”Light Ink" cherry in full bloom 淡墨櫻盛開

Nowadays we can see many kinds of cherry. This is one of the old kinds. About 60 years ago this tree was planted beside the ruins of a Buddhism temple. Usually the end of March, this cherry is in full bloom. After reading some of the Japanese classics, I became interested in knowing what kind of cherry people loved a long time ago. 在日本我們常見的樹種是"染井吉野"。我去看的是被叫"淡墨櫻"。人們說在花謝之前, 花瓣變淡黑。

This is named as "Light Ink Cherry" because just before the blossoms are gone, the white petals change to light black. The most popular kind is called as "Somei Yoshino" that has been sold by gardeners since mid of 19th century.　It is almost always this kind that you can see in a park or photo.

The blossom shape of Light Ink is different from Somei Yoshino. It is smaller and pretty while Somei Yoshino is gorgeous. 盛開時的花瓣形狀是這樣的。真可愛。

惠風和暢

Plum blossom 好文木

Though we had a sudden snowfall this Tuesday, it becomes warmer. Plum blossom is a symbol of the early spring. 雖然這星期二還下了一場雪, 但正是梅花盛開的时节。

It's a fine day today. Petals are gathering sunshine.
Plum has another name called as the lover of study. I have heard a famous legend. More than one thousand years ago, there was a high official who was also known as a famous literary man. His rival in the palace envied him and used tricks to make him lose his high position. He had to go out of the capital and have a low position in a remote town. When he left the house in the capital, he sent a short poem to the plum tree that had been loved by him as a symbol of the spring. The poem says " You, do not forget the arrival of the spring though you are losing your master. " After his master arriving at the town, one night the plum tree flied over the sky and came into the garden of his master's new house.
The noble blossom in the early spring.
Turtles come out of the pond to take a sunbathe on a small stone. They look comfortable.