cool image: 'Sakura' season in S'pore

THE SUNDAYTIMES, SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2010, HOME, PAGE17
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_504714.html
by Huang Lijie , lijie@sph.com.sg

Nature lovers are treated to a beautiful sight as the pink mempat tree blooms

PHOTO: The flowers of the pink mempat tree, such as this one along Toa Payoh Lorong 1, are likened to the Japanese cherry blossoms. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20100320/ST_IMAGES_LJFLOWER2.jpg

PHOTO: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3425942765_4fc79c43d7.jpg
http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-blossoms-do-happen-in-sporeat.html

PHOTO: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3426752720_7aa352abab.jpg
http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-blossoms-do-happen-in-sporeat.html

PHOTO: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3426752874_455f546f44.jpg
http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-blossoms-do-happen-in-sporeat.html

PHOTO: http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm129/tanoshiilek/9b925fde.jpg

SAKURAS are blooming in Japan this month - and so is Singapore's version of the sakura tree, the pink mempat tree.

PHOTO: http://images.quickblogcast.com/0/0/1/8/6/178659-168100/Asia_273.jpg

Indigenous to this region, the pink mempat tree bears flowers with small pink petals and a yellow centre that resemble the Japanese sakura, or cherry blossom, hence its nickname, 'SingaporE sakura'.

PHOTO: http://www.well.com/~pyarrow/tokyo/images/sakura.jpg

Like the Japanese sakura, the branches are almost bare before the tree flowers, so the crown of pink buds bursting into bloom is especially eye-catching.

PHOTO: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2072365953_d882665a08.jpg

Already, flowering pink mempat trees along Alexandra Road, Choa Chu Kang Drive and Joo Chiat Road, have stopped pedestrians and motorists in their tracks.

PHOTO: http://bestbooksreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/imperial-palace-cherry-blossom-963198-ga.jpg

Retired teacher Angie Ng, 68, said: 'I stopped my car to take a picture of these trees because they are so beautiful.'

PHOTO: http://jrockrae.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/macjapan-cherryblossoms.jpg

The blooms are expected to last for between one and two weeks.

by Huang Lijie , lijie@sph.com.sg

PHOTO: HANGZHOU: The famous West Lake Text: ANN, AsiaOne / Photos: AFP, Reuters, TNP, Commonwealth Travel, Lee Xian Jie, China Nat'l Tourism, Bloomberg, Chinese Govt, Michelle Tay, How Hwee Young, Eugene Leow, SA Tours, Meritus Hotels, China Daily, Sherilyn Chia
http://static.relax.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/relax/332048/topImage.jpg