It is not a particularly showy plant. Its foliage is common, albeit handsome enough. It’s blooms – white tinged outwardly with rose when in bud, are small, produced en-masse so they form quiet snowballs that prefer the understory of plantings, hiding and blending into the background. But their scent – that exquisite perfume – is what puts the Korean spice viburnum on the landscaping map. One bush is enough to fill a small yard with fragrance, and even in the expanse of Boston, a few specimens often leave passers-by wondering where the scent originates.
While their looks fade into the environment, this is the time for other showstoppers, such as these back-lit Narcissus and the cloud of pink Kwanzan cherry blooms seen below.
The crab apples are also in bloom, and they do have a fragrance, unlike the cherries. It is the quintessential scent of hope and spring – all sweetness and freshness and delicacy.
They look especially lovely against a bright blue sky. We might complain about how cool and damp the weather has been of late, but such conditions prolong the life of their blooms. It’s always a trade-off.
Forget Christmas, this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Hello, May flowers.
