Our beautiful Redbuds are in bloom.  I love these trees.  We planted two of them 15 years ago, and about 10 years ago one of them died.  So we just had this one big one.  Well, one year there was a profusion of seeds, and one flew across the driveway and planted itself in the most perfect spot.  So now we have two again, both beautiful and healthy.  I love that kind of self-seeding:  strategic!!!

 

Cercis canadensis, or Eastern Redbud is native to eastern North America.  The medium-sized trees (25-35 feet) grow along the edge of the woods, often reaching out for the sunlight.  This time of year, you can see them all along the highways, showing their gorgeous fuchsia-colored flowers.  In the next couple weeks they will start to leaf out with heart shaped leaves, and kinda lose their showiness.  So look for them now.  

 

Redbud is also available for purchase at all the garden centers, and not that expensive.  Get one and plant it in your yard.  Then you can enjoy it every spring.

 

Earlier this week, we made butternut squash soup, and sprinkled some redbud flowers on top.  It was beautiful.  The flowers are edible, and have a slightly lemon taste.  Not big taste, but you can eat them.  We add them to soups and all kinds of salads for the two weeks they are in bloom.  After that we just have to wait til next year.  

 

I hope you see some Redbuds in your travels.  Remember the rules of foraging if you decide to collect some flowers to eat:

 

#1. POSITIVELY identify what you are picking before you touch it, and especially before you eat it.

#2. Don't trespass on private property.  No plant or flower is worth litigation.

#3. Avoid plants that are growing near busy highways or farmland, they probably contain pollutants that you don't want to ingest.  

#4. If there is only a small amount, leave it.  If there is a lot, take only what you will use.

 

#5. If you really want to try a little bit of redbud flowers for your salad, just come over to our house, I'm always happy to share.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!