At the eastern end of Isaac Newton Square is this glorious row of Yoshino cherries (
Prunus x yedoensis) that are now at their peak bloom (no need to go to the Tidal Basin in Washington!).
Ah, what a beautiful display!
This image clearly shows some of the defining characteristics of the cherry blossom - its five-fold symmetry, the single yellow pistil at the center, the light-colored stamens surrounding it, and the somewhat thickened calyx supporting the flower.
Along the south side of the Reston Association headquarters (and mirrored along its north side), right in the center of Isaac Newton Square, is this magnificent double row of saucer magnolias (
Magnolia x soulangiana), which is in spectacular bloom this year.
What a wonderful sea of magnolia blossoms (somewhat pinker than the standard variety of saucer magnolia encountered in Reston)!
And yes, as shown in this shot (with colors somewhat bleached by the flash), it is a double row of magnolias - so you can entirely surround yourself with their beauty!
Right around the corner, along the western side of the Reston Association headquarters (you can see some magnolia blossoms at the very right edge of the image), is this sugar maple (
Acer saccharum) in full softly-green bloom.
Especially against the backdrop of the magnolia blossoms one can clearly make out the long green drooping stalks that bear the sugar maple flowers. Compare this
Vanderbilt site for more on the sugar maple and its flowers.
