Richard and I saw this pawpaw tree on a nature walk at Stone Mountain. The flower was very unique as it was completely upside down. The photo that I have here for you was taken with me looking straight up at the tree!
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| zebra swallowtail...image from wikipedia |
The zebra swallowtail is a butterfly that I have seen at Stone Mountain and I know now that the host plant is the pawpaw.
It amuses me that in my very last post, I told you that my Dad is called "Papa" by his grandchildren but it is pronounced "Paw paw" and it is pronounced just like this fruit tree! As a kid, we used to sing a song, do you know it?
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Where oh where is dear little Nellie?
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
Picking up pawpaws, put em in your pocket.
Picking up pawpaws, put em in your pocket.
Picking up pawpaws, put em in your pocket.
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
"Way down yonder", I have read that this makes sense as the tree grows in rich bottom land rather than a higher, drier area.
(I love the word "yonder". I try to use it as often as I can.... it irritates all the snooty people!)
I remember seeing the pawpaw fruit on a walk at Panola Mountain, so there must be zebra swallowtail butterflies there also! I will have to look out for them!
If you want to know more about the pawpaw, there is a very well writen article that I found and you may read it just here!
Interesting to me, George Washington liked the taste of the pawpaw fruit. If it was good enough for the first president, the father of our country, it is good enough for me! I will have to let you know in a future post if I am able to get a photo of the fruit on this same tree!
AND if I am able to eat the fruit and what it tastes like. Stay tuned!
Hey! They replaced the water wheel at the Grist Mill at Stone Mountain! I am grateful that this is being well cared for.
We love this spot.
The chestnut oak tree is one that we appreciate at Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain...the tree with the green leaves (the one that is just in front of the roof of the Grist Mill above, that is the chestnut oak...it provides wonderful shade.)
When we went on this walk, Richard was able to see wild azalea, pink lady slipper, and mountain laurel...all the flowers that I saw on my birthday walk that he didn't get to see with me! There, you know that made me happy!
I was just thinking of you, and your post was at the top of my list! Paw paw is so familiar but I don't know that song. What a lovely place. And you find such beautiful things there.
ReplyDeleteHey Nan! Everything reminds me of a song! x
DeleteWell last year I was way down yonder in Michigan and went into a farmer's market, they had paw paws so I bought a few to taste, they are very good. The owner said they even grow in Canada. I didn't see the trees but was told even most Yankees don't know what they are but many do. So I'm hoping to get the seeds to sprout maybe get a bush or tree whatever grows here in Conyers. I have heard of paw paws all my life heard the song, but never seen them till last year. They are good
DeleteHello! Glad I saw your comment here! Next time, leave me your name in the comment so I will know who you are! If you live in Conyers, make sure to visit our local "mountains"-Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain!
DeleteCome on boys Let's go find them
ReplyDeleteCome on bous Let's go find them
Come on boys Let's go find them
Way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.
We had a little dance we did to that in grade school. Aaaah, memories.
Yes, I remember the dance too. You know I do! :-)
DeleteI have never seen pawpaw fruit, let alone tasted it, so I am very interested in you telling us more about it! The flowers are beautiful, and you know I love the mill - good to see the wheel has been replaced and the whole structure is being cared for.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when we would go to this spot at the Grist Mill and we would be the only ones there! I do miss how quiet it used to be, but the natural beauty is still there, the trees are gorgeous but hard to capture in a photograph. x
DeleteI love pawpaws aka known as "papaya". I eat them regularly. They're full of nutrients and are very good for you. I even eat the seeds...which are also very good. I've a pawpaw planned for breakfast tomorrow morning. I eat the whole fruit...never leaving any for a second sitting! lol
ReplyDeleteOh, how nice that you left this comment here for me about this fruit! I will have to do a post later, when I see the fruits on the tree!
DeleteI love to see a nice waterwheel, and I love pawpaw. They grow easily in our area and many people have them in their back gardens. As it is a tropical fruit, your area must be warmer than I imagined. That is a beautiful butterfly, one I have not seen in Australia.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very warm area, I promise you! The zebra swallowtail is a beauty, I have tried to get a picture of it, but it is just so darn fast!
