The magnolias, cherries and even early dogwoods are starting to bloom now. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the cold, probably below freezing temperatures tonight will not cause the delicate flowers to shatter and drop their petals. The Magnolia stellata (Star magnolia) is the earliest magnolia to bloom here, while the hybrid yellow Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ in the North End Parks may bloom next week.

This pair of wonderful, prolific Prunus x incamp ‘Okame’ are spectacular, but their display of red bracted, single pink flowers can be brief. Try to see them this week. The tree, a hybrid of Prunus incisa and Prunus campanulata, is a popular, award-winning selection of flowering cherry.