Prunus Mume

Prunus mume, or the Japanese Apricot, is currently in full bloom on North Campus, just beside the brickyard. I managed to take a few photos of these fluffy feathery pink clouds, as you can see. A woman asked me if I thought they were blooming early due to the warmer temperatures we've been experiencing. I replied that I thought that this was the normal blooming season, because way back in August of last year, at the start of my Botany course, I remember learning that these trees bloomed in later winter - early spring. Of course, I questioned myself immediately. Luckily, I knew the scientific name, so I looked it up - and I was semi-correct: they do bloom in late winter/early spring, but this is not late winter - it is barely middle winter! Can you believe that? Well, you can if you woke up early this morning - 29 degrees Fahrenheit! Brrrrrr. And yet tomorrow's high will be in the 60's - can't we just have some constant temperatures, please? And while I'm begging, can we please have some snow! Snow, fluffy, pristine snow, lovely white snow, delicious delicate snow! At home, snow is a rare occurrence - we normally receive a flake a year, with some variation, of course. Two years ago we received 6 inches! But I think that was directly related to the re-roofing of my family's home. 6 inches of snow, no roof on some sections, just the shell of one on others, and only one or two rooms with a suitable roof and insulation - can you say brrrrr? But the fun thing about being from such an environment is that at the first sign of imminent snow, schools, colleges, and businesses shut down. I'm in a similar place now, but they wait for the snow to accumulate before closing anything. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, I want snow, and I love the beautiful pink blossoms that so gracefully adorn the brickyard.