Red Bud – An Artful Tree

(Photo: Red Bud Full Bloom/My Shady Garden)

One of my favorites in the garden is the Red Bud (Cercis).  It is hard to miss in the spring with its explosion of magenta.  To me it looks Asian somehow – the clouds dark purple pink blossoms and crooked branches are reminiscent of Chinese silk paintings.  Yet believe it or not, it is native to the eastern half of the US with zone 5  (Chicago area) being the upper reaches of its habitat.

Unlike any other tree that I am familiar with, the redbud blossoms appear in clusters in late April to mid-May, on bare stems before the leaves, and even on the trunk itself.   After the blossoms fade away, the alternating heart-shaped leaves are very pretty.

My Garden View

Living Room View/MyShadyGarden

Beautiful surroundings are important to me – even if it is shabby chic at times….

We spend a lot of time in our living room and look out onto our front garden.  We have such a large window that the outside comes in and the inside comes out.

I sit on my couch looking out onto my beautiful magnolia and enjoy watching the birds in the birdbath in the first outside ‘room’ decorated with tulips, daffodils, and Grecian windflowers at the moment.  I will change the outside décor as the season progresses – perhaps some impatiens, begonias, or nicotiana – I will have to see what looks good at the garden center and what color palette I’d like this year.