桜 Sakura Season, 2022

A flurry of snowflakes one and half months ago turns to that of Sakura petals.

Pink Sakura (cherry blossoms) petals cover the ground like a newly fallen snow.

Every year, Sakura come and go enchanting us with their ethereal beauty.

- Nara Park -

The site of the East Pagoda, where a five-story pagoda once stood.

Sagi-ike Pond

At the Sagi-ike Pond, branches with flowers hang low over the water 

to cast pink shimmering reflection

Nara National Museum Buddhist Art Library

There are more than one hundred Sakura tree varieties in Japan. 

The large majority of them have been cultivated for decorative use in gardens and parks.

染井吉野 Someiyoshino, Prunus x yedoensis, with five light pink petals,

is most widely planted.

紅豊 Beniyutaka,Cerasus Sato-zakura Group 'Beni-yutaka', has deep pink 

multiple-petaled blossoms.

山桜 Mountain cherry, Cerasus jamasakura, is one of a few varieties native to Japan's mountains.

Green or coppery brown leaves appear at the same time with blossoms.

紅枝垂れ Beni-shidare is a cascading tree with deep pink double-petaled blossoms.

八重桜 Multiple-petaled Sakura

I was standing marvelling at each sight.

   - Along the Saho River before sunset - 

Sakura burst into bloom so intensely and disappear from sight so briskly 

 that even a moment of being in awe last long in heart ....

probably until we finally leave this world in accordance with the will of Nature 

like Sakura.

河鵜 Kawau, or River Cormorant

Lunch at the restaurant Tekisui located right across from the Sagi-ike Pond.

 Yugayama-enchi Garden.

Sakura at Koriyama Castle Ruins, another Sakura post this year.

Linked to Mosaic Monday