A Birthday outing

 What better way of celebrating a birthday, than out under the cherry trees!

Leia, her Mom and Dad and Grandmothers went out to Jindaiji where there is a huge botanical garden.

It seems a whole cast of thousands had the same idea but we were lucky to find a bit of open ground under the cherry trees to spread out the ground cloth and celebrate a birthday.

Norie brought a cake she had made, all nicely arranged on a tray and decorated with candles and fruit.



I must admit, the five of us made quick work of that cake.



We wandered around the wide gardens. Leia fed the giant carp and produced thousands of soap bubbles while we admired the early blooming flowers.

The gardens have sections with many varieties of trees and flowers.

There were many different cherries in bloom, as well as peaches ans other spring bloomers

This was just a young tree of a different variety.

The camellias had a whole garden area of their own but this one was potted and standing outside one of the buildings.

The cherry trees are blooming quite early this year. I would say these are almost to their peak now.


I wonder what will be left in April when groups have planned to get together for their annual viewing parties under the trees.

Even plants like this dwarf bamboo  ... no flowers ...
But were quite lovely. I liked the texture of these leaves.

And lest you think I have done nothing but wander through the gardens with my camera, Here is my next Follower's Block. I was lucky to meet Lis Harwood http://piecenpeace.blogspot.com just last year when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. She was in Japan on a fabric study tour and we had a day to spend together. I selected this indigo dyed shibori in memory of her visit and added the cherry blossoms. 

I know Lis likes fall so I pulled out a few of my leaf prints in fall colors, thinking I will use one of them for the points on her star. I wonder which one will go with such a spring block. Maybe the blue print on the right?

Or the pinkish tan on the left? 

It is fun to sew while thinking of my friends and the exchanges we have had over the last few years. Ideas for the next blocks are churning in my brain.