William Cullina in “Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines”:

Catalpas are coarse, ponderous trees that for a week or two each spring decorate themselves with large, frilled flowers possessing a hothouse beauty strangely at odds with the visage of the tree itself.  The effect is akin to a heavyweight boxer in drag.

I’d never tried to put to words my impression of catalpas but, by god, I think he nailed it.

(Cullina is the Executive Director of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  It’s a great place.  Visit if you get the chance.)