Today is dreary and rainy, so I thought I'd cheer myself up with a photo I took yesterday of this laburnum tree. Just when the wisteria is past its peak the laburnum comes out in full glory, making for an exciting few weeks for lovers of racemes.
I've never seen a laburnum tree in the U.S.; here my neighborhood is full of them. I guess I'm surrounded by other raceme lovers.
Here's a raceme of the white wisteria that's growing over my fence:
Last June I was just a little too late to see the laburnum arch in Bodnant Gardens at its peak. It was still thrilling, though, for a raceme lover like me.