Bloomin' Crabapples!

Crabapples blooming in the fall?

I would not have believed it, had I not noticed two crabapple trees, in two different locations, blooming this past week.

Some spring flowering trees and shrubs will occasionally have one or two blooms on one or two branches in the fall. But you have to look closely, or you would miss them.

Both of these trees are in full bloom.
Why?

Or is the tree thinking why not?

Mostly likely these particular trees are under some kind of stress, and the tree is reacting instinctively to that stress by blooming and trying to set seed before it dies so that it’s species can continue. Neither tree may realize that they are one of several crabapples in their location, and it might be okay to just give in, let go, show some good fall color, and then dream of the big compost pile in the sky.

I admire them for trying, for blooming under stressful times. And they don’t even know about the stock market.

When I’m under stress, I’m going to remember these crabapples and do my best to ‘bloom’, regardless of circumstances or perhaps because of circumstances.