But no, give it about 2 weeks after the rest of the trees leaf out, and there it comes. It's a lovely tree. Worthy of an Aunt Bett tale.

Ladies, thank you for your kind words.

Mary, would it be too dry for the tree where you are? I'm not sure how far west they grow easily. Sounds like Lynn knows though.

Ann, you'd have to have read the other hundred+ Aunt Bett articles to know how special she was. I defied gravity and my mother a few times just trying to get something I thought she needed. She was a special lady, not just for what she taught me about plants but for what she taught me about life and living.

Polly knows. And Polly, I had no idea you had a fringe tree. I shoulda known. How lovely. I hope you'll send me a picture, it's really hot and dry here in summer and I haven't been able to get one to grow here. I figure it's a little late to try growing a tree again, but I'd love to have a picture of yours.

I will in the spring. It's lost it's leaves now. It turns a really pretty yellow here in fall, so it has many seasons interest.

http://www.clemson.edu/extensi...
Hardy in zone 4, maybe even zone 3.
Needs water to stay healthy and doesn't do as well in full sun.

Thanks, Lynn, good to know.

I found a tree nursery about 45 minutes from me that carries both varieties of the Fringe Tree. : )

And I bet you will love them especially, Lynn, when you recall this story, just as I treasure my semps after reading a lot you have written about them.

The things we learn on here, and the people we meet, are just amazing.

Go get'em, Lynn!

PollyK said:The things we learn on here, and the people we meet, are just amazing.

Hardy to zone 4???? I have a new tree on my wish list!!

Hope so, Brenda, it is such a pretty tree! It's a little too hot and dry here and I haven't seen them in this area, but I'm still looking.

Sharon, what a beautiful story! Aunt Bett sounds very much like my grandmother. I can imagine how thrilled you were to be able to find the tree for her.

Sounds like a wonderful tree. Even though I'm in zone 4, I'm afraid I only have full sun to plant one in, so I'll be looking forward to more pictures from all of you to enjoy.

Mine is in full sun, Chris. Zone 6.

Try it, Chris. It's too beautiful to not try!

Aunt Bett was my advocate, along with being my hero.
Between Aunt Bett and my Granny Ninna, I somehow managed to survive and grow up reasonably intact. I think the best thing they ever taught me is to be self sufficient, just like they were.

They also taught me about caring.

They were pretty special.

They were your and caring people. I would love to have known them & considered myself fortunate if I had. But I consider myself fortunate to know you whom they taught. So they live on.