Cherry Blossom
Kanzan
“April's most extravagant fortnight. Buy a branch, put it in a tall vase, and let the slow petal-fall remind you that fleeting things are worth celebrating.”
— ROSIE
Rosie's Take
There's a fortnight in April when the cherry trees bloom and the whole world seems to hold its breath. 'Kanzan' is the one you see most often — those enormous double flowers in the most opulent shade of pink, so thickly packed along the branches that they look like candyfloss caught in a tree.
I have a complicated relationship with cherry blossom. Part of me thinks it's almost too much — that saturated pink against a grey April sky can feel overwhelming. But then I stand under a 'Kanzan' in full bloom with the petals drifting down like confetti and I lose all critical distance entirely. It's one of those experiences that reminds you what flowers are actually for.
The Japanese have a word for it — hanami — the practice of sitting under cherry trees and appreciating the fleeting beauty of the blossom. I love that. There's no equivalent word in English, which probably says something about our cultural priorities.
You can buy branches from specialist florists in spring and they're absolutely transformative in a tall vase — one or two branches of 'Kanzan' in a large ceramic vessel is an arrangement that needs nothing else. They're not cheap, but they last surprisingly well and the slow petal-fall over a week or so is part of the pleasure. Some of the most beautiful moments happen after peak bloom.
Where to Buy
If you want to try cherry blossom for yourself, here's where I'd point you:
✿ From the folklore cabinet
In Japan, cherry blossom represents the transience of life — mono no aware, the bittersweet awareness of impermanence. 'Kanzan' was introduced to Britain in the early twentieth century and quickly became the most planted ornamental cherry in the country. Every April, I think the Japanese have it exactly right — the beauty is in the brevity.
