Last Saturday: No tourists here, just cherry trees among the bungalows and four-squares of this neighborhood that a friend calls, “Our Urban Mayberry.” A child rolls by on a scooter, pushing along with one leg. Dogs briskly walk their owners.
At one corner I pass yet another Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) with the classic five petals and white/pink color. I fondle its bark. I pass a few Bradford Pear Trees with their flat white blossoms. Nothing to compare with the cherry blossoms, or my beloved plum blossoms, Prunus mume. Ah! A tiny yard offers a Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry), the drooping branches making a fountain of blossoms.
Already late, the blossoms are fading. I stroll about after work feeling the passing of time. I wish for Japan. I miss my friends who I know are sitting on blankets, drinking sake, perhaps singing as they gaze up at the billows of flowers. But these blossoms remind me to take in the moment. Nostalgia is wasteful when there are flowers in the trees.
Happy Hanami, Del Ray.
6 comments
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April 3, 2009 at 5:36 pm
headbang8
Peace and contentment to you, madam. I miss Japan, too.
April 3, 2009 at 6:45 pm
lwhynman
Beautifully said and beautiful photographs…
Happiness… not another place but this place, not for another hour but this hour.WW
Enjoy the blossoms.
April 4, 2009 at 9:13 am
Family Father
Ah, Spring in Washington! I almost miss the riot of flowers and green. But all things considred, I wouldn’t trade the precious few weeks of Spring in DC for the almost year-round spring-like weather of Sucre. FF
April 7, 2009 at 3:16 am
Tokyofoodcast
So our sakura time are almost in sync. Or we are a few days behind? I hope you grab your bottle of sake and enjoy private hamami time. Beautiful!
Madam says: Mr. Google tells me Tokyo is a few days behind Washington, DC. Kampai!
April 9, 2009 at 5:03 am
katja
Ahh…I love spring. We still have snow in Finland but the weather forecast looks promising…spring will come here too eventually…
Happy Easter!
April 9, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Japandra
Cherry blossoms without hordes? Does not compute. Love your site.
Madam says: Welcome, and thanks.