I would guess that you are talking about the Magnolia soulangiana, or tulip magnolia. Would be in full bloom in your area, nearly past.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:359449}}

Or Cercis canadensis - Eastern Redbud. They were blooming all along the interstate on my drive to Atlanta this past weekend.

If the flowers look like this, they are Eastern Redbud which are drought tolerant natives.

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Welcome, My_Garden_my_Peace. From your question, may I infer that (as we say in the vernacular) "Y'all ain't from 'round here, are ya?" Where is home for you?

Terry

OK, if those are redbuds, then what are the dark pink trees that were blooming three weeks ago before/with the forsythia that I THOUGHT were redbuds? There was a cluster of them off I-65 around Hueytown. I would really like to get one, but I would have bought the wrong tree!

Maple trees bloom very early and are similar to redbuds because the flowers are so small.

species of prunus (cherries, plums, apricots, etc.) bloomed earlier so maybe one of those. there is a planting of 3 flowering apricot along a major road in auburn that have pink and red flowers on the same tree that always catches my eye when i am travelling that road. they were beautiful a couple of weeks ago.

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{{gwi:359451}}

Maybe a flowering crabapple tree? Mine bloomed and were just loaded with flowers - deep pink/cranberry colored.
I have so much in bloom and coming up, I hope the winds push the freeze to Canada!! :O)
Lynn

Jeff, the trees I saw looked very similar to those. Thanks for the help! Any suggestions on which varieties bloom so early? That late in the winter, even a week earlier blooming makes a big difference.

Joy