I first became aware of this plant in spring 2008 while taking pictures in the Oxford Botanical Garden, near Stanford House on High Street.
At the time, both the name, handkerchief tree, and the oh-so-appropriate flower that it describes were etched in my brain.
Today (April 17, 2014) I was quite surprised to realize that it also grows right outside my office in the
Stanford Main Quad.
Looking in Wikipedia, and finding the alternative name of dove tree, seemed equally pertinent.
Even the Latin binomial is kind of cool.
Hydrangea
modified: April 19, 2014
created: April 17, 2014 (from hydrangea.html)
contact: siegelr@stanford.edu