Catalpa flower, NW Corner Rd.

A few days ago, when we were on the road to White Flower Farm in northwestern Connecticut, I noticed that the Catalpa trees had started putting on their annual canopy-to-forest-floor flowering spectacular. A Catalpa in full bloom is a memorable sight, and this morning, on a drive towards the Henne hiking trails, I noticed that our "cigar trees"—that common name comes from the plant's remarkably long cigar-shaped seed pods—are beginning to be covered with blossoms and flower buds. Of course I stopped and waited for the wind to call it quits so I could get close-ups of the amazing blooms. With any luck, I'll be able to return quickly with the macro equipment and maybe, just maybe, I'll spot another spectacular: the emergence of hordes of Catalpa Sphinx Moth caterpillars—called "worms" in the South and used as a prime catfish bait—whose only food source is this amazing tree.