the smell of spring

via blissful images
the smell of springtime here in sf is fully encapsulated in the smell of the elderberry tree. it is an indescribable scent that is reminiscent of honeysuckle yet more potent somehow. lovely.

i spent all last spring trying to locate the scent because there are many flowering trees in the area. Yet the trees that were covered in bright pink and white buds were not where the intoxicating smell came from. 

this year i happened to look up when the smell became overwhelming and noticed that in what appeared to be a perfectly green tree where small greenish/white buds that were the source. unusual but i believe that the best things come in unassuming packages.