Ornament of Spring:The Eastern Redbud

One of the best sights of early spring is the eastern redbud,Cercis canadensis.A lover of moist soils,it is among the finest ornamental trees of North America,besides being a wildland mainstay.At this time,the tree is enlivening many a vista.The bright purple flowers emlazon the landscape from Northern Mexico up to New Jersey and Southeast Nebraska,growing to an altitude of about 2200 feet,or 671 meters.
This slender-trunked tree may reach only 40 feet/12 meters in height.The flowers are followed by flat seed pods that start to fall in late autumn,containing a number of flat,elliptical seeds.Frequently seen along slopes and roadsides,their vivid flowers make for an outstanding April journey.

What Gray Squirrels Mean

When gray squirrels appeared,I knew the property had become an urban forest.It may have been many decades since this forest wildlife had inhabited this specific tract.Now with trees approaching or at maturity,the squirrels saw a congenial habitat.It had what they need again.The denizens of this place from the time of the vast eastern forests and the passenger pigeon had come back.It would be a lot livelier with them.