spring in the Lou

Spring has come to St. Louis, and not just a little.  Rather than peeking its timid head in per usual, it burst through the door this year, ready to paint the town red... or pink, rather.  But seriously, it is unreal.  Missouri has never seen a spring this gorgeous or flamboyant in my lifetime.  The trees are out-of-this-world phenomenal and all the flowers are out.  Early ones, late ones... it's ridiculous.  And it's still only March.

I do not claim to be a photographer.  I don't even own a camera.  I had to borrow my mom's because I wanted to be able to post pictures of this remarkable and memorable season for years to come.  Anyway, below are some of the highlights I was able to take around town between rehearsals and teaching.  I will try and post more tomorrow.  There is a particular redbud in my neighbor's yard that I'd still like to get to before the blooms go away...

blossoms from my mom's apple tree in Old Monroe... I guess I technically took this yesterday.

 Dogwood blossoms in the neighboring yard of one of my students yesterday.

Ok, I really am not sure what kind of tree this is... I wanna say flowering pear?

And for the pièce de resistance...

... there is a whole bed of these at the entrance to Forest Park off Skinker, right across from Wash U and Forsyth.  They are absolutely breathtaking -- and this, even a few days too late.  I drove by them Sunday and they were absolutely perfect.  You can see here that they're on their way out... maybe another day or two.  Or three if we're lucky.

I went back later tonight after I got done teaching, thinking the light might be better...

I also caught this one while at a stoplight on my way to the practice room.  It's extremely blurry, but you can see how big some of the lilac bushes are around here... and they are all out blooming.  Such a treat.

I will post more tomorrow.  Literally, I've spent my days driving around St. Louis between students and rehearsals, having my mind blown over and over again by beauty.  Wish I could've snapped a picture of the giant magnolia in front of the Presbyterian church on Delmar when it was in full bloom.  Holy. cow.