Winter Plum Blossoms 寒梅

In the depths of February, something that makes life in Japan a little bit better is the appearance of plum blossoms. Despite cold temperatures (there are still snow piles to be found around the city), the hearty plum trees put on a show of beautiful pink or white flowers which have the most heavenly scent. In my neighborhood the trees can be spotted in a few places, and today we saw them at the Hakusan Shrine and walking home from the park, serving as a reminder that spring is near.