By Delsgirl
United Kingdom 
We have a ghost tree and this year (it's 7/8) we hoped that it would flower. However the farmer next to us has had lime tipped onto his fields and we know that it has drifted into our garden. Several plants are not as healthy and the tree is sparse of leaves. Could this be the problem
5 May, 2014
Answers
Last September I came across one of these trees. It looked wonderful with lovely white leaves. The bloke who owned it told me it was called an handkerchief tree. That's exactly what it looked like... lots of handkerchiefs thrown on to a tree.
As Derek rightly said, the lime blowing across from the next field won't be the cause.
5 May, 2014
I am assuming that your ghost tree is -
Davidia involucrata.
I believe that rather like a few other trees they can take up to ten years before 'flowering'.
A mature specimen in full bloom is a wonderful sight. Hopefully yours will get there soon... Worth the wait.
6 May, 2014
Hi, welcome to GoY, some trees take a while to flower, where are you growing it?, it likes a moist but well drained, fertile soil, in sun or partial shade, with shelter from wind in it's early years, I have grown a Pyrus calleryana from seed, and it has flowered for the first time this year, it has taken 10 years, 1 thing a gardener needs a lot of is patience, maybe next year, the farmer having limed his field won't make any difference, as they grow in acid or neutral, or even alkaline soils, Derek.
5 May, 2014