What do you like about March?

At mid-March, it feels like that weather is getting warmer with each rain.

But weather is unstable and unpredictable, too:

after a warm spell, Winter frigid air from northwest and Spring warm air from southeast crashed on Japanese archipelago and tempestuous cold raged for two days followed by a few winter days.

Next week, the wider region of Japan is expecting a lot of sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Looks like Spring is going to win..., touch wood.

How is it in your corner of the world?

Ume, or Prunus mume

I like March for its dramatic transformation, from piercing chill to mild and pleasant,

with sprouts, blooms, baby animals one after another.

Though the sky becomes hazy seasonally because of the yellow sands from the continent,
the pale blue sky seen through the ceiling of early-blooming species of sakura (cherry blossom) is beautiful.
In two weeks, Somei-yoshino will dominate the landscape, which means full arrival of spring.
Somei-yoshino is one of the most popular and widely planted and cultivated flowering cherries.

Early bloomer, Okame-zakura, or Prunus incamp cv. Okame

In the camellia grove, spring camellia is taking over winter camellia and sazanqua camellia.

Insects are busier in the flow of yellow flowers.

At the quiet, shady pond, sprouted green of spring and bone structure of winter coexist.

You must have understood how the trees around the pond are soaring high from the reflected trees.

The withered bushes are hydrangeas. 

Isn’t it exciting to imagine how this area would look like in early summer.

Salix × leucopithecia, “Furisode yanagi” or “Akame yanagi” in Japanese, 
are radiantly luminous in the sunlight.

At the pond in the full sunlight, a swan duo attract people’s attention.

Creatures of all kinds feel the tremor of the springtime return and respond in the excitable manner 

and sometimes can be as mad as a March hare.



In a sense, I am a March hare, born in March in the year of Rabbit.
My late mother used to tell me,

"You were born in such a time when people at last feel liberated from the terrible winter chill
and can't hold back joy to upcoming springtime."

Moreish!