The flower industry is big business. Flowers are used in just about every aspect of our lives to celebrate the momentous occasions and the little ones. Weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries are made better by the presence of fresh flowers, and those impromptu wildflower bouquets picked and presented to us by children warm our hearts.
We have just enjoyed the blooming of a unique native tree. Dotted here and there around the county, the tall trees with large, medium green, heart-shaped leaves and panicles of white flowers get noticed. These are northern catalpas.
China is currently considered to be the peony capital of the world, with the city of Heze the focus of peony praise. But it wasn’t always so. In the early 20th century, Van Wert, Ohio, held that title. Hybrids created there won national and international awards.
Spring is moving right along, and we have come to one of my favorite phases. To be honest, I enjoy every one of them, but I look forward to this particular one because of one thing – redbuds.