While on my morning walk yesterday, I was noticing the many caragana bushes in full bloom.

Caraganas are common here, especially as a border or hedge. My Dad maintained a perfectly groomed caragana hedge around my childhood home.

As children, we loved pulling the tiny blossoms apart and licking the tiny drop of sweet nectar that was hidden deep inside. It was almost a rite of passage for prairie kids.

Each year, in memory of my Dad’s perfect hedge, and of my childhood of simple pleasures, I try to capture at least one macro shot of a deep yellow caragana blossom.

As I was looking for that shot yesterday, I noticed something I’ve never seen before. On one bush, the blossoms had some yellow on them, but the petals were mostly white.

I’ve spent the morning Googling this, thus my later than usual post today. My research turned up not a single answer, so I’m asking you, my readers, if you’ve ever seen this and if yes, do you have an explanation? The only thing I could think of was cross pollination with some other shrub. There has been no frost here since the trees and shrubs have started to bloom, so that thought got put away. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”

William Shakespeare