With a Chinese water buffalo and blooms of Japanese apricot Prunus mume ‘Beni Chidori’ I have had to make do with the more generic ”Oriental’ title, rather banal by the standards I set myself, but it will have to do. I am not sure what I have in the way of potential Japanese props anyway, although I could have gone down the line of a more ikebana style vase or created a quick origami bird to go with the prunus. Hmm…an origami prop is definitely one to remember for the future…

The prunus has been absolutely glorious this year, its colour and fragrance a real asset to the late winter or early spring garden. I bought it as a half-standard tree four years ago and intended to prune it annually to keep it relatively compact, but I forgot last year and it has taken advantage of my forgetfulness – research…