Spartanburg, South Carolina to Yellow Springs: Starting out the trip at dawn in a light rain, the road through the mountains, even near Ashville, was  now full of redbuds in bloom – whereas a week ago, we saw maybe only one or two. There were also more crab apple trees open. North of Knoxville, the redbuds continued, but gradually became less mature until they disappeared a little after the Kentucky border. Pear trees were common in Kentucky, and the first patches of full blooming dandelions, a shepherd’s purse type cress, and henbit seen near Williamsburg. The past week was clearly a pivotal one throughout the mountains, but arriving in Yellow Springs, we found almost no change at all except more squills up and budded and midseason crocus well budded.