In Bloom - It's Cherry Blossom Season

It's ironic that some of the most beautiful flowering cherry blossom trees do not produce any fruit. Yet, when they come into bloom in spring, entire landscapes blush a pale, rosy pink. The most celebrated blooms, of course, are in Japan when sakura or ume trees burst into flower. In fact, so ingrained in culture is this event that the Japanese have a special word for camping or picnicking under a flowering cherry tree - Hanami.

It's not just in Japan that cherry blossoms paint the landscape in hues that inspire poetry. In Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, the United States, Germany, South Korea and even in northern India, the mass flowering of cherry trees is an event to rejoice over.

Enjoy these photos from the world over.