Thursday, March 23, 2006

DRUNK WITH ANTICIPATION

Japan is intoxicated with anticipation on the looming sakura blooms...

This year, sakuras seem to bloom about a week or two earlier than 'normal' years...

Another indication of global warming... the 'experts' say...

The Japanese keep tag on what they call 'sakura zensen' (sakura 'front' as in a weather front)...

Okinawa of course will normally be the first to hit the front due to her southernmost location...

The front unmistakably moves northwards as the warm weather forces the sakuras to explode...

This year is very special to us because of the huge Somei-yoshino sakura tree in our garden...

It will mark the first time in our lives that we get to relish the sakuras in our very own space...

Yeeeeh...

I certainly need not go to the parks to photograph the sakuras from now...

The buds are getting pumped up, looking very plump and even juicy as I observed this morning...

There are also two more sakuras of the Sidare type in the garden...

These are willowy, with flowers flowing downward reminding me of a frail, pretty lady...

In addition, there are two yama-zakura or 'mountain-specie' sakuras, sort of like, wild sakuras...

Their flowers are smaller and by itself, not so 'enchanting' as the Sidare or the Somei-yoshino types...

However, as our neighbors tell us, the flamboyance of the yama-zakura rests on the hillsides, which literally turn pinkish when the wild sakuras start to bloom...

We are, you could say, getting dizzy with anticipation...

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