Blossoms!!!

The weather in the UK continues to oscillate between winter and spring with occasional heatwaves and rain spells. During my routine park walks, it is such a bliss to see leaves and flowers blooming on barren trees, and gentle winds with the chirping of birds giving soothing music to my ears. On misty mornings, the gentle dew drops on the grass shine like pearls. And when the swans ruffle their feathers or take a short flight to the other end of the pond, it's a sight to behold. While these beautiful scenes unfold, the sakura petals gently fall, ornamenting the grounds. At times, it feels straight out of a movie scene, yet it's very much real.

Sakura trees, commonly known as cherry blossoms, are one of my favorites. Mainly found in East Asia, they are now widely seen in cold countries. The cherry blossom is considered the national flower of Japan. We are very fortunate to have a variety of cherry blossom trees in our local parks. All of them bloom at different times, with colours ranging from fresh whites to baby pink. Every day in spring, I make it my endeavour to visit the park and admire these cherry blossoms. These are the most precious moments I cherish.

All year round, few would pay heed to these trees, as they blend in with their surroundings. After a harsh and dry winter, the flowering season starts. Sakura flowers are small and delicate, but shine through the gardens and parks. They grow in close-knit bunches with hardly any leaves around. The closer you go, the more charming it gets. Once the entire tree blossoms, it's breathtaking. And on the days when I am lucky, and the sun decides to shine through the flowers, it's worth a million rupee view. Silently, I thank all those who took the effort to plant them, and those who decided not to cut them down.

During peak season, I see many enthusiastic people with high-tech cameras posing in front of these trees to get the best shots. At times, I see a few enjoying a small picnic under the trees. I learned that it's a ritual in countries like Japan and Korea to have family picnics under the shade of Sakura trees, which signify blessings. Given the fleeting nature of cheery blossoms, they only last for a few weeks. Soon, the petals start to fall, and delicate green leaves shoot. The wind takes the petals far, creating beautiful floral borders on the way. Both these scenes are worth catching the eye.

While witnessing these natural phenomena, I continue to ponder the short-lived nature of life. All we need to do is open our eyes and look at nature. It is our best teacher. The Sakura teaches me of new beginnings, of tranquility and beauty. Furthermore, the fragile nature reveals that there is grace even in the fall. It reminds me to live life to the fullest and make every effort to blossom.