While male strobili are already fully developed on Virginia pines (see
this post from earlier in the week), they are not yet apparent in Eastern white pine (
Pinus strobus). Instead, all we have yet are these new shoots that will eventually develop either male strobili or female cones.
Note, though, how abundant the shoots are, at the end of each branch and branchlet - once the strobili develop, their pollen will be overpowering! This specimen is in the parking lot of 1801 Robert Fulton Drive.
Meanwhile, this blue spruce (
Picea pungens) near the entrance to 1801 Robert Fulton Drive (part of the group featured in
this post from last fall) is in full "bloom".
Note the solitary male strobili hanging from the ends of the branches. Also barely visible are several mature cones from last year that have already opened up and dropped their seed.
Here one can also see a new cone, still light brown and with its scales relatively closed.
Meanwhile, there is one large flowering tree that is now spectacularly in bloom - the black locust (
Robinia pseudoacacia, see the
Virginia Tech data sheet).
This specimen, which still has few leaves and thus is almost all white flower right now, is located on the north side of the W&OD gravel path just west of its intersection with the driveway for the Oak Hill Christian School.
This specimen is located along the southern border of the Sycamores apartment complex. It has already leafed out more, showing the characteristic pinnately compound leaves of the black locust. But this also shows a somewhat closer look at the drooping clusters of flowers - rather similar to the wisteria flowers, which is not surprising, given that both are members of the Fabaceae or pea family.
Near the black locust just shown is this black walnut (
Juglans nigra), which is also in bloom, albeit not very spectacularly - note the hanging catkins of green male flowers in the center of the image.
A closer view of the black walnut catkins. For a picture of black walnut in fruit last fall, see
this post.
