Crisp as a cracker. That’s how the air felt Saturday morning. Fresh and cool, I believe Spring is at its glorious peak in St. Louis. Daily the local landscape is pop, pop, popping with an abundance of gorgeous flowering trees.

There was a real freshness in the air when I took an early morning walk. We had a drenching rain on Thursday, a cleansing rain that rid the streets of any remaining salt and debris and washed winter away. Friday’s rainy, overcast disposition turned sunny with bright blue skies and temperatures in the low 50s when I got out and about on Saturday morning. Here is what I glimpsed: Pink, yellow and white magnolias; bright, bright yellow forsythia; purple red bud just beginning to burst; soft pink cherry trees in full bloom; rosy-red and white flowering crabapple trees, and rows of Christmas-tree shaped Bradford pear standing tall in white bloom along the the edge of the road. All are on display in their full glory just a short walk from my home.

Magnolia liliiflora

Forsythia – oleaceae

I wasn’t the only one to take notice. Front porches are pretty much a staple in this area and I came upon more than one resident sitting on their porch, newspaper and coffee cup in hand enjoying the alpine-like air. This time of year is fleeting. I am glad I made time to stop and smell the roses.

Red bud – cersis canadensis

Magnolia stellata