Good trees for urban gardens: Harbingers of spring

I am happy to notice trees around town that tell me spring is not far away. Of course sometimes we are fooled by sunny weather in January and February but sights of blooming trees keep my hopes up.

Witch hazel (hamamelis) blossoms are opening up. Don’t miss the beautiful specimen in the Dayton Plaza Park at 2nd and Dayton. Another tree showing color is the Cornelian Cherry (cornus mas) on the north side of the Edmonds Center for the Arts. A row of these trees is on the north side of the Edmonds Senior Center also.

Camellias are also showing color. Camellia sasanqua is still blooming because of our mild winter. Some camellia japonicas are also showing color. You can see one on 4th Avenue just south of Main Street on the east side.

If you look on the south side of the main building of the ECA, you will see a crab apple “Adirondack” which still has colorful berries but will be producing blossoms in the spring.

Shrubs such as Red Flowering Currant (ribes sanguineum) are popping out also. Can hummingbirds be far away?

I look forward to all the color which will be with us soon. We are so fortunate to live in an area which has such a variety of wonderful plants for our enjoyment.

— By Barbara Chase

Barbara Chase is a Master Gardener who serves on the City of Edmonds Citizens Tree Board.

  1. Dear Ms. Chase: Could you possibly tell me the names of two trees in Edmonds about which I have long been curious? One is just outside the power substation on 4th between Walnut and Dayton, the other is at the house on the northwest corner of 8th and Main. Thank you.

  2. The large tree on the north side of 8th and Main is an elm, not usually a tree recommended for our area but it is quite a tree. Do you recall when a summer storm caused a big branch to break off and caused a power outage. The owners treasure the tree and are taking good care of it.
    I will drive by the tree on 4th near the fire station. Is it an evergreen? I will check it out.

  3. I visited the tree near the power station on 4th near Walnut. It is a deodar cedar. It must be very old. The branches are huge. It nicely hides much of the power station on 4th.

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