Naked Pink. Cercis siliquastrum, Judas Tree, Vondelpark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Many early-flowering trees produce flowers from naked branches and trunks before their leaves come out. Such a one is this Cercis. Its common name is often given as Judas Tree. Apparently that's because its rounded leaves were thought to resemble the thirty pieces of silver Judas was paid for his betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The 'siliquastrum' of its specific name is derived from the Greek word for a weaver's shuttle; perhaps even of use for producing cloth to cover up against our present chilly and rainy weather...
Naked Pink. Cercis siliquastrum, Judas Tree, Vondelpark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Many early-flowering trees produce flowers from naked branches and trunks before their leaves come out. Such a one is this Cercis. Its common name is often given as Judas Tree. Apparently that's because its rounded leaves were thought to resemble the thirty pieces of silver Judas was paid for his betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The 'siliquastrum' of its specific name is derived from the Greek word for a weaver's shuttle; perhaps even of use for producing cloth to cover up against our present chilly and rainy weather...