DeleteI don't think the pawpaw will grow this far north, though I am not positive. But I have never seen one growing. What a lovely interesting walk you and Richard had!
ReplyDeleteI looked it up and it says that it grows all the way up to Canada! So, look out for this flower and let me know if you can identify a pawpaw tree in flower! P.S. The flower truly is upside down.
DeleteI will look but am not too hopeful....It does grow a lot in southern Ohio, apparently, but I've never seen it here. The big leaves should help in identification, too...
DeleteYonder is a good old word, i like it, too! Enjoy your pawpaw fruit, it is good.
ReplyDeleteWhen The Roll Is Called Up Yonder...I always loved that song!
DeleteI have heard of paw paws but never ate one. It'll be interesting to see what you think of them. I enjoyed all the beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, have a great day, MA!
DeleteI've never even heard of pawpaw flowers, trees or fruit before!
ReplyDeleteAh, that is why you read my blog, my friend. I teach you about the MOST astounding subjects! LOL.
DeleteI have lived in Atlanta for more than 50 years and have never eaten a paw paw; I've never even seen one. If you find them, please tell me where I can get them.
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa! Just look around, and I think you might find one!
DeleteI can remember singing that song as a kid. Have never tasted a paw-paw though.
ReplyDeleteYes, some of these songs really stick in your memory, don't they?
DeleteNever heard of paw paw before. Nice photos. Very cheerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You must have them in Hawaii if they have them in Australia! (Lee says they are the same as papaya.)
DeleteHeard of the fruit through the song in The Jungle Book 'The Bare Necessities' but never tried it. Like the old mill.
ReplyDeleteHa, you have made me think I want to go back to my post and listen to "I Wanna Be Like You" again! (I like Bare Necessities song too though!)
DeleteThe mill is very special, we love it.
Yes, I saw your title and thought it was about your dad. HaHa! And, I do know that song. We used to sing it as kids.
ReplyDeleteHAHA! Don't you love it when you do or say something and then, life just keeps throwing the same words back at you! Hey, I have to find some amusement in life! LOL.
DeleteIt is always so lovely to go up the mountain with you and see what is happening!
ReplyDeleteHey Amy! You are most welcome any time! :-)
DeleteFor the ultimate bit of fun you should get a pawpaw fruit for your dad. It's a pawpaw for pawpaw.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love that idea but you knew I would, right?
DeleteWhen this fruit comes on this tree later this year, I will attempt to get a pawpaw for my Dad (PAWPAW!)
I will let you know!!
Hello Kay, because it was mentioned in a comment here that pawpaw is the same as papaya (a fruit I DO know), I've looked it up. Wikipedia says this:
ReplyDelete"The common name of this species is variously spelled pawpaw, paw paw, paw-paw, and papaw. It probably derives from the Spanish papaya, an American tropical fruit (Carica papaya) sometimes also called "papaw", perhaps because of the superficial similarity of their fruits.(In some parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand,the name Paw Paw is commonly used for a variety of Papaya.)
Asimina triloba has had numerous local common names including: wild banana, prairie banana, Indiana banana, Hoosier banana, West Virginia banana, Kansas banana, Kentucky banana, Michigan banana, Missouri banana, the poor man’s banana, Ozark banana, and banango."
Hey Meike!
DeleteI didn't think they would be exactly the same, but didn't think I could really say so since I have had neither one (papaya or pawpaw.)
Richard said that he read that the Asimina triloba is the largest native fruit in the USA! And hardly anyone knows of it! I will have to see if Ranger Robby will give a talk about native fruit trees and let you know!
Here's an idea, I will ask Lee to visit me from Australia and YOU can come from Germany and we will walk in the Autumn here at Stone Mountain and Panola and we will eat the fruit from the pawpaw and you will tell me how much they are like the papaya that you know! There, that is a good idea, isn't it?
:-)
The pictures are excellent!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Adman!
DeleteI remember the Grist Mill very well. Glad it is in good working order once again.
ReplyDeleteWe love it! And we walk from the Grist Mill to the Covered Bridge and then, walk on the new trails on the island across from the Covered Bridge and we see so many birds! Lovely spot! xx
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