What we plant on public land

 I found a lovely seedpod, about the size of a rabbit’s foot. It was tan, made of three leaf-like panels. Inside were green seeds that looked like small marbles.

The pods are from Koelreuteria paniculata, a goldenrain tree. It’s a lovely tree. It’s one of the trees the ancient Chinese planted beside the graves of scholars. In spring, the goldenrain tree will be covered with little yellow flowers on long panicles. To some poetic soul, the sight looked like sheets of golden rainwater running off dark foliage.

Gardeners can’t resist goldenrain trees. They brought them from China to Japan in the Middle Ages and to Europe before 1750. They brought them to the colonies before the American revolution.

Some gardener planted the tree I was looking at on public land — in the landscaped area of a park. Before long, the seeds will go from the landscaped area into the natural forest within the park’s boundaries.

I think it’s hopeless to try to prevent private citizens from planting non-native species. I don’t think the country is in the mood for garden police. But when I saw that beautiful seedpod I wondered whether we could hope to change the policy about what we plant on public lands.