Apricot Blossoms by the Kamogawa River

　The apricot trees by the Kamogawa River, just a minute’s walk from the guesthouse, have begun to blossom.

From a distance, they might be mistaken for cherry blossoms, but they are characterised by their round petals and the way the sepals curve backwards. The closely related plum blossoms do not curve backwards, and as they lack flower stalks, they appear to bloom directly from the branches. Cherry blossoms, on the other hand, can be distinguished by the notches at the tips of their petals and the fact that many flowers bloom on a single stem.

　With plum and apricot blossoms in succession, the cherry blossoms are next. The most beautiful season of the year along the Kamo River is just around the corner.