Perhaps you have seen these small trees growing on Five Forks Drive near Solitude.

 

They are called Devil's Walkingstick, or Hercules' Club.  Botanically, they are Aralia spinosa.  They are in the Ginseng family, Araliacea.  Don't worry, there's not going to be a test;  I just think it's interesting.

 

The small, deciduous trees are native to Eastern North America,  and were used like fences to keep animals out of people's gardens.  They have been cultivated since the 1600's.  Not sure I'd want one in my landscape, but they are interesting to see.  They produce huge clusters of white flowers in summer that evolve into the beautiful umbels of purplish blue berries we are seeing now.

 

A close up look will reveal that the 5 - 15  foot tall trunks are covered in vicious looking spines.  Hence the wicked moniker:  Devil's Walkingstick. 

 

Be sure to notice them;  they are strikingly beautiful right now, and throughout the fall, when the leaves turn to yellowy orange.  In winter they die back, and begin again in spring.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!