Linden Tree Flowers

“I like New York in June, how about you?” go the old song lyrics. I don’t believe the lyrics mention Linden trees (Tilia spp.) but in June their light yellow flowers bloom and produce a wonderful fragrance. You can detect it sweetly wafting on a breeze, even if you’re not near a park, as Lindens are often planted as a street tree. Sometimes, I’ll stand amid the understory of a Linden, an umbrella of flowers overhead, just to take in the scent.

Strangely, I find it a bit hard to describe the sweet aroma. It’s something akin to the realm of jasmine or honeysuckle, but with its own qualities. I might make a deeper dive to see how others have defined it—a quick online search of “linden flowers june new york” brought up a whole number of prior blog posts. I’ll report back here if I do.

Found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, Linden Trees are not uncommon, and there are a number of species native to the United States. In addition to reading up on other blogs and sources about them, I hope to get some better photos of the flowers to post. But until then, I hope you notice one of these trees and get a chance to enjoy the flowers while they’re around.