Mystery Nest or Not – mystery solved

p1100264We were out for a walk and saw a strange looking object in a tree. We first surmised that it was a nest. It looks as if the limbs and pinecones were woven or piled to make it somewhat of a dome shape and the new growth is a healthy green.
However, It’s awfully far out on limb for such a large nest and it’s quite late in the year for a new nest.

I surfed the internet and can’t find any critter that builds a nest like this.
We’ve finally loosely decided that possibly during a wind gust that the twigs and pinecones got trapped in the Y of the limb forming a platform of sorts and the new growth sprouted out of it and made the dome shape.

Do you recognize this and what it may be?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
p1100098
p1100099
p1100261
p1100264

edited in 11-29-2016:
I’m happy to report that Jane Tims has solved the mystery nest; it’s called a “Witch’s Broom”
It’s an over-growth that can be caused by various things. Jane Tims has an interesting post that explains about it called “Witch’s Broom”  If you get a chance pop over and read it.
Thanks so very much Jane for solving my mystery. 🙂

.

2016 WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge – Transmogrify

2016 WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge
~Transmogrify~

“To change in appearance or form,
especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.”

wpc-transmogI’m not sure if this totally qualifies as Transmogrify, but here it is for your perusal.

“A tree was made into paper and then was printed on and made into a catalog.
I folded the pages of the catalog to transform it back into a tree: an ornamental one, but a tree, none-the-less.”

 Wishing you all fun with the WP photo challenge!

.

Mystery Tree – Solved – Paulownia tomentosa

The mystery is solved.
This tree is a Paulownia tomentosa
(common names empress tree, princess tree or foxglove tree)
It’s a deciduous tree in the family Paulowniaceae, native to
central and western China, but invasive in the USA.
Paulownia tomentosa is the fastest growing tree in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/paulownia/tomentosa/

IMG_5954
Do you know what type of tree this is?
My husband and I saw it growing down in a gully, next to a waterway, by the side of a road. I’ve never seen one like it. It’s such a curiosity to us that I had to make some photos to help me search for what it is.
I haven’t been able to find a photo of a tree to match it on a search engine.
I wonder what type of fruit or nuts it produces and if it’s edible.

IMG_5952

Do you know what it is?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

Have a lovely rest of the week.
I hope all your mysteries are pleasant ones.
🙂

spgrnbgln