Second Round of Cherry Blossom Beauty

We've had chilly winds blowing again yesterday; and this morning when I got up I noticed we had also had rain during the night - and more of the same was predicted for the late afternoon. After lunch the sun was showing its face between the clouds again for a while, though, so I decided I'd probably manage a walk to the park downtown and back (about an hour). I did bring an umbrella, but I did not need it. I was back home again well before the forecasted rain hit my windows.

Instead I was abundantly awarded for my effort by finding the late-blooming cherry blossom trees in the park at their most gorgeous. And I was far from the only one spending quite a while there on this Saturday afternoon, trying to take in the overwhelming beauty - and also catch it on camera.  

This is my favourite among the photos that I took! (Cropped/enlarged version below.) Those children seemed quite taken with the abundance of beauty, too!

Linking to

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Street/Reflections

Cherry Blossom Time

 

After having seen the first cherry blossom tree in bloom in the city centre on Friday, the next day I decided it was probably also time to go and check on the ones in a little park in my own part of town - some ten minutes walk in another direction from where I live. 

This little park used to be all surrounded by old cherry blossom trees, but it has been rather evident in later years that not all of them were faring well. Now I found that several of them had been replaced by new, small, young ones (which were not in bloom yet, and I did not get any photos of them). But luckily they left two or three of the big old trees at one end of the park, and those are still doing their best to prove that they're not "past it" just yet! 

"The beauty of cherry blossoms
lies in their impermanence,

a fleeting moment of grace." 

~ ~ ~

"Cherry blossoms are a reminder that
life is beautiful, even in its brevity." 

Linking to  Mersad's Through My Lens

Wonderland

 

 

 

Last time I walked through the City Park, around 1½ week ago, the cherry blossom trees there weren't in bloom yet. (They're of a later kind than similar trees growing in other parks closer to where I live.)  Today proved perfect for seeing them in their full glory, though.

The Big Green Rabbit used to stand in another part of the park, but as they're doing some changes in that part now, he's been moved to this spot instead. From this angle, it looks to me as if he's still wondering Why! (There are several benches nearby where people can sit and look at him, though.) 

The official title of the sculpture is Mate Hunting. 
(By Marianne Lindberg de Geer, 2008. )

Regardless of where in the park he stands, he always reminds me of the rabbit in Alice's Wonderland though. (Even though the rabbit in that book isn't green, but white). 

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!"

Cherry Blossom 3

 

Still wearing my winter coat... But a little bit warmer today, no wind, and glimpses of the sun. So I grabbed the opportunity for a rather pleasant walk into town (and back), to get some things from the pharmacy - and to just enjoy the progress of spring on the way. (If anyone is wondering about the building in the top photo, in the past it was a spinning mill, but is nowadays home to various offices and businesses - including a fitness gym.)

 

(Saving a few more pictures for another day.)

More Cherry Blossoms

I went back to revisit the little park with the old cherry blossom trees today, and I do think there were more flowers visible in the top branches today than when I was last there (four days ago). So probably no need to worry too much about the health of the trees as such.

 

One thing may still be a concern, though: Standing under these trees in spring is usually also connected with hearing the buzzing of a lot of bees and bumble bees. This year, I've so far not heard a single buzz... 

Daytime temperatures are still just around +7'C (44'F); and frost warnings issued for the nights. And the sky keeps changing very quickly. Yesterday the weather changed while I was dressing to go out, and when I got outside I was met by a snow-and-hail shower. (My walk was cut very short...) Today I managed to get out while the sun was shining, and as you can see from the photos, when I got to the park with the cherry trees (15 min walk or so), the sky was a lovely blue colour. But before I got back home (another 20-25 min), it was overcast and raining again!

I asked Copilot for a poem about the fickleness of spring:

In the dance of dawn, where dewdrops reign,
Spring whispers life, a transient train.
Blossoms bloom with a fleeting smile,
Gracing the earth, yet just for a while.

She waltzes in on a zephyr's wing,
A fickle queen, the heart of spring.
Sunshine and storm her crown adorn,
Today she's warmth, tomorrow she's torn.

Petals pirouette in the fickle air,
Spring's tender touch, both foul and fair.
A symphony of growth, then a silent fling,
Such is the caprice of the vernal king.

Yet in her fickleness, there lies a truth,
The cycle of life, in age and youth.
For in each ending, a beginning springs,
A constant change, the fickleness brings.

Cherry Blossoms

Having seen the magnolia tree in bloom on Monday (previous post), yesterday I went to check on some Japanese cherry trees in my neighbourhood. And yes, they're blossoming now as well, in spite of still rather chilly spring weather so far.

I'm not really sure how these old trees have coped with the harsh winter this year, though. Only the lower branches seemed to have flowers on them. But maybe the impression will be different in a few days? (I shall try to remember to go back and check again!)

 

More Spring Beauty

 

Went for another walk downtown today, and found the cherry blossom trees still in their prime...

And so are the tulips in various flower beds!

Linking to

Walking a mile or two, in my new shoe

The summery weather continues, and nature keeps turning greener every day now - and showing off  other colours as well... I know I shared photos of the cherry blossom trees in the park downtown only a couple of days ago, but I could not resist going back again today. I'm still exploring the camera in  my new phone, learning what it can do (and not). 

 I'm far from the only one this week walking around in the park holding up my phone to the trees...

It was also a good day for reflections!

 

 

Ooops... In this part of the park things were not what I expected! (Cf. the photo below, from last year.) I think they've got started on one part of a long term project, which is to create a Long Park stretching all the way through the city - basically following the river where that's possible, and some parts of it built on bridges across both river and roads. The idea is that when it's finished, you'll be able to walk or cycle in park environment, away from traffic, for around 5 km (~3 miles). I guess we'll have to hold on to the dream vision while they're still working on it, though...

Photo from 28 May, 2022

 (I wonder where the rabbit went? Down a hole until the project is finished? Or will he turn up somewhere totally different in between?)

I still got a long enough "testrun" (well, walk) for a new pair of shoes I bought at the beginning of the week, though. They have the advantage of an "airy" top for summer weather, but are still proper shoes supporting the whole foot, and with a thick sole made for walking.

 
Linking to: Weekend Street/Reflections #120