End the Winter Blahs: 7 Indisputable Signs of Spring

Pear Blossoms

Most of us know about the Japanese cherry trees, usually found in botanical gardens, which explode into blizzards of pink petals. But right in your own neighborhood, look for pear blossoms, says Nina Bassuk, professor of the Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University. Pears are much more common than cherries (because they're easy to grow) and burst into tiny white flowers just as the weather turns warm, even before forming leaves.