Trees in Bloom

I’ve been impressed by all of the trees that bloom in the Spring here on the ridge and in the area.  Cousin Mike from Canada suggested I post some pictures, so here goes.

The redbud trees are the first trees to bloom out.  This particular tree is located near Darryl’s pond. 










Before the redbud trees finish blooming the dogwood trees burst into full bloom.  This tree is near our mailbox.










Here is a close-up view of a redbud tree.












And, here is a close-up of a dogwood in bloom.











Before the dogwood trees are finished blooming one can begin to see blooms way up high in the tulip poplar trees.  This photo is zoomed in quite a bit and you have to look close to see the yellow blooms.











In this photo I have zoomed in a bit more.










And here is an even closer look at the bloom of a tulip poplar tree.











Another tree that blooms at about the same time is the royal empress tree, also known as the royal princess and royal Paulownia.  This tree is on a neighboring property.








The numerous locust trees are also in bloom at the same time.  As you can see the trees are loaded with blooms.









In this final close-up photo you can see the beautiful locust blooms.

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Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

The flowering dogwoods are beginning to bloom here in South Central Kentucky. We are able to see the white “flowers” of the trees scattered throughout the woods, but generally on the outside edges of the wooded areas. According to an article on the USDA’s web site “the white 'flowers' of flowering dogwood are actually four large white bracts encircling a cluster of tiny yellowish true flowers. The bracts start out small and green, and gradually enlarge and turn white during the mid-spring blooming season.”

In the photo above you can tell that these still have a green look to them.

In this picture the white bracts, with a bit of purple coloring, can be seen around the central cluster of flowers.

How do you identify a dogwood tree when it isn’t in bloom? By its bark, of course! Although that is an old joke it is actually true. You look for rough, square to hexagonal patterns like cracked mud. See the picture below.

We enjoy the many flowering trees here. The redbuds are still blooming and now the dogwoods are in bloom. There will be other trees blooming soon. It seems almost all spring and summer long there is some tree blooming plus we have lots of wild flowers. We feel blessed.

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New Year??

Everywhere one turned someone was saying “Happy New Year!”  Am I the only one who shakes their head and wonders, “What, a new year beginning in the middle of winter?”  Does this look like the beginning of anything?  (No, this wasn’t taken today but many are experiencing this and worse.)  Even the children here on the farm know when a new year is beginning.  It is when: New life is breaking forth everywhere.  Trees are budding
out.  The daffodils are popping out of the ground and are breaking into bloom.  New baby lambs and baby goat kids are being born.  The redbud trees are in full bloom.  And, just when is all of that?  It isn’t January 1st!  Try springtime!

It must have been the same people who came up with this mid-winter start for a year that came up with starting a new day in the middle of the night.

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