Hi, it's not a cherry, the growing green fruits are already larger than any cherry I've seen. Also cherries don't all grow together at the tip of a single upright stem, cherries have individual hanging stems. This looks like some exotic that grows in very dry natural conditions, possibly a fig, does this description resemble any fig species? All the local cherries, nectarines and peaches stil have branches full of dark green leaves that will be around for months to come, this tree always loses its leaves by the end of June. It might not be a commonly grown fruit tree even for this area which seems to have every citrus and other fruit tree species that could possibly survive in this climate (which is a lot as long as you water them). Everyone please read my detailed opening description and think about possible exotics, one more thing, the person remembers being told when the fruit is ripe it turns brownish and they look like a bunch of flattened potatoes stuck to a stick! This has to ring a bell with somebody, it's just too unusual not to be readily recognizable. If you have any questions I'll try my best to help, guessing is free, at least if you give me species to look up I'll instantly be able to tell if it's the same tree. Thanks.

That's exactly it! Thank you.

They are Redbuds. I wasn't honestly sure since the one I planted looked different. The buds came out a light pink, but as the weeks have progressed it has taken on that standard lavender color and the stalks have branched out a bit.

The last house that I lived in had a lovely little fruit tree orchard in the backyard when I moved in, planted by the previous owner of the house about 15 years earlier. All of the trees were pretty good for climbing but one in particular was a beautiful Yellow Delicious Apple tree that was about 15 feet high. It had thick lateral branches that spread out nearly horizontally in a beautiful, balanced way. PERFECT for climbing, especially younger children, and several children who visited enjoyed climbing it. Then, a few years later, a freak storm came through and blew over the largest tree in the yard - a 50-year old Silver Maple that was at least 75 feet tall growing near the edge of a swamp. When it landed the crown of the tree SMASHED the fruit orchard to smithereens, including the Yellow Delicious apple tree that was the most perfect climbing tree I could imagine for children. :( Fortunately, a nice apple tree and a large Black cherry were far enough away to be spared, and they were pretty good climbing trees too. :)