I cannot walk a block without seeing blossoming trees in my neighbors' yards and on the street. It seems all my neighborhood trees are in bloom. I took this photo looking toward the entrance of our Riverbank tract in Paso Robles. Click to enlarge and see the details.
The trees you see blooming with white blossoms in these photos are Bradford Ornamental Pear trees. Paso Robles has been very generous with them. You can also see them blooming downtown along many residential streets, and many of the businesses also use them in their landscaping. They are gorgeous in spring and are among the most colorful trees in autumn, as well.
The photo above gives you an idea of how tall they can become.
Above you see the blossoms of the mature tree close up.
The photo above shows a blooming sucker of another ornamental pear .
Of course, ornamental pears aren't the only trees blooming now. Fruit and nut trees are also blooming in backyards.
You've already seen the almond trees blooming. The peach tree in my Templeton yard is also in bloom. Most of the trees I see on the street here, though, are ornamental. This ornamental cherry in a neighbor's yard is one of the most beautiful. My neighbor says it does not produce fruit.
We also have trees with blossoms in lighter shades of pink. The most popular is the ornamental plum. You can often hear a blooming ornamental plum or pear tree as you approach it, because the bees love flowering trees.
The ornamental plum tree produces small fruits, and some people make jelly from them. They are too sour to do much else with. When the blossoms are gone, the tree's purple leaves continue to add color.
This ornamental plum is in my side yard. You can click the photo to enlarge it. It zeros in on the flowering plum tree's blossoms.
What trees are blooming in your neighborhood?
