I have seven trees in my yard, if I only count the one's I've planted.
As I recall the first one I bought was the Sergeant Crabapple. I had a very specific spot that needed a small tree and I wanted something that had flowers and edible fruit for the birds.
Next came the Royal Frost Birch, which I loved for the foliage and the bark color.
Then in the early Spring, I bought 3 trees on sale at Fort Muncy Nursery. I bought a Snow Goose Cherry, a Celestial Dogwood, and a Zumi Crabapple. They were all the previous year's stock and were completely dormant when I picked them out.
While I was at Engle's buying plants I fell in love with a Crimson Cloud Hawthorn. At the time it seemed too expensive and all the stock was covered with little worms, so I passed. Then Fort Muncy got a shipment of trees and I bought a Winter King Hawthorn. After much internal debate, I went back to Engle's and bought the Crimson Cloud.
So far the Snow Goose Cherry has given me the most worry. It seems as if the central leader has died, but now the rest of it looks quite healthy and the flower buds are close to opening. It isn't terribly attractive right now, but as long as it survives, I'm sure it will fill out and look more like a tree, instead of a stick with leaves.
The Crimson Cloud Hawthorn, Zumi Crabapple, and Sergeant Crabapple are covered in little leaf buds. the Celestial Dogwood and Winter King Hawthorn are just beginning to look lively. This year I'm not concerned about the state of the Royal Frost Birch - I remember it had the same absolutely dead look last year. It is by far the slowest to show any signs of life.
