Still Chasing Pink

 

4/5/26 Prairie fire crabapple, Green Lake

Cherry tree, Green Lake

Easter Sunday was another spring day of the type we wait six long, dark months for: Blue sky with temps in the low 60s! We all knew we’d be back to our normal programming (gray and back down to the 50s) soon enough, but it was a well-deserved treat.

When I got back home from DC, I was disappointed to see that the Yoshino cherries had shed most of their petals. I took a walk to Green Lake, determined to chase whatever pink might remain. I did spot other cherry varieties that still had most of their blossoms (at left). What really stunned me, though, was this spectacular crabapple that I later learned is of the “prairie fire” variety (top of post)! I noted its location so that I’ll be able to find it again next year.

Higan cherry

Prairie fire crabapple

Although I spend most of early spring peeping and sketching petals, I also adore spotting tiny, new leaves on trees. Blossoms are fleeting, but leaves promise many more months of good sketching weather ahead (yes, I relate everything in nature to how it might affect my sketching potential). Although I don’t really celebrate Easter, these leaves felt like true signs of hope and rebirth. 

Japanese maple (hand for scale)

Norway maple