The plum blossoms are out! Here are some photos I took at a local shrine. The blossoms remind us that spring is “just around the corner”!

(just around the corner – very near)

Here is a poem about plum blossoms by Sugawara no Michizane.

東風吹かば　にほひをこせよ　梅花
主なしとて　春を忘るな
kochi fukaba / nioi okose yo / ume no hana / aruji nashi tote / haru o wasuru na

When the east wind blows,

flourish in full bloom, you, plum blossoms!

Even though you lose your master, don’t be oblivious to spring.

(Reference: See here)