Burgeoning Blossoms
Blooming has finally begun! All plants will not flower at once, each species has it’s own specific circadian rhythm telling it that conditions are perfect for for flower and/or pollen production. Up here in the great, white north only a few trees and shrubs have begun to flower, making identification easy, what is happening in your region?
New England Efflorescence
Spring comes slowly way up here, in fits and starts before it truly sticks. But we are finally starting to see some blooms,some of the first trees and shrubs to blossom are magnolias, red maples and andromeda. The feature photo is a Cornelian cherry dogwood growing a the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth, NH (http://www.nhdfl.org/land-conservation/urban-forestry-center/) it is one of the first dogwoods to bloom but maybe not the most beautiful.
Magnolias can produce various colored blossoms depending on the cultivar, this spectacular sight truly heralds the coming of spring.
Andromeda or Pieris are common landscape shrubs which produce beautiful, cascading blooms scenting the air with the sweet smell of spring.
Red maple flowers may not necessarily be breathtaking, but it is a sign of the changing seasons and an important species in the north east.
Mid-Atlantic Milestones
In addition to the blooming red maples, magnolias and andromeda, the mid atlantic region will also begin to see forsythia, weigela and azaleas producing flowers.
Forsythia may look like a tangle of twigs for most of the year, but the dramatic yellow blooms of early spring will make up for that.
This weigela “red-prince” is commonly found in nurseries and will add beautiful curb appeal to your landscape
Weigela come in many, many cultivars (“sonic bloom pink” pictured here) producing numerous bloom colors, they will not disappoint.
This gorgeous azalea variety is deciduous so spring is really its time to shine. Make sure to ask the nursery which variety you are getting to avoid a fall surprise.
These evergreen azaleas provide aesthetic interest and habitat value to your landscape year round, with a beautiful spring bloom.
Mid-West Wonders
Out there in hardiness zones 5a to 6b it can feel like it is never going to thaw and spring blooms are worth their weight in gold. The harbingers of spring may come in the forms of; American hazelnut, vernal witchhazel, pussy willow, forsythia, Cornelian cherry dogwoods and many bulbs.
Here is an close up of the flowers on the Cornelian cherry dogwood, astounding they are not but these pops of yellow will warm up a chilly spring day in the mid-west.
The soft, lovely catkin bloom of the pussy willow is a welcome sight.
American hazelnut blooms may not be much to look at, but spring is definitely on its way when these buds break.
