There are many things I love about flowering crabs; from how sculpted they look in winter, with fun to prune forms with persistent fruit, to May explosions of color. Crabapples are usually described by their flower’s color, fruit or size.

Often unsung, my favorite crabapple attribute is the scent some varieties carry. I always associate the distinctive fragrance of these beautiful spring flowering ornamental trees with the month of May, getting out of school and playing in the warmer weather.

Fragrant crabs are not overly common, but I encourage you to step outdoors this week as they bloom and hunt down a good whiff or three. There is nothing like it.

Josh Steffen, Horticulture and Facilities Manager