Anyone know what this is? I didn't know what it is when I first saw it. I was walking along the harbor on my usual route and I noticed next to the sidewalk hundreds of little round broken balls of soft stuff all over the grass. I did find two of these that were still hard and still together. I couldn't believe how many of these there were. I have never noticed anything like this before on my walks all the years I have lived here. And then it hit me! These beautiful trees all in a line that I have photographed before are Sycamore trees! And Sycamore trees are called "Buttonball" trees! This is a buttonball! I was stunned. I have heard this name for these trees all my life! You know why? Because of my sister's and me and our grandparents. The family farm in Guilford, Connecticut is called "Buttonball Farm." We have known of this all our lives and I bet none of us have ever seen a buttonball.
In 1939 an artist in Guilford named Charles D. Hubbard published a book called "Old Guilford" filled with stunning pen and ink drawings of important buildings and places in Guilford. Not only did he do the drawings, but he did all the hand lettering as well! Read the text above in the page I copied and learn about our family farm. Sadly it was sold years ago and is no longer ours and the surrounding lands and fields are gone as well. But in this illustration are two giant Buttonball trees for which the farm is named.
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