Wild apple blossoms out at the beach

The days keep warming up and the joys of spring keep unfolding. It’s as perfect (and how wonderful that it’s so early) a spring as I’ve ever witnessed.

Today I’m posting several shots of one lone wild apple tree (Malus domestica??) that has its moment of supreme glory for a few days every spring. (At least I think it’s a wild apple. Certainly, to me, the blossoms seem to match those I see in guidebooks and online. But — please! — if anyone knows differently please let me know.)  Aside from the few days in spring when this tree proclaims its pulchritude, most of the time any passerby would likely not even see it, hidden as it is near a copse of sea buckthorn near the little arc of gravel and rocks at Ashbridge’s Bay Park that I call Dog Beach (for obvious reasons).

Today columnist Joe Fiorito writes in the Toronto Star about the Japanese cherry blossoms now adorning High Park. (He has lovely words to say about the magic of these blossoms, and some not so lovely words about our city officials. Read it by clicking here.) After reading his column, I wondered if perhaps I had misidentified the blossoms above. Perhaps they might be cherry blossoms, not apple blossoms? I checked further (thank you Google images), and have gone back to  my original ID. (Help welcomed — see above.)

Whatever they are, I think they are stunningly beautiful. And as Fiorito notes, blossom time is “achingly brief.” Time to get out to see them now.

I’m putting up a few other views of them (all the same tree) just because I think they are so special.

© BCP 2010