First of the Sakura in Matsuda

Hello and hisashiburi! It’s around that time of year where work is suuuuper busy with lots of stuff coming to an end, and lots of other stuff getting ready to begin. It’s a hard time of year because the end of the winter where it’s hard to get out of a dark cold slump (every year, it happens), and then everything is getting ready to happen all at once, but you know when it all ends, it’ll be spring and warm and flowers and new beginnings! I liiiive for the sun and hot weather, and I’ve finally finished the last big work event of the (school) year. Now there’s just a few more things to tie up, and it’ll be the the transition into the new year, and then a little break for golden week! Actually, I got covid right between 2 of the biggest events of the year and my timing was so lucky (?) I guess? 😆 So I didn’t have to miss anything extremely important, and kind of got a chance to recharge between them. I was totally sick and fevered for about 4/5 day, but then I recovered. 

Anyway, enough about all that stuff, and onto why I started this post! Well, I did wanna give a little life update, but more importantly, flowers!!! Early blooming Kawazuzakura to be exact. I decided suddenly on Monday to head to Matsuda in Kanagawa and catch some of there’s sakura in bloom up on a mountain along with the yellow nanohana. 

And shockingly, I ran into some people I knew! Sundai and her man were out and about taking photos for her clothing line and I joined in a bit along with stealing a few quick snaps of the gorgeous Sundai (thank you both for brightening up my day a bit 💕🌸) 

Soooo yeah, a lonely adventure ended up being a lot more fun than I’d thought! 😊🌸

Vlog will be here after 3/21/22

Early Blooming Kawakuzakura Photo Shoot in Yoyogi Park

February 2020

I went with my lovely photographer friend Lisa (instagram: @hanamiphotography) to photo shoot and frolic with the early-blooming kawazuzakura! 

Here's my YouTube video from this day:

We met up at Harajuku station and walked to Yoyogi Park from there. 

We planned to shoot me, but then we both got distracted by the beauty and started shooting the flowers instead XD 

 Then we saw some mejiro! They're little green birds, and I'm always surprised to see green birds in the wild, because they aren't in WV as far as I know. When I see a green bird, I think of a parrot or something tropical that I'd only seen before in captivity. We had to try for a while to capture these little guys, as they were hopping and flitting all about!

 Then we talked a lot, about life, Japan, flowers, photography. She was so sweet and easy to talk to right after meeting! We clicked right away, and she even let me try out her camera!

After shooting, we decided to grab a quick bite at a healthy cafe like an oasis in Omotesando. We managed to leave with cameras full of beauty, bellies full of good healthy food, and hearts full of friendship. <3 

Here are the photos she took of me, and here is her instagram where you can find all her beautiful photography! Contact her if you want to have beautiful flower photos while you're in Tokyo! 

https://www.instagram.com/hanamiphotography/

It was great meeting someone as obsessed with flowers as I am! I didn't even know about there being kawazuzakura in Yoyogi, so I'm really glad I got the chance to see them. I have already seen plum blossoms, and kawazuzakura this year. I am so excited for the full-force cherry blossom bloom and then next adventure with Lisa! <3

Blog: Morgantown Spring Part 3: Look of the Day and Weeping Cherry Tree on Campus

There are a few legit cherry blossom trees scattered around campus too!  But don't mistake them for those smelly pear trees that are more common...

There is a beautiful weeping cherry tree, all by itself, and a few regular cherry trees by Oglebay Hall.

And the crazy Arianna actually climbed up into it!

Blog: Morgantown Spring Part 2: Cherry Blossoms and Other Spring Blooms

No one ever believes me that these are real cherry blossoms in Morgantown!  They always think that they are whatever those weird fishy smelling pear trees are that all all over town DX I will tell you that these smell just like the cherry blossoms that I've smelled in Japan, AND they are also Japanese person-approved-real. ♡

I will also tell you, to be careful if you go here (Hazel Ruby McQuain Park).  This is where my camera was stolen, and creepy people sometimes try to talk to me.  It's very sad that things like this must happen in a place so pretty and meant to be fun.  But please be warned and careful, and maybe go with a group.  I have had lots of good memories and times with friends here too!

Definitely cherry blossoms!  They even have the distinct almost heart-shaped petals

And then here are some cherry blossoms and other flowers I found around town and on campus!

Unfortunately, I think the random second winter-like cold got to a lot of the delicate spring flowers, but it's warming up now, so hopefully that means summer flowers are coming!