The color, texture, and movement in this painting by Edgar Degas "The Four Dancers" reminds me of Spring. One may think of a Magnolia or Cherry tree when they hear of trees in bloom. These trees are well known for their showy flowers an that is often why we choose them for our landscape.
When I started to study woody plants in 2007 I began to look at plant flowers in new detail. I began to notice the inconspicuous flowers on other Spring trees. They are so small, intimate, and complex. The fact that they are withdrawn makes me them even more attractive to me. Amongst the amazing shows of other flowering trees they often go unnoticed.
Acer s.
I notice the Maples early. The grey and blak forest starts to blush red. The buds on the trees in my yard look like retro, red, clip-on ear rings. These are Acer saccharinum. All those buds, bloom and then fruit. Those are a lot of helicopters. Otherwise know as chimera. The winged fruit.
Salix Alba
When I see a Weeping Willow in Spring I anxiously describe it's beauty to whoever is with me. I am frantically trying to get them to see what I see and share in the experience. The branches look like the translucent, plastic, beaded necklaces. The green-yellow ones you buy at the dollar store that come with all the jewelry a little girl could ever need and a tiara.
Cercis canadensis
The Red Buds come next. I fell in love with this native plant while driving through the blue ridge in the Spring. They covered the light green slopes of the mountain sides in an early morning fog. Their color is a unique lilac. I think it looks like cherry sherbet tastes.
Of course I enjoy all the blooms ! When I stand under my cherry tree I get weak in the knees. I dream of having a Southern Magnolia outside my bedroom window.
It is a religious experience to stand in a breeze of cherry petals.
I took this photo at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. last year.
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