Behold the emerging flowers of the Bradford pear tree, sometimes called a Callery or Cleveland pear. You smell them before you see them. That’s not a good thing.
I was at The Village at Meridian on my way to Ulta Beauty when I caught the scent. How to describe it? Well, the trees have this nickname: Tuna on a Trunk. It’s certainly ODD.
These trees are everywhere, especially lining streets and sidewalks. Bradford pears are durable trees. They don’t mind rough growing conditions and have very few pests.
But why do the flowers smell like…that?
Science tells us the odor comes from amines.
Flowers emit scents to attract pollinators. These pear trees bloom early, when there may not be many bees around. The smell I find offensive is like candy to flies, though, and they’re pollinators, too. There is also some thought that the odor helps repel potential damaging insects.
So hold your nose and don’t ever plant one of these trees near windows you might open for fresh spring air. Unless you like the smell, and some people do. Please defend the trees and tell them they’re pretty, if that’s you.
Fortunately, the trees do not flower for long. About two weeks.
Oh, and if you visit our studios, these trees line the front of the building.
~Debbie