This is Cornus kousa, often called Korean or Chinese Dogwood.  And thankfully our neighbors on Five Forks Drive planted several in their front yard.  They're blooming right now, and are gorgeous!!!

 

Korean dogwood blooms about a month later than the native flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, after the tree has leafed out.  In all dogwoods, the true flowers are the cluster of green in the center of showy white bracts that look like petals.  The green flowers open up into fuzzy yellow balls of pollen.

 

You're probably familiar with Cornus florida, but Cornus kousa is less common.  Rather than rounded white bracts on bare branches, Korean Dogwoods bloom after the leaves have grown, and the bracts are pointed.  

 

Just like the native dogwoods, Korean dogwoods are beautiful year round:  red leaves in fall, red berries through the winter, beautiful silhouette all year!!  But they are absolutely best in spring, right now!!!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!