It doesn’t seem to take more than a week or two of mild to warm weather for the Bradford Pear trees to start blooming. When they do, I consider it to be the unofficial start of Springtime in Roanoke. Though, as a testament to the particularly harsh winter we had, they do seem to be blooming just a little bit later than in recent years. (In both 2008 and in 2009 I thought the trees seemed to start to really bloom a bit earlier in the month of March.)

The trees are easily noticed at various places throughout downtown Roanoke as the white blooms are visible on corners and along streets. As I was out to lunch downtown today I snapped a couple photos near the intersection of Jefferson Street and Church Avenue.

Bradford Pear trees bloom in the background at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Church Avenue in downtown Roanoke.

Bradford Pear trees as seen walking along the sidewalk beside Church Avenue in Downtown Roanoke.