There is a cherry blossom tree in our front garden. It is coming into full, luscious bloom these past few days; usually achieving its peak around St Patrick’s Day. So it’s very nearly there.

The buds are a vibrant dark pink before they open. Once opened the petals are light pink front and back. I wonder where the dark pink goes. It must be an optical colour illusion created by the density of the petals while they are still wrapped tightly around each other.

Either way it is a beautiful, mesmerising tree for a few weeks this time of year.