Cherry Blossoms

[MajorChode]

I thought about putting this in the Gardening or Photo groups, but the story that goes with these pictures is perhaps better suited for the lounge.

I've spent a good deal of time in the DC area, and several years ago I was there during the spring. I was absolutely enamored by the cherry blossoms. Never had I seen such a beautiful tree in bloom. I have seen a few trees of the same variety(Yoshino cherry) in my area of Texas, but they aren't plentiful so I wondered about how well they would do here. I decided to plant a couple just to see. Unfortunately disease took the largest one of the two last year, but one is still going strong. After about 4-5 years, it's only about 12' tall and is easily dwarfed by the 25' tall Texas Ash and the 35' tall Lacebark Elm that it sits between. I have several other blooming trees that include Bradford Pears, 3 different varieties of Red Buds, 3 different varieties of peach trees, a Magnolia, a half a dozen or so Crape Myrtles, and a few other misc blooming trees, but the Yoshino Cherry is the most spectacular. If you have the room and the climate to plant one or two, I would highly encourage it. I'm afraid that high winds tomorrow might take most of my blooms, but here's how it looks today...

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Oh, beautiful!

Thanks for sharing! :)

[texanwitch]

2. Beautiful pictures.

Love the bee.

[MajorChode]

3. I do too

My dad was a beekeeper and we had 14 hives at one time. I like laying in my hammock and watching them toil away this time of year.

[TZ]

4. I have one blooming in front of my window

Right now. Love them.

[Moondog]

5. One of the

(few) things I miss about my 20 odd years of on again, off again, residency in the metro DC area is Spring, generally, and cherry blossom time down at the Tidal Basin specifically.

Not as good as the spring cherry blossom events in Japan, to be sure, but the best version that I've seen on this side of the Pacific.

Paris, in April, is pretty awesome too ....

And, beginning to approach the autumn of my life, I live in Florida now. Which is nice enough in winter. But for Spring? Well ....

~ sigh ~

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear MajorChode!

These are stunning photos! I especially like the one with the bee...

Thanks for sharing them, and the story, with us!

:hi:

[kimi]

7. Ah, lovely!

Your yard with all those trees must be gorgeous. And so nice to see a bee, I keep hearing that they aren't doing well, and I've seen very few around my garden here in a MD suburb of DC for the last year or so. Thank you for the pictures, I hope your cherry tree blooms continue for awhile this spring for you!

[Shell Beau]

8. Very beautiful. They are one of my faves!!

Dogwoods are also a fave of mine.