I suck at trees.
I'm always embarrassed when I'm showing a property and a client asks me "What kind of tree is that?", because I don't even have a clue. I can usually tell if it's deciduous or evergreen (especially if it's winter 
), and I can spot an aspen, but that's about it. Distinguishing between the dozens of different pines, spruces and junipers, not mention oak, walnut or maple varieties, and so on, is beyond my skill set. (I also suck at interior wood finishes - it's either oak or something else.) I've been meaning to learn trees and woods for so many years now that I'm pretty sure it will never happen.
So seven years ago, when I decided to plant a tree in a small courtyard on the side of our home, the garden center lady suggested a hawthorn, and the growth profile sounded like it would fit the space. We bought a 6' sapling, stuck it in the ground, and helped it get a good start. It seemed pretty happy there and grew noticably over the next several years. And in its third spring, we were surprised to see a couple of small flowers on one of the branches. And each year, we noticed a few more of these flowers. This year, it went nuts.
A bit of research turned up the fact that our tree's full name is Flowering Hawthorn, and this year, it's really living up to its billing. And it must be happy - only a very happy tree would look this good.
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