The Hour of the Red Bud Drags On...



This Red Bud tree has been blooming for over a month, since the mercury hit 85 F/ 30 C in early March and pushed many plants to flower early. We planted it soon after moving into our house  over a decade ago. My husband has trimmed and shaped it over the years. His careful work probably prevented the branches from breaking under the weight of the wet Spring snow that fell this past week.

This Birch is also very flexible, dare I say friendly. We planted it too, though it's not one of our favorites. It's tall and lopsided, like some loopy relative. We can't bear to get rid of it.


Our Lilacs didn't fare well at all and in fact one of them was uprooted under the weight and had to be taken out. In nearby Highland Park, which is home to more than a thousand Lilacs, there were many victims. Every time we drove to and from work, we saw piles of sawn off branches along the road.


The next day, the snow was all gone, and although the temperatures have fallen below freezing on several nights since, we're back to that Spring feeling. We just don't trust it.

Comments

Mary Lou said…
Oh I am so sorry - and so sympathetic. That could definitely happen here in early May. I am heading out of town with a friend in her car, and leaving mine at her house. We both said I should leave my keys for her husband in case it snows. Sad. Everything in my yard is at least one month ahead of schedule.
May 1, 2012 at 3:38 PM
Helen said…
Well, that's given me a lovely photo for my desktop, but it can't be much fun for you and your trees. After having the warmest March ever, we've now had the coldest April on record; it's hard to guess what's going to happen next.
May 2, 2012 at 8:48 PM
Marjorie said…
This has been a truly challenging spring for growing things. In the heat of March, I planted spinach, which is currently doing very well despite the struggle with the dryness and 80-degree heat. I was almost tempted to put out some warm-weather veggies. It is lucky I didn't because we had some frosty nights and they wouldn't have made it.

Have your trees rebounded now that the weather is more seasonable?
May 8, 2012 at 7:54 AM
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