The Splendor of Flowering Trees
And months later‚ more magnificently‚ spring comes with the thaw from winter․ Trees begin to put on their bright spring clothes and flowers that radiate in bloom‚ begin to grow․ Frequently found in large parks‚ gardens and streets‚ these trees don't just herald a season but the birth of life in the form of a flower․ They act as a reminder of the gradual transformation of deathly white winter into the bright colors of springtime‚ and how flowering trees are reminders that flowers bloom even after the longest and coldest of nights․
As spring follows winter‚ life and color slowly begin to return to this world that sometimes seems so still․ The buds are there waiting on the branches and teasing you with the prospect of blossoms to come․ The cherry blossom pink and the white magnolia blossoms flood the trees and the earth․ These are the trees of time: the promise that the storm will pass‚ that the clouds now filling the sky will be replaced by the bright blue of a clear day․
They are beautiful and it is a different experience to walk under the flowering branches of a tree and to be surrounded by the flowers․ The petals face outwards so that the sunlight filters through as dappled‚ speckled light‚ falling on the ground underneath in its own way‚ from each tree․ Whether you prefer the candy-floss pink of cherry blossoms‚ the scent of lilac‚ or the deep lavender‚ the trees create a garden of Eden you may feel as if you've just walked through the world of a Walker Evans photograph or your favorite painting‚ and thought about art in our routine‚ everyday lives․
Flowering Trees Provide Nectar
As well as looking pretty‚ flowering trees are alive with bees‚ butterflies‚ and other pollinating insects which buzz from one flower to the next in the search for nectar․ Pollinators are attracted to the flowers‚ which are both edible and fragrant․ In turn‚ the pollinators help provide and preserve an ecosystem for the flowering trees․ This is a case of mutualism‚ where the pollinators help to sustain the trees‚ as well as the trees' seeds․ Beauty and life intermingle in this cycle of dependence between plant and pollinator‚ a reminder of the importance of these ecosystems and our responsibility to protect them for future generations․
The flora and the flowers of the trees have almost a therapeutic effect during flowering and become a refuge for those who want to get away from day-to-day life․ Studies show that visiting green areas such as flowering trees can help relieve stress and increase a person's mood․ The quietly rustling leaves‚ the swarm of honey bees and the splendid colors of the trees make this a superb place to think and contemplate․ For many‚ standing under these trees‚ the scent in the air about them‚ and the ability‚ if only for a moment‚ to disconnect from the travails and burdens of daily life‚ is a time of clarity‚ a time of regeneration‚ a time of union with nature․
Types of Flowering Trees
The many kinds of flowering trees add another touch to the beauty of woods and parks․ While some trees‚ like the oak‚ must bear inconspicuously the burden of seed-bearing flowers‚ others‚ like the dogwood‚ delight us with a floral display․ In every continent and in every country there is a native flowering tree of special cultural importance․ In South America‚ jacarandas create explosions of color across the streets in shades of violet․ In Japan‚ cherry blossoms draw tourists from all over the world to enjoy their ephemeral beauty․ Flowering trees improve human knowledge as well as distinguishing ecosystems that contain flower-bearing trees․ Such diversity improves the appreciation of nature and the human desire to preserve and cultivate flowering tree species․
In conclusion‚ I would say the beauty of the flowering tree improves our lives in countless ways: it adds a splash of color‚ a sense of smell and even a sense of nature․ They also signal the change of seasons‚ remind us of the interrelationship of all species‚ and provide shelter․ So with the coming of spring may we enjoy the beauty of our trees and recognize their place in the environment‚ and may this loving awareness of the beauty of flowering trees inspire us to look after the environment for the generations to come as well as appreciate it in our lifetime․ Each flowering reminds us of renewal and gives us a glimpse of what we have to look forward to in each new spring․
