Tree News

Several patches of urban-planted Red maples were seen to have flower blooms as recently as Tuesday, January 6. This is one of the earliest Atlanta sightings in recent memory. It appears the early bloomers are primarily cultivated varieties, most of which are near parking lots or landscaped areas.

After a dry and dull 2007, it looks as if this year's growing season is commencing with a grand fireworks display. Yoshino Cherry trees are blooming in one of the fullest and consistent displays in recent memory. Just about any asian cherry cultivar or hybrid is glaringly obvious right now. Even the sides of normally drab highway buffers are sprinkled with lavender and nearly-white flowers. The Yoshino Cherry is the famous tree species in Washington DC, common on US Capitol grounds and around the Library of Congress. In 1909 and again in 1912, the city of Tokyo sent thousands of Japanese cherries to Washington. It is known as Somei-yoshino in Japan, a hybrid of unknown origin that was first introduced in Tokyo in 1872. Atlanta blogger Judi has a weeping cherry ornamental that is in the spirit too.