Blooming Beijing

'Loveliest of Trees'

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.

A.E Houseman

 

We have waited so long for these small buds to open

Now they have blossomed

These pink beauties are starting to break out

This year has the most amazing magnolias on show

Hope the wind stays away so we can enjoy them a while yet.

Tokyo time

Just in Tokyo for a few days. 

Time to see my first blossom of the year and a little fabric shopping!

Monday I met up with Helena for a special day wandering the old temples and shrines 

of Kamakura and enjoying the blossom on early flowering cherry trees. 

Spring can't be too far away, can it?

Beautiful scene at Meigetsuin Temple.

Sake for the soul!

The most expensive strawberries ever! 

This box was 10,000yen ($110 or £70). 

Yes you did read that right!

 Kato and Simba - the two cutest cats in Tokyo 

You can see them again with Helena's gorgeous purses here