Spring is the penultimate hanami season, since after the bleak, quiet stillness of winter, the bright floral blooms simply beg for a celebration. In Japan the appreciation of the cherry blossom, or sakura, is practically a religion and hanami has all but become synonymous with the cherry blossom festivals that occur every spring. The plum and apricot blossoms are also out in full bloom at the same time, though the cherry blossom is ubiquitous at most hanami celebrations.
“The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him.” ~ Auguste Rodin hanami sort of quote
For myself, I practice hanami year-round, though in my own sort of way. I admire the beauty of the grand blossoms of spring, the warm, hardy blooms of summer, the bright pops of autumn flowers and the green-house nurtured bouquets of winter. My favorites are the wild flowers that grow here and there and are often referred to as weeds (I don’t care how many seeds are spread when I make a wish on a dandelion, tee-hee!). To picnic amidst nature’s pallet of brightly colored flowers is one of the sweetest pleasures I know of (allergies aside).
Namaste ~ Ella
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Lawhimsy 
Beautiful! And the picture of the cherry blossoms is amazing!