the dewy path

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Cherry blossom time?


The Japanese Meteorological Office position on the forecast of sakura is that it will arrive in Kyoto this year on 25th March, which seems much earlier than recent years.

So here I am in grey UK, thinking back two years, and remembering how lovely the willows and the cherry trees looked along the riverbank in Gion; and how easy it was to acquire the Japanese adrenalin rush at the slightest hint of pink; "ooooh" and "aaaaah" along with the rest.

Much more delicate and fragile than our English (or Italian) flowering cherry. One puff of harsh wind, one frost - and all is gone. And how much it is appreciated because it is so ephemeral.

Sitting admiring cherry blossom while eating green tea ice cream is one of the spiritual highlights of my life. Total bliss of being in the moment. Only second to the amazing bell in Shoren-in, but that is another story... which is still ongoing.

Here are some photos taken in Heian Jingu on 9th April 2005.





posted by Val at 4:13 pm

5 Comments:

  • Thanks for these photos. Maybe we should be planning a trip to Cowra (New South Wales) in October - we can catch the cherry blossoms then! I dare say that the crowds would be minimal, compared to Japan. How have you coped with that, Val?

    By Blogger Val, at 2/4/07 4:17 am  

  • The sakura, such a lovely metaphor for the impermanence of things. It will be some time before our Canadian cherry trees are in bloom, but I have been dreaming about them, and I have been walking underneath the willows in my dreams too.

    By Blogger kerrdelune, at 30/4/07 7:10 pm  

  • Thank you for visiting my blog. This is a lovely blog, I'm so glad to have found it. Such wonderful photos.

    By Blogger Maya's Granny, at 7/12/07 6:56 pm  

  • Oh, cherry blossoms! So delicious. Sadly they have already passed on here (...at my home in Northern CA, US), and the deep crimson leaves of the tree are working toward their own fullness now. But oh, that scent! There is nothing else like it. I am glad to visit your blog after you visiting my blog after me visiting Cate's blog :) I shall be back! --Pilar

    By Blogger mama p, at 4/4/08 7:23 am  

  • Hi Val-

    Thanks for dropping by Earth Home Garden again. I just went browsed through all the beautiful photos here on the main page of the dewy path. So many wonderful gardens!

    By Blogger Jim, at 23/12/08 5:21 pm  

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