LOOK UP, LOOK DOWN, LOOK THROUGH

This time of year take advantage of mild afternoon walks in the woodland garden to look over the gates at the last blooms of  Prunus mume at the edge of the woodland and through the trunks of the trees bathed in the high brilliant light of spring before the leaves come out and shade the garden.  

Look up to see some of the tall trees blooming against the sky. Visit the nearby campus of UNC Chapel Hill in NC and take in the magnificent trunks of the old trees. 

It's an open parkland of a Woodland Garden and right next door is the Coker Arboretum with lots of understory trees blooming right now. 

Please don't forget to enjoy the display of fallen petals covering the ground which can be as beautiful as the flowers themselves blooming on the trees.  

Full open pale pink blossoms of Magnolia stellata 'Waterlily' above and deep magenta candle -like buds opening to strappy looking flowers of 

Magnolia 'Susan' below bloom at the edges of the woodland on the south and west sides respectively.

M. 'Susan' flowers saved from the 27 degree overnight temperatures. It's safe to cut a few branches to bring flowers of the trees inside to enjoy. 

Prunus Hally Jolivette  in the JC Raulston Arboretum Winter Garden and one of JC's personal favorites is a sweet little tree with petticoat - like dangling pairs of buds and flowers. 

Embrace the joys of the flowering Cherries, deciduous Magnolias, Dogwoods, and Redbuds that will be coming along shortly.