I'm in the pink with Sakura

During the 桜 Sakura (cherry blossoms) season, I'm in the pink strolling through 

the graceful blossoms.

I have an emotional attachment to the  endearing nature of Sakura

as the epitome of transient beauty in this world.

Sakura's nickname is 夢見草, which literally means dream-viewing-flowers.

Sakura make me feel as if I were in a dream or conjure up the memories 

of my late families.

April 12th

Three Buddhist figures engraved on the stones are surrounded by Sakura 

in the small garden of  勧学院 Kangakuin, a place to learn anything about Buddhism 

at Todaiji Temple.

-　春日野園地  Kasugano-enchi, Nara Park -

Nara Park is a spacious area with parks, gardens, temples, shrines, cultural heritages,

museums, woods, brooks, ....and  local people's houses.

It is not so bustling with people like in Kyoto.

Visitors enjoy the beauty of the park interacting with free-roaming deer.

April 1st

This is Somei-yoshino variety with the backdrop of Camellias.

-茶山園地  Chayama-ench, Nara Park -

At the foot of the Mount Wakakusa, there is a small wooded hill.

It is a place to admire the double-flowered Nara-no-kokonoe-zakura, 

which is rare and endemic to Nara.

Nara-no-kokonoe-zakura blooms at almost the same time as the widely-planted

Somei-yoshino.

As you see in the photos above and below, the color of the Somei-yoshino is pale-pink

while that of the Nara-no-kokonoe-zakura is brighter.

Nara-no-kokonoe-zakura

April 8th

Clouds upon clouds of soft pink blossom floaitng over deer and people 

make magically serene pictures.

- 佐保川  Saho River -

April 9th

Ordinary residential road becomes popular sightseeing spot at this time of year.

Almost all the Sakura along the river is Somei-yoshino.

An elementary school

 

- 鷺池 Sagi-ike Pond, Nara Park -

浮見堂 Ukimi-do Pavilion, April 12th

Overlooking Ukimi-do

- 若草山　Mt. Wakakusa -

The view of Nara City and Ikoma mountain range

Don't they look like enchanted gardens enveloped in ethereal blossoms?

The places introduced here is also in the last year's post.

Sakura season, 2024 (part 2)

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Saturday's Critters

At the pond surrounded by Ume Blossoms

A pond surrounded by 梅 Ume trees in the garden of Iraka is one of my favorite places 

at this time of year.

Shooting into the sun is good for a monochrome photo.

The pond is a flowered mirror in the sunlight.

In the breeze, reflected blossoms shift and change patterns like an ever-moving Kaleidoscope.

梅 Ume, or Japanese Apricot, is harbinger of spring in Japan,

a symbol of hope and renewal.

They are also associated with resilience and perseverance as they keep blooming

through the cold of winter to brighten up the wintry landscape little by little.

Winter Camellias are shining on the water surface with the sparkling light.

There is a sense of tranquility emanating from the place.

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In the frigid cold

“Snowdrops: There is a fragile but hardy celebration... in the very teeth of winter.”

- Louise Wilder -

Though I've been inactive in blogging, I've kept walking in the bracing cold air.
I found a swarm of snowdrops, bundled in the coat in “the strongest cold air front in several years.” 

Winter is a good time to take a good look at trees in their bone structure with subdued colors.

Beautifully flowing branches without leaves display abundant seedpods, 

which look like gold flowers from a distance.

Urchin-like fruits of Sweetgum, or Linquidambar styraciflua.

Fantastic shades of Silver or Sepia.

Caramel-colored Heuchera on the ground.

One morning in my garden in the frosty air.

The young ones challenged to break their record in the big rope jump.

"When winter comes, can spring be far behind?"

Better times surely come after difficult times.

More about the charm of winter; The quiet beauty of January.

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