Don’t you just love spring?  We’ve had an unseasonably cool spring down here in Atlanta.  However, I won’t complain because before I know it, I’ll be cursing a summer heat wave.  

Aside from my writing, I love to take photographs.   I’m always snapping a photo of anything and everything.  I can’t tell you how many photos I have that are “book” related.  From settings and people, to inspiration and theme.  It’s a fun hobby and helps fuel more of my creative spirit for writing my novels.

This afternoon I was in the backyard with Fergles and found these neat things growing on a tree.  It’s been in our backyard for years and years and I’ve never noticed those beautiful flowers until this spring.  Weird. 

It’s been eons since I took any classes related to dendrology.   Yes, that is the official term for the science and study of trees.  So I did what inquiring minds do when they have a question – Google. Smile  I found the ArborDay Foundation’s Tree Identification Guide.  After answering a series of questions, voilà, I had my answer.  Bonus points if anyone can identify what type of tree this is.  (Or you can find the answer below)  Enjoy…

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This is a Liriodendron tulipifera, or more commonly known as:  Yellow-poplar, Tulip-poplar or Tuliptree.   Pretty right?  Now let me figure out how to work this into a young adult novel. 

Hmmm – I’m visualizing a scene where the boy and girl are in the park.  He sees the tree and stops under it.  He plucks a beautiful tulip-like flower from the tree and hands it to her.  Or maybe he puts it behind her ear.  Sure it’s a little cliché, so it needs a little work, but you’ve got to admit, it’s kind of romantic.  And that’s what I write.  Young adult romance.