It is close to the end of the blooming season for our deciduous trees; in fact, the lilacs are about to open big time. Therefore, I'm getting my blossoming tree pictures out in public while the season is still on.
I'm not really sure which brand of tree this is; common enough that it might be an ash. Hoping that a reader may be able to help me out. Since this is a tree matter, I suspect it should be a male reader. Funny. It's been my experience that IDing flowers is a girl thing, while expertise in trees tends to be a guy thing.
Of course, being a civilized little city, Prescott is peopled with folks who have planted many, many ornamental fruit trees with beautiful spring blossoms and no intentions of producing fruit. The flowers above are an exception; I caught these up the hill at the Shrine of St. Joseph. Possibly a peach volunteer from a visitor's lunch. I have a little peach tree that came up from a seed I tossed; it has rewarded me with one peach.
OK, I'm not quite sure just which of the ornamentals this cluster of buds represents. Anyone out there more expert with a suggestion? Mighty pretty in any event.
Once the red-purple leaves have popped, the flowering plum is especially spectacular.
This tree was a huge white presence along Park Avenue. Possibly a flowering pear, very popular in Prescott.
Seeds of the Siberian elm appear early in spring, lending a lovely green to the local scenery. Looking at all those seeds (below), you can understand why this import has turned into an
unwelcome guest tree in much of the country. My neighbor has been fighting a losing battle against the Siberian elm.
These small, unpretentious flowers were on a heavily blooming, fragrant squaw bush (three-leaf sumac for the politically correct; lemonade bush for the old-fashioned.) A flock of early butterflies was sipping nectar as I took pictures, but none would hold still long enough for a portrait.
Don't know anything about this red beauty. Tain't local -- something from the nursery.
As is this popular ornamental bush.
And in conclusion, more Siberian elms, because they are simply very photogenic. And
green.
Not my best day! I dutifully turned over a several pound garden stone per International Tip a Stone Day only to find all of two sow bugs, the little crustacean fellows my daughter calls "rolypolies". And that's all; perhaps if I had examined the sand and stones under a microscope, there might have been more life. But then, this is Arizona and we have suffered a drought the past few years.
You wouldn't know about the drought looking at the Siberian elm bush that is determined to survive my attempts to cut it back. However, this is the end of summer and the leaf miners are out in their millions, making holes in the elm leaves.
Pretty when viewed as windows to the clouds and blue of the sky. But ultimately pretty doggone ratty when viewed without the flattering back light!
However, you might drop by Firefly Forest to enjoy the butterflies I haven't seen this summer -- or take a trip over Mingus Mountain to Jerome with Mr. Oddball. And SmilnSigh offers an excellent bright red bug sculpture.
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