The Halacha says that if someone sees Ilanot Korchim, trees that have began to bud, so he must make a Beracha; "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokenu Melech HaOlam Shelo Chisar BeOloamo Kelum, Uvara Vo Briyot Tovot V'Ilanot Tovot L'Hanot Bahem B'nei Adam." This is the Beracha we call Birkat Hailanot.
Preferably, the Beracha should be made in the month of Nisan. Although the Beracha can really be made so long as you can see the trees budding, but according to the Kabala, there is a lot of mysticism behind the Beracha Birkat Hailanot. Rav Chida writes that there are different Neshamot that might be locked up into the trees, and therefore by making the Beracha we release them. So therefore, he says the best time to make that Beracha with the Neshamot etc., would be the month of Nisan. But if somebody would not have the ability, or was not able to see them, or the trees weren’t budding for some reason, of course he can then make it in the month of Iyar. That’s also the opinion of Chacham Ovadia Yoseph.
The Halacha is that it has to be at least 2 trees. It has to be Fruit Trees. It has to also be at the time they are budding before they gave fruit, and it can be the same species. Which means you can have 2 apple trees, so long as both of them are budding, and you can see both of them, you can make the Beracha. We do not make the Beracha on a grafted tree. It has to be a natural fruit tree without grafting.
Last but not least, Chacham Ovadia holds that ladies can also make Birkat Hailanot. It does not fall into the category of Mitzvat Ase SheHazeman Gemara. Because this is really depending on a seasonal item. If the trees would bud in Tevet, then we would make it in Tevet. It just happens to be that normally in the spring, that’s when these things happen. Therefore the Halacha is that ladies can make Birkat Hailanot.
We have a few more days left in the month of Nisan, so one should try to make the Beracha if he has not done so yet. One should try to find these trees. These trees are around the neighborhood and so one should try to make the Beracha.
