The first day of spring is finally here!! I still have grapes to prune although our field crew is finishing up pruning the Chambourcin grapes.

The forsythias and Bradford pears are in full glorious bloom. Although the starry magnolia (Magnolia stellata) blossomed early and was bit by frost, the Magnolia X soulangiana or Saucer magnolia is beginning to blossom in the Ozarks Arboretum.

Cornus mas – Cornelian cherry dogwood – is showing its yellow blossoms in the Horticulture Garden along with Prunus japonica Joel and Jan and the Japanese flowering cherry Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis. The Santa Rosa plum is in full bloom – pretty white blossoms – and the peaches are just beginning – some open blossoms on Ernie’s Choice, Saturn and Summer Pearl, but none open yet on Redhaven. 

The red maples are blooming too. Very happy that the grapes have not started to bud out yet. I have to finish pruning my little demonstration vineyard!