Many squares in Europe are lined with plane trees. They look great in summer creating shade and a lovely greenish light. In winter they go bare and are usually cut back severely. This is what makes those clumps at the end of branches.
And in spring when they leaf out they look like this.
The plane trees in public places are often cut back harshly and as a result they develop these knots at the end of their branches. And sometimes the knot is a bird.
Is it still winter or is it already spring? These weeks are called Vorfrühling in German, i.e. pre-springtime. The weather this weekend was glorious and the trees, still bare, were on the threshold of renewal.
The plant trees look particularly awkward during this time.
But looking around – proper spring can’t be far away.
The first blooms – wild cherry, I believe – are out.
They still conform to Dale’s prompt, though: they come before the leaves.
The Cosmic Photo Challenge: Before the leaves.
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