The Chokecherry is one of my favorite trees. While it is in its growing season, it is just almost always interesting or unique. When it comes out in the spring, it starts with these medium green leaves and shortly after, usually in mid to late April or early May, it puts on these gorgeous white blossom clusters, much like a Lilac bush. The entire tree is just covered in them. Sadly, I didn’t manage to get a pic when the blooms were at their peak. These have already dropped about half the flowers from the clusters.
After the flowers are done and you are left with what looks like most any other tree, June hits and suddenly those pretty medium green leaves start to change to this beautiful, deep plum color that it hangs on to until the fall where that darkens before the leaves finally drop for the season.
I have two of these in my yard and would probably have at least a couple more if I had the room for them. It makes for a stunning show when they are paired with other trees that remain vibrant green through the summer. It has taken several years, but I have this park like feel to my back yard now that these and my other trees have finally gotten some good height and growth on them. The blooms are done for the season, but I will be watching for the signs of the color change towards the end of the month.
