Spring is here!

One of the strangest and yet most enjoyable experiences I had upon moving up north was the advent of Spring. Trees that looked like ugly dead twigs suddenly sprouted tiny green leaves, and in the span of about a week, nature comes alive with color. It was definitely not something I had seen in Florida as a child, and it never quite lost its magic with me.

And so every Spring, I would trek to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to witness the spectacle that is the cherry blossom blooming. For some reason, simply sitting underneath a canopy of pretty pink flowers made me feel happier.

Picture of a picture... of the blossoms in Brooklyn.

Turns out, cherry blossom admiration is a big deal in Japan! Called "Hanami", literally "flower viewing", this centuries-old tradition is still being followed today. As I entered the local park, it seemed like the whole town was there, either having a picnic under the trees, or barbecuing near a lake. Even though the day was a little chilly and overcast, it didn't stop anyone from snapping multitudes of pictures beneath the blossoms.

Enjoying the day out!

Picnic with a view!

It's interesting to note that the blossoms look very different here compared to New York. I haven't done the research yet, but I guess there are different strains of trees??

The blossoms are smaller and more delicate, and are much lighter
in color. The contrast though, between the pale flowers
and dark branches is strikingly beautiful!

Close-up of the blossoms, on my unfortunately crappy phone camera.

Some trees had pinker flowers... different strain?

This one was more of a bush than a tree, but the color range is
odd and interesting!

It's a shame that these beautiful flowers only last for a few weeks. But it's also a great reminder for everyone to slow down, take a walk, and admire the moment!