The first trees on the property to leaf out or bloom, this variety, Cherry ‘Hally Jolivette,’ produces the most exquisite small, single blossoms in a soft shell pink, clustered together so they give a bountiful appearance to the pruned shape of a fully opened parasol.

But climate change (or whatever you wish to call it) presented us with a “situation” this year, one we hadn’t experienced in the 25 years at Parterre. No sooner had the great percent of the blooms opened, than a hard rain with prolonged wind gusts of up to 40mph appeared. For 24 hours it raged; by the afternoon that it was over, the great majority of the blooms were confetti on the ground. The only good news was that I had a chance to capture the flying blossoms on video (look for the Instagram Story this afternoon)! Fortunately, I was able to capture the Feature image which looks acceptable (at a distance).

While no mother likes to “play favorites,” I do have to confess that these four trees, and their position fronting the Orangerie, truly makes them the horticultural centerpiece of our three acres. And so, this blog will capture the Hally Jolivettes as they have appeared over the years. In dawn’s early light…

In the full sun, shining their hearts out…

In the summer, when it is such a pleasure to walk this path between them when leading guests to a party in the Orangerie.

And then there was the year the cool spring pushed their bloom period from ten days to about three weeks!!

Recording every phase of this process at all hours of the day, I felt that I’ve really been up close and personal with the wonder of nature, the process of creation and the promise that no matter what might be going on in the world, these trees will set bud, burst open and dance in the spring breeze. I feel almost privileged to have watched this process from start to finish. This great luck has provided such joy-filled moments… especially as nothing else is in bloom, save for daffodils.