![]() Oldtimers refer to this tree as serviceberry because its fruit ripens in June around the same time traveling preachers began holding their revivals (outdoor services) in the hills and hollows of Appalachia. ![]() It is a small tree, growing to about 40 feet, and thrives in moist woods. ![]() The downy serviceberry produces clusters of delicate white blooms. And did you know that the tree got its name from an English species that was used to produce a wash for mangy dogs? Now that’s versatility! Serviceberry Native Americans used the tree’s aromatic inner bark and roots to make a tea they used to treat malaria and fever. But there’s more to this beautiful tree than just a pretty face. It’s a small tree, typically growing no higher than 40 feet, and often planted as an ornamental. With blooms ranging from creamy white to rich magenta, the flowering dogwood tree is the quintessential symbol of spring. Prevalent throughout West Virginia, these species typically reach heights of 100 feet and make excellent shade trees. And the sugar maple’s bell-shaped yellow-green flowers appear in long, drooping clusters. The silver maple’s tiny yellow-green flowers grow on short stalks. Red maples produce clusters of yellow or red flowers. West Virginia’s maple species are starting to green out now, but their flowers usually appear before the leaves do. Its sweet flowers are often used as a salad garnish or made into tea or jelly. This tree grows to 40 feet and fares best in moist, rich soils - so much so that the early settlers often looked to the presence of redbuds as a sign that the land was good for farming crops. The eastern redbud’s bright fuchsia blooms are often the first color you’ll see among the still-naked trees in early spring. How many of these tree species have you spotted in your neighborhood? Redbud Pastel blooms and delicate green leaves are unfurling on trees as they wake from their winter slumber. Spring is bursting out all over and painting the West Virginia hills with bright splashes of color. ![]() Look for these trees in your neighborhood as they transition into spring ![]()
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