A Picture To Summarize Indiana

I wanted to post about Indiana today, being that it's my first day back and my mind is still spinning. So much history, so much beauty, so much...you! As I looked for a good picture to summarize the trip, this one came to mind. You referred to these trees as "redbuds," which makes sense given that their name is Eastern Redbud. We saw them all along the drive north and they were always a pretty sight, especially when there was a cluster of them spread for several meters. I took this picture at the first lake at Fort Ben, where we saw several school teachers and students visiting.

Per the Arbor Day Foundation's website:

"Early settlers found the blossoms of the redbud a delicious addition to their salads. Early folk healers used the bark to treat common maladies and sometimes even leukemia. And many Native Americans chose the wood of the California redbud for their bows. But the sheer springtime beauty of the redbud may be its greatest hold on the American spirit."

While reading about the Eastern Redbud, I discovered that there's also such a tree as the California Redbud. This particular tree does not grow as tall as its eastern counterpart, but does produce pretty red buds. One might look nice planted on the front lawn of my next house.