Weeping Cherry

Today's the day ……………………… to spring forth

These are the swelling buds on a weeping cherry tree in our garden, getting ready to burst into life and produce a mass of the iconic pink cherry blossom. 

It's a tree that we inherited when we moved here a couple of years ago - but, for all its beauty, it's not a tree that I would ever have gone out and bought myself.  And that's because it has been made to grow into such a (to my eyes) tortured state - merely to conform to what some people consider an artistic shape.

It reminds me of a boss that I once had, who when she retired, was given a present of a bonsai tree.  It had probably cost quite a lot of money to buy - and she did her best to sound appropriately grateful to those who had bought it for her.  She later told me that it represented something which was abhorrent to her - the restriction of inner spirit (in this case, roots) to keep aspirations to a minimum.

I told her that actually, the solution was quite easy - transplant it into a bigger pot and just let it grow!  Not sure that would work though with the cherry tree - the damage has gone too deep …………………...