Cherry blossoms in awakening spring

Finally spring – and what a breathtaking display of cherry blossoms! April – and even May 2017 – were cool and changeable. The warmth could only be enjoyed for a day at a time. Even at the beginning of the cherry blossom season, winter refused to give up, bringing a cold snap and snow down to the lowlands. This was good for winter sports enthusiasts; I was still able to do a ski tour on the Roßkopf at Spitzingsee at the end of April. However, it was bad for fruit farmers, as no bees visited and pollinated the blossoms in the cold. In the short sunny periods, however, the ornamental cherry blossoms bloomed in a truly breathtaking abundance.

Cherry blossoms are a worldwide celebration for people

Cherry blossoms are primarily celebrated in Japan with the ‘Hanami’ festival, where the cherry blossom ‘Sakura’ symbolises beauty, new beginnings, and transience. But worldwide, too, the white and pale pink blooming trees draw people into parks and gardens when their heavily laden, blossoming branches sway and dance in the wind. When the morning sun shines through the delicate cherry blossom leaves, their fragility is emphasised.

A brief resurgence of fertile abundance, then the wind blows large swathes of petals through the park, which on some days was indistinguishable from the snowflakes of snow showers.