Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Spring has Sprung, 3 by ViburnumValley

ViburnumValley wrote:
The Witch Hazels are stellar in and at the end of winter. I often start seeing flowers popping in mid January on the Hamamelis mollis, and then followed soon by the many Hamamelis x intermedia selections. They are generally good for six weeks of color, unaffected by ice, snow, gloom, nor dark of night.

They are pretty much wrapped up now. It is the Cherry Dogwood\'s turn.

Cornus officinalis and Cornus mas are a blast of spring yellow, ahead of more common Forsythia shrubs. Tough to a fault, and pitching in interestingly exfoliating bark, you can count on the Cherry Dogwood to perform year after year.

Cornus officinalis hails from Japan and Korea. It starts blooming a little earlier than Cornus mas (about a week here) but overlaps for a good while. There are a number of named selections. The Valley is graced with the species, \'Cheer\', \'Kintoki\', and \'Spring Queen\'.

1. Cornus officinalis

2. Cornus officinalis closeup of flowers (see the subtle shout out to me?)

3, 4, 5. Cornus officinalis \'Spring Queen\'