Blossoms and Birdies

Two of my favourite things about spring in Edinburgh have been the blossom trees in both Princess Street Gardens and The Meadows and the appearance of ducklings and cygnets on the canal running through our neighbourhood.

Since blossom trees are in bloom for such a short period, the joy of getting off work on a sunny day and going to the gardens to drink in the smell of them was all the more special.  The treat of  having a picnic beneath them while picking out the pristine, white-clad cricketers standing out against the pretty pink buds was also an afternoon to remember.

I loved the anticipation of walking by the swans periodically to see if the mama was still brooding or if there would be cute little water fowl learning how to swim. (There are now cute little cygnets and ducklings for me to visit.)

Here are a few pictures of a few of my favourite springtime moments:
 

Blossoms in Princes Street Gardens frame Edinburgh Castle.

A brooding mama.

Blossoms and Edinburgh Castle.

Ducklings!

 

A family outing.

Look at those cute little balls of fuzz!

I loved how the two trees melded together.

Our first-ever glimpse of the cygnets

One of my favourite shots.

 

Springtime snow.  The gardens were at times blanketed with white petals.

Journeying away from home.

Easter morning blossoms with the sun streaming down on them.

 

Blossoms in The Meadows.

The whole family.

Cricketers play beneath the blossoms on Easter Sunday.