In Japan they have a tradition called hanami in which people gather and have picnics under blooming cherry trees to enjoy the fleeting beauty of the flowers in bloom. For years I’ve been celebrating my own version, which consists of scoping out blossoms and capturing their transient beauty with my camera. I’ve photographed cherry blossoms, but where I live we also have many other kinds of stone fruit, such as peaches, plums, and nectarines, and we have almond trees in great quantity. This year I wasn’t up to seeking out blossoms as I’d hoped to (I happen to know of a beautiful spot in Modesto), but I was able to shoot the flowers from the mini-orchard in my aunt and uncle’s yard.

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