Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
Is my imagination playing tricks on me or is the blossom better, and even more bountiful this spring? Following the wet but very mild winter the trees seem to have out performed themselves with their showy splendour. Some of the blossom is from our garden but it was all shot locally during our evening walk yesterday.
A E Housman reminds us of how few springs we will enjoy during our lifetime, each one deserves to be cherished
Hello Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely Cherry Blossom bouquet you brighten the start of our day with today!
The Blossom in all its variety looks truly wonderful. How fortunate you are to be able to enjoy all of this right on the doorstep, so to speak. And, you could be right. The weather conditions may have created extra flower power this year. What a fabulous bonus!
Hello Jane and Lance - soon I am heading off, but when I return the blossom will be over - I wanted to hold on to it for a little bit longer.
DeleteI agree with you Rosemary, the blossoms this year have excelled themselves and are a delight to see. Your photos are stunning and I love the poem by A E Housman, which is so apt. I'm sure our wet winter and Spring had something to do with this wonderful display.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
You are right A E Housman puts into words what I suddenly realised a few years back. As you get older you wonder how many more blossom times you have left.
DeleteBeautiful to see all the blossom after your winter. It's a good feeling when all the blooms has sprung, because then it's truly spring!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, at the moment it is at its peak - I wanted to capture it quickly before it is all on the ground.
DeleteHello Rosemary, I used to love nature walks like that in the spring. Not only can you enjoy all the blossoms, you can also identify patches of wild berries, haws, plums, etc. in bloom, so that you can go back later to get the fruit!
ReplyDelete--Jim
That is exactly what we were doing - the last picture shows where the sloe plums will be, must get a bottle of gin on our travels to utilise them. There were also signs that the back-berries will be good this year too.
DeleteOh Rosemary, the blossoms are glorious! The pink ones are incredible, and remind me of the crabapple blossom I loved so much in Ottawa last May. I do hope there are some Spring flowers somewhere in our travels next month!
ReplyDeleteHopefully there will be some of the late blossoms still around Patricia, France is probably a more likely bet than Italy though.
DeleteI think there has been more blossom this year too ... a very welcome sign of Spring.
ReplyDeleteI believe another element that has helped the blossom this year has been the lack of any wind or frost. We must enjoy it whilst we can for sadly it will all soon be gone.
DeleteI just experienced a lovely spring through your post, and without any risk of hay fever. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you - what a fun comment.
DeleteIt is a wonderful time isn't it...when the buds and the blossom promises the new life of these gorgeous trees every spring. I am always amazed, and love to see that renewal every year, and certainly think about how few springs we actually get to see, all the more important to relish the ones we do get to see. I love this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice - I am heading off in a few days, and suddenly realised yesterday that the blossom would all be over by my return - I wanted to capture it for a little bit longer.
DeleteSo very beautiful and ephemeral ... I love the poem too, thank you, Rosemary !
ReplyDeleteHave a happy, peaceful, and fun Easter !
Ephemeral is the perfect word for blossom - here today gone tomorrow. Happy holidays at Easter time Dani.
DeleteDo you know - that is just what I was thinking the other day - morbidly wondering just how many springs I have left to enjoy the spring blossom. Your pictures are divine and I just love that poem too.
ReplyDeleteDear Elaine - we come to a stage in life when the realisation does hit home, and then each spring becomes more precious.
DeleteIt's amazing that one can see so much variety, and to such perfection, all in one evening walk. How lucky you are to be surrounded by such beauty!
ReplyDeleteDear Mark - I don't think the blossom will be around for much longer it has just reached its peak, but there will be some later flowering May blossom still to come. It really does make the countryside look attractive especially in areas that have large fruit orchards.
DeleteCheers to all the glorious blossoms! They all look singing in praise of spring in your photos, Rosemary. The same spring with this year will never happen again, so let’s enjoy this spring to our hearts content.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Dear Yoko - I know that you embrace the spring blossom in Japan and fully appreciate its grace and beauty. We should never take it for granted.
DeleteI love the poem, and all you pretty images. You are right, this year seems spectacular for blossom, my little crab apple is flowering like never before.
