Tree blooms and birds up close

Blooms of Catalpa speciosa

In other news of the garden this spring, I've noticed that the early bloom phenomenon continues.

Catalpa speciosa trees are blooming now with big, white ruffly blooms that are usually so high up from the ground that they just look like popcorn from afar.

But when you slow down to take a closer look, the catalpa blooms look rather exotic, like something from the