Cherry blossom

Frothy Pinks: Cherry Blossom

Posted on by Ann Mackay

After last week’s pink tulips, here’s more pretty pinks – but even frothier! (Or should that be fluffier – not sure, but this cherry blossom can out-pink anything else.)

The blossom on our cherry tree is late this year because April has been so cold. Not all of the buds have opened yet but it should be a very good show when they are. The tree must be a good few years old, so is a good size and is always completely covered in these soft pink flowers.

The tree is Prunus ‘Kanzan’, one of the most frequently-seen ornamental cherries here. Sadly, our tree may not be here for many more years. They’re known to have a short life-expectancy. (I’ve seen differing estimates of 15-20 years and up to 40 years.) Ours was a mature tree when we moved here 16 years ago. In addition, it now has splits in the bark, which may be due to the effects of winter weather or may be an indication of disease. It has obviously suffered from canker at some time before we moved in, but this hasn’t stopped it from being laden with flowers in spring.

For now, we’ll enjoy whatever time the tree has left. At the same time, we will probably have to think about what we might want to plant in its place in the future. It should probably be something that doesn’t get too big, given that it’s so close to our boundary with our neighbours. We wouldn’t want it to protrude into their driveway! And it needs to be robust and healthy because it is the most exposed area of the front garden.

It feels a bit sad to to know that it may not be long before we have to remove this old cherry tree. We moved in to this house at a time when it was in full, glorious flower and it felt like a warm welcome to our new home. But the tree, like its flowers, is an ephemeral thing – to be enjoyed in the moment. (And afterwards I will still have photographs of its blossom as a reminder of it.)

Cherry blossom

Published by Ann Mackay

Photographer, mixed-media art adventurer and completely daft about plants.......

23 thoughts on “Frothy Pinks: Cherry Blossom”

  1. Cherry blossom is such a treat! Where I grew up it was too warm for them but down south here I love enjoying the sight of cherry blossom in spring. Your photos have captured them in exquisite detail Ann. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Liz! 🙂 I wonder if climate change will make it a bit too warm for them here. This area has such a low rainfall that it’s probably too dry for them really – I think our poor tree has been struggling for a while.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. What glorious flowers! At least your tree doesn’t have the lifespan of a Mayfly or mosquito-eater: hours, rather than years. I might not have noticed your mention of split bark had it not been for our freeze. Afterwards, the tree gurus were saying that split bark was one sign that citrus trees might have been damaged by the cold. I wonder if it was cold enough there for your cherry to be affected?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It may have split because of cold – there is a split on the sunny side and I think that can happen after a freeze. (It would have been last winter rather than this – it has been there a while.) The tree has probably more than fulfilled the usual lifespan and had many years of lovely blossom, so it has done well.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Enjoy your cherry tree while you have it. We have a lot of cherry trees in the centre of Slaithwaite which are beautiful at the moment. Short lived blossom but beautiful and making people happy to see it at the moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Cherry blossom is a sight that really bowled me over when I first saw it in my late teen. I was in Aberdeen, and there were lots of beautiful trees in full pink or white blossom. Such a sight! There were none, as you can imagine, in my cold and windy home county of Caithness! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Your cherry blossoms are beautiful Ann! How sad to think the tree with these blossoms do not live long. The cherry trees in DC bloomed early this year due to warm weather. No one could see them due to the Covid requirements which was too bad. They are such beautiful blossoms!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Syd! 🙂 It’s such a shame that no-one could see the DC blossom – lets hope there’s a good audience for them next year. It’s good that not all of the flowers on our tree have opened yet because it’s been very windy. Hopefully the rest will wait until the weather improves before opening!

      Liked by 2 people

  8. I just removed a paper bark maple that had split bark and was diagnosed with canker. It did not get such glorious flowers as your cherry but we did like the tree which I planted several years ago. We will replace it with one that does flower…maybe serviceberry.
    Your high key flower shots are ever the treat and this one especially is just lovely, Ann!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s sad to see a tree go, but not much else you can do when it gets diseased. It does leave a painful gap!
      Reading your lovely comment on my pics has made me smile – and I am glad that you enjoy them! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! I don’t know how long the tree will carry on for, but we’ll enjoy it while it’s there. Ornamental cherries are quite vulnerable to disease, so this one has done well to last as long as it has.

      Liked by 1 person

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