Sakura

The Japanese Meteorological Agency closely monitors the spread of the sakura zensen (the Cherry Blossom Front). It starts at the southern tip of Japan in January and works it's way north, reaching Tokyo by the end of March and reaching the northernmost city of Sapporo by the end of April.

That puts Essex roughly on the same Cherry Blossom latitude as Kyoto:)

In Japan, families turn out en mass at parks and shrines to hold flower-viewing parties and picnics beneath the trees as part of the Hanami festival.

It's a bit damp beneath my tree, so I'll admire it from the patio instead, if that's alright with you.