ReplyDeleteA E Housman sums up beautifully in words that are worth remembering that we should enjoy the blossom each and every year because sadly there will come a time for all of us when we are not here to see it.
DeleteDear Rosmary,what a lovely poem!!I really like it!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures of Spring blossoms!!Exellent shots!!
WishIing to you and your family,Happy Easter Holidays!
Dimi...
Thank you Dimi - I know that you will have a lovely Easter with your family over from Holland, but very soon I am heading in your direction too.
DeleteBeautiful photos, Rosemary!!! Our cherry blossoms were utterly perfect this year. They are gone now as we had heavy rain yesterday. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteDear Loi - that is why I was keen to capture it whilst it is here - at the moment our weather is perfect but heavy rain and wind and it is all in no time.
DeleteSo very very pretty! And the poem is perfect. We must always treasure each Spring that finds us still among those blossoms. Glorious!
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you - A E Housman's words just fitted the bill perfectly - embrace the moment.
DeleteI love the blossoms, they are so beautiful and you captured them beautifully. I like that poem too and think of it when I see the cherry blossom on the trees. Here's hoping for many more springs full of blossom! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment Amy - I am heading off soon, and I suddenly realised that if I did not capture it quickly it would definitely not be here on my return.
Deletea lovely poem and beautiful cherry blossom - great as I sit here with the windows shaking with the wind. and rain.
ReplyDeleteThe poem does make one think especially as my three score and ten are all gone. I still hope for some more score (or should that be scores).
Make it scores - frightening isn't it.
DeleteOh those are such beautiful pictures and words. I have been thinking too that the blossom is particularly good this year too! Which is your favourite, mine has to be the cherry blossom. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI would find it really hard to choose Sarah - there is a lovely cerise blossom that I have seen with a very dark leaf which is extremely beautiful, but not very common.
DeleteI think you are right, great blossom year. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jessica - the calm days and mild temperatures must have also helped.
DeleteAmazingly beautiful blossoming , awesome shots !
ReplyDeleteI think I may have just caught it at its peak - thank you.
DeleteI believe these are the most lovely images EVER on this blog post. I love the cherry trees and your pictures show them off to their best advantage.
ReplyDeleteGosh Sanda, I am overwhelmed by your very generous comment - so pleased that you enjoyed seeing them, and thank you.
DeleteHow blessed we are, as you have reminded us, to view the cherry trees in the Cotswolds. CC also sent me images of cherry trees in Korea where they are lovely as well. We have a few in on our property.. Have a good weekend Rosemary, Olive
ReplyDeletePerhaps the blossom isn't any better than previous years, may be it is just my fancy - however, each year it catches me unawares with its beauty.
DeleteDear Rosemary, Sensational photography and sensational blossoms. ox, Gina
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Gina - I do hope that progress is good with your commission.
DeleteSuch beautiful photographs - how do you do it? Cherry trees are certainly lovely this year - lots of lovely things in bloom.
ReplyDeleteDear Stephanie - I do not have a special camera - just a point and shoot. However, when taking photos we often get more in the photo than I feel is necessary detracting from the main event. To concentrate on the central action I tend to cut my photos down and exclude the peripheral section of the photo. Hope this answers your question.
DeleteSuch LOVELY pictures of beautiful flowers...
ReplyDeleteThe best wishes for a lovely EASTER Rosemary!
Take care,
Titti
Thank you Titti - hope you have a happy Easter too, and that the sun shines down on us all.
DeleteThe blossom is so beautiful....nice photo's.
ReplyDeleteHappy easterday's Rosemary.
Greetings,
Inge, my choice
Best wishes for a happy Easter Inge and thank you for your kind comment.
DeleteWhat a delightful post, I love the photos and the verse, thank you for sharing. X
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post. The blossom is beautiful
ReplyDeleteGorgeous images of exquisite blossom, Rosemary. Such perfection of shape and colour. Houseman is right - we must treasure every spring. Up here the tree blossom is just appearing, though the bulbs have been lovely. Happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteThere so pretty! Happy Easter Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteFrom: Bea Cupcake
Definitely more blossom - and more sneezes for me!
ReplyDelete