Underappreciated spring in the Shenandoah Valley
Spring does not bring nearly as many guests to the Shenandoah Valley as fall does. So last year I really paid attention to the arrival of spring in the Shenandoah Valley, because it happened two weeks earlier than prior years. In the very first days of April the redbud trees growing wild along our roads started blooming. Years before that it happened in the middle of April.
Have you ever seen redbud in bloom? They are little pink blooms that pop right out of the twigs and stems of the redbud tree growing wild in the forests in our area, in Shenandoah National Park, George Washington State Park as well as the whole region. No other trees have begun to sprout any green, the forest still being wintery bare when the redbud comes alive.
Soon after dogwood, the Virginia National tree starts blooming in a similar manor, in that blooms appear before leaves do. The dogwood has larger four petal blooms though and the color of them growing in the wild is white to pale green.
When spring springs it happens first with these two blooming trees growing wild in the woods making the underbrush, not reaching the height of trees building the forest canopy. I think this show of nature is every bit as beautiful as the colorful fall leaves that so many of our guests make the focus of their travels. Spring in the Valley can easily compete with nature’s fall beauty. At the same time wintery weather is left behind by balmier days, cool mornings and evenings with warmer middays without the humidity summer brings.
Guests! Think of April and May as wonderful times to visit The Valley, go hiking, visit local wineries and all along enjoy the beauty of spring! Can you see it? It’s a beautiful sight that you just have to see for yourself.
