A glimmer of blue iris

A late April afternoon, and blue iris buds finally, reluctantly, showing their color to the cool breeze.

Dogwood on a Sunlit Afternoon

Japanese Cherry Trees

On Granny White Pike this year, the Kwanzan cherry trees (Prunus 'Kwanzan' ) bloomed very early, in the chilly second week of February. Now in early April, the Yoshino cherry blossoms (Prunus × yedoensis) are out, to the honey bees' delight. I photographed the vase-shaped Kwanzan cherry trees, with their deep pink double blossoms, on Granny White Pike, the afternoon of February 14. The most popular variety of the Yoshino cherry was first developed over 100 years ago, from a hybrid that appears naturally in Japan. It has light pink single flowers, with an occasional white blossom in the mix. Kwanzan cherry blossom February 14, 2013. Yoshino cherry blossoms, April 10, 2013.

Yoshino Cherry (Prunus × yedoensis)

At sunrise, directly across the street from my house:

April in Black and White

From Dierk Haasis -- don't miss this impressive and dramatic collection! Quoting from his text above the April, 2013, slideshow at es bleibt schwierig:"Hinweis für die jüngeren unter uns: Do not adjust your set! Die Bilder der Galerie für April sind tatsächlich ohne Farbe, aber nicht farblos."