It’s redbud (Cercis canadensis) time in Kentucky. I love seeing all the pink along our roads and highways. However, my favorite is the one that’s blooming in our backyard. I enjoy its big splash of pink and the lacy texture of the blossoms. As the flowers begin to drop, I’ll enjoy the tiny red heart-shaped leaves. These will turn green as they grow larger and I’ll enjoy them all summer.
This is the tree soon after it was planted five years ago. When we reworked the backyard, we added three new native trees – a redbud, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), and black gum or tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). We’ve been pleasantly surprised at how fast they have grown.
I’ve always liked trees, and I’ve recently become aware of how important they are to a healthy environment. In particular, native trees are nurseries for many kinds of insects, which are essential to nature’s food chain. For example, birds depend on insects as food for themselves and their young. If we don’t have insects, we won’t have birds.
I enjoy our trees and the wildlife they bring to our backyard. It’s exciting to see another season of growth begin.
Beautiful and neat to know how all is progressing in
your not-so-secret secret garden ~ thank you!
me too— love redbuds! they are gorgeous along 81 on the way up to the creeper trail. i still have that photo/poster showing a redbud and dogwood tree in bloom by a creek. the quote says “the dance of springtime is the dance of life”.
Hi Betty, son, Carmen, signed me up for your website; nice to see the plants – especially here in MI. Just a note on the log enclosed with the picture of one of your trees: turn the log sideways, and there is a smiley face on the trunk. Thanks, your MI friend, Rose
Glad to hear from you Rose. As to the log, I’m glad you noticed. I call that log my happy dragon. It was a happy surprise that was noticed only after the log was put in place.