Here is one for the tree guys...

[RolandDeschain]

Was out this week and saw these budding out all over my place. See if you can identify them.

Hint - Middle TN, top of ridge, about 1200 ft elevation...

 

[contender]

Poplar???

 

[WAYNO]

Tulip Poplar aka tulip magnolia.

 

[RolandDeschain]

Good guess, but Tulip Poplar doesn't blossom out for at least another month. Besides, these are leaves budding out, not flower blooms.

Its a tough one I know, but believe it or not, these are Shagbark Hickory buds...

Like the first article says - its kind of a woodsy version of April Fools.. :wink:

https://mybeautifulworldblog.com/tag/shagbark-hickory/

https://www.lireo.com/photo-of-the-week-shaghorn-hickory-in-spring/

 

[WAYNO]

Very interesting. My first guess, would have been a variation of rhododendron, but I don't know if they grow back east. Then I showed your pictures to another guy, and he said poplar. I stole his answer, but still missed. :mrgreen:

 

[Gator89]

I saw some of those while turkey hunting in middle GA last weekend.

 

[BROKENBEAR]

I'm guessing maybe one of the Catalpa tree varieties ....??

 

[powder smoke]

Kinda reminds me of Mtn. Laurel we have up here except the color of the flower. ps

 

[RolandDeschain]

Admittedly that one was sorta tough, because it was leaf buds that look like flowers. This one should be quite a bit easier.

Found these guys blooming all over this week up on our place. Hints - again, about 1200 ft, middle TN, but on a North East facing slope with plenty of moisture. And VERY sweet smelling....

 

[exavid]

I know, I know, those are plants. Flora' I believe.

 

[Taterman]

I can't ID them, but that's a beautiful looking wooded area. Hoping to move to TN one day.

 

[RolandDeschain]

Those pink and white guys are Mountain Azaleas...very common in the Southern Highlands..

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rhca7

 

[RolandDeschain]

The Mountain Azealas are generally the first to appear. They smell Heavenly too..

The Flame Azealas will come next.

 

[RolandDeschain]

With the Mountain Laurel generally a few weeks later... The Rhodendrons generally don't bloom out till late May - early June dependent on elevation.


These are Mountain Laurel - (I don't have any pics of Rhodendron blooms handy). Easy way to tell Laurel from Rhodendron is that the Rhodendron likes to grow more along streams and coves, while Laurel generally prefers the ridge tops. Also the Rhodendron leaf is longer than Laurel (easy way to remember - long leaf - long word).