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12 February 2011
After a harsh winter spring is now showing some signs of growth with the first snowdrops and narcissi poking through providing some cheer on a gloomy day. I also noticed that some of the spring flowering trees are also looking good, and when in blossom are hard to beat on a cloudy day with there mass of vibrant flowers. 
Some of my favourite types of trees are the flowering cherries which are good for any aspect in the garden, one in particular to look out for this time of year is Prunus 'Kanzan' with it's double pink flowers on mass in March/April, if however you don't have a big garden another cherry to consider is Prunus 'Kiku Shidare Sakura' with it's long weeping branches which also have abundace of semi-double pink flowers making a wonderful tree for any garden. Even smaller than that a wonderful little ornamental tree is Prunus 'Kojo-no-mai' a great little tree with single pink blush flowers great for a patio shurb/tree only getting upto 1 metre in height. if you are need a large flowering cherry then Prunus 'Ukon' is a fantasic tree with semi-double yellow/sulphur flowers during April with a spreading habit, a very unique and beautiful tree.
Another group of trees which will provide spring time colour are the Amerlanchier's, one I highly recommend is Amerlachier 'Robin Hill' flowers appearing during April and emerge pink slowing fading to white, a very good tree only growing to 3 metres in height, so good if you've a small garden, There are other Amerlanchier's which are suitalble for clay soil, Amerlanchier 'Ballerina' and Amerlanchier lamarckii both are small trees and show an abundace of pink/white flowers during April. You will also see from my previous article that Amelanchier provides a really stunning show of Autumn colour.
If however you want a tree with interest all year round the Crab Apple's are hard to beat, not only are they good this time of year with there blossom but most provide autumn/winter interest with there fruit which are great for bring wildlife into garden. 
A fantasic crab apple to look out for is Malus 'Red Sentinel' with it's scented flowers which come out white in April/May followed by red fruit in the autumn/winter a fantasic addition to any garden and one I would highly recommend, also Malus 'Direcktor Moorland' with small scented pink flowers in April and lobed purple leaves throughout the Spring and Autumn
And let's not forget a trees that everyone associates with sping is the May's. May's are fantasic trees for the small garden growing to 3m/10ft in height. The flowers attract bee's and other insects into gardenwhilst the berries in autumn provide food for birds. Crataegus 'Paul's Scarlet' with double dark pink flowers around May time, a fantasic tree for the garden if you require a screen from the strong prevailing winds.Crataegus 'Crimson Cloud' is also one of my favorite may's with it's semi-weeping habit and single red flowers with white centres.Being less vigorous than most may's it will provide interest for small gardens.