Spring light, new energy and the “Picnic Tree” (click on any image to enlarge)
What a difference the longer days of spring make! Our “Picnic Tree” sports a heady canopy of leaves, while the grass beneath it grows visibly denser and the dried brown ferns of last summer rapidly disappear behind fresh green fronds. And judging by the volume and variety of songs I’m hearing, the birds around here are also feeling the spring energy.
The Picnic Tree is actually made up of several shrubs of Indian plum (Oemlaria cerasiformis), growing closely together to look like a multi-trunked tree.
Indian plum, also known as Osoberry, is a charming native species and the first shrub or tree to bloom here each year. Its flowers, which precede the leaves, usually appear in profusion by late February and last through March, a feast for hungry bees as well as for winter-weary human eyes.
Here’s how our Picnic Tree looked on February 25 this year – no visible leaves, just a mass of tiny flowers.
And here’s a closer view of those flowers in mid-March, once the leaves had started to unfold.
A couple of months from now, summer light will reveal a copious amount of tiny plums among the foliage. If I’m lucky (and fast), the birds might allow me to indulge in one or two before they begin their annual avian picnic.
Eye on Environment 
Lovely photograph of the picnic tree with spring light. Thank you 😊
And thank you for the visit and for commenting! Glad you liked the photo.
You are welcome!
What a beautiful photo (spring light) – I love the tree and the long shadows. Would make a great subject for an oil painting.
Thanks so much! Loved your recent post re: Amazon BTW – very thorough and lots of useful info.
Thanks Laurie! Much appreciated.
Love seeing spring in your neck of the woods and all that beauty! Wonderful,reminder of our visit. We actually have some apple and plum trees starting to bloom here! Quel surprise!
Hi Sherry, great to hear from you! Have been meaning to email but life has kept me hopping…will try to catch up with you at some point. Glad you’re getting blossoms too. Stay well.
Thanks, Sharron! If only I could photograph all that birdsong….
COASTAL SPRING…How I miss it!!!
I’m sure you are, Fred – but those grain elevators and windmills are making for some pretty interesting vistas!
Gorgeous and a great spring representation!!! 😀